My first blog...

I have only just discovered the world of blogging!?! Wow just a few days and im already caught up in this, reading all these interesting blogs of crafty, vintage and fashion loving people. It has really inspired me to create my own and I hope that I may one day have a few followers here and there.

Im going to start my vert first blog by asking the question...Could there be such a thing as a thrift gene? I come from a line of "collectors" and thrifty, crafty people. Was it their influence and exposure growing up, or is it just in my blood?

Both my grandparents are thrifty people. So thrifty, they built their own house 60 years ago (and they are still living in that same house today at 83 years of age).
My grandmother is a seamstress extraordinaire. She was behind the creations of most of our family wardrobes. She still sews and knits her own clothes to this day. All my clothes as a child were hand made from her. Remember the 80's parachute tracksuits??...my parents couldnt always afford to dress us in the latest "fashion fad", so nan made my brother and I a couple in bright fluro colours (wonder if I can find some photos somewhere?). We though we were the bees knees! She started working in a sewing factory at the age of 15. I love that she is still best friends with a work collegue, Beryl, neary 70 years later. My grandmothers children (my mum and uncle) and Beryls children, have grown up together and my brother and I grew up with Beryls grandchildren. 3 generations of friendships and to this day we still celebrate every milestone in each others lives, along with a "friend" Christmas celebrated every boxing day. (Another of my loves...old tales and traditions...history, I love it!)

My grandfather is a retired artist. Im not sure if you ever actually retire from being an artist but he no longer pulls out his brushes and led pencils as age is catching up with him. Hes has a garage full of treasures, things from years ago, but "you never know when you might need them", things collected from the side of the road, things covered in years on dust. A piolet in the Air Force he was then a lecturer at a TAFE in the plumbing and gasfitting industry. He had always been very clever with his hands. If something is in need of fixing, then he's your man.

My mum has always dabbled in crafts. Shes unfortunatelty not a sewer, or a knitter, however she is starting a night course in quilting this week. She used to ran a craft stall at Gembrook market with the help of my grandparents. She gave that away once we startred highschool and us kids demanded more of her time. She hopes to one day get back into her craft when she finally retires.

My dad is a music lover. I swear he could open up a record store with the amount of LP's and CD's he has. He collects the old and rare and sells the rest at market stalls and record fairs. It is a major interest in his life and he has made many friends through his passion of old music.

Me I love recycled fahion. I very rarely buy any NEW clothes, unless for a special occasion or for my job, in which I have to wear their clothes. I love sourcing my wardrobe collection from op shops, markets and ebay. I love that it doesn't come from a chain stiore and that if someone likes it, they cant find the same thing and buy it too! I love having an original look that no one can directly copy! Thats the fun of vintage clothing! I studied Visual Arts and Visual Merchandising at Uni. I love painting, photography, jewellery making and anything "crafty". I love antiques, things from the past, anything that has a story and a history.

I hope to post photos of some of my favourite things in the next couple of days and my bargin finds of the week!