Archive for the ‘all about me’ Category
after last week’s (almost) everything you ever wanted to know about pilgrim post, i thought i’d fill in a bit of that ‘almost’ part: i get asked about my clothes all the time. i have a relatively unique look, so let me share with you the places and the reasons behind what i wear. this post is your one stop for dressing the Pilgrim way (if you wanna)
turquoise birkinstock sandals, white worishofer sandals, american apparel tights, lori marie felt flower brooch, vintage dresses.
what do you wear?
- mostly vintage dresses
- jeans at home and on errands
- cardigans of many sleeve lengths and colors
- vintage smock aprons (sometimes these need a zip or buttons added)
- A line wrap skirts
- trapeze tops/dresses/kaftans and leggings
- colorful flat shoes
- colorful boots
- colorful tights & leg warmers
turquoise birkenstock sandals, pink slip on wedges thrifted
that all sounds pretty average.
i suppose its more about the combinations i put together and the fabric patterns i choose. i dress like i compose a design, there is a balance of awesomeness and “white” space (yeah, its not actually ever white in my outfit). for example, if i choose a crazy paisley dress, i will pick a tight color palette to accessories with to let the dress work its paisley magic. or if i’m wearing a solid color dress, i might just go nuts and add in lots of different colored accessories! i also like wearing things in different ways – e.g.: vintage smock aprons as tops, old bikini cover-ups as tunic tops or dresses.
have you always dressed this way?
pretty much since i was 16. i’ve grown into my look more, i’m more ‘put together’ and my wardrobe more cohesive but i’ve always liked color and pattern and vintage. there was a brief lapse in sanity after i had my son where i thought i should dress like a mother… in sweatpants and junk but thankfully i rediscovered my mojo.
green and pink flip flops miss trish for target USA, turquoise patent leather flats quick brown fox
philosophy? isn’t that a bit precious?
yes it sounds massively pretentious, maybe its not a ‘philosophy’ per se but it helps me to stay focused and not buy all sorts of random trend based things that don’t fit, don’t suit, or won’t last. and that in turn makes getting dressed each day a piece of delicious cake. while i think my style exists outside of trends, its hard not to be swayed sometimes by THIS season’s BLUE or THIS season’s specifc detail e.g.: scalloped hems
so my “philosophy”, my manifesto, my rules, or what have you, are to stick to what i know looks good – the colors that suit, the shapes that flatter and the details that highlight my assets. for me, that includes:
- blues, purples, cool pinks. i’m very pale, with an ‘english rose’ pink complexion
- so that means no yellow, orange or fluorescent colors. i can only just get away with green!
- dresses that have defined waistlines (i’m an hourglass)
- nothing with too high neckline. décolletage is a busty girls best friend: so i flaunt it, just a bit, or i look like nurse ratchett.
- nothing too long – i have pretty cute ‘pins’ (that’s legs)
where do you shop?
(vintage)
(non vintage)
- mod cloth
- ASOS
- victoria’s secret (jeans & basic tees)
- american apparel (for tights, leggings and tees)
- boden (i also get a lot of boden off ebay too! much cheaper and mostly unworn)
i’m sure i don’t have to tell you that when shopping for clothes online you must know your measurement! bust, waist, hip and inseam. it helps to know a bit about fabric too – a stretch fabric will mean a couple of extra valuable inches, a cotton means that sucker will fit you snug if its too small. busting seams is not ladylike! its incredible hulk-like.
and let me clarify – i’m not continually shopping. i check back often, but i probably only buy something quarterly (unless i find something really special!) a colorful wardrobe is not made in a day! i search for fabric patterns i like, colors that work for me and styles that flatter: when all those factors line-up its perfection.
vintage bikini coverup/tunic and emily green necklace - handmade felt dahlia brooch
don’t forget the accessories
a range of colored tights: when your leg skin tone would be described as “ultra white A4″ or “goose flesh” its important not to share that with the world. i choose american apparel tights over color lovers (for example) because they fit me really well and they last incredibly well.
big enamel flower brooches, or a felt dahlia brooch
beads! plastic one-color treasures or a versatile emily green masterpiece
how do you find these things?!
i shop at the places listed above, but finding exactly what i like on etsy or ebay is often a bit of a hunt. oh and its all in the thrill of the chase!
the internet is a wonderful thing with more than you could ever dream of, but sometimes you have to think outside the search box for what it is you’re after. i shudder at some of the search phrases i’ve used and found fabulous things with…
my most used search phrases (in varying combinations):
- 60s
- 70s
- floral
- psychedelic
- scooter dress
- house dress
- cover-up
- apron/smock
- mod
my most reluctantly used search phrases:
- brady bunch
- hippy/hippie
- crazy (yes, really)
your closet must be never ending, right?
its not, really. i have about 20 dresses and skirts of varying patterns and solid colors. the rest is ‘basics’: plain colored cardigans, long and short sleeved tees, tights, and a assortment of colored shoes and boots. i’m lucky that i live in a climate that doesn’t vary wildly, so in winter i will layer long sleeved tees or thermals under dresses and i have a couple of go to coats and scarves to brave the terrifying 12˚c/53.6˚F winters we have here in melbourne.
did i miss anything? let me know in the comments!
survey says… you want to know more about me! here’s a few vital (and non vital) statistics for enquiring minds:
date of birth:
july 12th, 1982. that makes me a 29 year old cancerian.
hometown:
adelaide, south australia: city of churches and quite a lot of murders. i am responsible for neither. famous adelaideans include tennis player leyton hewitt, actor anthony la paglia, musical lady sia, artist jeffery smart, and lots of other people.
parents:
tim – photographer, chocolatier, restauranteur, sewing machine mechanic, and pawn broker. he was a renaissance man. (deceased 2009)
jill – graphic designer, expert at high kicks (deceased 2004)
siblings:
none. growing up, i was fine with that. having now lost both my parents it would be nice to have a bit of extra family. sometimes i feel like the last of my species.
very significant other:
peter, awesome chap and music journalist extraordinaire
kiddo:
just one 5 year old boy!
education:
13 years at an all-girls school, 2 years working in england, 1 semester of interior decoration, 12 months of nervous breakdown, a quick nap then on to visual communication at university.
what were you like in school?
i was never the popular girl, but i was never the outcast. i was lucky that i went to a small school that supported my self expression, so i’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum. i was great at art, english, drama and history – unbelievably terrible at science, sport and maths. i was so bad at math/sciences that in my senior year there were special arrangements made for me to do photography as my “science” unit. it was quite strange to be in the “gifted” stream for some subjects, and then be failing the basic maths classes.
any secret talents?
i play cello and accordion, and i can get hit by any sporting balls within a 1km radius.
any lack of talent?
i have dyscalculia, i can’t ride a bike, and i can’t drive.
what did you want to be when you grew up?
many different things! i wanted to be a a designer just like my mama, then a face painter, then a librarian, then i wanted to be in advertising, then i wanted to work as an art curator, then i wanted to be a makeup artist, then an interior decorator, then a designer. i still want to be all those things, come to think of it.
what DID you do when you grew up?
my first job was at toys ‘r’ us, then i worked with the curator of australian art at the art gallery in adelaide. i worked for the gallery’s friend’s society and also in their children’s holiday program too! then there was lots of waitressing, and being a hotel maid in england.
twitter follower @hacklocked asks two questions:
favorite ice cream flavor?
i’m lactose intolerant so its only recently that i’ve got some lactase tablets and eaten a ton of ice cream! my favorite flavor? its a three way tie between matcha green tea, thai coconut milk ice-cream, or full creamy delicious pecan maple (come to think of it, anything those flavors is my favorite!)
who had the biggest positive influence on your life
my mum, and her mum – my grandma rowie (roma). rowie raised my mama with the understanding that she was her own person, who had opinions and ideas of her own. she taught mum and then trusted her to do the right thing. my mum raised me in a similar way and although at the time it felt like she was a super hardass sometimes, i think she was a fabulous mother. she gave me so many opportunities and kept me on track when laziness or self doubt set in. now i’m a mother i try and follow the same ethos.
@katrinahigham asks
where is your “place to visit” if money was no limit and why?
hmm i can’t say there is just one place, i really want to visit everywhere in america: i want to road trip it all and thrift it within an inch of its life!!
and what is your prison/last meal?
the prison would have to get thai food from my old local. i’ll have the fish cakes, the really good vegetarian pad thai, the chill cashew duck, some salt and pepper squid, and some black sticky coconut rice for dessert. wash it all down with an a&w root beer float because i would replace my blood with that stuff if it were possible.
if you could be a colour, which one would you be and why?
i’d be turquoise. its clear, and cool. its not too perky like pink, and its not too wishy washy like purple.
did i miss something you were dying to know? leave your question below and maybe i can do part two…
today i thought i’d share with you, and address some of the results from the survey i ran a couple of months ago. i really appreciate everyone who took part, there were so many well though through answers, and it was fascinating to see who you are, what you like and what you want more of!
who are draw! pilgrim readers?
well, from 150 people surveyed, only one GUY answered! so, hello to you sir. and ladies, it all seems you’re pretty much just like me , aged 20-30 with a kiddo or two. most of you own your own house and are extremely attractive (the last bit i’m just guesstimating).
the chart above shows where surveyed readers live. the majority of draw pilgrim.com readers found me through another blog or via print media, so thank you to everyone who has featured me or my work, i truly appreciate it!
what do you want from me?
as well as asking your favorite regular features i collected answers for other things you’d like to see me blog
the #1 most popular request
was more DIY and printables. this one is tough, i know how popular these post are, but i can’t do anymore than i already do. my time is in short supply – i have a family, i work 3 days in a shop, i run my own business and freelance. the DIY and printables i do are just as much for my enjoyment as they are for yours, but i really don’t have the time to do more. the DIY can be especially time consuming, and while that time spent on a DIY post can generate lots of traffic, that traffic doesn’t necessarily convert to sales in my shop as much as you’d hope. i don’t want to be a money hungry crazy lady, but the rents are too damn high etc and thats just the reality of it. i’m not complaining, just explaining that people swingin’ by for a freebie aren’t the same awesome people who i see returning time and time again as shop customers.
#2 most popular request
was to see more of my house! i do have some fresher house tour pics to share with you soon, but thats it! i’ve run outta rooms! i need to build some secret antechambers and basements and stuff. leave a comment if there are specific things you want to see (in the rooms i currently own)
#3 most popular request
was more about ME. so i will happily talk and talk and talk more about me over the coming year. you’ll get to know me so well you’ll wish you’d never asked.
once again, thanks to those of you who spared a couple of minutes and participated.
i was really excited to be asked to contribute a title page for the creative women’s circle “conversations with creative women” book by text mc cabe. the book contains interviews with 15 women of various creative backgrounds, and i was assigned to create a title page for an interview with milliner extraordinaire serena lindeman. i chose to play up the whimsical, organic forms of serena’s work and created the vines, flowery, feathery page pictured above. 
receiving a copy of the published book was pretty thrilling. its a really interesting read, and came with the adorable letterpress scissor bookmark! well done, tess and everyone involved. get your copy here. if you’re in melbourne, pop by the modern times pop-up shop 2 and see some of my work amidst delicious mid century furniture and accessories:
The Modern Times Pop-Up Shop2 December 10th – Dec 31st, Open everyday except Christmas Day for 3 weeks only 260 Smith St, Collingwood Preview and drinks 6-8pm Friday 9th December
earlier in the year molly contacted me about designing her wedding invitation. i’ve never designed for anyone’s special day before – people tend to keep very traditional and although i can do “totally klassy” work, you and i know its the colorful fun stuff i prefer. so after hearing what molly was wanting i was all over it like moss on a rock.
molly told me she loved the 70s and florals – hello? perfect client match or what! she sent me a swag of examples of vintage pattern and design she liked and explained that she loved the idea of a floral border and using the typeface candice.
after a few drafts back and forth it was complete…
… what do you think? an invitation happy enough to last molly and matthew to their diamond anniversary? i hope so!
if you’re interested in having some draw! pilgrim custom design contact me and my people will talk with your people.
if you’re after a different spiced cookie this festive season, why not try out the recipe i’m sharing in the meet me at mikes good stuff holiday guide. my grandma rowie taught me how to make these ginger fairings cookies when i was 7 and back then my idea of a good time was entering baked goods in the “show” (our version of the state fair). my ginger fairings were so delish the old ladies* judging the competition awarded me first prize and $12 in cold hard cheque! so really, you can’t go wrong! check out the guide for lots more fab stuff.
* these old ladies also disqualified me from the “decorated savory biscuit” category for using PUMPERNICKEL! which is a bread, not a biscuit/cracker. ouch! that taught me, foolish 7 year old! i’m still bitter.
i finally got my hands on a copy of print and pattern 2
by bowie style today and hoo boy was there some excited squealing in the bookshop. its not the first time i’ve squealed over a good design book, but for once there was genuinely good reason…
… because i’m in it! i am in the book. see the book? see my alphabet series designs? i know, i know.. but i’m so. so. SO excited to be included amongst some of my idols (uh, marimekko, jonathan adler, call me!) there are so many more fab people in here: byGraziela, ellen giggenbach, beci orpin, ingela arrhenius, lab partners, and on and on and on it goes.
so run out and grab a copy. you might not be driven to squealing mid bookstore, but its a pretty fantastic and inspiring collection of work and i’m so proud to be part of it. well done, bowie style!
