BlossomLuxe Jewels

Can't fight the pretty

The answers to the tag I posted about earlier have got me thinking. As well as my complete inability to count to 8 (let's add that in at #5 shall we?) I was thinking about my attraction to all things pretty and ornate. All of my jewellery tends to head in that direction; soft colours, muted tones and lots of intricate detail.

But that's not my personal style at all! Strange no? For instance, today I'm wearing an outfit like this:

Images from Shopbop and Steven Shein for Lee Riot

Oh- I forgot the nails! Black cherries Rimmel polish (beautiful dark plum, yummo!)

Not exactly pretty pretty right? I confuse myself.

Tagged. Sort of.

By the lovely Rachel of Black*Eiffel

So; 8 revealing things about me:

Hong Kong Honker (see #8) 2006

1. I can't read a map without turning it around to face the right direction (but like Rachel, I'm really good at finding my way back to places I've only been to once. Very useful for all the alleyway bars in Melbourne)
2. Spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes drive me crazy. Yet I have no idea what the difference between a noun and an adjective is.
3. I'm a terrible klutz and am always finding new and embarrassing ways to fall over and injure myself in public.
4. I still dress like a design student (black black black).
6. Gooey uncooked egg yolks revolt me.
7. I can't / don't drive. I never learned and the prospect of getting my license now TERRIFIES me.
8. I'm distantly related to a European royal family, waaaay back along the line. I'd like to think that makes my nose "aristocratic" but sadly, it's from the other side of the family and therefore just a run-of the-mill-honker.

And now...You're it! Yes you!

   

Shower Scene

I love our new home, but there are one or two curly design dilemmas that are bugging me.

Specifically, I'm wracking my brain trying to come up with a solution for our ultra revealing shower window. It looks out into an atrium walkway;  while it's not public, I don't plan on getting to know my neighbours THAT well, if you know what I mean. The previous owners installed an aluminium venetian blind which looks horrible and is rusting to boot.

Patterned adhesive films like Otto below, designed by Emma Jeffs are the solution; they let light through while maintaining privacy.

It's not so straightforward though- the glass in our window has a chiselled type finish (semi-opaque) which isn't smooth on the inside. I'm not sure if the films will work on an uneven surface, or if I can apply them to the outside without it being obvious. I've ordered a sample pack of similar films from ebay to experiment with... the ugly rusty blind is TOAST.

Colour mad

It topped 40 degrees here yesterday, ugh.

How great is the colour palette on this Kate Spade basket? Yum.

Thankyous to the lovely Beth at Just My Cup of Tea for noticing it in the first place.

I've been staring at it for the last 10 minutes.. but who would blame me when the alternative is spreadsheets, spreadsheets and more spreadsheets....

where have all the jakeys gone?

I was given Irvine Welsh's new novel for Christmas,

Dymocks describes it as:

"A gothic parable about the great obsessions of our time: food, sex and minor celebrity, and is a brilliant examination of identity, male rivalry and the need to belong in the world."

I liked it, but it seemed more like Ben Elton than the author of Trainspotting. It was a bit disconnected from reality and a lot fluffier than I expected. Anyone else read it?

Phew!

I'm back!

We had an amazing time in Eastern Europe; look for photos early in the New Year. We arrived home to general Christmas hysteria which has dominated the last week or two.

BUT; there has been an exciting development in the last couple of days- the boy and I are now the proud owners of an apartment IN A CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

Photo of the MacRobertson's production line in 1959 from Picture Australia

For those Melburnians with good eyesight- yes, those are Freddo Frogs being packed. The MacRobertson's Chocolate Factory in Fitzroy is the original producer of Freddo Frogs and Cherry Ripe bars. A few years ago the factory buildings were converted to apartments and one of them is OURS!

And then, there is this, our actual view;

Not that I'm gloating, but...

In 15 sleeps I'll be here:

(photo by Geoff Strong, published on www.theage.com.au)

Well, not quite there (Lake Bled, Slovenia) but winging my way up to the Northern hemisphere to enjoy a month long wintery holiday; flying in to London for a day or two then the boy and I will work our way into Eastern Europe- the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina.. it's going to be chilly but wonderful. Our flights take us home via Hong Kong where we'll defrost for a couple of days of frenzied shopping.

I have so many things to do and get done between now and then it's sickening, so I'm procrastinating by enjoying the rush of being able to play at Topshop! (and Miss Selfridge, and H&M, and Zara, and Mango....)

Marc Jacobs inspires Wool Flannel cap with bow detail 12 pounds (!) in winter white (also black) from Miss Selfridge; a girl's got to keep the head warm!

Spooked

No, this isn't a reference to Halloween. Today at lunchtime I nearly jumped out of my skin in the middle of town.  A large jumbo was flying very,very low over the CBD straight over the top of Little Collins Street; so low I could almost see the rivets. I was bracing for bad things to happen.

Luckily the postie bought me a lovely package this afternoon from my friend Amy which chased my jitters away; it was filled with gorgeous pieces of fabric, a cd full of patterns, pictures and all sorts of things she knew I'd love. What a gem.

In other news, I've been working on a commission lately for a friend's sister: her birthstone is Pink Tourmaline so I designed (with my friend's input) a delicate 14 k gold filled and pink tourmaline necklace and earring set for her.

I later replaced the pale green clasp dangle with an Emerald swarovski crystal which is my friend's birthstone. I love it, my friend loves it and most importantly, via text message from Brisbane, her sister loves it too!

Racing on the cheap(ish)

More racing outfits! This time I've gleaned some gems from ebay:

Alannah Hill silk Delicious Desires frock in Size 10 (M) currently $199

Pink 'Spider' Biot feather Fascinator  currently $25 (although if this were truly my outfit I'd me making my own fascinator/cocktail hat)

RMK Tan Leather vintage style shoes size 8.5 new currently $49.95

Silk clutch with wooden handles currently $8.50

Shoes for spring

Given that all the world's pollen found it's way into my nose this morning on the walk to work, I think it's safe to declare it really, truly is spring here in Melbourne.

In honour of the occasion; peeptoe slingbacks!

Top: Mollini Kelba slingback peeptoe with cork heel in brick/natural/gold

Bottom: Witchery Ivana vintage hi-heel sandal in tan leather