Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Anzac Day Fun

I love playing Two Up, even though I always lose, it is the highlight of my year!

Our local didn't have Two-up Game this year, so we dropped off at Bangalow pub on the way to the Bluesfest. For those who aren't Aussies and Kiwi's, two up is a game of chance traditionally played by soldiers and returned soldiers. It is now played at pubs and clubs only on Anzac Day as it is illegal any other day of the year, and is a great way to experience the Australian character.

Ypres
Bangalow Pub was rocking! They had hired a couple of professionals to run the ring  and it was sooo much fun!  At one given time there was always about fifty people playing.

Everyone was good natured and laughing, even when they lost, and the bloke standing next to you became your best friend for an hour. 

I had a go as Spinner, and as always threw tails. (Lost! Heads wins for Spinner) I told my husbsand that I always throw tails, but what did he do but back me with a twenty! He told me that it would have been wrong to bet against me. Ahh fool, he won't pick against South's in the footy tips either.
There is such a feeling of goodwill, with hundreds of dollars passing hands every throw...and somehow people don't mind losing. I think, because there is a one in two chance of winning or losing, without any skill, that loss is accepted with grace.

We left after an hour to go to the Bluesfest and see Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello. I will cut a long story short  and state implicity that I have always hated festivals, and that I continue to hate them. I know I am a cranky old lady but, urggh, please deliver me  from ever repeating that experience again.
Bob Dylan was a big disappointment.  Awful gravelly voice and not alot of enthusiasm for his older songs. As I stood there, craning my head to see the speck that was Bobby D, I thought up witty reviews such as, 'He made Tom Waits sound like Nellie Melba'. I can't remember all of them, but they were a damn sight more entertaining than his performance.The band was disjointed and uninspiring. Granted, he did warm up in the second half,  but for me it was too little too late.
 
Elvis Costello on the other hand was brilliant. He started off with 'Pump it Up' and had the energy and enthusiasm of a man half his age. I am very short sighted and it was easy for me to imagine him as a younger man. He looked bloody good, snazzy shirt and very trim. The band was great, he was great, brilliant guitar playing and he played ALL of his old songs and, very convincingly, looked that he enjoyed playing them...and why not...they are brilliant songs!

It took us 50 minutes to get out of the car park that had taken us 5 minutes to drive into. 'Nuf said.

Monday, April 25, 2011

It has been seven days since I last blogged...I feel I should go to  confession!

I am finally on the road to recovery after about a month of being confined to the couch, remote in one hand, cup of tea in the other. During that time I have felt like Katy (What Katy Did), or worse, her long suffering Cousin Helen. On reflection, I can't draw any comparison to Cousin Helen, she was an angel in her suffering, so good and self-sacrificing in her fortitudes. I, on the other hand, when faced with illness, turn into a diva/drama queen, and could put Garbo's performance as Camille to shame.
Anyhoo, yesterday was my first day at Bangalow Markets in the Moller Pavilion. (Yes I know, it is like closing the gates after the horse has bolted, but it can be a kernal of thought for next month)
Situated in an old showground building just above the oval, it is a local consortium of artists called Art on the Move, who feel that art shouldn't be confined to galleries,  supervised by artist Marika Bryant. They are a wonderful supportive group of people. It is so comforting being up in this building as it is high and dry...no problems if it rains and my paper products getting wet and flying around in the breezes.
My 'Potager' jewellery went very well. Of  everything I make, this is the most rewarding. I use vintage doilies, the kind that are contain different colours and separate flowers, to make hairclips, brooches and necklaces. When I make them, unpicking every doily, I enter into a kind  mediatative state and imagine the women before me who have laboured over the doilies to create something of beauty for their homes and to satisfy the creative urge that I believe that everyone has. I consider this "womans work", this craft,  to be a form of artwork in itself.

It is wonderful that other like-minded people appreciate the skill and time it took to make these doilies and are happy to adorn themselves with my little creations.

The Bangalow Markets are every fourth week of the month.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

My perfect ....meme

After yesterday's debacle, I have decided to start a meme.  It is called "My perfect...", and every week I will commit to post a new theme.

As nothing is ever perfect, please feel free to be ridiculous if you want, or if you feel very strongly about an item, be as serious and manic as you please. They can also be as short as a lone picture posted, or as long as the diatribe I am about to deliver. (I must get this out of my system) It will be open for a week.

We will see how it goes, if nothing else I have learnt about linkies!
  I am also playing with the Bris Stylers, Let'sGo Shopping Meme. Bits and bobs are scattered throughout the post. First up...
Passing Time and Chimes
My Perfect Hair Salon
It will be calm and peaceful. The decor will have individuality and character, but with taste. Not psychedelic, not sterile, I am not part of a chicken factory production line on acid...I am a human! I don't want to feel paranoid and not up to scratch (ha-ha) and uncool. Inspiration would be taken from the beauty salons in "Come in Spinner", "The Women" (but without the bitchiness) and every other classic 40's-50's  parlour portrayed in movies. However, it would also have a contemporary edge.
Paper Seeker
It would be comfortable and feel homey and have a wonderful array of current magazines (I am sorry, New Idea just doesn't cut it!) with coffee table books such as Frankie's Spaces.
Lady Jane Collections
I do not want three people picking through my hair making derogatory comments on its 'brassiness, dryness and frizz' whilst pushing their expensive line of products onto me. Instead they will gush over my thick, curly, luxuriant hair and think of ways to enhance it, rather than destroy it!

High Fallootin

It would have hair dyes that are 'green' as possible so that instead of taking to my bed with a migraine for twelve hours, my hair will smell of sweet fresh meadow flowers and violets and I will dance through the rest of the day.
Homestead Herbal
The staff won't rush around and look harassed, they will glide...with content, nay serene and devout expressions on their faces. This however, will not stop them from being intelligently friendly. They will also have short nails, no bangles or rings cluttering their hands (and scratching the bejesus out of me) and will be masters of the old scalp and neck massage.
The Jane Studio
There will be a lady who asks, "Would Madame like a cup of tea...and a chocolate croissant?" It would be served in beautiful boned china, not a metal 'trendy' tea cup that blisters your lips. She would look like Mrs Slocomb.
Stash Anew
Alternative music would be playing, but the kind that I like, not the kind that the work experience kid puts on. Think Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Sleepy Jackson, Johnny Cash, Iron and Wine, with some classics thrown in like Nirvana (unplugged) and the Stones. I do not want to listen to doof music whilst someone is making me ugly!

And while we are on the subject, I wouldn't be made ugly. I would emerge from that damn hairdresser's a beautiful butterfly. I would be Georgie Girl, striding down the street fancy free, heads turning in ardent admiration as I passed. People would whisper (yes, they would), "There goes an 'IT' girl!"
Okey-dokey, if you would like to commit your dreams and aspirations for a perfect hair salon, enter you Linky below.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Hairdressing rant

Jeez Louise! Is it me! Have I got the word 'sucker' invisibly tattooed on my forhead, that is only visible to hairstylists at large?

Today I decided to try a new hairdresser. After the graduation horror, I felt that I couldn't cross the threshold of the last one. I have been a bit under the weather for the last couple of weeks and thought that a dye job on my GT stripe might pick me up.

I attempted to listen to my inner voice, my intuition and asked it "Little voice, is this the right thing to do? Should I trust a new hairdresser.  Will they do right by me?" Unfortunately, no-one answered, nary a sound. (I don't think the little voice exists) Maybe I asked the wrong question. (I should have gone to the phsycic  a few doors up, I think she would have been a bit more helpful)

Anyhoo, to cut a long story short, the new hairdresser, on posing the age old question of, "What would you like done?" was delivered, what I thought, a very succcinct and clear answer by moi, "Natural" says I, "Natural and elegant...like Princess Mary, and not like a bagwoman."

Can my desire be any clearer? Apparently not.

I have been tossing up who I bear the most resemblance to with my new 'natural' GOTHIC hair!!! All I can think of is Grandma Addams but with black hair and scary white highlights. (My natural hair is brown, just dull brown, but it would have been nice to have brown hair with sunkissed fairy golden highlights)

I have already washed my hair twice since I have been home. My husband keeps looking sideways at me, and there is a look of pity in his eyes. I feel like Anne of Green Gables when she dyed her hair green. Oh vanity!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Ephemera not rubbish

I can't stand to waste anything, so as I had a few Little Golden Books that were marked and torn and that couldn't be made into bunting, I thought I would spend a lazy weekend making some cards for Easter. I have sewn the illustrations onto blank cards and added some little red felt kisses to add to the love.
I have just loaded them onto my Etsy and MadeIt shops...("It takes sooo much time!" she whined)

I thought these would be a fabulous marketing idea after I spent a pleasant day yesterday shopping on Etsy. A little lightbulb went off in my head, or as Oprah would say, I had an 'Ah-ha moment'! I realised that I preferred to buy more than one item from a shop to offset postage prices, and if they were cheaper items, all the better. You have got to be in it to win it, after all.
As I was on a roll, I also used up some of the excess tissue from dress patterns to make these gift tags. I have been buying a few lately to prepare for the Love Vintage Fair. I check through all of them to ensure that all pieces are present, and often find some extras.
I have used some old vintage 'Miss Haversham' silk ribbon. It is very brittle but I love it. As these are only temporary items, I reckon that it is fine to use and full of shabby character.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Bunny Bunting

I have finally loaded my Bunny Bunting onto Etsy and Made It. It has been raining here for a few days now and could I find a bit of wall to take photos? Not on your Nelly! I realised yesterday that I live in a house of windows, which is good...bring the outside in sweetie! (this is my Edina Ab Fab impression)

Any internal walls are taken up with cupboards and storage. Which again is good, otherewise where would I put all of my rubbish...err collectibles.  I finally found a high dark corner in my studio.

I have already sold a couple of these, so if you want one especially for Easter be quick, time in the post can be quite lengthy.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Hong Kong Bags and Dahlias

All my bags have been looking decidedly worse for wear, so rummaging through my wardrobe I found a bag that I had bought years ago from a local dealer called George for four dollars. It was a 'new' vintage Hong Kong bag with all the tags, and as I recall even the bill of purchase inside. My daughter had used it once for a school play and then amazingly it lay forgotten until I started excavating.
It is a little beauty! In the three weeks that I have been using it, I have recieved compliments on it every day. The good thing about it is that it opens up, and is of a medium size, so is easy to keep organised.
As I am pretty rough on my bags, and I have been recieving so many compliments I thought I should get another one to spread the wear and tear. This was not as cheap as four dollars, and was got from Carrington Antiques and Collectibles. It is not as fabulous, but still looks nice with my little Lazy Bones frocks.
 The prettiest things I got from an op shop this week were these lovely dahlias. The red ones are as big as a baby's head, absolutely massive, although the size doesn't seem to translate in the picture.
The ladies who grow them have been selling them at the Helicopter Rescue Op-Shop in South Lismore for years. These were four dollars a bunch. Can you believe it! When I bought two bunches they asked if I was having a party, I should have replied "Yes I am celebrating the party of life!" (but I only thought of that glib line just now) It is funny that some people think that to have flowers in the house means a special celebration, while I try to have them in all the time. (Just like Elton John!)

Join Sophie at Her Library Adventures and Selena at Apron Thrift Girl for more finds.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Feeling chilly?

I went for a road trip yesterday to M'bah to visit fabric and pattern queen extaordinaire, Julia. While I was there she showed me a few wonders, including this picture from 'The Australian Women's Weekly Best Ever Knitting Book'.
The perfect pressie for the cocky who has everything. Once a year cockies will lose their plumage and it looks like this enterprising lady (who looks like the original Dame Edna Everage character) thought outside the box to keep her pet snug.

If anyone is interested, I have included the pattern below...I am not sure how clear it will download, but you can give it a go.

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