Home is where the heart is.

What a better way to start the New Year, than with a new home! Last week on the day before Christmas Eve, we received the news that we have been approved for a gorgeous weatherboard house. When I went to inspect the place, I fell in love immediately! As I stood outside waiting for the real estate agent, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was the place of my dreams, with rose bushes out the front to boot!

                                                                  Our New Home!

Since we still have a week til we move, I can't stop mentally furnishing each room and imagining myself in this new life. I have started the awful but necessary process of throwing out and donating junk, and packing up the last 2 years of our life.

4 years ago my now husband and I moved into our first apartment together. As I had been living in various share houses over the years I had collected bits and pieces, but not enough to furnish a 2 bedroom apartment. We made the obligatory pilgrimage to Ikea to pick up the bits and pieces we needed. Over the first year we slowly accumulated the things we needed. But it was mainly out of necessity that we bought the furniture we now have. A lot of the things we own don't really represent the people we are. There is a lot of wood in our home!

I have decided to up cycle and unleash my inner shabby chic - er in my new home. The lucky thing about a lot of our things is that its wood. My first project will be to do something to my dressing table that my husband found for me on the side of the road when we first moved to Melbourne. Its seen better days, but I think there is still some life in this baby!

The exciting thing about moving in to an older style house is that it has character. Once you move in, you start

to blend in your character, style and taste. Now, I don't know if its that I am getting older, but my taste and style are beginning to change. If someone would have said to me that I would be thinking of adding a Shabby Chic element to my home, I would have laughed in their face! But here I am fantasing about the various things I can do our new abode to incorporate Florals, mexican style soft furnishings with a mix of 1950's kitsch. It can be done, right?

These Mexican Sarapes add a wild splash of colour and warmth! 

Available to order from Ruby Rebel Couture

I think the styles that my interest me the most are those that have rich patterns and vibrant colours. I love the idea of mixing and cross breeding different elements to make your own statement in your home. And of course, using the things you may already own to do this. It is so easy to get caught up in the idea of going out and buying new things when you move into a new place. I know I have been guilty of doing this on more than one occasion. This time around, I am looking to the blogs and internet for ideas and inspiration. 

I found this on my search for inspiration, I just love the mix of patterns and colours. 

So as I finish this post to head off to bed for what will undoubtedly will be another dream filled night of soft furnishings, I leave you with this thought. Why not start 2012 with a fresh start, for you and your home. Take the time to look around your home and see what could do with a "freshen up" or face lift.

Until next time Rebels! ( Of course from my new weatherboard palace) 

First Blog!

Welcome to the life and times of a self confessed tattoo collector, handbag obsess-or and all round lover of all the lovely things that you get by being a woman.

As the year draws closer to another one starting, its got me thinking about New Year's resolutions. Each year I seem to make myself the same promises which I inevitability end up breaking with in the first week. There seems to be something about New Year's that makes us all feel like we will be forgiven for our sins of the previous year. For my 2012, I'm thinking about making some Resolutions worth keeping - fashion inspired ones.

For many years I used to dream of a wardrobe filled with lovely 1950s inspired Pin Up clothing, shoes and handbags. This year I started my collection of clothing and shoes - the handbags were already on their way! For 2012 I am thinking a little outside the box for my resolutions. I want to make a promise to leave the house feeling confident and beautiful in my own skin. Let's face it, who doesn't feel their best when they are wearing their favourite shade of red lipstick, or with a few curls through their hair.  Of course, I believe that beauty is on the inside. This being said, if you are feeling good on the outside, that beauty will radiate!  My first resolution - always leave the house like you are going to bump into the one person you don't want to!

Now, that clothing collection I was taking about before. I have some lovely pieces by Bettie Page Clothing, Pin Up Girl Clothing & collectif - just to name a few & all available from Ruby Rebel Couture. As much as I ADORE the pieces I do own, I can't help but feel pangs of guilt about the lack of local designers hanging next to my leopard print couture. There is something ultra special about having something handmade. I only have a couple of pieces - 2 skirts made by myself for Ruby Rebel Couture & my gorgeous 1930s silk taffeta Wedding dress my mum made for my wedding day. In 2012 I need to change this. I have been eyeing off items from Hot Couture, Peta Pledger & Hellpixie for months now! Why don't I have these in my wardrobe yet? Resolution number 2 - Buy more local designer clothes.

                                   I LOVE this Peta Pledger Dress ! Photo by Helen McLean

Hmm, these Resolution seems pretty easy to keep. I may as well add a third, as third ones a charm - as they say,

I would say that i am like most women when it comes to my handbag. Perhaps not in the enormity of my collection - I honestly own dozens - but more so in the contents that I carry around in my handbag. If I didn't know any better I would say I was preparing for a zombie apocalypse. Why do I need 3 clear lip glosses in my bag or an empty water bottle & business cards from every shop I go into? The answer to this question is I don't. Its time to go on a handbag diet. No more shoulder breaking weight being carried around for no reason. Its time to switch from tote to clutch and downsize the unnecessary clutter on my arm. Resolution three - ditch the bag bulk!  

                           Downsizing in style. Lux De Ville Lucky Me Leopard Print Kisslock.
                                    Available from the Ruby Rebel Couture Facebook


So Rebels, what fashion resolutions will you make for 2012?  I look forward to hearing from you all & hope you enjoyed my first blog.

Till next time!
Vegas Van Cartier for Ruby Rebel Couture