The Court of Versailles...

I finally went to the Nova to see The September Issue tonight and I absolutely loved it.  The film is a behind the scenes look at the enigmatic personalities that create American Vogue, most notably the legendary Editor in Chief- Anna Wintour.  My favourite scene was when Grace is styling a photo shoot at the Palace of Versailles and is spellbound by the majestic gardens.  Watching her excitment build as she walks through the vast rooms admiring the ornate splendour, reminded me of my own wanderings through the Palace and I have been inspired to share my photos with you.  Such a perfect place to photograph.

 

Opulently constructed in the 17th Century to fulfill King Louis XIV's vision for a new royal court, Versailles is incredibly elaborate and so exquisite in detail.  I love the bust of Marie Antoinette and the king and queen bedrooms respectively (below), the ornate chandeliers, the gardens, oh I love it all.  So totally appealing to my girlish sense of history and romance, life and death, just as any good palace should.

My Creative Space VI...

 

My Creative Space on this fabulous rainy Thursday in Melbourne is sifting through all my new buttons and op-shop aquisitions and trying to spring clean my sewing space.  My collection of haberdashery is starting to take over my house, really and truly and to be honest I ran out of cupboard space a long time ago and yet I am still collecting..... Here are some of the latest finds.
Some very cute fabric from Leongatha Salvation Army op shop and some amazing leather buttons from a thrift shop in Korumburra.  (So much better than the fake ones made of plastic that were big in the 70s).

While we are on the subject of buttons, check out these lovely ones I received from Tania at Cheeky Little Monsters on the weekend. They are fantastic, but once again I ask myself "where do I store them" because, lets face it, it will take a lifetime of sewing to use them all.

  

Is it just me or are these knitting books Camp or what?  'That Unhurried Look'- surely is because you would not be seen outside your house in jumpers such as these! And what is with the chess champion?

This one is my favourite, I bought it from St Vinnies for my friend John who totally adores 80's woollen jumbers (and he can pull off wearing them too).  I love that it is for men only, which kind of gives it a 'wool porn' feel and raises the question- are the fantastically hideous jumpers enclosed within Only to be viewed by Men?  Or can they Only be Knitted by them????

 

 

Lastly here are some other recent op-shop purchases. This really pretty 70's acrylic knit is too small for me but I have been squeezing into it all the same, because it is awesome. The practical guide to crochet is the sort of book I always dream of finding and finally have. And as for the 80's bikini pattern- well I just could not say no!

So that is really all I am up to today. Once everything is put away (read 'shoved' away), then I can begin the next creative project, I have a few markets coming up so I had best put on my skates as my mother would say :)

Visit Kirsty for more Creative Spaces.

Coveting 1950's Dresses.....

As I am being incredibly lazy at the moment, having neither started a new project or finished off an old one, I thought I would share with you these amazing 50's dresses I have been coveting on Ebay.  They are simply exquisite and flattering in their design- the fitted bodice with full skirt and tulle petticoat, the pin tucks and bows and beautiful fabrics.  I happened upon them whilst looking for inspiration to make vintage style dolls dresses. Now I just imagine wearing them myself and picturing how much more amazing my life would be if I wore a different one each day.  For the last week I have been tucking myself up in bed early with a cup of tea and watching the first season of True Blood, so it may be some time before I have any of my own creative little things for show and tell, until then enjoy these dresses and my new 'Spring look' blog. :)

 

 

  

 

My Creative Space V

Today my Creative Space is having a hair crisis!  A seriously terrible, perplexing, gigantic mess of a hair problem.  Sometimes no matter what I do I just cannot get my own hair to look good and now this affliction has transferred itself to my dolls.  Having tried so many variations over time on this doll, I set about today to remedy the situation, but alas- no success (again).  Perhaps she will forever remain unfinished. I have decided to give up and work on my photo albums instead.  Try Try again, another day, maybe when the rain has cleared things will start to look up.  :)

See more Creative MySpaces at Kootoyoo.

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So much to talk about...

Have arrived back in Melbourne at last and my cosy little home is still standing and Kameko the Birman is meowing louder than even I remember. Travelling to Europe is extremely exciting, amazing architecture, galleries, designers, shoes..... I have so much to share with you all. But firstly just wanted to say that we Melbournians are freaking awesome too, especially in the arena of fashion and craft and the wonders of Handmade. Our blogs are being read and loved in the Northern Hemisphere just like in the south, so it is a very exciting time. I am also excited to see that upon my return there is a new Northside Makers Collective which I can't wait to join and a new market for us all to share our crafty passions.

As I was allergic to the internet during my time away (distracted me from time in the sunshine), I have much to catch you up on so will endeavor to devote serious time to that, whilst sewing and running around after my 2.5 year old whose body clock refuses to adjust after flying into the future. So for now I will just share a little with you.

There is a really beautiful Boutique in Paris called Manoush, check out their website the clothes are just ridiculously divine. I love this shirt modelled here by Betty from my favourite fashion blog Le Blog de Betty . Some of the more beautiful clothes in Paris and Spain this summer were in delicate fabrics with lovely frills and buttons. Above knee dresses with large pockets and balloon hems were also very big. It is a wonderful feeling to be wearing new clothes in Paris and picnicing in the Jardin des Tuileries or under the Eiffel with cheese and wine, such a stunning city.

This is one of my favourite dresses from London's eponymous All Saints Spitalfields label. I could easily handle being dressed from head to toe in their amazing clothes. I'm loving their soft leather and fabrics and military style boots and the way they contrast amazingly together. I wore an All Saints dress to a party yesterday and people commented on it all night.

Shopping in the UK gave me so much joy. Toast (above) have some really cute things to suit a Melbourne autumn/winter. Camden market has fantastic affordable vintage as well as anything you could ever possibly imagine. Portabello rd market was so popular on a Saturday morning that I could barely take the stroller through the street. But Spitalfields market was my favourite for handmade.

Photo's courtesy of the very cool Beyond Retro website, it is my dream store where I bought the most fantastic 80's boots made from leather and suede AND corduroy lining. My 3 loves in one boot!

The two awesome UK knitwear and textile designers from Studio Roam make the most divine blankets for little ones using natural and sustainable materials. They also can personalise baby blankets for newborns with name and date of birth using the finest Scottish cashmere. Something that you would truly keep forever.

And lastly in Amsterdam De Sprookjeskamer-Fairytale and Dottie Shop is a little gem of a store that caught my eye from a tram and I had to get off and walk around in circles for a while until I found it again because I'm totally obsessed with polka dots. I bought the little shoes above for my Godchild to dress up in, but would have bought so much more if I had any room left in my case. More of these fabulous things after I have some sleep. Until then....

My Creative Space

Today my Creative Space is a huge mountainous rock on the Greek Island of Kalymnos. It is so absolutely amazing here, beautiful and very peaceful. I woke early and climbed with my french friends and now am utterly exhausted and will spend the rest of my day having siesta, swimming and eating the most divine Kalymnian foods- Octopus, dolmades, mussels, saganaki......
Kalymnos is garnering a name for itself as a rock climbing mecca, but is still a secret from tourists, which is why I favour it. The sea is the most beautiful blue and the sunsets are impossibly wonderous. Time is also a paradox here, the days go slow but the weeks go fast.

I have been Island hopping for almost two months now and what I love most is that the Grecians live life to the fullest at night and also take their children everywhere. Families are always together and the children are allowed to be children. Not reigned in all the time by adult rules. This is important. This is also what I will miss the most when I return to Melbourne where children are in bed by 8 and are rarely seen in restaurents.

I'm not sure rock climbing can be actually deemed 'a creative space' but in the absence of my sewing machine I have to be creative with my creative. Hee Hee
I will try to upload more over the next few weeks but when the beach is calling me, it is hard to think of anything else. x

More Creative Spaces at Kootoyoo

Bon Voyage...

In a few hours I will embark on my big European vacation and this humble little craft blog will be temporarily transformed into a blog of my travelling adventures.

First stop is Dubai for a Bedouin feast under the Arabian sky. I cannot wait and have chosen to read Arabian Nights on the plane. I have the most beautiful leather bound copy with beautiful gold writing and pictures.

Above we have my last outing in my Melbourne wintery warmers. I am too excited about travelling to summer to even have the words to articulate so I will just simply say Fare thee well and I will catch you soon. xx

P.s My dolls will be stocked at Thread Den and will be having a whole adventure of their own. x