Social butterfly (or some kind of fly - perhaps a fruit-fly)

Waistcoat - vintage little boy's, thrifted
Dress - vintage '70s (I think?), thrifted
Belt - thrifted
Shoes - Zara
Bag - vintage, thrifted


Bag!

Today I spent time with some lovely Austin ladies! I met the beautiful Joyce for a coffee (can't wait to go thrifting with you, Joyce!), then went to this week's Ladies Who Lunch get-together at Mandola's Italian Market at The Triangle with Grechen, the gorgeous Cathy, Esosa, Anslee (who is one of the most stunning women I have ever met) and Elia (whose name I kept pronouncing wrongly - I'm so sorry!). Today's lunch was so much fun, even though I didn't indulge in a gelato afterwards. Might regret that for a while. Oh well, next time. I have so enjoyed spending time with all the beautiful women I have met, and can't get over how warm, welcoming and creative everyone here seems to be. In other and less important news, the cut edges of my dress's sleeves are raw, which really bugs my little control-freakish, detail-obsessed soul. I can't stand unhemmed fabric! I didn't realise how many everyday repairs and little sewing jobs I did each day, but I really miss having a sewing kit. I can't wait till it arrives and I can get stuck in to my alterations and fix-em-up pile.

The craziness in Christchurch continues - it is just absolutely exhausting for everyone there. I am so sorry that we can't be there for all our family and friends in person, but we are thinking of you all constantly.

In good news, my grandfather is back home and feeling a lot better! Thank you so much for all the prayers and kind words, everyone.

The past three weeks have been all about settling in, exploring and getting to know the people and places of Austin. Next week, however, the holiday is over, and I am starting work in earnest.

P.S. People who are expecting emails from me - I'm so sorry, I'm very behind! I'll catch up and reply to you all tomorrow.

Catching our breath

Panama hat - Marc Jacobs, thrifted
Dress - '70s vintage, thrifted
Belt - thrifted
Bag - vintage, thrifted
Shoes - Zara

Phew. That was one really bizarre weekend. We are all completely shattered. Christchurch looks like a war zone - I can't believe how much damage there was, and how lucky we were that no one was killed. A lot of precious old buildings, small businesses and beautiful places have been destroyed, though, and the face of the city is going to change drastically - sadly, probably not for the better. It is so strange to be so far away, too - a lot of our weekend was spent trying to get hold of friends and family, many of whom were cut off without phone lines or power. For a while my mum was stranded out in the country because the bridges were down, and gale force winds the day after the big earthquake cut her power off. The aftershocks are big quakes in their own right, and they are still continuing (but diminishing, thankfully).

As soon as my US bank account is sorted out, I'm going to list some vintage on Etsy - I've been stockpiling some great pieces for the last few weeks. I am going to donate a portion of the money from this first batch of listings to restoration funds in Christchurch, to help preserve and repair the historic buildings that have been affected. I wish I were there to do something more concrete - citizens have banded together to clear rubble and dig out the vast amounts of silt that rose out of the earth - but every little helps, I guess.

Thank you so much for all your kind message and good wishes on my last post. My grandfather is still stable (awake and having cups of tea, which is always a healthy sign in a Briton) and undergoing a lot of tests to determine what caused his seizure. We won't know anything more for a couple of days. Mum and I have been calling my grandmother and each other every few hours to check in, and she will be flying over to the UK this week to help out. I think he is going to be all right, but it's still very scary for everybody, and we're all anxious to know more so that we can start acting rather than watching and waiting.

So, all in all, it was kind of an awful weekend for everybody. We're trying to carry on as (relatively) normal now, while keeping in close contact with everybody. I can't tell you how strange it all feels. My body is carrying on with everything I need to do, but my mind seems to be floating in a jar of formaldehyde on a high shelf somewhere.

Anyway. In the interests of carrying on as normal. I thrifted this bag yesterday, and am tempted to change my last name by deed poll to something beginning with H.



And Mink has discovered two new favourite spots in the apartment.

This weekend gets even weirder

I have just heard that my grandfather in England had a seizure early this morning and is in hospital, stable for the time being. If you could keep him and my grandmother in your thoughts today, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, everyone.