June lust list

Wow, there sure is a lot of pink going on here isn't there? I promise I didn't plan it that way, it just happened like that. But so what? I love pink. I remember when I was scared to admit that during my childhood days for fear it would seem too girly. Now I am an adult and can like whatever colour I want without fear of being disowned in the sand pit. Oh, the wisdom that comes with age. 

Anyhow, it's starting to get rather cold around these parts and I feel myself with a very sparse wardrobe in terms of warm gear. It's time to stock up on jumpers, boots and coats and embrace winter! Plus I am currently a little ill so keeping snug is paramount right now. Here's what I'm digging in June:

1. asos pants - I feel like I'd be at least 100% cooler if I owned these hot pink pants.
2. asos earrings - I tend to go through jewellery phases and right now it's all about big ear bling paired with a ballerina bun.
3. Frends headphones - so they are a little pricey, but how awesome are these blingin' headphones? A stylish way to listen to The Spice Girls I say.
4. Portmans coat - ever since spying this coat on Instagram I was smitten. That feeling intensified when I tried it on recently, damn waiting for payday!
5. Topshop jumper - this knit sure looks like it would keep a gal toasty on wintery nights.
6. Witchery boots - yes, I am a magpie attracted to all kinds of bright, shiny things. Which is why I must own these almost rose gold Chelsea boots.
7. Urban Outfitters pendant light - still decorating the home which means an excuse to browse the 'apartment' section of UO all I like.
8. Topshop duffle - the Aztec print of this bag is fab, and may actually convince me to go to the gym if I could stow my stuff in such a snazzy sack.

Jazzy Nail Art

Nail art is a major trend that doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon, but while we can admire celebs' designs on the red carpet from afar, it's a whole different ball game trying to find someone in Perth who is willing to branch out from the French manicure and have a bit of fun with nail art. Enter industrious Perth gal Bobbi Jo Divitini, who I had the pleasure of meeting through swing dancing a while ago. With a love for all things beautifying, Bobbi Jo saw a gap in the market for a boutique nail art service catering to lasses wanting to adorn their talons with something that reflects their personality.

Ever since she launched her business Jazzy Nail Art I have been eagerly following Bobbi Jo's Facebook and Instagram feeds to catch a glimpse of what design she will take on next. This gal has serious talent in the nail department, and I was so excited to go into her new residence at Peggy Sue's salon to try out her services.

Though I am not usually one for look at me nails, I thought for this purpose I'd go for something a bit out there that really shows off Bobbi Jo's skills, so I opted for pointy gel nails with hearts on the tips. This look would be so great for a ball or wedding, and I love the Lana del Rey vibe of the points. Through my photos I have shown a bit of the process, from having the gel applied to the nail art on top. And of course I couldn't resist snapping Bobbi Jo's own glittery nails!

I would highly recommend paying Bobbi Jo a visit for nails that command attention, be it for a special event or to add a little glamour to every day life. She's a delight to have a chat with, making the time pass super fast. And not only is Bobbi Jo a nail art whiz but she also offers makeup and hairstyling, what a clever gal indeed! Here's a little Q&A I did with the lady herself to get a feel for what she offers:

• Best celebrity nail inspiration? Zooey Deschanel
• Top trends to try? Fruit for the warmer months, cute cat faces or high-density glitter
• Favourite design performed to date? Totoro-themed nails (so cute!)
• Services offerred? Nail art and manicures plus she is also getting into acrylic and gel nails
• Price point? Manicures start at $25

{Disclaimer: the services provided at Jazzy Nail Art were provided free of charge in exchange for a review. However the opinions expressed here are my own and care has been taken to ensure a fair and honest review.}

Them bones

I would put the feeling of snagging a great bargain up there along with making perfect macarons or domesticating dragons. Really, there's no better feeling. So imagine my excitement when, upon walking into Diva yesterday, I was confronted by these bizarre bone creations. I love how the design makes them look like they are going straight through the ear, without the commitment of actually stretching the earlobes. Genius!

There was no price on the back so I took them up to the counter to enquire, only to be told by a surprised sales attendant that they were in fact $1. Yep you heard me right, no I didn't miss any numbers out. $1. I grabbed an extra pair for my sister Lucy and I was on my way. It was fun presenting them to her today and us both walking around Subiaco showing off our new ear bling. Here's to bargains!

CLOSED Giveaway: ghd Candy Styler

**This giveaway has now closed. Congratulations to monetishappy who was randomly drawn as the winner!**

I am so excited to today bring you the very best giveaway I have ever had the pleasure of running. The Velvet Bow has partnered with iconic hairstyling brand ghd to give away one of their brand new Candy Stylers!

These limited edition pretties are from ghd's IV professional range and boast all the features we have come to know and love from the brand, including ceramic heating plates and a handy sleep mode. The punchy, vibrant colours are just the thing to add a little sparkle to styling routines this winter, inspired by popping hues off the catwalk and candy shop delights. The round barrel makes all manner of styles in easy reach, like sleek, straight strands or bouncy curls. Check out the 2013 ghd styling guide for even more ideas on how to use this nifty device.

Normally retailing for $249, one of these beautiful stylers could be yours in a choice of violet, lemon or mint colours.

Here's what you need to do:

• Be living in Australia (apologies to my lovely international readers, I'll have something coming for you soon!)
• Like The Velvet Bow on Facebook
• Leave a comment on this post with your email address and a joke so I know you're not a robot
• The winner will be chosen on Friday May 24 by a random number generator
• Check back then to see if you're the lucky new owner!

Shoe crush: Windsor Smith Funk

Whoever said you can't wear sandals in winter is clearly crazy, because I believe they can look awesome with the right styling no matter the weather. Retailers seem to agree too, with a number of the big Aussie shoe brands continuing their sandal lines all through the year.

Take this Windsor Smith "Funk" number for example. They have a bit more of an edge than traditional summer styles, and I could see them looking rad with ankle-grazing blue jeans, a crisp button up shirt and khaki anorak in the colder months.

In other news, we all know I love a good pair of jellys (jellies? I've seen it spelled every which way) so I was excited to see that Windsor Smith is also set to release their own line of the plasticky suckers. Proof that these shoes have legitimately jumped from our 90s childhoods and into the present day for good. Buy them in every colour and wear with pride!

Moving and Shaking

I think it's pretty safe to say there's been a lot going on this past month. We have had a number of friends come and visit us in Sydney which has been a real treat, and it's been a real adventure showing them our favourite spots and hidden gems. I also returned back to Perth just in time for Mother's Day, where my own mother treated everyone else around her to a homemade pasta fiesta boasting an array of handmade varieties and flavoursome sauces. Gee, I missed her cooking!

Here's a little of what I've been up to, as told through my lens:

1. The Strand arcade; One Teaspoon Home in Surry Hills
2. A seal charm Marc gave me as a memento
3. I miss this funny little face; boarding a flight back home
4. The Pie Tin is still one of my favourite Newtown haunts; cat in a pot plant?!
5. A slice of France in sunny Paddington
6. Finally got round to reading the lovely messages in our guest book; always adore a Kombi
7. Epic vine in Surry Hills
8. Fab glass cactus cocktail stirrers picked up in Paddington for $1 each; it's nice to be able to return to Moore and Moore, where we were married, for coffee and cake whenever we please
9. Handmade pasta courtesy of my talented mother
10. $10 bargain Rubi studded flats; tried out nail caviar with a couple of girlfriends

Etsy find: vintage world globes

Lately on Pinterest I have spied a mini-trend of using multiple vintage world globes to create stunning vignettes. Images like this, this and this have inspired me to have a go at creating my own, I love the old-world allure of the look and can get lost spinning my current sole globe to find countries and cities. The trick here to getting a nicely balanced vignette is to use globes of different shapes and sizes to arrange in a haphazard way, using height and texture (wood, metal etc) to create an eclectic look.

The only problem here is where to start. Vintage world globes have the reputation of being rather pricey, so amassing a small collection wouldn't come cheap. I was lucky enough to score a great one for $15 at an antique store that was closing down, but have since not been able to find anything for remotely close to that in price.

Enter Etsy. A quick search turned up thousands of results, and although not many are located Down Under many of the sellers will gladly post to Australia. Here are a few of my picks that don't break the bank:

1. Pastel pivoting globe, $55AU
2. Tin globe bank, $18.66AU
3. Mid century school globe, $30AU

May Lust List

The transition to winter has officially begun and I must admit, I find myself ill prepared for the cold weather. Take this month's Lust List for example - where are the sweaters, the coats, the woollen mittens? Why am I still trying to wear jellies when it's cold out? These are the prevailing mysteries of my life, and probably the answer to why I always have goosebumps. May, I might fail you in terms of dressing appropriately, but I think I make up for that in these awesome internet finds:

1. Topshop collar - there is never a bad time to buy more neck candy, and I think this one has just the right amount of bling to spruce up boring outfits.
2. Country Road shirt - the combination of peplum, polka dots and gold foil makes this one a winner for both the office and after hours.
3. Sol Sana boots - I'm currently on the hunt for that perfect pair of ankle boots for the cooler seasons and I like the attitude of these ones.
4. asos clutch - if it's Mexican inspired, it's ok in my book. This clutch is fun, carefree and has pom poms. Enough said.
5. Topshop dress - we have established already that leopard print is a basic now, but the injection of neon in this dress takes animalia to a whole new level.
6. Jelly Beans jellies - jellies have to be among the comfiest shoes ever, and I love the 90s vibe of them. I have the silver glitter but need the clear pink too, obviously.
7. Jonathan Alder pillow - every bed/couch/hammock needs a statement pillow, right? This one just happens to be ones of the coolest I've ever seen.
8. Gorman jeans - adore the colour and print of these jeans and imagine they would look great while, you know, baking carrot cake, riding a camel or giving a nanotechnology lecture even.

Walls by Mur

Living in a rental, it can be hard finding ways to customise the place to your own style. You have to put up with ugly paintwork, tired lino and scraggly carpets without being able to change a thing, and are often restricted to what you can put up on walls too. But here's a fun solution that both renters and homeowners can use to spruce up their home without making a binding commitment in the form of paint - Mur wall decals.

The nifty shapes come in a variety of colours, from popping brights to chilled neutrals and ritzy metallics. Simply stick the shapes onto walls in a pattern of your choice and hey presto, instant style! The decals can be used to create a feature section or floor to ceiling for a faux wallpaper look.

I just love the look of these and really want to find a way to incorporate them into my home one day. I think I'd attempt to do a full wall in a neutral colour like in the top picture - it is bold and understated at the same time and can be tweaked to match any existing room set up. I also love the idea for a child's room as the look can be altered in such a simple way as they grow. Time to get sticking folks!

Insta-Home

In the midst of all the wedding posting we moved across the country and shacked up in a cute little pink cottage in Sydney. I'm going to be honest and say that the relocation has been a real challenge so far, but the shining ray of light in my days is making the cottage feel as much like home as possible.

I've been having fun re-discovering my decorating style, which I think has changed a lot since we set up our last place two years ago. The touch of vintage is still there but rather channelled into more of an industrial look. There's more colour, pinks in particular but in a non-girly way, and lots of geometric shapes. And we have already DIYed so many projects with many more on the list. I think home DIYs are my very favourite kind.

Without further ado, here's a little peek into our house via my good pal Instagram:

1. We threw an Ikea faux sheepskin over this replica Eames rocker and Chloe has claimed it as her official throne.
2. That's our little house right there, pokey thing that it is.
3. Gave this Ikea footstool a simple DIY treatment by painting it half white. Now we have one on each side of the bed as our night stands.
4. Globe, wedding guestbook and leftover wedding favours.
5. One corner of the room with the vintage suitcases we transported our clothes over in.
6. I like storing my jewellery on trays atop my dressers so I can see what I have.
7. $13 Ikea bookshelves, you can't get much better than that!
8. DIY macrame plant hangers I whipped up in five minutes apiece. Sadly the herbs are now dead so I need to find some more indoor-friendly plants for the jars.
9. Marc sanding away on our DIY dining table. That's right, we made our dining table from scratch! Look forward to sharing this process soon.
10. Vintage sewing machine stand that I am looking at turning into a bar cart.

Wedding: that's a wrap!

So this is really the final wedding post. Wow! It's been such an incredible journey and I am so grateful for all your kind words and support. This chapter in my life has now come to a close and while it feels like I am farewelling a good friend, I am very excited about the future as a married lady. But planning my own day has also uncovered a passion for weddings, and I am currently working on a project in this realm that I'll be releasing more news about in the future. I am super excited! In the mean time, I'll leave you with one of my favourite photos from the day, a little advice and thoughts on the best parts of the day.

Three best investments:

1. Having Christine Lim as a photographer. This lady is just so darn talented and I have been recommending her to all my friends, engaged or not. I am so happy with the photos her and Ruby came out with and they were an absolute joy to have on the day. I hope this isn't the last time I have the pleasure of working with these pros!
2. Calling Jess Butcher in at the last minute to style the day. I can't sing Jess' praises enough! Having her on board became the biggest stress reliever, as I knew my ideas were in trusted hands and she would do a fabulous job making them come to life. She set things up so much better than I ever could have, and I am really looking forward to see what this girl does next - she is definitely going places.
3. Booking Fothergills for the night before and of the wedding. This was just the perfect place to get ready and wake up to two days in a row. We had the whole top floor of one of the two terrace houses which made it easy to move around and let everyone get ready in their own space. I loved sleeping in the four-poster bed and the owners were so accommodating, even when I got locked in the bathroom the morning after the wedding and needed rescuing!

Three best savings:

1. My dress. It was my dream gown, no question about it, and one of those things that was just meant to be. I am glad I trusted my instincts regarding my original dress and kept looking, and found this incredible piece on Etsy for just $250. Never did I think my gown would come at so small a price!
2. Going for a collection of cakes from Sherbet. I spoke in good detail about this in another post, but the value we got for our money by eschewing a decorated cake and going for our favourite whole cakes from Sherbet was fantastic. They tasted amazing and had us doling out leftover cake for a week after the wedding.
3. Various DIY projects. I got inspiration for many of these thanks to Pinterest and saved so much by having a go myself. As previously mentioned, it was also such a nice process to know guests would go home with favours I had created and seeing the product of all my hard work displayed on the day.

Three best moments:

1. Seeing Marc up on the stage and the pure joy radiating from his face. Feeling that intense energy and love between us as we made our vows. And all my nerves melting away with that one magical kiss.
2. Taking that moment to tour the empty reception inside rooms just after arriving when all our guests were still out in the courtyard. It was the first time we had been alone all day and gave us the chance to say a huge "Wow!" while smiling giddily. Also admiring Jess Butcher's handiwork and all those little details that had taken me months to imagine, and later bring to life.
3. Spending the night before and morning of at Fothergills with my little sister and maid of honour. I remember it being a really relaxing time in those hours leading up to the day kicking off, and it was a really nice moment to spend with my best gal friend.

Other notable mentions go to the flower arranging session Robyn and I had the day before, catching a taxi to the ceremony, walking around while taking the portraits and having so many passers-by and motorists we didn't know congratulating us, entering the reception to crazy applause from our nearest and dearest  sharing lots of smiles and love with Marc during the day, walking hand-in-hand home after the reception and chatting about such a great day.

Three things that I might have done differently:

1. I wish I wore a floor-length veil! For some reason I thought it would be too over the top but in hindsight, when I came to choose my second dress I probably should have thought about having a more lush veil with a blusher to match the vintage effect. But my veil only cost $5 so I can't complain too much!
2. Not that we could fit this into our budget but if we could, I would have loved to have had a videographer to get a film of the day. Things got so foggy a few days after the wedding and it all just felt like a bit of a blur so it would have been nice to see a professional video of the events. But that said, I have family-recorded versions of all the key bits of the day to remember it all by and Christine's photos have me a real memory-boost when I received them!
3. I would have worn my main gown all night. I really didn't get to wear it for that long in the end and would have loved to soak it in a bit more. But this is unrealistic because I needed to dance and the big tulle skirt would have made that impossible. A girl can dream though!

Yup, that's the end. I tried to be as thorough as possible, but if there's anything else you're keen to let me know just ask. Thanks to you all again for reading and sharing this joyous time with me. Goodbye wedding, you were ace!

photographer: Christine Lim 

Wedding: DIYs

With the number of DIYs I worked on for the wedding, I really wished I had spent more time documenting the process. I was always very excited to get each project done and somewhere along the line I forgot to bring my camera along at those crucial moments. But anyway, here's a brief rundown of some of the projects I took on, and how I did them:

• Glitter word banners: I made five of these banners for various stations around the reception and on the stage at the ceremony. I am not going to lie - they took ages! I cut the letters out of card with a stanley knife, slathered them with glue and then shook glitter all over them. That was a lot of glitter! Then I attached the letters to brown twine using a hot glue gun. Super simple to replicate, just put a good TV show on in the background and be prepared to get cutting for hours.
• Animal cake toppers: We had a different vintage animal placed on each of our cakes to advertise their flavours. I spray painted the animals gold, ensuring there were no gaps, and then drilled a fine hole in each of their backs. Then I wound wire around a pencil to make a circle and bent the rest of the wire at a right angle, before sticking it into the animal's back with some super glue. Finally, I stamped the flavour on a shipping tag and inserted it into the circle of wire.
• Hair piece: I saved so much money making this myself. I found a pale blush velvet flower on an Etsy millinery store, and simply hot glued an alligator hair clip onto the back. With fine fishing line, I sewed some of the leaves down to the rest of the flower to ensure they couldn't be bent the wrong way. This project required a lot of trial and error as I was initially using a comb to secure the flower and it kept falling out. Hot glue turned out to be my surprising saviour.
• Here Comes the Bride banner: This was another painstaking project. I bought a wooden stick from Bunnings and had it cut down to size. Then I cut the burlap to my desired shape and sewed the top down with a hole big enough for the stick to go through. Next, I cut the word stencil out of card using a stanley knife and pinned it to the burlap. Using two coats of paint, I stippled paint through the stencil to make out the words. Then I stitched around the edge of the banner to help prevent it from fraying.
• Gold flamingoes and animals: The flamingoes were bought at a local gift shop and the animals were a bulk vintage eBay find. They both got a spraying of gold paint, with the flamingoes going on to be aisle markers and the animals acting as favours.
• Garlands: I made two different kinds of these. The first kind were vintage floral sheets that I cut into wide strips, sewed together in one long line and then cut up 4/5 of the way to create tassels. The second was made using lace curtains in all different patterns, cutting into small strips and then knotting onto a long piece of rope. Very simple but they looked pretty all hung up together.
• Coat hangers: I lierally did this the day before the wedding as a little something to give to my bridesmaids (and one for me too!). Using wooden coat hangers and silver glitter letters from Spotlight, I stuck letters spelling out each girl's name onto the top of the hanger. Then I tied a little bow around the handle using lace ribbon I had lying around. Voila!
• Veil: I can't take too much credit for this one as my mother made it, but I oversaw the process! We bought fine stretch tulle and read a few vague internet tutorials to get a rough idea how to do it. The shape was cut, and then bunched at the top and sewn onto a comb. If you're wanting to make your own veil too I'd suggest checking out some proper tutorials to get a feel for how to do it. My veil ended up only costing me $5, talk about a bargain.

There were a few more things that I have already posted photos of too, such as the chalkboard drinks menu, chalkboard speech bubbles and photo booth props. Making all these things myself saved me so much money and I am really happy with how they turned out. And there were so many more parts of the wedding that were semi-DIY, like the stationary, or a case of me sourcing all the parts that went into them, like the lolly buffet, cake table or guest book. All the little signs and tags were hand stamped or made by me, and the vintage props were lovingly collected over a few months.

I got so much satisfaction making so many things for the day (and Marc, my dad and my mum helped with many of them too!). Everything looked so 'Jessie and Marc', and it was a great feeling to enter the reception and see how Jess Butcher had so wonderfully styled everything. I think it's really important for couples to put their own individual stamp on their days, and I think we got the message of us across best with the DIYs we incorporated.

photographer: Christine Lim / second photographer: Ruby Yeo