only one goal

In the midst of all the festive celebrations, we can often get carried away and make too many resolutions that just end up being too difficult to do and they get dumped. My goal for this year is to do some form of exercise for 150 minutes a week. Please hold me to it!

shopping, not as much fun as it used to be (WTF?)

so I hussled off to the Zara sale this morning with very high hopes and even some money to spend (what a combo!) but was a bit disappointed. I did end up buying a few things but the red blazer that I completely fell in love with and was marked at R329 was mismarked (it was supposed to be R999 which I wasn't prepared to pay) so I left pretty bleak. 

Then I saw these loafers at Witchery marked down by 50%, but they didn't look that good on me. Tres disappointing. 

Stuff I love right now

Due to a tummy bug that has made sure I have lost weight over Christmas for the first time in living memory, I have found myself on the couch in my PJs all day today. That means I have watched the cricket - day 2 SA vs Sri Lanka, right now SA not looking too good!- and also surfed the net a lot and found some lovely, interesting and beautiful things.

To start with, Check out this gorg jacket, unfortunately i can't get the pic up.

These miniemergency kits from ms & mrs 

I have loved vintage tea towels for some time now, and especially love the calendar ones, like this 1970 one. 

I was really pleased to see that there are people doing new ones, and here's one I found for 2012!

This beautiful dress on SALE at asos.

Yellow shoes!  So cute.

And so much more. Oh to be at the European post Christmas sales. 

totally into right now

check out:

here for the gorgeous illustrated cards

here for the beautiful typography

happy weekend!

Pretty flowery bags

I have recently acquired a few great new bags! Many of them just happen to have black backgrounds, and have some flowers going on. Here they are....

The one above is made of an upholstery type fabric, is a good size and has very very cool lucite clasp.

This next one is tapestried and I think it is beautiful. It has perfect black satin lining and is a fair size for a vintage bag. It also has the cutest clasp with two roses on it.

This bag has seen some life and come off second best, but when I saw it's gorgeous hard sided shape and elegant evening size, I could NOT walk away. I really love it. 

And now.....

I have never seen another bag like this last one. It is beaded in tiny black seed beads, back, front, handle. everywhere, and then has these tapestried flowers on the front, which I think makes it really special.

That's it for now!

"marché aux puces"

Calque

Used as a verb, "to calque" means to borrow a word or phrase from another language while translating its components so as to create a new lexeme in the target language.

Examples

The common English phrase "flea market" is a phrase calque that literally translates the French "marché aux puces" ("market where one acquires fleas").

Thanks Wikipedia! I love how you make my life interesting and full of diversions!

Anyway, this post did not set out to be a linguistics exercise but rather to talk about a lovely French market held this past Saturday at the Alliance Francaise in Joburg opposite Zoo lake. There was mouthwatering food and many a vintage bargain. What more could one ask for? Yes, company! My wonderful friend Tracy came around to the market and brought an entire entourage! Sonja and her sister and littlies came too and my super saleswoman sister Sam joined me for the whole afternoon. It was great!

Unfortunately this giddy aunt left her camera at home, so there is no proof that I had a fabulous time and sold quite a few gorgeous evening bags, some spectacular beaded gloves and a few other bits and bobs. I hope they have found vintage-loving homes. 

That means I will be doing more of my FAVOURITE passtime of all..... trawling for new pieces of vintage WOW to bring to a market near you soon!

right now I'm loving

so many things..

Patterns like paisley and florals

Wedge heels

Dresses with cut-out patterns

Dresses with belts

 And this guy's genius work, which you can buy here.

Happy summer!