Lost Without You

Edwardian dress - American eBay
Gold pendant - belonged to my Grandmother
1950s straw bonnet - Gift from Eloise
Leather boots - Antique mall in Cambria, California

This outfit or some variation of it has been my mountain uniform of late. White dress, leather boots, straw hat and I'm out the door. A few weeks back I pulled this dream dress off the wall, where I'd been gazing longingly at it for far too long. As I sheepishly asked Oli to fasten the 15 tiny shell buttons running up the back, I was delighted to discover that each and every one actually did up! I guess my American diet of cheeseburgers, Pabst Blue Ribbon and cherry pie had come between us in the past.

I have a small favour to ask of you. For the past six months I've dedicated my life to Lost. I never mentioned it all that much but we were living and breathing the happenings of that creepy old island. Since watching the season finale I'm feeling like a part of me is missing, akin only to post Twin Peaks melancholia. I'd love to hear some of your favourite series that may help me overcome this heartache. Oh, and kudos to anyone that recommends a show starring Desmond Hume or Sawyer...

On the Road at Hearst Castle

After months of penny-pinching I finally got a few rolls of film developed from the last leg of our American road trip. I thought processing in the US was costly but heck it has nothing on the land down under! In this 'On the Road' series I'll be sharing my favourite road trip destinations, some cheeky tips for living on the road and answering any other questions you might have.

The first post is from Heart Castle in San Simeon, California. I'm usually not one for guided tours but I couldn't bear to leave the USA without seeing this garish display of decadence in the flesh. Nestled in the clouds 1,600 feet above sea level, 'The Ranch' is a pastiche of historical European architecture and a showcase of Hearst's extensive art collection. As the tour bus slowly winds its way up the steep incline towards the Mediterrian Revivalist castle,  Zebras and other exotic animals can still be seen roaming the grounds, relics of what was once the worlds largest privately owned zoo.

The guided tour through the main building was short and sweet. Each room in the house is a mishmash of historical styles. It's so bizarre walking through the Refectory and into the Baroque style Billard Room, the Rectory is reminiscent of a church from the Middle Ages whilst the Billard Room boasts 14th century Flemish tapestries and an intricate 15th century Spanish ceiling. The highlight for me was the screening of home videos in the incredible theater. Candid footage of Marion Davies, Charlie Chaplin and countless others 1920s Hollywood A-Listers goofing around in resort wear made my heart skip a beat. Knowing that some of my favourite stars of the silver screen would've lounged in the very same velvet armchairs to watch the very same footage over 80 years ago left me filled with glee.

After the tour we meandered around the gardens for a few hours, checking out the famous Neptune Pool, the mesmerising indoor Roman Pool and countless ancient artefacts. I've always desired a simple life in the country so needless to say this opulent display of wealth was all a little overwhelming. However, as I gazed out at the stunning vista of Californian coastline, there was nowhere in the world I'd rather of been.

If you're a history buff like me, be sure to pop over to the Hearst Castle website. The story of this estate is so fascinating, you can even take a virtual tour which is almost as good as the real thing!

Nothing But Flowers

The Nothing But Flowers Dress - available now in my etsy store

Sheesh, these past few weeks have come and gone in the blink of an eye! I've been sewing the days away, dancing into the wee hours of the morning and meeting some lovely new Sydney buddies!

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the Great Gatsby premiere at the Ritz Randwick with the lovely duo behind Like Johnny and June and my bobbed soul sister Eloise (hi guys!). For those of you who have seen Gatsby, I'd love to know what you thought. It has been one of my very favourite books for many years now, I don't think any film adaptation could ever live up to my expectations. However, those extravagant party scenes left me determined to stage an equally sparkly soiree of my own!

Lately I've been working on a bunch of new designs in handsome velvet, broderie anglaise and my love of all loves, brocade. I'll be posting these new designs before too long, but in the mean time I wanted to share this darling that I made a few weeks back. Sewn of the softest Japanese cotton voile with the most delicate floral design, the Nothing But Flowers dress has officially won my heart. 

Rosaspina Vintage Handmade

Photographs courtesy of Rosaspina Vintage

I've been overwhelmed by the amount of beauty circulating on the internet this week. Today I wanted to share  the Rosaspina Vintage S/S13 collection with you. Ale is a dear friend of mine whom we had the pleasure of meeting, along with her husband Alf in New York this past October. Her beautiful blog has been a daily read for oh so many years now and I couldn't wait to see what she's been working away on these past few months.

The collection is a collaboration between Ale, her Mother and her Grandmother. Using a beautiful selection of 1950s and 1960s fabrics from Ale's Grandmother's archives, the garments are nothing short of exquisite. I've been gazing at the look book all week long, shot on film I swear these photographs could be straight out of the 1960s. Many of the pieces are one of a kind so if something takes your fancy be sure to snap it up before its too late! I myself have been eyeing off the Torino blouse in pink fish... You can shop the collection here and see the rest of the look book here.

Whats your favourite piece from the collection?

Cottontail

The Cottontail dress - available now in my etsy store

I spied this darling bunny print whilst doing the fabric rounds last week. Grabbing the roll, I ran home as fast as my legs could carry me, I couldn't wait to start sewing. Don't you just love the illustrated rabbits moving across the fabric in leaps and bounds?

Don't let these photographs fool you, this week the winter chill has been creeping into every nook and cranny in the mountains. I've spent most days rugged up in as many scarves, blankets and woolly items as my frame can hold. Sometimes I feel like I'm still living on American time, dusting off my cotton sundresses and sandals. Alas, it will be a good while before any seaside day tripping is on the cards.

The good news is, the cool change has inspired me to sew some winter friendly frocks. I sure hope I'm not the only one with a weakness for velvet and lace!

Daisy Chain

The Daisy Chain dress - available now in my etsy store

We took these photographs down by an enchanted little creek, a stones throw away from our cottage. Believe it or not, every time I stroll to town I venture through this little piece of paradise. Babbling brooks, old stone bridges and mesmerising greenery are lurking around every corner in these mountains! I'm wearing the Daisy Chain dress which I've just listed in my etsy store. Made of a cotton and linen blend this dress is so darn comfortable. I'm slowly incorporating more and more linen into my wardrobe, are you a fellow linen lover?

This week has been a blur of activity. I've trebled our house plant collection, had a bob trim by none other than Oliver 'Home Haircutz' Abbott, tied big bunches of lavender to every door frame within reach and on doctors orders restricted my caffeinated tea intake to one measly cup per day. Being the obsessive tea bag jiggler that I am it has been tough, any herbal recommendations would be much appreciated!