Friday 24 April 2015

Retro home ~ Getting into the Swing of things

Hello all!

As I'm now finally dry, safe and sound again post massive crazy weather here in NSW Australia, I thought it was time to do a blog post about a recent obsession I've discovered which came from the strangest of places.


So I recently saw this video on Time Warp Women (or click here to read the Yahoo Article), shot in the UK it looks at 3 women who have chosen to almost reject the modern world and disassociate from society in favor of a 'vintage' existence. 



In a lot of ways I thought this approach to a "retro" living was:
  1.  Very naive - One woman didn't even know what the actual date is
  2. Elitist in their ideals - They seemed to think themselves above 'modern' people due to having "proper vintage morals and attitudes" - IE my marriage is better than yours because of our set gender roles, my lifestyle gives me a better quality of life, blah blah. Which of course, is to be frank, crap. Lifestyle is a personal choice on a way of living that works for you. You compare it to yourself, not everyone else.
  3.  Shaming - Tying back to the Elitist ideal, I was personally DISGUSTED the amount of SHAMING over how these women felt about how "modern" women choose to present themselves physically (what you wear does not dictate your 'self respect')  
While I personally don't like people who are into vintage/retro things like this as I am opposed to this kind of snobby elitism (yes that's the word I think fits best), I must admit I was in absolute ENVY over their homes and wardrobes and it truly got me thinking how much I would love a retro home of my own.



With the prospect of moving again in the very near future (long story short, my house isn't waterproof/rain proof) and I've been looking at a lot of early 70's styled flats (so many pastel bathrooms!!) that I could easily throw back into the  late 1950's/early 1960's, which is seeming to be where I feel most 'at home' with retro home styling.

So having a bit of free time up my sleeve recently (outside of unit hunting) I've been looking at some pieces that I'd love to maybe one day have in my home and thought I'd share!

Lounge Suites





Dining Chairs/settings





Decor


Coffee Tables/corner tables


To say I am excited about the prospect of having my own little vintage home is an understatement! I just wish more was in Sydney, as atm most of the stuff I fall in love with is in Melbourne!

Will be posting more on this over the coming months, especially after I move!

Much love,




Monday 20 April 2015

The Daisy Jean Shoot weekend!

I have been rather MIA over the past two weeks and I promise I have a great reason!

Last month, after attending my first ever Sydney Rock n Roll Markets for my accessories brand Daisy Jean Floral Designs, I decided I wanted to utilise my brand to help other pinups grow. I often talk about women supporting women, especially in the pinup community and I guess I wanted to put my money where my mouth was!

So, as of the end of March 2015, I brought on pinup gals Miss Chelsea Kate and Miss Cherry Button to be the faces of Daisy Jean for 2015! During their time with Daisy Jean the ladies get a variety of things including: 
  1. Goodies from Daisy Jean to keep and wear monthly
  2. Two photo shoots minimum, one which is styled by DJ and one where they self style
  3. Promotion on business pages
  4. Images from the shoots used for any DJ publicity during the time with DJ as well as for the girls to build their portfolios
  5. A signature piece named after them available only during their 12 months with DJ
  6. Opportunities for travel and represent DJ at sponsored events
  7. Opportunity to work at events representing DJ
I wanted to really to offer the face's of my brand as much opportunity for exposure and growth as I could. This literally started as an idea that I posted to see interest on Instagram and SNOWBALLED into something incredible in a matter of days! The weekend just passed for me was an accumulation of WEEKS of hard work and prep to get things together and I am so thrilled with the outcome!

I was up bright and sparky early to head to Newcastle for my first shoot of the three, which was the solo shoot for Miss Chelsea Kate shot by Billy June Photography. This was the shoot where Miss Chelsea got to style and smoulder as she does behind the camera, with some direction from me. 


It was an absolute blast and an entirely new experience being behind the camera as oppose to infront of it. The photos from this shoot have already gotten back to me and they are incredible! I cannot WAIT to share them all with you in the very near future!


We shot a lot of our Tiki range with Miss Chelsea, as against her dark hair they really do pop! Then we moved onto some Glamour style shots, which is REALLY Miss Chelsea's natural zone and boy did she smoulder! She also got introduced to her signature piece which we will be available for made to order only in the coming 2 weeks!



Once shooting was done I was back on the train home, arriving back late and heading to bed for another LONG day.

I was up bright and sparky early (as were the ladies) for a 9.00am-9.30am start for our big joint shoot day! The girls arrived fresh faced while Jenna Kelly did hair and make up for the shoot, with a feel that was classical pin up!


The girls looked AMAZING and once done we set off to our beautiful garden location in Caringbah! The blooms were beautiful, even if it was a little drizzly and with our photographer Lauren Horwood we very quickly worked through photographing pieces!

To be honest, the shoot day was everything I dreamed! The girls were incredible to work with and I feel so truly blessed to be working with two incredibly down to earth young women in 2015. Seeing the shots of the back of the camera was just...I don't really have words. It was just so amazing to see something I'd been visualising come into reality!

I'll leave you with a teaser I snapped on the day, but BIG things keep happening for Daisy Jean and I'll keep working hard on my little brand to make it the best it can be!


Til tomorrow!


Wednesday 15 April 2015

Wishlist Wednesday!

Its Wednesday and that means its Wishlist time!

Firstly, lets look at some brooch goodies I'm currently drooling over today from Hungry Designs!


In the lead up to Jurassic World in 2 months time, I am honestly lusting after these two brooches and I really need to get one to wear to the movies when it comes out!!

Mounted Triceratops head brooch - $40.33
Mounted T-Rex head brooch - $40.33
I am also loving these Disney designs from HD as well!

Cheshire Cat brooch - $24.20
Bambi Brooch - $24.20
Pascal Brooch - $24.20
And I guess because today my skirt features clouds and umbrella's I'm LOVING these adorable happy cloud cranky cloud pieces as well!

Happy Cloud brooch - $24.20
Cranky Cloud Brooch - $24.20
You can find them on Facebook or on IG under @hungrydesigns

I am also currently hunting for more tops, as my skirt to top ratio is incredibly off balance atm (1 top per 3 skirts!) and I'm loving designs from Doll Me Up Darling right now!

In particular the Audrey Top - $26.20





The Fancy French top - $34.07




Both are styles which for me would be amazing for work!

Going to leave it there today but keep an eye out for more blog posts coming later this week!



Thursday 9 April 2015

The love affair with Erstwilder

Evening all!

Thought I'd finish off this post and get it published before I headed to bed tonight and that post is about my primary brooch affair with the one and only Erstwilder.


Erstwilder is an Australian brand based in Melbourne, VIC that makes brooches, earrings and necklaces out of resin. I first discovered Erstwilder in 2-013 and at the time the idea of wearing a brooch had never occurred to me. But as I delved more into understanding elements of pinup/retro/vintage style, I discovered brooch wearing was a popular element, so I figured I'd give it a try. The love affair, for me anyway, started with a fox.


Fleur the foxy brooch to be exact, though she is sadly no longer with me (I lost her at the movies). This first brooch, spawned a love affair that has lasted on til 2015, which is only continuing to thrive! In the last 2 years I have grown my collection to currently stand at 24 brooches (would have been 25 with Fleur!) and 1 set of earrings! And I know its only going to get bigger!


I love this brand for its creativity, originality and attention to detail that comes from Erstwilder. No matter where I go, I forever get compliments on my Erstwilder brooches and while I am expanding my tastes into other brooch brands now, Erstwilder will forever hold a special place as my first brooch love! They are just so unique, their design is so playful and the variety is incredible! The colours truly pop and the layering allows for a depth I haven't seen with other products. They are also a great way to give an outfit a vintage vibe without going overboard and are a great versatile accessory for beginner pinups!And they are budget friendly, averaging around $30.

The quality is incredible! Some pieces in this collection are over 2 years old! And the introduction of locking clips on the back means you won't have to worry about losing your goodies! One or two of mine have even taken an unintentional ride in the washing machine and still been fine. The quality is testiment in the fact I'll cart these round, put them in my handbag, forget to take them off clothes and they are still soldiering on!

See below for some examples of me just recently rocking Erstwilder!

Phoebe the Fairy Wren

Pauline the Pearled Emu

She's So Foxy Brooch

Fargo the Frog

Flamboyant Flamingo

Marilyn's Mermaid earrings and Martha Mermaid brooch

Pouncing Paulette
And these are honestly just from the last few weeks!

But this Cinderella also got to go to the ball! I had the absolute PLEASURE of working with Erstwilder and Lilla Rosten at the Reed trade fair earlier this year and it was honestly a BLAST! I got to learn so much more about a brand I love, I got to meet some of the amazing people who stock these products (and who I purchase from!) and I also got to meet and work with the Erstwilder team, who taught me SO much in my 4 days with them!


Day 1 with Lilla Rosten
Day 2, with Lilla Rosten
Day 3
Day 4
This is a brand that is definitely here to stay! Such good quality, such a unique approach to bringing fun, affordable designs to pinup ladies and others and definitely a brand I will continue to wear and share the love for!

I am still SO grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with them over the 4 days I did and hope to one day have the pleasure again in the future!

Some places you can buy Erstwilder online are The Vintage Pip and Gwynnies!

Til tomorrow!