Spring!

I got a little tired of the old blog background, so its been rehashed for your and my visual pleasure, the green and pink was a bit much. So that's been my first act of revving this place up with Spring - 28 degrees today what pleasure ? Secondly I bought new bathers (right) by seafolly -an absolutely fail safe brand when it comes to swimwear.

Thirdly I deleted my facebook account, I figure its time for the good old face to face contact which reminds me yesterday I went to the loveliest shop with a extremely chatty owner.

It was called "Old Love" and full of an assortment of new and old goodies, including glomesh bags, enchanting lazer cut brooches and rings(all very much affordable), rosette headbands (made from ties, such a smart idea), vintage cameras and telephones and radios - all for ornamentation, I was told - as well lots of accessories made from local designers and a exclusive natural body care range made in Perth.

The range includes candels, soaps, body wash, lotions and bath salts. The lotions especially caught my eye with names such as: Cup of Tea & a Lie Down, Doris Day Dream and Keep On Trucking Men's Balm. Suffice it is to say I am very very excited about having discovered my first Spring a gem, every now and then I find beautiful, inspiring places whether a shop, cafe, park, lake or book store which fuel my mind with ideas and curiosity. I hope to share them with you.

Back to Old love - It's been open for about two months and stock comes in weekly, however the website doesn't show a lot of its stock, so you'll just have to visit it in person - its a must if you're anywhere near Rokeby Road, just walk down Forrest street until you get to the car park on Denis Street and you are there.

Here are some pictures

Mint

I'm very good at spending my money, as opposed to saving it up. I'm so good at spending that although I casually sell vintage clothes on eBay, I usually end up spending that money on eBay as well. Some gorgeous treasure is just a click away - there $10, $20, $30 gone in a couple of minutes.

For the most part, I use eBay because I'm sure it will have a treasure I'm after - which at the moment is 1950's rhinestone brooches, whereas trying to track one done in a Perth op-shop is a complete hit-and-miss process. And of course the eBay has a higher likelihood of it being mint - it would seem ridiculous to list primarily broken items on the platform, since they have less attraction to buyers anyway.

If you are in love with collecting certain bits and pieces - personally my addiction is to vintage brooches, scarfs, aprons and tea sets and if they aren't common op-shop loot, I'd definitely recommend eBay. It's more competitive price-wise too because you can negotiate the prices with the seller and there's a greater body of items listed.

BUT on my most recent op-shop tour with my faithful op-shop accomplice, it was a lot harder to appreciate online discoveries. I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking accessories wise, but on that day I was spoiled for options and found some items of good quality and great condition: what I believe to be Thai silver necklace and bracelet, a trent nathan scarf (pictured) a never used "Stratton" compact dated between 1950-1970 (pictured) and a few brooches to of course (pictured).

The excitement and delight at finding something unexpected was so much more thrilling, then any click and bid could be. I suppose though if I needed something it'd be so much more easier online, then hunting for something I just wanted.

So, I'll continue to spend between the two - online or on the street, it doesn't matter hugely as long as its mint like my 1956 Singer my parents found for me at a garage sale. Just Gorgeous.

Obsession

This year I've become a complete devotee to Vintage Brooches. I wear them everywhere, with everything - on my uniform, on my scarves, canvas bags, on a ribbon head band etc... They capture attention, they can make a statement and/or serve decorative purposes, and brooches definately add an "umph" to an outfit.

You may think of (I certainly used to) as brooches being relegated to a ye olden day realm, worn by matronly looking women with severe buns in horid navy ankle length dresses.

Well, I can assure you they aren't: in recent years many popular costume jewellery brands have seen a revival in brooch manufacture: David Jones stocked names Lumiere and Angelique produce vintage inspired jewellery, with gorgeous brooches to match. While Urban Depot, Remedy and Harry and Gretel all on Oxford St, Leederville stock whimsical modern fashion brooches.

^ available from Remedy - cute is it not?

Vintage brooches on the other hand, are easily tracked down at op shops. The Good Sammy's on Rockeby rd and my personal favourite the Salvos (behind the Subiaco youth centre) have a plentiful supply of vintage brooches. Ebay is also good, but I suppose it lacks the discovery or "thrill" factor of hunting down a special item, which op-shopping frequently rewards you with.

Here are a few of my op-shop and ebay finds (all in the last few months !)

(Sterling SilverMarcasite Brooch) (1980s Butterfly Brooch) (Late 1960's Porcelain Brooch)

Have you got any creative ideas on how to wear brooches ? Please Comment