Monday, March 12, 2012

smells of ..

I am the lucky owner of some art-deco braid which goes with everything or so I believe..


.. an adult version of a hand knitted kermit top (no not kermit sex) my wardrobe has been craving for ..


.. a blue quilted housecoat for entertaining at home ..


.. and a fresh bunch of flowers ..


hmm.. I can smell birthday (and kind hearted relations!).. I can also smell RAMEN.. must attend to the stock and promise I'll be back with more constructive posts soon.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Cat inspired mask

I am currently working on a lot of things contemporaneously.
Meaning.. I have a lot on the go and very little to show for it.

However yesterday evening I stayed up late watching episode 10 of the 1st series of 'ROME' - Julius Caesar's triumph episode to be exact, whilst putting the finishing touches on this maori/totem pole/cat inspired mask for musician and performer Yasmin aka YEWS .. <*click this link ere for more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/YEWS/203907893035651>





I am going to quote Lara on this because she put everything I had in mind into words.. she's good with words you see: 'That is truly awesome! Like a hawk-bear hybrid 1980s Hanna-Barbera superhero meets Mexican Wrestler meets Bjork meets Venice carnival! :-D'

all I want to do is make more masks for YOUS! (ok sorry for the bad pun).. and perhaps a couple of matching capes.

Meanwhile (for the sake of continuity and a common theme) here are a few scenes from 'ROME' in which Caesar would have benefited from having this mask:





Monday, February 6, 2012

Thanking the almighty for professional photography...

I find myself clasping my frostbit-ten fingers together on this unusually icy eve in grateful prayer for all of those, lovely enough, commissioned or otherwise, who end up taking professional photos of things I make. I am afflicted with an unfortunate state of affairs where I am not permitted (for teh good of teh world) to pose in my own creations since the creatures I share a life with are either of the feline variety or of the 'out-to-ruin-travel-pictures-by-focusing-mainly-on-the-extremities-of-the-human-form-if-at-all' variety. I also happen to be an over enthusiastic, but alas, mediocre photo-taking-enthusiast.. so good photos of my work aimed for posterity are very impossible from this end.

Remember that lovely (if I may say so myself) wedding dress I had collaborated with Sarah Micallef of The Secret Rose to make for the even lovelier bride Maria Giuliana.. now I can actually see it as I had intended it to look.. thanks to Denise Scicluna I can now actually look at the dress.. not at my awkward photo of it. I am grateful. Mucho.


photo by Denise Scicluna


photo by Denise Scicluna


photo by Denise Scicluna

I must also thank Daniel Vella and his lovely Schembri sibling models who did such justice to the hats I made for Lara's own 'Hey Birdie-pie!'event/vintage sale KISS & MAKE UP next Saturday morning at Soap Cafe' in Sliema
.. all of the hard work that went into each photo vignette is truly appreciated .. <3



photo by Daniel Vella


photo by Daniel Vella


photo by Daniel Vella


photo by Daniel Vella

Just in case you happen to be on the rock this very weekend, I'm warning you it'll probably be very difficult to avoid having fun!!

.. off to psychologically prepare myself to set up stage for: https://www.facebook.com/events/254963141236546/ ... I'll be needing a full fat, death-row meal after this weekend. *looking forward (oink)

Monday, January 30, 2012

Parisian adventure coat

I just put the finishing touches on this pure wool coat.

I am blogging this in order to show my love for this coat for keeping my lap warm whilst hemming it.. alas! this coat will be going to Paris before me. That's one lucky coat!



Double breasted, flared skirt that's longer (and thus more flattering) at the back, matching set of vintage shiny buttons, detachable roomy hood lined in matching flowery 100% cotton, secret pockets in the lining for the traveler in you and a handy decorative pocket on the hip for bus change or sweets.. Did I already say I love this coat!?





PS: coat looks a million times better on its rightful owner and it's colour is closer to the last photo of the three.. damn you grey inconsistent skies!

Oh la la baguette, vol au vent, trottoir!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

SWAP - the return

Volume two of the mighty swap took us to the limits of Rabat.. we barely made there, laden with bags of clothes, pastizzi and wine.. For my part I must admit I was happy to be relieved of hosting duties this time round (and for this I thank Claire of yummy hoummus/olives/salmon sandwiches and glass bead fetish fame).. this was a good party.. I misplaced (ie. lost) the clothes I came in twice and that for me is a sign of a good party.

Another good sign is that I left the party with as big a bag as I came in with; ie. all fair and square.. I have recieved as much as I have given.. the conscience of this cranberry-juice-guzzling swapper is clear.

I am really pleased with my liquorish allsorts themed accessories... [scarf from Carla - necklace from Alex - belt from Denise]



.. as well as with my military-voodoo-hostess gear. [Hat, earrings and belts from Carla - Voodoo friend from Denise]



Both pairs of shoes come from Sarah's lot.. I'm on a mission to come up with a modern geisha outfit to justify the platform on the first pair.. I will not give up on them. I also removed the satin ribbon laces from the boots and will probably wear them as they are or have some new acid green ones put in depending on the occasion.



My Kim Kardashian crochet top/dress also depending on the occasion [from Alex] and my polka dot pleated skirt [from Karen?] ..



I think this 'carpet' skirt is on its way towards becoming my biggest friend .. [both scarf and skirt from Alex]



At this point you might be wondering whether I actually swapped all of these items in an orderly fashion with the intent of making up outfits as I went along. I must assure you that the result was accidental and that all of the swapping took place in a harem-like frenzy of stripping and unzipping. Any 'proxxmu' walking their dog at the ungodly hour of 12 in Rabat must consider 'themself' (tactfully avoiding being sexist) lucky lucky lucky. (or not)

[scarf from Denise - bag from Francesca - silky vest that hides just the right places from Carla]



Please save us all from the slightest mention of that sorry song which mentions a she-person dressed in this particualr colour .. that song sung by a big eyebrow and a floppy fringe.
[RED coverup jacket from Alex - flattering pair of RED trousers I shall replicate from Francesca - and another RED-ish patterned coverup from Carla]



Here's the dress that's going to save me this coming (busy) wedding season.. for all those weddings when anything else would look 'too much' or 'too little'.. provided I do not outgrow it :/ I love the blue zebras. [from Sarah the keeper of clothes and cute pets]



Here's the dress I was given with a warning and a disapproving look. This dress is Carla's and she thinks it's too 90s to be saved. I, on the other hand, think I can still work it. So in a bid to regain Carla's trust in her own offering I paired it with her silver belt and threw in a cute kitten for good measure. I just hope you'll still be my friend if I visit you in it.



.. and here's a blouse that came back from the first Swap. I am taking it as a sign of some sort. I'll pair it with this bag I also got from Sarah and then I'll decide. These are (not) the decisions that shape our world.



PS: Alison I will follow you wherever you go.. till death do us part. Ktnxbai. Over and out.

but just before I leave.. Sorry Rachel for the scarring stories and my attempt to seduce you from behind a flimsy scarf. I owe you tea and cake.

Lady Luck strikes again!

Yes, jubilation! I've been the proud and elated reciever of very generous donations this last week. Thank you Rita for parting with the cutest coral-faced overlocker and a cyan blue jacket with dramatic black trimming. You've injected some well needed colour into my busy week. Your pastel nightdresses are also making me re-consider pink and violet and am cosying up in one right now! Cotton loves your body and you must love it back.. especially if it's trimmed in antique lace.




Thursday, January 19, 2012

I'm Honoured!



Today, I recieved my first award ever and I did it in my pygamas in between folding the laundry and waiting for glue to dry.. wish I was dressed up for the occasion!

I've just been awarded the Liebster Blog Award - 'liebster' meaning 'dearest and the award nominees having with less than 200 followers .. see who would have thought that having only a few dedicated followers would turn out to be a good thing!!

I must thank Marika from FairyFiligree for nominating my blog and 4 others! I follow FairyFiligree because it deals with everything lovely and up my alley.. thanks again Marika!

Now to the instructions...

When you're given the award you -

1. Thank the one who gave you the award and post a link.
2. Mention 5 blogs to forward the award to (let them know by leaving a comment at their blog).
3. Keep your fingers crossed that the chosen ones want to keep forwarding the award ;)


And now.. the moment you've all been waiting for: (*dum dum dum)

I shall award the blogs I follow religiously because I care about the people behind them and because I believe in their crafty/arty/wordly capabilities or otherwise...

1. The Secret Rose
2. denisescicluna
3. alexandra-aquilina
4. is this your periscope?
5. The Wizard of Gobbledygook

may I also award Ewe and Me ?? I can.. it is MY award-winnin' blog after all!

I have favourite tumblr(s):,( which I couldn't nominate *I cry