sew - it's been one year.....

yesterday in melbourne there was a storm - and one that according to bom looked pretty nasty and instantly reminded me of last year when a superstorm hit brissy.

it's been nearly a year since it happened and my learning from that is - don't try to beat a storm home, because when the 1 in a 100 year whopper hits, you are fucked.   that was a life changing storm and what could possibly be crazier?

well, i had already had a life changing moment a few weeks earlier when i ended my marriage and we were required to cohabitate till the house sold. like that wasn't stressful enough as well. 

i really thought as i drove into it, that it had just turned into a rain event and it quickly became apparent that this wasn't.  i couldn't see anything ahead and had to pull over and as the trees and power lines were swaying around me, i knew i had to find a better place to stop.  i drove on a bit without much visibility and stopped when the hail started to come down. there was nowhere to hide.

i just remember seeing a poor guy on his pushie dive off it and try to find cover.  geez, i hope he isn't still concussed.

i was in my convertible in the open and at the mercy of the weather gods. it was so frightening - not knowing if the glass would smash, or the roof would cave in, or if a branch or worse would hit the car.  it died down and phew i thought. but that moment was just so the next more ferocious wave could hit.  i can't even describe how terrified i was, as were many other people in the same scary position on their afternoon commute. the noise was just as frightening as the event. i actually feared for my life.

outside me, i could see water rising up around the car that was parked further up and i thought, shit, that's not good, so i had to drive forward and parked in a driveway while the battering continued. once it started to clear, i headed off trying to avoid the debris that was everywhere and i found myself in a strange street where i stopped as i just needed to take a moment.  there were people beginning to emerge from their homes to assess the damage and i remember a woman coming to see if i was okay and ask me to come into her home.  i said i would go home - it was only another km - and that took me about 2 hours to do.  it was chaos.  

i drove on in the side street and stopped at the petrol station because i needed to use the bathroom and people were just in disbelief wondering what they had witnessed.  as i stood aside the gridlock and carnage i had what was could only have been shock setting in and thought i was going to pass out - that wouldn't be good, cause there was no way an ambulance could even get there. i've never had a feeling like it but i remained calm and focussed and just waited it out.  

 

i eventually drove the 500 metres home and was aware of what i was coming home to as i'd been forewarned.  the yard was demolished and i got out the car and my son helped me inside as i was so distressed and well, i had been forewarned, but i wasn't prepared for what i was about to witness.

over 50 windows were smashed and hail smashed its way across the rooms bringing with it glass, water, leaves, dirt - everything was wrecked and what wasn't, was full of water, glass and debris.

 

 

the car was written off but the glass didn't get a chip and the roof was intact. the hail damage was phenomonal and the force of the battering actually moved its structural foundation.  $18,000 to repair but thank you volvo for keeping me safe.

there was a lot of damage and one of the other big disasters was to my sewing room - most of it trashed. the glass, water and debris just overpowered everything from patterns, fabric, the threads, right down to the overlocker and sewing machine and with that i haven't sewn anything for nearly a year.

i did get some replacement machines, but because of the situation at home, i just never set them up and also had to begin the process of replacing all the sewing things that were also destroyed. but things changed really quickly in my life and i found myself here in melbourne on new life journey and one where i am happy to report has come with a space to begin to enjoy this creative pursuit of mine.

it was a butterflies moment, to finally unpack these boxes and give them a much loved home and with the retrieval of what i salvaged from the storm, i am about to get back to business.  
the storm was a truly devastating event and one that took many months to recover from, but it was also one that assisted to fund my unexpected move to melbourne and i cant be unhappy about that.

there was a silver lining from those dark clouds that's for sure and i look forward to sharing some new creations.

living the high life

ah monday - you were chilly. the kind of chilly that if i were a supermodel on location doing a shoot that required a fan to blow my hair and scarf - i wouldn't have needed the fan. the temp was 9, the windchill was -1.

is that a gun in my pocket or is it just bloody windy? 

today i am still on the apartment hunt and i believe that the right place will be here for me.  it better bloody hurry up though.

today was also the day i got to feel connected to brisbane through a gift i received from my lovely friends, seleneah, darren and mckinley.  it's all a bit surreal still, cause i just think i can walk out the door and head to ugees, or the markets or any of my familiar places and see the people i love, but i can't.  i have to make new places and new people.

it rained and i got caught in it.  how excited was i to crack open my umbrella which has been waiting patiently in my bag and give it a go.  this umbrella is special cause the rain drops change colour when it gets wet.  i was also given another great gift, but it's worthy of its own blog post.

problem was that i kept stopping (in the rain) and checking to see how much it was changing colour. der, but it was so worth it.

when i walked into the apartment this afternoon, i had one of those holy fuck moments.

i literally threw my bag on the ground, grabbed my camera and stood in awe at the sight that beheld me.  the city, rain and a double fucking rainbow.  when you are 46 floors above the ground, it is very impressive. (i encourage anyone who wants to come and visit to do it sooner rather than later, cause this is spectacular - you might have to sleep on the lounge but what a view to wake up to).

as the city started to dry off it began to take on different shades of light and beauty and the wind was making it tricky to try and get a clear shot (thank you selfie stick and tripod)

i had a bit of a dinner incident last night when i decided to get a few dishes from the vegetarian asian store to have during the week.  i ordered a special fried rice with no egg - no FUCKING egg! and it had egg.  they were very obliging when i said i would come back today and swap it and when i got there, she decided that to make up for it, she would give me 2 serves. another to have later in the week.  FFS - one dish is so large that i will be eating it till next week - and now i have 2 and she suggested i give the egg one to my dog.  do i look like a dog person - wouldn't i have taken my dog with me on the walk???? probably - you know what, i might consider a dog.

they have seriously huge serves here and now i have 3 of the fuckers.  my plan was to give a warm one to a homeless guy i saw on the way to the restaurant, but he was gone when i walked back,

in melbourne it's been the coldest weather in 20 years the past few weeks, and i am getting used to it.

when i look out my window, i see the bigger picture and feel so grateful to be experiencing the life i have right now.

i hope that others find ways to be grateful, regardless of what's going on, or whether they now how 3 serves of special fried rice, that they don't know what to do with.

the what i wore project - week 30

well, this is my last brisbane blog post.  even if i did decide to do something else, it won't be this week, cause i am hitting the road.

last week was the transition from home to inbetween, before i find a home again.  it was about finishing up at work before i start a new job and doing my packing, moving all my stuff before i unpack it again.  it's an ongoing machine and that made the finding something to wear all the more fun, cause most of it was packed away, so as the week came to a close, it became whatever and fuck, that will do and it's going to be like that for the next few weeks.

i do know that i will probably have to do some last minute shopping in melbourne before i start work, as the temps have been pretty nasty - and that's not only at night, but during the day.

so for the week preparing to leave my job (that i loved so much for the past 4 years) and the house that i lived in the for the past 5 years (haven't loved that so much) and in the city that i have spent most of my life in.  if i count it out over the past 48 years, i would say that i have been here for about 35 years and the thought of this change that is self supported is quite frightening, yet exhilarating.

so as i went into the week of closure, here is what i wore.

it was quite the mix of weather and outfits.

monday i wore, velvet skirt made by me, boots from jo mercer, jumper from uniqlo (definately paying them another visit when i arrive) and a silk scarf i got in india in 2006.  i found it when packing and decided to tie it in a big bow round my neck.  not my usual look, but i liked it.

tuesday i wore my orange sportscraft pants, red shoes from stone, black uniqlo jumper, Botticelli print vinyl feel fringed poncho from huudaverti and fluffy hat from an op shop.

thursday i wore my spotted fringed skirt that i made myself, boots from jo mercer, red jumper from uniqlo and name belt from NYC.  the side pony was my favourite piece of this outfit.

on thursday, my second last day of work i wore jeans - really, were they going to sack me???? i teamed this with my jo mercer boots and frilled spotted top i made.

friday i wore something to make me stand out in the fog.  it was seriously thick fog. my jeans and boots and a top fancied up with my tree of life crochet poncho that i got last year.  i also wore a happy face for my last day of work.

saturday i wore comfy clothes for packing, but boy, did i get hot and i had to scavenge through my stuff to find a tshirt later in the day. my shoes are diadora, jeans from target, jumper from coles and vest from millers.

sunday i wore more clothes to pack in - packing is just the gift that kept on giving.  other jeans from target, tshirt from unknown, millers vest, gola sneaker and odd socks.  really i couldn't be bothered trying to find any that matched.

so that was my week. the week that i began to let go of the people i love (not that i will really let them go) but i will be building a new base and having to make new friends and that will take time, but i am looking forward to the change. plus i also had the change to my living arrangements and work and that is all pretty full on.

so it was quite an emotional week and i had tears of joy and sadness and when i thought that getting just to the finish line would be easy, it proved me wrong. sometimes getting to the destination can be as tough as the long journey undertaken, but when you get there, it's quite liberating and even though i am not at the destination quite yet, i am feeling great.

the what i wore project - week 28

i was just busting to share my good news story on my last "what i wore post", but due to the protocols of the person who needs to know first, possibly finding out last, i decided to hold off.

i am moving to melbourne. a great job awaits working with some people who i worked with previously and the timing has just been perfect for me to make this change.

this of course opens up a whole new world of "melbourne wear" which i can't wait to explore, due to the climate, the city, and who knows what else.

there is a new chapter for me and one that i didn't go searching for, but one that seemed to find me at the time it was meant to.

it's time for a fresh start and to really step out of my comfort zone and that is exciting and terrifying at the same time. but what i have i got to lose......

here's what i wore on one of the most exciting weeks of my life and the lead up to the most talked about winter weather event since last year and the year before and the year before that.......snownami!

i'm not going to beat around the bush, cause i have stuff to do in preparation for this big move so i shall just get on with the looks.

monday i wore pretty much all sportscraft - pants, blouse on sale from this year and velvet jacket from 2 years ago. the red shoes are from stone. there is something about men's shoes i just love, especially these, i haven't seen any like these for women in my travels.

I wore mis-matching socks and apparently my son does the same. I also wore a moving to melbourne smiley face.

tuesday i wore this black dress i made last year. i love the ruffle down the front, it gives it a playful feel.  boots are from jo mercer, hat is from an op shop and the face says - hmmmmm i am moving to melbourne.

wednesday i wore this chambray number which was kind of surprising, given it had been pretty chilly, but i didn't really feel that cold.  i got the dress from coles fairfield of all places. i haven't really worn chambray since the 90's, and i probably wont be going out to stock my wardrobe with it. my boots are from maryons and i kept it simple with a necklace from pilgrim and the i am going to melbourne smirk.

thursday i wore 50 shades of black. i just felt like looking like i made an effort when i didn't really. those wet look jeans are from target 3 years ago and it's time for them to go. they are getting saggy and you don't want anything to be saggy if you can help it, plus the zipper is dropping. what is with that? i teamed them with studded boots from mollini, black and gold long sleeve T from huudaverti, zip up vest from suzanne grae a la 5 years ago (wish i got another at the time) and gold hoops. i also donned a "don't think about melbourne cause you have too much to do" face.

friday i wore the look of the sheriff. my jeans are from target, boots are from wrangler dfo, black t from unknown, blue knitted top from eastern pearson, but borrowed from my sister and a sheriff badge also gifted by her.

my nephews asked why i had a sheriff's badge, and i told them just that.  I AM THE SHERIFF AND I HAVE COWBOY BOOTS..... but you don't have a horse aunty jan.  taken down by an 8 year old. that's okay, i will bounce back, in melbourne.

on saturday i wore a casual look which seems to be my staple in this cold weather. it was starting to feel extra chilly.  jeans are from target, shoes from gola, jumper from uniqlo, jacket from sri lanka, cap from target and boobs that look like they are sagging quicker than those wet look jeans.

on sunday i wore enough shades of pink to fight off the impending weather.  i took my picture in the funny little spot i found in the city when i had to drop my mum off early on a sunday morning a few weeks ago and i have used the various walls to take my ootd's pics over the past few sundays. its a beautiful little space, but it's only used for car parking.

the wall wore head to toe vines and i wore pink cords from sportscraft, pink sneakers from diadora, plum jacket and red jumper from uniqlo and pink cap that i have had for so long i can't remember where it came from, but it stopped my hair from blowing of.

sunday arvo i wore an outfit to travel in.  i was off to melboune to meet my new colleagues.  it was cold and i was cold so i packed accordingly and it was even colder when i got there. i wore boots from jo mercer, turtle neck from uniqlo, jeans from target, vintage leopard hat from new york and took a vintage burberry coat that was gifted.

i kind of keep pinching myself that this is all happening, but i am ready.  i think being open to any opportunity that may come along is a great thing and who know where it may take you.

the what i wore project - week 27

oh my wasn't it cold in brissy this week and that means that we get to rug up and dress like it's a real winter for about a week (hoping it will still be the same this week) but usually by the middle of the day it gets warm enough to venture out without a coat or a jumper, so you are then left wondering why the hell you put so many warm clothes on in the first place.  it catches me out every year!

i woke today after spending my first night alone as a single woman since ending my marriage last november.  we have had to share a house during that time and that has worked, but it was time for the actual living arrangements to change. it's began as a beautiful romance with many adventures along the way, but sadly life sometimes throws challenges that can require hard decisions in order for everyone to be happy.  i instigated the change, but it never feels nice to think you have hurt someone who loves you and it feels the same for me, to be hurt by someone who loves me wasn't nice either, so i stepped out of my comfort zone and now with that a whole new chapter has actually begun.  i even expressed to him my desire to start dating again and that wasn't met with any bad reaction, but the reality is that i don't even know how to date.....what do i do, how do i start, the only thing i do know is what i would probably wear. i am good at deciding that.

here's the looks of last week taken firstly with my old iphone on monday and then with my new samsung galaxy (i even broke up with iphone) and my relationship with the new galaxy is still in the early stages.

monday i wore an outfit i made a couple of years ago. i do love to keep my pieces and i think it's because when you make your own clothes, you know that no body else is likely to have that exact same thing.  they may have the same fabric, but chances are it will be a different look. 

this was a mustard velvet skirt (am seeing mustard everywhere at present) and a floral chiffon overtop that is split at the side.  i teamed it with my jo mercer boots, a jumper and a sequined belt.

tuesday i wore tweed buckle pants from huudaverti, woollen jumper from uniqlo, my snake skin boots from maryons, hat from an op shop and hoops.

wednesday i wore a bit of a pattern clash.  these checked pants are from target, the jumper is from harris scarfe, scarf made by my mum, red men's shoes from stone, earrings from fiji and my jacket was gifted to me by my sister when she lived in sri lanka. it is so toasty. 

thursday i wore an outfit that would make anyone feel warm and cosy. it was my huudaverti animal print tube skirt, black jumper from coles,  jo mercer boots, scarf made by my mum and a corduroy jacket i purchased when i moved to canberra in 2003. my sister said i would need a jacket cause it gets cold. this will be perfect i thought.  it's corduroy and lined and it will do the trick. WRONG! 

this mo fo did the trick.  my sister picked it up in new york and thought it would be more suitable for the canberra weather. rated to -27 (not that canberra ever gets to that) but it came in very handy as i lived in very cold canberra for a year and when i went on a trip to very cold europe.  this pic was taken in bratislava in 2006.  what was funny about bratislava, was that i had never heard of it before, but slap bang in the middle of the shopping precinct was a store that sold crumpler. go figure! and fuck, was it cold.

NB: hat and scarf are still kicking on 10 years later, as is the jacket.

friday i wore that same hat from the photo above, my target skinny jeans, black turtle neck jumper from uniqlo, red shoes from stone, and that toasty warm jacket.

saturday i wore jeans from target, old boots from jo mercer, probably the same ones i wore in the pink puffer photo, black hat from an oppy and turtle neck jumper from unknown.  i also scoffed down a vegan dagwood dog from the davies park markets that i just had to drown in tomato sauce. soooooo good!

sunday i wore my new found life and dressed it in target skinny jeans, black jo mercer boots, red jumper from uniqlo, pink puffer vest from millers (that was a find last week), earrings from odel in sri lanka and rings from india.

wow what a week and there's plenty more to come in both the life and the fashion stakes.

it's been a tough year for me, but i have come through it knowing that i have incredible resilience to be able to duck and weave through every challenge that has been thrown at me and i feel really proud to have done it in a way that has left me feeling good about myself and some of the choices i have made, or have been made for me.

i know it's really hard to be faced with life when it isn't going as you hoped, but that's when you need to look at it as a positive opportunity, not a reason to give up.

and, what's with all the face pics - well i can't for the life of me work out where to look in the samsung, so i just figured i'd share the randomness of them.  enjoy your week.