A Room With a View...and Uke

I had this set up to post tomorrow, planning to post other things in the meantime - however, with issues both computer related and personal, I haven't had much thought for blogging. I know my blogging schedule has been rather erratic of late, and I do apologise for that, but what with one thing and another as I mentioned (as well as university assignments piling up) the blog will have to take a back-burner for the time being. It will, at least, be one less thing for me to worry about. But it won't be for long at all and, until then, here's the post I had planned for tomorrow...

As per your request (at my prompting, of course) here's another video of me singing and playing. This time I had a stab at a very lovely song by Sir Noël Coward - as well as a gorgeous version by Janet Klein, it features on the soundtrack of Easy Virtue (2008) a film I rather enjoy. There are, of course, a slew of other versions (it was first recorded in 1928) and mine is a rather brief one as I just stuck with the one verse.

Once again, comments appreciated! And I'll see you all again very soon.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Plaid and flowers

Another uni lecture outfit - just as I'm sure most of you wouldn't have seen a lot different about the 2-Tone dress for me, I'm not sure if you'll see a lot different in this outfit. But I felt different, that's for sure.

Outfit details: beret - hand-me-down; bolero - Mum's; brooch - Peta Pledger; bracelet - Rubi Shoes; 1950s/60s dress - Irving Baby; stockings - stockingshq.com; vintage shoes - etsy.

Love

Andi B. Goode

x

Navy Dress, Red Beret

My computer has been acting a little bit more strangely than usual so I'm lining up some blog posts (mainly outfits...) in case anything permanently damaging happens to it! Here's an outfit from last week.

I think you all probably know by now that I get pretty excited when I realise that my saddle shoes go with yet another dress I hadn't thought of pairing them with...

I'm going to have to find a way to take decently lit photos during the upcoming winter months and, perhaps, a better backdrop than my bookshelves...

Beret - handknit by me; jacket - Dangerfield; scarf - handknit by me; 1950s dress - Exclusive Vintage; brooch - Urban Cow gallery; stockings - What Katie Did; shoes - Payless.

Love, 

Andi B. Goode

x

That '70s Post

You may wonder at the title considering the content of the rest of my blog so let me explain. A few weeks ago, now, I went to my friend's 1970s party - I was both excited and a little disappointed as I've had a powder blue safari suit for years, just waiting for the opportunity to wear it, but now it's, ahem, a bit snug. So, I decided I would go as a glam rocker...at least, I tried. I think it might be a little bit of a mix but my aim was to look like I could have been an extra in Velvet Goldmine (in one of the street scenes when fans are running about or being interviewed) and I think I succeeded...

 

I would like to note that not one thing I am wearing is actually from the '70s! Hairclip - gift; ribbon as choker - ?; t-shirt - Big W (with cherries stitched on); shorts - Dangerfield; tights - Target; shoes - Rubi Shoes.

I finally got around to watching The Runaways (which I loved) a few days before the party and it gave me a bit of inspiration for make-up and made me wish I could do my hair like Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie (but, well, I'm not getting a feather cut just for a party!)

I did the best with my hair, though, and flicked it out a little with my straightener.

I thought it would be fun to make a 'collage' of a few other things that I love about the '70s, because it's not something that I talk about much on here! When I started making this, though, I realised it would be impossible to put everything I love from the '70s on here even if I just looked at '70s pop culture and disregarded all the art I love and everything else. Eep.

Sources: mainly google image search.

I may mostly wear '40s/'50s but I just kind of love the 20th century in general and it was actually really nice to take a break, as it were, from my regular look. Still, I can say I don't miss wearing that much eyeliner on a day-to-day basis the way I used to. Gosh. Oh, and seeing as I mentioned The Runaways earlier on, here's one of my favourite songs of theirs...

Don't Go Away by The Runaways

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

P.S. I'd like to apologise for the differing sizes of the pictures - I'm recovering from a cold (woe!) and am rather too lazy to change them...

Everyone's a winner, baby...

Well, despite what Hot Chocolate said (and what the title of the post may indicate) that is, indeed, a lie. At least in the case of the designs I did for Lady K Loves: in this, there can only be one winner! And the winner is...drum-roll please...

Design #3 with 40% of the votes! Huzzah!

Thanks so much to everyone who voted. I'm even more excited than I was before. As I mentioned, there may be some minor changes as it goes into production but I'll be sure to keep you updated as Lady K Loves & I get things going.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Two New-ish Uke Videos

Hello, readers. Just got a couple of ukulele videos for you, today. I wasn't sure if I should post them in their own post or add them into something else but ended up deciding I may as well post them on their own...I've added in the descriptions I put on YouTube because I'm really too lazy to write up something new for the blog.

Has Anybody Seen My Gal/Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue cover

I found this hiding in iMovie, the other day - I recorded it last August. I think I’d wanted to be clever and add in a kazoo solo but am not very tech savvy and haven’t the time to learn how, yet. Anyway, I figured I may as well upload it - I’m not 100% happy with it and will probably do another version with a different ending one day (don’t like that ending at all, really) but, well, here you go! Enjoy?

I'm on Fire, Bruce Springsteen cover

Here’s a video I actually recorded recently and not months and months ago! Playing with my new Kala concert uke - still trying to get used to the bigger size. And have also realised that the sound is a little muted from the way I put the capo on, I think. Anyway, I have a lot of fun singing this song so hopefully you enjoy…

Anyway, I hope you enjoy them and feel free to tell me what you think (though don't be too harsh, I say light-heartedly...) And let me know if you'd like to continue seeing these here (please)!

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

2 Tone Dress

Anyone else remember what I wrote before blogger had its issues? Because I sure don't. Ah, yes. I recall vaguely - I mentioned how I felt this dress was, at least, a little different for me. I don't wear black and white often (not together, anyway) so that's different.

This graphic black and white checkerboard pattern always makes me think of 2 Tone Records, which is why I nicknamed this my 2 Tone Dress.

I wore it with these work weight vintage stockings and flat shoes as I was off to Uni but I have plans of dressing it up a bit - black stockings, my new platforms and a cropped black jacket and fancy hat.

Outfit details: beret - hand-me-down; 1950s dress - Dear Golden Vintage; cashmere cardigan - Best of Times Vintage; vintage stockings - op-shop; shoes - KMart.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Andi B. Goode for Lady K Loves

Well, I'm back from my break from Internet-land. I can't honestly say that I feel refreshed (I spent a lot of time sorting out personal issues and doing Uni work) but I am, at least, ready to be back! And I'm back with some exciting news...

The excitement all starts back in November when I lamented my lack of sewing skills (but abundance of dress design ideas) on Twitter. Lady K Loves replied and said she'd be happy to see any designs that I had. So, I sent her some initial sketches and, after a long journey, this is where we've ended up - four designs that you, my dear readers, get to vote on. 

The winning design will be made into a very limited run from vintage fabrics and notions hand-picked by Lady K Loves (I'd love to be there to help pick them out but there's a whole lot of world between us that makes it a little tricky!) There will, of course, be one for yours truly to model and what-not so you'll get to see what I look like in one of my own designs.

Here are my original sketches but I've drawn up some sort of silly illustrations, as well, for each design. (Apologies for the poor quality but it turned gloomy when I wanted to photograph the drawings and, unfortunately, I don't have a scanner...)

 

Design #1 - a strapless sun dress, in a light cotton, with pocket and button details in contrasting cotton-candy pink and bright red with a slightly flared skirt.

Design #2 - based on the 'peasant' blouse design, this dress has a smocked waist, A-line skirt and princess sleeves. A cotton or rayon would be lovely for this dress, which I think would look great in a bold, graphic floral print. Opens/closes with a zip in the middle back.

Design #3 - a wrap dress with button fastenings on the inside and outside (as in it wraps to a button closure on the inside as well as one on the outside) with a contrasting belt. Oh, and there's pockets!

Design #4 - I think this full-skirted dress would look lovely in minty green with a little bit of brown. Button detail down front (fake) and closes with a side zip.

I know these are all summer designs, which may seem odd from someone in the southern hemisphere at this time of year but I believe the bulk of my readers are entering into summer and Lady K Loves is a UK based company, so it makes sense to work with their seasons. Plus, I just happen to love summer dresses!

So, which one is your favourite - all you have to do is vote on which design you'd like to see made!

Note: some of the details of each dress may change during the design process, such as fabric type, etc. subject to what is available and what's practical. Also, please let me know if the poll works...I couldn't find a way to embed a poll in the post using blogger's poll feature so just googled for one.

Those of you who read Retro Chick will have already seen Gemma's designs and, if you haven't go vote on her designs, too! Oh, and remember you can get 15% off at Lady K Loves when you enter the code 'andi_15' at the checkout.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

And all around these golden beacons

Hello, all! This is just a quick post to show off what I wore the other night, including my new shoes:

Hair flower - ?; 1940s style dress - made by my mother; shoes - Rubi Shoes.

I'm beginning to think it'd be a good idea if the pose on the left becomes my default pose. Ha! It really does show so much more of the 'real' me.

And these are my new shoes! I really love them - they were fairly easy to walk in and I even managed to dance in them for most of the night, too (though it wasn't particularly fancy dancing, I will admit).

The other point of this very brief post is to say that I'm taking a break from the internet for a little while. It's getting to the point where I just need to step away and disengage for a brief time - I won't go into details but I wanted to let you all know that I will be gone (though I will be checking my email but that's it). I'll see you all on the flip-side, my dear readers.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x