Day 21-100 days project

Hey! Day 21! Today was the first day I struggled a bit with the project. Had to go to a course with a heap of new people for work. I really had trouble deciding what to wear, as I did not want to stand out. So I went for a less 'loud' retro look. The jacket is made out of 'Crimplene' and the label says designed by Sellincourt. I have quite a collection of 'diamante' jewellery. 

Interesting angles! Think the second photo could become a painting. Love the composition.
Photos by Clyde. 

Day 20-100 days project

This dress is handmade. No label. I like to wear it with white boots, a  1950 'British airways' bag and this chain necklace from the 70's. It makes me feel like an air hostess! (That means adventure!) Loved wearing this to school today.  The 5 year olds I teach don't bat an eyelid, but going to the supermarket on the way home is always interesting! Lots of looks up and down...especially if I go 'all out' with the accessories. Our home town is.....well...a 'tad' conservative. I love living in a remote place....get excited by trips to Auckland and Wellington and live in fear each day about not fitting in here. 
Photos by Ella aged 12.
Tonight, Ella asked me if I was going to still dress 'like this' when I was as old as Nana. (Nana is 80) It does worry me. Where next? I better go read "Passages" by Gail Sheeney again! (I feel a mid life crisis coming on!) 

Day 19- 100 days project

It was wet and cold here today. I got this late 1970's /early 1980's jacket a couple of weeks back. It has a cool label and outrageous patterning.  When I wear it I feel 'snuggly'... but all puffy.
Photos by Ella aged 12

Day 18- 100 days project.

Hmm. Interesting wearing todays top! Felt like I was being strangled around the neck all day! Is it the pink or the style of clothing! I had someone come up to me today and say their wedding dress was very similar to this top when they got married. I am picking it is 1970's.  Maybe late 1960's?

Photos by Ella at her school.

Day 17- 100 days project

Today I picked this smock top to wear so I could give orange and brown autumn colours an 'outing' on such a beautiful autumn day. The skirt has a great waist line but this is hidden under the smock top today. The smock zips undone down the front and has lovely little pockets on the front at the waist.  I really like the collar and neckline on this top. The bag is a remake of an old design.  I don't usually buy remakes...but I fell in love with this bag at 'Hunters and Collectors' in Wellington about five years ago.

Day 16- 100 days project

Pony club today so the 'dress up' had to be okay to wear to that....not 'flappy' to scare the horses!  Raided the large containers I have stacked up full of Retro tops and selected this one. I have included the label as it is always interesting to see where they came from.  This one says California (via Hong Kong).
I love the pattern on this top. It may end up on my clay as a design in the near future.

Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry likes to dress up. He really likes to dress up. This U.K artist is one of my art idols. I love how he uses a range of media to express his idea. If you want to know more, there are fantastic interviews about him and by him, on You Tube. Thumbs up to you Grayson. The world needs more individuals.

Day 15- 100 days project

This dress is very textured. A friend has loaned me a book called the 'Secret lives of dresses'. It is a novel and in parts the dresses tell of their experiences as if they are speaking. I am going to read it this weekend. It sounds fascinating. I like the history of the clothes I collect. However most are from second hand shops...so I often get a feeling of 'needing to be loved' coming from them...I like the idea of giving them another run at 'past glory'. I have a bright pink dress the same as this one. The brooch is one I wear often.
Photos by Ella-aged 12

Day 14 and 15 -100 days project

Technical hitch! Photos are done but the required way of down loading the images on the borrowed camera, is at work, back in town! Should be able to get the images up tonight for yesterday and today. But just for fun and a bit of 'eye-candy' here is an image from my last trip to Auckland. In St Kevin's Arcade found this cool piece of street art.

Day 13- 100 days project

Today I REALLY just wanted to put on jeans and an old tee shirt...but I dug about in the dark recesses of the wardrobe and found this dress. It is a bit big. I got it at 'savemart' for about $6.00 but have not got around to wearing it until today. The bag and earrings came from the hospice. The 'fill a shopping bag' for $1.00 deal...but about 5 years apart. Got the bag last week with a whole lot of other stuff. Got the earrings about 5 years ago and have worn them heaps. I really like the granny bag. Heaps of compartments and even though it was made pre-mobile and computer, it works really well for everything I need to carry in the 'Mummy sack' during a day. 
Photo by Clyde

Dogs

Large clay dogs are piling up all over the place. Nice.

Going grey and issues with symmetry.

Lately I have been having a few issues around NOT aging gracefully. There are so few positive role models out there for middle aged women. On a number of levels I do not want to go out with a whimper. So...Lets consider one question.."To dye or not to dye?" has been a pressing question. Philosophically I should not...it is expensive and toxic and does not fit into what we are trying to do here. BUT..I have this small patch of grey that is like a zebra stripe. No where else...just this stripe. Now, I know I should let it be...but..I have a few 'issues' and symmetry is one of them. This grey patch is not symmetrical...it is to one side. I know I have Ausperger's tendencies and I can cope with that...but can I cope with letting the grey make things weird? BUT then I found this picture! She has the same hair style as me. But is grey...proud...feisty and looks cool ! There is hope...

I don't know who she is...but she looks fantastic!

Auckland art gallery.

A few weeks back, we went to Auckland and hung out doing stuff while visiting my older daughter who is up there at Elam art school. Ella and I had great fun in an artwork at Auckland art gallery. I like it when art is fun. This artwork was all mirrors and reminded me of one that was here at the Govett Brewster art gallery recently...all optical illusion...and black and white. The mirrors in this were crazy and not good if you were wearing a skirt! Only a few people were allowed in at a time. When Ella and I were in there we had lots of fun taking photos. Here is one.

Day 11-100 days project

Hmm. It is a rare thing that I do not know where something came from. I often buy black trousers from second hand shops as they go with everything. The top... I have no idea where it came from, but I love it with shorts, skirts and trousers. Goes great with orange accessories. Probably got the top at Savemart... as it is the best place for finds here. I wish I could live, here, on the edge of the national park... but have K'Road at my doorstep. The retro shops along the sea side of K'road toward Symonds street are just soooo cool and reasonably priced. It is 5 or so hours to get there by car, so I make do with what I can find here. Over the years there have been some good finds locally...but it is intense keeping an eye out for the rare item rather than just having a stroll...window shopping and and exploring the mega retro stuff avalilable in parts of Auckland. Lately I have become aware, on the occassions, that as I browse the shops in Auckland... I am 30 or so years older than the rest of the browsers. This worries me.  Have you ever heard the saying "mutton dressed as lamb?". The lime green jacket has been a favourite winter wear for about 15 years. LOVE the polka dot lining.
Photos by Charlotte-10 years and Ella 12 years

Day 10 -100 days project

Ninety days to go! Day Ten's 'number' is a purple dress with gold buttons. I found this lurking at the back of the wardrobe. It has been long at some point and a previous owner has cut down the length. It is a little short for my comfort but I did wear it out and about today...on a wet, wild and windy Taranaki day. I have since (last night) taken the gold buttons off and attached a frill from another damaged outfit...so this dress may now appear again later in it's 'upcycled' state! I have had the patchwork vinyl bag for about twenty years. It is loud primary colours. I love it so much that it hangs on the bedroom wall and mostly I don't use it in case I damage it! 

Photos by Ella -who is 12

Day 9- 100 days project

This very brown smock dress from the 1960's suits the misty autumn day we had today! Leaves dropping all over the show and low mist and drizzle all day in the hills. Makes me feel like Kathy from 'Wuthering heights'. This smock has been 'home made' with very tidy hand stitching. I wonder about the woman who made it...not massed produced but fabric selected that she liked and then sewn to fit her shape. Who was she? These 'finds' always make me ponder questions about previous wearers. Who will wear them after me?
Photo by Ella.

Day 7 -100 days project

Todays little number is a very purple and blue coat that is 'upcycled' from retro fabric. I love to wear it with yellow sandals. I have had the beads about twenty years now. I am still having to use a borrowed camera due to mine being drowned in the water bottle. A sad and sordid story that I need to let go. Hope the images aren't too grainy. Photos by Ruby and Ella.

Playing with fire!

Last week I got the pottery 'support crew' (Suzanne and Cecily) here to help me through the first firing of my 'new' gas kiln. It is LPG gas and I find it a little scary. It is interesting how many potters get excited by flame and fire...but not me.  Any way we got her started and could almost hear her breathe a sigh of relief at being fired after so long.  She has been idle at our place for over a year and I think that prior to that she was idle for quite a while. Some of her firing records are from the 1980's. However she is an 'oldie' but a 'goodie'. She ramped up quietly and was easy to control till about 280 degrees. Then we discovered a gas leak. So sadly, we had to reluctantly shut her down with the work unbisqued. We are waiting for the gas fitter to come back sometime this week and fix the leak in the pipe. Then we will try again! For the record we took these photos of the work all loaded just before we lit her for the first time. Do I look 'beside myself' with fear? Because I was!

Day6-100 day project

I have had this dress about ten years. I love the high waist that drops from the bust (empire style?), the square neckline and large pockets. It is a delight to wear. So free and flowing. Recently I saw some knee high, white lace up Doc Marten style boots in Cuba Mall. I have spent the last two weeks regreting that I did not buy those boots. Would soooooo go with this dress!

Photos by Ruby and Ella.