What do you rekon?

I have been endlessly playing around with my blog. and even now as I lay in bed at 1am I had to turn on my computer and play some more. So I'm sure these wont be the last, but I would like you're suggestions/comments/questions none the less.

My original blog picture.

Second version.

Version three.

Version four, which I think is my favourite. what do you think?

Keep dreaming and keep it beautiful, the welcome swallow

Just got to love...

Painting furniture white.

Clive Owen

Straw boaters. (this one from asos.com)

Long johns (found these ones on etsy.com)

Tights, especially diamond print ones, I lounge around the house in mine with a wooly jumper.

Jeggings, you either love them or hate them, I love them, much more comfortable than jeans. (theses ones from asos.com)

Moleskins, they're all I use for travel journals and daily diarys.

Natasha poly.

Rotring art pen, instantly make my writing better. Get them at thedrawingroom.co.nz

Love my mocs, got them from no1shoes.co.nz

Mini M&M's

Macaroons, and everything macaroon coloured. laduree.fr one of my favourite places in London. Or here in Christchurch there is jaimelesmacarons.co.nz.

Gruyere

Dior, to die for.

Gene Kelly.

Post cards, these are two of my favourites.

Berlin.

Keep dreaming and keep it beautiful, the welcome swallow.

Something just isn't quite right...

Now it's probably because I've been looking at Garance Dore's divine blog, www.garancedore.fr/en/, but something about my layout just isn't quite right. I've been playing with colours and fonts all  evening and I just don't know anymore. What it is now isn't great but a work in progress. Any suggestions let me know, and as always, keep dreaming and keep it beautiful
                                                     the welcome swallow

Short skirts and long jackets

So I mentioned briefly in my last post that I would like to get 3 inches taller...I still do. I've recently discovered a to die for website called lookbook.nu, its pretty much an international 'let me show the world what I'm wearing' site. When I told my mum about it she made a crack about porn, its anything but. Students, stylists, layers, scientists, day dreamers and more showcase their personal style for the world to see, its fantastic! Its and invitation only site, so I'm working on getting invited, I don't know how you work on trying to get cooler, but I am (kidding, but seriously) on that note who people who say kidding but seriously are actually being serious, but don't want to look pants if you don't agree with what they said. I'm going shopping on Saturday with my sister, I'm on a serious budget and shes too eco conscious for her own good(but in a good way Livvy, love you). I cant imagine it will be very successful, but I believe even if your on a budget or don't want to contribute to the worlds waste anymore, you still need staple items in your wardrobe like skinny jeans, and you should pay a decent amount for them so you can still wear them in two years, instead of some made in china piece of tat, that not only encourages factory labour, but will disintegrate by next season.

Whoa so talk about getting sidetracked, what I meant to say before I got sidetracked by jeans was the short skirts and long jackets(by long jackets I mean grandad blazers and boyfriend jackets, sounded cooler said the other way) in this season are 'freaking awesome'(said in high pitch almost singing voice) I only wish that my job allowed me to dress that way everyday. Note to self: I love my job, but must get one in the fashion industry. Stat.

Keep Dreaming and keep it beautiful,         The welcome swallow

P.s. Will blog bowler hats soon, I live for mine, I wish I had two, one to wear and another to keep in perfect condition and idolise in a glass cabinet till the day I die. Also need a photographer friend to take awesome photos of me.

Note to self: must get skinny jeans, blazer and 3 inches taller.

The photo says it all really, Whitney Port is divine, she makes such a simple look so chic, I just look boring and frumpy, which is why I don't even own skinny jeans. Now though, since I've got a new figure why not give it a go, will have to make sure I wear heels, as diet and exercise don't do much for your height.

Keep dreaming and keep it beautiful,

The welcome swallow

Over sized jumpers, cardigans, cups of tea and cupcakes.

I sat on my bed today eating yet another cupcake (because I made far too many for a friends birthday) and having a cup of tea. I gazed around my room, and took stock of what I have. I am a bit of a hoarder, not in a collecting every little thing kind of way, but in a 'collect this and that for a house that I will some day own and in the mean time fill my bedroom, in my shared flat till it cant take any more' kind of way. To make it worse its also laundry day so there's clothes hanging up everywhere, cos the flat is so cold I have to dry everything in my room with the heater cranking.

I figured since everything was already out of my wardrobe I'd share with everyone part of my collection of cardigans and oversized jumpers.

I wont go through all of them but a decent amount are from the $2 clothing warehouse in ferrymead, which I only got for a dollar cos I bought so much that day. I love my unisex American Apparel cardigans, I only have two with me in New Zealand, and cant wait to get my suitcase that I had to leave behind in England. Another of my bargains is the mohair tartin cardigan, its soooo 80's and only cost $6 from save mart in Hornby. My pride and joy has to be the grey oversized cotton knit jumper that I got from H&M in Nice I pretty much live in it. One that is missing from this photo(cos I'm wearing it) its rough but in my top 5, its bright red cable knit, LOVING CABLE KNIT! I should also point out that my jumper collection is so kicking because my mum came with me to the $2 clothing ware house and would only let me buy proper woolen jumpers which was good because alot that we chose ended up being made in NZ , so tops marks for finding the beauty in the old and buying local/NZ made at the same time! Note: the white with blue stripe woolen cable knit cricket jumper, that's hand knitted(so awesome). Oh! I also forgot to mention the gilt mirror that I mentioned last post, only $25 at super shed, and just because I love it so much, the leopard print maxi dress was a steal on sale from Cotton On for $20 and is patiently waiting for summer to return.

Hope you guys are rocking the woollies this winter, they're cheap, warm and in fashion. Great with skinnies or the really big ones over leggings.

Keep dreaming and keep it beautiful,

                                                       Welcome Swallow.

P.s. Mustard is one of my favourite colours especially in cardigans but great in skirts as well(will blog skirts next week) so don't care what anyone else says if you like mustard go for it looks so chic with black.

Support local and handmade, its becoming a lost art.

Handmade items would be a thing of the past if it weren't for the small local communities of crafters, I'm honoured to be apart of such and awesome one as felt.co.nz and want to get the word out so everyone can enjoy it.

You can find almost anything on there from soap to reusable sandwich wrappers to cushion covers to letter press invites. And of course my jewelery rolls, drawstring bags and now cushion covers. Its not just on felt.co.nz either local markets are great for finding cool crafts and especially food, I unfortunately work Sundays so miss alot of good ones, but I get to them when I can. I'm also a huge advocate for second hand clothing stores, especially with fashion as it is. I love nothing more than cosying up in my over sized made in NZ woolen jumper and knowing that it only cost me $2; and is much better quality than some new poly woly, makes it even better.

I'll keep you posted with all my great local finds as they come up, I got a great gilt mirror at bargain price from super shed the other day and will have photos to show you all soon.
                                      

 Keep dreaming and keep it beautiful,

The welcome swallow.