THOUGHTS // of the literary kind

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AUTUMN // yes please

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1 // Dreaming of Autumn in Arrowtown, NZ
2 // My hands dry out in Autumn because of the colder weather. For that, I use Body Shop almond hand cream. Delicious.
3 // The time of year when it is possible to wear bare legs and coats. Such fun!
4 // Rhubarb pie. Need I say more?
5 // New boots for those rainy days and for kicking through leaves.

You're a gem

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“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” 
― Leo Tolstoy

The Leather Jacket

Just a tiny bit bad-ass, and totally on trend this season. Lovin' that leather jacket.

Here's some ways to wear it this season.

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TOP 3 - dystopian reads

Thinking about what to read over the weekend? A fan of The Hunger Games? Consider checking out these other sweet dystopian books. They certainly tickled my fancy and stretched my brain. Get amongst it!

1. 1984 - George Orwell
// “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.” 

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// 1984 is dark, disturbing and extremely thought-provoking. Orwell's 1949 novel follows Winston Smith, a government worker whose job is to rewrite history, changing things in newspapers to appear as though they never happened. Winston outwardly appears a strong party supporter, but secretly begins hating them and dreaming of rebellion. And yes, 1984 has the original Big Brother. Watching you. All. The. Time. 

2. THE ISLAND - Jen Minkman
// "Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers."

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// The Island is a recently published dystopian novella, and is both a gripping and fun read. The Island is narrated by Leia, a young girl living in a world where children leave their parents at ten years old to take care of themselves on a separate part of the island. Guiding the kids is a psychopathic teenage boy and a divine book curiously inspired by the Star Wars films. The island itself is divided by a wall, where the inhabitants are fraught with a multitude of illogical prejudices. Leia goes on a journey of understanding, and uncovered at the end is the truth of the island.

3. BRAVE NEW WORLD - Aldous Huxley
//“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”

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// Brave New World is a disturbing novel about a society based on a strict caste system, where the upper castes live a completely self-centred and controlled existence, and the lower class 'savages' live separate to society and work at menial jobs. Life at the top is easy: Sex without love, escapism through 'soma' (a hallucinogenic drug), and absolutely no deep thinking. In order to keep the lower casts content at their level, children are educated via the hypnopaedic process. This basically brainwashes each child with subliminal messaging about their place in the world. Read this novel to challenge your thoughts about the foibles of modern society. Yup. 

What dystopian fiction do you enjoy? Leave a comment below!

DIY // pinboard

A few years ago I created a pinboard from an old embroidery hoop and some vintage fabric. And now. Finally. I bring it to you.

YOU WILL NEED:

// Embroidery hoop

// Cotton (or any other light fabric) - enough to sit over your embroidery hoop

// Padding - enough to sit over your embroidery hoop

// Two lengths of lace or string
// Fabric scissors
// Hot glue gun

STEP ONE

// Place the hoop over the padding and trace inside with a marker.

// Carefully cut out the padding. It should be a circle that fits inside the hoop.

STEP TWO
// Trace inside the hoop onto your fabric

STEP THREE
// Now line the padding up with the traced circle on the fabric.

STEP THREE
// Attach the padding to the fabric around the edge of the circle with a hot glue gun.

STEP FOUR
// Lay the embroidery hoop over the fabric and thread edges through the gap around its edge.

STEP FIVE
// Turn the hoop over and pull taut, tightening the knob as you go.

STEP SIX
// Add in your desired ribbon/lace. I added two layers so I could pin more on the board.

STEP SEVEN
// Finally, turn the pinboard over and trim the excess fabric.
// Glue down with a hot glue gun

VOILA! Now you have a handy pinboard to display cards, photos, or what ever else inspires you!
Have you made any interesting projects recently? Leave a comment below!

The Autumn/Winter Hat

Digging the winter hat right now. Where can I get mine?

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Legit music right there

Pondering

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Crafternoon ideas for your weekend

CUSHION
// This gold foil cushion from Design Sponge:

PHONE CASE
// This phone case from The Lovely Drawer:

POT
// These gold foil succulent pots from Miss Renaissance:

Currently following...

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A WELL TRAVELED WOMAN

// Images and thought-provoking quotes

CHASING CAIT

// NZ style tips and buying advice

SHOP STYLE CONQUER

// Fashion blog by two NZ sisters

SAY CHEESE LOUISE

// Images, quotes, DIY and affordable NZ style

BABY REBEL

// Cool NZ fashion vibe

BLACKBIRD

// Home, style and living

A PAIR AND A SPARE

// Fashion DIY

What blogs do you follow? Leave your thoughts below!

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made

heaven, and earth,

and mountains.

He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.

Not on your life!

Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep.
God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you -
Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave

and when you return,

he guards you now,

he guards you always.

- Psalm 121 (The Message translation)