Spring Racing Carnival 2013

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is well and truly upon us…  Very conveniently I finish up my job at the Woods on the 26th so have the week prior to Cup week wide open for last minute headpieces, this being said 2 days production time would be ideal - I do have some stock however that may suit you if you need a last minute piece at a good price.

So… if you are in need of a hat, headpiece or silk flower message me and we can discuss :)

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!

1 Month to Go!!!!!

The Melbourne race season is upon us!!!
A month to go!

As always I'll be making custom pieces to order, matching that new little number you just bought to wear trackside as those beautiful animals gallop past

I can make to your price range, and preferences

Send me an email and we can work something fabulous out for you
enquiries@byshelleygreen.com

Some of last years custom pieces

Wonderfully Pretty

Wonderfully Pretty is a vintage & handmade market at 29th Apartment on Fitzroy St in St Kilda held the 2nd Monday night of each month
I'll be here for the September and October markets, 10th September and 8th October

If you're in the area pop in and say 'Hi' grab a cocktail and do a spot of shopping

Liz and Luke's Engagement

The sun came out on Sunday to help us celebrate the engagement of the lovely couple and dear friends Liz and Luke
Wishing them both every happiness for their future together, I hope it is filled with many adventures and good times

To match Liz's (who looked stunning) beautiful black and cream dress I made her a silk rose with freshwater pearls, glass crystals and veiling

The lovely couple

It was also really nice to catch up with some people i haven't seen in quite a while.  Everyone has so much on that life really does get in the way sometimes, I'm grateful for such lovely events as this to give us a chance to forget about everything going on and enjoying each others company, meet new people and have a laugh

                            Mauve and gold hearts                                               The girls

Liz the cupcakes were divine!  Everything looked beautiful and The Bay Hotel in Mordialoc was the perfect venue.

Being such a beautiful day I though I would take advantage of the weather and ride my liddl'ol fluro pink bike down.  I've had this bike since my Dad bought it for me when I was 12 and recently re vamped it a little getting it shiny black mud guards, matching black handle bar tape and seat, and as I don't own another single item of pink anything I went out to Cottage Industries on Gertrude St in Fitzroy and got myself an amazingly luminous fluro Pink Cambridge Satchel Company satchel.
And I do mean luminous!

By the time I rode home the sun was well and truly on its way over the horizon but just as well I had the brightest bike lights I've ever seen with me and no more batteries, they charge in your laptop, Knog Blinders.  Picked them up from Northside Wheelers in Prahran.  I have mentioned this really cute shop previously, they also just received in some unique printed t-shirts from the US of A as well as some shop branded T's based on the book the Rider, really soft cotton, fantastic coloured print and with a back pocket for those small valuables when out on your bike or off for a run.


Why not brighten someones winters day with a little touch of fluro

A top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course!

Bring back top hats I say!
I went to the Espy last Friday to see a friends band, The Happy Endings play their last gig in Melbourne before their tour around some of Easton Europe, enjoy the sunshine boys
Following this was Dirt River Radio, with the most perfectly polished quiff I have seen in a long time!  There was a great crowd with a lot of foot tapping and a bit of a sing along

Dirt River Radio and the perfectly polished quiff

The Hellhounds, rock'n the espy with a top hat

Last on for the night was the Hellhounds with their style of Retro Blues Rock, and the most amazingest top hat!
I love to see hats being worn and worn well, but its been a while since I've seen a top hat out and about.  And this was done with extraordinary style.  The band were fantastic too, I'm not usually a big dancer, normally preferring to remain around the edges unless a large crowd is in attendance to blend amongst… I did however find myself displaying more than just a slight shake of my behind
Needless to say I bought their album from itunes the next day and have been enjoying it daily since.

We also had to pop our heads into the beautiful Gershwin room to check out the Bon Jovi tribute band.
Hilarious!
No offence to you Bon Jovi fans, we toned down our giggling after a few threatening looks from the die hard followers in front of the stage :)

One of the Radio Mexico cacti

Also making this icy winter weather warm and cosy, and I do mean icy ( I have learned my lesson about not wearing gloves while ridding around at 5.30 in the morning, the chilblains on my fingers are still going down! ouch!) is the new restaurant on Carlisle St, Radio Mexico.
Next door to the Galleon this little Mexican place is packed any night of the week.  Inside is warm and cosy but if you can only get a possi outside there's an open fire and blankets to snuggle under, rather romantic.
The taco's are a winner at $6 each, my favourites are the slow cooked pork and bean and the spicy pumpkin.  They come out of their own little taco truck like kitchen so the wait isn't long and you can order them as you go.
My friend Lib swears by the pork belly and the traditional style nachos are delicious!
Whilst coffee isn't yet available the spicy hot chocolate is a must, the thick, chocolaty goodness is well worth the $10 price tag.
I will be making many more visits thats for sure!

FRESAs

Don't forget to wear your gloves!!!

To Market We Go

I had a stall this weekend just gone at the always lovely Rose St Artists Market.
This is one of my favourite places to be on a weekend.
Fantastic coffee, delicious food, an amazing array of original handmade wears and a beautiful community of friendly and inviting stall holders and organisers.

If in Melbourne or visiting get down one weekend to support these hard working artists

Thankyou to everyone that popped in to say 'hi' and to those who purchased pieces, I hope you love wearing them and they give you as much happiness as they gave me making them
And thankyou to the rain for staying away!

Here's a few photos from the weekend

My Stall on Sunday

Bikes for hire

Mmmmm that first coffee for the day

Young Zoe modelling a bridal piece

Mushroom and white truffle risotto
Yummmm!

My sister checking out some of my wears after the Melbourne Roobaix that was also on that weekend

Autumn (and Winter) Leaves

I have just put all my Autumn/Winter pieces up on Etsy
This range includes wool felt fedoras, little button hats, shaped leather leaves on headpieces and alice bands, and some hand tooled silk flowers to brighten the cloudiest of days.

Here are some photos of the range……

Cascading Leaves on skull cap

Asymmetric crown fedora with turkey feather and leather trim

Button hats

Leather leaves on Alice band

Hand Tooled Silk Roses

If you are interested in any of these items in another colour please email me; enquiries@byshelleygreen.com
and we will see what we can do :)

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…. 

Winter Winds

So we haven't quite started getting these, quite yet… Although I did feel like I was getting absolutely nowhere running into the wind along the beach this morning!

So to keep the hairs on your head warm and cozy this winter why no get a custom made hat???

I will be taking orders for made to order felt hats of whatever kind you desire; fedoras, trilbies, cloches etc, etc…
enquiries@byshelleygreen.com

Production time of these will depend on the colour chosen and its availability.  Due sadly to suppliers in Australia constantly having to close their doors the only way to get variety and reliable colour options in wool felt is to have them sent from overseas.

So on this note, thankyou! to Ken from Designer Trims in Melbourne for so speedily getting me this green petersham ribbon for my emerald green fedoras.
Designer Trims supply beautiful Mokuba ribbon from Japan in many shades and styles.

I have this a-symetric fedora with leather band and feathers for sale in Navy, Wine and Emerald.  I have 5 available in each colour.

Now lets hope for a little more sunshine and warm weather before the winter winds come knocking at our door!