The Janelle Wind Collection

What I wore Wednesday...

Today is a pretty special day, seeing that this day only happens once every 4 years (being a leap year and the last day of Summer). I wonder what special things might happen on this special day, February 29. A BIG happy birthday to those celebrating a once every 4 years birthday today too.

Seeing as it was such a special day I decided it called for a fun, summery and comfy outfit. Here is what I wore...

Yellow Top - Avocado brand (approx. $4 from the Op shop)

White singlet top - wardrobe piece

Jeans - Just Jeans brand ($7 from Op shop)

Yellow Shoes - (a favourite Op shop find from South Australia on our visit last year)

Handbag - New from Target (on special for $7.50 reduced from $30)

Necklace - Christmas present from my beautiful friend Mardi, from HERE

For those who read my blog regularly, you might remember me mentioning that I am on the lookout for a new handbag. I am still really missing my yellow handbag from Jasper (2 Christmas's ago) but it was just falling apart too much for me to use. 

Well last week when Emily and I popped into Target for a quick shop after school, I was pretty excited to find this brown bag. It caught my eye, was a little different to my yellow bag and was on special too - all things that appealed to me. So for $7.50, I brought it home and am happily using it every day.

Here is a close up of my necklace. I LOVE it so so much and was so excited to open it in my presents from Mardi for Christmas. I will blog about my gifts from Mardi soon, but HERE is the etsy store that she purchased it from. I really really love it, and love that there are three alternatives to give me lots of ways to wear it. It's one of my very favourite necklaces now.

I hope on this special leap year day, that you are wearing something bright, fun and something that makes you happy too. Happy February 29 xx Janelle

February Photo a Day - Week Three...

Yep, I'm still playing along with the photo a day challenge and really enjoying it too. Here are my photos from the third week of February...

February 15 - Phone

I really love my new iphone, it helps me capture memories wherever I go.

February 16 - Something new

My something was a new dress that I designed for my Blythe dolls. This one had sleeves - hard but I love a challenge.

February 17 - Time

I was craving baked veges on this day, so made myself a little baked lunch. It was yummy!! Lunch time...

February 18 - Drink

My favourite drink, a cup of tea, in my favourite mug (from typo).

February 19 - Something you hate to do

Dishes, yep I really don't enjoy dishes one little bit. However, when sharing this photo on instagram, a lovely follower told me that she sees doing dishes as a privilege, she is grateful she has food to feel her family, hands to prepare the meals and she enjoys watching her family in the back garden while doing the dishes. It was the reality check that I needed, I have been reminded my attitude makes all the dishes. I am going to do my very best to switch my attitude and enjoy doing the dishes because I know that I they are a result of taking care of my family.

February 20 - Handwriting

On the morning of the 20th, I headed to the local Op shop to pick up a few vintage books to make the packaging for my etsy dresses. Upon arriving home, I opened one of the books to reveal this special message. I spent the rest of the day wondering who Jack and Madeline might be and what their story is. I confess I might have made up the most romantic story as I went about my work. I chose to honour Jack and Madeline by keeping this vintage book on my bookshelf. I hope to read it one day too. It is called Burnt Sugar by F M Baume. (isn't Madeline's handwriting just beautiful too)

February 21 - A Favourite photo of me

I confess I spent a LONG time going through old photo albums and looking at my online photos trying to find a favourite. I was about to give up when I found this photo. I really love it. This is my Mum and me in 1972, apparently I was about 10 weeks old and my Mum was about 36, so just a few years younger than I am now. It is very special to me.

Are you playing along? If so, please let me know your Instagram name so I can follow along and enjoy your photos too. Have a great week. xx Janelle

Giveaway winner...

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my little dress giveaway. I was so thrilled to read so many lovely comments and know that so many others were willing to love the pretty dress too. I SO wish I had more dresses to share, exactly like this but sadly this is for just the one dress.

Without further ado, (drum roll please), I am excited to say the winner is...

A HUGE congratulations Leanne, I really hope your daughter loves this gorgeous dress and feels super pretty at your Cousins wedding in April.

Leanne, if you would like to email me with your postal address, I will pop the dress in the post to you on Monday.

I have LOVED this giveaway so much that I have decided to do it regularly. So please check back and see what I have to share - I will be choosing clothes and goodies that are all different sizes, just things that I find and love. I am sure someone else will love them too.

Thanks again to everyone who entered my giveaway and a huge congrats to Leanne. xx Janelle

What I wore Wednesday...

Do you remember way back in September, when I shared a photo of some white linen trousers and cute red floral top that I purchased from the Op shop? Would you believe that I wore both of these items for the first time today. You see, I was waiting and waiting for some warm Summer weather before I wore them, and gave up waiting and decided to wear them today anyway. I think I was channeling my inner hippie just a little too. So, here is what I wore today...

Trousers - Op shop

Red floral top - Op shop

Jacket - Temt

Shoes - Rivers (a favourite pair too)

Necklace - From Nest Pretty Things etsy store

Sunglasses - Temt factory outlet store in Adelaide for $5

It was lovely to finally wear my white linen trousers today, they were super comfy and I can't wait to wear them again soon. Hope you have had a lovely Wednesday... xx Janelle

(click on photo to see it a little larger)

Etsy update...

I have been madly stitching for the past few weeks and am excited to let you know that I am almost ready for another big etsy update. At last count I had almost 30 dresses stitched and I am busily stitching the press studs (snaps) onto each dress to finish them off.

I thought you might like a sneak peek at some of the dresses that I have been making. I am pretty excited because I have designed another style that I love, so have made quite a few variations on this new style. This one has sleeves (3/4 length) - yay!

I made a few more of this dress is some pretty aqua and red fabrics too.

The above dresses are a limited edition as they take a long time to make, therefore there will only be a few available.

I then altered the pattern again and came up with this dress called 'Simply Sweet'. I LOVE it. I think it is perfect for Blythe dolls, teamed with a cardi, some cute shoes and maybe even a hat or headband.

I have made a selection of these 'Simply Sweet' dresses in the above print fabric, in yellow, green, blue and red, as well as some of the prints below.

There are a few others that I don't have photos of, and some of these are limited editions as well.

So when is the update I hear you ask? Well I have been thinking and thinking, trying to choose a time that is fair for everyone. I honestly don't want anyone to miss out that is hoping for something specific. So I have decided to split the update into two time slots, in the hope that this will suit everyone. So the updates will be...

Thursday February 23 at 1.00 pm (NSW time)

Thursday February 23 at 9.00 pm (NSW time)

I am REALLY hoping that one of these times will suit everyone in other states and countries. 

OK I am off to continue stitching on press studs, package and photograph everything ready for Thursday... x Janelle

EDITED TO ADD: I have changed the afternoon update to 1 hour later for our Western Australia friends. I thought we were 2 hours different but have discovered we are three, so hopefully this will make it 10am for WA.

Inspiration Sunday...

This week I thought I would share some of my favourite etsy stores. There is SO much inspiration to be had, it will be hard to narrow it down to just a few.

THIS etsy store, Daffodil Lane, sells the best socks and tights for Blythe. My girls have a few pairs of socks, they are easy to put on, stay up and the stitching doesn't break. I love them.

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While we are chatting Blythe, Dolly Bird Blythe sells the cutest bow headbands. We have a few of them here and love them.

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It's no secret that I ADORE necklaces. I think the right necklace can really finish off an outfit. DustyJo has some of the loveliest necklaces and hair ties around in her etsy store, Dusty Plum. I have a few of Jo's necklaces and have gifted a few to friends as well. This one is probably my current favourite, and can be worn as a brooch or necklace. Love!!

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If you love all things 'woodland' themed like I do, then you will love Paper Sparrow's etsy store. It is full to overflowing with gorgeous prints, and art all with a woodland critter theme. I am very partial to foxes, fawns, bluebirds, owls - so many critters. These little pinned back brooches have totally caught my eye.

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And this print called 'Reading Foxes' has my heart. I think it might have to come and live with me soon too.

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While we are on the topic of etsy stores, I am SUPER excited to tell you that I am almost ready for my next update in my etsy store, The Stitched Bluebird. I have been madly stitching and am pretty excited about some new style dresses I have been making too. Here is a sneak peek at one that I made last night. I think I will play with this style in some different print combinations soon too.

I will pop back tomorrow with some more sneak peeks and let you know when the update will go live in my etsy store. I will try very hard to pick a time that will hopefully suit lots of people too.

So, tell me, do you have a favourite etsy store? I would love to hear about it... xx Janelle

February Photo a Day - Week Two...

Here are my Photo a Day photos from the second week of February. I am really loving playing along with this photo challenge. If you are wanting to see my daily photos, feel free to follow me on Instagram (my user name is Janelle Wind) and if you don't have Instagram, you can follow along online at Webstagram.

February 8 - Sun

It had been a while since we had seen the sun (weeks of rain) so although I couldn't see the sun on this day, the peek at the blue sky assured me the sun was still up there somewhere.

February 9 - Front Door

Our front door (that is at the side of our house) is VERY old. Oh the story it could tell.

February 10 - Self Portrait

I didn't feel like taking my photo on this day, so opted for something even better. This is me, drawn by Emily when she was a little girl. I love this more than any photo I could ever take.

February 11 - Makes you Happy

Seeing my kids having fun with their cousin Yasmin, makes me very happy. We love family.

February 12 - Inside your closet

Lots of thrifted goodness in mine.

February 13 - Blue

I ADORE my canvas made for me by my very wonderful friend, Mardi. It hangs in my hallway and makes me happy every day.

February 14 - Heart

My gorgeous girl was hidden away in her room last night and then this morning tip toed into our bedroom and hung this string of hearts on my lamp as a Valentines present. I adore it and feel so blessed to have such thoughtful children too.

I am still taking my photos each day, so will share week three next weekend... x Janelle

Thrifty Thursday - Giveaway edition

I feel SO very blessed finding all of the gorgeous things during my Op shopping trips and have been very spoiled with things gifted to me as well, so I wanted to 'pay it forward'. So today's Thrifty Thursday is for you.

Remember this dress that I purchased from the Op shop, that I was considering wearing to my nieces wedding.

Well I didn't end up wearing and I would like to gift it to someone who would like it for themselves, their daughter, granddaughter, friend, sister - anyone. Here are some details on the dress.

It is a size 8, with a side zip and adjustable straps that cross over the back. It is baby doll style that falls softly from under the bust. The bodice is beautifully hand beaded and the whole dress is fully lined. It really is a gorgeous dress and would be a perfect cocktail dress, school formal dress or just that something special for someone to wear on a special date.

Here is a close up photo of the front of the bodice. Isn't it beautiful. (click on the photos to see them a little larger)

Here is the back detail...

This photo shows the lining.

The brand is Lipsy London - here is their website... www.lipsy.co.uk. From what I can see it doesn't have any stains, tears or marks at all and I feel it has probably never been worn. A few of the beads are loose but I will stitch them back in place as best I can. (feel free to check the lipsy site for their clothes sizing)

It really is such a beautiful dress and I really hope that someone will love it. If you would like this dress, I would love to send it to you as a gift from me. All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post OR email me at thejanellewindcollection@westnet.com.au. If only one person is interested then it will be theirs, if there are a few, then I will use a random number generator to make things as fair as possible.

I will contact the winner next THURSDAY, giving you a week to enter this giveaway, then I will pop this beautiful dress in the post to it's new home. Looking forward to sharing a little of my Thrifting with you. xx Janelle

What I Wore Wednesday...

I mentioned last week that there was a little story behind the accessories that I had chosen to wear to my nieces wedding. Today I wanted to share that little story.

As previously mentioned, I had a few outfit options (from the OP shop and my wardrobe initially) to wear to the wedding. One of them was a simple black dress, not something I would normally choose as I LOVE colour but I thought it might work if I dressed it up a little.

So our little family headed into a handmade market to see if we could find a suitable necklace. We had the BEST day out and about together, something we need to do much more of, and I did find a necklace that I felt would work. Here it is...

The necklace was purchased from a designer called IsAva Designs. You can see her facebook page HERE. I was really drawn to the necklace and kept coming back to it and after chatting with the gorgeous stall holder, this necklace and a matching hair pin came home with me.

Sadly when I got home with my new necklace didn't really work with my dress (insert sad face here) but I was determined to make it work, so decided to team it with a simple white t-shirt and pair of jeans to wear another day. I think it worked a treat.

Tshirt - wardrobe piece, I think it was from Crossroad or Katies

Jeans - Op shop ($7)

Wedges - Target

Necklace - IsAvA Design $35

Hairpin - IsAvA Design $5

I popped on my favourite pair of wedges and was really happy that I could still make my necklace work. It's fun to wear something new.

More about our trip to the handmade market in another blog post. It really is fun to get out and about with my family, I really plan on doing more of that this year. xx Janelle

Valentines Day swap with my tweets (part two).

Following on from my previous blog post, I am SUPER excited to show you all of the goodies that Carissa sent me for our Valentines swap.

Firstly, these are the beautifully wrapped gifts that arrived for me last week. I must confess that it was torture to have to wait till today to open them, but I promise I was good and left everything wrapped until this morning.

Early this morning with one child on each side eagerly watching, I slowly opened my Valentines gifts from Carissa. I started with the parcel of Blythe gifts. Inside the present were three smaller presents, all beautifully wrapped. It was SO exciting and so much fun too.

Inside these parcels was the cutest little dolly for my Blythes, a Blythe handbag, made by Carissa with one of her Blythes on the side and a handmade Blythe quilt, made from vintage fabrics. How divine are they! I LOVE them all and so do my Blythe dolls.

Isn't everything just gorgeous!!! BUT, there was still more - so exciting!!

Next up, I opened the gift for me. Inside were three smaller presents again, one a blue box. WOWEE, I could barely contain my excitement.

And here is what was inside these presents. A Lalaloopsie pencil topper (I don't have one of these but LOVE them), a necklace with a bluebird on it (LOVE) and a little book of panda sticky notes (so cute!). WOW, did I ever feel spoiled.

Last but not least I opened my valentines present, and this is what was inside. Three more gorgeously wrapped presents.

Inside was a box of some of my favourite chocolates, two gorgeous candles and the most gorgeous mini quilt.

Isn't the quilt just gorgeous!! Carissa has added a cross stitch panel to it as well. It is really beautiful, and so perfectly made. I can't wait to hang it on my wall and admire it every day.

Even the back is totally gorgeous.

I really do feel SO very blessed to have such beautiful friends and to be able to participate in such fun swaps. A HUGE thank you to Carissa for totally spoiling me and to Georgette for doing all the organising too. To quote my lovely friend Tamar - I love my Blythe friends. xx Janelle