Roses and jasmine

Yesterday I felt like dressing up a bit - there was something about the smell in the air that reminded me of spring. So I wore this springtime dress and cardi combination.



The cardigan is from when I was little - back then it was huge on me (that was the 90s!) but now it's really cute and cropped.



The dress is from a little op shop in a church in Northcote, only about 1 month ago, for about $5. From the zigzagged seams to the unfinished hems, it's very obviously home made. It's so lovely I can't help wondering who made it, and whatever possessed them to give it away?

Hm. I'm not sure if the black tights go with it, but despite the springtime smell it's still really cold, and grey tights looked too sombre.



I felt like wearing my hair up, which is unusual for me. Usually I like wearing my hair down and feel really self conscious when it's up. The butterfly clip is actually a brooch and was handed down by my mother from my grandma.

It was so lovely being in the sun in our little backyard, which was bathed in sunshine and was permeated with the smell of the jasmine. Backyards are wonderful, I've always had them and I'll always want them. They make me feel like I have my own little magic place tucked away, like a secret.

A staple diet

Well, I thought I'd start my posts with something casual. This is what I wore today, and incorporates one of my best purchases ever.



I got this duffle coat from St Andrews Market, a hippy-dippy laid back marketplace that's held every Saturday morning amongst the trees in outer surburbia. It came from Wendy Rule, a Melbourne singer songwriter, and an acquaintance of my dear friend Susie. It actually was a little boys' jacket, and sat in my wardrobe unworn for ages until I thought to shorten it (it was originally a very awkward length - coming to mid thigh, and making a short girl like me look even shorter!) The minute I shortened it I started wearing it non-stop.



This shows the inner label; it's 'styled by' Jack Poden of Melbourne, ad is 90% wool, and is showerpoof and 21 ounces.

I also wore a waistcoat. I love this waistcoat partly because it goes with almost anything, but also because I made it! I made it out of an old pair of jeans that I owned for years and never wore. The thin denim (with a teensy bit of stretch) was awesome to sew with, and this is really the only thing I've sewn from scratch that I actually want to wear!



I look a little awkward here! I also have on a hat I got several years ago, thermals, a broderie anglaise top I've had since 2002 (I don't care what happens, I never get sick of broderie anglaise), and a wooly grandpa vest thing. Layering completely saves the day in Melbourne winters!



Here's another picture with the waistcoat, just to prove how it goes with everything!

Hopefully that wasn't too boring for a 2nd ever post... Now I'm going to drink some tea in front of the heater and snuggle with my boy.

Eight is a lucky number

Well, in typical fashion, I'm late again... It's already 8 months in, and I'm over halfway, but I figure I'll start this anyway!

Never being one to make new year's resolutions - this one was made on a whim, and without thought to the eventual consequences. I suppose I should explain why I made this decision, and (worse) stuck to it.

I have, since a young age, felt the irresistable pull of materialism. From my primary school days - with toys, books, tazos - to my adult acquisitions of dresses, shoes, coats, underwear... I have fought hard to overcome my tendency towards buying things. I've even been an active participant of 'buy nothing day' celebrations. Yes, I felt the irony of explaining to people the perils of mindless purchasing, while having been guilty of mindless purchasing myself! So I made a new year's resolution, just like thousands of other people, to better myself.

There is also the issue of the environment. I have been a vegetarian, recycler, and a 'greenie', so it's a natural step to stop buying new things and contributing to the incredible overload of stuff we have in this world. You only have to make one trip to a factory outlet store, or any op shop, to realise that in the first world, we definitely have too much stuff.

So hopefully I can make it until the end of this year, without contributing to sweatshops or landfill clothing. Of course I am late, so I will be backtracking a lot. There's still four more months to go though...