Everything Alice

You know those shopping expeditions when you're looking for gifts and you end up buying something for yourself? I bought Everything Alice on one of those. In my defence, it's the awesomest book ever...

I've been enchanted by Alice In Wonderland ever since I owned this edition with a holographic cover picture as a kid:

Isn't it pretty? The photo probably doesn't do it justice, but the pages inside were spectacularly bright and cheery, with the same kind of puppet illustrations.

Anyway, when I found Everything Alice on the bookstore shelf last week, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to revisit one of my treasured childhood stories and make some very creative craft projects based on it.

The magical tutorials include:

• Fabric-covered teapots for the garden
• A vintage cake stand
• Mad Hatter hats
• Wonderland cookies
• "Drink Me" cordials
• A White Rabbit soft toy

And of course plenty more! I can definitely see myself making the hats and fascinators (how great would they be as a burlesque costume?!!) and the teapot plantholder as a gift. There's also a jewellery project of a bracelet, earrings and necklace made out of a dolls' house tea set. Cute!!

Overall, the craft projects and recipes are not only exciting, they also seem achievable and useful, not just boring old coathanger covers and the like. I'm totally won over!

To find out more about the book, check out the web site and the Amazon page.

Rating: 10/10. After reading this book, every other will seem terribly bland by comparison. You've been warned! : )

Have you discovered any cute crafty books lately? Do share!

Cute Japanese Fashion Magazine!

On my trip to Malaysia last month, I only bought one magazine (some kind of record for me!). It was a title I'd never heard of before, Ray, the world's first Japanese fashion magazine in English...

The mag was just so lush to look at -- stunning doll-like models with wide doe eyes mascaraed up to the hilt and the pages adorned with tiny keys, bows, flowers and lovehearts.

The fashion was also amazing in that very innocent-sexy mix Japanese girls do so well. Lots of ribbons, polka-dots, check prints and ladylike hats.

Ray would definitely be useful for recycling the pages for gift tags, wrap and greeting cards. If you can bear to cut up a magazine this pretty, that is!

It was also a great read and although the translation was very good, there were spots of Engrish here and there that made me giggle.

There were some nice hair and beauty tips that you wouldn't get in your usual Western magazine, like painting on your blush in a heart shape (I tried this and it looked lovely!). Some of the advice was a bit bogus though (eating tomatoes makes your skin white? Really???).

But then, I didn't really buy it for the articles.

Smitten.

Are you with me on digging Japanese style? Have you ever bought any Japanese magazines?

Fabulous Fridays: 23 March 2012

I've gone a bit pink-mad this time around, so if you have a fear or hatred of it, please look away now... Those of you still with me, enjoy...

• Here's a new fave I've added to my fashion blogroll: WishWishWish (thanks to Sascha from the gorgeous Coffee and Heels for putting me onto it!)
• These piggies are a little bit fabulous, non?
• This from Tiffany. Ooooh...
• My craft crush on the blogosphere this week: Teawagon Tales. A former high street designer sharing her vintage-tinged world. Love!
• I bought the gorgeous book, Everything Alice, for myself yesterday while shopping for gifts for others. Isn't it always the way?
• A chic way to help the environment -- chalkboard tags on Etsy. So pretty and practical. : )
• Okay, the Kardashians might have sparked the trend, but these press-on lips are undeniably awesome. The purple leopard catches my eye. For the stage or the very brave only!
• Combine your Hello Kitty and sushi obsessions (as long as someone else makes it for me!).
• I fancy myself a bit of an electro music fan, particularly Ministry of Sound Chillout Sessions. This one's cool.
• Would you become a real-life ghostbuster (or "paranormal investigator")? Interesting vocation!
• The blog of ex-Vogue-staffer-turned-boutique-owner, Clare Press.

Have a beautiful, rose-hued weekend!

Blog Revamp!!

(Pssst, like this pic? The pretty artwork is by Jennifer Ramos on Etsy)

The past few days, I've been working on a blog revamp to (with luck) make it more streamlined and professional...

It was all kickstarted by my entry into the Sydney Writers' Centre Best Australian Blogs competition. Last year's winner, Nikki Parkinson of Styling You, has gone on to bigger and better things, now doing blog consultations and speaking at blog conferences. I definitely recommend entering (be quick, entries close Friday, 13 April 2012).

Anywho, after entering I figured now's a good time to give my blog a makeover to make it a little more lovable for the judges. And, well, there's some changes I've been eager to make for some time too.

Like removing Google Friend Connect from my sidebar -- it stops working too often and isn't very attractive so adios, Google amigo widget! I've replaced it with a new Facebook box, as well as moving my bucket list to the menu bar at the top, changing the Contact page and generally rearranging the sidebar. Take a quick squiz now if you don't believe me! ; )

There'll be more changes coming in the next few days. Let me know what you love and hate -- oh, and don't forget to tell me if you end up entering the blog competition so I can vote for you! xx

The Firemen Calendar

Who says the life of a writer isn't glamorous? Recently I hinted (okay, outright said) I was going to a night of judging some blazingly-hot firemen for a calendar competition. Best. Night. EVER!

But you want to know the juicy details, right? Here's a quick quiz with all the answers.

1  I attended this illustrious event with:
a)  my gay friends, Stanford Blatch and Anthony Marantino
b)  my girlfriends, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda
c)  my girlfriends, Ying, Yung and Karen
correct answer: c

2  During the night I drank:
a)  five champagnes
b)  a lemonade (no vodka)
c)  a Rhode Island iced tea
correct answer: b

3  On the catwalk, the hunky firemen stripped down to:
a)  boxers or jocks
b)  their birthday suits
c)  only a sock covering their modesty
correct answer: a

4  The firemen showed off their talents, including:
a)  knitting, crochet and needlepoint
b)  gymnastics, singing and sock puppet ventriloquism
c)  walking and breathing at the same time
correct answer: b

5  I was lucky enough to win:
a)  the Sexiest Audience Member award
b)  a tour of the fire station from a fireman named Ricky
c)  the raffle, with a prize of getting to rub oil on the final 12 firemen's muscles during their calendar photo shoot
correct answer: c!!!

Best of all, the night was a fundraiser for charity. Have you ever been to a firemen calendar event? Or met any real-life fire heroes?