Spring!

 I had a much more Spring-y pose planned for this outfit. But it rained and rained and rained and rained...

I've wanted a chifonny spring-like green dress for the absolute longest time. While green dresses have come my way the absolutely pefect one never showed up till now.

I swear this dress alone was worth all the fruitless Op Shopping in Auckland.

Great Sewing Projects: Alter Jeans & turn T-Shirts into Yoga Pants and Skirts

My new (secondhand) sewing machine has temporarily led to a crafty craze. So I've been trawling the net for fun, easy and practical projects to attempt. Here are a few great ones I just had to share (ps. the first two links are from the amazing NotMartha):

I haven't had the guts yet, but this tutorial on taking in jeans looks incredibly professional. Frankly I may just stick to putting darts in the waistband. *chicken*

Pix from Leafy Treetop Spot

 I love this pair of Yoga Pants she made from T-Shirts based on this tute. SO awesome and easy, I now wish I'd KEPT all the oversized tees I get on the job. Gah!

DIY: How to keep bra straps in place

So, what do you do when you have an off-shoulder dress and absolutely hate strapless bras? You sew in bra-strap holders to keep everything in place of course.

You'll need:

1. Scissors, needle and thread (of course)
2. Push-buttons
3. Edging or ribbon (I find edging to be hardier) - the colour doesn't matter as everything's hidden. 

Off-Shoulder

Darn, should have aligned it better before snapping a shot!

I have had an unrequited love for off-shoulder necklines for the absolute longest time. They just seemed impossible to find at one stage and suddenly, woosh, I get two-off shoulder dresses at once! Here's one of them!

Eat Me!

Long before the Tim Burton film that sent me on a blue-dress-bender, I was a fan of Lewis Carrol's enchantingly impossible book. So when checking out Diva's current, slightly disappointing, sale I ended up walking away with just this one necklace. 

Also, I have a weakness for book themed jewellery if you recall. ;)

Op Shopping in Auckland

Op Shopping (or Opportunity Shopping as Thrift Store shopping is known in NZ and Oz), is so popular in Auckland that it's considered a tourist attraction. So perhaps that's why after a day of prowling these stores, I came away with only on dress and a pair of shoes from Finders Keepers.

All located on K-Road (Karangahape), here's my take on some (not all, that would take too long!) of the shops I prowled through. 

Paper Bag Princess could be the most eye catching and the best known of the Op Shops. The promise "nothing over NZ$20" is a true one and I was sorely tempted by some of the vintage jackets and coats. The only thing preventing me from indulging in a brown leather number was the weight - with the honey and chocolates dad was asking me to tote back, I couldn't squeeze in a brown leather jacket! Sadly the dresses and skirts didn't seem worth the (mostly) $20 price tag, so I left it empty handed. 

Cherry Red

It's amazing how much attention you garner in a red dress. The general populace seems to assume it's a special occasion or that you want extra notice. But why?

Why shouldn't a deliciously warm hue like cherry red be part of regular wear? It's gorgeous.

Frockspiration: I want to travel like this

Pix from Garance Dore

I was surfing Garance Dore when I came across this gorgeous pic and it broke my heart. I love travel - the verb and the noun. But looking at this pic I realise that no matter how much travelling I do, I will likely never travel like this. Leather valise, priority status means first class or business traveller, packing for fashion not for practicality. 

It's a life longed for that will never be attained. 

Unless I do as a colleague suggested, join TV3 and hopefully land a royal husband. Hmm... 

I also, really like the maroon pumps in the upper left of the suitcase. 

Auckland: Whale & Dolphin Safari (with video)

One thing I was absolutely happy I did was to go on a whale and dolphin safari in Auckland. Auckland, as a city, I'm sorry to say, is not that interesting  a place. But the activities and wildlife accessible from it is truly one of a kind in the world.

After hours at sea, at last... someone spots a whale blow!

Sunset on Lake Wakatipu

New Zealand's natural beauty is so superlative its sunsets are daily staggering works of art.

This was the view (near enough) that we enjoyed from our resort. Yay for timeshare! TV? Who needs TV?

Shoes from New Zealand

Let's take a break from gorgeous New Zealand and contemplate something almost equally lovely. 

Shoes. 

For the most part, I don't advise buying shoes from New Zealand as prices there are staggeringly high. However, when they go on sale, they go on SALE. 

This pair of pewter leather lovelies from US brand Seychelles only cost NZD50 - discounted from NZD250. Amazing huh? The shop, Heavenly Soles located in Parnell Village, Auckland.