Confessions...

Saturday was a beautiful day here weather wise. I think all of the flowers with a heavy scent must bloom at the end of Summer in Sydney as the sweet smell wafting through the neighbourhood is just amazing at the moment. David and I lazily wandered up to the markets and had a nosey around (I bought a necklace) before grabbing some lunch and doing the weekly grocery shop.

I've had this dress for a long time - probably ever since I started collecting vintage, and I have a confession...this is only the second time I've worn it because I need to take up the straps!

There, I said it. I'm a bad person. I have a small pile of vintage dresses hanging in my wardrobe that need some form of adusting, whether it's taking up the hem, taking in the bust or resewing a zip.

Must. Get. Onto. It!

Thank goodness for Easter break coming up in two weeks time.

XX
Jen

Monty in Black and White...

And this is what I wore on Sunday.

My last photography class went well yesterday, despite the fact I was 30minutes late because I was stuck in traffic! And now that I know how to use my camera, I'm looking forward to investing in a new lens and getting out and taking some awesome photos!

The class particulary liked this photo of Monty I showed...

And with that, I don't really have anything else left to say.

Have a great night.

XX
Jen

Pretty in Pink!

In case you were wondering, this is what I wore on Saturday..

Sorry for not posting for a while...last weekend I was a bit zombi-fied after my first week of work and I ended up not doing anything. This weekend, I was feeling a million times better and David and I went out exploring (I also needed to take some photos for my last photography class on Wednesday) at Vaucluse house on Saturday and Carisbrook house on Sunday.

I ended up taking so many photos for my last class that narrowing them down is looking like a bit of a daunting task and we're only allowed to show 12-30 images!.

We also kissed day light savings goodbye on Sunday, and while it made getting up much easier this morning, the afternoons are so much darker. Winter is certainly on its way...

I hope you all had great weekends!

XX Jen

Missing You...

How has your week been going? Mine has had its ups and downs, but mostly ups I think. I can certainly say that I won't be bored in my new job, there is so much to do! I can't wait until I understand everything so I can tackle my mounting work inbox - it's turning into an ungainly beast.

It also means no time to play around at work on twitter and reading blogs as I used too, which has left me feeling a little unconnected to the bloggy world. I'm looking forward to a sleep in and craft day with Sam on Saturday, and then hopefully on Sunday I can settle down on the couch with a cup of tea and my lap top and catch up with everyone.

Miss you!

XX
Jen

Happy Monday...

I had my first day at new work today, and I must admit the commute was slightly more stressful than I originally planned - mostly because of the torrential rain and because I was already running 10minutes late. I hate being late, and being late on your very first day of work is not a good thing! Our car is also very good at steaming up the windows when it's wet and muggy which meant I drove to work with the air con blasting and the windows down getting everything wet (including me).

Gah!

But the day itself was fine - lots of things to remember (names, processes, systems etc) and I bet by the end of the week I'll be exhausted. So while I'm not feeling overly confident at this stage, I know that things will get easier (the torrential rain will stop!).

On a lighter note, I have scanned some images a few of my collection of Australian Home Journal magazines (of which I have a small collection spanning the late 40's to late 60's). These scans are from 1st September 1951 - I really love collecting these as the advertising alone is hilarious, but it's also such a lovely reminder of a time long past. I love reading the 'help' letters and looking at what was on the menu of the fashionable housewife (some of it however, is questionable...).

Note: To read any of the articles close up, click the images and it will take you to my flickr account where you can choose to see them in the biggest format.

All the magazines I own have come with their original free patterns advertised on the front cover and they all have knitting/crochet patterns inside for various jumpers, cardigans, childrens garments and blankets. I've also started collecting vintage knitting pattern books and just today recieved a beautiful pattern book from 1935 - but that's for another post.

Instructions for making your own easy wrap, and the ever present advertising for, erm, problems down there. These magazines seem to be rife with ads for constipation, so I guess all those 'dainties without eggs' weren't filled with enough fibre.

I loved this little article on The Mystery of Perfume - Do you always wear perfume. If you haven't any, why not buy some, and make perfume an everyday habit; its a very glamorous idea. Don't just use the dab behind the ear routine; for long lasting fragrance soak a tiny piece of cotton wool in perfume, let it dry, then tuck it into your bra. The heat of your body will bring out the perfume.

Touch the stopper on the bend of your elbows, wrist, throat, temple and nape of your neck. Maybe a drop on your hankie but never on your clothes. It goes stale and may leave stains. Toilet water is now procurable and not so strong or expensive so it can be used more freely. A spray will make a little perfume go a long way.

Be sure and buy good perfume, it is cheaper in the long run. Light flower perfumes are better for summer. Heavier perfumes are better for winter and evening wear.

XX
Jen

A New Start...

It's my last day of old work tomorrow - I start my new job this Monday and I'm feeling apprehensive, as most people do I'm sure (can I actually do the job I told them I could do?).

It's always a little sad to leave a job - I'm lucky in that I can honestly say I've never really actually hated any job I've done before (well, there was that time I waitressed for a summer - but the payoff was that I loved my co-workers). I've always had great relationships with my work mates, and each person I've met and each thing I've experienced at all of my work places has taught me at least a little something about the world and how it works. My ultimate goal by way of employment is yet to be realised, but I'm very happy at the moment to be learning as much as I can from others while I slowly work towards it.

O hai bow on the front AND the back...

On different note, thank you for all of your get wells to Mocha. She is healing up very well and her little claw seems to have started growing back. We let her out this weekend, and while she didn't wander off too far, she was very happy and content to sit outside in the shade of the fence and watch the birds.

XX Jen

PS) There seem to be yet more disasters happening in the world - if you can, please donate to the Red Cross appeal for the earthquake in Japan.

New Things...

Sorry for the break everyone, lots of things have been happening around here. First up, I have some fantastic news - I have a new job (after a long long search...)! In publishing! Sort of...

I get to play with books all day and talk about said books with their authors. There is a bit of a commute involved, but nothing a few books-on-tape (or books-on-iPod in my case) can't fix and it's such an amazing opportunity for me to learn about the business. I also don't have to worry about that stuffy semi-corporate dress anymore - I'm free to wear what I wish which is very exciting!

Speaking of exciting, it's Autumn here finally and we have had some delightfully chilly days, perfect for sewing (which is what I spent all this weekend doing. Come to think of it, I didn't actually leave the house). I love those weekends where you have no committments and you can spend the entire time in your pyjamas (clean and showered of course) sewing and watching Poirot.

I spent Saturday on my swing dress, and at the end of the day decided it was really unflattering on me. I think I will revisit it at some point, as I think it's worth trying to save (I did, after all, spend a whole day on it) but I'm putting it away for now. That meant on Sunday I was free to start a new project I had been eyeing up, a 40's skirt and blouse ensemble. I'm itching to get it finished and hopefully will this coming weekend.

And this is that circle skirt I've been going on about for a while - the first finished garment made with my new machine. It's a pattern I made and is constructed from a vintage wool blend fabric (from my stash bought over from NZ) and lined with a red gingham cotton from Spotlight.

And not so lucky last, poor Mocha somehow managed to rip out a claw in her back foot (imagine ripping off a whole nail and you'll get an idea of just how painful that might be). Off to the vet she went where she was dosed up on antibiotics and pain medication. We have been washing her foot with salty water and she has been stuck inside for a week now. Mocha loves to be outside so she has been doing very well being an indoor cat, one more week to go and she will be free to roam as per usual.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend,

XX Jen