A Vintage Kitchen Tea for the Lovely Laney B.

With her March nuptials just around the corner, my lovely sister-in-law Ellaine celebrated in style with a traditional 'let's get excited about the wedding' garden party on a glorious Sunday morning. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze about and the girls frocked up in their finest to honour the beautiful bride to be.

For myself, being a first time bridesmaid I think the excitement slightly got the better of me. Watch out Nicole... I can't promise I'll be able to control myself leading up to a certain engagement party soon. Styling like this is sooooo much fun to do! With Vintage as the theme, fellow bridesmaids Marie B., Marie L., Eliea and myself set about to create an intimate setting for 50 ladies which reflected old-school charm, prettiness and of course love... which was certainly in the air!

The courtyard of the Breglia Residence was framed with white lanterns and paisley bunting

DIY Tissue Paper Pom Poms in various shades of lavender hung above the savoury food table.

(Contact us at NNG to purchase your own DIY Pom Kits)

White roses, carnations, lisianthas, baby's breath and delphiniums were the flowers of choice. Charmingly encased by empty vintage frames or besides a cute chalk-drawn pic

Round tables were draped with old lace curtains (Good Sammy's really is a girl's best friend) and pastel paper doilies. Jars vases collected by my dear mum were wrapped in hessian, lace and pearl strings

Pink lemonade served in mini milk bottles were a hit with the crowd, whilst the pink bubbly went down a teeny bit too easily as the morning warmed up

Yummy food! Sandwiches, quiches, rice paper rolls, sushi, meatballs, gourmet pizza ...just to name a few

Sweets galore! A pink lolly buffet, macaroons, teapot cookies, decorated cake pops, chocolate roulade, lavender cupcakes, warm apple pastries, Armenian nutmeg cake, fresh figs and Nanna B's home-made ricotta cake... Mmmmm stop making me drool!

It never gets old- the toilet paper bride. Love that game every time!

Our home-made Strawberry, Apple & Vanilla Bean Jam favours for the guests. A little thank you for making Ellaine's Kitchen Tea a special day

The gorgeous Bride herself (centre) with her Bridesmaids. A picture of perfection in her vintage cream dress... not a hint of Bridezilla here!

...and look how her eyes just POP! Ellaine'smakeup was done beautifully by Marie Liberatore bridesmaid/sister-in-law (back left) of Makeup Savvy who will also be 'making up' all our faces on the BIG DAY in exactly 32 days, 7 days and 41 minutes.

Excited much??

Fremantle Tweed Festival 2011

FREMANTLE!

ENTERTAINMENT!!!!

MARKETS!!!!!

TWEED!!!!!!!

BICYCLES!!!!!!!

The Freo Tweed Run started in 2010, with a dapper show of old fashioned-fashion, bikes and style. The all ages, free event is a layed back, yet a strikingly suave way to enjoy and celebrate the bicycle.

The deets

This is your chance to dress in tweed and ride your bike!

A few photos from last years Freo Tweed Run

I will send you all a reminder on Facebook before the day x

Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill

Dust off your picnic basket, fill it with your favourtie goodies and plenty of vino as something very special is happening this Saturday evening...

The quirk-folksters of Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill are launching their debut album, 'The Little Things' in a vintage fair themed extravaganza at Fremantle Arts Centre this Saturday - the 5th of November!!

Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill formed in 2009, frolicking onto the music scene with their debut EP 'First of a Few' which had indie folk across the state not only singing along, but singing their praises too!

Since those early days the band has developed their own distinctive sound, blending the sweet, delicate vocals of Rachel Gorman with the unique musical backgrounds of Brett Crabtree and Vim Leaf. With two new band members now on board, cellist Jenny May and Rhian Todhunter on bass guitar, this new album will take you on a beautiful journey ranging from acoustic folk to reggae-tinged indie-rock, while incorporating catchy composition and playful lyrics.

And let's face it, who could say no to beautiful music, a beautiful location, fairy floss and popcorn!?

x

I spy with my little Lomo

If I was lucky enough to be allowed a second alter-ego, she'd be something like Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith. A super mysterious, highly paid, incredibly efficient...super spy. But unlike old Ange, my alter-ego would also be carrying one of these uber cool Lomo cameras.

The Lomo camera was originally developed during the Cold War to be used for spy games and international espionage. However, the camera failed it's Russian inventor when it was too heavy, too cumbersome and not quite precise enough. 

But when two Austrian art students - Wolfgang Stranzinger and Matthias Fiegl, stumbled across a second-hand Lomo in a Prague junk shop, the 'Lomographic Revolution' was born.

Capitalising on the camera's origins, the pair took shots in true spy style; shooting from the hip, in haphazard directions, to capture their surroundings in a manner that rebelled against the logic of traditional camera composition. The seemingly humble camera captured moody shots, obscure light effects against vibrant colour and movement.

Pigeonhole's 10 Golden Rules:

1. Take your LOMO with you wherever you go
2. Use it all the time, at any time - day or night
3. Lomography does not interfere with your life, it's a part of it
4. Get as close as possible to the objects of your lomographic desire
5. Don't think (William Firebrace)
6. Be fast
7. You don't have to know what's going to be captured on your film
8. You don't have to know what's on the film afterwards either
9. Shoot from the hip
10. Don't worry about rules

If this is possibly the coolest thing you've ever heard then it will now become the second coolest; because Pigeonhole are currently promoting 'Lomovember' - an annual fundraiser showcasing the best of Perth's lomographic talent, held at a secret location on the 11-13th of November.

This year’s exhibition will feature 100 photographs to be block mounted, displayed, and sold at a silent auction with all profits going to Movember. Lomo workshops will also be held over the weekend for both budding and seasoned Lomographers alike.

Here are a couple of amazing photos from previous years Lomovember events:

Hannah McGrath
"Secret Garden", WA
Lomovember 2009

Rikki Burns
"Above Manhattan", NY
Lomovember 2009

If, like me - you must become a Lomographer, visit the Lomography website for everything you need to know to get started.

* Distracted - Merchants of Fancy also stock Lomo Camera's

All is FAIR in love and war...

Thanks to the lovely Mika Thuijs, we spent our Sunday morning sifting through treasures at the Victoria Park Collector's Fair. With a not so strict budget, we walked down the stairs of the Curtin Stadium, breathed in the smell of mothballs and began our mission to find the loveliest things we could without going over budget.

We lasted 20 minutes before we were asking the dear old ladies behind their stalls to hold the treasures for us so we could run back to the A.T.M. But boy were those treasures worth it.

Quite possibly my most favourite

Actually, this is my favourite. I have been looking for an
original flour sieve for YEARS, years I tell you.

Hang on, this original KRAFT Cheese wooden box
is amazeballs. Definitely the best buy....

We left the fair with happy hearts, empty purses and a complimentary cuppa tea and a biscuit (not to mention a free 'Young Talent Time' concert and some light entertainment brought to us by the wind and rain).

There are plenty of Fairs coming up, so don't pout if you missed this one - as a matter of fact, there is one this weekend! See you there x

The biggest and the best!



One for the Country Bumpkins

Vintage Fair

Not sure what to do in Perth this weekend?? Why not head down to the WA's largest Vintage and Collectors Fair: Treasured Craft Creations, in conjunction with the Polka Dot Vintage Fair at the Claremont Show Grounds. 20 - 21 August, $6 entry with the chance to win $2000!