A beautiful baroque interior by Tony Duquette.

As you probably gathered from the last post bemoaning my indecision on carpet choices, there are some changes afoot here at home. I’ve always been a creature of change, never settling for long on one thing or another. Not shoes and never jobs, and least of all the environment around me. I’m an easily discontented sort, always on the look out to improve, embellish or otherwise chase some other version of perfection. Which is why my career as a style blogger and vintage hair & makeup artist is such a constant source of joy to me. It is always and forever changing.

This time, my living space is once again in the line of my decorative fire. I’ve spent the better part of the last four days hauling furniture, trawling Pinterest, climbing ladders and annoying carpet sales men. Anyone around me at these times knows that the correct response to any of my queries is, “Oh that’s genius!” “Absolutely, ‘Lime Dream’ is an inspired choice.” (Which is by the way, the name of the colour I have only just today finished painting in my studio.)

I’d like to tell you that my decorating efforts take place from the comfort of a deck chair, gin and tonic in hand whilst an army of minions completes the tasks. But no, being the pedant I am (read – control freak), all decorating efforts take place at the hands of me and my very patient father. This is the one time you’ll find me in spandex yoga pants, balancing on one foot atop a ladder, in some oddly contorted position, paint brush in hand. Yes, it is still with red lacquered (but somewhat paint spattered) nails, lashings of mascara and chiffon scarves.

Decorating, like ironing; is for me a kind of Zen. I have some of my very best thoughts doing this kind of work. It is probably the only time I have a single track mind without the usual multiple mental conversations. And today I had another thought. I think the candidate most in need of a makeover at present is the internet, or should I say, the way people behave to each other on the internet. This was not prompted by any particular moment, comment or thought, but just by a general observers view as I wade through hideous Facebook posts, dreadful comments and other ‘ugly’ sentiments.

So while I kick start this (yet another) decorating phase, I’m inspired to think of decorating our insides just as we do our outsides. Shining a light on those neglected corners of friendship, dusting off the cobwebs of forgotten manners and finding a shade of attitude that compliments us well.

It’s not exactly Kermit green, but I’m stuck between two greens at the moment. A more light mossy green and a greyer sage type green. And I just can’t make up my mind!

 Grey-er Sage like this  &           Mossier green like this.

For once this is a bigger decision than which eye shadow of the day, or even which frock on the rack I’m choosing. This time it is carpet.  Since we moved into this house some five years ago, there has been a list of aspirational renovations we’ve wanted to do that are a mile long. Some were tackled immediately, (purple ceilings anyone?), others a slower process like when I stripped all the wallpaper and went peacock blue in the bedroom.  Then my fix it up streak went on AWOL. That is until I can no longer live with the carpet I have in my most often used rooms; my studio and the family room. As much as I’d like to replace the floor in the whole house, it looks set to cost the sum of a decent car, so for now I’m applying a bit of make do and mend to the situation. Which brings me to my dilemma.

The January sales shortly come to a close and I’ve managed to secure a deal on two carpets that I like. One is a safe option, a rather modern grey green called sage and the other a thicker and rather more adventurous moss green.  Of course my instincts tell my that adventure is always my chosen path, and from everything I can see in my research on mid century homes, colour was all the rage.  So do I go bolder even though Miss Seven says it looks like frog vomit?….  This is the serious conundrum of my Wednesday. Will you weigh in and help me decide?  ;)

I’ve found my Christmas spirit early this year, but instead of the usual baubles and candy canes, I’m hard at work creating my own Kitsch-mas wonderland! If you’re a vintage collector like me, or even have a stash of cute and crazy toys around; you have the makings of your own kitsch’s decorating solution.  Here’s some of the inspiration I’ve been using to fancy up my pad for the season ahead.

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What are your tips for a Merry Kitsch-mas?

Fresh flowers are lovely, I have a whole garden full of them. But there is something about being given flowers that I find bitter sweet. That whole fading beauty thing; knowing that as pretty as they may be that moment in time you just don’t get to hold onto it.  I know is a big part of the appeal for so many, but I find it hard to get past. I’ve tried buying and arranging fake flowers but  just can’t get quite the same sentiment of beauty from them; that is until I found myself with a selection of stunning vintage flowers in their original lustre ware vase!

Mr SKM bought me this beautiful vase filled with flowers at the Camberwell markets a little while back. The flowers have a sort of velveteen finish and soft pastel colours that compliment the vase perfectly. But it has started a whole new addiction… lusterware!  Luckily for me, this isn’t an expensive one with all sorts of pieces still available in Op Shops, garage sales, markets and even the odd raid on Nana’s house.

Pretty, no?

Today on Lustable I find the perfect handbag sized, wicked perfume!

This year’s Wintersun held the first inaugural 1950′s Cake Bake Contest, and what a hit!  All the Ladies, and Gents, were invited to enter a cake of their own creation to be judged on looks, taste, presentation, as well as their own personal presentation. We had no idea what sort of reception such an event would receive, but it was such a hit it has already been made a part of next year’s calendar.

I was honored to be asked to judge this year’s heat and made sure I brought my best CWA judging criteria to the table.  Each cake was cut and prodded, tasted and tested, contestants grilled about secret recipes and outfits appraised with a critical eye.  But what a difficult job!  These contestants brought their ‘A’ game, and without a complicated points system I never would have been able to determine the winners.

It was a very windy day down by the seaside, so precautions had to be taken to ensure we arrived looking our best. Mistress Chrissy was there to whip the contestants into line and keep proceedings moving along.

All the contestants arrived to set up their creations and present them to an eagerly awaiting crowd.

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All the best dressed at the festival turned up to either participate or simply to watch and hope for a taste.

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This lovely lady had on the most gorgeous Eiffel Tower print vintage frock!

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We began with a little coffee to set the mood.

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But the competition was fierce! Play nice girls.

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The entries were all unbelievably good, with this stunning entrant even matching her cake’s colour to it’s flavour, to her outfit, to her car!!

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And so the judging began. Knowing I had to slip into a swimsuit in the next hour I kept my taste tests small, but what a job!

So, who won this test of sugar, eggs and will?

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3rd Place went to the delightful Mz Vicki and her rather ugly
(by her own admission), but unbelievably good Marshmallow Cake. Made to an original 1950′s ladies magazine recipe, this was one tasty delight!

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2nd Place went to Amanda and her “Flamin 57 Chev” which was a work of art inside and out. Layer upon layer of vanilla and red velvet on the inside, with each flame and a total car created entirely by her, by hand!

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But the 1st Place Winner?.

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Mimsy of Mimsy’s Trailer Trash Tattoos, created a replica of her trailer right down to the Flamingo’s on the lawn and the picket fence!

It looked amazing and tasted out of this world!

So Ms. Mimsy took home the winner’s silver cake server and added another title to her string of talents.

It was such a highlight of the weekend for me, as my childhood memories of the wonderful cake competitions that used to be seen at the Royal Melbourne Show, came flooding back.  The bar has been set so high by the contestants this year that I can hardly wait to see what next year has in store!

A big Thank You to Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage Clothing and Miss Kim of Vintage Charm by Kim, for providing these photos, as once again my hands were otherwise occupied.