Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
Busy hands
Modern doily... is it a Moily?
Feeling a bit restless yesterday, I knew some crafting would do the trick. But what to make? I always keep even the smallest remnants, and pulled out my shoebox of offcuts.
Flower detail
This is what I made – a sort-of modern doily to pop under my new Grapefruit Mint Cuttings candle from Voluspa on the coffee table (love these, and love grapefruit… the Voluspa range has some really elegant scents, and citrus is always the best thing to freshen up a room or get rid of cooking smells). And a lettered panel with our initials, which I might frame and pop next to the bed.
Initials
Speaking of citrus, check out my new favourite custom colour from Porter’s, which comes in a lime wash but can be mixed in acrylic also. Zingy, huh?
Lemony Goodness from Porter's Paints - 'scuse the fingerprints
A spot of cowboy crochet
Miniature crocheted cowboy boots
A while ago one of my oldest and dearest friends Lisa Cosco set up Nursing Angel, a brilliant business selling hard-to-find product lines to nursing mothers. It’s since turned into a massive online store stocking all sorts of things, including these.
I’m a sucker for cowboy boots and these are too cute. I know what I’m getting for friends’ new babes this xmas – they also come in pink and blue for the traditionalists.
I have a little dream
No Chintz caravan
…and it looks something like this.
Ages ago I read an article in UK Vogue profiling women who kept vintage caravans, and why. It showed detailed shots of all the interiors, which were just gorgeous and romantic and a bit like grown-up dolls’ houses.
I’ve often thought of buying one and keep my eyes open still, on the lookout. I quite like the rounded 50s chrome style. Its purpose would be to provide a writing room and my own little getaway.
Don’t you just love this caravan, taken from the No Chintz catalogue and reproduced here in Vogue? One day she will be mine!
Creative uses for old phone books
Jolis Paons paper dress
Inside Out ran an elegant feature a while ago using old phone book paper for decorations, and the craft book Meet Me At Mike’s features a simple paper flower project also which I’ve yet to try.
Many an artist has recycled an old phone book to great effect, but I think this is the most beautiful incarnation I’ve seen to date. First spotted on Lost at E Minor, it’s by Jolis Paons… breathtaking.
Will you look at this?
I'd wear it in a heartbeat
A clever collage
Chandelier by Lisa Torrance
A very dear friend of mine made me a card recently which I admire so much I’ve decided to frame it. I’ve hung it above the hall table with other favourite artworks and family photos.
Looky here: it’s a chandelier, half-drawn, half-collage from cut up bits of paper taken from magazines and simply arranged on heavy parchment. One holiday away she made a whole series of them and my, they’re something to see. I hope she exhibits them one day – I’m sure people would snap them up.
Lisa's card, framed
Prints Charming market day
Get along to this if you can – Cath & Kirsten have been sewing and printing like mad things to make beautiful gifts for their annual pre-Christmas market day. I’ve seen some of what they’re working on and it looks fab…. looking forward to it.
Come one, come all
Workshop 11 Nov... enquiries within
Yesterday I bundled up a bunch of wares from The Crafty Minx and headed on over to Shearer’s Bookshop to set up a window display.
I’ve embroidered some signs to promote the first workshop (10:30am Wednesday 11 November – for more workshop dates in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne click here).
Come along if you can, or to one of the other events. We’ll be supplying all the equipment and materials (that is, Murdoch & me) but if you want to bring along any remnant fabrics such as leftover upholstery material or tired clothing, I’ll try to help with ideas to re-fashion it into something new.
The Crafty Minx hits the stores
Pompom wreath
A cheery christmas wreath
Now it’s November I’ve officially started decorating the house for christmas (any excuse to re-decorate). This wreath has been waiting patiently in the hallway for the past few days, for Halloween to be done & dusted…
Here’s my first half-handmade project: a rainbow-coloured pompom wreath for the front door, inspired by a very similar one spied in last year’s Marie Claire Idees December issue. What do you think? James thinks it needs more pompoms but I quite like its spare charm.
I bought the el-cheapo wreath from Spotlight and made the pompoms from various balls of brightly coloured wool while watching the latest episode of True Blood on telly (made much easier with my new pompom makers – love these – purchased over the phone from Berry’s Sew & Tell: 02 4464 2428).
Christmas lunch is at ours this year – I’m already devising ways to lay the table.
Ho ho ho