McCall's Quickie!

I bought this cutsie dress pattern dated 1967 for 50c from an op shop last year and have been meaning to try sewing this. I hadn't sewn a dress before, so thought this looked like a simple pattern to try ... after all the packaging does say "McCall's Time Saving Quickie Pattern!"

Today was 42 degrees so it was a good option to stay indoors in my air conditioned lounge and give this a go! I got started at about 1.00pm and finished it at about 11.00pm. The instructions weren't very clear and I had to unpick a seam and re-do one part, but eventually I got there!

The fabric I used was also an op shop find for about $2. Brand new, never been used retro fabric. So here is my first attempt. Not too bad in the photos, a bit rough around the edges if you look closely. I decided to add a tie belt for a slight variation. Might end up using it as the neck tie to lengthen it so I can tie a bow in the front!

I'm pretty chuffed with the result. I think I might wear it tomorrow! Just need a nice brooch to go with it now.

Teak Treats

I have been on the hunt for the perfect seating for the Messagemark studio. As you would gather by now, I have a love for the mid-twentieth century era. Well to my delight I found this sweet ensemble on E-Bay in December and ended up being the only bidder. It is solid teak, and was restored last year with new cushions, webbing, and fabric.

Totally modular, this setting can be positioned in many configurations. I particularly love the single chair. Low line, wide seat, and a perfectly angled back. Surprisingly, this set is not only good looking but comfortable too! A keeper that's for sure! See more photos here...

The home we collected this set from was absolutely amazing, a true 1960s pad, a collectors paradise, and the best collection of 1950-1960s home-wares I have seen being used daily, and not just on display. We will be posting a feature about this Retro Haven very soon on my Retro Delights blog.

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day. Here are all the things I love about living in Australia...

Multi-culture, beautiful white sandy beaches, balmy summer nights, BBQs, Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Farmers Union Iced coffee, FruChocs, Aussie Rules, Cricket, colourful landscapes, wide open places, big blue skies, and Dinky-Dye Designs!

Time Standing Still

For Christmas 2010, I decided to scan my parents old slide collection from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and make a photo book for a gift for my family. I bought a slide scanner off Ebay, and then scanned the collection of old family photos, both BW and colour. It took quite while to adjust each image, sharpness, brightness and contrast, and some of the images needed cleaning up a tad.

It was a fascinating project because I had never seen some of the photos before, or only seen them once or twice during a family slide evening!

I called the book, Time Standing Still. My family absolutely love it and now I often find myself sitting down looking through the book,  analysing the clothes, the hair, the poses... so retro cute!

This is my fave photo. My two sisters playing on the front lawn. Love the composition, the old car in the background and little Susan about to catch the ball!

Shinning Light on Cancer

I was browsing through my husbands Flickr site (Denis Smith) and came across this entry about a book (Shinning Light on Cancer) designed to support cancer sufferers.  What Denis wrote really touched me, so I wanted to share it with you. A wonderful insight and interpretation from the outside looking in, and linking the experience to his photography.

I often feel, and it is regularly commented that the reflection from the Ball of Light is more wondrous and strong than the actual Ball of Light itself. When I sit and look at images such as this one, I always find the reflection off the water more fascinating and more interesting.

I have been unlucky, and lucky enough to have cancer touch people I love far too much. When I have been closest to them the experience has been like this image. They often are just a reflection of who they were, but so often that person is more rich, more beautiful and more interesting when faced with their predicament. You will see things in them that you didn't know existed. Sometimes these experiences can be a wonderful insight into them as human beings.

[http://www.flickr.com/groups/1545026@N24/] Shinning Light on Cancer is a group set up here on flickr to gather light painting images for a book to help fight cancer, and help cancer sufferers.

Light painting brings wonder and strength to many. If we can help as a community to bring an ounce of joy and wonder to someone in need and going through Cancer, get involved.

If that person is you, BE STRONG and GO HARD! - Denis Smith

Dinky-Dye Softies - Sneak Preview

Look at what my talented friend Helen Hedding has created! It's my platypus from the new Messagemark Dinky-Dye range! We are working together to bring you a range of cute Aussie characters. Helen makes the most amazing softies so I thought she would be the perfect person to bring some of my Dinky-Dye characters to life!

This Platypus is a one off at this stage, but I'm sure there is more to come very soon! I'm excited!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - Oi! Oi! Oi!

Happy New Year! This is our first blog entry for 2011 so I hope this greeting finds you all relaxed and enjoying our Aussie Summer!

After living away from Australia for 10 years, I now have a great appreciation for all things Aussie. We really do have the best quirky animals in the world, so to celebrate this fact I'm introducing a new range from Messagemark called Dinky-Dye Designs!

Personally I am over the whole owl, moose, and rabbit imagery that we are seeing EVERYWHERE, so I'm starting a new trend today, and Aussie animals are now the thing!

Have a fun Australia Day on the 26th January.

Toodle-pip,