Stretching Yourself

I have been doing some serious recuperating and relaxing lately - well at least trying to. My mind still goes a million miles an hour almost 24 hours a day - thinking about knickers, being an entrepreneur, managing finances amongst so many other things. I feel as though I am never satisfied, but in a way that makes me want to keep going and stretching myself to reach my dreams. Though I do worry about burning the candle at both ends. Hence my little break before I release the next range. Just some random thoughts and some pretty pictures. Gaby xoxo

501 Posts & Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

I actually really wanted to do something special with the 500th post, but it just kind of went by and I didnt even realise! Things have been quite hectic with work and so unfortunately I haven't had too much blogging time. And we also shot the 3rd Hopeless range yesterday! The pictures are incredible, I feel so blessed to have such an amazing team of friends to work with and who support my dreams. I am absolutely dying to put them up, but of course there is editing to do, so sit tight! In the meantime, The lovely Esme and the lane way passed on a little quiz, and I also think I might do a little Beetlejuice range of accessories next for Hopelessly Devoted. Gaby xoxo

 

1.Where is your phone? In my bag
2.Your hair? Fuzzy, curly, up
3.Your Mother? At a study group
4.Your Father? At home
5.Your favourite food? Almost everything, I love baking and trying new things. At the moment I love green food - cucumber, mint, spinach, beans, lime.
6.Your dream last night? I found these weird bugs with Nick, they were like crickets but crossed stick insects, and they had a little saddle and these tiny snails riding on their backs. I screamed and one flew into my mouth and I majorly freaked out and it was all stuck in my mouth. I blame watching Beetlejuice just before bedtime.
7.Your favourite drink? Fresh orange juice
8.Your dream/goal? To turn Hopeless into a successful international brand, while still making everything by hand in studio with a small team of friends.
9.What room are you in? My workspace/livingroom/diningroom. (Its all one big room)
10.Your hobbie? Sewing, drawing, watching movies, crochet, painting

 

11.Your fear? Failure
(12. is missing)
13.Where were you last night? In bed watching Beetlejuice on my laptop
14.Something that your not? Confident
15.Muffins? White chocolate and banana with passionfruit ganache. (My own very delicious invention)
16.Wishlist item? Anything Chanel and/or Sonia Rykiel
17.Where did you grow up? In Melbourne

18.Last thing you did? Ate too much kebab
19.What are you wearing? Leggings and a leopard print top
20.Your TV? Hamish and Andy
21.Your pets? None :(
22.Friends? My best friend lives in the country
23.Your life? Mostly on track
24.Your mood? Comme ci comme ca
25.Missing someone? Not really

26.Vehicle? Non existent - Nick lets me borrow his car though
27.Something your not wearing? Socks
28.Your favourite store? Second hand
29.Your Favourite colour? Shades of red and pink

 

30.When was the last time you laughed? A few minutes ago when Nick did a little dance in the kitchen
31.The last time you cried? A couple of days ago? I cry all the time haha its no big deal
32.Your best friend? Nick
33.One place that I go to over and over? The new dvd shop on Burwood Rd
34.Facebook? Yes
35.Favourite place to eat? Porgie and Mr Jones, Taco Bill, Colonel Tans, many little places in Chinatown

Samantha Hahn

Seeing this kind of thing always makes me want to draw more! I love the work of Brooklyn based illustrator Samantha Hahn, this is a tiny selection of my favourites from her website. Think I will definitely try and squeeze some drawing in today. Gaby xoxo

Success and Kittens

Counting down the days until we shoot 'The Voyage'. I am so excited to finally be getting new things in store, as it has been a year since I released the last Hopeless range. And that is most definitely too long! I have been doing quite a bit of soul searching about my little business, and where I want to take it. I am easily overwhelmed by it all, and while I have very big dreams I definitely struggle with all the day to day decisions, and success (depending on how you want to define it) seems very far away. To me, success would be being able to support myself doing what I truly love - so here is hoping that its coming soon. How would you define success? Gaby xoxo

Melissa Haslam

Beautiful work by Melissa Haslam. A lot more at here website here (and plenty is beautiful colour too). Gaby xoxo

Vintage Magazines

Here are some vintage magazines I found last week at an antique shop. Definitely a bargain at $1 each! Gaby xoxo

I do like to be beside the seaside

I am going to the beach tomorrow! Gaby xoxo

Carnivale

I have been watching the series 'Carnivale' for the past few days, and it is really making me think about travel more than anything! As well as being very pretty to watch I am somewhat envious of their nomadic lifestyle. I really wish I could go on a tropical jungle adventure, or sea voyage, or something along those lines. I am just really itching to see different parts of the world, especially those off the beaten track. So far in my life I have seen a few parts of Australia, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, LA and North Carolina. More than anything I am desperate to visit South America and pretty much everywhere in the Caribbean. Hopefully one day I will sell enough knickers to fund my adventures! Gaby xoxo

Celebrity.

1. Christina Aguilera's Shoe Wall. Only slightly jealous. 

2. Katy Perry + 1 Beyonce at the MTV Europe Music Awards. I know she is not for everyone but I love Katy Perry's style. She wears a lot of lingerie inspired and pinup style outfits so its a bit of a no-brainer as to why I like it. And it makes me so freaking happy to see someone in a Viktor and Rolf gown I cannot even get the words out. I also hold onto the dream that one day she might wear a pair of Hopeless knickers on national TV or on a film clip. Anyone have any ideas how I can get in touch with her?! Gaby xoxo

Miami. Tired.

A little bit of drawing today. Feeling like my usual roller-coaster self. It gets very tiring being so emotional all the time. But thats okay, I know things always go up again eventually. Gaby xoxo

Ziegfeld Girls

Some inspiration. Gaby xoxo

Brettisagirl for Hopeless in new Pocketto Zine

I was very excited to see this beautiful picture in the new Pocketto Zine! I loaned a few pieces to them some time ago and knew that it would be illustrated form, but had not seen in until just now, and I must say I absolutely love it! I really do love seeing illustrations of Hopeless things, I have a small collection now and once I get my website all sorted there will definitely be a section dedicated to all these beautiful pieces. See more work by Brett Manning here. And see Pocketto Zine here.  Gaby xoxo

January to December

Gaby xoxo

Crimes of Passion

I definitely have an odd fascination with the way prostitutes are dressed in 70s and 80s films - so when I read the back of this DVD cover it was a no brainer. It went something along the lines of "...successful fashion designer leads a double life as a hooker named China Blue..." I was so sure I would get some great vintage lingerie screen-shots but unfortunately there wasn't that much. Ah well its always a gamble with these type of films, many just turn out to be soft porn. Still some good fashion though. Gaby xoxo

Miranda Kerr for V - November 2009

Gaby xoxo

Lovely Ladies

First set of lovely ladies by Elisa Mazzone. See more at her blog here. Second set of lovely ladies by Angie Hoffmeister. See more of her work at her website here.  Gaby xoxo

Hard and Soft

Large image by Luxirare, wearing Kiki de Montparnasse bra. Other images unknown sources. Feeling a little lost as usual, struggling to make decisions. So many ideas and dreams, yet can't seem to focus on the present, the immediate. Gaby xoxo

Camille Rose Garcia - Hydra of Babylon

Once again completely floored by the new work of Camille Rose Garcia. So incredibly beautiful, with some wonderful new colour combinations too. I dream of the day I can own one of her originals. Photos by Zoetica Ebb - original article at China Shop Mag here. Gaby xoxo

Gwen and Corsets

I wish I had a small army of pattern-makers and seamstresses who could turn my drawings into garments. Unfortunately though there is just me, and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day or pennies in the bank to really truly complete my visions. I find that the things I do end up making are quite simplified versions of my original plans - due to time, money and lack of patience. Perhaps one day.... Gaby xoxo

Shades of Grey

 I have been working the past few days and have felt very distant from sewing and the blog and everything else that I seem to usually fill my days with. I don't like it! Alas bills need to be paid and honestly I hope to come back from it all with a fresh eye and mind for Hopeless and Hopelessly Devoted. Gaby xoxo