beautiful bedding

Whilst perusing the Amy Butler website, make sure you check out her handcrafted rugs. Made from 100% New Zealand wool there are 13 amazing statement pieces available.

 

 photos courtesy of www.amybutlerdesign.com


I am not a morning person. But, this morning I pleasantly awoke to an email from Amy Butler, introducing her new collection of bedding. Amy, who is best known for her stunning printed cotton fabric, is the master of boldly designed, beautifully coloured, prints and her two new bedding designs 'Morning Blossom' and 'Lacework' are no exception. The best news is, they are available now from Bed Bath & Beyond's online store and they ship to Australia (hooray!). Oh, and did I mention they are made from 100% organic cotton and are printed with low impact dyes?

The Dreamer x

glastonbury festival 2011

Glastonbury Festival celebrated 40 years in style this year, and I'm not just talking about the amazing artists including U2, Coldplay, Beyonce, Mumford & Sons and Mike Posner.

Here are my top Glastonbury outfits for 2011:

 

 

 

  

 

photos courtesy of harpersbazaar.com & fashion.telegraph.co.uk

The Dreamer x

on the fringe

zara jumper

photography: Benni Knop 

They say a change is as good as a holiday, so I decided to change my hairstyle. Nothing drastic, but I cut a fringe. Hang on, it actually feels pretty drastic! It no longer takes me 2 minutes to do my hair in the morning and I'll be honest, after I've slept on it, it takes a fair bit of work to 'retrain' it. If you like to play around with your look, don't be afraid to try a new hairstyle. I'm having lots of fun with my new do! Here are some of my favourite famous fringes to inspire.

 

 

 

photos courtesy of handbag.com

The Dreamer x

porgie + mr jones and the search for melbourne's best brunch

"Our bread is organic from Noisette, our chickens lived a happy life down Gippsland way, our eggs are the best from Shelley + Allan Green, our Mushroom man, Richard is a legend + we LOVE Tom Cooper and everything he smokes! We try to grow most of our own herbs in the back garden. Our double smoked bacon is from Echuca from free range piggies."

The great search for the perfect brunch continues with a Saturday morning sojourn to the ever popular Porgie + Mr Jones. This cafe attracts a big crowd on the weekend, but the food is well worth the wait. I tuck into their smashed avocado with thyme buttered mushrooms, marinated feta, torn basil and a poached egg. It is rich and filling and just knowing that the bread is organic, the herbs homegrown and the eggs free range leaves me completely satisfied. And now, we have a new contender...

Coming soon to tell her she's dreaming- my first personal style post!

The Dreamer x

top shop in the news

photos courtesy of www.topshop.com

It's long overdue, but UK fashion brand Top Shop has announced that they will open flagship stores in Melbourne and Sydney in time for Christmas. Given the hype surrounding the opening of Zara, it is no surprise that Top Shop has decided to venture Down Under and I would not be surprised if many other international brands follow shortly... Anthropologie and Free People, I'm talking to you ;)  

The Dreamer x

encouragement

My mum & dad are such great encouragers. They gave me this gorgeous card to cheer me on with my blogging and it features a great quote from John Fairchild: 

"Style is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma" 

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing as you're reading this blog- be yourself today. Be an individual. Be unique. Be exactly who you were created to be, spectacular in every way. 

The Dreamer x

the i owe you project

I love reading stories of dreamers, so I was particularly excited today when I learned about Kativa Parmer- dreamer and creative director of the new I Owe You Project. 

Focusing on protecting excellent craftsmanship and artisanship, Kativa has created a concept that encourages the consumer to rethink the clothing production and distribution process to serve the designer, the manufacturer, the buyer and with utmost importance, be sustainable for everyone involved in the process and the planet alike. I am heartened to see a brand that celebrates skill and creativity, shunning pressure for cheap and fast fashion. Each item is thoughtfully designed and handmade in specialty production houses in Europe, from fabrics handwoven in India in order to ensure that the end product gives the consumer an experience of purchasing a garment has been uniquely and thoughtfully crafted. With a strong belief in environmental responsibility and respect, fairness and good working conditions for all people involved in the process, I Owe You pieces can be purchased with a clear conscience and worn with pride. One thing is for sure, when it comes to ethical production with flair and creativity, there is a movement afoot, and I for one am excited to see where it takes us. For more information and to be inspired, visit www.iouproject.com and watch this video.

 

The Dreamer x

star style- jessica hart

photos courtesy of jessicahart.net/blog

When it comes to celebrity street style, no one does it better than Aussie model Jessica Hart. Her look is a little bit rock, a little bit retro and very NYC. I love her relaxed style and her use of vintage tanks, tees and accessories in so many of her outfits. In fact, she has inspired me to go on a vintage tee hunt tomorrow! Investing in recycled clothing is not only a great way to add an eclectic and unique element to your wardrobe, it also helps to reduce the amount of discarded clothing waste that gets dumped into landfill, truckload after truckload. With such an abundance of op-shops, markets and vintage clothing stores here in Melbourne, there's really no excuse not to go shopping for recycled clothing when you're next out and about. Here are some of my favourite Jessica Hart outfits to inspire, each with at least one vintage piece.

The Dreamer x

electric avenue

 

images courtesy of www.lfstores.com

Oh how I wish USA-based 'LF Stores' had an online store. I can't get enough of their high summer Electric Avenue story this morning. Aztec inspired stripes, fringing, colourful kimonos, ditsy printed shorts and loads of layered-up accessories are outfitted to perfection with nomadic, youthful style. I think it's time to revisit my childhood and start making friendship bands again. They are going to be a key accessory this summer and the more the merrier. I promise to post again shortly with some DIY tips for friendship bands. Stay tuned...

The Dreamer x

frankie magazine issue #42

  

do - make - look - listen - say - think

It's 8pm on Friday night and I am in heaven. Well, not literally. I am reading the latest issue of Frankie magazine and overdosing on Allen's classic party mix. I recently made an observation that I have developed a habit of first skimming a magazine backwards. Once I've returned to the front cover, I work through the magazine chronologically, reading the articles in more depth. Perhaps this suggests that I am a visual person. I like to see the photographs and pretty illustrations before I delve into the content. On this occasion however, whilst skimming backwards, desperately seeking a trend report or photo shoot, I was drawn to read an article titled "What I'll tell my kids: four writers pen advice to their (so far imaginary) offspring". I was particularly challenged by Daniel Evans, who writes: 

"5. Don't be lukewarm. 

Be hot. Be cold. Never be lukewarm. For anything. Or anyone."

Immediately, I was reminded of one of my favourite verses of the Bible. "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will split you out of my mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16 (New Living Translation, which I am especially fond of for this passage). I want to be hot. (And I'm not referring to my appearance). When it comes to justice: fairness and equality for all people and the planet, I want my passion to grow each day and never tire or weaken. 

The Dreamer x

friday fun

Comedy gold from Tyler, the youngest finalist in Nova's $25,000 joke competition. A little fun for your Friday:

"How do you make a tissue dance?

Put a little boogie in it".

The Dreamer x

botanical beauty

Images courtesy of www.grown.com

I have sensitive skin. Sure, it's annoying (and at times costly) that I can't just buy any old face wash off the shelf, but it's also led me to explore the wonderful world of organic skin care and my face is thanking me for it! Botanical beauty company Grown ticks all my ethical boxes. It's Australian made and owned, certified organic, is not tested on animals and uses ingredients derived from nature rather than all the manufactured nasties in most skin care products. My favourite product is their vanilla and orange peel hand cream. I always have some on hand (no pun intended) and I love the way it hydrates my skin without a greasy or sticky residue.

The Dreamer x

63 degree eggs and the search for melbourne's best brunch

Is there anything better than brunch on the weekend? Ben and I are blessed to live in a city with an abundance of amazing cafes and I intend to try as many of them as I can as I search for Melbourne's best brunch. One of our local cafes, The Maling Room, is currently making a strong play for the ultimate eggs. They make 63 degree eggs, which unlike poached eggs, are cooked in their shell in 63 degree Celsius water. The result is perfectly runny yolks; and when served with toasted sourdough, dill cream cheese, rocket, avocado, smoked salmon and beetroot relish, comes pretty close to Sunday morning perfection. I have mine with an organic, GE free Phoenix juice while Ben heartily endorses their piccolo latte, made from their own freshly roasted coffee beans.

The Dreamer x

where a girl goes

 images courtesy of www.cristinare.com

Rewind back a few weeks to a delightful Sunday afternoon spent with my wonderful Mum. We decided to head out for a girl's afternoon tea at Cristina Re's concept store 'Where a girl goes' and I have to say, it's a dream come true if you're looking for a whimsical, creative and delicious space to enjoy the company of your girlfriends (or Mum, or daughters!) We had a wonderfully girly time, perusing Cristina's fabulously floral soaps, candles, T-shirts and of course her stationary collection and learning about everything the store has to offer. It's a picture perfect destination for a hen's afternoon, birthday party or baby shower. Book in for a group High Tea and enjoy a selection of assorted sweet macaroons, miniature cupcakes and gourmet finger sandwiches accompanied by Cristina's signature teas. My personal favourite is the High CreativiTea, incorporating a gorgeous greetings workshop.

Now, in keeping with the aim of this blog, this post would not be complete without a shout-out to something ethical, inspiring and in this case, delicious! Enter delightfully bubbly organic cola! Made by the Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co right here in Victoria, now you can get your cola hit with Australian certified organic goodness AND also support a local business. Go to www.dhmsco.com.au for stockists in addition to 'Where a girl goes'.

Where a girl goes
Corner Langridge & Oxford Streets
Collingwood, Victoria 3066


The Dreamer x

tell her she's dreaming... it begins

So, here we are. Right at the beginning of what I hope will be a long and happy friendship between me and my blog.

Tell her she's dreaming is my happy place. It's the home of my thoughts, dreams and hopes for a wardrobe and a world that is uncompromising in its style and creativity but upholds fairness and equality for people and the planet alike. I will blog about my lifestyle passions including style and beauty tips, my favourite brands and places to visit. But most importantly, I will write about my journey to balance my love of these things with a desire to live a sustainable existence; a life that endeavours to eradicate injustice towards people working in these industries and encourage conservation of this beautiful earth.

I hope you will join me on this journey.