For those of us on Gertrude Street, it’s been hard to ignore the Projection Festival. Twice in the last week I’ve walked the street of an evening and the second time (last night) I bravely attempted to take some photos for you – I say “bravely” because without the benefit of a good camera, a nice tripod, a better skillset and images that don’t move quite so fast, it’s been like photographing ghosts.

It’s quite a challenge for an amateur: if you use the flash, the images vanish beneath the shock of light. Without flash, the length of time required in the dim street light produces a blurry image because inevitably, it will change or you will move or both.

I’m sure that the results can tell interesting stories about the ephemeral image and the necessity of living in the moment. Sadly, it doesn’t make for good visual memories though so I encourage you to go and see it before it ends on Sunday night.

If you’ve seen it already, I encourage you to go again: there is much to see, and much that changes – the best example is the Rose Chong window, which features live performers! The first night we were there, two ladies sat, one read and one knitted. Last night was more exciting though: the two (a different two?) were prancing and dancing with animal masks on their heads, whilst two small dogs “ruffed” at a small child with a teddy bear (a threat to their territory perhaps?). Not high art, maybe, but definitely fun.

One of the reasons that I’m enjoying it is because it encourages you to engage with the street in a different way. We walked up both sides of the street looking out for the numbers that would indicate that an exhibit was present, and searched (sometimes in vain) for the artwork. Gertrude Street makes for a good gallery: there are lots of nice spaces to display things and it’s quite dark in bits, well suited to a projection.

This is the third year of the festival and it’s getting better and better – there’s still lots of potential and next year I’d like to see more buildings host artworks, and more information about each artwork displayed. Circa will hopefully be involved again, as a sponsor and venue.

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest for the Way We Wear Fair tickets – I enjoyed all your responses, in fact I’ve found some extra tickets so you can all have some! So: Mel, Belle, Steph, Lyn and Anastasia, please email me with your postal addresses and I shall send some asap. Dilly dallying is not encouraged, as time is of the essence: the fair is on this weekend.

Hi all,

Just a quick note to advise about Circa’s Easter trading hours:

Thursday April 1st: 11am to 6pm.
Friday April 2nd: closed.
Saturday April 3rd: 12noon to 3pm only.
Sunday April 4th: closed.

Normal trading hours will recommence next week.
Thank you – the lovely ladies at Circa.

In 1979 my step-mother gave me an old needlebook – as a daily sewer, I’ve used it often, even taking it around the world where ever I went. It’s so useful, and yet, I’ve never come across another and I didn’t even know what it was called until recently.

It’s hand-sewn out of old upholstery linen, probably surrounding a cardboard insert (it’s quite stiff) and is lined with cotton sateen. I estimate the linen dates from the 1930s and the cotton sateen might even be a bit older. It’s faded on the edges from where it’s been exposed to sunlight.

Inside is a piece of worsted wool, into which the needles, pins etc are stuck. You can see how well used it is – some of these pins and needles go back to my earliest days of sewing in the early 1970s. They’ve stained the wool in places!

I use my needlebook a lot, and recently I’ve been wondering why I haven’t seen any others – so I showed it to Pene Durston of Cottage Industry, as she’s knowledgeable about these things. It was Pene who told me what they were called, and said that she was sure that she had a similar linen. Lo and behold – on Friday she brought me a present:

Pene’s version is lined in a cute paisley print – and is also hand-stitched.

You’re probably feeling the need of a needlebook of your own by now, so I can tell you that they’re available for sale at Cottage Industry, 67 Gertrude Street for only $28! And they come ready loaded with a few needles and pins, which came in very handy when I had to patch the dress I wore to a wedding on Saturday and found that my own needlebook had been left at the stock room (you can see the remnants of my black thread if you look closely).

Yes, all vintage clothing is still 20% off until the end of the week – this includes lay bys.

Hope to see you soon!

A new exhibition of ladies vintage fashion is opening on Friday night:

From exquisite party frocks to warm woollen coats and even the odd fancy dress costume, this is a rare opportunity to view original garments hand-made by Mrs Dorothy Hart of Benga House. Mrs Hart, who together with her husband Dr Ian Hart designed and built Benga House, was an accomplished seamstress.

The original dresses and clothes were all handmade by Mrs Hart between the 1940s and the 1970s.

What: Hart & Hand – Stitching together the private and public lives of Mrs D. Hart.
When: 13 January – 10 March, Wed to Fri, 10am to 4pm and Sun 12pm to 4pm.
Where: Benga House, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong 3175. Phone phone 9793 4511.
Cost: Gold coin donation

Further information is available at the Heritage Hill website. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of related talks, including two by Patricia Begg and one by me. I’ll post about those soon.

I had the opportunity to view some of the gowns, to help with dating and I can report that they are very good examples of a highly skilled seamstress – the standard of Mrs Hart’s work would nowadays qualify as couture. In particular I was impressed by her structured 1950s ballgowns (an early example of which can be viewed above). The clothes have been well preserved by the museum and this is the first time they have been displayed for the public.

Recently a lovely lady included me in her 12 Days of Vintage Christmas. It was such a delight to read the following:

On the fifth day of Christmas, Vintage Santa gave to me . . .A job selling vintage at Circa in Fitzroy.

I’m not sure if Vintage Suburbia is really looking for work, but in case she – or any other vintage-loving lady – is looking for a part time job, I encourage you to read through the listing at Seek and write me a letter with your CV.

The role is for three days a week (7 hours a day), between Tuesday and Saturday. I’d like to find someone who loves nothing better than to frock up in vintage finery and help others to do likewise. Someone with their own sense of style and confident enough to charm the large variety of people who come in our door. Experience, whilst preferred, is not essential.

As much as I’d love to find a stylish gentleman, we need a lady for this role due to the need to be able to fit lingerie and other girly essentials.

You’re welcome to email me at nicole@circavintageclothing.com.au with any questions – applications close Saturday 16th January. Thank you.

UPDATE: I’ve already received many email applications so I would like to emphasise that I would like written applications to be posted only! I anticipate a large number of responses, so your chances of an interview will be improved greatly by reading the job ad and meeting it’s criteria. Thank you.

Also – if you’ve recently brought me a CV and you’re still interested in a position, please apply to this advertisement as I get many requests and I don’t hold them on file for long in case you’re no longer available.

To all our wonderful customers and readers – all the best for the festive season. We’ll be closed for the public holidays only – Christmas Day, Boxing Day (Saturday) and then open again next Tuesday.

Next week we’ll only be closed for New Year’s Day on Friday.

My lovely friend Samantha has just released a new Kustom Pin Ups calendar for 2010.

That’s her on the left, with Devil Doll – who also supplies all the outfits from her psychobilly label Devil Doll. Included are enough fabulous models, outfits and cars to get you through the whole year.

I picked mine up from Faster Pussycat, where Sam kindly autographed it for me – or you can buy online.

One of the best things about doing what I do, is the fabulous people I get to meet – last Sunday Vintage Verve organised a get-together with drinks and nibbles sponsored by the chaps at Nuff Nang.

Every blogger has their own style – especially when it comes to fashion bloggers. I love the way that although we’re all very different, we’ve all dressed in a similar colour palette!

Super Kawaii Mama

Fashion Hayley

Poppet and Lady Melbourne

AUS style, Poppet, Smaggle, Angela see Angela blog

Poppet, Vintage Verve, Me, Smaggle

Angela see Angela blog, Fashion Hayley, Vintage Verve, Ink and Leather, Sea of Ghosts, Super Kawaii Mama and Poppet

See everyone’s blogs here:
Angela See, Angela Blog.
AUS style.
Fashion Hayley.
Ink and Leather.
Lady Melbourne.
Poppet Vintage
Sea of Ghosts.
Smaggle.
Super Kawaii Mama.
Vintage Verve.

Big thank you to Miss Verve for organising this one and I look forward to the next one! Thank you also to Lady Melbourne, Fashion Hayley and AUS style for the use of photos.

Jules of Poppet Vintage was encouraged to make more of her beautiful frock so they can be purchased at her shop (Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy in case you haven’t been there yet) and Super Kawaii Mama will be appearing at Circa tomorrow as Guest Celebrity Shop Lady – pop in for fabulous vintage style tips!