Quote of the Month - September 2012

Hope Floats......

 

 

Life is very up and down isnt it?

 I crave the hope that good things will happen and bring joy and happiness, and yet, somehow, I am afraid to hope for these things out of fear I will be disapointed once again......

 

It is a hard lesson, that of staying hopeful and soft hearted in the face of rejection and disapointment....I am not quite sure how it is done.....maybe the passage of time plays a role....

 

M aybe one can hope that the lesson will be of great purpose, even if just for growth in compassion and character........
.

Although character development may not seem to be a very exhillerating thought, it is something to get us through those painful, hurtful times.

One must have hope that good things await around the bend in the road, or the pain of having no hope will leave us deviod of any joy today.

A person must find something to hope for, difficult though that might be to acheive.

 

May you meet people, go places and do things that encourage little threads of hope to weave their way through your life today. Cling to those things. And believe in the goodness of the bend in the road, that you might begin to enjoy the beauty in your life today.

 

 

“That is all I want in life: for this pain to seem purposeful.”
― Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation

 

“Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?”
― John Keats, Letters of John Keats

 

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on."

- Anne of Green Gables

 

 

Just a bend in the road

Lyrics by Eddy Arnnold

 

Are you weary and tired of living
Does it all seem to be thankless giving
Don't worry my friend it isn't the end
It's just a bend in the road

Have you reached for someone's hand
And found that's she just doesn't understand
Keep reaching my friend it isn't the end
It's just a bend in the road

It's never the end there's always one more bend
Another day another way a year or two
So walk one more mile remember with the smile
Happiness can afford to lose you

Although at times you feel so lonely
And you try to find someone to love you only
Keep looking my friend it isn't the end
There'll may be someone around the bend in the road
There'll may be someone around the bend in the road

 

 

Music of the Moment.......a 'must attend' event !

My oh my !!! You simply MUST attend this event, a first for Melbourne's much adored Rechords - they are releasing their new single AND accompanying music video....soooooooo very exciting !!! 8.30pm is the time so, be sure to be there on time - don't miss a second of the action!!! Thrillsville !

And here is a little link to get you in the mood......"Throw a little wood on the fire"

Dream house for sale.....

Oh a huge, enormous thankyou to my dear friend Trish who alerted me to this darling little gem up for sale.....apparently it was in a Vogue photo shoot some time ago, and one can easily see what the attraction was.....I would love to hear readers thoughts about this beautiful mid century vintage resort style abode.......and as I wait for comments to roll in, I will sit back, mai tai in hand and dream of the parties and happy times one could have in such a place !!!














See more about this house at the link here.......Domain Resort House

Passing through New South Wales country towns....

 

 

 

One lovely weekend in late winter, I had the privilege of traveling 7 hours north to spend some time in the township of Orange, Central West New South Wales. It was such a pretty town, despite the wind chill factor, and I actually saw snow fall for the first time in my life - so feathery and light and very very pretty. However, it was not the snow at Orange that I wanted to share with you today, but rather, a couple of great old buildings that I spotted as I passed through the many country towns on my way there.....the first two, above, were in the town of Cootamundra and I was charmed by the large art deco-ness of the design....naturally, my imagination ran wild with all sorts of uses and ideas for these buildings in a world where monetary limitations did not exist...... dance studios, cafe restaurants, event destinations, dance halls, roller derbys, vintage stores or a combo of all of the above !

 

And lastly, in the cute little veranda town of Lockheart, I spied this eye catching 1960's modernist designed Council offices....wow ! Once again, a super hip Madmen-esq era cafe or club leapt to mind, or even a funky art gallery or hi fi store.

 

What would you do if you could get your hands on a darling piece of mid century real estate, and money was no object?

Living Doll - Miss September

Living Dolls are mothers, nurses, models, photographers, graphic designers, grandmothers, students, teachers - infact you name it, they come from every walk of life but have this one thing in common - they love and live vintage !

 

I cant tell you how thrilled I am to indroduce you to our Miss September - not only is Miss Sammy a stunning vintage chick, but, like me, she is also am extreemly busy Mum who manages to care for her family and fuel her vintage interests, all while looking a million bucks at the same time. I love you Miss Sammy - you are an inspiration !

What does 'vintage' mean to you?

 It means love, charm, glamour, happiness, cocktails, swivel sticks, music, dancing, friends, baking,…. LIFE. xx

 

What was it that first prompted your interest in vintage culture?

My Grannys furniture, I totally fell in love with it. I have it in my house now.

 What is your favourite era, and do you 'live it' every day? In what ways?

My favourite era is the 40s and 50s. I dress in this style everyday, paint my face and do my hair and endeavour to wear red lipstick. I try to live by some of the family traditions of the era and oh how I love to bake, and look after the men in my life.

Tell us about your favourite item of vintage clothing, kitchenalia, music, furniture or whatever !

My favourite vintage thing is my Grannys crystals.I never met her but feel a conection with them and love to take her with me on my vintage journey.

 

 Can you share with us why vintage culture continues to hold such appeal for you?

I think it holds such an appeal to me because I love the values of days gone past. I am in awe of our for mothers and what they endured with so little. I love the way they made do with the little the had and they never just threw things away like we do. I wish we didn’t live in a throw away world and that appliances and general household thing were made to last. I love the simplistic way in which they lived and how much they didn’t take for granted but most of all I love the glamour and pride in which they took in themselves.

Do you have any tips for anyone starting out in the vintage scene?

yes step out side your comfort zone and meet the most wonderful people, dont be afraid to be who you want to be and step inside and meet the people who will willingly help you on your journey.And fall in love with being glamorous and all things vintage.

Now is your chance to provide us with an overview of who you are and what you do.

I am a mother of four boys and have a wonderful husband who encourages my journey. He too loves the vintage life. I am lucky to be able to encourage and teach ways of vintage glamour through my Job with The Lindy Charm School for Girls. It brings so many tears to my eyes and when someone is moved by the fact that they truly feel beautiful, I love it. The more I see young girls exploring the Vintage life the happier it makes me as I can see that vintage glamour is never going to die. Whist my boys secretly call me a freak or say oh not another dead person’s dress hahahah. They constantly tell me how lovely I look and how they love that my friends look like real women. I think it’s so important to be proud of being a woman. I loved staying home when my boys were little and baking and keeping house and feel very privileged to have been in a position to be able to do that.

 

Finally, what or who inspires you and why?

I am mostly inspired by my friends. Whilst I am totally in love with Hollywood Glamour, the women and men in the  whole vintage, retro, rockabilly scene  are really inspiring people. I guess ordinary people living their lives drawing inspiration from there vintage life. I am inspired by both my grandmothers and what they had to endure and how they totally loved my Grandfathers till the day they died and beyond.

Quote of the month - August 2012

 

 

"If you want to be happy for a short time - get drunk

happy for a long time - fall in love

happy forever - take up gardening"

 

Chinese Saying

 

 

I simply couldnt agree more......need to get myself my own garden again !

 



A painting for Paul and Gill...

 

I was so surprised a couple of months back to receive an email from my friend Paul asking if I would paint a portrait of he and his wife Gill for their upcoming 10th wedding anniversary. I was quite flabbergasted actually, as, although I did art in year 12, it has been a long time since then, and I had only gotten back 'into it' with 2 artworks in recent times...... nothing daunted and highly flattered, I said yes and began to brainstorm layout ideas.....

 

 (pre the inclusion of sideburns on Paul !)

 

Skip ahead two months and here is the final result - a 60's cartoonish style portrait in greens and oranges that was presented to Gill as a surprise at the recent Sydney 50's Fair. From this very humble artist, I just want to thank Paul for this opportunity, and to say happy anniversary from Alice Jean's....doing this portrait was a delight and an honour, may you know many many more years of 'wedded bliss' !