Visiting Mother in the Mountains

Posted by dramaofexile in Home, Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with antique jewellery, antique oil lamp, Brisbane, family heirloom, family photos, Goat, Ipswich Antique Centre, Mount Crosby, Mum, Paddington Antique Centre, Queensland, Travels & Treasures, vintage homes, Vintage Style April 27, 2013

Last weekend I jetted up to Brisbane last minute to visit my family. Extremely last minute, as in booked flights at 2am the night before. I so rarely get to go up since I moved to Melbourne, and it was so lovely to just hang out. My mother’s house is actually a dream. She lives in Mount Crosby, about a 45 minute drive from the city in incredible mountainous ranges. The type of place where the houses are kilometres apart and there’s just green everywhere. The perfect kind of combination of both bush and forest.

It’s pretty clear to see where I get my love of antiques from when you look inside mum’s house. Everything is so picture perfect and brimming with fabulous 19th Century mahogany furniture, soft minty colours and ceramics. Her and my step-dad also collect antique clocks and oil lamps! Mum moved out to Mount Crosby the same time I moved to Melbourne, so it’s not the house I grew up in and more mum’s ‘dream house’. The only times I’ve really been up to Brisbane have been for events such as weddings/Christmas etc. and so it was so nice to be there and actually look in depth at the home she has built. There is something to look at everywhere you turn, and every piece has history to it.

This antique oil lamp is AMAZE

Spot the GRAMOPHONE in the corner!

Keeping bobs in the family

1920′s wedding amazingness (featuring awful photo of 20 year old me)

We didn’t venture too far from the house except for making a trip out to Paddington for lunch with my brothers and to visit the antique centre. Brisbane doesn’t have anywhere near as much vintage as Melbourne, but I do have to say what they do have is fantastic. The Paddington Antique Centre and the still relatively new Ipswich Antique Centre (which mum and I popped into on the way home from the pet store on Monday) are absolutely overflowing with to-die-for vintage and antiques. I was so depressed I only brought a small carry-on bag otherwise I would have gone crazy!

Those who follow me on instagram will have seen some snaps, but for those who don’t here are some photos from the weekend.

Siblings

Some sexy relatives

I’m still gutted I didn’t come home with this Edwardian collar from the Paddington Antique Centre

Paddington Antique Centre

Ipswich Antique Centre

Just Like A Prayer

This is my mum’s home phone!

Around the corner from Mum’s house

Only drinking coffee with a saucer from now on

On Sunday night mum took me up to her room and we looked through some family heirloom jewellery…which she passed onto me! I now have some amazing antique pieces that I am almost too scared to wear, they’re so beautiful. Amongst them are my great grandmother’s late 1800′s emerald and pearl necklace, a selection of 1920′s screw back earrings, early 1900′s paste necklaces, a ruby and diamond ring, sapphire and diamond bracelet and my mother’s rose gold and diamond ring (which I love wearing because I always remember when she used to wear it herself as I was growing up). I am one lucky lady!

On the Monday before I left, mum and I went down the back garden to visit her pet goat, Mary. I am soooo obsessed with Mary, Mum’s had her for about three years now and every time I come up she is more and more domesticated. Mum walks her around on a leash sometimes and she wags her tail like a puppy when she sees you coming down the hill. Her favourite thing to eat is flowers (according to my brother) and Mum pulls down the branches so she can have a cheeky little nibble. I never thought a fully grown goat could be adorable, but she is such a honey!

I was so sad I couldn’t stay any longer, but with work commitments I had to. I know I would never move back to Brisbane for many reasons, but this visit really reminded me of the things I do miss about it. The majority of my friends have moved to Melbourne, inter-state or overseas (as everyone who is from Brisbane does), so I only really go up to see my family or my best friend (who is about to move to Melbourne too). I think as well because now my family lives further out, when I do go I don’t have to go into the city or be around bogans in maxi dresses and gladiator sandals in the Queen St Mall, it’s also really changed my perspective of Brisbane and how much it really does have to offer.

My beautiful mumma

Now I’m back to the daily Melbourne grind, things are changing a lot. I started back at my old work, Kinki Gerlinki, this week and it’s been so fun sliding back into work there. The girls are massive dreamboats and it’s almost like I’ve rewound my life back to 2010, in a good way. I’m working in the Centre Place store off Flinders Lane, so do pop in if you’re around and say hi.

Jesse and I are also currently packing up ceramic miniature after vintage wall hanging and attempting to move the nest we’ve made in our house in North Melbourne to our new house with friend’s on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. I’ll be sad to leave this place but excited to be back on the north side again and living with some total babes. Our new house is also directly across the road from Clara Fox (I’m not exaggerating, quite literally straight across the road!) so I’m super happy about that. Don’t know if my wallet will feel the same way…

Until next time, lovelies.

Garage Sale

Posted by dramaofexile in Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with Blue Moon Vintage Salon, Garage sale, vintage garage sale, Vintage Sale April 5, 2013

Hi darlin’s,

Just a quick note to let you all know I’ll be having a massive garage sale at my place tomorrow. I’ll be selling off a crazy amount of vintage and retro clothing, accessories and knick knacks as well as your usual run of household items. If you’re in the Melbourne area do pop along for a drink and a yarn. I’ll also have everything in my Etsy shop available (above are some images of new listings).

Details are…

41 Hawke St, West Melbourne

(2 minutes from the corner of Errol & Victoria St in North Melbourne – we’re literally on the cusp)

10 – 4 pm

Cash Only

Complimentary cup of peach schnapps with every purchase

It’s been a tough week, and would be great to have a goss over a bevvie with some babes.

Much love,

Unexpected Circumstances

Posted by dramaofexile in Personal March 31, 2013

Hello darlin’s,

I’m sorry I’ve been a bit incognito the past week or so. There’s been an incident in my personal life this week that’s been very tolling, and means I need to focus my energies and support for the time being on loved ones. I’m not really feeling much like blogging lately and I’m sure that will be rectified, whenever that time comes. Thankyou all for understanding.

Happy Easter, my bunnies

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Posted by dramaofexile in Home, Inspiration, Personal and tagged with 1940's hat, baking, bobbed hair, favourite things, Fruit of Paradise, home gardening, lists, tilt hats March 14, 2013

…these are a few of my favourite things. I’ve been feeling really homely and introverted lately, something that isn’t all that common for me (the homely part yes, the introverted part no). So I thought I’d share some of the things that are occupying my headspace a lot at the moment.

1. Gardening. Seedlings, flowers, succulents, inside, outside, herbs and veggies…I’ve got a hardcore case of the green thumb at the moment. I’ve currently got some basil, chives and coriander seedlings growing in their first stages, a wonderful new chilli plant, a rose bush on the balcony and I can’t get enough greenery inside. I’ve also invested in some beetroot, radish and spinach seeds which are all meant to be in their prime to be planted now, so hopefully I will be eating lush once it really begins to get colder here.

2. This song. Gutted I missed them at ATP but luckily White Hex are supporting them early next month at The Gas so I can get my fix.

3. 1940′s hats. I always gravitate towards the cloches and wider brimmed styles of the 20′s but lately I can’t get enough of the 40′s! Tilt hats have always been a favourite, and I was found this little burnt orange beauty for the shop but I’m about 90% sure she’s staying on my hat rack.

4. Baking. I’m serious about baking you guys, like, really serious. I definitely got it from my mother (who makes cakes professionally) and whilst I don’t bake as often as I should, when I get the urge I bake a LOT. A friend of mine who used to live with me said she felt bad when I was obviously a little down, but secretly loved it because she reaped the rewards of all my baking. My greatest accomplishment this week was an upside-down rhubarb and hazelnut cake for my housemate’s birthday, which didn’t look too appealing but tasted like a dream. This afternoon I made some easy-peasey veggie muffins and tonight there’s a pie on the agenda, followed by a crumble.

5. Girls (the show, but also the gender). Ever since I saw Lena Dunham’s ‘Tiny Furniture’ a couple of years back, I was obsessed and needed to see/read anything she’d ever done. Girls has been one of the only shows I’ve come across in my life that I can (I know it’s a gross term) relate to, accurately represents women my age and demographic and is fucking hilarious. I’m so excited for the season 2 finale next week! Adam and Hannah have to get back together!

6. Winter Wardrobe Wishes. Melbourne had a heatwave over the last two weeks or so where basically it didn’t drop below 30 degrees, and so I did absolutely nothing except drink cold beer every day and have a Game of Thrones marathon with Jesse. I know during that time it may be strange to even be thinking about winter coats and knits but it was like a silver lining in the distance to me, the thought of a cocoon coat was the only thing that kept me going, It’s cooled down a little now and I know that by April it will be cold again, and I’ve been trawling Ebay and Etsy endlessly for that perfect coat. I started a board on my pinterest, but of course I’ve been lazy and always forget to pin things as I find them.

This dress from Adored Vintage is top of my winter wish list

7. Following on from my winter wardrobe wish list, it was basically realised in the Louis Vuitton FW 2013/14 show. Check it if you haven’t already, I’m obsessing!

8. Saving like a slave. Jesse and I are buying our tickets overseas next month, we’ll be leaving in September for 2/3 months and so far have England, France and Berlin in our plans. In the mean time i’m cutting back on everything (cleanskin wine from the IGA is my new best friend as $4.50 a pop) and am getting super excited. If anyone has any tips/recommendations get in touch!

9. Czech director Věra Chytilová’s film, ‘Fruit of Paradise’. For a long while, her film ‘Sedmikrásky’ has been a favourite of mine, and I only got around to watching Fruit of Paradise this week, although I had recognized it’s imagery for years. It really is fabulous, and visually beautiful.

10. Planning trips. I’ve been working like a dog, and mostly never having a weekend day off/two days off consecutively. But I do have some time coming up and have some lovely trips planned. Jesse & I are going up to Hanging Rock soon (Edwardian picnic themed attire a must), I’ll be visiting Labassa Mansion (something that’s been on my list for ages) and Evie, Charlotte and I are going away for the Easter long weekend for a gal’s weekend at a Lake. Our theme is ‘acid-fashion-parade-meets-whimsical-forest-nymph’ and with a theme like that you know it’s gonna be good.

What are you obsessed with lately?

Let’s Do It A Dada

Posted by dramaofexile in Personal, Outfit and tagged with personal, Outfits, All Tomorrow's Parties, bob cut, bobbed hair, vintage blogger australia, Black Velvet, Einstuerzende Neubauten, 1930's opera coat, vintage coat, vintage beret, velvet beret February 21, 2013

Ohhh man, I’ve had the busiest week! So much to share, so much happening, I feel like I need a good cuppa and a nap from life. So many friends and family have been visiting from Brisbane over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working basically every day and have had so many social commitments that this nanna ain’t used to (I seem to have thrown my partying ways to the wind as of late).

The absolute highlight though has to be scoring a last minute ticket to All Tomorrow’s Parties on the weekend. I put off buying a ticket ages ago as it was pretty $$$, and didn’t organise time off work so I was resolved to the thought of dying in the shop whilst everyone I knew was seeing my favourite bands. In a nutshell, after some facebook and gumtree detective work I managed to nab myself a ticket to the Sunday, and had the raddest time. I’m so bummed I missed Swans on the Saturday (like, so bummed let’s never mention it again), but I did get to see Pere Ubu (who performed The Modern Dance in full), Beasts of Bourbon (my guilty pleasure) and Einstürzende Neubauten (enouuuuuugh said). A total all-time of mine and Jesse’s, Blixa Bargeld was just too damn sexy we needed a double dose and ended up going to their side show on the Tuesday at The Palace.

To be perfectly blunt it was just fucking PHENOMENAL, no words can describe etc. Although I do have to say that the show at The Palace was the worst, ruddest and messed up crowd I’ve ever seen at any gig in my entire life- it was like being in a sports bar. No-one would shutup! It confuses me that at ATP the crowd, that was so much bigger, was so respectful you could hear a pin drop. Anyway, not to rant but by godddddd it got up my goat.

I decided to dress accordingly and gothed it up slightly more than usual. I wore…

1930′s black velvet opera coat – Lended to me by my babe friend Audrey

Dress (worn underneath) and hosiery – Alannah Hill

Art Deco velvet and rhinestone belt – Ebay

1940′s black suede pumps – Clara Fox

1940′s black velvet beret (that I can’t get enough of lately) – Ebay

I brought my camera with me to the sideshow (I decided to leave it at home on the weekend, cameras and festivals don’t mix), but unfortunately my battery died just before the came on stage! But here is a photo from fasterlouder.com from Sunday’s show at ATP. Nothing does it justice though, Blixa Bargeld just gets sexier and sexier with age, like a fine wine.

I’ll leave you with their song, The Garden. One of the hits, they opened with it at ATP and it was just so amazingly beautiful and perfect I could have cried, I tell ya.

Hier ist auf das Wochenende, Liebhaber!

The Cat’s Meow

Posted by dramaofexile in Inspiration, Personal and tagged with Best friends, inspiration, Revee Bendixen, sisters, True Muse January 18, 2013

My girl, Revee

My best and oldest friend Revee is staying with me this week and I couldn’t be happier! This girl has been the centre of my universe since we met on our first day of uni when we were 17. She is the most inspiring, beautiful and weirdest babe in the world and am so glad that despite our distance since I moved to Melbourne, we’re still soul sisters.

I thought I’d share some photos of us over the years. I also hope that these photos help some people understand that, in light of recent accusations, my style did not all of a sudden begin when my blog did. I’ve only had my blog since May of 2012, not even a year, and so obviously there is a lot more to me than what you’ve seen in the past 9 months. To those who know what I’m talking about, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous, very self-indulgent and extremely presumptuous. I don’t feel the need to justify myself any further, nor comment.

Jauary 2010, Melbourne

January 2010, Melbourne

Brisbane, 2009

When we were ~famous~
Brisbane, 2009

When we were babies, 2008

March 2010, Melbourne

a portrait Revee painted of me in 2011

Revee modelling my designs, from my portfolio in 2009

Christmas 2011

Anyway, I’m off to paint the town red with my real muse in life.

Last night’s drunken haze/grope

What’s In My Bag

Posted by dramaofexile in Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with Australian vintage blogger, Gabrielle Delacour, My bag, travels & treasures, vintage 2013 diary, vintage blogger, vintage handbag, what's in my bag January 7, 2013

I need a new bag. I’m one of those girls who just never got into bags, I have the one and I use it everyday, every occasion until it falls apart. I’m the most impractical person you’ll ever meet, in every aspect of my life, except when it comes to my handbag. I want a no fuss, hold everything, goes with everything, timeless, inconspicuous carry companion.

As I was searching online for a new bag today, I got to thinking what I carry in it. So I’ve decided to do one of those typical ‘What’s In My Bag’ posts. Pardon my lack of originality.

Lately I’m all about bare necessities, which I guess to some are excessive indulgences but anyhow…the contents of my bag at the moment are as follows

-Sunglasses

-tooth comb

-iphone (duh)

-lipstick (I always seem to carry at least 3 – 5 with me at any given time)

-vintage compact mirror that Jesse gave me

-perfume (currently obsessed with YSL Cinema)

-face powder (Besame)

-yearly diary (I got this years from a bookshop down the street from my house, it’s so lovely!)

-Aesop hand cream (I used to work for Aesop and use it like I still do, it’s a $$$ habit)

-eyelash curler

-wallet (currently using a tapestry pouch that Charlotte gave me one day that had something unmentionable in it, and I seem to have stolen it and made use of it since my old wallet fell apart)

- Hip flask (for the broke times)

-Hairspray

- Cigarettes (I know it’s a dirty habit but at least I do it in style with a tin)

-Matches (again, in styyyyyle)

- Flowers, or some type of hair accessory/scarf (sometimes I get annoyed at things I decided to stick on my head during the day and they get thrown in the bag only to be re-found at that perfect moment when I wish I had something to stick behind my ear)

- The bag itself, poor old little leather 50′s style darling. She’s been good to me but it’s time to move on to a more ‘together’ bag.

Do you have any recommendations for handbag shopping? Online of offline, I need help!

I’ll Be Your Mirror

Posted by dramaofexile in Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with bobbed hair, comus, Drama of Exile, Drama of exile vintage blog, Gabrielle Delacour, treasures & travels, vinatage blogger australia, vintage blogger, vintage mirror, weekend December 16, 2012

Hello Kittens,

I thought I’d just stop by and say hello after the weekend. I’ve had a good couple of days, working lots, going to yoga, saw friends White Hex play on Friday night at Liberty Social (before a wardrobe malfunction that sent me home early and damning 50′s wiggle dresses), got an amazing raw veggie stack and kombucha at Veggie Bar with Jesse this afternoon, bought new Liquid Marsielle body wash from Klein’s, answered a heap of emails, went to Luwow on Saturday night for Evie’s birthday and had a Mai Tai, Christmas shopped (and shopped….and shopped) on Friday and got acquainted with my new housemate’s kitty Chairman Meow (who is the cutest/weirdest little ball of white fur). Now I’m kicking back with some tea, red cedar incense and Comus.

Charlotte, myself and Evie

Hope everyone is equally chilled/blissed/zenned out! If not, you will be after this…

Life Snippets

Posted by dramaofexile in Home, Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with bobbed hair, cavalier king charles spaniel, Drama of Exile, Gabrielle Delacour, instagram, travels & treasures, vintage blogger australia, vintage home, vintage instagram, Vintage Style, Winston December 2, 2012

Hello sweet things,

I’ve had a rough week, so sorry I’ve been absent from this little corner of the internet. I’ve been feeling pretty down, had a lot of changes going on and I just received news from my mother that my darling pup Winston Churchill passed away yesterday. He was the best dog in the world, and got a bad tick that meant we had to make the hard decision to put him down. I’m pretty devastated.

I thought I’d just share some instagram snaps of late. I promise to be in better spirits soon, I have some lovely posts lined up that I’ll get around to posting in the next couple of days.

Winston Churchill

Jesse bought me this incredible peacock butterfly dome from Wunderkammer

beautiful violins at the Junk Company

turkish delight from the Queen Vic markets

Our Christmas tree is coming along!

I came home to this yesterday. Treats galore from my faun.

Christmas decorating!

I went out to Club D’lux the other night as an imposter version of myself. Slick’d.

new brooch love

I found the plant stand dreams are made of

Jesse being a drunk unicorn at an art opening last week

beautiful ladies

Breakfast at Gringott’s & Orr

found my dream 1920′s dress! This baby is mine come pay day

going through a poodle craze

Martha’s slave necklace

love notes

days are heatin’ up

Another Year, Another Cape

Posted by dramaofexile in Outfit, Personal, Travels & Treasures and tagged with Outfit, Drama of Exile, Vintage Style, friends, bob cut, Gabrielle Delacour, bobbed hair, vintage blogger australia, birthday, 1930's cape, flapper style, Australian vintage blogger, Drama of exile vintage blog, birthday party, vintage turban, art deco earrings, Fringed cape, vintage fringing November 22, 2012

On Sunday afternoon I had a couple of friends over for drinks, cheese and good times as sort of a birthday afterthought. It gave me a chance to test out my new 1930′s cape for the first time, and I had a great time! Although my head was really not feeling it’s best the next day, pretty sure I stayed in bed watching multiple episodes of American Horror Story (i.e. killing even more brain cells).

I am wearing…

1950′s silk dress – Shag

1930′s fringed silk cape – Anonymous Posh

Brown suede 1920′s style shoes – Clara Fox

Red velvelt & satin turban – Sunday Best Fair a couple of years ago

Art Deco earrings – Ebay

Tights – Alannah Hill

Ring – Diva

It was a lil’ bit windy and my fringing was a bit precarious in the garden…whoops

I ended up buying a heap of flowers (as well as stealing a bunch from my neighbouring streets…), drinking wayyyy too much delicious punch and getting down to Mariah Carey (don’t ever knock her) with some of my closest squeezes, and really did – for the first time since I’ve lived in Melbourne – have a truly wonderful birthday. Thankyou to everyone who came along or sent sexy well wishes!