Girls' Own Big Weekend

It's been a big, busy weekend for VB and I. Yes, we're totally rockin' out here in the suburbs, the weather has suddenly improved this week, bringing with it a fresh surge of energy for all sorts of activities.

Since my 6-degree morning a couple of weeks ago, the heater has now been packed away, winter stock has been pulled from the racks and put into storage and my little sunroom, so cosy to inhabit during winter daytimes, is now almost unbearable after 9am and will continue to be so for the next 8 months.

Saturday morning saw a fair spot of vintage treasure hunting- and finding!

Above and below, just some of what I bought, minus the sunnies obvs.

My most exciting find was an old razor strop (on the basket behind the phone), they're not worth a lot but the lady I bought it from said it belonged to her father who had been a barber, and it was his all-time favourite.

With VB and Lisa Enright, photo by The Stitchin' Bitch

Still rockin' on Saturday night, we went to some far-off 'burbs for a (adults) roller skating birthday party. The old-style timber rink was awesome, to my mind so much better than the modern concrete equivalents. This was only VBs second time skating and she absolutely loves it, even insisting on entering the skating limbo comp, I wish I had a photo of us going under the bar as apparently she looked hilarious.

And yes, that *is* a chenille bedspread I'm wearing on my bum! I'll have to show this outfit properly later, it's a bit mental but then that's the whole point isn't it.

Painting started off our Sunday, VB 'helps' a lot as you can see, note the vegemite toast on the lawn!

Midday saw us run around the corner to a local school fete, I mostly went to meet the principal as I'm looking to send VB there next year (can you believe she's nearly 5?!) but VB took full advantage of the massive slide, so big you can hardly see her at the top there.

Ah yes, here she is, not scared at all, and still in the dress from last night. They tell me it's called 'choosing your battles wisely'.

Excuse the grainy iphone pics, but we had a lucky score with clothing on Friday, what we bought was hanging over the rack on the left, so it was time to spend a few hours hanging, pricing, steaming and properly sorting clothing stock, especially as the Brisbane Vintage Fashion Fair (our biggest) is coming up the weekend after next.

 The other side of the stockroom was equally busy!

As you can see, VB came home with several bags full of treats from the fete, the main prize to my mind being the fuzzy felts, I had several as a child and absolutely loved them. And yes, this is all tidy now.

Tired but happy

See you soon!

Ta-Dah!...New Stuff For Me!

Remember that motherlode of costume jewellery last week?

Well, the above necklace is the one I kept. Best of all, it was gifted to me by the people handling the sale for being the best and fairest dealer that they sold to.

Also from the same estate, the most fabulous red typewriter EVER! I'm not even sure why I'm so desperately keeping this...I just AM.

 

This too was a gift, this time from Katherine of theoldboathouse. She knows I'm mad for little 50s dishes with the black 'hairpin legs' and kept this unusual one aside for me. Thanks so much for remembering and thinking of me Katherine!

For those that don't know I'm a fiend for anything black and white and 50s. This polka dot pottery was made in England by H.G. Woods in 1957 and features raised polka dots. Similar was made by Australian pottery Diana around the same time. Sue found this boomerang dish for me which is a welcome addition to my collection.

And the biggest ta-dah! of all, my first gravel art!! I spied this on the stall opposite ours at Greazfest the other week, and ran for it.

Of course it doesn't match anything in my house right now, but hey, since when did that stop me?!

What glorious finds have you dragged home this week?

Garterbelts and Gasoline Rockabilly Festival 2012...The Penultimate Post

Were you there??

Sue, Lisa Enright of Atomic Martini Vintage and the foxie Stitchin Bitch herself, Chelsea Farrell

Chelsea Farrel, Lila Luxx and Evelyn Ellenor popped in for some afternoon chats and a stiff drink before our Friday night fashion parades

Miss Chrissy of the Lindy Charm School For Girls thought she popped in to the shop for some actual shopping on Friday, but we had other ideas!

Here's me with Chrissy and Evelyn on Saturday during the vintage shopping tour

Yes, Chrissy really *was* almost stuck in this 40s crepe dress, LOL! Here's Sue coming to the rescue...

I'm not *totally* sure what was going on here!

Candice deVille of SuperKawaiiMama was Mitzi Valenzuela's official MUAH artist for the festival. Here she is hard at work on Sues verandah. Don't you just *love* her weeny leopard print apron??

If there ever can be such a thing as perfection I think Candice is it, non? This was her second year visiting the Mountain and again she loved every minute of it...we can't wait to see her back again. After watching her work in detail this year I'm definitely going to ask her to make me over next time.

And if you haven't heard of Mitzi Valenzuela.....she's a fabulous American photographer, who specialises in pinup. Not only is she a major sponsor of the Garterbelts and Gasoline festival, she works all over the world and publishes her own magazine called Retro Lovely. The photos she's taken on this, her first Australian tour, will be shown in a special Australian edition of Retro Lovely, due out in approx. 2-3 months' time. Below is an 'action shot' taken by me.

We finally had our new back deck laid *just* in time, what a stress that was with all the rain the Mountain gets. We were so determined to be able to display our newly-powdercoated sets of 50s outdoor furniture on this festival weekend, both our customers and Mitzi were thrilled.

If you're in Brisbane and want to check out these sets in person, there is currently one at our WAC shop.

Have I collected enough retro umbrellas??  Umm, 7 at last count actually. I've had these stashed away for the last few months, nice to finally bring them out and have them all on show at once.

More Mitzi, this time on Sue's back verandah. Mitzi chose our shop/Sues house as her preferred location for the first three days of her four-day shoot, yay!

Oh, and we did two fashion parades too! I think this is one of my absolute favourite shots of the whole weekend. That ham in the 40s Catalina swimsuit...I think you'll recognise her, non? If you don't, it's none other than the fabulous fearless fashionista Desiree of Pull Yours Socks Up. With her is our stunning house model Erin, aka Evelyn Ellenor, not only a fab model and pinup but also an awesome milliner. You can see her website here.


Below, a few backstage shots.

Who wouldn't want to lick the legs of this fabulous woman?!

Fabulous Rebecca was a last-minute ring-in for a model who cancelled, and what a star she was! More pics of her below.

Ellie, a regular model of ours, and always one of my favourite little hams. More pics below.

Butter wouldn't melt, right?!

See those noets Miss Chrissy is holding?? As our parade compere, she had to know what she was talking about as each outfit was shown. Those notes took me a good many hours to write, compile and print. When it came to the moment of truth, the lights were so bright in Chrissys face she couldn't see them...*facepalm*

Lucky Chrissy is an experienced compere and a great ad-libber!

Check out Sues hair!! A job well done by the awesome Lisa Enright :)

Rawr!!

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

Pic by Mitzi Valenzuela

The ball on Saturday night saw a fab pinup comp held, the first one I've ever attended. Below is the fabulous Lila Luxx, a professional burlesque dancer and teacher at the Bombshell Burlesque and Beauty Academy. We love her so much we're going to sponsor some of her future performances, so exciting...I can't wait to dress this fabulous woman!!

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

There were nine entrants in the comp this year, in fact they were all finalists selected from nearly 200 entrants.

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

This lady was the winner, she wore this gorgeous Hawaiian type 50s swimsuit and did a truly awe-inspiring hula hoop routine.

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

This cutie, above and below, is lovely Emma, of Miss Rockabilly fame. This creative lass designs and makes her original range of pinup and rockabilly inspired hair acessories and jewellery...every tiem I see her she has a new range out, see her goodies here. Oh, and this is a dress she bought from us, I love how she's paired it with the purple petticoat.

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

Pic by Robert Adomaitis

Lots of lovely Brisbane girls were out partying....

Mae and Sara by Robert Adomaitis

Laura Price and friend, by Robert Adomaitis

Lisa Enright, Evelyn Ellenor and me closing my eyes, by Robert Adomaitis

and yes, some schmoozing was done!! By Robert Adomaitis

Madge, below, got busy most of the weekend out front, pulling in the punters. Pity the matching purple car was just visiting. Also a pity that Madge got stolen on Saturday night, my fault for leaving her out *grimaces*

Of course, we had a shop to run too! Below, a few of my fave pics of our newest retro pieces.

Sunday was another big day, with a car show, all day bands on two stages, a junior beauty pageant, a huge market day and a kustom kulture art show. While we were busy in the shop, I managed to scurry away and have a quick look around while Sue minded the shop. All car pics below are by Robert Adomaitis, a keen rockabilly boy and freelance photographer. You can see all his latest pics on his Facebook page here.

This is Rob's wife Vicky Shield, not only a fab stylist for vintage hair but she is really a hairdresser as well, and always the expert I seek out. She runs small group tutorials from her salon and will be on duty again this year at Cooly Rocks on.

Monday morning saw us slowing down somewhat, it was the last day of the festival but still a big day. A champagne brunch and full breakfast was had at Mt Tamborine Brewery, interspersed by two fashion parades by Bonnie Rose Vintage, visiting from Melbourne.

Candice deVille was a vision of loveliness as always

Even my little VB was on hand to enjoy the show. Moment of the day was when she stood up on her chair to clap one of the models and shouted "Oh YEAH, well DONE!!", she had the whole room in stitches. Go VB!

Bonnie Rose modelling in her own parade, photo by Sue

This pic sums up the whole weekend!! Lisa and Chelsea late night pic in their onesies, how could I resist snapping this, too cute for words!!!



THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Her Holy Hotness Helga! will be HERE in less than 2 days, holy hotnana pants Batman coz I'm almost peeing my little self with excitement!!!