Pinkerton Manor

Ok, so, there’s not really anything naughty about it.  I just like the way those two words sound together.  But I made a top, people!  I’ve really been digging the nautical stripes I’ve been seeing around lately, but not enough to pay $60 for a pretty straight forward top (Sportsgirl, I’m looking at you!).  Plus there’s my whole second hand/handmade thing to consider too.  I couldn’t really be bothered trawling op shops for nautical striped tops and as much as I would love to support an independent, I just don’t have the money.  So, when I saw mens stripy tees on clearance at Big W I thought to myself, ‘Amie, you’re a smart kid, you could just buy one of those and make it into something awesome’.  And I totally did.

I started with a mens size L tshirt (I tried on different sizes in store to find the perfect amount of slouch) and added elastic at the waist (just zigzagged inside), rolled the sleeves up and tacked them in place and added some cute buttons.  I wanted silver buttons with anchors on them, but stuffed if I was going to pay $2+ per button for plastic buttons just because they were silver!  So, I got these little white ones with a kind of overlappy pattern thing on them instead.  I looked at some others with rope patterns too and I don’t even remember why I didn’t buy them, but I’m sure I had a reason.  I think the ones I got were about 30 cents each.

I think I might add some crochet belt loops at either side of the waist and get some rope style cord to wear as a belt.  Other than that I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.  And even though it was just a small refashion, it was nice to be sewing again.  It’s gotten me excited about all the other projects I’d been thinking about, but not really acting on.  And it was kind of nice to have something new to wear too.  I really don’t know why I don’t sew things more often.

This is what the sky looks like here at the moment.  It’s been raining on and off since early this morning, but it’s still bright and sunny at times.  Weather like this always makes me want to make the most of things.  I really feel like getting out and take some photos.  Last night we headed out to watch a roller derby match with a friend, so I dug out my Pentax 35mm (I haven’t used it in eight years!) and loaded some film into it.  Unfortunately, it was standing room only by the time we got in and there were way too many people so we could barely see a thing.  I took maybe 4 or 5 photos, but I’m really not confident they’ll be any good.  We ended up leaving at half time.

I’ve been itching to share this skirt with the world ever since I started blogging, but it just never eventuated.  It is utterly amazing.  It’s home sewn patchwork and fully lined.  I thrifted it for $5 years ago, but I don’t often wear it.  I think I might actually be afraid of somehow wrecking it.  I’m going to try to get some more wear out of it this winter though.

Singlet – Best & Less, flower brooch – gift, skirt – thrifted, sandals – Big W, chunky plastic ring – gift.

You would think that with my newfound healthy eating habits I would be feeling on top of the world, but unfortunately I’ve been sneezing non-stop for the last few hours.  I’m really hoping it’s just hay fever or something, but I have had a sore throat on and off for the past week or so.  My fingers are firmly crossed that it just goes away.

Todays outfit is once again utilising leggings to extend the wear of some summer clothing.  I really, really love leggings.  I desperately want some colours other than black though and I never seem to find them (or when I do they just don’t suit me – like the electric blue ones I fell in love with last year).  So, if the clothing gods are reading this, I’d like some brown and/or grey leggings that suit me please.

The details.  Top – eBay, cardigan – thrifted, shorts – Target, leggings – Big W, scarf as belt – some boutique that was closing down, shoes – Big W.

And if you thought the post title was just about how I was feeling under the weather, get ready for some pun action…

Oh yeah, there are seeds on my muffins!  Pepitas and sunflower seeds sprinkled over vegemite on English muffins.  With a side of pear.  Apparently if you eat seeds with fruit it slows the release of sugars.  Plus bonus protein.  Oh, and it also tasted really good too.

Lately I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about eating healthier.  I’ve lost muscle mass, put on weight and my arthritis has flared up since I moved back to Brisbane and I think it has a lot to do with changes in my eating habits.  I’ve been a vegetarian for over ten years, but I’ve never really put much thought into a healthy vegetarian diet – I just replaced meat with meat alternatives and that was about it.

Lately though, I’ve been thinking more and more about what I should (and shouldn’t) be eating.  The most helpful resource I’ve found so far is The Vegetarian Society’s V-Healthy website.  I’ve also been reading up a little on ‘super foods’ and I’m finding that a lot of them are foods that I love and eat a fair bit anyway.  Yay me!

So, today for lunch I had wholemeal toast with hommus (which I now know is a whole protein) and tomato (high in lycopene) and a handful of dried apricots (an excellent source of Vitamin A).  Right now I’m enjoying a cup of tea with honey to stave off my sweet tooth cravings.  And dinner will be a vegetable and bean curry with brown rice (to which I’m adding a little barley and lentil mix).

And my outfit kind of matched my lunch!

Cardigan – Colorado, dress – Ice, leggings – Big W, scarf – thrifted, espadrilles - Target.

Vintage cotton vest  $15

Witchery oversized cropped jumper  $3

Batwing top  $3

Vintage woollen blazer  $20

Jacquie E cotton cardigan  $6

Birthday money + op shops = happy Amie.  I also used some of my birthday money to get a haircut.  Not that you can really tell from these photos.  I think I need to invest in some kind of product that stops my hair being ridiculous every time the weather changes.

I started two knitting projects this week.

I started knitting my ‘corn’ scarf – made from Lincraft Snowball yarn to (hopefully) look like variegated corn.  I’m probably going to add a fringe of fine threads at either end to look like corn silk too.  I also started on a cowl, inspired by Orchid Grey’s tunnel scarf.  I got some super soft dark green yarn at half price the other day and it was just begging to be turned into a nice big cowl.

I’ve never knit anything other than scarves, but I really want to give this circular shrug that I found over on Craftster a go.  And ever since I saw it, I’ve been aching to make this Secret Garden tam.  I must teach myself more knitting skills.  And crochet too.  I have books about both, but just can’t seem to get past very basic stitches.  I’m going to make it a goal for this year though.

I love wearing knit and crochet clothing, so it definitely makes sense to learn.  I can’t wait for it to cool down a bit more so I can start wearing my ever-growing collection of beanies, tams and berets too.

Cardigan – thrifted, tshirt – Big W, jeans – no idea, shoes – Dunlop Volleys.

I knew I needed my hair cut, but having seen these photos I think I ought to make it a priority.  I worked out yesterday that it’s actually been almost eight months since my last hair cut – eep!  I didn’t get it cut in Canberra because it was either go to a hairdressing chain (no thanks) or be prepared to fork out $100+ (and I spent years cutting my own hair to avoid paying less than $50).  I would have cut it myself, but I seem to have lost my scissor confidence and it’s gotten so long that it would be difficult to do anyway.

To fringe or not to fringe, that is the question now.

It’s sooooo hot today!  Weatherzone tells me the current temperature in Brisbane is 30.6°C with 69% humidity, making it feel like 36.3°C.  I love that Weatherzone has the ‘feels like’ temperature, it makes me feel like my whinging about the heat is somehow more justified.  Apparently there’s a slight chance of a storm this afternoon, but we’re still expecting a low of 26°C overnight.  And that’s not until 3am!

Thankfully, Matt has been keeping us well supplied with iced tea.  At the moment it’s black tea with mandarin and it’s rather delicious and very refreshing.  I love having a boyfriend who works in a tea shop.  Since he started working there we have slowly accumulated a collection of different flavours and varieties and I’ve learned a lot about tea too.  For example, rooibos is not actually from a tea plant, but rather a legume.  Crazy stuff, huh?

I’m sure I’ll post further about tea, but for now here’s what I wore today.  The skirt and top are both thrifted, the necklace was a gift, as was the lotus hairclip and the sandals are from Big W.  I’ve been wearing the sandals a lot this summer because they’re nice and cool and no fuss to put on.  In fact, I’ve worn them so much that I’ve actually developed sandal tan.  How embarrassing!

I really should start putting sunscreen on my feet.  Right now, though, I need some more iced tea before I melt.

Today I am channelling my inner domestic goddess and getting some household chores done.  Washing, dishes, cleaning and tidying are all on the agenda, but I may need to duck out later to pick up a few things for dinner tonight (and possibly a sweet reward for myself!).  I’ve also decided that I need to go through all my clothes (again) and assess my wardrobe situation.  I’ve got a few bags of clothes and things that I need to list on eBay already, but I’m thinking I might end up adding to that.

I chose a few simple pieces to layer today, but not too heavy since it’s still warm here in Brisbane.  The top I bought on clearance at Kmart, shorts are thrifted, 3/4 leggings from a discount outlet and the scarf was a gift from Matt’s mum.  I had a go at academichic’s ‘pretzel tie’ and absolutely love the way it looks with this scarf.  I’m so excited that they’re having a ‘scarf month’ this month and can’t wait to see more.

And now I’m off to clean the stove!

To make up for my lack of posts of late, I have a little story to tell.  And above is what I wore today.  I managed to con Matt into taking my photo since I still don’t have a tripod.  He’s not as artistic with his photography as Louie, but at least he gets my entire body in the shot.  Tshirt from some outlet store at DFO Canberra, denim shorts I cut down from a pair of old jeans, shoes from Big W and scarf from Tree of Life.  Now on to the story.

I recently slipped up on my resolution to only buy second hand or hand made.  I bought a cheap singlet from Big W.  It’s actually quite a nice little top (see below) and I’ve worn it a bunch of times already, but it’s nothing outstanding.  In fact, the reason I bought it actually has nothing to do with what it looks like.  I bought it because I got self conscious and didn’t feel comfortable in what I was wearing at the time.  Pretty lame, yeah?

It gets quite hot and humid here during summer, so I walked out the door wearing a denim skirt and a large scarf styled as a halter over a bikini top.  I love the versatility of scarves and I’ve worn them like this before.  The scarf in question (see above) is big enough that it covered me from neck to waist on the front, leaving my shoulders exposed and just a little bit of lower back peeking out if I sat down, but after about an hour of being out and about I suddenly felt incredibly self conscious.  With a two hours to go before meeting a friend, I panicked and bought the cheapest top I could lay my hands on.

It’s very rare that I will feel uncomfortable in what I’m wearing like that, but the few times it has happened it seems to have hit me quite hard.  After some quiet reflection over an iced chocolate the next day, I realised that the way I felt had pretty much nothing to do with clothes.  I was already feeling a bit shit that day and although I felt ‘safer’ once I was wearing a conventional top I still didn’t feel great the rest of the day.  I guess, in a way, my new top will serve as a rather pretty reminder that I make my style because my style shouldn’t make me.

Back in Brisbane and loving it.  Still adjusting to the humidity after so much dry weather in Canberra, but it’s great to have good coffee and sushi places in more than two locations.  And multiple Nando’s, all of which include drinks in the meal deals!  Plus I love Brisbane.  It’s home.

I’ve really missed that view.  I’ve been walking a lot lately, taking everything in and making an effort to take different routes and occasionally deviate from my destination.  I want to get to know the city better and hopefully get some good photos along the way too.

Second hand or hand made is going well(ish).  I bought swimmers from a store the other day, but I justified it to myself with the fact that I’m incredibly fussy about swimmers and these were only $17.  And I needed them asap since my previous bikini disintegrated in Melbourne and I need to start swimming as exercise for my knees (I’ve even been looking into aquarobics).

Speaking of aqua, Matt gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received for Christmas.  A fish tank!  And once we have it set up, he’s taking me to buy a couple of fantails.  I’m so excited.  We went and had a look at some fish last week, they’re so cute with their swimming around and looking pretty.  We also looked at seahorses and although I could keep them in my tank without any problems, Matt thinks they’re weird (and I would probably spend all my time watching them with quiet awe).

And now I leave you with what was meant to be an outfit photo.  I didn’t realise how great being able to use Mum’s tripod was until trying to take these photos.  I think I will have to invest in my own.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Years!

EDIT:  Reading By Hillary just now and was reminded that I forgot to include what I’m wearing in the above photo.  So, here it is.

Awesome t-shirt – thrifted, very comfortable purple pants – Tree of Life, amethyst earrings – gift from Matt, necklace with pendant watch – eBay, garnet bracelet – made by me.