Archive for the ‘Other Stuff’ Category


July 8th – 20 Years

July 8th, 2010 by Tracy

Paul & Tracy 20th

What a milestone! 20 years ago today we tied the knot. Oh happy memories!

Paul surprised me this morning with a heart-stopping little black box, with beautiful vintage ruby and diamond stud earrings inside! After the disastrous storm (our house awaits a new roof) we deferred our plans to travel to my favourite place – Paris – until next year. Then again, maybe Vegas, for our 21st!

We married on a sunny winter’s day at Pierre’s in West Perth and honeymooned in Thailand. And every day since has been happy. These pics are from a trip to Sydney around 1994, in the famous Remo store’s photobooth.

Amour toujours Paul, Tracy xx

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When in Maylands…

July 1st, 2010 by Tracy

Sherbet bake shop
If a print-check requires your presence over yonder-way in Maylands, I suggest you deserve a refreshment on the return trip (so I always tell myself).

I recommend Sherbet, heaven for sweet-tooths, then swing around the corner to the rockabilly & retro store Atomic Trash a Gogo on Eighth Ave. This brand new store, run by the lovely Anne, stocks cool dresses, bags, shirts, shoes and gorgeous retro-flavoured kidswear. Wonderful art by Frichot. Gogo-see.

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to iPad or not to iPad?

June 20th, 2010 by Tracy

ipad with sketchbook pro“Huh, iPads”, I thought. “I don’t need one…”

When Steve Jobs said the iPad was magical, I think he was referring to its powers of seduction. Once you hold the thing, you want one! OK, it’s meant to be an ereader, but I think until they make something electronic smell like ink on paper, books are my pref. But it does make reading War & Peace in bed easy.

And then there’s the gorgeous, clear rendering of images and movies. It’s easier to haul around than my laptop, and when I find I can sketch with it (Sketchbook Pro is kinda addictive), my inner iNerd was awoken.

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Friday Sewing: Patterns & Construction

June 4th, 2010 by Tracy


I’ve collected some fab 50s and 60s dressmaking patterns, like this first unprinted pattern I’d worked with (made view 1 with the boatneck & bow). There haven’t been toooo many fitting problems, but I thought a patternmaking and construction course could helpfully hone my French darts and bodice-fitting (not ripping) skills.

So, I’m into the 2nd week of a 6 week short course at TAFE (run on Thurs evenings), and although it’s challenging my left-brain, I am beginning to see why everything indeed revolves around the ‘bust-point’!

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Dean Bowen Bird

May 19th, 2010 by Tracy

Dean Bowen bird with stick insects
A new Dean Bowen painting for the collection: Bird with Stick Insects. He’s made friends with the nest of blue-toned mid-century ceramics.

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Autumn Days

May 17th, 2010 by Tracy


Ah, these gorgeous autumn mornings – wonderful light and invigorating breezes. Yesterday we had breakfast beach-side, and later rode our retro bikes down to Scarborough. All that oxygenated blood supply made a glass of sauv blanc even more enjoyable at cocktail hour, which extends from roughly 6-9pm.

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Sewing Diversion

April 21st, 2010 by Tracy

60s spot dress

I’ve been sewing from Vintage patterns lately. This modern Butterick shift dress pattern with a turned boatneck collar worked a treat in fabric purchased from Tessuti – a kinda 60s look (and early Elvis hair). And don’t I match the blue Gordon Andrews’ Rondo chair perfectly?

It’s hard to sew when Miss Trixie exercises her rights to sit on anything papery or vaguely mat-like!

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Posted by Tracy Posted in Other Stuff, Sewing, Trixie | 2 Comments »


Floreat Lakes

March 26th, 2010 by Tracy

Hailstone Storm 2010

What started as an exciting oddity – hailstones in Perth – quickly developed into disaster movie stuff.

Within 5 minutes our front lawn turned into a lake lapping into our house, the roof became Swiss cheese and water poured from light fittings, ceiling fans and cornices, and windows were smashed. Neighbours kindly brought in armloads of towels to help us mop up. I had images of Charlton Heston parting the Red Sea – where’s a staff when you need one?

Amazingly, the computers survived, and our bedroom stayed dry. Our cat bolted, but was later found in a neighbour’s house watching TV.

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