the holiday is over.

Hello my very stylish and beautiful readers,

My 7 weeks of holidays from Sunshine & Daydreams are about to come to an end. But before I go back to my empire building( I like to think big), here's a little bit about where else I have been.

Hood River, USA

 Everyone in Hood River is a mad keen bike rider and or windsurfer, they have good coffee, wine in abundance, food and FASHION! And as this is a fashion blog I shall share with you what I found in the main street of Hood River.

Ava window shopping at one of the many home ware and gift stores.

 Every shop along the main street appears to be independently owned and all of them are worth a look.

Foundation at 3rd and Oak Downtown

The lovely owner of Foundation Brooke Pauly

 I was really impressed with this shop in particular. I don't really enjoy buying lingerie. Last time I did I just felt horrible, old, fat and stressed. But here, Brooke was helpful without being pushy, the ambiance was relaxing and there was a little sign in the cubicle that said a glass of champagne would be supplied if you found buying lingerie stressful. How thoughtful! You don't get that in a shopping centre chain store.

 So I treated myself to some beautiful 'underpinnings' and a pair of delicate earrings from a jewellery shop over the road, Silverado.

Then Scott & I spent yet another afternoon happy hour at 10 Speed. We admired our new shoes and jeans, and contemplated how well a Sunshine & Daydreams boutique would fit in to Hood River.

From my experience on this trip I'd have to say that the Americans could teach us a lot when it comes to customer service.

What do you think? Have you been to Hood River?

Don't be too shy to leave me a message. It really makes my day that you have taken the time to read this, and even more so when you leave a comment.

And I now need all the inspiration I can get to get me out of holiday mode and back to empire building................

Everybody is stylish in Portland

So we are sadly back from our month in the USA.

I did try to post, several times. But short of throwing my iPad out of a moving car through sheer frustration, I gave up and just enjoyed myself.

The trip was about spending time with family in Hood River, eating, drinking, exercising in fresh air, discovering their history and exploring the museums.

I did get to spend 24 hours in Portland, and that was all about fashion and food.

We checked into the beautiful Benson Hotel and headed straight out to Stumptown for coffee.......

 ...where it dawned on me that I was sitting in the Deuce hotel from Portlandia. Clic here to see the clip.

 We grabbed lunch from the food vans that take over a full block in the city

 And enjoyed the free entertainment

 Then headed to the Pearl district to start our shopping. This is the Diesel boutique where Scott spent a small fortune.

 I found this little gem of a shop 'Radish Underground' selling a mix of local designer and vintage pieces.

 Then we headed up to 22nd street in the Alphabet District. We started at Urbane Outfitters ( disappointing, although I did buy a book and Scott some basic t-shirts).

We then continued on all along this fashion strip. I bought a floral dress from a very helpful and charming guy at Brooklyn Industries, a pair of Dish Flares and a pair of Soda wedges from a lovely girl at my favourite find, Galore Dept Store.

We visited so many shops, and all the staff we came across were delightfully charming in a way only the Americans know how.

 We then zig zaged our way through the back streets admiring the architecture.....

 ....and then headed back into town for dinner at Clyde Common. The people here were so stylish. Scott and I barley spoke as we people watched. This Dad and daughter combo kept catching my eye.

All the cool Girls are wearing flares, stilettos and an air of nonchalance most people can only dream of. That's something money can't buy.

At least I could buy the flares.

Portland, you rock. We loved you, and I can't wait to go back one day soon.

Wallis Simpson Fashion Icon

I want to be Wallis

I will assume that you all are fashion/costume/aesthetically obsessive type peoples if you are reading this blog. That being the case you MUST go and see W.E. (see trailer here), Madonna's film about the very glamorous Wallis Simpson and the King who abdicated in order to marry her.


It's a visual feast. And it inspired me to cut my hair into a bob, paint my short nails red and embark on some 1930's style designing.

I've been in a bit of an inspiration rut. I am finding my distractions are numerous and my inspirations too few.

I'm really no good at combining domestic life with being creative.

But short of running away and marrying a king who is willing to abdicate for me, I'm just going to have to find inspiration where I can.

Reading these will hopefully help.

And my month in the U.S.A will fill me with new ideas.

I can't wait to scour the vintage shops and seek out independent designers. I hope to be able to do the whole trip without stepping foot in a mall/mega mart /discount shop. I will hunt down galleries, tiny bookshops and out of the way boutiques, all to share with you as I blog my way around California and Oregon.


So goodbye stylish grey old Melbourne, sparkly sunny Los Angeles here I come.........

Am I too old/young to wear this?

Pierre Cardin 1971 sunglasses

I've decided that I've reached an age where kooky sunglasses just look silly on me.

And I'm not yet of an age where they start to look cool again.

The very stylish 90 something Iris Apfel in her trademark glasses proves this point.

I am in the fashion vortex that is 35-70.

So, I'm thinking classically chic might be my best bet for the next few decades.

Or is that just boring?

Do you own sunglasses to go with every outfit?

Or like me do you invest in just one good pair and hope they stay fashionable forever.

This is my short and sweet entry to the Sunglass Hut Inner Circle Nuffnang Fashionopolis competition.

D.I.Y career

As a fashion student, I would dream about one day being paid huge amounts of money to flip through magazines and do a few sketches.

Surprisingly, this has turned out to be a really small part of the job. 'Fashion Designer' is  only one aspect of what I do.


This is what I am, I think............
fashion designer for women
fashion designer for little girls,
fashion blogger
milliner
couturier
pattern maker, cutter, machinist
small business owner
show room sales person
'do it yourself' website designer
(bad) accountant
marketing novice
cleaner

this is not quite what I thought my daily life would look like.

Have you invented your own career?

If you are a fellow blogger I'm sure you have. We just have to make it up as we go along.

And that is the best thing about it.

Spring/Summer 2012/2013 sampling

Ava was quite excited by her new dress. All samples are of course made in her size. Lucky her!

I know it won't always be this way, but for now her pure joy is my inspiration.

I've set a task of making two new samples a week. And if all goes well the new and improved website and online shop should be up by April.

So while I'm still getting everything organised, if you are after a unique, hand made dress for a special occasion you can always contact me at sunshineanddaydreams123@gmail.com

I hope all my customers are as happy as Ava.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, she wouldn't let me take her picture unless she was allowed to wear my red lipstick.

Have a great weekend.

Yarraville Pop Up Park

Well, it's my first official day back at work for 2012.

It's going to be a big year for us with some orders coming in already, and I really must knuckle down and get sketching/planing/sampling etc etc etc blah blah blah.

But I'm already distracted.

I have to walk past our 'pop up' park every morning. The Yarraville council has very kindly put up a temporary park in one of our main streets. It's really hard to resist the urge to grab a sun lounger and coffee with what looks like all the other self employed people and mums and dads of Yarraville.

The grass runs along Ballarat street, past our 1930's Sun Cinema. (another distraction)

And people just can't get enough of it. All day people are enjoying coffees with family and friends, and at night locals use it as extension of our back yards and bring down dinner.

We also have our Yarraville festival this Saturday, which just happens to fall on my birthday.

Anyway, enough of being distracted by my distractions. I'm off to wipe the cobwebs off my sewing machines.

Hope to see you at the festival if you are in Melbourne.