☂

The symbol used in the title of this post is extremely appropriate and relevant to the weather right now - it has been on and off raining all week! I used to love heavy rain back at home in the country, but now that I'm living in the city and having to run all there errands, it really gets in the way! Plus umbrellas can be such a nuisance to carry in strong winds - I find they always invert and then render totally useless. Oh well, that's life! I still love rain when I'm staying indoors drinking tea and reading, or watching a film. I've basically just been working on some projects before class goes back on the 29th of July and I just started a marketing class last Tuesday, which was interesting but a little draining in some areas, it may be useful to my future career though so I think I shall stick with it!

I find it so hard to keep up weekly post updates, even though it doesn't seem like much to do it actually requires so much time and energy to design one - it should be a graded project all in itself!

I've been inspired by a few things this past week, here they are presented in collage format:

Here's been my past two weeks in images:

1. Work in progress photo of my illustration of Brigitte Bardot, which I finished and uploaded in my last post.
2. Another illustration in the works.
3. Flowers collected from the garden for illustration studies.
4. Kind of in love with this Minkpink chiffon sleeveless shirt I purchased from Princess Polly, I can't pass up something with such cute gems on the collar!
5. Another purchase from Princess Polly (can you tell I'm a little bit obsessed with online shopping yet?) - Minkpink leopard print dress and kitten eye sunglasses.
6. Although I do love the winter time, I crave the energy of spring and summer, as well as the scents at the fruit markets and the flowers blooming in the garden - this ombre dress will be a staple in summer, as well as this lace cardigan from Topshop, I envision!
7. More end of financial year purchases from Princess Polly - another Minkpink item - this marigold coloured skirt will be so nice for the springtime paired back with a white tee or high neck singlet and my jellies + Mum managed to score these two barely worn shoes by Lipstik and Zu at the local opshop back at home - they fit perfectly and are so lovely. This is one of the reasons why I love opshopping so much!
8. After all the dark clouds and rain downpours, a pretty rainbow managed to make it's way out in the city.
9. I spent a lovely day out breathing the fresh air in the countryside last Sunday, although it was so freezing out there! This is an image of the little ruin on my family's block of land. I hope one day to built a home in the countryside and live there but right now, that's just a wonderful dream.

Here is an 8tracks playlist I created in dedication to my favourite Twin Peaks character, Miss Audrey Horne.

Vixen from bambisvalentine on 8tracks Radio.

That's all for this week's entry, till next time! ♡

Time for Tea

❀ I dream of Ladurée. ❀


Hello again, ♡

This week has not been very eventful, I have just been drinking lots of tea and walking, jogging and yoga-ing regularly to keep my energy levels sky-high. I haven't been drawing as much as I'd like to lately, which is annoying seeing as I have more time spare, yet the days go by so quickly that I can barely keep track anymore!

Talk and tea is his specialty, said Giles. Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place."
~ The Wind in the Willows

The above quote from the wonderful The Wind in the Willows cements the concept of "teatime" as a positive, wholesome and joyous ritual perfectly. Taking tea with cake or any other form of delicate sweet foodstuffs is an age old tradition that has been embedded in daily life for many thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptian creation of bread saturated with honey to the elegant tiered wedding cakes, and the tea-drinkers of ancient China to modern day convenient tea-bags, tea and cake are essentially a basic part of life, a way of life and a part of humanity constantly.

Tea is a massive part of my life and existence in general. Without it, I hardly think I'd be sane! I can drink it at any time of the day, during any season of the year and it doesn't matter what variety of tea it is, it will always make me feel lovely and warm inside. Green tea is my ultimate favourite, although I usually love all tea I try. Another part of my life is cake and other sweet treats taken with tea. Although I try to limit my intake of high sugar foods, I can never resist a small smackerel of cake or a macaron in my morning or afternoon to keep me calm until lunch/dinner. I associate tea and cake with different traditions they are included in, such as morning or afternoon tea, Devonshire tea and High Tea parties. I loved, as I'm sure other girls did, setting up little seats and tables for my toys and then adorning the miniature table with components from a little children's tea set, the imaginative elements of such a game were enhanced by the natural openness of mind all children posses, which they use to broaden everyday mundane life.

I really want to visit Ladurée in gay Paree someday, they sweet delights they concoct are like something out of Harry Potter, or some wild fantasy realm where the sun always shines softly and creates beautiful rainbow refractions throughout the rays. There are pastries, cupcakes, macarons, cakes, tarts and slices, all multi-coloured and decorated with an air or magic and make-believe. I feel that the gossamer silken fingers of fairies must have produced these beautiful foodstuffs, I can just imagine little fairy huts situated in the kitchen area, light emerging from the tiny wooden window frames revealing many little creatures hard at work producing these amazingly intricate and scrumptious treats.

I am also reminded of the various scenes in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, with the lavish spreads filled to the brim with cake and other saccharine-sweet confectioneries. The cakes of Ladurée would fit so well with this extravagant era of history.

Tea and cake are the perfect couple and can never be separated, they provide comfort in times of need, and the sight of a little pink cupcake next to some piping hot milky English Breakfast tea will never fail to produce a smile on my face and bring the roses to my cheeks. •

❀ Collage inspiration. ❀

Here are a few snapshots of things that have related to my life at this present moment. (From L-R, top to bottom):
1. This beautiful dress is by Minkpink and was on sale, so I couldn't resist. It has a marine sailor ~vibe~ going on and is really flattering on! (even though horizontal stripes are supposed to make you look fat, it don't ever believe these things). I have combined it with my gold collar Sportsgirl necklace, Sunflower perfume, gold Topshop sandals and gold eco-drive Citizen watch.
2. Reading an illustrated edition of Picnic at Hanging Rock, one of my favourite novels.
3. Trying to work on developing my website, I have so many different concepts that it is so hard to stick to one idea, but many ideas are better than no ideas!
4. Another outfit combo, combining pastel ice cream shades - a 70s/80s pink lace and ribbon blouse, with a lavender Valleygirl skirt, lemon yellow Dotti socks, Frankie 2013 journal, Vera Wang's Princess and my ultimate favourite lip balm, Baby-Lips.
5. Found this orange and black number whilst op-shopping, it has super strong 60s ~vibes~.
6. Life affirmations to keep me inspired.



That's all I have to share with you today, until next time, here's a playlist I created which fits the theme of this post well.

In the Dollhouse Made of Ladurée from bambisvalentine on 8tracks Radio.

You're a virgin who can't drive.

Night all, ♡

I watched Clueless for the first time in what feels like ages and it reminded me of all the things that I loved about growing up in the 90's. I had a massive nostalgia attack over the film and this post will include my never ending love and dedication to this classic piece of 90's, captured on film. The frequency of plaids, florals, tartan, stripes and mary-jane shoes in Clueless are quintessentially 90's, as is the use of the grungy tie-dye and checked shirts of the skater group. Also as a side-note, I wish I had Cher's virtual wardrobe matcher to help me choose my daily outfits, getting ready for uni would be so much easier! I actually only discovered that the film went onto become a running TV series, airing from 1996 to 1999. I found majority of the episodes on Youtube and I'm planning on watching them sometime soon while I still have free time. Not sure if it will be as good as the film but I'll see!

❀ Collage inspiration. ❀

Clueless also takes me back to the days of the original Beverly Hills 90210 which was of course paramount in regards to early to mid 90's fashion. It seems that hardly anything has changed between the trends of today compared to the trends of the 90's, particularly in the resurgence of crop tops circa 2010 and all things floral printed.

❀ TOO MANY AMAZING 90'S CLOTHES. ❀

❀ Donna's body-con daisy print dress is perfect! ❀

❀ I love the over sized orange chiffon shirt and the white t-shirt + red polka-dot skirt ensemble. ❀

❀ Those orange red pants! LOVE. ❀

❀ This lips printed skater dress is equally perfect! Totally wish I could find something like this in an op-shop! ❀

❀ Stripes and high-waisted shorts, super modern. ❀

❀ L-R: Minkpink ballet school dress, Minkpink all sorts dress, Minkpink blossom dress, Minkpink copacabana dress ❀

Much of Minkpink's collections feature 90's inspired pieces, which is one of the reasons why I love this brand so much! I particularly love the last dress, it has a feel of tropical beaches and hot summer nights dancing the tango at a beach party.

Here are a few snapshots of things that have related to my life at this present moment. (From L-R, top to bottom):
1. Love this dress by Minkpink, it has a really nice 50's vibe about it and it looks so flattering, I can't wait to wear it for my graduation ceremony!
2. Trying out the dutch crown braid/milkmaid braid, but it never works on freshly cleaned hair (has to be at least 2 days old I think) and I also have so much excess hair left over!
3. An authentic Egyptian painting, painted on papyrus from Egypt. I really want to visit Egypt in my lifetime
4. A collection of random pastel objects I love - pink lipstick, Mason Pearson hairbrush, antique gold bobby pins and combs.
5. One of my regular backyard visitors. ♡
6. Affirmation for 2013.

Jill Sobule - Supermodel

That's all for this week my dears, I hope all of your new year's eve's were filled with wonderful things. Until next time,

State of Love

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a happy New Years Eve! I'm very sorry for not updating my blog in what seems like forever, but I'll promise to try and blog once every week just to stay updated.

I spent my new years and Christmas at home with my family, which was good as I only come home from uni once a year, so it's good to spend some time at my home and sleeping in my old bedroom. I have been working on a drawing since I have come back home, but I have stopped because I find so many other things to do and completely forget all about it! But I will try my best to finish it, maybe by the end of this week. The weather has been so awfully hot this entire week, so I haven't felt like doing much apart from laying motionless by the air con all day, but somehow I have managed to build up the strength to keep up my exercise regime.

One film I am really excited to see this year the The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. I also love Baz Lurhmann's work, especially the Romeo + Juliet film which is one of my favourite movies ever. I hope it will be really good; I don't understand why people say how Leo has become "ugly" with age and he was so much more attractive during the 90's. Given he was very attractive then, I think he is still darn good looking now!

I have done a bit of online shopping and have bought these items:

Ladakh Mississippi Queen Dress, $29.00

Ladakh Russian Doll Blouse, $10.00

Minkpink Marianne Top, $25.00

Finders Keepers State of Love shorts, $25.00

Minkpink Sister of the Moon dress, $29.00

August Street Brohelm bodysuit, $15.00

All in all a good shopping experience for christmas!

I went op-shopping with my mum recently and she found this One Teaspoon Almost Famous Pixie dress, with all tags still attached and happened to be my size! I thought that was lucky. :)

I'll leave you all now with some images that have inspired me recently.

The Beach Boys - Kokomo