25/05/2013

The Gardens at Ercildoune – Part 2

By astimegoesbuy

As promised, today will be the balance of photos from our Garden tour of Ercildoune Homestead.

Ercildoune was settled in 1838 by the Livingstone-Learmonth teenage brothers, and became one of the most famous and widely renowned stations in Australia. The homestead construction is of massive blocks of granite stone cut by hand from a quarry close by. The Learmonths built most of the various outbuildings including the Gothic styled Managers House.

The name Learmonth arises from lands in Berwickshire and the Learmonths of Ercildoune in the Merse (a flat area in the east of the region that borders the River Tweed) were the earliest family of note. The Learmonth Family Motto is ‘Dum Spiro Spero’ – uncovered during restoration on the arch in the entrance hall = ‘While I Breathe I hope’.

One of the ponds at Ercildoune
Old Boiler near Shearing Shed
Ercildoune Shearing Shed
Unique Garden Sculpture at Ercildoune
Cat Sculpture near Tennis Court at Ercildoune
Fountain at Ercildoune
Copper Garden Sculpture near pond
Greetings!

182 acres of the old homestead was auctioned off last weekend (house and gardens). It was expected to bring in about 3.8 million. As much as it would be lovely to own, we just didn’t need 9 bedrooms!

 

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1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Lifestyle

24/05/2013

Visiting Ercildoune – Part 1

By astimegoesbuy

WARNING!!

I have so many photos from our visit to Ercildoune to share with you that this is only part 1 of a two part post!

As mentioned yesterday, we went out to Ercildoune during Heritage Weekend. The place is huge, the gardens beautiful and many of the old Station Buildings still standing if not in use. I would be perfectly happy living in the lovely gate-keepers cottage, let alone the big house!

Some of the other buildings still standing are the school house, rabbiters hut, Shearers shed, a couple barns and housing for some of the station hands. Obviously the old brick buildings have held up best. There are several ponds a lots of gardens and paddocks.

Tools in shearer’s shed
Probably not original settlers
Old Tack – Ercildoune
Gate-keepers Cottage
Love this decorative garden sculpture
Ercildoune – The Big House
One of the ponds at Ercildoune
Heading up the grand drive to Ercildoune
Ercildoune grounds

Tomorrow – part two and more interesting sculpture!

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3 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Lifestyle

23/05/2013

Scottish Heritage – Ercildoune

By astimegoesbuy

A few weeks ago during Heritage Weekend, the Fashion Mister and I went out to “Ercildoune”. It’s a beautiful old property near Beaufort. They had opened the grounds and gardens to the public. I would have killed to see inside. Currently it is up for sale for some multi-million dollar figure so it’s not likely I’ll be seeing inside any time in the near future.

Tomorrow I’ll share some photos from around the property. While we were there the Fashion Mister and I did a little impromptu photo shoot. I had decided that morning since Ercildoune has a Scottish heritage, I would wear my plaid Tommy Hilfiger shift dress.

Plaid Shift Dress Love
Plaid Shift Dress
Workin’ the Country Look
Kickin’ Back in the Country
A one student fashion classroom!
Accessories – Not Quite Scottish Heritage
Tommy Hilfiger Plaid Shift Dress

I purchased this plaid Tommy Hilfiger shift dress a couple of years ago at the outlet shop. I loved it instantly. Partly because it met the colour palette of the time and partly because I could imagine wearing it so many ways. As it turns out, this look is my favourite way to wear it. The wool plaid is perfect for cooler weather and by being grey rather than black it’s not such a harsh contrast to my fairly pale skin.

Being able to layer the look with a grey shirt, tights and my red cowboy boots makes it a perfect winter weekend look.

I also love the fact that it has two pockets so if I don’t want to carry a handbag I don’t need to. I have added my black quilted bag and a little silver and black jewelry to finish off the “country” look. It’s such a comfortable outfit to wear. Not just appropriate for weekends and the country though. I often wear it to work too. That’s one of the great things about a good ol’ classic like the shift dress, it can be so versatile.

The other cool thing about this look, it pays homage to my Celtic/Scottish heritage with the tartan and my American heritage in the cowboy boots! So it was kind of heritage weekend in many ways.

What do you think? Would you wear this look? Weekend only or work appropriate?

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13 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Accessories, Fashion, Lifestyle, Outfit Posts, Trends

22/05/2013

How to Get the Great Gatsby Look

By astimegoesbuy

This weekend at the Love Vintage Show in Melbourne there was a session on how to get the Great Gatsby Look. So you know I had to attend! Which means photos for you!

It was actually pretty interesting because the ladies doing the demonstration provided a fair bit of information regarding make-up and hair styles of the times. As for make-up they suggested that things weren’t that different in the 20s than now in that thanks to the advent of moving pictures the silver screen provided a huge influence. One thing that I found particularly interesting was that the lipstick of choice at the time was actually a very dark purple colour. Predominately because in the black and films the actresses used a dark purple lipstick to enhance their lips, and it was available. This later mellowed to red and in doing a modern-day version of The Great Gatsby, red is the preferred colour choice.

Other things with make-up were that because the actresses went with dark smokey eyes and very pronounced/defined eyebrows for film, that was the look that was embraced by the public.

How to Get the Great Gatsby Look
Finishing Gatsby touches
More modern red lips – Gatsby style
Going from Long to Short – Gatsby Style
Great Gatsby – Smokey eyes and defined brows
Going Great Gatsby

It was also pretty interesting to hear that most women of the time didn’t actually cut their hair. It wouldn’t have been fully acceptable to do so. What they did do was figure out how to wear their hair so that it did look short rather than the more extravagant up-dos of the Edwardian period. Which meant a lot of rolling and pinning hair under.

For this demonstration and a more modern spin they left a section of the models hair loose at the front on the left and then started doing a french braid from the right side. When they got to the section of the hair that had been separated they rolled up the ends of the braid and pinned it in a big curl. Then rolled and pinned the loose section in a similar manner. you can see from the photos that the model had long hair but in the finished look has an adorable short do.

How to Go Great Gatsby
Love this Great Gatsby Inspired Look
Great Gatsby Inspiration
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Gorgeous Great Gatsby Inspiration

Finishing touches were a modern beaded dress, a vintage stole and a peacock headband.

Now that is how to get the Great Gatsby look and be fabulous!

 

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4 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Accessories, Fashion, Trends, Vintage Looks

21/05/2013

Love Vintage Show – My Purchases

By astimegoesbuy

As promised yesterday, today I’m sharing photos of my purchases from the Love Vintage Show.

I was completely impressed by how many people were there that clearly LOVE vintage as they were in full on vintage mode. Which I totally appreciate, even though it’s not how I approach vintage. The main focus was everything from the Roaring 20s to the Mod 60s and a fair smattering of 70s and 80s added in.

Keeping in mind that as much as I love vintage, I like to incorporate it into a more modern look, there were still about a million and one things I would have loved to own! Not only were there true vintage pieces in price ranges from $50 to $500 but there were a couple of shops that do vintage inspired items that were pretty fantastic too.

Vintage Inspired Cloche Hat
Beautiful Vintage Embroidered Pillow
Purchases from Bruna at Vintage Linens & Collectables
Vintage Pillow, scarf, hankie and brooch
Vintage items from Vintage Linens & Collectables
Vintage Inspired Pin
Red Poodle Pin
Vintage Inspired – Retro Spec’d Dress
Silk vintage inspired dress

Absolutely every purchase at Love Vintage was for me, and only because I wanted it. I know, selfish!

I do love my red cloche hat so when I found a booth that was offering a wide variety of them I tossed between a black one and the brown one. One of the shoppers said she liked the brown one on me best so I took her word for it and that is the one I bought. I’ll have the Fashion Mister get a pic soon, it does look pretty good if I do say so myself. Then there is the silk vintage inspired dress from Retro Spec’d. A beautiful 40s style, cut really well and in a very cute print. I’m thinking it will look great in the Spring with my hot-pink wedges but just as good in the winter with black tights and boots.

You may remember that I bought an Erstwhile brooch for the Fashion Sister from Another Mother late last year. This time around, I couldn’t resist getting the red poodle for myself! It is going to look so adorable with both my vintage black and white polka-dot dress and my grey and red plaid Tommy Hilfiger shift dress.

Lastly I stopped back at Vintage Linens & Collectables to have a good look over what Bruna had with her. I found the gorgeous embroidered pillow that looks lovely in our guest bedroom, a scarf in burgundy and black (for my scarf fetish) and a lovely art-deco brooch which I am going to have to wear to our upcoming Great Gatsby premier. Of course I will find a fair few other ways to wear it as well. I’m thinking it would look great pinned on my red cloche hat. Bruna was such a sweetie and added a pretty American vintage hankie into my purchases.

All in all – a pretty great haul!

I could have spent heaps more but as I need to do a wardrobe cleanse I thought it best to show some restraint with my Love Vintage purchases.

What do you think? Did I do well?

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5 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Fashion, Personal Style

20/05/2013

Love Vintage Show – Melbourne

By astimegoesbuy

Do you all remember me telling you about going to the antiques fair here in Ballarat and hearing about the upcoming Love Vintage Show in Melbourne?

It was at the Ballarat show that I met the lovely Bruna from Vintage Linens and Collectables. As it turns out, Bruna is even more awesome than I thought! She remembered how much I loved her stuff and sent me a ticket to attend the Love Vintage Show in Melbourne this past weekend!

And…yes…I did…Love it that is! And…yes…I did buy a few things!

It was being held at the Royal Exhibition Building at the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne which is an amazing building but far better was the amazing vintage stuff going on inside. Some of those attending were decked out in their vintage and looked fab. I was pretty tame in a vintage maxi skirt and a little vintage jewelry. But then I had a few other things to do after the show. Plus, as much as I love vintage and vintage inspiration, I don’t like to look like I walked off a movie set. I would much rather incorporate vintage into my modern life.

Royal Exhibition Building – Love Vintage Show
Love Vintage at Melbourne

In fact, there was so much amazing stuff I was nearly overwhelmed. I did a full lap of the building three times. First time around was to see everything and take a few pictures…plus stop in to say hi to Bruna. Second lap was actually going in to each both and looking to see what they had, what I might like and to touch all the amazing stuff! Third trip around was about trying on and buying. And honestly, I completely loved each trip around the building.

Love Vintage Show – Travel Cases
Gorgeous Vintage Dresses
Fantastic Vintage Wedding gowns
Vintage Style – Love Vintage Show Melbourne
Beautiful Vintage Hats – Love Vintage Show
Love Vintage – Beautiful Hats
Vintage Travel Cases
The Vintage Wedding Area
Love Vintage Melbourne – Charm School
Charm School – Love Vintage Show

Tomorrow I will share photos of what I bought and see if the Fashion Mister can take a couple of pics of me wearing some of it.

In the mean time, check out Bruna and her Facebook page. She has some beautiful vintage textiles. Minus the few that came home with me!

Vintage Linens & Collectables by Bruna Capodanno phone: 0406 255 758
bruna.c@laposte.netVintage Linens & Collectables on Facebook

 

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11 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Fashion, Personal Style, Vintage Looks

19/05/2013

Shoe Down at Cafe Cornucopia!

By astimegoesbuy

It has begun…Shoe Down at Cafe Cornucopia!

Across from the hospital here in Ballarat is an adorable cafe called Cafe Cornucopia. The staff is all lovely, Chris makes a fantastic coffee, Glenda always knows what I’ll have and Kevin has gotten quite fascinated by my shoes! Which is exactly what lead to the Shoe Down.

As most of you may have figured out by now, I LOVE SHOES! And as I go over to the Cafe Cornucopia most days to get a take-away soup the fabulous team over there have begun keeping an eye on my shoes. On Monday, I wore my gorgeous Pollini’s purchased when we were in Barcelona and got both Kevin and Chris buzzing, which lead to Kevin challenging me to a Shoe-Off.

It was set for high-noon on Friday.

As I had already worn my most amazing shoes on Monday, it became a challenge to sort out which shoes I would wear. I opted for a pair I normally would never wear to work…because they are CRAZY high. A black pair of Jeffery Campbell’s. Spectacularly fierce but not that great for marching up and down the stairs of a hospital. Although if you are going to fall off your shoes and break an ankle…I guess a hospital is the place to do it!

So high-noon on Friday, I tottered myself across the street for the Shoe Down.

They were waiting for me.

Kevin came around to stand next to me as I admired his shoes and Sally snapped a picture.

Shoe Down at Cafe Cornucopia

Shoe Down at Cafe Cornucopia

Kevin hadn’t told me he was a ballroom dancer so he had a few tricks up his sleeve, or pant legs, when it came to shoes!

The Shoe Down was so much fun that Cafe Cornucopia is going to start a Shoe Down / Shoe – Off on Fridays! They are thinking they might offer customers a free coffee for wearing fabulous shoes. I suggested they take pictures of all the shoes that people wear and do a collage then have the other customers vote on their favourites. Kevin’s thinking of getting a shoe and spray painting it gold to make a trophy.

I think I am going to have to buy some new shoes!

Bring on the Shoe Down!

Who do you think the first winner should be? Me or Kevin?

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11 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Challenges, Fashion, Personal Style

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