Colour my World

Well hey there happy blogger's (long time no see - literally)

Round here things are always happening!

So much so, I don't know if I'm Arthur or Martha!

(did your mum ever use that saying? mine did)

Firstly, the book work is taking up way more time than I had initially hoped and so most of my far more interesting and creative pursuits have taken a back seat of late.

(It is very frustrating for me!)

I have, however, managed the odd spot of op shopping, a garage sale or three and a slow and steady sewing room re-organisation.

 

I found these nana polyester fabrics in INSANE colours at a deceased

estate sellout garage sale.



 

Lucky I didnt have the kids with me so I had plenty of time and patience to really go through each and every box!  And there were a LOT!

 

I came home with one rather large box filled with these crazy prints for a mere $2.

Some are only big enough for a cushion cover but there will be enough for several funky skirts and a frock or two.

 

The old dear that had collected these had some seriously mean taste. 

It kind of got me thinking (whilst rummaging)

about what my possessions would look like once I'm dead and gone!  Will my children be selling off  hoards and hoards of colourful fabrics from my own collection?  Will some young chicky babe with a flare for crafting and re-fashioning from vintage fabrics come by and feel like she's won the Lottery?  Well I most certainly did.

 

So much so

I dropped everything and made a dress

 

 

 

out of fabric I was given well over a year ago.

What do you think???

 

 

I was also given this baby from my neighbour!

 

 

 

and I found another 2 suitcases for the collection!

Isn't the purple one fab!!! 

It was part of a set of three but I literally don't have the room so chose the middle size one!

 

I also scored a pile of vintage patterns including these beauties!!

 

 

and in amongst all that we have had a 5th birthday party

 

 

 I have also re-organised my tragic sewing room

 

 

It is now FABULARSE!

 

I seriously can't function in my sewing room unless it is organised and so I finally got around to installing a couple of cheap IKEA purchases

(L to R)

1. Magazine/sewing machine manual holder.

2. Handy Scissor and Zip hanger

3.  Pattern piece hanger

 

among other such chores as sorting, folding and colour coding (again)

the "stash"

 

 

Oh look, there's ME!  And my tidy, functional happy sewing room!

 

Happy Easter everyone

I'll be hiding in here all weekend :-)

 

Ciao x

 

 

 

 

 

I've been preparing for a creative fest ................

and deciding on colour

 



for this ole girl

 



 

with beautiful handles

 

and maybe a mosaic top

 



of technicolour

 



 

and hanging prints from my mum

 

 

and kid friendly craft

 

and storing essentials

 



and sorting pretties

 



 

and loving my new transport

(did I mention we own a bike shop?)

 

 

and hanging to use my new (old) machine

 

 

to create lots of lovelies!

 

But in the meantime  .....

 

I am stuck in the cupboard

 

 

(yes literally)

knee-deep in paper work!

This was a walk in wardrobe in a previous life

now its my 1.4m x 2.6m office

(notice anything? there is no window grrhhhh)

 

YUK!

 

I am itching to get out into the sewing room but my current priority is bookwork for my "other" business (the one that puts food on the table!)

 

After an 18 month break, I am back to my old antics keeping the business end of our bike shop going!  Paying bills, reconciling bank accounts, running errands, paying staff, doing the GST and general organisational shenanigans!

 

Am I happy about it? - no not really (if the truth be know)

but alas,

I am a Company Director and a Company Director needs to do what needs to be done!

 

I am hoping with all my heart I can sort it all out, and get into a fabulous routine of 2 days per week at the office (well in the closet) and 3 days of sewing gorgeous frockery.

But my life is NEVER that organised so we will see.

As usual I promised I'd catch up on every ones blogs and in grand "Dee" style my plan flew out the window, so forgive me wont you.

I am hoping like hell my next post will be full of pictures of gorgeous dresses in a fest of floral delights to tantalize your eyes!

(but honeys, dont hold your breath)

Till then,

Dee xox

 

 

 



Finally.... some photos

 

1. West coast black sand beaches = HOME

(you can just see snow capped Mount Taranaki in the background)

 

2. Black Angus with Pohutukawa in flower in the background!

(using some instagram filter)

 

3. Pohutukawa in flower

(afternoon sunlight)

 

4. Fitzroy beach fun with kids and cousins!

(my childhood beach)

 

5. Christmas dinner - NZ style

(all the kids together)

 

6. Daily Tip Top ice creams

 

7. Little Miss Nikita and my gorgeous niece, Caitlin

(Pukekura Park, New Plymouth)

 

8. Pukekura Park - Festival of Lights

 

9. Nikita posing on the perspex bench seat - Pukekura Park

 

10. Hanging lights over Poets Bridge - Pukekura Park

 

11. The Big Dig - Ngamotu Beach

 

12. My all time favourite view

(I never tire of this)

Finally I seem to be able to upload photos onto my blog!  As usual, most are scenes or the kids as I am the one manning the camera.  All are taken in my home town of New Plymouth.  I miss this place dearly and never realised just how much I'd like to live there again, and after spending 5 whole weeks in New Zealand the desire is stronger than ever.  I miss this gorgeous view (above), there is something very special about it that gives me a sense of belonging.   I miss the beaches, the fine black sand, the rugged coastline, the surf waves, the native trees, the beautiful people!

 

All in all, I am homesick!

 

I have been back in Australia for just under a week, as usual life picks up where you left it and I am back running around like the headless chook that I am taking kids to swimming lessons, organising school uniforms and stationary bla bla bla.

 I did, however, received a gorgeous parcel of joy from our 

whore-gasmic gal

 

 

Sarah

 

As always, all gifts are spectacular!

 

 

You know I'm gunna be making you another dress now!

 

 

 

Mine and Nikita's new Christmas presents!

 

 

and lastly, a photo taken on Tuesday evening from Mount Porepunkah looking towards our closest bush fire which is currently burning behind Harrietville.  Our friend in need, Elvis (the water bombing helicopter) has been flying overhead continuously over the past 48 hours.  Lets hope this is contained asap.

 

Anyway, it's time to supervise the kids in the pool.

Chat again real soon.

Dee xox

 

 

 



Hello, Hello, I'm back again (I'm back, I'm back as a matter of fact)

 

 

How are you all and a BIG whopping

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The kids and I landed safely back on the dry continent yesterday morning and are glad to be home

in our OWN beds!!

As usual the heat is sinful but our air-con is working wonders so I have been unpacking, washing, drying, catching up on all the mail and of course local news!

We had a sensational time in New Zealand but more of that to come .....

for some god-for-saken reason I can't upload

photos onto my blog. 

 

WEIRD

 

so when I figure it all out I will be back with some colourful happy snaps!

In the meantime I will be reading through your blogs and catching up on the gossip.

I have a lot planned for 2013

so bring it on I say!

 

Chat real soon

Dee xoxox

 



Going for a ride on a big jet plane - hey hey - hey hey - hey hey

Yes lovelies,

 

it's that time again for my customary annual/bi-annual pilgrimage across the

"ditch"

(Tasman Sea for those that don't know our slang down under)

 

The kids and I are gunna take a ride on a big jet plane

and head back to New Zealand in just over a week

to hang out with the maddening crowd!

(that would be the family and all its extensions!!)

 

Am I excited?  Just a tad.

It's my way of re-connecting, re-charging and relaxing!

I can't wait to see my old stomping ground

 

(Mount Taranaki)

and hang out with people that I love and adore!

 

These past few weeks have gone so fast,

 

I have

 

been entertained by tigers

 



 

sorted, tagged and priced dresses for sale

 

participated in my first ever "Suitcase Rummage"

in Melbourne.  It was a huge day, up at 5am, drove 4 hours to Melbourne, got there early and thankfully parked the car right outside the front door!  Had time for a coffee break and then the girls and I lugged our suitcases (3) up the stairs and into the Thornbury Theatre to display our wares!

It was a fabulous day with good sales and lots of potential customers including a few orders after the fact!  Got to be happy with that :-)

 

a quick stop at the "oppie" and I scored a few pretties for more frock making!
Lucky my mum has a good sewing machine and overlocker so I am taking some pattern pieces with me just incase I have withdrawals!  I am secretly looking forward to scouring through a whole heap of NZ op shops!

 

Today I am packing my bags and tomorrow I head to Melbourne to meet up with a girlfriend

for 3 nights and 4 days of catching up, shopping, exploring and dining!  We haven't seen each other in around 5 years and the two of us back-packed our way around Europe in our hey day so it is sure to be a fun filled week with a dash of reminiscing!

 

I am going to be in NZ for 5 whole weeks so you may not see me here again until the end of January!

I promise when I get a chance I will be tuning into your blogs and making random comments here and there!  I'm kind of going off the grid for that time with no international roaming as it is so beedin expensive.

 

I hope you all have a fabulous time over the festive/silly season with lots of thrifty finds in between a wee bit of indulgance!

 

hugs to you all,

Dee xoxo

 



A week of instagram

Whilst I have every intention of sitting at the computer to up date you all on my dandy wee life

the reality is I've been finding it time consuming

and it cuts in to my productive hours!

 

(please forgive)

 

I just don't have enough hours in my day to achieve all that I want!

(me thinks I should lower my expectations somewhat!)

 

Anyway, I have been sewing madly the last few weeks to replenish stock for the market season

and I have been showcasing some of my dresses in a local shop during the

Melbourne Cup weekend and our local Hot Rod weekend.

 

(it's all rather exciting)

 

I have many projects on the go at present and I'm feeling a bit scattered!!

But my motivation has been high and I have spent many hours whirring away happily

and these are the results ...

 



Love this girly dress

 



 

this has pockets and groovey print

mustard florals with pockets

 





thats right - they are all handmade!

 



 

Selina Lakes book "Homespun Style"

Have you seen it?  The colours are amazing!

 

 



Her first big performance!

 

 



a few market treasures

 



 

my latest score!

($10 thank you very much)

 

These next ones are a tad blurry!  (Damn those settings on the camera!)

 

 

Just enough fabric for another Smurf dress

 

 

sunny yellow

 



 

pocket details (well blurry details)

 

Yikes!  Gotta go  and rescue the washing!  The rains are coming!

 

mwah x