inspiration....nathalie lete

This is the very talented artist Nathalie Lete.  So inspirational in so many ways.  Her works are becoming well known around the globe.  Known for her playful, whimsy, naive pieces in many different mediums, they are sure to have you smiling a smile that transports you right back to being a child.

These scarves we have in both stores - Perth & Balmain.  The top ones are cotton scarves perfect for our long hot summers.  Tie one around the neck or pop one into your handbag and elegantly mop your brow when necessary.  They make awesome presents, so stock up for Christmas (yes, scary, it's just around the corner!).  The silk scarfs are simply stunning. Be sure to check them out when in our stores.

Bric a Brac is one of Nathalie's hard to find books, that we have in our stores.  So delightful and inspirational.  Flicking through it, makes me just want to go and create.  Her great use of colour is a great resource too.  Plenty of beautiful colour combinations that are begging to be the inspiration of many quilts.  The little dresser above houses Nathalie's treasured "heroes" that she has often rescued (thrifted) and star in many of her creations.

So, what's inspiring you lately?

Sarah

Minxy Vintage

Do you browse through vintage or retro clothes at flea markets and wish you had the knack to breathe new life into the dated frocks, skirts and smocks? Kelly Doust’s Minxy Vintage will help you transform these items – and indeed any item in your wardrobe, ripe for reinvention. In Minxy Vintage, Kelly combines her love of fashion with creativity, transforming more than 50 damaged, ill-fitting and past-it clothes into modern, wearable pieces.

Join us for an afternoon tea party and practical advice session with Kelly, and bring along some of your own items for advice on how to update them. Enjoy a glass of champagne while she shares her top shopping hints, tips and ideas for seeing the wonderful possibilities for updating all old clothes, and how to look fabulous doing so, no matter what your age, location or budget.






 



 Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customizing vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes.
- Dita Von Teese

A vintage vixen’s guidebook for the chic: just read, shop, recreate, and repeat. You can’t help but get inspired by her vintage acumen. - Janie Bryant, Award-Winning Costume Designer, Mad Men







Bookings essential.  Please call the shop on 02 9555 9909 to confirm your place.

washing day

I love nothing better than a handmade lace find at the markets, a little worse for wear, a little grimey and in need of a new home and some loving, some appreciation.

These pieces washed up wonderfully & were nothing short of beautiful in the spring sunshine, worth sharing I thought. Sarah

one of a kind

In the Balmain store, we have these amazing one off pieces by Dowry.  They are handmade in Australia, in a wonderful collaboration between mother & daughter from country NSW.  They design unique pieces utilizing vintage fabrics and discarded textiles, creating what can only be described as breathtaking, covetable pieces.   We also have a wonderful collection of tapestry cushions and some wonderful pieces of their special clothing - of which I will blog about when we receive more.

Above are the two remaining tapestry bags, which I've placed in our online store .
                                                                                                            -  Sarah

our perth crochet diva...

Danielle is our Perth crocheter extraordinaire.  Danielle teaches our beginners and goes on to teach flowers and hexagons to our crochet ravenous participants

A new blanket pattern is now available on our website to entice

crocheted in debbie bliss baby cashmerino

Danielle also brought in this lovely hexagon quilt, all stitched in Liberty fabrics - her favourite

Pop in store and add your name to our list for one of Danielle's classes

my hidden post

I am in Sydney enjoying the Balmain shop and all the joy that comes with it.

Sarah and I indulged in a weekend road trip, collecting a bundle of goodies for the shop, and for me soaking in the beauty of NSW's south coast for the first time...  as a result another love is added to my list...

These pictures are everywhere, but this particular one was on the climb into Kangaroo Valley.

I dream on...

Milton was a fine stop for breakfast...

and after a couple of huge days, back to my digs in Balmain.

This visit my accommodation is a not so attractive 70's apartment block with very recent renovations.  Very minimalist, contemporary and a little soulless, but great facilities, and central to it all here, so I added some flowers and the sweetest bird vase found in Milton...


and voila...

feels like home - just for a week.

Hidden post?  Hubbie doesn't visit the blog (I think), so I can prattle on about my Sydney passion to my heart's content, without him feeling uneasy about where my heart is lying...
 

sources of inspiration

In a recent Japanese magazine featuring Liberty of London fabrics, Sania Pell featured with some beautiful little bottles that she had decorated with pieces of Liberty.  So inspired I was by her little collection, I couldn't help but make some myself for the Balmain store. 

I found some old sheet music at the markets on Saturday morning and was able to whip these up in the afternoon.