Hope to see you here...

Welcome back in 2010!

Welcome back stylistas - did you wonder where I'd gone? I've been busy...

Shopping and thrifting,

Eating and chilling...

Making, styling, sharing...

Enjoying my summer garden...

And enjoying the chance to check out some new blogs etc. Ahh summer, but could someone please turn down the heat?

Love Nina x

What fabulous fun have you been up to?

Re-loved: re-fashion

Designers and avid recyclers Hanny Dewar and daughter Lee have once again joined forces under the project name Re-Loved Creations to host Re-Loved 2.

Highlighting the innovative concepts of recycling fabrics for fashion, Re-Loved 2 will showcase Spring/Summer 2009 collections from Hayley Wandelt-Smith (Hayley Caroline), Polly Stokes (Polbymade), Karen Lee (The Renlee Label), Georgina Edwards (George), Hanny Dewar (handmade by hanny), Lee Dewar (Craftilee).

Re-Loved Creations was formed after an overwhelming amount of positive feedback following the first Re-Loved parade held at designspace@CIT in March 2009 (images above). Hanny and Lee decided this was something that should be done more regularly, and started work for the next showing in time for Spring/Summer 2009. All designers involved in this current Re-Loved venture were given a brief to deconstruct, re work or re-imagine existing clothing and materials into new creations to promote a sustainable fashion culture.

Re-Loved 2 is on Thursday 22 October 2009 at 6.30 pm at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, London Cct, Civic.

I can't wait! Love Nina x

The booty: a couple of bargains

Thanks to the Vinnies Monster Clothing sale on Saturday, here are a couple of gorgeous goodies I scrummaged... for a whole $5 I grabbed an as-new Mambo tweedy overnight bag, gorgeous nude and black gorgette scarf and completely cute clutch.

Actually, I ended up there as a volunteer for the morning - re-hanging the many fallen and discarded items on the floor. I'm sure glad I went to the trouble though, of selecting the perfect outfit to clash horribly with the fluoro vest I was given to wear for my shift! But then again... what does go with fluoro orange???

It felt really nice to help out... and I got to shop thoroughly afterward... marvelous fun!
Did you go too? What bargains did you get?

Monster op shoppping event: Vinnies

Awesome... For the first time ever, the public are invited to shop in the Vinnie's massive sorting facility in Mitchell. All proceeds will go to Vinnie's Youth, who care for under privileged children in our community. Don't miss your chance to have a solid rummage through the clothing items on offer...

9-5 Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd only at 10 Buckland st Mitchell.

In thrifted fashion below: Lady Smaggle, Pony, Skylark and Ninaribena...

PLUS: SATURDAY NIGHT 22nd August - Vinnies at Tuggeranong are holding a fashion parade extravaganza. Tickets to the Fashion Parade are available by calling Dee 6208 6000 or drop into your local Vinnies store.

Helloooooooo.... spotted this morning on Canberra's online auction site Allbids, a repeat of multiple offerings of Harry Bertoia side chairs in white. Word is they are the real deal, and I am crying inside because my house cannot possibly fit another chair... or can Nina make room for these?...

So in love, maybe it's time to update my dining room, now with huge extendable table and already earmarked for an enormous painting on the wall, the white chairs would look pretty amazing here... and I would finally have all matching chairs!... hmm...

I think I talked myself into it! Don't outbid me ok?

Love Nina x

In a spin: On all Bids

Hot Hot Hot...

Spotted: 6 black vinyl upholstered bar stools with a slick retro edge (and they swivel)... now only $7.00 on All Bids.

Here's where they would work like magic... some of you may remember this gorgeous Canberra home I blogged about here...

Or equally in this humble Dickson cottage...

Bags n bling

Some of the grooviest women around town have been cleaning out their jewellery boxes and their bedroom drawers, and they are looking to recycle their treasures! They have sorted out their evening bags, their earrings and their scarves and they are passing on their pre-loved ornaments and hairclips. You are invited to see if you'd like anything!

Want to pick up a bargain?

On Tuesday evening Havelock House at Turner will turn into a veritable Alladin's Cave of treasures! There will be bangles and chains and earrings and beads; there will be bags and scarves and boxes! You might find just the thing to brighten up that new suit or go with that summer frock you've got.
Tomorrow night (5.30pm – 7pm) at Havelock House, 85 Northbourne Avenue, Turner
Tickets: $2 each or 3 for $5 www.womenslegalact.org

Re:loved recycling in style

Have you ever wondered what has become of the clothes you discard? With the current availability of disposable fashion, what are we doing to our environment? What if our cast-offs could become something new, something extraordinary - reborn, reloved?

Former CIT Fashion grad and emerging Canberran designer Lee Dewar, and her handbag designing mum Hanny, decided to take a closer look at ways we can reduce, re-use and recycle in style by challenging themselves and a handful of talented designers to create new garments and accessories from recycled materials and deconstructed garments.

Above: Event organiser and designer Lee Dewar (Third from left) with some of her amazing collection for her Craftilee label, all created using recycled garments and materials.

Supported by the Salvation Army's Fashion with a Conscience campaign and Green Threads, an ACT initiative "based on a commitment to sustainability and reducing the impact of discarded clothing in a way that is exciting, fun and doesn’t sacrifice style in the process."

Above Left: Handmade by Hanny handbag, designed by Hanny Dewar
Above right: and recycled couture by Zoe Denise.

And this t-shirt shall become my new motto!

Above Right: Michele Grimston of Green Threads rocks her amazing recycled Tupperware jewellery!

"We are about recycling, rescuing, recirculating and refashioning old garments, fabrics and accessories, saving clothing from landfill and wardrobe purgatory." - Green Threads.

Above: Designs by Grazed Youth's Amelia Thompson, all created from recycled materials from Salvo's op-shops. Amelia also produces jewellery using recycled clock parts and tiny barbie shoes!

Wow, well done to all of the designers, I feel completely inspired!

Love Nina x