Permanent Marker

So after deciding 2009 will be my year to start making some real changes, my mind has ultimately swung back to the thing I have been thinking about for years: getting a tattoo. This is not something I take lightly. I have been researching it for years, finding out everything possible (which colours last the longest, how the size and detail affects it as it get old and wrinkly, etc.). I even have a shortlist of people I would like to do my tattoo. 1# on the list is Angelique Houtkamp. Her style is amazing and exactly what I'm looking for. Sadly, this would be crushingly expensive and she lives in the Netherlands. But anyways!

I have been wanting to get a little tatty done to represent Mr A. We've been together almost 8 years! But I think name tattoos are lame (so does he - he's KILL me if I got one). So here is my idea:

I want a little sweetheart lolly on my inside wrist that says "BE MINE", perhaps with another in a different colour peeking out the edge. Small, cute classy and totally cute! I definitely think I will get this done in the new year. But, like most people I'm scared of the pain! I suppose I shall just have to bite the bullet and get it over with! It will be worth it.

Baby Blue Eyes

Is it bad that I want some of these?? They look so cute! I spotted them at Platinum Mall today and have been obsessing ever since! They last for a year which I think is a pretty sweet deal. I just worry they will look ridiculous on me! I don't have those lovely, big asian eyes!

What do you think? Do you hate them or love them?

A Place to Call my own.

I know! I know!! I said I'd post more but things have been a little crazy since the start of the year. I've had visitors since the fourth and showing them around has been super tiring.

I'm going home in two weeks and I've trying to sort stuff out for that too. I have been thinking about own new house too. Mr A and I have very different tastes in interiors so we will try and keep the main area's of the house neutral. But we will both have our own rooms. Mr A for his guitars and me for my sewing. I can do whatever I like in my room!!!



I'm kinda going for a Kawaii Tea House/50's Boudoir/French Bordello kind of look. If you can understand that. I am completely in love with wall decals right now and I think some cherry blossoms would be beautiful. I really like the look of pink and red together also. Fashion Hayley pulls this off in her house so beautifully. I picked up some lovely red and pink frames at the markets on the weekend. I think I'll put some of my burlesque photos in them. I love the idea of bird cages too. I bought some in Vietnam. I want to fill them with butterflies and maybe even some plants/flowers! How sweet would that look!?














I like these colours a whole bunch! I'd also die and go to heaven if I could get my hands on a mirrored desk. Sadly, all the ones I have seen are way out of my decorating budget!!! BOOO!!! I really like the dressing table thing too. I despise having my make up and the such like in the bathroom. I'd love to have somewhere to sit and put my face on without having Mr A bugging me to get out because he has to pee or shave or something. I will defiantly get an inspiration board for my projects. I like to have everything laid out in front of me. I might even cover it with fabric to make it a little more aesthetically pleasing.

A day bed might be fun too!! Great for impromptu guests and lazily reading a book on a Sunday afternoon.

What do you think? I really want to make our new house more me. The one we are in now and even the one before showed far more of Mr A's taste then mine. I can't wait to start!

2 oh oh 9

2009 is here!!! I have so many things I want to and HAVE to achieve. I don't think I did as much with this year as I could have. I think having so much time to myself and being away from everything and everyone has made me lazy. I feel I definitely could have done more! So here is my list for 2009:

1. Do more sewing. I have so many wonderful fabrics and patterns but something always gets in the way, usually vegetating on the couch or looking up useless stuff on the net. If I put an hour aside every evening to sew I could have a new piece of clothing adorable every week! I'd also like to be able to make my own patterns so doing some classes this year would be good!

2. Keep up the exercise. I have been exercising a lot more than usual and I really want to keep that up. I adore yoga and swimming and even lifting weights! I will definitely be joining a gym with a pool! I think I will even buy a bike to run all my errands around the neighbourhood on. I got addicted to bike riding in Kyoto.

3. Improve my Charleston and Lindy hop. I LOVE my dancing. I feel at my happiest when I'm being flung around the dance floor or cutting loose on my own with some crazy Charleston. Being away from Perth meant that I couldn't partner dance anymore (Mr A doesn't swing). I have been doing some Charleston but the hot weather makes it difficult to practise a lot without dying. I've also had problems with my knees that I haven't addressed because doctors in Thailand are a little scary. So I will be going mad on dancing when I get back! If I could get this good I'd be in heaven.




4. Start Clara Cupcakes! I'm starting my own cupcake bakery! My lovely friend Mel (and the owner of my burlesque troupe) has offered me the bar in her new space, the Burlesque Lounge. It will only be twice a week but it's a great way to get my teeth into the business, test recipes and see if it's all really for me without outlaying any massive costs. I'm hoping to also start my own little line of retro aprons to go along with it and eventually own my own bakery. *squeal*

5. Have more parties! Invite more people over for dinner too! I love cooking and don't do it enough! I love cooking for other people and making them happy through food. And parties are always glorious fun. Totally worth the clean up the next day.

6. Reach my goal weight. It has been eluding me for years and appears to only be getting further away! 9kgs and counting!!! If I keep the exercising next year it should be no problem.

7. Be flexible enough to do the splits. I am so close!!! Just a few more centimeters. I used to be really flexible when I was younger but have gotten less so over the years. I want it back!

8. Improve my Japanese. I speak broken Japanese at best. I really want to get fluent so I can have a conversation with my wonderful host mother in Tomioka. It would be wonderful! So I plan to be conversational by the end of the year.

9. Buy a house! This is something me and Mr A are obsessed with at the moment. We have been searching real estate websites like crazy. I really want a 1920's house. Wood floors, high ceilings, an old auger in the kitchen. Lovely. I can picture it all in my head. Something like this! Oh I can see it now!!

10. Stop procrastinating and make better use of my time. This way, I can achieve all my goals for the year! Woohoo!!!

11. Get back to tap lessons. I gave them up in a bout of frustrated arghness but I really want to learn to tap. It would help a lot with my Charleston dancing. Plus, Gene Kelly is my god. If I could ever dance even a 10th as well as he could I would die happy.

12. Get a little playmate for Gretchen. We will both be working next year so Gretchie will need some company. She's okay on her own (British sort hairs usually are) but I think she would like a friend. She's also really overweight from living in a smaller apartment (she's an inside cat) for the last 6 months. Having a friend to tear around with should help her shed those extra kilos.

Hopefully I can tick all these off this year. One for every month. Happy times!!!! Have a great New Year everyone!!!

The most wonderful time.....

The unimitatable Gala Darling has teamed up with the lovely Molly Crabapple to run a great competition. Molly Crabapple is the founder of Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School, which my burlesque troupe is a part of in Perth. The prize is a Molly Crabapple print! *SQUEAL* So exciting. She is an AMAZING illustrator! You had to enter a polyvore set of what you would wear on Christmas day. I made one....and then got a little carried away. Polyvore is addictive!
So this is my first one. Super cute Christmassy with all the trimmings. I love that I love toast ring! I think I may have to buy one for myself. Also the brogues and the snowflake necklace. I actually own those love heart mixing bowls. And of course, my two kitties in the corner pestering the hell out of me for attention. (okay so I only have one kitty at the moment but we are probably getting another one when we get home cause Gretchie is getting fat and needs a playmate).

Here's more of an Australian BBQ/picnic/garden party outfit. I NEED those Betsy Johnston shoes. I really like the gloves too. Driving gloves are a new obsession of mine. and of course there are little festive touches with the green hat, red shoes and deer necklace.

This is my winter wonderland outfit. If I wore this in Bangkok right now I would die! But after just being in China all rugged up, I miss my winter gear. Look at that adorable crayola thermos! And that cape! More people should wear capes!
Lazy Christmas morning!!! I love, love, LOVE Christmas morning. So relaxed and so nice. This would be super lovely to lounge about in and open presents.

And finally, if I was Santa's little helper. I again feel the NEED for those Viviene Westwood boots!!! NEEEEDDDD!!!!!!!!!

Say my name!

How cute is this!!! This is the Sex and the City nameplate necklace on a whole new level. They are by Trashy Deluxe (on esty of course) and I think they are ten kinds of fabulous! I really want to get one made for each of the girls in my Burlesque troupe, if only for the glee of placing an order for ten necklaces reading things like Adora Derriere, Sapphire Demure, Scarlett O'Harlot and Fanny LaRue!! That and the girls would go insane for them! The very first thing I shall do when I win lotto!

*swoon*

You better watch out!!

It's getting to be that time of year again. CHRISTMAS WISH LIST!!

I've just picked up a bunch of stuff in Hong Kong and China (more on that soon! I have many posts sitting waiting to be finished! I am a lazy sod!) but if I had money to spend all over the internets this is what I'd want Santa to wrap up under the Christmas tree.


1. Well I am totally wanting this adorable hat (on a scary mannequin!). I have been after a straw boater for a while now. I think they are pretty neat. I would probably change the ribbon to something more nautical (I have an obsession with it)

2. But these boots really have me in a tizz. They are the dream booties I have been searching for. Sadly, they've been sold already. But damn if it hasn't got me on a search for another pair of these delightful pixie boots.

3. ALLLL of these Harajuku lovers perfume. They are irresistibly adorable. I don't even care what they smell like (which I'm sure is fabulous anyway). They will probably sell out before I can even get my hands on them but it doesn't stop the wanting! They remind me of Kekoshi dolls!

4. Cornelia by Angelique Houtkamp. I have loved her art for a while now. She's a Dutch tattooist turned artist who's talent blows my mind! I own her book. I love her old school Sailor Jerry meets Andy Warhol style. I would fall head over heads if I could ever get her to tattoo me! Since purchasing two lovely paintings in Beijing (not Angelique), I have been lusting for more art pieces to hang in my house back home (which I don't have yet!). This is only a print but it high quality and still beautiful. Sadly it's a little out of my price range. *sigh*



5. Speaking of out of my price range (and more art), I really want a Fawn Gehweiler piece. I love her characters. They make me smile. I love the way she uses all the different shades of pink. But sadly, both are out of my league, especially considering the terribleness of the Australian dollar right now!


6. The Captain Dress by Betty Page. It's the most perfect nautical dress I have ever seen. It's even Blair approved! (from Gossip Girl. I'm so obsessed with it. She wears the pencil skirt version when she is about to fly off to Europe with Chuck)


7. Red Feather Fans. I am in a burlesque troupe back home (more exciting news about this later) and I've been dreaming up and act involving a pair of these gorgeous red feather burlesque fans ala Sally Rand! I want some so bad!

8. Lime Crime Make-up. I've been reading Xenia's blog for years now! And now the amazingly clever darling has bought out her own make-up line! She makes me feel positively lazy! Her products are amazing. These are the ones I covet the most.

Poodle Pink eye pigment. Just look at how it sparkles. It's the perfect girly shade of pink! WANTS!

Blushes in Electric Peach and Marie Antoinette. I have always loved bright coloured blush. I still use my hot pink eye shadow as blush sometimes. So electric peach is right up my alley! I'm also really intrigued my the colour of the Marie Antoinette. I just want to try it!

Transylvania Glitter. This would be perfect for jazzing up my red lipstick for Burlesque! Just look at that sparkle. It would look AMAZING on stage!

9. Rabbit necklace by the French Factory. This necklace is the cutest thing on the planet! Enough said!

10. Cupcake Containers! I will be needing a cupcake courier next year for very exciting reasons! It's a fabulous invention. And well, the little hostess lunchbox cupcake holder is just too cute to resist! I love bento stuff so much!

11. Retro Japanese fabric. oh the possibilities! I could make so so many adorable things!


12. A kitchen aid mixer. I have been dreaming of buying myself one of these babies for YEARS! They really are the BEST! I might be needing one soon anyway so I should just treat myself!

I know it's silly to wish so big in a time of recession but one can dream of all these beautiful things sitting under the Christmas tree, impeccably wrapped. Sigh. Christmas.

Helsinki Beauties

Piksi

Irene_Adler

I'm also obsessed with these two girls flickr photo streams. They both live in Helsinki and have the most amazing sense of style. Their use of coats and layering is making me crave colder weather. I love the way they use colour. They also make me want to:

a) move to Helsinki, perhaps even defect and become Finnish;

b) shop at H & M. They both seem to have a lot of stunning items purchased from there;

c) buy Minna Parikka shoes and bags

d) dress up every day!

They both also seem to have a heap of great thrifted items. Is the vintage shopping really great in Helsinki?

Dang it! I want to own a really stylish coat! ASAP!

Sorry for the lack of actual pictures. Flickr wont let me post them! BOOO! You'll just have to go look for yourselves.

UPDATE: I found one of the lovely lady's blog by pure chance! It is pretty darn adorable!!

Tea Time

necklace

pin

ring

I am completely obsessed with these items from Charlie Ccbb on etsy.

I'm obsessed with etsy in general at the moment. I suggest everyone go check it out! You can find some fabulous items hand crafted with love.
Also, I think someone should buy me this little set. Go on! You know you want to! I would love you forever and ever and ever.

Sole Solution

I think I have found my sandals. After looking at every market, shoe and department store here and coming up empty handed, I switched to searching online. with the American dollar the way it is, online shopping has become a lot more attractive to me. I originally was looking at gladiator sandal which aren't really my style because I know I can get them everywhere. Then I decided to swing past my favourite vintage shoe page Remix and saw these. Remix is a very dangerous place and gives me shoe lust like it is nobodies business!!! The Corazon Sandals are totally more my style and oh so cute to boot. Complete catooney goodness. I really like them in Red but will probably get black as it's a bit more versatile. If the Brown was a bit more chocolatey I'd get those instead. GAH! The more I look at them the more I love them. They are,however, a bit on the pricey side. Are they $150USD worth of cute? Survey says YES! But I will only get if I get a really good sized tax return, which I expect I will as I only earned around $18 000 in the last financial year and Alex and I no longer have defacto status (we haven't lived together for a year). With a few little deductions I should be able to get all of my tax back, something which hasn't happened for a long, long time. Last year I got $30. Anyway, I totally think these are the solution to all my footwear problems. They can go from the city to the beach in a flash, I could maybe even Lindy in them! I am going to go back and look in my two favourite shoe stores here I last time to see if there is anything but if not, I'm be ordering these babies before you can say "Oh my god!!! Your shoes are so cute! Where did you get them???"

p.s. these in the tan and chocolate make me swoon!!!

Princess Dreamin'

Is it wrong that I really, really, really want this head piece from etsy? It from the seller charm school design, who has some really lovely other things for sale as well. I don't think it's too pricey ($42USD) for something hand made and one of a kind (which is the great thing about etsy!). But is it too much? Since I have been doing Burlesque, my style has become decidedly overstated. If you saw my Hullabaloo 2008 ball dress I think you understand what I'm taking about (in the middle). I have always had a deep seated love for giant bows, sequins and feathers, I just think now I actually have the guts to wear it. So maybe this will be one of my tax return purchases. And this. And also this. And maybe this too. *squeal!!!!!*

**I've just noticed everything I've picked is very "Blair" from Gossip Girl. Oh dear, I've become one of those people. It's not so bad :)

Putting Up Walls

Ever since LC of Fops and Dandies fame blogged about these wall decals from BLIK I've been a little obsessed. With the price of housing in Australia at the moment, especially in Perth (you're looking at about $500,00 in a decentish suburb for a a place that is okay with no backyard), I can imagine I'll be renting for a really long time. So I think this is a really great way to a add something special to a room when you can't paint or put up pictures. They are taken from Threadless t-shirt designs. I think they are really beautiful. They wouldn't look great in my apartment here in BKK. Most of our walls are wall papered so I don't think they'd stick very well. If we move to San Francisco next year I think I will definitely have to look into getting some for our possibly awesome apartment (I say possibly because I am told rent there is wickedly expensive to).

I love the balloons but I also love these branches and let's go parasoling . You can also get these laser cut perspex ones from Australian Company Made By White. They are kinda pricey but include postage so I guess it's not so bad. I can just imagine my sewing room having these whimsical little tidbits on the wall. LOVE!

Heavens to Betsey!!!

I have never been one to go gaga over a watch. I had a swatch watch once with fluro sports equipment on the band (ooohhh yeah) and and blue Baby G watch that I thought was the shizz. But the they were presents. I've always just had the status of meh when it comes to actually buyng myself watch.

Until I saw this watch by Betsey Johnson. I neeeeed it. Even the packagin is adorable! I'm a sucker for good packaging. I love that the face is covered aswell. I think it's totally me. It comes in other colours but I like the black. Now just to find a website that ells it and ships out of the US. Hmmmmmm.