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

I will be back

Wait, how long has it been since I last wrote? Damn. Time just quietly slips by all the time.

I had been busy with finishing my thesis, packing all my junk for shipping, enjoying a short break in Shanghai and making the most out of my final days in Sydney. Now, I am back in Singapore. Unfortunately, settling in is going to take a while because of various reasons. Don't be sad. I *will* be back.

This is also why I haven't been able to answer the questions that have been posted under various posts in the comments section. I am truly sorry.

Meanwhile, check out that awesome photo of the bubblegum flavoured ice-cream I had at Luna Park in Sydney - because everyone loves ice-cream. Are you happy again?

x

P.S.: I finally have a smartphone! Perhaps I should revive my Twitter account and start tweeting more often...

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

Black Cat

Of course, I let down my hair and took off my jacket when I hit the dance floor

I had great plans for the Halloween. I really did. But uni work creeped in and before I knew it, Halloween was over. I never got the chance to dress up as Leela (and have a whole head of purple hair). 

Oh well.

But when another opportunity for dress-up casually passes you by, you grab it by the neck and never let go. And so, when the moon rose high in the sky last night, I transformed into... a black cat. 

The whole look took me less than an hour to get together. I made the kitty ears headband in less than 30 minutes the day before and only spent 15 minutes on the make-up. I even had some spare time to make a bracelet.

Rock and roll

Kitty ears made from black, velvet-like fabric

I dressed up as a cat for the regular Shake, Rattle and Roll dance night at Bedlam Bar in Sydney last night. Oh wait, it was Shake, Rattle and Ghoul last night. My friend and I got there a little late but I had the time to squeeze in a couple of dances before we left the joint at 12 midnight just like Cinderella. 

And so here I am, sitting at home on a Sunday night typing up a blog post. I stayed home today to work on my thesis. However, I'm not bitter about it because I got to dance last night. 

If you haven't got the hint, I LOVE Rock & Roll and Rockabilly dancing. 

x g

Priceline Pout Day

When there is an opportunity to get free make-up, you grab it. So, when I found out about the Priceline Pout Day in Sydney, I dragged my friend along to get the freebies and to become part of the Guinness World Record for the largest makeover class.

Lipstick, blusher, mascara and a mirror

We also had lunch at Bills and desserts thereafter at the Strawberry Cream Continental Patisserie. 

Cordials

Full Aussie Breakfast (and Beef Miso Sandwich in the background). The scrambled eggs was rather disappointing. But my friend was very pleased with her sandwich.

Outside Strawberry Cream Continental Patisserie

Cheesecake, sacha torte, cappuccino and piccolo latte

Most importantly, I finally had the chance to take photos of another skirt that I made (a long while ago)! More to come. Stay tuned! x

Wearing: Brown ankle boots, Valleygirl; 70s style floral skirt, DIY/handmade; brown satchel bag, Sportsgirl; mint green top

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

Pretty Flamingo

Wearing: Handmade Floral Bib necklace (seen here) and new shoes from Rubi

This is the official photo of me with pink hair. That's right. It's pink. Read my lips, PINK. Spring has arrived in Sydney. The flowers have bloomed, and so has my hair. Ugh, I love this look so much more than the previous ombre look. I endeavour to maintain this look for as long as possible. 

LOVE IT SO MUCH

Yes, I need to maintain this look because the pink dye I used is a semi-permanent dye. But it's really quick and easy to apply, so I don't think that this is going to be an issue. 

Name of the dye: Pretty Flamingo

xx

I'm making a dress to wear to a vintage show

There is a vintage show coming to Sydney, called the Love Vintage show. It was here in Sydney back in March but I missed it because I simply could not find the time amidst the hectic uni workload. This time, I will not miss it for the world.

And, I'm making a dress to wear to the show. This is the pattern and the fabric that I am using. Ahhhh!! Summer!!

I've sewn up a muslin for the bodice and it seems that I have to alter the rather poofy back a little. But that should not be a huge issue since the zipper is at the back of the bodice. I can always take more in as I insert the zipper.

Wish me luck! x

P.S.: Oh, and a reader commented on one of the previous posts and asked me about the camera I use and what I do with my photos. I am using a Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS which I have been using for 4 years. My recent photos have been edited using the Photoscape, a program that can be downloaded for FREEEE!! I highly recommend it to everyone!!

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

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

Be right back

Some thrifting finds from Albury/Wodonga: Brown ankle boots and vintage knitting books. (No, I did not buy the lamp)

Yes, I am still alive and kicking. The lack of posts for the past few weeks was definitely an unplanned hiatus. But I will be back in Sydney in a week's time and everything will be back to normal once I get my hands back on high-speed Internet connection and pull my shit together. x

You have got to be kidding me

Blah

This is a picture of the current status of my neon green jumper. It's not going well at all. I've tried it on and it's too small for me. This project will be adjourned until further notice. I am actually having second thoughts about knitting in general. That is how dissatisfied I am with how things with my knitting are going at the moment.


In other news, I have lost the memory card that contains many pictures of my ongoing DIY projects and photos of my trip around Sydney with my friends. Of all the things that I have lost in my life thus far, this one tops the list for being the most depressing loss ever. (Coming close in second is a silver bracelet with my name engraved which was given to me as a birthday present years ago)


On a happier note, I am currently enjoying the country life in Albury, NSW, Australia at the moment. This is the second week of my 6-week clinical placement. I was planning on posting some projects that I have photos of but for some reason, my Internet connection is awfully slow here and it takes me ages to load a single page. I'll definitely try to write up blog posts on my trip here and some recent DIY projects, but no promises!


Meanwhile, hang on tight and I'll write again really soon! xx

One word to define 2012: Graduation

// Oversized salmon top, Supre, $5 / Denim shorts, Cotton On, $10 / Necklace, Mum's / Sunglasses, random shop, $10 / Grey plimsolls, Kmart, $8 //

The new year has finally come and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for me. 2011 was kind to me and I hope that 2012 will be just as great. 2012 is really important and significant to me as this is the year that I will graduate. I will be starting another uni placement in a few days' time. But right now, I'm just spending my time frolicking under the Australian summer sun with my friends. 


I hope everyone is also having fun! :) 

NEW DIRECTION FOR CRAFT BLOG

As of today, this blog has become a style and craft blog. I have begun this revolution with a mini outfit post. I will continue to post other outfit posts that I usually post on my personal blog. I know I have been posting 'I WEAR DIY' posts, and some followers have told me that they like them a lot. (>_< thank you!), but the new outfit posts may or may not include clothing items that are DIY.


Perhaps I will also begin to post other more personal posts. I am getting sick and tired of managing 2 blogs. If I lose followers on this blog, then so be it.


I'm sorry that I didn't give any advance notice. This is a decision that I made just this morning. Erm... Does anyone have any comments?

What you can get with $100 at Spotlight

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but I won a $100 gift card from Spotlight a while ago. So, I've made a trip to Spotlight twice in the short span of a single month and have spent all the money in my gift card. (T_T)

You can't blame me for buying stuff at Spotlight today because it was Sewing Saturday and they had great offers in store! So... I thought some of you may be interested in what I got at Spotlight.

60's inspired retro prints fabric and white cotton fabric for lining (I know, the white bit on the left looks like the table, but it's not!)

I love how this print looks like the tiled kitchen floor/wall of the 60's. I'll be wearing kitchen tiles on my body!!! I don't care if people think that I look silly.

Printed pears jersey fabric and white polyester interlock for lining

Yes, I bought linings for both fabrics because they are not very opaque and I already have plans to make dresses out of them! (No, not using the following patterns)


I think I should really start making the dress using the pears fabric soon because I might get too old for such a cute print on a dress.

Hee hee hee, you have no idea how excited I am about using these patterns! I selected dress patterns that highly resemble a lot of ASOS.com dresses that I like. I'll do a blog post on that soon! Also, I'm a sucker for vintage dressmaking patterns. I actually have a number that I thrifted over the past 2 years.

Pinking shears

Other random stuff: zipper for current shorts that I am currently sewing, sequins, embroidery threads and nylon thread

I can't wait to finish the pair of shorts that I am currently sewing. I started making it in February (2011, of course), but have not had the time to continue with it because of uni T_T. Somehow, knitting and crochet just seem to take less time than sewing!

Speaking of crochet, I am currently crocheting this bag for my friend's birthday. I should get it done by next weekend. Well, I HAVE to. So, expect updates again next weekend!

P.S.: Excuse the poorly taken photos. I did this in a rush!