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
The six week boutique
Cross-stitch me a Harley
Check out these cute cross-stitch packs, available from the six week boutique and first spied in the latest issue of Inside Out. I’m loving the mean machine above.
Perfect poodle
Anyone for tea?
Quirky, crafty things
My last workshop of the year took place yesterday at Monica Trapaga’s store, Reclaim in Summer Hill. I’m beat after a busy year overall, but it’s been brilliant fun. Despite the soaring temperatures outside, all was calm and cool within as we set about constructing bits and pieces from both Monica’s and my store of craft materials. Champagne with strawberries in one hand, needle in the other, a bunch of interesting women for company and vintage tunes on the stereo – I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon.
Above is a detail of a bag one clever lady made in a workshop a few weeks ago on the Sunshine Coast and kindly gave me to keep. I collect old tapestries and needlework for chopping up and re-purposing – often found in charity stores and flea markets – and she found all these pieces in my big pile of scraps and set about patching them together.
Tote made from scraps
Button detail
Spanish dancing lady & man in sombrero tapestry: found framed in Vinnies
And my felt magnet for the fridge, a result of a half hour’s busywork – such simple satisfaction.
I don't know why, but I know I like it
A peek inside
I’ve mentioned my friend Olivier before, who used to own quirky French homewares store Lola et Moi in Rozelle, Sydney. Here’s some images from his and boyfriend Mark’s chic apartment, recently featured on Design Sponge. You can read more on their style and inspirations, and about where many of the pieces were sourced there. And have a look at Dossier37, Olivier’s new blog for more of his favourite finds.
One of the things I love about Olivier & Mark’s is the attention to detail – every corner has a story to tell and all the pieces are lovingly curated and displayed. And yet, it always feels like a home where people properly live, entertain and move about. It’s not static – everything flows. In fact, I’d be surprised if the apartment didn’t have the best ‘darn Feng Shui ever…
Each time I visit they’ve been shifting things about and when we caught up for a lovely long chat yesterday afternoon, everything had changed again; yet it still retained the same, consistent personality. Their home always makes me feel at once uplifted and at peace – just like Mark and Olivier.
Sometimes only a holiday is as good as a holiday
Byron Lighthouse
We’ve just returned from a week in Byron Bay, staying at the heavenly BlueGreen House. Set back in the hills behind Byron it was the perfect antidote to a busy year – we did not much else apart from reading, walking around the grounds, swimming in the pool and taking leisurely drives to the beach, lighthouse and local farms for fresh produce while boisterous schoolies with more energy than us took over Byron town.
Most importantly, we left laptops and work behind, jotting down ideas and plans for the year ahead with pen & paper instead – far more relaxing than staring at the computer screen for a change.
I saw so many motifs for craft projects – neon bright tree frogs, sea, sand, shells and trees – and can see myself incorporating these into projects for the year ahead. The break from the urban environment does the soul good once in a while but, as ever, it’s good to be home.
BlueGreen House
The stories shoes tell
Cross-stitched cowboy boot/shoe
Some more pics from Craft Victoria… this is the very amusing Stories Shoes Tell exhibition by April Phillips.
Strange shoes
Pigeon toed
Trouser shoes... for the lazy dresser
Inventive recycling for vintage saucers
Lightly butterflies
I saw these in Duck Egg Blue Quintessential not long ago, but then my friend Maggie sent me the details of Lightly, a clever company recycling vintage saucers by cutting them into butterfly and bird shapes as decorative items for the wall or small plates to hold bits and bobs. What a fab idea.
There’s also some other great stuff on the Lightly site… good ideas for xmas presents, perhaps?
What I’m watching
The British TV series I'm loving
I’m just a wee bit fond of makeover shows. Not every kind, but I do love a good transformation, so I do. I also quite like Property Ladder and Relocation, Relocation (both from the UK). Maybe it’s the voyeuristic peek into all those homes and lives… I think they’re fascinating.
Kirstie’s Homemade Home on Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channel is my new favourite – the first series is finished now but I’m sure you’ll be able to catch it on repeat. The premise is this: Kirstie Allsopp (of Relocation, Relocation) has bought a home in the English countryside, Meadowbank. It’s a dump, so her remit is to kit it out beautifully using the cheapest second-hand materials she can find, and sourcing as much as possible from local craftspeople.
By the end, you’d think most of Meadowbank’s belongings had been in one family for generations – it has that hodge-podge, casually thrown-together feel of the very best kinds of English country homes. It’s not exactly to my taste but that’s not the point: it’s not brand-new, and it has real charm. I found it quite inspiring, and hope it encourages people to do more of the same.