just a friendly reminder that my giclee prints are LIMITED EDITION! and as i type, there are only TWO owl and the pussy cat prints left, and dwindling stock of the other designs. so, if you want one SHOP NOW or forever hold your lack of owl and the pussy cat print!

last chance!

edit: the owl and the pussy cat prints are now completely sold out. thank you, speedy shoppers!

✽ school bus pinafore ✽ metric flash cards ✽ fancy flamingo pencil box ✽

✽ ruler comb ✽ ” kathy’s first day” ✽ “on wings of words” ✽

here in australia the new school year is starting  – in some states it’s already in action. its an especially exciting time for me: my kiddo is starting prep (or reception as you may know it) next week. hard to believe we’ve reached this milestone already, but c’est la vie – i think we’re all looking forward to seeing what school brings!

today is australia day which commemorates the landing of the first fleet at sydney cove in 1788. while i can’t share the ubiquitous BBQ, pavlova and sunburn with you, i can share some of my favorite australian music. of course, australia has its own diverse music scene, i just happen to like indie pop/rock form the early 90s so my mix is pretty biased!

the go betweens – streets of your town from 16 Lovers Lane

its hard to pick a favorite from the go betweens, but streets of your town just sounds so summery. and you actually can see some of the streets in my town in the video clip!

rat cat – don’t go now from blind love

9 year old pilgrim fostered a crush on simon day and his eyeliner and stripes!

the sugargliders - ahprarahn from there and back again lane: sarah 100

one of sarah records 100 perfect pressings (look for sarah 72 for this single)

frente – bizarre love triangle from marvin the album

poor often maligned frenté were my first ever gig, watching from the kitchen of the bar where my stepfather worked.

architecture in helsinki - the owls go from fingers crossed

such a sweet song, from an entirely sweet album!

do you have favorite australians in your music collection?

july 2011 on drawpilgrim.com was aaaalll about my trip to japan! i just had so much to share:

firstly i shared a general wrap up of my trip, then i compiled my favorite colors and patterns from the trip.

and let’s not forget the unforgettable diversion to introducing bonnie and buttermilk’s spectacular clothing!

✽ crochet shorts pattern ✽ granny got the blues cushion ✽ ruffle crochet cushion ✽

✽ multi colored afghan granny rug  ✽ larks foot rug ✽ ruffle detail crochet rug ✽

turquoise birkinstock sandals, white worishofer sandals, american apparel tights, lori marie felt flower brooch, vintage dresses.

what do you wear?

• mostly vintage dresses
• jeans at home and on errands
• cardigans of many sleeve lengths and colors
• vintage smock aprons (sometimes these need a zip or buttons added)
• A line wrap skirts
• trapeze tops/dresses/kaftans and leggings
• colorful flat shoes
• colorful boots
• colorful tights & leg warmers

turquoise birkenstock sandals, pink slip on wedges thrifted

that all sounds pretty average.

i suppose its more about the combinations i put together and the fabric patterns i choose. i dress like i compose a design, there is a balance of awesomeness and “white” space (yeah, its not actually ever white in my outfit). for example, if i choose a crazy paisley dress, i will pick a tight color palette to accessories with to let the dress work its paisley magic. or if i’m wearing a solid color dress, i might just go nuts and add in lots of different colored accessories! i also like wearing things in different ways – e.g.: vintage smock aprons as tops, old bikini cover-ups as tunic tops or dresses.

have you always dressed this way?

pretty much since i was 16. i’ve grown into my look more, i’m more ‘put together’ and my wardrobe more cohesive but i’ve always liked color and pattern and vintage. there was a brief lapse in sanity after i had my son where i thought i should dress like a mother… in sweatpants and junk but thankfully i rediscovered my mojo.

green and pink flip flops miss trish for target USA,  turquoise patent leather flats quick brown fox

philosophy? isn’t that a bit precious?

yes it sounds massively pretentious, maybe its not a ‘philosophy’ per se but it helps me to stay focused and not buy all sorts of random trend based things that don’t fit, don’t suit, or won’t last. and that in turn makes getting dressed each day a piece of delicious cake. while i think my style exists outside of trends, its hard not to be swayed sometimes by THIS season’s BLUE or THIS season’s specifc detail e.g.: scalloped hems

so my “philosophy”, my manifesto, my rules, or what have you, are to stick to what i know looks good – the colors that suit, the shapes that flatter and the details that highlight my assets. for me, that includes:

• blues, purples, cool pinks. i’m very pale, with an ‘english rose’ pink complexion
• so that means no yellow, orange or fluorescent colors. i can only just get away with green!
• dresses that have defined waistlines (i’m an hourglass)
• nothing with too high neckline. décolletage is a busty girls best friend: so i flaunt it, just a bit, or i look like nurse ratchett.
• nothing too long – i have pretty cute ‘pins’ (that’s legs)

where do you shop?

(vintage)

• etsy
• ebay
• frocks & slacks melbourne
• retro star clothing melbourne

(non vintage)

• mod cloth
• ASOS
• victoria’s secret (jeans & basic tees)
• american apparel (for tights, leggings and tees)
• boden (i also get a lot of boden off ebay too! much cheaper and mostly unworn)

i’m sure i don’t have to tell you that when shopping for clothes online you must know your measurement! bust, waist, hip and inseam. it helps to know a bit about fabric too – a stretch fabric will mean a couple of extra valuable inches, a cotton means that sucker will fit you snug if its too small. busting seams is not ladylike! its incredible hulk-like.

and let me clarify – i’m not continually shopping. i check back often, but i probably only buy something quarterly (unless i find something really special!) a colorful wardrobe is not made in a day! i search for fabric patterns i like, colors that work for me and styles that flatter: when all those factors line-up its perfection.

vintage bikini coverup/tunic and emily green necklace - handmade felt dahlia brooch

don’t forget the accessories

a range of colored tights: when your leg skin tone would be described as “ultra white A4″ or “goose flesh” its important not to share that with the world. i choose american apparel tights over color lovers (for example) because they fit me really well and they last incredibly well.

big enamel flower brooches, or a felt dahlia brooch

beads! plastic one-color treasures or a versatile emily green masterpiece

how do you find these things?!

i shop at the places listed above, but finding exactly what i like on etsy or ebay is often a bit of a hunt. oh and its all in the thrill of the chase!

the internet is a wonderful thing with more than you could ever dream of, but sometimes you have to think outside the search box for what it is you’re after. i shudder at some of the search phrases i’ve used and found fabulous things with…

my most used search phrases (in varying combinations):

• 60s
• 70s
• floral
• psychedelic
• scooter dress
• house dress
• cover-up
• apron/smock
• mod

my most reluctantly used search phrases:

• brady bunch
• hippy/hippie
• crazy (yes, really)

your closet must be never ending, right?

its not, really. i have about 20 dresses and skirts of varying patterns and solid colors. the rest is ‘basics’: plain colored cardigans, long and short sleeved tees, tights, and a assortment of colored shoes and boots. i’m lucky that i live in a climate that doesn’t vary wildly, so in winter i will layer long sleeved tees or thermals under dresses and i have a couple of go to coats and scarves to brave the terrifying 12˚c/53.6˚F winters we have here in melbourne.
did i miss anything? let me know in the comments!

its time to decorate with draw! pilgrim’s alphabet print in ‘gum ball’ colorway. this post is something of an experiment, the gum ball color way has never been as hugely popular as the sundae color print, so i’m taking pre-orders before i get new stock of this bright pop color way!

If you’re anything like this family, you spend 90% of your time in your living room… living. so make it bright and fun to match the energy of your bunch! break up some blocks of color with sassy stripes and jazzy cushions. i’m a huge fan of white walls and colorful stuff. this is especially good news considering i’m a renter doomed to cream walls forever! click the pic for product info.

i really can’t get on the bland baby’s room bandwagon (i can’t get on any bandwagon – old sporting injury, y’see). i’m firmly of the opinion that if you’re going to spend your adulthood in beige and gray and black and blah then at least have a colorful childhood. babies in beige? no sir. babies deserve fresh, sweet, gelato colors! I say make the decor fun and whimsical because new life deserves to enjoy all the fun and dazzle that one can stand. click the pic for product info.

do you see the desk? it has pencils. for. legs. and a spiral binding detail. do i really need to explain any more?! good luck getting any serious work done on that sucker! and the rug matches the print like a match made in heaven, so if you buy one, promise me you’ll buy the other (buy the print first though ha!) click the pic for product info.

✽ pink frog bank ✽ vintage mugs ✽ ‘advice for getting married’ booklet ✽

✽ patchwork skirt  ✽ enamel flower serving tray ✽ abstract psychedelic fabric ✽

survey says… you want to know more about me! here’s a few vital (and non vital) statistics for enquiring minds:

date of birth:

july 12th, 1982. that makes me a 29 year old cancerian.

hometown:

adelaide, south australia: city of churches and quite a lot of murders. i am responsible for neither. famous adelaideans include tennis player leyton hewitt, actor anthony la paglia, musical lady sia, artist jeffery smart, and lots of other people.

parents:

tim – photographer, chocolatier, restauranteur, sewing machine mechanic, and pawn broker. he was a renaissance man. (deceased 2009)

jill – graphic designer, expert at high kicks (deceased 2004)

siblings:

none. growing up, i was fine with that. having now lost both my parents it would be nice to have a bit of extra family. sometimes i feel like the last of my species.

very significant other:

peter, awesome chap and music journalist extraordinaire

kiddo:

just one 5 year old boy!

education:

13 years at an all-girls school, 2 years working in england, 1 semester of interior decoration, 12 months of nervous breakdown, a quick nap then on to visual communication at university.

what were you like in school?

i was never the popular girl, but i was never the outcast. i was lucky that i went to a small school that supported my self expression, so i’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum. i was great at art, english, drama and history – unbelievably terrible at science, sport and maths. i was so bad at math/sciences that in my senior year there were special arrangements made for me to do photography as my “science” unit. it was quite strange to be in the “gifted” stream for some subjects, and then be failing the basic maths classes.

✽ floral tea set ✽ carousel wallpaper ✽ flour canister ✽

✽ toadstool wall plaque  ✽ enamel tray ✽ toadstool tray ✽

✽ pie plate ✽ ceramic dinner bell ✽ 

take a pinch or floral, a dash of psychedelia, and a large helping of tangerine and you’ve got the ingredients for one bitchen’ retro kitchen. crazy carousel wallpaper and ceramic dinner bell essential!