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
Olivades
Cushion from Olivades
I found this new fabric warehouse purely by accident on one of my regular visits to Le Forge in Camperdown to drool over the furniture and French imports (and particularly the beds and bedding – so chic, it’s all along the lines of delectable homewares store The Country Trader, but more affordable).
Olivades, which has opened just next door to Le Forge, stocks divine French toile de jouy, voiles and upholstery fabrics, as well as a small range of homewares. I’ve already stocked up on a bunch of remnants, and ordered some pretty toile de jouy voile in a rosy hue to pin up in front of the blinds in the spare room. Perfect if you’re looking for a touch of French country house to add to your home.
Commode Aviator from Olivades
Panel of rosy toile de jouy voile
Petit Batik / Collector Store / Moku Boutique
We love a harem pant - Petit Batik
Not one, but three favourite new things to share with you today:
While we’re on the subject of dyeing, these batik childrens’ clothes are cuteness personified. Check out Petit Batik, available now at Collector Store, which, by the way, is one of my favourite (new-ish) shops in Sydney. Stocking great local designers and gorgeous imports in clothing, homewares and accessories, it’s not your ordinary average.
Bought (by me) - boots on the left, at Collector Store
Petit Batik on the rack at Collector Store
Adorable top by Petit Batik
And on the subject of out-of-the-ordinary designs, I stumbled upon this boutique the other day, having walked past it about a thousand times, and fell in love with the small but excellent collection of up-and-coming designers they stock. Moku Boutique is located at 208 Oxford St, Paddington. Well worth a visit.
Bought (by me) - Handsom frock & vest at Moku
Stretsis dress, available at Moku
Headed for a dye-fest
Colour inspiration for my next dyeing project... our budding orchid
When I was a hapless teenager and just moved out of home, I couldn’t quite figure out the whole separating whites from darks from colours business when I did the weekly laundry, so I ended up with a pile of grubby-looking whites to wear.
Around the same time, I discovered the beauty of hand-dyeing; I loved how it gave a second life to tired-looking clothes, and particularly zingy lift to silk chinois-style tops and simple underwear. I think a lemon-yellow bra strap slightly visible under a white cotton shift looks cute, say, or a fuscia petticoat peeking out from under a frock. And there’s something lovely about the mottled effect it gives old, crushed silk.
This week, I’m planning a dye-fest. But starting tomorrow, when I don’t have the wee one, or have to worry about turning Olive emerald green by accident, in an I Capture the Castle moment…
Carnival pink - why not?
It’s been a while, so when I’m feeling brave I’m going to attempt making some of India Flint’s home-made dyes from vegetables, leaves and the like and putting them to use. For d(ye)vine inspiration, check out her beautiful book, Eco Colour.
One item which will be finding its way into the dyeing pot is this age-stained old linen tablecloth, bequeathed to me by my dear friend Catherine. I’m thinking pale blue, with a touch of lavender.
Tea o'clock
Cade Martin photography
The Page Governess... image by Cade Martin
I just stumbled across these stunning images by Cade Martin, a photographer based in Washington, DC.
Yowsers – aren’t they stunning? If you click on his site, check out the pics under ‘Newest’, and flick through all those ballet shots… I love how each of them tells a rich story. Forget about a thousand words, these are more like novellas in picture form.
Up, up, and away... image by Cade Martin
Leaving home... image by Cade Martin
Another sneaky peek at The Crafty Kid
Hootie the Owl softie
Hello on this chilly Friday morning. Here’s a little sneak peek at some of the new projects in The Crafty Kid for you, out in just a few short weeks.
The three projects here were constructed entirely from remnant fabrics and scraps. The owl above is made from the leg of an old pair of denim jeans, a scrap of wool from a flea market, the button from an old sixties trench coat and a lurid seventies pillowcase. See? It’s so easy to make something from the most useless-seeming things.
Heart-shaped pincushion
Felt & ribbon cutlery roll
Gutentag, Germany!
Marlene Dietrich. Stollen. Vintage Porsches. Lederhosen. Heidi Klum on Project Runway and glüwein… just a few of my favourite German things (well, maybe not the Lederhosen).
Marlene Dietrich in a rather fetching feather hat
Damn, that woman could smoke
Yesterday I found out the most exciting news – The Crafty Minx will be published in Germany by Christian Verlag, hopefully in time for this Northern-hemisphere Autumn. It’s being translated into German as I type… joy!
Having my writing translated into another language is a pipe dream come true. As Kay, my publisher said, it will be interesting to see whether they attempt to translate the title or leave as is, which sometimes happens: Das Craften Minxen, perhaps?
I doubt she so much as darned a sock, but I fancy Marlene might have approved.
Bonus page for Crafty Minx readers
Tequila! Pic by Natasha Milne
A little while ago, my editor at Murdoch Books, Sophia Oravecz got in touch to ask if I could re-jig a few of the projects in The Crafty Minx to suit overseas markets. Because my publishers were heading off to London Book Fair, where the rights to books are sold in to other countries.
The Crafty Minx is now available in the UK as is, but we’ve created a few extra pages to better suit a Northern-hemisphere climate… I thought it a shame for the people who bought the original version to miss out, so here’s the page which replaces the ‘Tree Decorations’ project in the Summer section – enjoy!:
SENSATIONAL SHINDIGS
There are so many ways to throw a fabulous party on the cheap. The very best ideas often come from a lack of cash and some inventive thinking, anyway. I’ve been to such a range of parties in my time – from all-out, spare-no-expense end-of-year bashes and black tie balls to homey festivities in friends’ backyards and picnics in the park. These days I have to say the latter’s more my thing, but there’s a time and a place for everything.
Some crafty ideas for excellent party decorations:
* Throw an Andy Warhol’s Factory party. Clear the furniture, cover the walls in aluminium foil and colour-photocopied pop art of your friends, serve champagne and huge bowls of popcorn, and ask guests to look to Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgewick, the man himself and a whole host of other fabulous nobodies for sartorial inspiration. Play some psychedelic 60s tunes on the stereo, and let the good times roll. You might even want to film it for posterity – Andy would have.
* Have a Surf’s Up! birthday party on the beach, like my five-year-old friend Enzo. Pop the event information (occasion, date, time, location and any further instructions) on a label you’ve whipped up on the computer, then peel off the back and stick to a beachside postcard. Make a surfboard-style piñata filled with lollies to hang from a tree, and ask all your guests to wear Hawaiian shirts or leis to the festivities. Erect umbrellas and serve mocktails in the shade, with a cake in the shape of a beaten-up VW Combi van to complete the look.
* Go south of the border for inspiration, with a Mexican-themed barbecue. Serve Margaritas with miniature drinks umbrellas, buy a stack of straw sombreros, and all the ingredients for Nachos and Tex-Mex (ribs, corn chips, guacamole, grated cheese, sour cream, refried beans, mince, tomato salsa and fresh lettuce). Festoon the walls with Day of the Dead-style imagery (such as this fun skulls-and-hearts fabric I screen-printed myself), re-purpose a broom handle as a limbo stick, award the winner a bottle of Tequila, and slap a fake moustache on everyone who walks through the door.
* Throw a hats, wigs or masquerade party, where everyone has to wear at least one of these items. This has to be one of the cheapest and easiest fancy dress options, as guests only need to buy one thing to be in theme. Hang streamers and party lanterns from the ceiling, and give out those paper whistles which everyone loves… particularly the neighbours, at three o’clock in the morning!