Frocktober Day 31! Finale! My Frockiest Frock!

We're one day away from the beginning. What? The beginning? Am I confused? Topsy Turvy? Deranged? No I know what I'm talking about - we're one day away from the beginning....of PANTSVEMBER! 
Really I think frocktober has cured me of frocks. Here's my fanciest frockiest frock for the last day. It's fifties, it's frothy, it's flocked and it's pretty darn special.

Frocktober has been all of the frocktabularse fundraising fun I thought it would be and then some. I aimed to raise $500 and I've raised three times that. Your kindness and encouragement have made me feel terrific. Just goes to show what a generous community we live in and what a worthy cause ovarian cancer research is.

Because, laydeez, ovarian cancer sucks big time. It's insidious, difficult to diagnose and detect and then it kills you. One woman in Australia dies from it every ten hours. Gosh that's CRAP. What an evil slimy motherfrocker that ovarian cancer is.

The money donated to frocktober goes directly to the ovarian cancer foundation who aim to develop an early detection test. Because if you've been listening, you would know by now that a pap smear DOES NOT DETECT OVARIAN CANCER. But an early detection test would stop that nasty slimy tumour in it's tracks! 

  All the wonderful smiles, support, cheers, donations and frocking solidarity has made frocktober a joy to be part of. Special thanks to Helga for guest frocking, Kylie for cheering, Melita for inspiration, Eilis the frocktober friend, Patricia for frocking up and all the Made in Merri craft ladies. Youse all FROCK! And to each of my kids who all had to indulge me and photograph me! Thanks!
Now don't get teary, but here's a farewell frocktober film, "All Dressed up With No Place to Go"

You can still donate! HERE! 

You'll all be very relieved that you won't be seeing my mug on the internet for some time Hooray! Now...where are my tracky dacks? Oh that's right....I don't have any!

Frocktober Day 28 "love is a battlefield"

Well I'm dragging out the big frocks from the top of the wardrobe this week - 

 This little number used to be blue like this one frock this town posted the other day -

 but I spray painted it copper around 10 years ago. Now the copper has worn off it has a kind of post apocalyptic '80's Pat Benetar vibe which I am not adverse to at all.

Me and spray painting frocks goes back to my teens when I spray painted a friend's mum's wedding dress black, cut it up and wore it to the school formal. With electric blue hair. And leopard print tights...

But I'm so much classier all these years later *cough cough* in my frock and suede boots! Yikes! look how far I've come....hmmm...

I've spray painted a few frocks in my time. You need to do it well in advance of wearing it though because the fumes can make you keel over. It's a bit anti social.



Now no pressure but there are only FOUR DAYS LEFT!!!!! Do I need to say it all again? Donate HERE if you can. It's a frockin' good cause because ovarian cancer is a silent killer that needs research funding. Donate for all your sisters, aunts, nieces, daughters, mothers and girlfriends! Let's work out a way to detect this early and save women's lives. 

Frocktober Day 27 Rainy Days and Mondays....

 Last night a huge storm hit Melbourne. It was a very dark morning.... But the sun came out briefly and Joe and I dashed out and took some photos.

Today's frock made a guest appearance last year for Melita's frocktober. My mum bought it for me. It's such a lovely 1940's frock - grape coloured crepe with delicate beading and a little tie back waist. Wearing it brings back romantic memories of meeting my man in the city, back in the early days of our courting,  and sitting on the grass full of nerves and a heart doing cartwheels.

We're on the home stretch in the frocktober fundraising fun. This month hasn't just been about $$$ though. It's about awareness too. The small amount of research and knowledge I have of ovarian cancer and a day of threatening dark skies has put me in a sombre mood.

In the U.S they spread the word to B-E-A-T ovarian cancer by sharing the early warning signs. This is from a blog I found: livinglydying.com


B = bloating that is persistent and does not come and go
E = eating less and feeling fuller
A = abdominal or pelvic pain
T = trouble with urination (urgency or frequency)
"Women who have these symptoms 12 days in a calendar month should see their doctor. And when they see their doctor they should be prepared to push for adequate testing because such symptoms can be hard to work with. Or, like me, you might have none of them and the cancer has already metastasized to the lungs. Early detection is hard. Prevention is hard. We just don’t have enough tools yet. "

I also found the terrific Susan Gubar  -a feminist literary academic who wrote a memoir about her ovarian cancer treatment.
I'll leave you with this is a quote from Susan Gubar.

"Ovarian-cancer treatment has not changed much from the nineteen-seventies. Much more money must be poured into research; the F.D.A. has not approved a new drug for ovarian cancer in the past twenty years. Of course, women need to heed early warning signs—a feeling of satiety, indigestion, bloating, urinary problems, constipation—but these often are so subtle or so ordinary that they can be easily ignored. The CA-125 blood test only works for some women, not for many others. Because ovarian cancer is often only detected in its later stages, it becomes a death sentence.
What is needed is a detection tool. Women whose ovarian cancer is found in an early stage can be cured. But they are in a small minority of those diagnosed."

Sobering!

Donate to frocktober if you can! AN EARLY DETECTION TEST IS THE KEY! Remember there are still craft packs, a Mexican pack and a gorgeous Betty Jo Design brooch that you can "buy" with your donation. Just leave a message on facebook, blog, twitter or the frocktober donation page!

Frocktober Day 26 In The Mood For Love

I'm wearing my "In The Mood For Love" dress. It's a film that swept me away when I saw it in 2000. It sank me deep into emotion, washed me along with sumptuous visuals and buoyed me up with a rich soundtrack.

The ever graceful and divine Maggie Cheong wears various cheongsams throughout the movie, but they are in western mid century prints. The combination was breath taking.

When I spied this frock at the recent Retro Star warehouse sale, half hidden in a pile of discarded garments in a dark corner of a make shift change room, well I crushed it to my chest like a long lost friend.

I'll never quite have the poise, grace, figure (or lovely long supple neck!) of Maggie Cheong, but I'll swan about in my green fifties rose print cheongsam with Nat King Cole's "Quizás, quizás, quizás" in my head.

I was asked a billion times where I was going! To the races? Nope - only to the supermarket, the doctors, a garage sale and a school fete. But I told EVERYONE about frocktober. You all know about it right? It's day 26 for goodness sake - but I'll keep saying it - DONATE HERE! All funds go direction to ovarian cancer research - a more than worthy cause. It's a killer disease and we could save lives with an early detection test. Thanks to my sister outlaw Leanne who donated! 

And as we have already done movie frocks, what are your favourite songs about dresses? She wore Blue Velvet?  Devil with a blue dress on?Can you think of any others????

Frocktober Day 25 Summer Holiday

There once was a frockster who was feeling frock fatigued. She dreamed of a Summer holiday to Spain. She had the bag,* the frock,** the dream and a hat with her name on it.*** Spain was too far. She had to pick up the kids. The best she could do was the Spanish-like hacienda across the road. 

But one thing was missing. A travel friend. She looked right...she looked left.

 And then she spied the perfect companion.....

Who better than her daughter Hazel frocked up in beach carnival style. They left "Spain" and went and got the kids.

 

*The bag has island holiday images all over it (Though not sure about the Great Britain!) I bought it at the trash and treasure.

**The frock made a guest appearance last frocktober. It's French and the label is Jeanne D'Arc - yeah don't stand too close to the fire! Note the ironing instructions!

***The hat really does have my name on it! Had to buy it when I saw that - a few years ago from Vinnies.

Frocktober has a story too.
'In 2007, a group friends in Geelong discovered that there was no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and decided to do something about it. Quite a feat! So, we donned our favourite dresses, went out to the pub, passed around a hat and raised $200. Frocktober was born! Then we thought, "This is way too much fun to keep to ourselves... Let's challenge the rest of Australia to get involved too!"
Seven years later, the initiative has captured the hearts and imaginations of frock-minded people Australia-wide, and raised over $800,000 for ovarian cancer research.'

How ace is that??

Let's keep telling our stories, talking, raising money and raising awareness about ovarian cancer and the need for early detection. Donate here
Shout out thanks to Jen and Leanne who have donated!!! 

Frocktober Day 24 Put A Bird On It!

This post is inspired by Eilis over at Frock This Town who has the most glorious collection of birdy print frocks and birdy accessories. Well I wanted to show you all that I have a birdy frock too. This 70s halter neck maxi.

It's a great print that makes you hum "the Bluebird of Happiness" if you know old songs like that. It often gets me singing "Candy Says" by the Velvet Underground:

"I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me"

Do you like to put a bird on it? Then you'll adore this brooch, generously donated by my friend Liz at Betty Jo Designs who makes the cool stuff from vintage lino. It's yours if you'd like it for a donation to FROCKTOBER! Just leave a message!

If you don't follow Betty Jo Designs on instagram you'd better go and do that because it's a veritable cacophony of pattern, colour, cool and vintage that crash into your heart with a zing of sentimental yearning for times long gone in the guise of the latest trend. There really is "something" about the maps of Australia she makes that have caught a bit of attention lately too.

Even Kaz Cooke rang her up and wanted one. They are perfect for your holiday house or caravan or to compliment mid century decor with some vintage Australiana!

We're on the home stretch everyone! One week to go! As an old high school friend used to say "give 'til it hurts"!

Frocktober 23 Frocktabularse Guest Frocker!!!!

I know right! You get a rest from gawping at my awkward poses and get the delightful Helga Von Trollop  from New Zealand instead! We both have a penchant for square dancing frocks, coloured tights and shoes but Helga turns it into a "fecking" art form! My children are in love with her and wish she was their Aunty. I'll be sending them over Helga!

And how about her expertise at poses - yes I could learn a thing or two. She can be forthright then demure....

 and even dance moves. Her frocktabularse blog is always a sight for sore eyes so if youse don't all follow her then youse are lagging behind.

 And Helga has provided some sage advice here ladies on how to look after yourself!

" Ladies, it's crucial to twirl your way into the gyno regular like, hop up on up on the table and spread your pretty legs so that your lady parts are well looked after!

Ovarian cancer is no laughing matter, and your loved ones will be grateful to you for keeping a special eye on your womanly health!"

And just an update on ovarian cancer research, read this article on how scientists discovered that tampons can contain DNA from an ovarian tumors and this could lead to an early detection test. Great news.

And just to prove I did frock up...here I am today. i felt a bit like Patsy from Ab Fab. 

I even had a hangover thanks to drinking too many negroni's at the bar last night. Or should that be "negroaaaanies"?



Remember that your donations go directly towards research into ovarian cancer. Donate HERE! And if you would like a craft kit pack or mexican goodies pack with your donation just leave a message! BIG THANKS to my sister Kelly's (ahem veterans) hockey team for donating (if she's in a veteran team that make ME OLD!) and to the Parzacs, Valentina and Saro!

frocktober Day 22 A Wordy Day

TODAY'S PHOTOS BY JOE (age 5) and PEPPER (age 7)

 

Yesterday was a wordy day. I wore this '50's cotton frock with matching bolero. What would you call that? An ensemble? This is another gift from my Tasmanian friend Sue (and yeah - I bet you wish she was your friend too! Because generosity isn't even the half of it! She can make bread. And beer. And build houses....)

This "ensemble" is a real classic outfit. The label is "Cole of California". I love how it has such a buttressed bust - a veritable constructed shelf - even when it's empty like when I wear it!!!!Impressive!

I wore it to the school library where Joe and I volunteer to shelve books. Yesterday we sat and read some books too. Joe took my photo!

Joe brought his pen and paper and asked beseechingly, "could you teach me how to write every word in the world in little writing?" Together we wrote a story about our recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria where we rode a gold carousel. Joe's story also went into much detail about sushi.

It was a good warm up for the evening's  writing workshop at the Coburg Library with author Paddy O'Reilly which she described as a gym class for exercising our writing muscles. Can't recommend these workshops highly enough. There's something wonderful and mining the brain, forcing yourself to try harder, think about things you wouldn't normally think about - lifting those word weights harder!  Higher! More reps! I left with all my senses heightened!

Thank youse need to go out to Reggie and Shara for their wonderful support and donations yesterday. There's still NINE DAYS TO GO! Remember -if you would like to buy either a brooch craft kit pack or a bag-tag craft kit pack with your donation, just leave a message.
DONATE HERE All proceeds go directly to ovarian cancer research - it's not a rare or obscure cancer. It's a frockin' deadly cancer that is silent in symptoms and an early detection test is essential to saving women's lives. We are helping with that - spread the word.

Frocktober Day 21 (well the evening of the day before!)

I doubled up on frocks yesterday - is that cheating? I frocked up to go to the Merri Creek Primary School Art Show. And what an art show it was! I can't even express my overwhelming amazement at the incredible variety of creativity on display! Check out the ceramics! And the weaving! AND THE MONKEYS!!!

 While I frocked around I spoke to many people about frocktober and about ovarian cancer. It's amazing how many people mistakenly think that a pap smear tests for ovarian cancer. it's also amazing how many people think ovarian cancer is rare! One woman every 10 hours dies from it!

I'm finding frocktober such a simple, fun and easy way to raise awareness for the ovarian cancer research foundation. And nothing like electric blue taffeta and Anna Davern ear-rings for a conversation starter!

Donate to frocktober HERE


CHECK OUT MY RE-SEW-COOL FACEBOOK PAGE FOR SOME CRAFT KIT GOODIES (like the pack below) YOU CAN GET WITH A DONATION!!!!

And a BIG shouty-out thank youse to Klarissa, my sister Jane and Eilis from FROCK THIS TOWN for the donations! We are over the $1000 mark! Yay!