Various ramblings

Feather headpiece - a gift, originally from Diva
Dress - thrifted
Crinoline (unseen) - vintage, thrifted
Belt - thrifted
Cardigan - vintage, thrifted
Bag - vintage, birthday gift to self!
Tights - who knows?
Shoes - Trade Me

I sent off the first five chapters to my agent this morning - eek! And now I wait and chew my nails off.

I know you're probably completely sick of this cardigan-bag combination, but I'm slightly addicted. And you probably recognise this dress, too - I shortened it a bit. Even though I loved its original length, I simply didn't wear it enough because it always felt too long for me. Now that it's knee-length, I'm wearing it all the time.

I'm heading out to afternoon tea with my mother- and sister-in-law today, and then going to see Bill Bailey live tonight. I can't wait. I absolutely LOVE Bill Bailey - his stand-up and his film work, and particularly his role in Black Books (my favourite comedy series of all time - I can recite all the episodes verbatim). Now if I can only get tickets to Dylan Moran, I can tick two things off my to-do-before-I-die list!

Comment of the day

"Ah, yes, it looks much better!! More fabulous even! Love Bill Bailey! Love Dylan Moran more! LOVE Black Books!! Enjoy Bill, I hope you get to snog him!" -

Battle of the Andreas

I'm planning to send some chapters of Current Book to my agent tomorrow - I'm still a couple of weeks off finishing this draft, but it will be the final draft that I write on my own before receiving feedback. Even though I haven't got a completr draft, I want to send some of it off into the world. Possibly just to convince myself that it exists somewhere other than inside my head. Scrapbooking the revisions worked really well - I tried to switch off the logical part of my brain and rearrange the scenes by instinct, doing whatever felt natural. Sometimes I can get too bogged down in detail and organisation (surprise, surprise) and need to trust my instincts. Those two parts of my brain are permanently at war, as I think they are in any writer's mind, and both are important. It's just a matter of knowing which one needs to be in charge when, which sounds easier than it is. I imagine one wearing horn-rimmed spectacles and a librarian cardigan and the other one in a tie-dyed caftan.

The other two parts of me that seem to be at war at the moment are the hoarding, collecting part that craves security and anchoring, and the part that wants to purge and get rid of things and be free. I have always been a weird mixture of a homebody and a jetsetter, and I want both with equal intensity. I suppose it has come to the surface more now that we're moving and editing down our possessions. In some ways, I really enjoy this process: I like getting rid of things. I like moving house. I like new experiences and new people and adventure. But I also like being at home, nesting, feeling secure and surrounding myself with the things I love. This makes for a rather interesting mental state, as I simultaneously clear out the house and accumulate more sentimental bits and pieces. Oh well! I have six whole weeks to get used to the idea.

Comment of the day

"I'm comforted to know I'm not the only split personality type. My halves never co-exist in harmony - one week I'll be feverishly trying to minimalise my life, quite convinced this is exactly how it should be, and suddenly I'll obsessively need to surround myself with "stuff" and "things" and wondering why one earth I ever wanted it any other way. Oh for some balance!" - Ella

Oh hi there

I just wanted to say a quick hello to anyone who has reached me through listening to Ele Ludemann's segment on Radio New Zealand. I noticed people were coming here via the Radio NZ website and followed the links back - the wonders of the Internet! Hansel and Gretel's crumbs have nothing on us. Ele had such lovely things to say, and it was such a delightful way to end my day. So if you have made it here, and you want to learn a bit more about any of the things I talk about, I've put together a wee list of some things you may find interesting.

A sample of my writing - the short story How to Kill a Dead Man

About me

The story behind A Cat of Impossible Colour

Everything I know about thrifting (op-shopping!): Parts I, II, III, IV and V.

Check the sidebar for more past posts! Nice to (virtually) meet you.

Comment of the day

"I was so excited hearing about your blog on the radio I stopped the car on the side of the road to write down the address! I'm currently part way through reading your thrifting guide (most excellent). Your blog is so lovely, a new favourite I intend to visit regularly from now on. Hurrah!" - Ella