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I am a firm believer in out with the old and in with the new [to you, but old to someone else]! Most of my wardrobe is made up of garage sale and op-shop finds...usually with a purpose like a wedding or for work, but the odd thing does slip in there that doesn't get worn for years! I'm sure everyone has at least something in their collection that hasn't been seen by anyone else and it may well be because it's a look you're too self-conscious to wear outside the house [I very guilty of that one, and my sister reminds me that it's just a matter of getting used to looking at yourself in the mirror with it on and I'm trying my little heart out to get past that...it's tough though], but anyway I was heading off on a slight tangent...! So, yes, the mighty clothes swap. It is an amazingly wonderful pastime and one that should be indulged in at least once a year, if not, once a season. Plus it's a great chance to catch up with friends, drink wine/tea and meet new people!
I had the pleasure of going to my first such event last weekend thanks to an invite by a friend [I didn't know anyone else there mind you]. This was a fundraiser event for a local young mother's group. They had hired out a Salvo's Hall, received a ton of donations of clothes and accessories from people all over the place [thanks to facebook], put on a gorgeous afternoon tea, and even had party games to start the afternoon off with! I brought my own bag of clothes with me which gave me a discount and the event only cost me $10.
The clothes swap had about a dozen women turn up. Mostly new mothers, or soon to be mothers, [plus the rest of us] all glowing and excited to see what goodies await. We talked amongst ourselves whilst we waited for late comers and enjoyed a chocolate raspberry cake and cup of tea. We started the afternoon with a game to decide the "winners". The game was a bridal shower game with four parcels and a story in which the words left and right were used a lot and dictated where we passed the parcels! It was a lot of fun and many mixed up their lefts from rights!! The four winners got 5 mins to rummage and get first dibs on the clothes. After that we all got a chance.
It was a calm and fairly civilised event. Many girls were happy to help each other out and give advice/opinions on choices, making even the shyest of girls feel good about their picks for the day. We all had a great time and even though we all went home with a huge bag of clothes each, it was amazing how much was still left!! I managed to nab about five tops, two singlet tops, two shirts, a pair of black stretch stovepipes, a crazy batwing 80s jumper with diamonte back detailing, a super cute portmans stretch jersey dress, and a picnic-in-hanging-rock-esque summer dress. I scored so much good stuff I was very glad to have gone!
I have this super book called "Super Crafty" funnily enough, and it has the best idea for clothes swaps [otherwise known as Naked Ladies parties] and how to make cute invites to the event using shrinky dinks!
Be sure to check out some fun rules on how to host your own! You'll be glad you did!
Oh and for those of you living in mainland Australia who wish to experience the awesome power of a LARGE clothes swapping event ~ check out The Clothing Exchange.
Thanks again to all the lovely Ladies involved in organising the swap ~ you're all gorgeous!
xx WS
My Trusty Sewing Shears
I always get excited to make and bake at christmas time and this christmas was certainly no exception! I was inspired by Sophie this year to make some pretty gifts for some lovely ladies using some kimono fabric and some quilting quarters I received as a gift last christmas. I think they came up a treat and I still have some left over, so even better for birthday or just-because gifts in 2010!
I also love making a ton of the usual treats, shortbread, biscuits, (gluten-free) sago plum puddings, and of course my traditional gift to family and friends is a good old bottle of homemade baileys!! I do however insist that those wanting some provide their own bottles, so usually I end up with the odd whiskey bottle, grolsch bottle and of course the traditional large vodka bottle!! I also (with a little help from my man who has the skillz to operate a scroll saw), made a brooch for my sister - seeing that I couldn't buy her a REAL miniature daschund one out of Tasmanian Blackwood, would do - right?!
Xmas this year was a reasonably relaxed affair, full of food (of course) but with my nasty headcold it wasn't so full of tasty alcohol...so not too much baileys and bubbly for me this year! My lovely partner made a delicious pancake breakfast with lots of cherries and mango in-tow, we had a full on turkey, ham, roast veg and lots of pud lunch at my Dad's (cooked by my very organised and meticulous step-mum), and then a lovely supper at my (as good as) mother-in-law's, with fresh prawns, cups of tea, lovely pate and even more delicious fruit and homemade mini christmas cake (all devoured to the sounds of James Taylor and Cat Stevens)!!
Then of course the booty! I got some lovely gifts this year and most of them practical which is even better. My sister's boyfriend's gift definitely topped my list as the cutest thing ever! Not only are they beautiful, but extremely useful. These Russian dolls are actually measuring cups! My old ones are now in a bag awaiting drop off to the nearest op-shop!! How adorable are they - and the tops and bottoms have measurements in them. So there goes Christmas for another year!
Hope you all had a great Xmas, ate too much, caught up with friends, relatives and met new people!
x Han
I've been a fan of cosplay [costume play, in Japan] and dressing up, well really, since I was a little tacker. Only the last 5 years or so have I actually planned costumes. Most of them live in my study wardrobe, waiting for an opportunity to wear. Some of them get a chance to see the light of day, some of them see the night, some of them might end up at an op-shop or stay in the wardrobe until I can part with them. Most of them are inspired by movies, tv-shows, or recently, japanese lolita-style fashion. My first out-in-public costume was as a fantasy character for a roleplay [D&D style] when I was in my late teens, back when I was a bit more of a geek/nerd than I currently am. It was mostly this long green kaftan with huge jewels on it, a large belt [for my sword] and a transclucent dark plum cape. It was pretty cool, but thank goodness there are no photos, seriously. My first cosplay was 'Kiba', a character from the anime Naruto. I wore it to Supanova back in 2005 I think? It was fun and easy to wear and I got to be a boy for a day, and wear a plush toy on my head, so that was a mini-adventure. At that point I'd managed to watch and get all fan girl giddy, with a Japanese horror film called 'Battle Royale'. I was going to wear it to Supanova, but that didn't happen, so wore it for halloween...minus lots of fake blood, which I had every intention of but was too lazy. A weekend or two prior I got to wear my cutest costume yet. My Alice-In-Wonderland inspired lolita. She's an op-shop altered dress - believe it or not but it was bigger and more froofy than it is, I made an apron, found some stockings, the headband and necklace were garage sale finds and the shoes I already had. It was a fun day of photos, food and fandom.
Plans are for an Alice In Wonderland tea party photoshoot in early January, which I will endevour to make the sleeves of the dress even LESS enormous and style a red wig so that I can better fit in with the Queen of Hearts [inspired from The melancholy of haruhi suzumiya]! It'll be totally nerdy and fun and once again my talented cousin and his talented lady, Emily will shine with their awesome skills! 
I'm sooo very happy that my first customer received her uber cute kaftan safe and sound! And so grateful she sent a picture ~ love love love her style!x WearySister
Fun in the kitchen with my less tired sibling ~ she made the tastiest kiss biscuits I've EVER eaten, and that's a huge call. Bonus, my cookie cutters got a good workout! Haven't cracked them out in a long time. Most of them are too small for biscuits ~ but then again, I have the ever so large Elephant and it's super cool!
Maccha green tea with melty marshmellows ~ an acquired taste, courtesy of the lovely staff at Sushi Bonza! My cousin, and talented cosplayer, Emily introduced me to this one!
Did I forget to mention my love of Me Wah?! They are the best chinese restaurant in our fine little State of Tasmania. Not only did they make me fall in love with whole cooked flounder, but their desserts are to die for. This ice-cream terrine is lychee, coconut and black sesame, with roasted sugar almonds and strawberries. The Dragon on top is made from chocolate.Yum, Yum!!x WearySister
I had the pleasure of going to my first such event last weekend thanks to an invite by a friend [I didn't know anyone else there mind you]. This was a fundraiser event for a local young mother's group. They had hired out a Salvo's Hall, received a ton of donations of clothes and accessories from people all over the place [thanks to facebook], put on a gorgeous afternoon tea, and even had party games to start the afternoon off with! I brought my own bag of clothes with me which gave me a discount and the event only cost me $10.
The clothes swap had about a dozen women turn up. Mostly new mothers, or soon to be mothers, [plus the rest of us] all glowing and excited to see what goodies await. We talked amongst ourselves whilst we waited for late comers and enjoyed a chocolate raspberry cake and cup of tea. We started the afternoon with a game to decide the "winners". The game was a bridal shower game with four parcels and a story in which the words left and right were used a lot and dictated where we passed the parcels! It was a lot of fun and many mixed up their lefts from rights!! The four winners got 5 mins to rummage and get first dibs on the clothes. After that we all got a chance.
It was a calm and fairly civilised event. Many girls were happy to help each other out and give advice/opinions on choices, making even the shyest of girls feel good about their picks for the day. We all had a great time and even though we all went home with a huge bag of clothes each, it was amazing how much was still left!! I managed to nab about five tops, two singlet tops, two shirts, a pair of black stretch stovepipes, a crazy batwing 80s jumper with diamonte back detailing, a super cute portmans stretch jersey dress, and a picnic-in-hanging-rock-esque summer dress. I scored so much good stuff I was very glad to have gone!
