My jewels, gold and gems.

Peter Pan Collar & Straw Boater Hat

2010-02-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

I think you should click on this link to Sarah McNeil's Etsy store.

Tonight i am attending my first ever 'hens do'. I'm scared. I am pretty sure i hate these sorts of events and don't know what to expect. My beautiful friend is getting married next Saturday. I can't wait to see all of my friends together for such a nice day.

If you would like, you could track me down one of these completely sold out sailor dresses by 'Alice In The Eve'.

I wish.

P.S. I attended Laneway Festival. I really enjoyed it, apart from Daniel Johnston's set being loudly and rudely cut short by Cut Off Your Hands. It was a cringe worthy moment. Things were behind schedule so time wise it probably needed to be done, but perhaps it could have happened more politely. It was kind of like when loud music is put on to drown out someone giving a speech after accepting their Grammy award (except this was harder to watch because Daniel seemed so polite and timid and hadn't been on for very long) Other than that, it was a very fun day and I am glad the festival has made it here. I took along an old disposable camera. Who knows what the photos will turn out like.

We will see.

P.S. IF YOU LIVE IN NZ MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND THE UPCOMING TOUR BY THE 3DS!

Mess & Noise

2010-01-29T00:49:00.000-08:00

I have just returned home from Campus A Low Hum (a camping, byo, low-key, small music festival) and once again i have no idea how to adapt back into normality. This time it was set just outside of Bulls in the grounds of one very old school / flock house - hence it being termed Campus A Low Hum this time. The school hasn't been in action for over twenty years. It rained half of the time, our tent was tiny, we didn't really sleep or shower for four days and we looked revolting. But it was still rather LOVELY!

(Me slicked in grease wearing my new gingham dress made by my sister, Prom Proposal, John The Baptist, Al, Helen & Rachel, Dent May, Ruby Suns Balloon Party, Rain Rain Go Away, Projection Party)

Bands included: Denim Owl, Seth Frightening, Deer Park, Ouch My Face, The Dodos, Polka Dot Dot Dot, Batrider, So So Modern, Dear Times Waste, Flying Scribble, Alex & The Ramps, Connan Mockasin, Shocking Pinks, Dan Deacon, Cut Off Your Hands, Dent May, Parking Lot Exp, Ruby Suns, Surf City, Jens Lekman, Die!Die!Die!, The Show Is The Rainbow . . . and so on.

(Grayson Gilmour - Siamese)

Girls were getting their hearts broken and swooning over Jens Lekman's set but i didn't quite feel the same way. There were buckets of bands from Melbourne. 'Parking Lot Experiments' win the best banter award. Unpretentious and as charming as can be. As a ukulele and pop lover, i found Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele (whom were discovered by Animal Collective) as alluring as ever. Ouch My Face never disappoint. Celeste = babe. Mild America and John The Baptist were my perfect cup of tea. This isn't a review, so i will STOP.

I bought a brand new Diana F+ camera. I meant to take it on camp for some dreamy shots but never got around to purchasing 120 film. It dawned on me that i can't really keep it if i want to save money for my trip. It doesn't help that i discovered someone could work for me on Monday, resulting in booking last minute tickets to Laneway Festival in Auckland! I go in one day's time. I can't wait! I guess you only live once.

Very cheesy and very true ♥

P.S. Whilst in Wellington i managed to find the Woody Allen brooch i was talking about here. I also visited Swonderful, the nicest shop in New Zealand (you might remember it being featured in Frankie magazine) They sell the 'My Folk Lover' calenders. I have ordered one from Etsy for my sister's upcoming birthday. I want one too!!!

Turn yourself around

2009-12-31T19:13:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010.

I saw the new year in at Chicks Hotel in Port Chalmers dancing to Die!Die!Die! like a weirdo. I think i have seen them play at least four times now and they are always brilliant. The evening ended in drinking wine under someone's homemade fort made from draping sheets.

I don't usually have new year's resolutions but this year i am going to try it out.

One: Become a Pescatarian. This won't be hard for me. This resolution is rather weak (i should really give it ALL up) but i can't give up fresh fish and prawns. Sorry sea creatures!

Two: Learn to be a little more crafty, perhaps i can steal the book i gave my sister for Christmas and get started:

(meetmeatmikes)

Three: Calm down with the floral thing

(only a tiny part of my collection)

Four: Take lots of photos

Five: Read more books

And lastly. . . Six: the most deep and meaningful of the lot:

STOP ruining photos by doing the peace sign.

Let's see how it goes.

Sprout & The Bean

2009-12-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

Wow New Zealand, you are hosting some marvellous shows. Perhaps all these musicians head to New Zealand to experience our (often) pretty summertime. I feel like there is so much to choose from. Usually it is the opposite case. Next week Animal Collective are playing in Auckland. Devendra is coming. Laneway Festival has finally stretched to our shores. The 3Ds are playing. They are glorious. The XX! (I wasn't expecting to like them, but they are brilliant) and..... you probably already know the line-up. There are so many shows that i can't attend, including all of the above. Fortunately i will be able to make this one:

Source
Wilco

(Do i choose Wellington or Auckland?)

Source

Joanna Newsom

In January my sister will be lounging in the ocean in Fiji, so i have to work her hours during the weekend of Joanna's show. Her show is 6 hours out of town. I may still
attend!

Regardless, I can't wait to hear Jeff Tweedy again.

Gifts Of The Gab

2009-11-09T23:28:00.000-08:00

Hello.

I am trying hard to save my coins but these little gems are distracting me.

John Patterson from the very scatty band 'The Grates' has his own little label called Sniffle Co which is where this brilliant Woody Allen brooch comes from.

I also wish i could find a faux leopard print coat just like the one Tennessee is wearing here. Harder than you would think!

My new little job involves being surrounded by lots of lovely little gems and knick knacks in a little design store. We have LoveHate , this genius and generally far too much temptation.

I have started planning my overseas adventure for mid 2010 and i should be gone for months on end. Now that i am working most of the time (for all of December it will be 6 days a week) I will find it hard to get any vintage shopping done for my little online shop. Thankfully i still have a whole bunch of things waiting to be sold.

I am still waiting to see if i can get time away for a trip to a very lovely music festival. Boy are my fingers are crossed.

Bicycle, Bicycle.

2009-09-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

♥

Oh how i want a bicycle to ride throughout the summertime. I'm not sure when summer will arrive. I've been sleeping with two feather duvets and a quilt, yet i still wake up freezing.

I've recently been offered the chance to work in a little shop, in Auckland, that sells vintage clothing. Both the job and the slight change in climate would be lovely, but i am thinking of giving it a miss. I am leaving the country in May, and i think i would end up penniless living in Auckland. There would be so many gigs to go to, lots of vintage goodies to buy and all sorts of distractions from saving. It's really hard to know what to do. But, if i do stay here, i think i will find myself the perfect bicycle. . . . with a basket of course.

I wish i could keep you. . .

2009-09-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

♥

Hello, again. I stopped using this blog a few month's ago. Now i want to keep it.
I have another blog for my little online vintage clothing shop, but i feel i can't just put whatever i want on it. So now i am lucky and have two blogs!

Here are some pictures that are making me smile. .

If you know me, you will be smiling wittingly (or rolling your eyes) at the presence of floral prints in the first two. It's a lifelong addiction and i cannot stop.

I will be talking again soon!

Ginger Beer & Ringing Ears

2009-02-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

I would like to tell you that Camp a Low Hum '09 was plain lovely.

It included: hot weather, a swimming lagoon, lagoon parties, singing cicadas (everywhere), grass to lounge on, wine, daisy chains, the kinds of feelings that happen on summer beaches, fizzy beer, dancing, making new friends, goody gum drops ice-cream, hedonism, being silly and meeting some polite boys (this is not common in the city I come from)

The best band? The Crayon Fields.

I may have come to this decision pre-camp. But, they really were my favourite. Many were great. However, The Crayon Fields make such dreamy, demure music. It's the sort of music that can put you into a trance and maybe even keep you there forever. If I were feeling bold enough, I would have told them how brilliant they are. I take it that they were probably equally as shy, if not more. Perhaps the conversation would have gone nowhere.

I purchased their 7" of 'Mirror Ball' It's been warming up the living room a lot.

My favourite lines?

'Would it flatter you to know that mostly it's you who makes me so slow? You say I look so calm. Really I'm not, I'm not. But I think I want to be from now on'

'I look at you and suddenly I'm a virgin in a dancehall'

Also, if you wish to become addicted to dreamy folk . . . www.myspace.com/sethfrightening

I can't get sick of these songs. I've even tried. It's been months now. The Pictures and The Posers is especially nice. These songs are entertaining me whilst I am sitting around in uncertainty about everything.

Nostalgic Treasures

2009-02-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

I've started selling vintage and thrifted items online again, just for awhile.

I spent the day hunting for treasures and will be putting some up on Trademe.

1. Vintage Floral Garden Navy Dress. 2. Navy and Gold Quilted Chain Bag 3. Ahoy! Sailor Girl Batwing Tee.

There will be more items, including vintage t-bar shoes, some costume jewellery, jelly shoes and a polka dot dress.

Cinnamon Girl

2009-02-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

I saw Neil.

We spent the day wandering, wondering and waiting. We were beginning to feel suffocated by the disposable bands and the giant cage we were forced to drink our wine in. The heat never died down, but it felt nice.

By the time it became dark, it was time for Mr Young. We managed to get close to the front. I was stuck in front of a thirty-something year old man. He had a giant protruding stomach, which kept pushing into the arch of my back. It would get worse every time he would thrust around proclaiming 'No one here even knows who Neil is, I am the only one in this crowd who likes his music'.

Neil drowned all the idiocy out.

He provided over ninety minutes of bliss. He began with 'Love and Only Love'. 'The Needle and the Damage Done' was perfect. His wispy long grey hair blew in the wind. However, if you closed your eyes you would truly believe he was still in his twenties or early thirties. He ended the show with a cover of 'A Day in the Life' which conjured an overall beautiful set.

Everyone took off to catch The Prodigy, but my cheeks hurt from smiling and how could you possibly enjoy them after that?

Floral Grunge

2009-01-20T02:48:00.000-08:00

I want to be a floral bogan, via these Doc Martens!

They would be my perfect weapon for fulfilling one of my life goals: entering Wayne's World and winning the heart of Garth Algar. I wouldn't even have to do the special dance to Jimi Hendrix or wear a plaid shirt.

Musical Muse

2008-11-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

I like necklaces. I love music. I love these. . .

My flatmate gave me this harmonica necklace as a gift. It's silver and gold, and has the word 'Woodstock' etched onto it. When I wear this I can't think of anything but Bob Dylan. When I am at work and think nobody is around, I can't help but play a little tune on it.

This necklace is one of my most precious gems. I have never worn it. It's a gift that I'm not allowed yet. I stole it from its hiding place, just for a little bit. It's just like the necklace on the front of the beautiful album 'The Greatest'. Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is Queen.

It's funny how something like music can influence your taste in jewels. I think maybe i am a little too easily influenced!

1968

2008-09-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

This poster was designed to encourage draft resistance and protest against the Vietnam War . I can't stop admiring it. It's brilliant. I wish there were more posters like this today, instead of posters of horrible bands in power stance poses or 'witty' beer-drinking ones.
I'm not really a fan of Joan Baez's music, but I'm interested in her involvement with protests. I think I need to check out the library for a biography, or something of the like. After all, my student ID is still valid for 08.

I have a crush on the scruffy young man seated behind Joan, to the left, in white. I wonder who he is, or was? I actually wonder what all these people are doing now, well over 30 years later.

I`ll Be Your Pet

2008-08-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

Incidentally, I seem to collect Russian Dolls. I actually only have three, a trilogy of sorts. I was given a small one for Christmas, a medium-sized one for my birthday, and I also sneakily inherited a sun faded one, which was my Grandmother's.

I found this set on a blog, look how cutesy and beautiful they are:

This picture is from the nice blog: 'I never said that i was brave' by Clare-Louise

http://apartment-story.blogspot.com/

This girl has also painted an impressive picture of Leslie Feist. Wow.

Pink Frost

2008-08-15T18:28:00.001-07:00

In the theme of making presents, I made a singlet for one of my best-friends, Lucy B. She loves all things pink, pretty, gingham and polka dot, and it was her birthday yesterday.

This is quite easy to do, just pick some nice patterned material, cut out the right shapes and choose a button for the cherry on top. The only problem = sewing machines don't really like me, so I had to get my sister to sew the cupcake on (she goes to fashion school, so it's a breeze for her). I would hate to have ruined the singlet in the last minute.

In the last Frankie magazine I noticed another fabric cupcake, cool! We have actually made eco-bags with these cupcakes on them before, for market-day. My friend 'Miss Kate' inspired my sister and I to make animal themed eco/book bags too (She has an extreme and impressive collection of plastic animal toys)

We ended up making Owls and Giraffes:

I`m contemplating sewing lessons, so I can actually put together the ideas i have in my head.

Floral Tea Party

2008-08-12T02:42:00.000-07:00

Floral. Tea. Party.
These three words are rad, both together and on their own.
Could this possibly be put into a necklace?

The people at 'Holy Calamity' decided so:

Wow.

Oh, this would be my perfect graduation present! Sorry . . . 'sold out'.
I am technically meant to be saving my pennies for travels and music festivals abroad. I also shouldn't be such a rampant consumer, but. . . today in a trashy, bright, headache inducing, pink, sleazy, ugly jewellery chain-store i found a bracelet. It was bursting with charms to a ridiculous extent, a few of these charms were kind of similar to the 'I'm a Little Teapot' necklace.

I tried it out:

It pales in comparison to the lovely original (and that's not just because of the poor photography, heh), but if I can't get one, this is as good as it gets. It was tricky linking up the little tea pot and cup without shattering them - my Dad had to use artery forceps to help me.

Vintage Wallpaper Gifts

2008-08-12T01:38:00.000-07:00

I have been collecting a small bundle of vintage wallpaper. My little collection has been sitting in a box, under my bed, wasting away.

Three of my lovely little friends are having birthdays this week. Finishing university has left me with lots of spare time to do whatever I care for, so I decided to try and make two of my friends a necklace each. It was easy to choose which print to use for Gemma, her favourite colour has been green for as long as I have known her. Here they are . . .

I hope Steph and Gem don't think these are elementary, 'My Dear'. I like how, if you look closely, the pink wallpaper looks like it almost has a little Edvard Munch 'The Scream' style face in it (perhaps this is just my imagination) They are double sided necklaces, so they have different patterns on the other side.

This is my first blog post, and nobody knows this exists. I don't think my friends have blogs, so these birthday surprises will be kept a secret.