Catch up!

You may think the (digital)age-old adage,
"I blog, therefore I am"  holds true. 
But not so. I haven't blogged in ages and guess what - I still exist. I'm here! Who knew?

Lots has actually happened.

First up! School trivia night - a 50's theme extravaganza in the appropriately kitsch  time-capsule-like location of the Thornbury Bowls club.

I found this bargain dress at the last minute and had a go at some victory rolls. We all found the powder rooms to be an enchanting backdrop for our posing...and I seemed to have spent some time there by the looks of this!

There was a competition to make an outfit from newspaper - and I was the controversial judge. I'm still living down not choosing a well made Adam Ant ensemble but couldn't go past this outfit below once it was finished. There was also a team that used rice crackers as accessories. Nice one!

It was a top night and raised money for the school. FYI our team came second by ONE POINT - just like last time. Sigh!

In other news....

My short story "One Summer" was in the top five shortlist for the Southern Cross Short Story Competition - a national competition judged by author Tony Birch.

No luck with the prize money but it is incredibly affirming to be on the esteemed shortlist and to receive a highly commended.

And on another day....I cuddled a black headed python.

So you see...I'm very much alive and kicking!

Think Pink!

I know, I know, you were expecting frocks! It's FROCKTOBER - a terrific initiative for raising money for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation AND a great way to raise awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. I frocked 'til I dropped last year but am giving you all a rest from seeing me, me, me on your screens. I encourage you all to follow a frocker or two though and cheer and donate a-plenty!

All I've got for you for the new month of October is new hair...it's pink....it's big...it's making me feel pretty refreshed.

Winter was hard. I found it hard. But suddenly, in a strange typical Melbourne way, it's a hot 35 degrees today and we've gone from being covered from head to toes in puffer jackets scarves, beanies and boots to getting out in strappy dresses. All very confronting! Skin! Pale skin! Legs!  Hairy legs! Body bits! Wobbly body bits! Yikes-a-rama!

Here's a pensive me thinking, "Is my beehive really high enough or could I make it higher???"

Do you like how I matched my earrings to the lime tree? Sooooo stylish! 

Bustling About.

Yesterday I looked like a 1960's interpretation of an 1860's Western saloon girl via some early noughties bad sewing. Well. I tried to looked like Miss Kitty from "Gunsmoke."

What do you think? Is that a look? 60's television Western saloon girl?

The skirt has images of bustling women and in a vague early 2000's interpretation of that, I made it with tucks at the hem and some experimental vertical shirring in the back to create some poof.

If you look closely you can read the skirt -
diary excerpts of a bike ride that mentions places like Cape Ann and a picnic at Pigeon Cove, a visit to Rafe's Chasm and Norman's Woe.

Is it really polite to mention Rafe's Chasm?? Does it possibly has something to do with poor Norman's woe?

Anyway - feel free to read my skirt - just don't look too closely at how badly I made it.

I do wonder who this woman is - especially as her face is placed right on my front bottom, as the kids would say.

The lace shirt is quite a commitment to wear as it is like Miss Mary Mack all dressed in black with silver buttons all down her back and I sometimes have anxiety about getting stuck in clothes. This shirt needs attendants to help you dress!

But if you want to see frills...you have to check out Mel's shirt over at Bag and a Beret! Now THAT'S some FRILLS! And do watch her short movie...what that woman does with a vibrator...well...it clears the sinuses...

Maria Von Trapp Eat Your Heart Out!

The sun is out! And I'm wearing this.

(Yes, I probably have too many endorphins from tennis this morning and may live to regret this sartorial choice.) But I love my new playsuit! Because I made it myself...from curtains!!!!

 

Yes, I do look pretty pleased with myself.

I *adapted an 80's jumpsuit pattern....

 

Look! It even has pockets! Maria Von Trapp would be proud.

Does this constitute a blog post? I guess it does.

* adapted = shortening and, ahem, WIDENING the legs.

Frocktober Day 16 Forties does Forties!

Thanks go out to Saskia and her mum Klarissa for their donation yesterday! We still have two more weeks to raise money for The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation so let's keep going. Why? Well I don't want to bombard you with terrifying statistics BUT...here's just a few.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of all gynaecological cancers.

Ovarian cancer has a lower survival rate than both breast and cervical cancer.

Over 50% of the community incorrectly believe a pap smear diagnoses ovarian cancer.

DONATE HERE!

Now to the frock.... 

I've done 80's does 40's and 70's does 40's so I thought it was about time I showed off this 40's does 40's navy crepe dress. 

 It's a complicated thing - draped but structured, button through with shoulder pads and I love it. Best of all it was given to me by my dear friend Sue who has a wonderful eye for treasure!

Those forties frocks are so clever - they sure knew how to cut their cloth according to their means!

I wore it with navy and orange scarf that was my mums, paisley tights (also a gift from a friend! Lucky me, right?), little brown suitcase, leopard and mustard wedge creepers and lovely opal earrings that used to belong to my Granny Mabel.

On the bus today a woman was staring at me and when we got off she told me she was staring because I reminded her of how her mother had looked in the 40's.


and again just a reminder to donate to frocktober here...

 

Frocktober Day 10 Ranch Wear

Right! I'm saying at the outset - donate HERE - every donation helps. I'm frocking up to raise funds for ovarian cancer research not just giving you a guided tour of my wardrobe!

Today is a sunny day 10 and I'm wearing this one for Helga who claims she can't get enough gingham! In fact she said:

"There are no words for how fabularse gingham is.

I just need a whole lot more of it in my life, dammit."

 

So I'm wearing red gingham because if Helga says it's fabularse then it is. And if you look really closely you can spy that even my sandals resemble yellow gingham...

This dress has been in my wardrobe for so long (at least 17 years???)that I can't remember where I got it.
Here's me wearing it way back in 2006 in my former (brief) incarnation as a country singer. (Yeah! The hair! I know! What's with the shaved sides?)

From that expression, the capo and that D7 chord I reckon I was warbling "Weary Blues From Waitin'" Not that I could ever sing it like Hank Williams. 

My Obsession with Looking Like a Retro Sit-Com Character....

I think I watched too much tv as a kid. I realise it has infiltrated how I look.


First, there was the Mildred..yep. Uncanny!

Next there was the Mrs Slocombe...yep. Long lost cousins.

And now...introducing...THE ENDORA!!!!

Now excuse me while I go and buy some blue eye shadow immediately!!!