vintage

Aren't these little guys sweet? They're from Melbourne label Mistress of the Upper Fifth who designs & makes original & quirky accessories. These two are perspex brooches, with Scotty on the left and Kitty on the right. (AUD $35 each)

I remember many afternoons spent with my Mum & Nan in department stores (when they still sold haberdashery!) and fabric shops, leafing through pattern books that were almost bigger than I was at the time. Mistress of the Upper Fifth has used those familiar vintage dress patterns to create her range of Dress Pattern Wallets, (AUD $40 each). Each one has it's own unique personality.

How cute! These twin button sets are designed to be worn as pairs, with half of the image on the first button, and the other half on the second. Pictured above are the Girl with Balloons (left) and Giraffe (right). (AUD $12 each)

This Zip Wallet (AUD $35) provides the perfect solution to the drama of finding the right shrapnel from the depths of a crowded purse under the pressure of a surly cashier with a queue of impatient customers behind you. This ingenius design allows you to bypass the credit cards & receipts by zipping open at the depth of the coins themselves - or, zip open closer to the top to access a card with ease. Functionality aside, it looks really funky too!

Mistress of the Upper Fifth accessories & brooches can be found at the following stockists:

Online: Georgie Love
VIC: Hunter Gatherer, Hummingbird 60, April May, Kids in Berlin, Pussycat Black, Meet Me at Mikes, I Dream a Highway and A-nom'-a-ly'.

Jewellery designer Renee from Cocoapod lives in a cute little town in Western Australia, where she draws inspiration the different people & cultures that surround her. She loves things organic and retro - a passion clearly evident in her unique beaded earrings and accessories. Renee sources vintage glass beads and combines them with natural materials such as wood, fiber and freshwater pearls. Rounded, irregular shapes and slightly muted colours characterise the range which is feminine and quietly sophisticated.

Pictured above left are the Dew on a Petal earrings (US $15.00), for which Renee has placed a serpentine dewdrop atop a fuchia Czech glass petal, accented with a silver lacey cap. Such pretty colours & such a peaceful concept! The Retro Blooms earrings (above right, US $17.00) are probably my favourites, with the clusters of mustard yellow Czech glass blooms and burgundy freshwater pearl stamens. (I must confess to being a bit of a nature nut myself.)

Rich desert colours distinguish the Desert De Chocolat earrings pictured below right (US $15.00). The pink glass cubes feature horizontal colour variations in which you can imagine sandy sunset horizons... Finally, I just had to include the Vintage Strawberry hair slides (US $4.50 each). What can I say - they are too cute! All of these pieces and more are available from Renee's Etsy store at www.cocoapod.etsy.com.

Betty Babushka and Chester Chipmunk Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Betty Jo seems set to take over the world - now that the Melbourne-based label has been picked up by global brand Paul Smith! Her cute & quirky lino characters already populate many boutiques & gift stores all around the country. Designer Liz Jones has been making jewellery for many years, and creates the Betty Jo range using recycled vintage lino and secondhand buttons. She has always had an interest in found & recycled materials and loves to fossick through op shops.

Sascha Scotty and Bunny Lino Pendants by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Each piece in the Betty Jo range is handmade so all the creatures have individual personalities & no two are the same. The wide-button-eyed animals are available as badges or pendants, and even the chain used for the pendants has a wonderful retro feel. For an animal-lover like me, it's a hard choice between them - especially when there are soooo many from which to choose! Perhaps, since last night I watched Best In Show again on late night Sunday television, Sascha Scotty will be my favourite today. Cute as a button - just like Winky the Norwich Terrier!

Claude Pussycat and Orlando Owl Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

To find out more about the techniques & tales of Betty Jo Designs, visit www.ambiguoushourse.com/another-cool-artist/ or the Betty Jo Designs blog at www.linoforest.blogspot.com.

Pip Pony and Ronaldo Rabbit Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

You will soon find Betty Jo Designs in Paris, New York & London, but if you're looking for something closer to home, her stable of stockists include:

VIC: Scally and Trombone (Fitzroy), Douglas and Hope (Fitzroy & Melbourne City), Queen (Fitzroy & Windsor), Pussy Cat Black (Brunswick), Monk House (Brunswick East), April May (North Fitzroy), The Cats Meow (Melbourne City), Order & Progress (Melbourne City), Craft Victoria (Melbourne City), Dot & Herby (St Kilda), Lupa (Northcote), Meet Me at Mikes (Richmond), Milly Sleeping (Carlton), Hudson (Balaclava), Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), Moustache (Fitzroy), a-nom-a-ly (Belmont)

NSW: Collect (Surry Hills), Incu (Paddington), MCA Store (Circular Quay), Paris Texas (Surry Hills), Body (Woollahra), Mrs Peel (Leura)

ACT: The Hive (Braddon)

SA: Irving Baby (Adelaide), Best Wishes (Parkside), Clubhouse Lane Boutique (Croydon)

WA: Billy & Rose (Fremantle & Mt Lawley), Store (Claremont), Form (Perth)

QLD: Craft Qld (Fortitude Valley), Cairns Regional Gallery (Cairns), Cherry Blossom Bookstore (Paddington)

NZ: iko iko (Wellington)

ONLINE: www.georgielove.com

Ku-türe is a new online store featuring one-off designer fashions, accessories & jewellery by a host of up & coming designers. Caroline Turner began Ku-türe as a fashion wholesale & PR agency based in Sydney. Her business aimed to give designers a voice in the very noisy fashion industry, and the Ku-türe online store was a natural progression. Each piece listed in the store is unique - not another one exists, so when you click on the "Own It!" button, you know you're purchasing something truly special. The talented lineup includes Ampersander, DavisEyes, Ghost & Lola, Homer & Plum, Psychoglam, Sandra Williams, Sassifras, She's Laughin, Tutu, and Jane Pollard - designer of the striking jewellery pieces pictured above.

Jane Pollard is a self-taught jeweller who has been making wearable objects for the past 12 years. Working with predominantly found objects, her jewellery incorporates a variety of interesting elements including 1920s - 1960s plastic, bakelite or glass buttons, buckles, glass beads, crystals and silk, velvet or vintage ribbons. She works from her Newtown studio in Sydney and regularly exhibits her work all around Australia. You'll find Jane Pollard jewellery for sale in gallery stores and high-end fashion outlets alike, and of course, online at Ku-türe!

The two Jane Pollard pieces pictured above are gorgeous examples of the current collection - bold, individual designs which speak for themselves. The Bracelet has been created from two tan buttons strung onto two strands of red Czech glass beads with a plastic button clasp. You can "own it" for AUD $90. The Lariat and Brooch are made from a vintage navy & white plastic buckle and vintage mother of pearl button, combined with red Czech glass beads for the lariat. A versatile piece, it can be worn as a short or long neckpiece, belt or bracelet. "Own it" for AUD $340... find it at www.ku-türe.com.

Velcro Obi and Obi Sash Belt available from www.rubykimono.com

Ruby Kimono is a celebration of colour, creativity and Japanese textiles. Jennifer Latimer began the label in early 2006, both to make a large selection of Japanese 'Yukata' cotton robes readily available in Australia, and to introduce her range of custom products made by hand from recycled kimono fabrics sourced from Japan. These include a variety of accessories and sashes which are available from www.rubykimono.com. The site also features a 'design-your-own' sash which enables the customer to combine their choice of style, silks or cottons, prints and linings. Some of the gorgeous vintage kimono fabrics on offer are pictured below.

The variety of styles & fabric combinations is something else - you'll be happy knowing your creation is one-of-a-kind. Styles include the following:

• 1. The Obi Sash Belt with Velvet Ribbons. This consists of a single silk piece or multicolour pieces, from AUD $80.
• 2. The Velcro Obi. This style fastens flat at the back - choose from cotton or velvet with a single silk piece or multicolour pieces, from AUD $60.
• 3. The Padded Obi with Ribbons. This is a stripe or block colour cotton with single silk or multicolour pieces. It is tapered at the ends and tied with a ribbon at the front or back, from AUD $70.

Padded Obi wih Ribbons available from www.rubykimono.com

• 4. The 3 Way Sash. This versatile creation is designed for wearing on the head, waist or beltloops. The self-tying sashes are made using cotton or silks, AUD $35 - AUD $45.
• 5. The Scarf. An elegant piece made from block colour cottons and silks, AUD $38 each.
• 6. DESIGN-YOUR-OWN - Combine your choice of style & fabrics for something truly unique!

3 Way Sash available from www.rubykimono.com

These funky handmade Postcard Wallets are the signature range of Melbourne label Gaye Abandon. Growing up in New Zealand, designer Gaye Naismith was always surrounded by sewing, crafts and fabrics, and over the years has collected a wonderful array of vintage fabrics from which she creates her wallets, purses and clothing range. Each wallet is a one-off with fancy stitching, sturdy construction and a layer of protective clear plastic to ensure longevity. Wallets are available from AUD $60, and purses from AUD $25.

Just looking at these Tubeway Armies makes me feel warm & snug. I just love the stitching detail on the pair pictured above! These armies are from the original range of Body Parts brought about by the collaboration of Gaye Abandon and Textile Allsorts. The range transforms recycled, felted wool jumpers into original winter accessories. New this season is the 'warm stripes' range featuring armies, midriff warmers and leg warmers with cuffs, headbands and scarflets coming soon! RRP for the armies is AUD $33. Gaye Abandon products are available from stockists throughout Victoria, NSW, ACT and online at www.georgielove.com. For more info visit the Gaye Abandon web site at www.gayeabandon.com.

These handmade vintage wallpaper gift cards by Claudia Rossi will certainly make a gift unique! With bright, bold retro patterns and that wonderful wallpaper texture, they are bound to bring back some childhood memories. Such a clever idea... The cards are available from the Modern Times bookshop in Newtown for AUD $6.50 (phone 02 9519 6191). They are distributed by Aero Images, so for more info & stockists, visit www.aeroimages.com.au.

How cute are these hair pins & elastics?! I came across a selection of Lark hair accessories the other day while hunting for a birthday gift & I couldn't resist them. They are handmade using vintage fabrics and come packaged on a vintage 1950s playing card. Each pair is AUD $10.00. They are available online at www.larkdesigns.com.au or from retailers such as Glamourpuss (Erskineville).

Mainichi Design inverts the concept of precious jewellery and uses materials such as plastics, recycled leather offcuts, hemp & linen thread, recycled timbers, polypropylene sheet & bamboo to create imaginative & vibrant jewellery pieces. My favourites are the Mushi Brooches ($25 & $30) which are made from layers of offcut leather, vintage & recycled fabrics & felt randomly stitched together. The colours are so gorgeous & rich... Also pictured is the Oishii Necklace ($45) featuring plastic thread & mixed bead types on a leather choker. Mainichi's stockists include Eliana Design (St Kilda), Lulu Design Store (Balaclava), National Design Centre (Melbourne) and Mimosa (Daylesford).