Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. May your day be full of love, happiness and great fashion!
xx from the team at Sunshine & Daydreams.

Spring cleaning for Santa.

And so, my 'big girl' house model has come home to Melbourne. 

Yay

But as everything is winding up for the summer break I have nothing new to photograph her in.

So we embarked on a big clean out of my work room

We got side tracked by googling our favourite labels, Agent Provocateur and Vivienne Westwood 

                                                                       But I  put her to good use, being tall has many advantages.

We discovered many half made samples and a lot of dust

And then we gave up and starting on the champagne.

It is impossible to stay focused this time of year. There is way too much fun to be had.
                                       I hope you are having fun too.

The Gangs All Here

Sometimes you just have to do the best you can.

Without a 'big girl' house model on hand I begged Ava to be photographed in a head piece before it left for the Perth Cup.

She refused to take her fairy wings off.

I have come to the realisation that I really need to be more organised next year.



Jennie does very well as my 'big girl' model, but then I am left to take the photos.

It's a team effort and a family affair. We all have our roles, and since my beautiful niece left Melbourne we are all out of whack.

We have photographers modelling, little girls modelling big girls things and designers trying to take pictures.

The new 'party season' head pieces have now been added to our on line store.

Click on the link above to have a squiz.

And when you purchase something it will come to you looking like this.

Pretty, yes?

So, why not channel the spirit of Carmen Miranda and adorn your hair with bright flowers this festive season.

        
       Dance the Samba under the mistletoe, but leave the bananas in the fruit bowl.

      Come back soon Bianca Miranda..............................................we need you!

Men Swear by Menswear

 

A brief history of fashion in my family.

Two bookmakers at the Curragh races in about 1907.

My great grandfather Michael Duggan is the one on the right. I am very impressed with his style.

His beautiful wife Margaret Bennett in 1904.

Her family owned a menswear store in Dublin and their motto was 'men swear by menswear'

I may have to borrow that catchline.

My extremely beautiful other great grandmother Bridget Blood in 1910.

So much fur! But very fashionable.

Bridget in 1914, not sure about the hat.

Another fine dresser, her husband George Blood in 1907

A beautiful photo of my grandmother Helen Blood 1921 aged 13.

And of course my much loved grandfather Gerry Duggan appeared in the most stylish of all James Bond films' Goldfinger'. I found a photo on IMDb but because I'm not sure of copyright laws and I don't want to be sued just press here.

So my Dads side of the family seem to have been a bunch of snappy dresses, I'm now going to hassle my mum for a brief history of dressing in her family.

I'm working on more head pieces this week. The Perth Cup is in January and a whole lot of fashion forward Western Australians will be needing flowers for their hair.

Giddy up.

Frida Kahlo

Sometimes you can be influenced by things without even realising it.

Whilst reading about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the dead) that happens to fall on Cup Day, I found this wonderful photo of the great Mexian artist Frida Kahlo.

So, I'm putting some flowers in my hair tomorrow to remember lost loved ones, and to join in the sheer fun of all that is The Melbourne Cup.

I hope your day is a lucky one. 

Flowers for your hair, let the party season begin............

For my lovely readers from far away lands, in case you don't know, we have a little horse race in Australia called The Melbourne Cup.

For the grand daughter of a former jockey and great-granddaughter of a bookmaker, the racing season should be more about the horses. But alas, like most other good Aussie girls it is actually more about the amazing things people put on their heads. That and Champagne.

Head pieces made to order

So, if you have a race, a party or a wedding to attend, or you want to stand out at your Christmas function, or flirt outrageously from beneath a crown of flowers on New Years Eve, contact me through Facebook or email. 

More styles to go on the updated shop soon.

Not the Cicciolina you were looking for?

Umm.......what to do?

I can't make up my mind as to what to do. I have a rather over ambitious plan (all in my head and not on paper, unfortunately) I thought Sunshine and Daydreams was a great name for a little girls range, but I was still attached to Cicciolina for my women's wear.

After using the word Cicciolina in my last post it was interesting how many people were googling Cicciolina and finding this instead of whatever else they were looking for.

So do I use Sunshine & Daydreams for both big & little girls ?

Would that be more or less confusing?

I'm confused.

Any thoughts?

Love Letter to Carine

If you are no longer in the market for a pink tulle ballerina skirt and the terms 'dressing for your age' set your teeth on edge, then maybe like me you are always on the look out for style icons.

Mine at the moment is the divine Carine Roitfeild.

Here she is photographed in her signature  black figure skimming loveliness by Karl Largerfeld.

And while searching for photos to inspire me I found a quote from Carine quoting Tom Ford who said "when you get older you must get blonder."

I'm not sure how much blonder I can get, but I'll keep it in mind.


Anything Tom Ford says about style has to be good advice. In fact if I was a man he would be my number one style icon and man crush.









So, I finally finished my first Cicciolina dress in 6 years. Phew, that was a long break.

Thanks Sarah for ordering it, you are going to look tres chic at your party.

I think Carine would approve, don't you?

Demi couture on a summer day

Demi couture doesn't just have to be saved for parties.

Ava is wearing the 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' singlet top teamed with super sturdy cargo's and runners. Pretty and practical.

You can purchase the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' singlet at http://sunshineanddaydreams.bigcartel.com/

 I'm still working on upgrading the shop and we will soon be available at http://www.bluecaravan.net/  and http://www.youngrepublic.com.au/

A complete stockist list to come shortly.

sneak peak at 'Cicciolina' sample making

Amongst all the selling and setting up of online shops for Sunshine & Daydreams, I have started my Cicciolina ( demi couture for women) samples and private orders.

This is a dress I am making for a friend.














I always use a french seam in my women's wear. Not only does it look so much nicer, but it means the garments last and last.

My 'vintage' Cicciolina pieces never wear out. I know people who are still wearing pieces I made for them over a decade ago.

You get what you pay for.

More photos of this dress to follow shortly......................

Farewell my beautiful Byron Bay, hello freeze your ...s off Melbourne.

So, this is where I have been for the last two weeks.

Drinking coffee at The Top Shop

Shopping at Quirky Bird

And browsing at 11.11

The fabulous Quirky Bird and always stylish 11.11 were the best of  the independent women's wear boutiques I found on my holiday. If Byron Bay is a true reflection of the state of retail in Australia...we are stuffed.

Beautiful independent shops stocking locally designed and made fashion are closing down everywhere. 

I was going to visit my favourite shop in Byron Bay 'In Annie's Pocket' hoping to stock them with Sunshine and Daydreams, and when I turned up they had closed down!

I also went to visit my other favourite little boutique in Mullumbimby 'Two Birds'. It was closed with a 'For Sale ' sign on the window.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who does not want to spend their time in soulless chain stores at home and especially not on holiday.

So if you are in Byron Bay, go in and support the locally owned boutiques, and while you are there tell them about a great new label you have discovered.

Sunshine & Daydreams of course.

To Market, To Market

Tomorrow we will be at the Yarraville  Market.

Come along and visit me if you are in Melbourne. You can find it at The Masonic Hall, corner of Wills and Canterbury st Yarraville. I will be there guzzling coffee from 10am till 5pm.

We will have a small selection of tulle ballerina skirts, hand made head pieces and these cute little singlet tops.

I hope you like them, but the main thing is that little girls LOVE them.

I had a gaggle of five, six and seven year olds over this week and they were all ooh-ing and ah-ing at the range.

Bless them, that's just the ego boost I needed!

See you tomorrow........................................

Become a follower today

This week has been amazingly un-productive.
I can't even come up with a good excuse.
The weather or..........no I can't think of anything.
With Jennie working full time elsewhere (maybe I can blame her), I have no one to bounce ideas off or even check on my progress.
Its lonely being the lone ranger.
Maybe if more of our readers became 'followers' it will inspire me to stop procrastinating. It's not too tricky, just click on the 'follow' icon at right. Embarrassingly, I did by mistake and have now become a follower of myself.
You can also 'like' us on facebook. The icon is also just to the right.
And because I'm so grateful to all our lovely 'followers' and 'like'ers you can all receive 10% off any purchases from our online mini boutique at  www.sunshineanddaydreams.bigcartel.com 


How is that for inspiring!

Listen to your Nanna.

I received some beautiful locally hand made lace samples today. Made with love by a grandmother of one of my little girls best friends.

My lovely Grandma made the lace I used in my sample (above), but as she is no longer with us and I never learnt how, I was so glad to meet someone who can do this lovely art form.

So  I'm spending this horribly cold and wet afternoon playing around with ideas on how to best use these beautiful pieces. 

Our Sunshine & Daydreams labels have arrived.

Now, just waiting on the swing tags.................

Goodbye long weekend.

How was your long weekend?

On Saturday I visited the much better organised people who actually got their stall organised in time for the delightful Yarraville Market.We are still waiting on our swing tags and labels, so I'm very glad we postponed our booking!

When I was there checking out the traders, I picked up a gorgeous necklace for a gift and a head band for my little girl. It's definitely worth a visit. There was so much to tempt me. Beautiful jewelery, gift ideas and lots of things for big and little girls.

 I can't wait for our stall on July 10th.

Today Jennie did our product shots for our online mini boutique.

I should stay up late putting them up, and trying for the sixtieth time to create a hyperlink on this blog, but my hot water bottle is waiting for me in my bed.

Ahh, the joys of being your own boss.

a shop at last!!!

It took me three days and my brain nearly melted, but here it is.........
 www.sunshineanddaydreams.bigcartel.com

Shop for hand made demi couture delights for the little girls in you life, like this Ella Bella hand made head piece.

More products to be put up soon.

Now to rest my weary head, and to celebrate with (more) champagne. (again)

Help, I need a machinist!!!

Some good news and some bad news.

We have had to move the date of our participation in the Yarraville market to next month. 'Yippee' I hear you all say. 'More time to save up for Cindi Lauper inspired ballet skirts'.

I must have been crazy(or stingy) to think that I could make all the stock myself in time for the market. And I'm not sure that my labels and swing tags will arrive in time either.

So now I am on an urgent look out for a machinist, a dress maker or a quality local manufacturer.

Does anyone have someone they can recommend?

 I also have my first order for cup head pieces ( for big girls) to keep me extra busy, and I have to make them myself.

So stay tuned for stockists, market dates and our online shop. www.sunshineanddaydreams.com.au is now registered and will be operational any day now.






Some lovely half made skirts, help!

Front page of the Star newspaper, thank you very much!

A big thank you has to go out to the good people at the Star who thought this story was worthy of their front page.

THANK YOU!!

This week technology, and my lack of skills has taken over all my precious designing and sampling time.

I have just waisted half my day trying to figure out how to attach a pdf to my blog.

And yes I did google it, but boy oh boy was it confusing.

I give up.

So now it's back to the sewing and the joys of figuring out my new sewing machine.

My brain hurts and I feel slightly panicked.

16 days left until our first market.

Yikes.

almost famous, no thanks to Frankie

I sent out my first couple of press releases last Friday to my local Star Newspaper and Frankie magazine.
A weird combination, I know.
Bless the editor of the Star, he sent out his very best reporter and photographer yesterday, and fingers crossed we will be in the next edition. But why is it that only today my hair looks great, and only now can I think of all the clever and insightful things I should have said.
Anyway, I'm busy getting some stock ready for the next Yarraville market. (Saturday June 11th) Tulle has been purchased, swing tags and labels ordered, and our online shop will be up any day now.
And I meant to say more THANK YOUS to Jennie for her beautiful photography featured in last weeks posting. If any one is looking for a super duper photographer you can contact Jennie at j.e.duggan@gmail.com
So if anyone knows someone from my favourite magazine Frankie, let them know that I'm waiting patiently by the phone.
Waiting, waiting, waiting.............................................................

Sneak peak Sunshine & Daydreams Summer 2011/12. Party dresses and accessories for little girls