Mecca

Last Sunday I ventured out in the cold and took a train to the Perth Convention Centre and finally got to go to the Craft Fair. My mecca. I spent quite a bit of money, which I shouldn't have and made lots of friends with wonderful elderly ladies that taught me many things, like don't sew in bad light because whatever you're sewing will come out crooked. It was mostly common sense stuff but they were sweet nonetheless. My first purchase was embossing powder, a pigment stamp pad and some rubber stamps which I bought to do this project from this book http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781416937852/The-Big-ass-Book-of-Crafts. I spent quite a bit of time just looking around and hoping that the things I really liked would be reasonably priced, but alas, it was not so. I'm really interested in quilting, I would love to make my own, must find a work shop or something. Anyway round and round I went until I decided to do make a flower with the felting ladies at their booth. I can't find their website, but they're based in Brisbane. I made mine with silk, muslin, and wool of course to bind it and 'felt' it if you may. I've felted before but only made a brooche, this was a bit more challenging. This is the result and everyone praised it. It was $20 to do the workshop and they provided the expertise and material. After that I did this decoupage sort of thing where you choose a 'motif' from a napkin and then glue it on to canvas using this all purpose sort of thing. Anyway the canvas she gave me was this hideous beige colour and my motif got all buggered, its rather an ugmo so I won't humiliate it (and myself) by putting it on the Internet. But after that I found this blown glass booth that had little trinkets and what not for cheap so I bought this pendant.
I ruv it so much. I walked around some more and then decided I should probably beat it home before it got dark and even colder. I spent the rest of the Sunday catching up on my Sex and the City. www.craftfair.com.au/Perth2010/ Enjoy.

Another Little Creation

A few weeks ago I was waiting for the boyfriend to finish work so we could walk home together, and he suggested going to Bassendean Fabric and Craft, a store I always pass by but never have the time to go in and have a good look. So of I went, a very nice elderly lady stood behind the counter and patiently waited while I looked and looked and spent the better part of an hour carefully choosing my items. I bought gorgeous fabric, just an off cut for $6, some invisible snaps (for my make-up bag, which I haven't sewn on there yet) and a very cute little cat button, which I will most likely turn into a brooch.


After spending $12.65 of my hard earned money I toddled off to the library where I had a brain wave and decided to make a case for my new iPod. Why buy one when I could use this crappy wallet that came free with a bottle of bourbon(not for me) as a water proofing thingo and the outisde could be the gorgeous fabric I picked up?. Here is the result of my labour, two gruelling hours at the sewing machine (trying to figure out how it works) and then half an hour or so hemming it by hand and putting on the snaps to close it. I used an old pillow case to line the inside and I must say I am quite happy with my efforts. My own of a kind iPod case :) Be sure to visit Basso Fabo and Crafto, as I fondly like to call it, or check out the website (there isn't much to it, but it's 'quaint') http://www.fabricandcraft.com.au/

Droooool....

I love high fashion, I will never be able to afford it but I love the art that is Couture. A man who I think could be the epitome of style (for men) even though he kind of wears the same thing, is the one and only Karl Lagerfeld ( I also love Tom Ford, but Karl's got seniority). He apparently lost quite his love handles by drinking only Diet Coke and eating steamed veggies. http://www.coutorture.com/Diet-Coke-Obsessed-Karl-Lagerfeld-Appears-Limited-Edition-Bottles-Shoots-Coco-Rocha-Campaign-7978663

Now he has come out with this, as the article above states, and boy do I want to get my hands on it.

Something Old Turned Blue

I recently acquired some new make-up (which is very much needed) and my quite yucky, and old make-up bag was far to small. So I figured I would put some old clothes to good use and make my own make-up bag. This is the result, my mum helped me sew it because I am still a major n00b when it comes to sewing machines.
I used an old skirt and thick plastic bag to line it, sewed it all inside out whacked on some left over satin from a petticoat that my mother was making and voila. I'm glad that it turned out so well even though I'm quite new at sewing and didn't use a template of any sort. :)

Marry Me

Gene Kelly.

We ♥ Vintage Part 2

I skipped over a clothes rack and headed straight to a jewellery table, where I struck up a conversation with two lovely ladies. I told them I had a penchant for animal brooches and one of them showed me a cheetah, which didn't particularly grab me, so I specified and said 'Owls'. The lady sitting behind the table took out this tackle box and out came this little guy. After I bought it she showed me this book about 60's collectibles and there he was! I named him Owly.
Next came these beautiful pair of suede shoes, I didn't even plan on buying shoes, I was there for bags and trinkets. But I couldn't resist, and they were fairly reasonable. Gorgeous aren't they? I can't wait to wear them to a gig or for a night out!
I saw this purse when I first walked in and didn't know if I should spend the money on it, but I've always wanted a Glomesh bag/purse/clutch. So I walked away from it and when I saw it wasn't there anymore my heart broke, but lo behold when I came back a second time to have a look at this other wallet there it was! I knew I had to buy it. A small badge on the front declares it to be GC, anybody know what that is? Or if they could possibly give it a date?
I knew this had to be my last purchase because i was down to my last $10, but there was still my Soda-Girl waiting with the lovely gent outside. What to do? So I went out there and told him I spent all my money inside and I only have $10 left, and he kindly said 'I'll give it to you for $10'. Did I also mention the lovely compact collector give me $5 off on the one I chose? I was very excited to show off my new wares, and display them proudly in my room.
Please excuse the quality of the photos, I only had my mother's point and shoot and it was about to die. All in all I was quite glad the Craft Fair didn't happen because I would have missed out on this amazing market and meeting theses lovely ladies and gentlemen. The next one is on June 12th http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Heart-Vintage-Perth/365311675866?v=wall. :)

We ♥ Vintage Part 1

This weekend I was led to believe that there would be a Craft Fair on at the Perth Convention Centre. So on Saturday I pried myself from a warm and comfy bed and got dressed and ready and was on my way after a breakfast of croissants with the boyfriend. When I got to said Convention Centre (after a long walk from the Esplanade without realizing that there is an entrance from the Bus Port saving myself a 10 minute walk, but whatever, it was a nice morning) I only saw signs for the Careers and Traineeships Expo and a Franchising Expo. I was thoroughly disappointed. I found a receptionist/concierge type and asked what was what and why there was no Craft Fair. Her reply was 'There seems to be some misinformation, quite a few people have come in here asking about it. You crafty lot are good natured though, no one has gotten angry yet'. Well I wasn't going to taint our 'crafty lot's' reputation by flying off the handle, so I debated for a little while whether to stay in the city or go to Mt. Lawley and meet the boyfriend there before he had this radio interview thing.

So at the Esplanade I bought some credit and a Bounty (for a bit of a moral boost), promptly called my mother and expressed my disappointment, and then she cheered me up by telling me that she made stew for dinner and my sister and her new husband would be joining us. Off to Mt. Lawley I went with the taste of chocolate and coconut in my mouth and Band of Horses in my ears.

Well when I finally got to 'the hippest suburb in Perth' according to Getaway, I had done the right thing, because as I was walking past the Flying Scotsman, a hip and trendy pub, I saw one of those tee pee signs that sits on the sidewalk advertising a We ♥ Vintage Market place at the Flying Scotsman with the dates underneath, and there was one today! So I looked further down the sidewalk and there it was. I saw records, old radios, Cd's, tapes, scarves, some furniture and pottery. I was immediately attracted to this, it was $20 and I thought 'not bad, I need some more wall hangings'. As I turned around I noticed that there was more inside, so I politely asked this kind gentleman if he could keep it aside for me while I looked inside (the crack in the glass was due to transporting it, it was perfect when I got it).


Well I don't know if going inside was a mistake or not because I spent pretty much all my money, I even went to withdraw more cash, so it's safe to say I went crazy in all that vintage splendor. I must note that this isn't 'vintage' like things you could find in an op-shop yourself, but they found it first and added $30 to the original price. There were women there who have been collecting various items like hats, shoes, purses etc. for a very long time. My first purchase was this beautiful compact which I put back at first because it was quite expensive, and I picked up another smaller one, and inquired about it's price which was $30. I had my heart set on getting a compact, ever since I saw an episode of Trash to Cash where they find this collection of beautiful art deco compacts, I have wanted to create my own collection.