Xmas, holidays and guilt free Vintage Twists time

Goodness, it HAS been a while between posts!
Looking back over the last month and its been all about getting listings into the shop, finishing off work in the office (at my full time job) before my christmas break and getting the house ready for  xmas day.

I had three weekdays off before xmas weekend. I spent every single one of them at the shops in the morning and cleaning in the afternoon. I must be insane! Within minutes of collecting my kids from their week away with their Dad I immediately regretted spending those three days in a shopping and cleaning frenzy - instead wishing I had beached myself on the couch with books and girly movies. I had wasted my quiet sanctury of three blissful days with no kids and my significant other at work. What. A. Dimwit! The continuous chatter offering of random facts and ensuing sibling rivalry that badgerred me for the 40 minute drive home was like a hammer on my head, me the nail, bashing sense into me for next time with each and every thump and thwack. Must. Spend. More. Time. Doing. What. I. Love.

We convinved my youngest that they were now too old for stockings - so he didnt notice his, crammed full of junk food and silly gifts as usual, when he gently started tearing paper off his 'not from us' presents at the godforsaken hour of 5am on xmas morning. For the first time ever, I paid attention, rememberred that my mate had once salivated over remote control helicopters at a shopping centre display and although it pained me to buy a 42 year old man a toy for xmas - I did it. He was so damned happy. Win.

We started our day, as we have for several years, at the dog beach with our beloved Weimeraners -

Anzac and Sari. We tire them out whilst connecting with nature - give the pets some attention before ignoring them for the rest of the day and reminding ourselves that though we have just opened gifts and induldged we need to appreciate the freely accessible wonders at our doorstep. Xmas morning at the beach is always gently warm, still and beautiful.

It was my turn to host this year and although some may cringe at the thought, I was over the moon. For me, it meant everyone dear to me under the one roof at the same time without me having to travel all over Perth to see them all!

My sister, her hubbie and 5 out of her 7 kids (plus a tag along but very welcome boyfriend of my oldest niece) and my partners parents and sisters family. Each family contributed to the table.

I indulged my gorgeous younger nieces with chocolate, chips and lollies - what? Its my right isnt it? I always balance with a practical gift( novelty glass) and a fun gift (giant bubbles). Always over way too quick, the day flew by with squeels from the kids (and adult kids) in the pool,

a trail of chips and xmas bon bon wrappers all over the house and a table and fridge full of leftovers. Take a look at this amazing spread of deserts my talented kitchen whiz sister contributed to our spread!

Pineapple upside down cake - a childhood memory that has evry bite flooding my brain with remembering

Toffee apple trifle

which sends my eldest into a 'smeagle - like' possessiveness

Cherry chocolate almond torte caprese

Shop sales at VintageTwists in the lead up to xmas were steady and I posted several items to people that were gifts from the buyer. What a fabulous gift - vintage - it just keeps giving doesnt it!

Ive been on a frenzy of listing in the last month - below are just some of the new items you will find in the shop.

Vintage 1960s pure silk ecru blazer

Vintage 1980s high waisted skinny jeans

Vintage 1950s does 1800s ecru creme wedding skirt

Vintage 1980s handmade ecru floral drop waist pleated dress

See you on the flipside!

Alena

Vintage Twists

Teaching through drama - using the arts to understand concepts in other learning areas

This is a must read article written by WA's Victoria Laurie. It's what all drama teachers know in their gut to be the answer to other teachers woes.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/creative-educating-for-the-future/story-e6frg8n6-1226205351727

Heading North

As I finish my coffee and wait for a taxi, Im contemplating the fact that I've lived in Western Australia for 32 years and this will be the furthest North I have ever travelled in my own state. In the next three days I will visit Karratha, Dampier, Paraburdoo and Tom Price for work. This year has also seen me travel to Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Sydney and Melbourne for work and Kalbarri for a holiday. It's been a busy year but also very rewarding.

Meeting people that live in country towns is refreshing. It reminds you to slow down, to enjoy the beautiful land we live on, live off, rely on and take advantage of.

It's like all this plane travel has been scheduled to help me get over my fear of flying, which due to severe random motion sickness has me in a constant state of anxiety from 3 days before travelling. Often I need to be horizontal for many hours after a bad flight. So, on this particular trip, I will need to fly between two of the towns in a six seater plane. No it will not be fun. The mental steps I will need to overcome to even step foot on the plane will be enourmous. But I simply have no choice. The alternative was a 7 hour drive each way.

So, big pat on the back for me for not chucking a tantrum. Because I will happily admit that I am freaking the hell out.

On the plus side, I always seem to sell several items from my shop when I travel for work, so hell to the yeah - hands in the air for ka ching ka ching while Im away from the coup.

Wish me luck!

When The Rain Stops Falling produced by Black Swan State Theatre Company

When The Rain Stops Falling, written by Andrew Bovell
and
produced by
Black Swan State Theatre Company.
 Saturday, October 29 - November 13 at 7:30pm,
State Theatre Centre of WA.

Photo right by Gary Marsh
Exquisite. Mesmerizing. Heartbreaking. Visually stunning.

I'm calling it. This is the best piece of theatre I have ever seen. Hands down, without a shadow of a doubt the best hour and 45 minutes I have ever spent in a theatre.

Written by the same Australian master of words as Lantana and Speaking in Tongues, Andrew Bovell hold the audience captivated with his Brechtian use breaking the fourth wall, allowing the actor to address the audience directly. His use of repetition helps to link the different characters to their descendants and his poetic, lyrical dialogue is insightful.

Directed by a favourite of mine, Director Adam Mitchell is an artist and the stage is his canvas. His hand picked cast each owned their roles like a second skin.

I had the pleasure of sitting in on some scene work in the rehearsal room. Adam directs in a very 'hands on' manner. He works the stage with his actors. Walking in their shoes, guiding them like a favoured child you can see that he was 'a little in love' with every one of his actors. He even said as much on opening night to his captivated audience that crushed the foyer after the performance. They would try a scene their way, try a scene his way. Everyone had a voice in that room, even the students I had taken in to view the rehearsal were given the chance to have their say at the end.

I digress.

Adam's direction is flawless. Helped in part by the stunning movement direction of Claudia Alessi, the scenes transitioned seamlessly from one to the next. There were no 'blackouts' in the lighting for you to collect your thoughts between scenes, so that you are digesting this non linear story on the run, learning alongside these truthful characters how the fate of their past will influence their future.

Bryan Woltjen's set and costumes were visionary. Whilst addressing the vast locations from 1950s London to 1980's Ulurru, a dreary rain soaked street to the vast landscape of the Coorong. The minimalistic props allowed what props were used to become symbols of the things that stay the same, passed down through the generations like an old hat. The use of black stage drapes to create windows and doors at the front of the stage, that tracked left and right, up and down, helped to manipulate what the audience can see at any given time. The stairway to heaven, massive, mammoth, striking and beautiful is at one point Ulurru, and another, a symbol of the ever stretching highways the go on endlessly connecting the Australian cities across the great divide.

Mia Holten's AV feast was stunning as ever. Subtle sometimes so you don't even realise she is enhancing Ben Collin's artful, self composed sound scape, blending beautifully with Trent Suidgeest's clever and also subtle lighting design. All masterfully controlled by the talented and oh so calm Anna Dymiter Hawke, Black Swans Stage Manager.

Of course, without the cast, the telling of this poetic story would not have been possible. A stellar cast of some of WA's best actors.

Steve Turner as Henry Law was such a likable character that it hurts that little bit more when you realise what his secret is. I honestly can't imagine anyone playing this role better than he did. Superb.

Alison van Reeken shone as Elizabeth Law. She had several costume changes as her character aided in setting the various time shifts. Bryan's colourful dresses had the collar rising on each of Elizabeth's garments as she moved through time, choking her until she is gasping before the climax in her scenes with Henry Law, her husband. Equally, as her older self, Julia Moody was scarily real (my friend commented several times to me "That's my mother!") and had a such a presence onstage, that even when sitting silently, saying nothing for several scenes, you can't help but watch years of withheld grief play out on her face. Subtext extraordinaire.

Older Gabrielle York (Vivienne Garret) and Joe Ryan (Igor Sass) broke my heart in every one of their scenes. Such beautiful, honest endearing interpretations of their characters that my throat has constricted just remembering those scenes.

The stunning Gabrielle York (Fiona Pepper) and Gabriel Law (Scott Sheridan) were lovely as the young lovers. They had just enough whimsy and lightness to balance the pain inside them both.

This play has everything. As several people have already said to me, it's what good theatre looks like. Acting, direction, set, costumes, lighting, sound, stage management, stage mechanist's, lighting and sound operators; they have and are still working together to produce a quality of theatre that I have never before seen and I will never forget!

If you live in Perth, GO AND SEE IT!

Coming soon to Vintage Twists

I was hanging for this shoot. The items that always sell the best in my shop are dresses and I was starting to run low. A couple of 50% off sales I recently ran has been great for the shop both clearing out some old stock and driving new customers to the shop.

For this shoot we had a new MUA, Stephanie Webb. Great work by the quiet Steph. I really loved what she did with the girls with my favourite, the eighties stylin for Brianna. She is just starting out her business page on facebook so how bout giving her some loving and like her page here

We also had two new models, the mad sisters, Brianna and Kelsey.

Much hard work was done and fun had by all. Jho's Pics are as always fabulous (over 800 snaps taken over 4 hours) aided by Bri and Kelseys mums super stylin skills (Which Jho seems to think is more OCD than stylin) but her keen eye for stray threads, peak a boo bra straps and wayward tags was much appreciated.
Click Here  to like Jho's Pic's Photography facebook page
We have lots of shoes and some bags comming to the shop, as well as tshirts, skirts and a zillion dresses.
Here are some sneak peaks, contact me on facebook if you are interested in anything before it hits the shop!
VT

Knitting rugs, spiritual enlightenment and dogs mid air collisions

So, after a relatively crazy week at work I finished listing my pottery and vintage plate collection leftover from market stalling last year. Some really cute plates I'd forgotten about and this darling Meakin soup set

Meakin soup set
Great to be able to concentrate on listing clothes again. Even more exciting is my scheduled photo shoot this Friday with Jho's Pics Photography my regular models Nadia and Jenni and some new people Im looking forward to working with as well. Perth has an odd little Public Holiday this Friday due to CHOGM being held in our town. Yay! The Queen!

Had a great chat with a wise friend on Saturday Night who gave me several things to think about. She is looking for people who knit to contribute 1 metre by 2 metre bright knitted rugs to a cause she is involved in. Your knitted contribution will be embedded with a message of love and sent to needy women living in an African refuge. They don't like crocheted rugs because the holes spin them out (they think the rug is faulty) Anyone interested in this cause should contact me for more info or just get knitting! I have started my rug. I find I am thinking a lot whilst knitting. I'm spending more time in the lounge room at night with my family instead of on the computer. Im finding its a nice balance to my usual practice of destroying denim shorts so young people will buy them from my online shop. Im creating for a good cause as opposed to destroying for consumer driven desires. So, therein lies my spiritual enlightenment in a way. I guess.

My Monday. Goodness, what a Monday. The afternoon was spent watching a rehearsal for the upcoming play "When The Rain Stops Falling" written by Aussie playwright Andrew Bovell and STUNNINGLY directed by local Adam Mitchell. I was left feeling emotionally and physically moved. I was all choked up and astounded by this exquisite play, so well cast, so beautifully acted. If you live in Perth, you really must see the latest offering for Black Swan State Theatre Company which previews from Saturday, opening next Wednesday. Click here for booking info and here to go to the website.

So, lots to think about on the PACKED like sardines train on the way home.
Get in the house to see M vacuuming the couch, as you do, and the kids very upset about a mid air collision our weimeraner dogs had at the park. Sari had a blood nose and grazed inner cheeks. Anzac lost 3 bottom teeth. Crap. Not good. Also wouldn't have happened if the kids had 2 balls at the park instead of one. Like they been told countless times before. Sigh! Poor dogs.

Emerald City Treasury

I totally loved creating this treasury for the Etsians of Facebook team. Make sure you stop by each item and look at the amazing things people are selling and creating on Etsy.
EOF emerald city style

Above: found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/48013065/wooden-toys-wizard-of-oz-dorothy?ref=tre-891859844-7

Recently listed in Knick Nacks & Bric-A-Brac

Some of my recently listed Vintage "stuff" in my Etsy Shop:
vintage seventies westminter serving tray         

vintage 1970s large carved brown wooden serving tray

vintage silver apple candles

vintage pink wooden shoe shapers 

Don't forget that if you 'like' me on facebook you get to see all listings before they are "live" in the shop. So, if you see something that you like you gety first dibs on it!

So here's the link: VintageTwists

Schools Drama : Improving literacy through Drama

Two words:
BRING IT!
Schools Drama

This should be how all children learn.
This should be how teachers are taught to teach

Great Chinese food, Live music & attempting to cook Haianese Chicken

So,
last night was the second part of M's bday present, the Chris Cornell concert at Perth Concert Hall. The first part of M's present was kind of a flop (We had tickets to the Sevendust gig which had been cancelled and we didnt know. Had a few drinks, got all dressed up, forked out money for a taxi.....only to get there and theres a man in a car with fliers saying "Sorry - cancelled") but we have since replaced those tickets with Foo Fighters tickets (Im midly - ok - a lot more impressed by that idea!)

We started the evening at the Hong Kong BBQ house in Francis STreet Northbridge.
Awesome. Authentlic amazing Cantonese food. Heaven.
We had the combination BBQ meat platter and noodles with crab meat sauce.

So, back to the lead singer from the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave as well as a successful solo career.
Oh - MI - GOD
Chris can sing just as good as he did back in the 90s and is charismatic to boot. He definately had the audience in the palm of his hand, taking requests shouted out in between songs from the audience. At one point he came downstage, front of mics and played/sang one song completely acoustically with no mics. The concertr hall is well enough designed that we could still hear him. AMAZING!

The Australian Newspapers review Chris Cornell Perth gig

Great night!

Now, with a hankering for chinese food, I am attemting to create one of my favs from childhood, Haianese Chicken with Chicken rice and chicken broth.
using this recipe minus the rice wine which I didnt have
Hainanese chicken rice

The kitchen now has chicken stock and ginger from one end to the other...but hopefully it will turn out ok otherwise all these hours in the kitchen will have been for nothing! No really, I will enjoy it, thats what matters the most!
A

Save from the shop or not?

I very nearly saved this awesome eighties bag from my online shop last week for a wedding and I just spent more time gazing at it then.....
who thinks I should save it for myself?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61432294/vintage-1980s-black-leather-bag
It has the cutest paisley lining, and I owned one just like it as a teen!

Help me decide!

Currently reading.... The Sookie Stackhouse companion

I'm not quite sure when I turned into SUCH a book obsessed nerd. Ok, I'll admit, as a kid, I might have had the entire Trixie Beldon and Sweet Valley High collection. I also may have been obssessed with owning a copy of everythin an authour I liked had written.
But.
I do believe I have aged well and gotten quite a lot worse!
I actually cant remember when I got hooked on Charlaine Harris. It MAY have coincided with the first season of True Blood. I quickly consumed everything she had written, particularly enjoying the Aurora Teagarden series.

Charlaine Harris has a quirky writing syle and she is bloody funny too.

So, I finally got my copy of the Sookie Stackhouse companion.
This enormous book of awsome contains tit bits about all the characters, deleted scenes and short stories that havent made it into the other books.

Those of you that love True Blood and havent read the Sookie books really should! They are quite different to the tv series. Characters that are main characters in the TV series were killed off in the books very early on. Despite this, I still love both.
I bought mine from Book depository.com with free shipping!

The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

Weddings, birthdays rollercoasters and the inevitable Hogsbreath

It's been a massive week in Vintage Twists (and her owners) world.
As I drink my morning coffee and look back on the week I've just had, I have to ask myself what the hell the universe was thinking? Throwing that crap at me? I mean, SERIOUSLY?????

Good, positive, awesomeness was the 50% off sale in my store. Selling 12 items in one week was big for this 'lil full time with other (real) job. I could also be convinced to run it again, considering the space I made in my back room. As my gaze wanders to the rather large box brought in from the car yesterday, I realise that the space has been filled, twice over! (Working for a theatre company can have it's pluses come wardrobe clean out day!)

Also good positive awesomeness was one of my oldest and dearest friends, Fiona,  getting married. She looked amazing, radiant. Every time I caught sight of the gorgeous groom, Donald, gazing at her and turned into a blubbering mess. Wait until you see the pic, you will see what I mean about the way he is looking at her!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jhos-Pics-Photography/163252280376405
Whats more, at the reception, she sang to him. A moment I will never forget!

I wore a vintage 80's does 50's skirt from America, complete with crinoline to puff it out. I suspect the outfit just made my hips look bigger, but was loads of fun to wear.

The flip side to that seemed to be that big old thing, communication, threatening to implode my own relationship from the inside out. Thankfully, roller coasters have an endpoint. You can choose to get off or have another ride. Im a bit dizzy, but still on the ride.

Awesome above all maybe is reaching that milestone of seeing your baby boy look and act like a man.
Problem is, he is only 15, as of yesterday. 6 foot 3 and a half, size 15 shoes. Gigantor. What's more, he hasn't finished growing yet.
Took him and the family out to Hogsbreath Cafe and we just 'went for it'. Birthday boy O and M shared a meat tower which consisted of a lamb chop, a steak, a few ribs and a strip of bacon each, along with curly fries and salad. I had the chicken parma and Z had nuggets and curly fries kids meal. (we spent a while coaching him to try something different. He went for safe in the end. Classic spectrum behaviour. My sisters daughter touches many foods to the tip of her nose before trying them. The quirks that go with the syndrome are many and varied.

M and I convinced O to have the "Rocky Rd" desert as I had failed as a mother and not provided a birthday cake. An amazing feat helped by mum and Z.

So, a week of clearing out the Vintage Twists vault, new love, renewed love, ageing and celebrating.

Looking ahead I have the Chris Cornell concert next week....woot! Bout time I got my music on!
VT

Currently reading....

I'm knee deap in a massive series series written by Kelley Armstrong and Im just loving the style of her writing. I'm reading book 9 out of 12 Living with the dead.

The thing is, I accidently found this author in a book of short stories.
The other thing is, I don't really like books of short stories. I only get them when they contain authors Im slightly obsessed with, because they often include excluded chapters from series I read, or side stories on minor characters etc.

So I was pleasantly suprised when I begrudgingly read a short story about characters from the Otherworld series and then embarked on reading all the books. The thing I love about this series is you usually meet the main characters from the next installment in the book you are currently reading.

I am an artist...

How are these ones still in the shop?

I do have to ponder the above title for this post.... I currently have 50% off the entire store in celebration of reaching 50 shop sales.

I am astounded that stunnning frocks like these are still in the shop!

 

and this cute as hell mod scooter dress is screaming to be owned in time for festival season

They are all on my "if I get skinny again" radar, so get them before I do!

Beauties in the bush

 Model Jen

All thes pics taken by Jho from

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Jhos-Pics-Photography/163252280376405

Taken after the Armadale fires

 model Nadia

model Shay

All 3 dresses available for hire on my facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219716938072836.60163.138476329530231&type=1

Facebook, twitter and etsy

I have two online stores

Vintage Twists where I sell my favourite vintage finds and this is the link to the facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/VintageTwists
or the actual shop on etsy here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageTwists

Garage Vintage, the other, is the vintage clearance store for bulk items and sale items
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/GarageVintage
and the etsy shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GarageVintage

I can be found on twitter here:
https://twitter.com/#!/VintageTwists

Doing this while I really should be cooking!

You see, this is exactly why I needed to start a blog.

It's just ater 4pm on a Sunday and while everyone else are laying around in blissful relaxation, I am feeling guilt over doing things other than the kitchen variety.

Why is it that we allow self guilt? Why am I unable to lie around on a weekend without feeling like I should be furiously scrubbing, washing and cooking up a storm.

So, really, this blog may be seen as an wexcuse, avoidance, or the one I am leaning towards: therapy! Ha!

Really, it will help link up a few things going on that can be hard to keep track of.

Today I did my time on the work stall going on as part of the Outskirts Festival in Northbridge. I bought myself this crazy awesome bag organiser made by Brag Bags
I bought this one in Black:
http://bragbags.com.au/products/Handbag_Organiser_Zip_Linen_XStandard-252-2.html
Considering how many times a change bags in any given week, this little puppy is going to make life a lot easier

Also picked up a leather vintage belt, black pants and two t shirts for M, so he was all happy!

Time to don the domestic apron and get on with it all.


On tonights menu is a ready rolled roast pork, no crackle so M and the kids will no doubt spit it. My thighs will thank me I am sure!