this week ...

1. reading looking at beautiful Paumes books - Ateliers de Filles 2
optimum eye-candy

2. creating pretty frocks

3. DIY - op shopped english plate and birdie sticker

4. more sewing

5. op shop finds

6. pretty 70's fabric find, perfect for making a dress to go with my groovey baby tooled leather bag.

Instagram - it's fun and convenient but the quality is CRAP!
(in my opinion)

Tasmanian salmon steaks and colourful salad for tea tonight
YUM!
x

old tin love and a birdie brooch ...

I was being overly ambitious whilst in Tasmania thinking I'd be able to "op-shop" my way around the countryside.  In reality we were so busy getting from A to B and checking out the sights I didn't even get a chance until about day 5 - three quarters of our way into our journey. 

I even took over the driving at one stage as hubby and the kids weren't having a bar of my "op shopping needs" and I knew if I didn't take over the driving there would be Buckley's chance of me having the opportunity for a wee scrummage if I spied one!

When we finally drove into a small town on a "weekday" and I saw Vinnie's on the right hand side I wrenched the steering wheel to the left sending bags and any unattached paraphernalia in the  motor home flying.

A sigh of groans and moans came from all 4 members of my family.

My heart skipped a beat, I barked a "get the kids a snack and us coffees" order to hubby, hoping this task would allow me 10 minutes of scrounging pleasure at the very least and bolted for the Vinnie's door.

Inside was thee MOST tidy, clean, organised and well laid out op shop I had ever seen in my entire life! In fact, it didn't even look like an op shop.

It was screaming high street fashion franchise with prices to match and  even the dear old volunteers looked like old age Malibu Barbie on the Pension dolls.  It wasn't quite what I was expecting and so I wandered back to the motor home feeling cheated.

Luckily though, on our last day in Tasmania we spent the day in a little coastal town called Penguin.  We drove there especially as I had read there was a market that could be worth checking out and we weren't disappointed!

I bought these three colourful tins for a fiver

and a cute ceramic birdie love brooch handmade by

Lavallier 

I found this brooch in the cutest wittle shop in Penguin CBD. 

NEST

You may have seen/heard of it if you read FRANKIE.

The shop is filled with gorgeous handmade goodies, crafty books, bags, brooches, and lots of other delightfuls.

In other news,

I have up-graded my $70 smart phone to a $140 smart phone.

(I know, I know - I just went all out didn't I)

anyways, my new fan-dango-phone allows me to do

INSTAGRAM

(username: onedenimbird)

so I have now joined the masses and have taken 4 (yes you read that right - 4)

photos to share with you

but Houston we have a problemo!

I dunno how the fcuk to upload them to my blog!

So hang around a while if you please and you may just get to peek at them in this millennium!

Eureka!

What do ya know ...

I pushed the right buttons!

so here are the tins I bought in Tassie

(the instagram version - they look more antique in this shot don't ya think)

and part of my book collection

(I have a weakness for crafty lovely books)

and I guess by now most of you know this weakness of mine,

a stack of vintage floral love of the flannel kind

(great for winter patchwork quilts)

and some easy escape-artists reading

(although I can't read a word of Japanese but I CAN ogle the pictures and craftiness and I can read  sewing diagrams!

(Luckily)

So there you have it - my first ever instagram photos and I managed to figure out how to put them

on my blog all by myself!

(I'm such a big girl)

I'm not sure about the quality but - well - whatever!

Hope you are all having a fab week.

Hugs from me,

Dee x

I'm getting my MOJO back...

Today was the perfect day at home to get back into the swing of things

kids were at school and childcare

weather was cold out

heater was cranking in my studio

and I was a workin that sewing machine!

But firstly a few photos of my beloved Tassie ...

the scenery is to die for

the beer was mighty good too

even the kids had fun

the views were incredible

the serenity

the seafood

the seaside

and can you spot the little critters in the bush?

I have discovered a big hairy critter in my sewing room!

A huntsman the size of a saucer!

I'm ok with that as long as he keeps his beady eyes and hairy legs to himself. 

When I can't see him I get the heeby jeebies.

This cool change is perfect for bunking down and sewing.

Hope you are all planning a fab weekend

Dee xox

Look out!

There is a Tassie Tiger on the prowl!

A very unique kinda one!

Miss Madam had her face painted on our last day in the cute little town of Penguin

We are back happy people from the most gorgeous, most beautiful, most friendly, most splendiferous, tantalising and tasty Tasmania!

Words cannot describe the warm and fuzzy feeling I got from exploring yet another beautiful part of this vast land

(and bugger it - I only got to scratch the surface)

Today I have been unpacking, washing, restocking the pantry and chilling with my very own Tasmanian Tiger (aka Nikita).  We were rather exhausted after an over night ferry crossing  and a 4 hour drive back home, arriving after dark last night.

Honestly today I was pooped!

Tomorrow is a new day though, back into the usual routine and I will be making a start on a fabulous dress for an even fab-u-low-sa-rer lovely lady!

more photos to come

night x



This + This + This = That!

This transportation

+ this accommodation

+ this beautiful gourmet Island

 + these kinds of markets

+ lots of retail therapy

 + scenic exploration

and meeting the locals

 and then coming home on this

equals

That!

In my former life (before children) I was a full time traveller.

(for want of a better title)

I am my HAPPIEST when I am planning, booking, preparing and going on an adventure.

I usually fly back to NZ every year to catch up with the whanau (family) and when I come home I go through a mild depression until I start planning my next trip.

Sometimes it may only be a quick trip to Melbourne, sometimes it's off to the coast for 2 or 3 days, other times it's a weekend on the Murray River or in the Mountains.

But my favourite adventures by far involve an aeroplane journey

and that's not necessarily because I enjoy travelling by air,

in fact the palaver before and after take-off is rather tedious

(especially with 3 children in tow)

it's more about the fact that we are going somewhere OVERSEAS!

Exotic locations are by far my pick,

(think Asia on a shoe-string)

but these days I am happy to go

ANYWHERE.

And the "Apple Isle" has been on my bucket list

for like - EVER!

AND I think it will be rather

EXOTIC.

Bon Voyage my friends!

I will see you soon

Mwah x



Feast your eyes ...

Hello there precious pups ...

A while back I found this little number (literally)

 in my favourite local op shop.

I spotted that nylon a mile away and the colours were screaming at me!

(are you having trouble focusing on that fabric too?)

For a mere $1.50 AUD I just had to add these togs to my wardrobe.

(togs = bathers, swimmers, one piece, cozzie)

I left the op shop feeling rather smug.

Oh but if only my birthing hips were a tad smaller!

I had difficulty photographing the label

(because of the way its been sewn in)

but it read

A great incentive to lose a kilo or two before our next "poolside" season!

Hope you're all having a fab week.

Dee x

Check this out ...

I have just signed up to take part in

Lakota's

If you love CHARITY, CARBOOT SALES, OP SHOPPING, ROYAL EPHEMERA

 and you

 NEED some FUN in your life

pop on over to Lakota's fabulous blog

HERE

and join in the

"shenanigans"!

It's going to be fabulous dahlings x

I'm a Picmonkey

I have been playing with a new photo editing software called

PicMonkey

coz I'm not too crash hot at taking photos

and

I NEED to fancy my photos up with a wee bit of

photo shopping!

It's a bit of fun and a bloody good time waster.

In other news

the clothesline has finally been erected

and

the pavers have been laid!

The new clothesline area is going to make my life far less complicated

(I just know it)

I have also been chipping away at a pretty frock!

If you haven't ever noticed (I secretly hope you haven't) my dresses are generally

made up in my head!

I then use an assortment of vintage patterns

to create a dress that I feel looks good.

I usually shave a bit off here and add a bit there, lower bust darts here

 (we are saggier breasted in the 21st century compared to the perky numbers we sported 40 years ago)

and take an inch or 3 off the necklines

(I think our necks are larger these days too)

Lets just say -  its all part of my wonderfully erratic crafty process.

Hope you're enjoying life.

Dee x



Hello Lovelies ...

Well another Easter is done and dusted and we didn't even indulge too much in chocolate this year.

The kids got their standard "egg" from the big white bunny and a few wee eggs were passed around at various times during the day but nothing too damaging!

It is only two more sleeps till Nana and Poppa (mum and dad to me) head off on their wee adventure around the coastline (thanks to a rental car) making their way back to Sydney before they embark on the final leg of their annual pilgrimage across the "dutch" (that's kiwi for ditch)

Boy oh boy, we will miss them and

I will be a sad sack for days :-(

My little Sis and niece both have birthdays coming up and I have been secretly working on something special for the two of them

(nan and pop will hand deliver these when they get home)

me thinks they will like

I will reveal more very soon!

Poppa and I have been doing handyman jobs around the yard and we have finally shifted my saggy old wonky clothesline and tidied up the surrounds!
(photos to come)

I am RAPT to have a PROPER clothesline area just outside my laundry door!  It will make hanging out my op shopped vintage sheets a real pleasure.
(not that its ever been a chore)

and just for fun ....

I have discovered PicMonkey
and I am so freaking happy because I have been using Picnik to edit my blog photos and seen as it is closing down on me on the 19th April I was desperate to find another easy peasy lemon squeezy photo editing software!

A rare shot of me

Yay for my favourite floral frock, a cup of tea, butterflies and flowers in my hair!
(confession - some things have been photoshopped!)

I hope Easter has been fabulous for you too
Dee x

Sometimes .......

I can be such an

(photo taken at the top of the Col de tourmalet - Pyrenees 2010)

ASS.

I have just unlocked the "word verification" on my blog comments!

(feel free to go wild)

HAPPY EASTER

x

I can do "magic" ...

Some of you may be opposed to all things IKEA

(and i can relate)

but

I've been doing the wonky op shopped office desk thingo for far too long

and when I received a nice little tax return a while back I made the decision to

spend it on a "do up" for the kids study nooks!

I managed to put the first desk together by myself

(although Grace said I swore a LOT)

and Poppa is here at the moment so he helped me with the rest and also to secure

everything to the walls!

I think my kids are pretty happy little Vegemites!

(or Marmites for you NZ readers!)

Yay for tidy, brighter, more organised study nooks.

Dee x

She who bargain hunts wins and birthday bambina

Apologies from camp "one denim bird" life just gets away on me at times and making time to update my blog seems to be getting harder and harder!!!

Since finishing that dress I have been secretly preparing for Miss Nikita's 4th birthday.  She took a liking to her besties Baby Born doll, who was allowed to come have a sleep over for 5 nights, so I decided to get one for her for her birthday, only to discover they are a whopping $60-70.  WTF??

Being the bargain hunting girl that I am I purchased a preloved one on ebay for a mere $20 and then got down and dirty and crafted said doll a few outfits!

Voila'

a seersucker jumpsuit

a lil pair of PJ's

a seersucker dress

another vintage dress

and another with matching hat!

(I know ... I'm insane!  But I had so much fun)

Do you recognise any of the fabrics?

Then I happened to pick up a baby doll stroller and carry cot for $3 at a local garage sale.

(I know - I was like - the universe is totally providing!)

The seat needed repairing on the stroller so I went all out and re did the whole thing in a 1950s floral fabric sample a friend had given me!

so cute

Our lovely neighbours organised their handyman "Pop" to build the cutest wooden cradle and I whipped up a patchwork quilt, sheet, pillow and mattress made from all my fabric scraps!

(Look at that sweetpeas wittle face.  That doll hasnt left her side since Monday.)

and still there is more ...

Ma and Pa are here from NZ and Nana knitted Nikita's doll some cardy's and beanies. 

Yay for Nana the knitter!

There is much more to show and tell but I havent quite finished all my projects or photographed everything so you will have to wait till next time ok petals.

These last few weeks have also been filled with

1.   a weekend away in Rutherglen for the Day on the Green

2.   a speed trip to Melbourne to do an IKEA run

3.   a major re-organisation of bookshelves

4.   a trailer load of crap to go to the tip

5.   a 4WD trip for hubby and kids

6.   organising a party for Miss 4 year old

7.    a trip to the airport to pick up Nan and Pop

8.    a reptile show

9.   Nikita's birthday party (a really lovely low-key party with her 3 closest girlfriends)

10.   and sadly a snotty case of Sinusitus just to remind me I need to slow down and take care of myself a bit better!

Never fear though lovies I am still here and there is more to come!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week where ever you are,

Dee xox