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.

Tea Parties, Tomatoes, Tequila and Time Out.

The summer holidays continue.

 Tea Parties are being enjoyed and

fresh organic tomatoes from our garden are being devoured.

Holidaying at home in Melbourne is great when you live in the inner city. Most people have gone away, and so we have ACMI, Science Works, National Gallery, North Melbourne Pool and the Cornershop all to ourselves (nearly)

And our spare time is spent planning our mid year trip to Portland and Hood River in Oregon USA.

I know. I had to boast just a little bit.

So, I have a few readers from the U.S of A. If you are from Portland or have been, I would love to here from you.

And so back to my holidaying. There are plans and ideas running at the back of my mind, but I'm due to meet friends for Margaritas.

Prioritising is apparently the key to a successful business.

Chin Chin.

Summer holiday reading for inspiration.

I am spending the school holidays enjoying the sun and relaxing with my family, but also planning for a bigger and better year ahead for Sunshine & Daydreams. I am going to to sit in our new blow up pool reading inspiring biographies while sipping iced tea and yelling at children.

Here is my reading list.........

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson - chosen for obvious reasons. This blog is written on a iMac, photographed on an iPhone while I listen to my iPod and dreaming about buying an iPad.

Charlotte Bronte, a biography by her freind Elizabeth Gaskell. This one I bought myself as a Christmas present and I shall read to remind me that my life is not actually that hard.

Finally, Halston by Steven Bluttal and Patricia Mears. I picked this one up from one of the libraries I belong to. It is full of wonderful photos from the 1960's, 70's and 80's. I keep my iPhone in hand and google everyone in the photos as I go.

I love opening my mind up to possibilities of what you can do. It is always a good idea to start the year off inspired.  

And I've just joined Pinterest in order to gather all the photos I collect for inspiration in one place. I'll add a widget as soon as I can be bothered to get out of the pool and figure out how.

Happy New Year. I hope you are starting this year fresh, happy and inspired to do something wonderful.

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!