Why I wore a satay-stained cardigan.

A few months ago I had dinner at Mamuk, which does really nice satay. So I took the leftover sauce home, because I don't like to queue for food very often. It must have leaked into my bag because my cardigan ended up with brown patches in weird places. It didn't wash out, and napisan itself didn't get rid of it completely. But I've had the cardigan for a lot of years. It was $4 from an op shop. It still fits. It's synthetic and old, but in a simple style… a lot of cardigans these days are weird, like they are cropped or something. It's hard to find a decent cardigan, and believe me I am looking. Anyway, the point is, I needed time to let go of the cardigan somehow, so I put it back in the drawer to delay the decision. And yesterday, not able to find one of my newer nicer cardigans in the rush to work, I put it on. There are no mirrors in my house except the face ones. To see an outfit, you have to stand on a chair and jump. I find out what I look like when I walk into the elevator at work. And that's basically why. It was a shame, really, because I was otherwise nicely dressed and well-coordinated in my favourite frock.

Shoemaking.

I had a FANTASTIC IDEA YESTERDAY. I am going to make a pair of shoes. Possibly using this pattern, but it would be fun to design my own and problem solve through it, like with my thong-and-tshirt-lined gumboots. Sticking jeans to thong bases, for example. Great minds think alike and I found this knitting pattern for thong slippers.  Or this would be an interesting craft, so I'll keep an eye out in op shops for old woolly jumpers.

In terms of usability, they are just to wear at work really. I walk to work in expensive joggers and I don't want to waste the jog value by wearing them under my desk. Also not professional to look at. Whereas home made thong slippers would be just so cool.



There are some pretty cool homemade shoes out there on the internet. Using old car tyres as soles and stuff. Some of them look really well made and frankly a lot of shop footware is not all that supportive or hard wearing for the money you spend. If anyone else wants to have a go too I'd be interested in the results! I'm not going to buy a last or do a course, I'm just going to glue junk together and experiment.

Haul! Part 2

I said it wasn't all just clothes.


I wanted a laser printer and Bec kindly gave me hers (on a related note, I must remember to post something on how God wonderfully provides for us through other people). It was hogging up space on my study desk and I needed to get some stuff off the floor. So I popped into my local Vinnies and found this metal shelving unit on castors. Perfect! It was $10. I'm thankful to God for his provision in things big and small. Thankful I got a printer when I needed one, and was able to buy this unit so soon after. There were other people after it, but the good people at my Vinnies kept it for me.

This dinner plate caught my eye and was an impulsive buy. It was $2, which is a bit much for a op-shop dinner plate, but I quite liked the design and the retro feel. Plus it was made in Japan. My flatmate groaned, "Not another plate!" when I brought it home.



This next purchase was another impulsive buy. It caught my eye as I walked past it.


I thought it was a cute bag, nicely sized for days you don't want to carry too much (I have placed my mug next to it for size comparison). I peeked inside to check the label.


When I saw the label Fossil, my heartbeat quickened. A genuine Fossil leather handbag for $8?? It looked genuine enough to me! Fossil's the kind of store where I go, "Ooh pretty bags", take one look at the price tag and walk straight out again. I had to admit the leather looked faded, but other than that, it was a great size and in good condition. I was motivated by the thought of owning a Fossil leather bag for $8! I couldn't let anyone else buy it! My flatmate is not a fan of this handbag. I have to admit, I need to stop accumulating bags. I have gone from zero handbags to too many in the space of two years. I really have enough bags now. I don't think I could buy another one, except maybe a sensible black leather handbag if I head into the business environment.

There is that tension of not wanting to be materialistic and clutter up my life with stuff vs seeing nice things at a bargain price. I know it's not a bargain if you don't need it, if it doesn't add value to your life. I think I need an objective friend to help me declutter my stuff.

Haul! Part 3 to come.

Haul! Part 1

I've done a bit of spending lately (most of it justified, I think!), and there's nothing I love more to do than sharing my good finds with friends, so we can all squeal with excitement and agree or disagree with one another.

Okay, first up.

Item: Red jacket

Price: $30

Store: Local Vinnies

Material: Unknown

Brand: Chelsea Fashion

Verdict: The things it had going against it were:

- material: no idea what it was, didn't feel natural or breathable, no washing or care instructions inside

- size: it was just that wee bit tight on me

- price: $30! for a second hand jacket from Vinnies!

- brand: never heard of it before, but it did rhyme with my name

The things it had going for it was:

- colour

- size: well, it's good incentive for me to keep up the healthy lifestyle in order to fit into it!

- cut: very well constructed, made up of different panels

- look: it's got that retro look about it and I love retro, plus not very many people would have something similiar

- care: there is a label inside that says "needs no ironing"

- made in Israel: sounded exotic!

After I bought the jacket, I took it to the seamstress next door and asked her for her opinion on how to wash it. She suggested gentle, warm, liquid wool wash and hand wash. She advised using towels to roll up and squeeze moisture out of it. I figured I could get some free advice since I've paid her for some alteration recently (that's a bit of elsieconomics for you: pay for some work -> be friendly -> build a relationship -> get free advice)

Item: Jeans

Price: $12

Store: Local Vinnies

Material: 98% cotton, 2% elsastometric

Brand: Marcs Baby Doll

Verdict: I remember in my late teens and early 20s, Marcs Baby Doll were quite the brand. Don't know if they still are now. At least I'm catching up :P They were 16cm too long for me, and I've hemmed them up (without chopping anything off). So now I have two pairs of denim jeans, and I don't have to live from wash to wash :P

Item: Watch

Price: $6

Store: Katoomba Vinnies

Brand: Zico

Verdict: I bought this watch about two Summer Schools ago. I had to spend more money putting a battery in to get it to work, but I love it. Small, very simple design and has that retro look to it.

Next up:

Price: $15

Store: Local Vinnies

Material: 80% Wool, 20% Polyester

Brand: Unknown

Verdict: Once again, this is a wee bit too small for me. I feel like seams are going to burst when I get in and out of it. It's especially tight across the shoulders, but I figured it was good incentive to keep up the healthy lifestyle, and if it's still tight a few months down the track, I'm sure I could find a smaller friend who would appreciate it. I'm not going to let a good find like that get away easily! I'm not a fan of the puffy sleeves, and it's a hand wash garment.

Moving on...

Item: Blue cardigan

Price: $15.99 (reduced from $35.99)

Store & Brand: Paper Scissors

Material: 100% Cotton

Verdict: This is the kind of top Trinny & Sussanah would have me wear. Great for the office. Hand wash too though (darn, didn't check that!).

Item: Black jeans

Price: $10

Store: Local Vinnies

Material: 98% Cotton, 2% Elastane

Brand: Witchery

Verdict: I don't really have any long pants except for jeans, so I decided I needed a non-blue-denim pants option. So now I have three pairs of long pants I can wear! This pair is 13cm too long for me, but I am hemming them up.

And next we have...

Item: Grey Jacket

Price: $27.99 (reduced from $39.99)

Store & Brand: Paper Scissors

Material: 60% Cotton, 30% Polyester, 5% Spandex

Verdict: I really ummed and ahhed over this one. I thought the price was okay (I would have liked it to have been $20), and I wondered if I really needed another coat-looking jacket. I already have two: my favourite blue Dangerfield coat which I wear quite a lot, and a black Crossroads one which was bought last season, but is too big for me (but I could still wear). I thought I couldn't wear my blue one all the time (or can I? Does it really matter? Probably not), so I decided to buy this one. It feels quite fleecy and warm.

I may or may not have been influenced by Frocks and Frou Frou. Stay tuned for Haul! Part 2. And it's not all clothes!