Happy Chinese New Year!

I've been back in Singapore for more than a month now but I still haven't really settled in. All of my boxes have been unpacked but there are bits and pieces of things scattered around my room still. I can't wait to get my room done up so I could show everyone here what it looks like!

Meanwhile, I just celebrated Chinese New Year so I thought I should just post a couple of photos for now - lest people start forgetting that I even exist. 

I still have a few sewing projects from last year which I have not written about. Till then!

Wearing: River Island shift dress, ASOS heels, Glomesh look-alike bag, cheap folding fan

x gwen

And now look here

Greenlight Rockabilly Night at Torque Grill and Bar, Sydney

Wearing: DIY Knitted Turban, DIY necklace, jeans in Hawaiian print, plain old cardi and tank top
Holding: Tequila Sunrise

So, I know I've been pretty quiet lately. I haven't been writing a lot of posts. Well, if you must know, I have a thesis due next week. NEXT WEDNESDAY, to be exact.

And so, since I am only given 24 hours a day like everyone else and I need 10 hours of sleep every day, blogging has taken a backseat. But don't worry, my thesis is due NEXT WEDNESDAY. 

Oh, and that photo? It's just what I do when I'm not writing a thesis. Hey, life goes on right?

xx g

Sewn: 70s floral dirndl skirt

This is another project that I completed many months ago. I think I finished this in autumn (around May) but never got around to wearing it, taking photos of it or blogging about it. But here it is! I wore it the first time to the Priceline Pout Day which I talked about a while ago.

Butterick 5935 (via)

Floral print which, according to my friend, seems Laura Ashley-inspired

Pattern: Butterick 5935, option B (pictured on the right)
Fabric: Polycotton, Laura Ashley-inspired floral print
Modification(s): I shortened the hem (as usual).
What I dislike about this pattern: I think a dirndl skirt is meant to be a full skirt. But for some reason, my dirndl skirt simply isn't as full as the ones shown on the front of the sewing pattern. I am definitely unable to stretch my legs out and run quickly when wearing this skirt. But I guess it doesn't really matter that much. 
What I love about this pattern: The mere fact that the pattern is from the 70s makes my heart sing. Oh, also, THERE ARE POCKETS!

That's all for now folks! I've wasted 343264735 hours on the computer trying to fix a problem that I have been having with the system. Now that I have (sort of) fixed it and written a blog post, it's time I continue working on my thesis........................

xx g

Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show (and a dress called Edith)

Edith

This post just cannot wait. As everyone who has been following me will know, I am not very good at keeping up to date with my posts. But this post simply cannot wait. 

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was making a dress to wear to the Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show. I was almost certain that I was NOT going to finish the dress in time as the date of the show drew near. But I did it. I finished the dress 2 days before the show and I think it's most probably the loveliest thing I have ever made. So, behold, my favourite dress at this very moment - Edith. 

Wearing: Handmade vintage-inspired 60s dress, nude Rubi flats, white vintage purse, white ASOS sunnies

Oh, I also made a matching bow

Don't ask me why I'm calling it Edith. The name just popped into my head as I was admiring it. 

Anyway, the Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show was amazing and I loved every minute that I spent there. There was a sign outside which said no photographs of the stalls were allowed, so I didn't take many photos at the show. But I did take a couple at a stall with the permission of the stall vendor. 

Mustang Sallie

And here are the things I got at the show:  

Vintage red luggage bag, $30

Vintage Australian Home Journal (1951), $18

Vintage handmade crochet gloves, $12. My life is now complete.

Vintage dress, $10. What a steal! 

Vintage sunglasses, 2 for $25. My friend bought one too.

The details of this sewing project will be discussed in another post. Stay tuned! x

Dusty covers and yellow pages

Gould's Book Arcade, Newtown, Sydney

There is something very alluring about old books. I love their crumbling, dusty covers and crisp, yellow pages. I love their musty smell and how they all seem to whisper, "come to me, come to me and listen to what I have to say." Above all, I love the joy of discovering something unexpected amidst the organised mess. 

I could spend a whole afternoon lost in this sea of books. But alas, my friends and I went to into this book store only after our dinner and we couldn't stay for too long because it was already late.

The finds

xx

Contents of a Coat Pocket

Clockwise from top left-hand corner: Candy wrappers, contact number for ukulele class, book, hair twister for tying hair up in a bun, sunnies

I have always wanted to do a post on "What's in my bag?" But I think I am too embarrassed to show the world what really is in my bag. On the other hand, doing a post on the things in my coat pockets doesn't seem too terrifying. So here it is. Here are the things that were in my pocket when I wore my coat to uni last week. It does seem that I stuff an awful lot of things in my coat pockets, doesn't it? 

The coat.. and a hat that matches. Yes, I have a coat that matches a hat. Life does not get better than this.

I like reading whenever I am waiting for the bus or the train. I especially love having a book with me when the CityRail train gets stuck in the middle of nowhere. It may be hard to believe, but I really did stuff this book into my coat pocket. I carry a backpack to uni and I am too lazy to bring my bag to my front just so I can take my book out. And I like my hands free.

The 'Stories of Suspense' is a collection of several short stories of... well, suspense. It is one of the many things that I found during my thrifting trips in Albury. I can't find any other ways of saying this, but honestly, every story was a page-turner. It was precisely the reason why I could not put it down and why I simply had to stuff it in my coat jacket. My favourite short story from this book is 'Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket' by Jack Finney. (Oh hey, is that my inspiration for the title of this post? How unoriginal.)

Taken in July when I wore the hat and coat together. Notice the absence of lightened hair.

Anyway, I think everyone should read 'Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket'. I think you may be able to find it online. Go forth. Search. Make use of the Internet. Then come back and let me know what you think of the story. Hmmm... I should check out books by Jack Finney... 
xx

Gone thriftin'

The  op-shop

I went to Padstow today to buy a pair of Rock and Roll dance shoes and chanced upon the most lovely op-shop ever. There was something endearing about the dimly-lit shop and the organised mess. It's the kind of shop that whispers, "come, discover treasures." And so, once I got in, I put my stuff down, reached my hands in and dug. 

I went a little overboard with the jumpers. But I have no regrets. Besides, they were on sale for half the price! Behold, the most lovely jumper in the world.

Front and back of landscape jumper

And here are two other jumpers and a couple of other things I bought from the shop. 

Neon orange jumper without a tag and probably handmade

Tiffany blue jumper with amazing cable design

Pin

White shoulder bag

Last but not least, this was the look of the day. I am honestly starting to fall in love with my red lipstick. It might have something to do with how it looks with my hair...

Ciao! x

Candy

// Pom Pom Cardigan, DIY / Arm party (see below for details) / Flashback Fuchsia nail polish, Ulta //

I have found that the way to feel good about my ombre hair is to dress in the right colours. I think green is one of them.

Also, let me use this opportunity to show some bracelets that I have made many months ago but haven't got around to blogging. Ok, I will write a post on the full range of bracelets I've made... soooooon. 

From left to right: Kid's watch from Kmart, bracelet from Rubi, DIY woven bracelet, DIY friendship bracelet

From left to right: DIY friendship bracelet, DIY bracelet made from wooden beads painted with neon yellow and white nail polish, thrifted bracelet that reads, 'GOODNESS'

Later. x

DIY: Ombre Hair (Like a ray of sunshine)

// Green woollen jumper, thrifted (and rather itchy) / Black dress with tiny polka dots, Valleygirl, $15 //

I have mixed feelings about my DIY ombre hair. I am not sure if I actually like it or not. To make matters worse, I have received quite a bit of negative comments from my friends. Honestly, I do not care about what they think. Well, I did, initially. But then I decided that it didn't matter because this is what I have been wanting to do and now that I have done it, I am glad that I did. Have I just made this sound awfully complicated?

Ok, to put it simply, there are times when I love my new ombre hair and there are times when I am unhappy about it. Mostly, I am unhappy when I see another Asian with the same hair on the streets. I wanted ombre hair because I wanted a different/unique look. But I guess that's silly of me because ombre hair is all the rage at the moment. I should have known better. So, rather than creating a signature look, my ombre hair has, to some extent, reinforced my status of a quintessential Asian in Sydney. 

The hair dye

Less than 5 minutes after washing it out

Regardless, I just want to show everyone here my new hair. Oh, and today is one of the days that I am loving my new hair. xx

Happy - for now

Sydney Trip 2011/2012 - Day Two

In case you missed it:
Sydney Trip 2011/2012 - Day One


DAY TWO (30/12/2011): Sydney Fish Market & Darling Harbour
Day 2 of the trip consisted of a scrumptious lunch at Sydney Fish Harbour and a long walk around the Darling Harbour

// Boater's hat, Bardot, $20 / Dress, Made by me / Bag, Sportsgirl, $15 //

From my friend's iPhone

From my friend's iPhone

Spoilt for choice at Sydney Fish Markets

Lunch

Seagulls

Mint and chocolate chip ice cream 

If you haven't noticed, the bottom of the label actually says, "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".