2013 - Back on track, nearly….

Sorry for my absence!

What a crazy, busy end to 2012, as usual I tried to do too much with not enough time
I started a new job, now you can find me at Circa, a beautiful Melbourne institution in the Prince of Wales complex in St Kilda.
I love it!  There seemed to be no end to the masses of bookings and christmas functions over the past 2 months, however with a new year and Melbournian's relaxing and enjoying the sunshine before plunging head first into 2013, we now have a chance to breath again, and today is the start of my first weekend off in months (2 days off in a row, very excited about this)

I've also moved house and so can finally finish unpacking.  I moved between a breakfast and dinner shift, crazy - don't do it, it was a terrible idea, for days all I had was my bed set up!
I'm now in a beautiful 3 bedroom turn of last century house in Elsternwick.  Super high ceilings, shiny pine floorboards, amazing ceiling roses in all rooms, and a very large and relaxing backyard with the beginnings of what will no doubt be a very successful vegi garden

The lovely Bree will be moving in in the next few weeks and our new household will be complete along with our new shower curtain!

Salvador is becoming more comfortable with his new surroundings too, we have progressed to stalking butterflies and beetles in the backyard, but still commando crawling inside at the first sign of a slightly aggressive sounding bird

 Christmas presents:  mugs from Susan and the girls as displayed by India and a leather wine holder for my bike from my sister - she always laughs at the amount of bottles I lug around in my satchel

Mexican in my backyard under the trees with some lovely new friends

 I've been doing a bit of work for Kyha and her amazing shop One Day Bridal on Ormond Rd in Elwood, plus more hankies for Northside Wheelers.  All this has made it a very busy lead up to christmas straight after the crazyness of Melbourne spring racing season

These are some of the pieces from that week which i never got a chance to post….

So, the first day of my weekend has consisted of updating mailing details, lunching with my gorgeous friends, Regan, Sally and Rachel, checking out Bike Galleries super stylish shop - thankyou for the complimentary jersey!  Very lovley of you!  And riding around the eastern suburbs enjoying the sunshine and hills till I found my way back south to Elsternwick

 

Now off to dinner with my sister to Radio Mexico but we must keep laughing to a minimum, she popped a rib helping a friend move :(

Oh and new year new colour

I'm now a red head

Ciao!

Two Souls, One Heart

There seems to be an abundance of weddings and engagements at the moment!  everyone I speak to seems to have one or the other to go to!

I had my lovely friend Regan Burns' wedding to Cameron Baines this weekend just gone at the beautiful St Johns Church in Toorak

 Regan had a gorgeous Botchini and Hill gown and her 'epic' silk tule wedding veil beaded all the way round… yep, this is the veil from my post back in feb, all finished and sparkly.

The comb at the top was covered in fresh water pearls and Swarovski crystal to match the design on the beaded belt of her dress.  These then dispersed as they progressed around the edge of the veil giving it a shimmer as it moved catching the light.

For when the veil was removed after the ceremony I made Regan a headpiece.  This consisted of lace with a gunmetal thread detail backed with white silk and wired, then embellished with fresh water pearls, Swarovski crystal and glass beads.

I will be making this beaded headpiece to order via my Etsy shop.

It can be made bigger or smaller by request, just send me an email to enquiries@byshelleygreen.com

It was a fantastic night!  Thankyou Regan and Cam, you are a gorgeous couple, I wish you every happiness for your future together, not that you will be needing it.  Looking forward to a Mexican meal with you when you get back from the US of A ;)

I also got my new vintage acquisition repaired and together to wear…

Thankyou to the always fabulous Shannon Rose for yet another amazing up do!

Sally, Abby, the beautiful bride Regan and myself

Hair by Shannon Rose

Yes, it may have been Sally and I that set the smoke alarm off….. oppps

Not wanting to end this amazing night just yet I found myself at a bazaar but sensational house party in North Carlton.  They had a band in one corner of the lounge consisting of a double bass, drums, accordion and a DJ in the opposite.  Amazing!

So as the sun rose over the northern suburbs I raced home southward, still in 60's dress and vintage mink stall, to say goodbye to my lovely friends Jade and Al off to South America for 8 months of travel, cannot wait to see photos - thankyou Instagram! 

I also received the photos from Loretta's beautiful wedding in the Phillipines.  Her headpiece you might remember from the Bridal Swirls post.

Loretta looked stunning… see for yourself below.

Thankyou for the photos Loretta!

This is an example of the bespoke headwear I make to suit any bridal dress or any occasion you may have…
Just send me an email to discuss the possibilities:  enquiries@byshelleygreen.com

Bridal Swirls

A few weeks back I was contacted by a lovely pint sized bride-to-be in need of a headpiece to match the beautiful wedding dress she had purchased from Thurley.   The wedding is in the Philippines later this month.

And this is what we ended up with…

The veil is separate to the headpiece so it can be removed after the ceremony.

I've used silk, russian braiding, bleached jade, Swarovski and glass crystals and beads as well as peacock hurl.

I will post some wedding shots when I get them. 

 Now, onto beading Regan's 'epic' wedding veil while recapping the last 4 seasons of Mad Men.  The 5th season screens in the US at the end of the month you know???!

Oh Don…. 

A Very Long Long Weekend

So much has been on this last few days!
Heres a little rundown…

We celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday on Thursday night, Happy Birthday Dad!
The family; Mum & Dad, my sister Lisa and her boyfriend Lucas and myself of course had a very delicious dinner at Bistro Thierry in Malvern.  Everything was amazing!  Beef tartare, Hapuka with Bordelaise sauce and I could not go past the Chocolate soufflé!  Needless to say I went for a very long run the next day!
I'm not sure how impressed he was with the 3 day bike ride my sister purchased him but I think the winery tour and lunch for the Margaret river and the cycling book; Sex Lies and Handlebar Tape, from Northside Wheelers, went down quite a bit better.
Start cycling Dad, I'm not filling in for you!

Saturday was the lovely Regan's Hens day in the Yarra Vally.
The designated pick up was in the city at 9.30am.  Those of you who know me well know that I am always running late!  I just cant help it! Regardless of my good intentions or how early I pull myself out of bed things just never go to plan!
Luckily I found a taxi and was even able to stop for an always strong, hot coffee from Degraves Epresso, arriving at the designated pick up point with 5 minutes to spare.  I know! Can you believe it!

So off we went to 4 wineries, for lots of wine tasting, cider and cheese, cheese and more cheese!
It was a fantastic day, thankyou to all the ladies for making it so.  It was lovely meeting you all - see you at the wedding in April!

My never dull partner in Crime; the always mischievous, gorgeous Miss Sally 

Lovely Regan the bride to be

As much as I like a sleep in the weather on sunday was simply too amazing to stay in bed.  There was nothing else for it but to go for a run to the Brighton Sea Baths and swim a few laps around.  Whilst the first 20mtrs are a bit of a shock to the system with the cold water, I couldn't think of anything I would rather do on a sunny day with a perfectly flat bay… if only the water was like this on all those triathlon mornings hey Sally??? :)

Brighton Sea Baths

What better way to follow this than with brunch at St Edmunds with my good friends Lib and Cara then a touch of shopping.  Never one to say no to a bargain I acquired a beautifully soft black leather pencil skirt from Gorman, it was on sale - how could I possibly say no!???
All the best to Cara whose off to India this week!  Can't wait to hear about your time in the Ashram

Gorman Leather Skirt - ready for the cooler weather!

In millinery news this is the skeleton so to speak of a bridal piece I am working on for a wedding in the Philippines later this month.  Final photos will go up later this week…

I'm now sitting in the sun at Mum and Dad's all the way out in the south-eastern suburbs :) and of course visiting my Reece; the families 40kg Golden Retriever, although, he will always be mine.
At the age of 13 and with no control of the nerves in his back legs making walking a bit difficult he is still able to dig up the grass and rip Mum's plants out of the garden.

Have a fantastic 4 day week everyone!
x

The Epic Wedding Veil

So this is the beginning of what will be an 'epic' wedding veil!
This veil is for the lovely Miss Regan Burns who is getting married at the end of April.
It's made from a beautiful soft silk tulle and the edge will be beaded all the way around, I'll update you with its progress once the beading is complete!

I love making custom pieces such as this for my customers special events and occasions so if you have something special in mind… send me an enquiry