Bargain Hunting

I've always been a big fan of OP Shopping/antiquing/treasure troving, whatever you want to call it.... I can remember the first ever vintage purchase I made was a small box of candles from the 1940's, I was aged 11, and it was from a shop that no longer exists, called "Junk and Disorderly" down in Victor Harbour. I think my facsination for the old stuff came from hoping to find an antique treasre worth millions of dollars LOL! The funny thing is I met my match in Luke because he still feels this way:)

When he and I joined forces we discovered pretty quickly that we both enjoy a good bargain hunt, and our home is filled with many vintage treasures, including a working 1940's Radiogram.

Most recently my love for all things vintage has extended to Verri Charmed, it was always my philosophy to incorporate vintage and upcycled components into my work, that's part of what makes my items unique. As I have become more handy with a sewing machine, as I had always hoped, this has escalated into using gorgeous vintage fabrics to create new pieces.

I thought I'd share a pic tonight of one of my favourite items I have ever created. A patchwork scarf featuring a backing of hand cut vintage chenille. Divine:)

The 3rd Birthday Parties.....

March and April are the biggest birthday months on our calender for the year, it's when the Mother's Group birthdays are with a few friends children and a niece and a nephew throw in the mix. Last weekend we had two thirs birthday parties, and this weekend we have another two. We will then get a short break and the a combined party for two 3 years olds and the we finally reach Miss D on the 17th of April.

It's actually a tad exhausting LOL! Last weekend we kicked off the MG birthday's with a visit to The Hahndorf Farm Barn for one, where we learned about various farm animals, got to touch lizards and pythons, fed Emu (D LOVES Emu!) and kangaroos and Delilah even got to milk a cow. Then on the Sunday we visited the miniture train park for my Nephew's third birthday. Being a gorgeous autumn day the park was teeming with birthday parties and visitors over excited about riding the gorgeous miniture steams trains around the track.

Both M and D were exhausted from the events of the weekend, but it was certainly lovely to visit palces we might otherwise have missed (though personally I wasn't a massive fan othe the Farm Barn, but D loved it!).

Yesterday we had another MG party complete with feeding horses and alpaca and lots of swinging, sliding and jumping. The most exciting part was the face painter. D insisted that she must have a Lady Bug painted on her face..... and so she did.



Tomorrow we have breakfast in the park (though I am currently on night shift and may not be awake enough to drag myself along).

I Love sharing the delight with my girls on these occassions, but the scale of them have left me wondering..... What do we do for D's Party?

When I ask her what she wants, she tells me a chocolate cake, three candles and a telescope. And really it should be just that simple shouldn't it? She's only three afterall, I'm sure in the future I will disapoint her when she asks for extremely elaborate things.... so while it's simple I am determined to give her exactly what she wants.... but perhaps we will throw some balloons into the mix too;)

Wanting to Believe in Myself

I've been feeling pretty down lately. Often, like others, I don't think I'll ever be good enough at anything. That my work won't match up to the standard of others. That my ideas won't be taken seriously... that I'll be laughed at or belittled.

But realisically I know that I'm putting myself out there and doing what I LOVE. So does it really matter what others think? I saw this gorgeous quote tonight and I think I it need make it my new mantra.

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” - Cecil Beaton

And with that I'm off to sew:)