injeanious no..?

I love when clever types turn their light bulb ideas into successful businesses. I came across this when searching for tips to salvage a favourite pair of my husband's jeans...

Denim Therapy are magicians when it comes to mending denim and can breathe new life into your most well loved and worn strides. They work out of NYC , but will take in jobs from just about anywhere.

These before and after photos are quite amazing, don't you think?!   

a little reinvention, part two.

Thanks to a bunch of generous compliments from sweet blogger friends, I'm carrying on with

my new hobby and my desk is now covered with little boxes, dishes and bottles of beads, beads, beads...

Today I wrangled this piece together, from a strand of amber and a vintage Moroccan necklace. Both of have been sitting idle in my jewellery box for quite some time. I added a sprinkling of jet (I love jet) and a length of black satin ribbon that I had on hand. I think I might upgrade to a slightly thinner grosgrain though. I love grosgrain too...

This beading thing is such fun! It's been less than a week, I have two new additions to my wardrobe and it hasn't cost me a cent...

a little reinvention, part one.

Earlier this week a favourite, albeit rarely worn necklace fell to pieces in my hands. It was a very long strand of deco hued jet, jade and creamy onyx beads by Day Birger et Mikkelsen.

With a heavy heart, I swept up the remains and was about to relegate them to the jewellery/clothes/random stuff in need of repair cupboard.., when all those images of the gorgeous girls at the Cup decked out in 'Statement' baubles, came flooding back to me. (I should note, I was nowhere near the Melbourne Cup, rather having a tres low key celebration at home, just Thom and I with vegemite sandwiches, in front of the telly).

Thus inspired, I rifled through my bead jars and ribbon box and pulled together some random bits and bobs that might work with the onyx... Then I got to work threading...

A couple of hours later and voila!! One homemade 'Statement' necklace!

Not too bad and so fun to do!  Next I'd like to create something dramatic with the jet and jade perhaps. Then maybe a couple of colourful trinkets for my nieces for Christmas...

 Look out, someones got the beading bug...

Bags of inspired style..

Yesterdays post was a bit of a rant.., so I thought I'd better end the week on more positive and inspiring note.

Courtesy of the latest MAP magazine (The Eco Issue), comes a piece on a very talented and forward thinking accessory designer, Canadian Ashley Watson.

"Ashley and her staff handcraft her one-of-a-kind leather products using exclusively recycled material. She began designing handbags with recycled leather in early 2005, inspired by the original features of soft and gently worn jackets purchased from charity thrift stores. She ultimately incorporates these features, such as pockets and seams, into each unique bag or wallet design."

How often do you see those puffy (generally 80's) leather jackets gathering dust at your local op shop? They're often made of the softest leather, but are so well.., outdated, I've never given them a second thought, until now!!

I really love this idea, especially Ashley's relaxed, slouchy style... You can find out more about Ashley and treat yourself to one of her many lovely pieces here.

Wishing you all an inspired weekend!! xx



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

new boots...

The Hampton food fest everything I expected. Great food, music and stunning Autumn weather. We came away with full bellies and laden with organic vegies (3 avocados for $2),  home made ravioli, jams & an especially yummy raspberry vinegar...

What I wasn't expecting was the sartorial elegance on show. Those country ladies really know how to dress for the cooler weather... The common denominator on the style front were the boots! Proper country boots, comfortable and tough enough to kick around in all day, then dust off for the trip into 'town'...  I want some!

This Ralph Lauren pair I spied online here would fit the bill nicely.., vintage tan leather, stacked heel, mid calf, a little bit biker... shame they're a tad out of my price range.  Though the mid year Sales are just around the corner, so you never know...

the long & the short of it

My 'do' is in an awkward place at the moment... 

I've been growing out a bob and I'm at that annoying (stubby ponytail) in-between stage, that usually results in me giving in and heading for the nearest salon to request a serious chop... Not this time though.

I'm loving the 40's influence in fashion at the moment, especially the hair. It's fresh and ultra feminine.

London street style, The Sartorialist

Miu Miu, Style.com

on the catwalk... Miu Miu, Style.com

Vintage inspired looks at Anthropologie

With these pics for inspiration and some practice placing bobby pins, a little fortiesesque coifing may mean I'm able to hang in there... 

on the hunt for...

chambray or tencil, midthigh with darts please...

extra long, super soft & hot pink!

boat neck, 3/4 sleeves & perfect stripe to white ratio.

tweed, cord or velvet or maybe all three...

Today I headed to the shops, in order to pick up a few items for my wardrobe...  As usual, I had very specific ideas in mind and... as usual I came home empty handed. 

Mind you, I wasn't after anything particularly exotic or outlandish, quite the opposite really and for that reason, my usual 'go to' stores had elements of what I was after, but nothing that quite fitted the bill...

Might mean trying my hand at making my own... 

Bit daunting though, as I don't knit and I haven't sewn anything wearable  since Home Ec class. We made elastic waisted shorts from nursery print curtain fabric. Yep, they were all the rage circa 1988... 

Speaking of late eighties/early nineties style... does anyone remember the 'Chic Simple' book series??

I used to own a couple of titles, 'Clothes' & 'Home' I think.

The design and layout of these books was very fresh back then... so I'd be interested to see if they've stood the test of time.

Anyway, the hunt continues...

rain rain go away...

If you're here to stay however,  I'd like a pair of these please...

gloss hunter wellies