Making the most of it: Spring

Oh my goodness! You have no idea how excited I have been this week by Spring... weather... boring? NEVER!
One thing that really sucks about having your own retail/shop based business is that you have opening times... that means most of my day times are taken up by being in the gallery. I do get alternate weekends off but as luck would have it, none of the really yummy days this Spring have fallen on my free time. 
This week I totally lucked out and Monday was the most glorious, sunny, blue-skied kinda day. Perfect bicycle riding weather!  
I had my eyes peeled for a vintage ladies bicycle for a while and one day whilst heading to work from my fellas house I spotted the most beautiful shiny 70's 3-speed cycle propped up outside the local op-shop. I called Mark as soon as I pulled up and sent him over quick-smart to nab it! Lucky I did as whilst he was paying his $17 for it another hopeful arrived for it... too late! It's now mine, all mine! 

 With such a perfect 24 degree day on Monday I quickly roped a friend into taking a spin down the pathway along the creek... but not before we spent an hour or two servicing my bike! Whoops! 
It's all good, between us we fixed  the gears, tightened the chain and adjusted the brakes. We also took a trip to the local cycle store where I grabbed a cute basket... perfect for my camera, water bottle and this little fella! 

 This is his sleepy face. That basket must be cozy!
Our town is riddled with bike trails along the creeks and river, winding through wetlands, parks and plantations and you can feel like you are in the middle of no-where even when you are bang in the city. The thing I love most about city trails is the crazy mix of natural and industrial... look at these massive water pipes spanning the valley! 

It's been a long time since I took a bike out for a spin and I really admire those super-fit peeps who whizz around on them all the time. I'm not the most confident cyclist, I'm more than a bit wibbely-wobbly, I'm frightened when I go too quickly and even the most moderate incline had me struggling... but heck was it fun just taking in the world and practice makes perfect right? Join me in a bike ride this Spring?

A small surprise

Sometimes things don't quite turn out the way you expect, and my vintage first aid kit adventure has been one of those times. I'm usually pretty good at working out all the deets when buying things online but the kit I purchased on Etsy arrived a wee bit smaller than I was expecting.
I mean, it's very cute but it isn't gonna fit all the supplies I had in mind.

Well never mind because look what my genius fella brought home from his work last week!

(artwork by my ace biz partner Marcia King)

What a darling... I'm so lucky to have a bloke that gets as much enjoyment out of old things as I do and we have had some great times rummaging through antique shops and junk stores together.

I'm looking forward to finding a home for this cabinet but it looks like Yorkie cat isn't convinced.

X Steph

Vintage styling: 1950's eyeliner flicks

I love playing with vintage looks and have decided to share some little tutorials on how I achieve them.

1950's style eyeliner flicks have been a part of my everyday style since I was a teen and I feel like I will always be wearing them, regardless of time or fashion. They are so much a part of my look that if I don't have the 'flick' happening people ask me if I'm unwell... It's like they know I look funny but can't pinpoint exactly what's different!
I also get asked how I get them so even and perfect... The answer is "I don't". It's true, they are often a bit wonky but trust me, nobody notices. I thought I would share with you how I create my little flicks, I'm sure there are hundreds of tutorials out there but here's my method.

Excuse the odd frame crop... to get a decent close up I had to film myself in the mirror... yup.. I'm wily like that!

 
X Steph

works in progress

At the moment I have so many projects on the go all in various stages of completion. Artworks to finish, paintings to hang, community artworks to install, window displays to complete. I have been making so many fun things but have nothing really finished to show you.


The biggest work in progress for me is a long-term one. My home. My apartment has for many years been artists studios and a student share-flat, although I'm renting, I'm on a commercial lease which means two things.... firstly, I'm here to stay for a while, and secondly that I can remodel as I wish. And thank goodness for that!

When I moved in last year the carpets were old, torn and stained and the walls in serious need of a paint. The first step was to pull up the carpets and give the place a lick of white paint, including the lime green feature wall and fireplace. Next on the agenda is to sand and refinish the floors but at the moment the budget won't stretch that far and neither will my spare time to complete the work.

I know, I know, does a rental really deserve such love and attention? I suppose being such a visual person my surroundings are important to me and my home even more so. Although saving for our own home is on the agenda it certainly isn't on the cards anytime soon, so in the meantime I want to make my little rental house as cozy and 'me' as possible!

The process is slow, I have discovered that I'm the sort of person that needs time to develop an interior. But one project at a time I am slowly getting there and gradually more and more corners are looking they way I like them.

Vintage first aid kit

 1. Ebay    2. Best Made Co.   3. Etsy    4. Ebay  

Here's a quick round up of some of the gorgeous vintage first aid kits out there. I enjoy a touch of industrial vintage and have been inspired by this kit at my friend Kims house to shop for one of my very own.

Photo of  Kims first aid kit from The Design Files

I ended up purchasing this item from Etsy, I'm loving how worn and industrial looking it is.

The search helped me discover the Best Made Company website, an amazing shop full of manly things with a vintage vibe, from books on tying knots to axes and camping gear. It can be hard to find great guy gifts but this site is chock full of masculine gift ideas!

If you're in Australia this weekend was a long weekend for the Queens birthday, hope you had a great one!

X Steph

What I wore: Faux fur and boots

I love wearing bright colours and the change of season has allowed me to embrace bright stockings, cute boots and cozy coats. I've also been having fun documenting my outfits into little photo-collages, as well as mixing my thrifted and vintage pieces into my every-day wear

This 60's faux fur is becoming a staple in my cool weather wardrobe, it's so snuggly warm and much more old-hollywood glam than a bulky knit. I'm not really a trousers kind of gal but this jacket makes wearing jeans fun!

 

I found the BEST pair of lace-up boots for a very thrifty $30 a few weeks ago and I can already tell they will be a winter staple as they are fantastic with both ankle jeans and tights. I have also been practicing wearing heels... an art I have never really mastered. My mustard platforms might be going a step too far but my thrifted nude Melissas are super comfy!

 

Love Steph