Paper Dress

I thought I would share with you a project I have been working on. With my job I get given all types of interesting, and some times difficult projects. This one particular one was making a paper dress, inspired by the amazing garnets that were all the rage in the 1960s ( you can read a little about them here). After a couple of trials and testing different papers it was decided that lithography paper (the cheapest one, it turns out at 30 cents a sheet) did the job perfectly. Now we just have to wait to see what the students do with it. Have you ever been given some interesting and quite difficult?

The Surprise! and realisations.

Via

Well I must say the weekend that has just gone is one of the best that I have had in a very long time. Truth be known my weekend of wonderful actually started on Friday when one of my closest friends arrived in the country after just over 12 months to surprise his lovely Mum at a time when she needed him the most. Although the circumstances were not the best it was wonderful to see him after such a long time. So much has happened in that period and we are still catching up on the ins' and outs' of 12 months apart. Anyway, back to Friday... after picking up Chris Chris from the airport we headed off to my work where he dropped me off and I handed him my life in the form of keys, passwords, car and directions (Chris has never been to my new house nor did he know where it was or how to tackle the alarm system). Armed with all of these things, as well as the password to my computer to be able to contact me through Facebook he was off on an unknown journey to my house to freshen up after 3 days of travel from the Isle of Skye to surprise his Mum later that day. I must comment he did extremely well, except for setting the alarm system off. 

Our plans were on track and the surprise was set.. after some sneaky words on my behalf and 2 attempts to get Jude away from everyone I managed to reconnect Mother and Son. It was just beautiful, and exactly what Jude needed at this point in her life. There were tears, hugs, lots of shaking and shock but it all worked out so beautifully (Both Chris and I thought that we might have to preform CPR on his Mum, she was that shocked).

After all the tears and hugs I took a moment to reflect on a few things, one thing was that as we grow older and move our separate ways that it amazes me how much our view of our parents change, and how our priorities change to support and be there for them when we, not to long ago only really cared about ourselves and our journey. I have seen it since my move to my new house how much I really do appreciate my parents and what they have done and continue to do for me. The sacrifices they make for me and how much throughout my life they have put me and my needs before themselves. Seeing Chris drop everything and travel three days to make it in time for a very sad event just to be there for his Mum, to support her and just 'be' here for her. It really just a beautiful gesture. It has made me think, more than I have been lately, how much our priorities change and need to change. That we work so much to purchase things, and buy things that add to our lives when in actual fact the things that matter are not things at all. They are the people, memories, kind acts, love and moments in our lives that we to often take for granted.

I hope that you can take some time and reflect on your moments and memories and decide where your priorities are and what matters most to you. We live in a world where we forget these things and moments just slip away. Try to go out of your way to make this moments stay in your minds and memories forever, because these are in fact the most important things. 

I will be back a bit later to fill you in on the rest of my wonderful weekend, but I think I will just leave you with my reflections for now. kijaro xx

What are your priorities?

To do List, and not to do. In our fast pace lives we seem to forget the important things.

Take a few minutes to watch this beautifully simple piece.

Yan Chan does Suitcase Rummage

So although I have been running completely behind the times I wanted to share with you some photographs from the Suitcase Rummage from October. The day was awfully windy... stall holders were pinning down their sheets with anything the could find from suitcases to chairs to shoes and handbags just to make sure they didn't get taken on a magic carpet ride to the Queen Street Mall.. although after all attempts some did indeed go flying. Despite this windy weather it was a magical day topped off by meeting the lovely Yan Chan. I spotted this well dress gentleman by his AMAZING vintage camera. I am yet to discover exactly what it was.. but it was big, and old.... and exquisite! Anyway back on track. I got talking to Yan and discovered that he was there taking photos (on his digital SLR) for the council and photographs for his own collection on his vintage tool. A couple of weeks ago a recieved an email from him with some of the photographs he took that day.. and I must say they took my breath away. The colours just pop and he managed to get the emotion and joy in everyone on the day and I thought I would share them with you. He was again at Rummage on Sunday and I am secretly brimming with excitement to see what other wonderful images he captured from the day. You can see more of his images here from the October Suitcase Rummage.

Cutting Away

via

Through exploring TED this week I found this wonderful talk by Beatrice Coron. I find it fascinating that she removes what is not from that story. Her work is breathtaking.

Béatrice Coron: Stories cut from paper | Video on TED.com

Old Show Tunes

Now I would be lying if I said that musicals and the tunes that go with them are not a favourite in the kijaro house... so the other day in one of my light bulb ideas I acquired from my lovely father, my grandmothers record player. Although it isn't as lovely as the one I nearly bought at an estate a couple of weeks ago and have been kicking myself ever since.. it is still amazing. It proved to be a little bit of a challenge to get it going at first (helps if you press the phono button not the AUX button) but I can assure you that I have it all sorted now. The house of late has been filled with wonderful show tunes from the Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and a vast arrary of other wonderful broadway tunes mixed with some Santra and a dash of ABBA. I can say that it is wonderful to do the breakfast routine with some good old tunes with the wonderful unique sound of the original player. On a side note I am a little excited about tomorrow, the wonderful Laura from Kit and Nancy and I have a date with some yard sales, a coffee shop and maybe an oppy or two or maybe a few. I will be sure to check back let you know what our adventures entailed. kijaro xx

The new partnership, Apples and Kijaro xx

Well I must say that I have been a bit undisciplined in this blog business.. but rest assured I have had some ideas to make it happen a little more often. I am writing tonight from the Kijaro Mansion, as the lovely Laura has named it.... I am liking this one a lot better than 'The Hunting Lodge' as Amy has named it, due to the large number of porcelain animals that reside here... if you have any other suggestions I am open to them, but that is veering off track a little... I am writing to you from my lovely new abode, listening to some Frank Santra in the new/old record player, I have the house all to my self and it is quite delightful in fact... Today saw me back at work after a rather disappointing market weekend on the sale front, but on the up side I purchased some wonderful items to add to the growing collection (I hope to share those with you when I can photograph them), also I met some lovely people across the weekend at the Ipswich Environmental Festival and also Aladdin's Fair so in the end it all worked out delightful (these included LoveFromPatt and A little Vintage just to name a couple . When I wasn't marketing I managed to purchased some wonderful things from Laura with her sneak peek Yard Sale photos, if you haven't checked it out you really should and quickly.. things are not hanging round for long.... 

I think this would have to be my favourite out of all the things I have caught in just the nick of time. Although this is the third couch I have bought for the new house, (I know a little excessive) I am going to make it all work. This little beauty is a sofa bed and it is coved in the most divine fabic you have seen in the form of a couch. How could I say no really??

But to the real reason for our meeting tonight the very exciting news about the new partnership! Before I tell you about the news I want to give you the little back story first. Near my old house there is a delightful little shop with the blissful name of Apples on Ainsworth. Run by the duo of Kymberlee and Sarah this little shop is just the place for coffee, chats and catch ups of all sorts, did I mention its also a green grocer with fresh produce, herbs, honey and bread!! What more could a girl what.

 I have been past this little gem a couple of times thinking I should stop by for a taste and not just a look, and Thursday was the day. Miss Kylie and I popped in for a bit of brunch and were not disappointed. With walls covered in blackboard paint it is literally a canvas for all things vintage and lovely. The food was amazing! For under twenty dollars you could find yourself tasting beautiful food and drinking perfect tea all off mismatched vintage crockery! Defiantly worth a visit.. and make sure you take advantage of their blanket lending service for a picnic in the park. Oh, and don't forget to pick up a kijaro greeting card while your there! Yes thats right! Kijaro is now stocked at Apples on Ainsworth, now that should give you even more reason to pop in and see the girls and their beautiful shop. xx