Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Brass Conch Necklace

This necklace was born from a happy mistake - I have it strung on 3 metres of brass chain so that I can loop it and layer it as much as I like.




Monday, May 28, 2012

A Saturday Night Engagement

On Saturday night I headed off to my big sister's engagement/leaving party (she's moving to Auckland, nooooo!) so thought it was the perfect chance to try out my new 'up-do' skills, teamed with a fun 50's make-up look (also learned at my latest workshop!) which included crazy liquid eyeliner cats-eye flicks. So much fun! I'm now on the hunt for my own set of hot rollers, so if anyone reading this in NZ has a set they want to sell, even if they're super 70's old school ones, let me know!



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

A Fun Photoshoot

I had some fun doing a wee photoshoot with my sister a couple of months ago, and these were two of my favourite pics... I don't really have a clue what I'm doing when I photograph things - I just muck around until I get a picture I like but it's fun all the same, and so great when you have a willing photography subject!



Sunday, May 20, 2012

A Tumble with a Hammerhead Shark

Here's the first of my commissioned hammerhead shark brooches heading into the tumbler for a final polish...









...and after two hours of tumbling he's finished and ready to be dried off, wrapped and sent to his new home. Hope you love him, Helen!


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Headscarf Hair-do

I've always been envious of those girls who work cute headscarves into their hair-do's and manage to look so perfectly put together. Whenever I try it looks like... well like I just randomly tied a scarf round my head and it stands out like a sore thumb.

On Friday night I learned how to create the cutest hair-do mixing a headscarf, mini victory rolls and pin curls. It's a little hard to tell but the scarf is also tied around the ends of my hair at the back, which is then tucked up to create a 'bob' length, then the scarf brought up to tie on the top of the head with the rolls and curls created around it. That, I think is the key to making the scarf work - styling your hair around it so it looks like it belongs there!




Vintage Beehive Boxes

I hit the road bright and early this morning and headed over to the Wairarapa to pick up some more stock for another of my ongoing projects - selling vintage beehive boxes. I initially just started using beehive boxes for visual merchandising at work, but have had so much interest in them over the last few months that I'm now selling them!

The boxes - dating from the 1960's to 1980's - are in lovely worn condition, painted in all sorts of colours, often stamped or stenciled with numbers, and all smelling of honey and beeswax.

It's so exciting to hear the great ideas that people have for them when buying; bookshelves, crates for magazines and toys, side tables... loving that DIY spirit!

My colleague bought some and created a box on wheels for storing various bits and pieces in her flat, though seems her cat got first dibs...!

If you're in Wellington, and you're interested in getting your hands on some for yourself, head here!





Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Art Deco Key Necklace

In contrast to the many hours I've been putting in to make some of my jewellery recently, I managed to make my latest piece in a matter of minutes.

While on a buying trip for work recently, I came across this sweet art deco brass key in an antique shop, and snapped it up quickly with one thing in mind...

I've simply threaded it onto some antique brass chain and wollah! Instant necklace.






Sunday, May 6, 2012

Brown Paper Packages

Who would have thought that little wee packages from Hong Kong and trays full of goodness like this could make me so happy... it's always the small things isn't it?


Friday, May 4, 2012

Betty Grable Up Do

This week I learned how to create my own version of a Betty Grable up do - we're talking all business in the back (with a french roll) and party up top with lots and lots of miniature victory rolls, but this is more of a 1950's style.

I finally got the hang of the setting pattern - as you can see in my before photo (even if it is a little messy!), and once again after a whole lot of pinning and hairspray, the 'Betty Grable' do was formed.

I  got some funny looks at the supermarket on my way home, but aside from that, I'm loving the new do!