Tiara King's Blog: Jewel Divas Style, page 43

RSL Art Union Draw 350 is now open!

RSL Art Union draw 350 is now open. And this time they are featuring three apartments in Sydney, Melbourne and Noosa.

All come fully furnished, rates and taxes paid for a year, air conditioned and with awesome views.

Pick one apartment and sell or rent the other two, or sell all three for over $3 million dollars.

Get into RSL Art Union today for your tickets!

 

Sydney’s up first

 

Here’s Melbourne – I do like the master bedroom’s bedwear!

 

And Noosa! I love the tranquil blues in this theme

 

HOME & DECOR STYLE: Tropical lamps and Retro Kitchenware

Kmart has expanded in a big way this year. Not only has my local store been added to, size wise, but they’ve brought in whole new ranges of items, of which these lamps are just one of the fab new fun things.

There are four to pick from. Flamingo, palm tree, pineapple and banana. Can you tell which one I didn’t get…

As a lover of all things tropical, and Queensland, I went for the big pineapple, palm tree and flamingo. They run on power and have cords, and stand about 40cm high. Many stores are following suit with these lamps, but they aren’t as tall.

 

Moving on to op shops…I bought these awesome retro kitchenware tray and container. Originally from a chain store called Cheap as Chips, they were a bit to expensive for something so basic. Luckily, I found both in op shops for $2 each. Still in new, good condition.

What awesome, inexpensive items have you guys bought lately?

My Jackie Collins collection so far this year

In memoriam to the late great Jackie Collins who passed away two years ago, and the blog post I did a few days back on Tuesday, here are the books I’ve bought this year. I’ve been spending my money on getting my books out, so haven’t had much to spend on jewellery or Jackie.

Have since replaced The Bitch with a better cover. And look at the Hollywood Zoo cover. That was the original US version of Sinners, and have a look at the tagline above her name. Another author called Jacqueline who died of breast cancer….

Gotta love the back cover pics!

She even featured on the paperback covers!

 

Jackie Collins. It’s been two years since you passed away…

Today is the 19th of September in Australia, and it’s been two years since my writing mentor, the great ballbustingly good Jackie Collins passed away.

I’ve followed in her footsteps when it came to writing my adult novels. She inspired me with everything she did, everything she wore, everything she said.

She even liked a couple of my photos on Instagram, and answered my questions on her website back in 2007. That I will hold dear, and use as inspiration for all books and stories that come out of me…of which there are now…37 as of this date.

You can see my Jackie Collins book collection here. I have added to it somewhat this year, and all are packed away now due to space restrictions, but you can see them in Thursday’s post. I am posting my pics of Jackie as a memoriam, as well as posting a pic of the photo montage I keep on my bookshelf to remind me to get shit done! And I will shed a tear or million while trying not to cry.

 

 

 

 

 

STYLE NOTES: My Eraser Collection

I’m 43, and when I was a kid my mother would buy me erasers, stickers, pens, notebooks, anything that was around. There was an awesome store called Granny Mays that sold all of the above, but sadly, it went out of business by 2000 I think. Smiggle has taken it’s place but it’s not like Granny Mays was. It was warm and inviting and full of lovely smelly erasers.

So my collection grew, and grew, and grew…and then stopped. 

Why?

Because  stores stopped selling erasers…

Until the last few years.

We may not have Granny Mays anymore, but stores like Kmart, Big W and Smiggle are making up for it. And so my collection has started to grow again. I finally dug out my container from my cupboard and took photos. I have counted them, there’s 311…in total…for now…

Here are the new ones, some you’ve already seen.

 

And more new ones from Kmart.

 

Years ago I bought a container for my erasers. I made up cardboard trays with twistems for handles. Here’s the bottom layer #1, there’s eight in all and I start at the bottom.

 

layer #2

 

layer #3 – yes…Luke…I have your eraser…and ET wants to phone home

 

layer #4 – mmm…chocolate…and then you can burn it off by playing sport

 

layer #5

 

layer #6 – A…B…C…

 

layer #7 – Jurasic Park…eat your heart out!

 

layer #8 – the top layer where all the big ones are…like cabbage patch kids, gumball mahcines and houses!

 

So there you have it. My lifelong addiction to erasers…no rubber jokes…and now that Kmart is selling awesome ones, it may continue…

 

ACCESSORY STYLE: My New Nicole Lee handbag

I’ve had a bit of an obsession with bags this year, having bought quite a few already in the first half of the year. But recently I discovered the brand Nicole Lee.

Sadly, they don’t ship to Australia on their website, even though I was able to make the order quite easily and they do state they ship internationally, nowhere did it say not to Australia.

So I went searching on eBay and in a local discount bag store, but they didn’t have it cheap enough, where as eBay did.

I bought this bag. Titled Girls Want To Have Fun, and it’s very me. The pink, blue and crystals are very me, exactly what I wanted in a bag, and it’s a decent width. Just not a decent height.

It also came with several issues, some sort of gunk on the handles, undone stitching on a handle, but thankfully, the seller gave me a $30 discount and I got it for $110AUD. Thanks to not getting them on the website, I missed out on the wallet and phone case, but I’m kinda glad I did because I’ve got my eye on another two bags.

They aren’t leather, but labelled vegan leather, basically pvc plastic. The interior is a good strong material with a kiss print. There’s a long strap and two good handles, four studded feet on the bottom so the patent pleather doesn’t get scratched, and the zip works really well. If it’s one thing I hate with a bag, it’s a zip that sticks and busts.

Isn’t she gorgeous!

 

How many handbags have you guys bought lately?

 

Turning old diary covers into compendiums and writing folders

As an author who writes by hand, it’s made a lot easier if we can have folders or compendiums to tuck our notebooks and paperwork into so we know where everything is.

I’ve been big on compendiums this year, finding several B5 sizes but not A4 which is what I need. I did manage to find a Filofax one from the op shop for $1.25 years ago. It was $80 in store so it was a bargain. But I need more, in different colours.

So, instead of spending $80 I went searching for alternatives and realised I could use old diary covers. I dug them all out and got rid of a few diaries and kept the covers.

A4s for my notebooks. And even if they can’t fit into the plastic I can still store the book in there and keep notes in the plastic pockets instead.

My old 2015 diary cover fits notebooks well and I’ll definitely keep using it. It even has a pen holder.

The smaller diary covers also fit notebooks well, and have the plastic pockets for notes.

 

What do you guys purpose around the house when you can’t find it in store or online?

 

MY STYLE: August Style

It’s been pretty damn cold around here, we are winter after all, but some days have had a mild warmth to them. And it helps when I’m running around doing the shopping and paying the bills. Eight outfits for the month of August, which just goes to show how often I go out.

 

OUTFIT #1 – DOCTORS

JUMPER: I bought this awesome jumper from an op shop many a year ago for $8.50. I think it had been handmade but had a tag on the collar, so who knows.

PANTS: Usual Kmart $7 jeans.

SHOES: My usual suspects of Spendless Shoes Olympus boots.

JEWELLERY: Bear earrings.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #2 – MORE DOCTORS…BLECH

JUMPER: I bought this hoodie in 2009 for $20 from a menswear shop. I loved it the moment I saw it.

PANTS: Usual Kmart $7 jeans. Finally on their way out after about five years.

SHOES: My usual suspects of Spendless Shoes Olympus boots.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #3 – IT WAS SO DAMN DARK I NEEDED A FLASH!

TOP: My Beatles tshirt from the early 90s that I bought for $23 from a long defunct music shop.

CARDIGAN: Mum made this back in 1990

PANTS: Kmart blues

SHOES: Doc Martens that I bought new off eBay way back in 08 or 09 for $130

JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas music set, eBay bangles, chain store rings.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #4 – SHOPPING, LIBRARY

SHIRT: bought this awesome silk shirt way back in the early 90s from an op shop for…free! It washes well and doesn’t need ironing like so much silk does.

VEST: Op shop bought in 1998 for $4

PANTS: Kmart blues, on their last legs.

SHOES: Usual Olympus from Spendless

JEWELLERY: mixture of Lovisa (necklace, earrings, left hand bracelet, right hand mint bangle and both rings) and eBay (dragon and stone bangles)

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #5 – SHOPPING, LIBRARY

TOP:  My model top from 2013 that I bought from Kmart for $15

BLAZER: Millers sparkle Chanel style I bought in 2014 for $20

PANTS: Kmart blues.

SHOES: Not that you can see them, but I have black suede boots on.

JEWELLERY: two necklaces from Adorne for $5 each, Lovisa earrings, right hand bracelet stack and rings, eBay crystal black bangles.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #6 – SHOPPING, LIBRARY (yep, I have the same routine every Thursday)

TOP: Crossroads top from 2012 for $14.95

PANTS: Kmart blues

SHOES: op shop cowboy boots I bought for $49.25 back about 2013/14

JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas high heel earrings, bracelet stack and necklace, chain store everything else.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #7 – MUM’S HOSPITAL VISIT

TOP: Millers from 2014 for $18

BLAZER: Vintage retro from the 80s. Got it off mum.

PANTS: Kmart blues, for $7. You have lasted well, for five or so years, my friend, but now the hole in the inner leg means I cannot wear you again. So goodbye to you….

SHOES: Spendless Shoes Olympus boots in black (which is why you can’t see them. Clearly I need to use the flash more often!)

JEWELLERY: Mask earrings I bought for $8 from a market back in the early 90s. Chain store bracelets.

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTFIT #8 – SHOPPING, LIBRARY

TOP: Millers form 2014 for $16.80 (I think…)

PANTS: And hello to my new Kmart blues for $7. I bough the two pairs at the same time and only wear one at a time, so already about five years old but still in pristine condition.

SHOES: Naturalizer navy suede. Better seen here.

JEWELLERY: Mixture of op shop and eBay necklaces and earrings, chain store rings and bracelets.

 

What have you guys worn this last month?

 

STYLE NOTES: Updating my marker set and finding a new case to store them in

This week I showed you the awesome pencil case I bought and filled up, today, I’m showing you the awesome blue case I bought for my markers.

A couple of weeks ago I showed these markers from a recent shopping haul, well, it was because I was overhauling these as well…

I started with the two sets of Itsy Bitsy markers which fitted on one side (the bottom). On top are other markers I’ve had for ages.

Then the two sets of Faber Castell markers fitted nicely opposite each other in the middle section. Fine markers on top, grip markers on the bottom.

The last section has plenty of room for more markers and fits my odds and sodds from the last 30 years. Yeah, I hang onto things for a long time. If they ain’t dead, don’t chuck them. And the four in the middle are Faber Castell felt tips. Yep, they last that long.

 

As someone who designs, draws and creates, I need plenty of markers and pencils to do it, so updating my sets this year was more than a long time in the making.

Have you guys updated your stationery lately?

 

STYLE NOTES: Updating my pencil set and finding a new case to store them in

Recently I showed some markers I bought to update my collection, but I’ve also overhauled my pencil kit and bought a new case to store them in.

I’ve got pencils that are 35 years old, Faber Castell, which is why I stuck with the brand, I’ve got second and third sets of FCs and then no-brand pencils. I gave my third set of pencils to mum to use for her colouring books because I haven’t used mine in years. I always stuck to my favourite colours of blue and pink, so used those pencils faster than the others, so needed to keep buying sets to get the same colours, but never quite found the same shades…

This year I decided I needed to give them an overhaul and a new home to house them in, hence, I went in search for a case that fitted 100 or more pencils and found this one….

It’s awesome faux pink leather, a bit smaller than A4 size, and fits 127 pencils across three sections…

I stored my pencils and textas in an op shop bought cosmetic bag and toothbrush container…

I also had a set of pencils in this case which I carried with a sketchpad in my bag. But I had to stop carrying it when 1 – I didn’t use it, and 2 – it made my bag too heavy to carry.

So I searched around my local stores and eBay and found this 60 pack of Faber Castells for $22AUD.

I loaded them up from the outside in, setting them in their correct number sequence and colouring…

I kept adding them until I started on my old ones. You can see which colours I’ve used most over the years…

And it all ends with the odds and sodds, lead pencils, eraser and neon pencils.

 

Have you guys hung on to something for 30 plus years and have you updated them?