Finger nail magic.......

Does anyone have trouble finding that perfect red nailpolish to define your vintage glamour? I constantly seem to be repairing nail polish that has chipped or broken, at least weekly I change my nail colour (to red again !!) to keep that well manicured look. Where I live we do not have nail tech's on every corner, and to be perfectly frank they are a little beyond our one income budget right now - one of lifes luxuries - so it is up to the me to maintain my nails as best I can. For many Australian women in the 1950's, this was a given anyhow, so I have decided to road test 5 cheap to average priced nailpolishes, available in any Priceline store across the country. Let's see which one last the longest, with the least chips, and maintains the best appearance at the end of a week of cooking, cleaning, gardening, baby caring, and playing !

I have chosen, from left to right,

Savy 'Danger Red'

Revlon "Revlon Red'

Australia 'Valentine'

Rimmel Double 'Decker Red'

Maybeline 'Racy Red'

and painted my left hand from left to right in that pattern........

As you can see, the colours look almost identical !! Infact I showed a number of friends and no one could tell that they were actually five different colours! I guess I just love that red !!!

And after one week, this was the same hand.......

You can see that the Savy and the Rimmel can off 'worst for wear' with the most chipping, followed by the maybeline on my thumb. It is worth noting however that these three fingernails are probably my longest. The classic Revlon Red came in second best, and the winner with least chipping, was Australis 'Valentine'.

All the polishes chipped, peeled and broke, so regardless of the 'winner', my nails would still have required re-doing at the end of a week. The moral of this story - if you are going to paint your nails yourself, be prepared for the maintenance involved ! But dont red fingernails look lovely? They are so worth it !!!

First blogger award for Alice Jean's !!

To my total delight, I received this 'Beautiful Blogger' award from the lovely Ruth at 'Celebrate Friendship' and 'Daily Devine' - thankyou Ruth for your beautiful and most flattering award.

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about me and share this award to seven other bloggers (who then do the same for other bloggers if they wish).

So, here goes - Seven Things about me:

1. I was OBSSESSED with Anne of Green Gables as a teenager

2. My husband was my very first boyfriend - we met when I was 23.

3. I was a tall, gangly, ugly duckling as a child - which explains why I never had a boyfriend before my honey! However, I think it was the best thing in the world for me - gave me independance, individuality, and a focus on life and living instead of 'boys'!!

4. I always wanted to be an astronaught.....until I found out that you need to be quite brilliant at physics and maths !

5. I am living my dream of being a stay at home, 1950's style Mum !

6. I think my kids watch far too much television and am attempting to curb that !

7. Am making a dark green with aqua, gold and red spotted wiggle dress at the moment !

(I use exclamations alot dont I !!)

I would like to pass this award on to the following beautiful bloggers who regularly inspire me.....congrats to you all!!!

Number one:

The ever lovely Josephine at Tale Peddler. Her blog is a delightful romp through all things 'mysterious, nostalgic and artistic' !

Number Two:

Beautiful Lydia at Vintage Beauty Blog - how vintage mama's keep their glam after kids ! All you ever need to know to be a beautiful vintage kitten !

Number three:

Stunning Naomi at Screen Siren - an elegent look at classic cinema and all things associated with the golden age of movies !!

Number Four:

The amazing Julie at 'Julies Provincial Patch' - truely lovely photography and beautiful sewing creations, not to mention delightful country living, to be found at this charming little 'patch'.

Number Five:

Darling Kori at Blonde Episodes - if you need to know anything about golden age cinema (particularly Marilyn Monroe) then Kori is bound to have it covered !

Number Six:

Utterly enchanting Isabelle at Suzy's Vintage Atic - this romantic blog is a delightful journey into all things beautiful, magical and pretty. You will be swept away by some of the lovely images here......

Number Seven:

Vintage darling Rosina Lee at Rosina Lee will captivate you with her life less ordinary ! A beautiful vintage kitten.................

Number Eight (yes, I couldnt pick 7 so have added one extra if I may!!):

Newly discovered blogging jewel,  Wearing History will inspire your sewing creativity and love of vintage clothing, style and elegence! I am sewpt away ! And she also has an online store too......

Please take the time to explore all these beautiful blogs - I know you will be utterly enchanted every time you venture there just as I am !! And a huge big thankyou to the lovely Ruth for including me in this humble little award - I feel most honoured !!!

The Amazing Garden of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Recently I had the absaloute delight of visiting the bi-annual open garden at Cruden Farm, home to Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. It was a darling of a day - weather was late spring perfection, and I was dressed in my vintage 'garden party' floaty yellow roses dress ! The garden was beathtaking, as one would expect of a garden that has been the owners pride and joy since the 1920s!! But without a doubt, the highlight of my day was being able to speak to Dame Elisabeth, even if it was simply to tell her how much her garden inspired me ! I dont care if you are wealthy or middle class or poor, if you are 100 years old and opening your home and garden to what appeared to be THOUSANDS of visitors, if you are 100 years old and you are out and about mingling with all these strangers, greeting them, smiling, having your photograph taken with them, all with a gentle graciousness while they trample and smoke, drink and eat in your pride and joy, then you are a heroine in my books !!

Here are some photographs of the inspiring garden - please forgive the crowds, it was nigh on impossible to take a picture without someones head getting in the shot (if you dont like crowds I would sugest not going to this open garden).

But it is Dame Elisabeth I would like to give homage to, she has established her garden throughout most of the 20th Century, and therefore the life of this philinthropic woman and her garden are perfectly suited to a 20th Century vintage blog post !

Dame Elisabth was born on Feb 8, 1909 and is the widow of Ausralian newspaper publisher, Sir Keith Murdoch whom she married in 1928. Sir Keith and Dame Elisabeth had four children - Janet, Helen, Anne and Rupert. Dame Elisabeth found solice and enjoyment in her life at Cruden Farm, which was a very simple Langwarrin acerage when Keith first purchased it as a wedding presant. The couple employed the then up and coming Ausralian Landscape Designer, Edna Walling, to design a garden for the property. Dame Elisabeth has since heavily modified Walling's original design, making the garden uniquely her own.

Dame Elisabeth has involved herself in philinthropic pursuuits all her life long. Before her marriage, Dame Elisabeth worked for the RSPCA and joined the management committee of the Royal Children's Hospital in 1933, functioning as Presiden 1954 to 1965. Dame Elisabeth is a life-governor of the Royal Women's Hospital and is Patron of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and of the Australian American Association (Victoria). She is also a patron and founding member of disability organisation EW Tipping Foundation, and a founding member of the Deafness Foundation of Victoria. The first woman on the council of trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch was a founding member of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. Phew !! I am exhausted just thinking about all those involvements !

An article in The Age 2003 stated that "Few can rival Dame Elisabeth's enormous contribution. Her interests are so many they need to be alphabetically catalogued: academia, the arts, children, flora and fauna, heritage, medical research, social welfare. Many of Melbourne and Australia's most cherished institutions, from the Royal Children's Hospital to the Australian Ballet and the Botanic Gardens, have benefited from her involvement. But Dame Elisabeth also devoted herself to less popular causes: prisoners, children in care, those battling mental illness and substance abuse."

What an amazing woman, using her position and money to bless society. I am inspired by her lovely garden, and inspired by her tireless activities for the good of the community. I wish there were more Dame Elisabeths in the world !

If you would like to know more about this lovely woman and her garden, I would suggest borrowing or buying the book "Garden of a lifetime - Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at Cruden Farm" it really is a marvelous read and full of inspiring garden and family pictures throughout the 20th Century. Beautiful!!

Tyabb Packing Sheds

Recently I was happened to be down on the Mornington Peninsula and decided to drop into the Tyabb Packing House. I had been there before and remembered being mesmerised by the vast array of vintage goodies to be found. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon poking around the many and varied stalls under the one roof, winding up with a magazine and coffee at the charming cafe (quite obviously I was without my children this particular day!!) However, since discovering the Mill Markets, I must admit I was a bit shocked at the pricing of the items that took my fancy.....they did seem somewhat over the top by comparison.....perhaps the clientele on the Mornington Pen. are alot more affluent than those in Geelong, Warnambool, Daylesford and Ballarat where you will find the Mill Markets. But we all know that if we find that elusive item we have been searching high and low for, we will gladly pay what is nessisary to have it......here are some photographs from my visit.....perhaps you will see that elusive item here !!!

Art Deco Gundagi

Arnt these old Art Deco buildings just darling?! Thanks so much to my good friend Travis who shared these with me, they are from the beautiful town of Gundagi in central eastern New South Wales, Australia. I have said it before and I will say it again - you find such treasures in little old country towns ! This old town is now bypassed by the Hume Freeway, but once upon a time served as a rest stop on the journey from Sydney to Melbourne. Built on a foundation of agriculture, and then gold mining, Gundagi was made famous by the charming old song "Road to Gundagi" - first published in 1922. The song became particularly popular during World War 2. Brilliant Australian writer and poet, Banjo Patterson, also wrote a poem entitled "The Road to Gundagi" - so our humble little Art Deco town has graced quite a bit of Australia's 20th century history. Definatly worth a visit for history's sake !

Quote of the month - Janurary 2010

" A rose does not preach, it simply spreads its fragrance"

Mahatma Gandhi

( I just love this quote - flowers and philosophy - who could ask for more perfection in a quote!!! )

Flower of the Season - Summer 09/10

" I once heard that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I was never able to believe it. A rose just couldnt smell as sweet if it were a thistle or a skunk cabbage!"

Anne of Green Gables

What more can I say - there is no more favourite 'old fashioned' flower in all the world than the rose. Beautiful colours, adaptable to so many environments, intoxicating fragrances, glorious in a garden, mass planted or as a cut flower. Its beauty has graced so many poems, so many stories of old, and inspired many of the great minds of history (see this month's quote of the month). It is my favourite flower - I must always have a rose growing in my garden, and I delight in giving great bunches of them to those I love !

Growing roses is so easy too. Best planted in winter during bare rooted season, they bennifit from a little fertiliser, and regular water, although they are so very hardy, they will withstand periods of drought and almost any soil bar pure sand (!) and still turn on an impressive show. Prune every winter (June is best in most parts of Australia, although you can get away with waiting till mid August if need be !), and nip away dead flowers from the first flush in spring to encourage further flowering. This is always so enjoyable when done on balmy evenings with a glass of Moscato in one hand and secateurs in the other !!


There are numerous varieties of rose available on the market - shrub, floribunda, minitures, climbers, standards, burbons, Austins, hybrid tea - all of which have quite differing flowering habits, so my main reccomendation when purchasing a rose would be find out what it is you are wanting from your rose and purchase accordingly. Do you want lots of flowers? Floribunda would be your pick. Would you like strong fragrence? Burbons and Austins are a good choice. Do you want the look of a post war garden? Choose hybrid tea's - the frilly Austins and Burbons and other old fashioned roses have only made a come back in more recent times. A true mid 21st Century garden will use only hybrid teas - 'Oaklahoma', 'Ena Harkness' and 'Peace' are some good choices for this purpose. Feel free to email me if you want some help !

I do hope you delight in these photographs from my own garden as much as I have delighted in taking them - I have recently purchased a lovely new digital camera and have had a wow of a time photographing my pretty little garden gems. Summer in the garden is never dreary when there is a rose to enjoy !

Quote of the month - December 2009

"Love from the center of who you are, dont fake it. Run for dear life from evil, hold for dear life to what is good. Be good friends who love deeply...discover beauty in everyone."

The Message/Romans 12:9, 10 & 17a.

As the old year (and decade!) fades away, LOVE is what I want to hold to stepping over the threshold into the decade to come.

I have been doing some soul searching between Christmas and New Year, and I have come to the fresh realisation that

A parents ultimate goal is that their children grow up knowing they are loved. The goal of a happily married couple is the same: That their spouse continually knows that they are loved.

These are my New Years Resolutions - that I find time each day in some small way to make sure those I care for most dearly know that they are loved.

May you find love this year, in surprising places, in both little and big ways.....and may you have eyes to see where a little love is needed around you everyday.

The wonderful art of Haddon Sundblom....

Imagine a western Christmas with no jolly man in a red suit ho ho ho-ing at us in every window and at every Christmas Carols event! We owe our modern day interpretation of Santa Claus to the magical artistry of Haddon Sundblom.....never heard of him? (especially my Australian counterparts)? Well, you are sure to have seen his images gracing countless Coke Christmas advertisements at Christmas time over the years......let me tell you a little about this inspiring artist.........

Haddon was born in Michigan in 1899. His family was a mix of Swedish and Russian in heritage, and Haddon was first generation American. He studied at the American Institute of Art and began painting advertisements for the Coke a cola company in the 1930's.

It was at this time that he turned to the 1822 poem "The night before Christmas' for inspiration for a Christmas advertisement, creating his interpretation of 'jolly old St Nick'. Sundblom based the rosey faced, beaming Santa on himself, and fitted his atire and merriment to the poetic description. For the next 33 years, he painted many many portraits of Santa that have etched themselves into popular culture.

Haddon was also a revered glamour and pin up artist, inspiring the likes of Gil Elvgren and Joyce Ballentine.His many stunning vintage pin up images were used in advertising, calandars and Playboy magazine. Haddon passed away in 1976 leaving what would have to be the most recognisable image in all popular culture, Santa Claus himself

Christmas Giveaway Competition

With Christmas on the doorstep, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to host my very first giveaway here at Alice Jean's !!

I have been very very busy sewing sewing sewing, and the end result has been some darling little girls pinnies in all sorts of colours and fabrics - just ready for your daughter, neice, grandaughter or friend to play in. Here is a picture of my own little baby doll modeling how they can be worn - with jeans and a long sleeve top - but they would look just as darling on their own or with a summer t-shirt underneath.

To win this adorable little Christmas pinnie, simply put a post on your blog, with a link to this competition, and share your favorite childhood outfit. Post a photograph or draw a picture of it if you wish, or simply describe it. Once you have done this, leave a comment on this post with the URL of your post so that I can check it out. The winning entre will have this pretty little pinnie sent to them in the mail - what a lovely Christmas pressie !!! You have until the 18 December to get your entre's to me.......I cant wait to see all your sweetest childhood frocks, costumes and duds !!! (The prize is a pure cotton, size 18m to 2 y.o., fabric covered button and contrast hem pinnifore, in festive Christmas colours. Normally valued at $28)

If you do not blog but would like to enter, simply send me an email with your entry and I will post here at Alice Jean's for you.

If you are not into competitions, feel free to browse these other little pinnies I have created. They are for sale for very reasonable prices - please spread the word !!!! (Click on images to enlarge for detail)

Pink and white daisy dress

Size: 18months - 2 years

Price: $28

Vintage 1970's Fabric

Size 3-4
Price $28

Yellow Pinnie with wooden buttons

Size: 3-4

Price: $25

Roses and stripes

Size 3-4
Price $28

Blue ribbon dress

Size: 18months - 2 years

Price: $25

Pink Stripes and Roses

Size 3-4
Price $28

Navy 'Holly Hobbies' pinnie - vintage fabric

Size: 3-4

Price: $28

A very vintage Christmas......

Re-creating a vintage styled Christmas is the ultimate goal of every vintage loving momma like me! I want my children to delight in the romance, magic and sheer beauty that Christmas can be - just as I remember it was when I was a child. The house decorated fantasticly in merriment (often home made decorations too - even better !!), Jim Reeves crooning carols on the stereo, a trip to church to celebrate the reason for the season, extended family around - happy, laughing and dressed in their 'Sunday' best, and the dinner table weighted down with decadent delights for everyone. And, of course, what should be the 'piece de resistance' - the Christmas cake topping off a fine time.....and yet, my memories of the cake are a bit disapointing I must say - it was too super rich, crumbly and dry. I don't know who made it in my family but it is time that aspect of my reminiscent vintage Christmas was updated - to something all vintage loving domestic divas would nod in approval over ! Even if you don't particularly like Christmas or fruit cake (like me), you simply MUST try this one! To have a true heritage, vintage Christmas, you must have Christmas cake, so why not have one that everyone at your Christmas party will drool over....and while you are nibbling away, enjoy my little tribute to the vintage beauty of Christmas - the movies, the images, the advertising (!), the food, the elegance, the parties, the fun - HAPPY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

'Aunty' Hannahs DIVINE Christmas Cake

1 medium tin crushed pineapple with fruit juice
500gms of dried fruit of choice (apricots, sultanas, apple etc) – diced.
½ cup Sherry
1 cup juice of choice
125gms butter
1 cup raw sugar

Place all together in large saucepan and boil for 5 mins. Let cool for ½ hour or so.

Add 1 ½ – 2 cups of SR Flour
2 Large eggs whisked
1 Teaspoon nutmeg and cinnamon

Mix all together. Place in a lined and greased large spring tin. Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 1-1 ½ hours. Allow to cool in tin. Ice and decorate as creativity desires !!!

(Dear Candice, Please accept my recipe and little Christmas song as my entre into your wonderful Christmas Competition - the rest of my post is over 200 words! The link to your competition I posted here at Alice Jeans a couple of posts back - Thankyou for a wonderful competition, and a merry Christmas to you, Darling Vintage Vixen ! XX)