a very country wedding

Last September my dear friend Brooke married her forever-love Ezra on the banks of a river in the northern New South Wales town of Bangalow. It was perfectly sunny in the day and ever-so-slightly chilled as the evening descended. And boy, was it pretty!

Last week her wedding was featured on the Etsy wedding blog. The wedding itself truly was a labour of love for Brooke and Ezra - they made almost everything themselves; from the napkins to the chandeliers, and I can tell you that on the day this effort made the event all the more sweet. Everything worked together seamlessly; the colours, the decorations, the chairs...it was the perfect representation of who they are. 

Gorgeous table settings and the magical mulberry tree at night. Photos: Chris Cooney

Brooke is best known for being the co-founder of  The Finders Keepers - the East Coast independent design market that she runs with Sarah Thornton. They also have a store in Surry Hills called Follow that is stocked to the brim with brilliant pieces from Australian designers including, of course, yours truly.

She is also an incredibly talented jeweller, note-worthy curator, biscuit fiend, brilliant friend and it must be said - a total babe!

See what I mean? Babe. Photo: Chris Cooney

After finding the perfect dress - a stunning embroidered Collette Dinnigan sample - it was onto the search for the perfect accessories. I was chuffed when Brooke asked me to make her a headpiece, and I was quickly selecting pieces that would fit with the vintage theme of the wedding. In the end I chose some amazingly fine 1930s silk veiling that I teamed with some elegant and tiny organdy millinery buds from the 1940s. This was all sewn onto a piece of the embroidery that was salvaged from her dress when it was altered.

Isn't her hair amazing!! Photo: Chris Cooney

Here comes the bride... Photo: Chris Cooney

The veil was detachable so that she could remove it when she hopped into her second dress for some shimmy-ing to tunes as spun by the inimitable Jack Shit later in the night.

Before...and after! Her second dress was a fantastically frothy embroidered tulle 1950s prom dress. Photo: Chris Cooney

I'm pretty notoriously photo shy, but their talented photographer Chris Cooney managed to snap this lovely photo whilst I was unawares. I'm wearing a 1930s lace gown from Bohemian Bisoux Vintage that I had meticulously mended in the weeks leading up. I'm really glad I persevered because it was the perfect dress for the occasion.

The mulberry tree was truly amazing...here I am perched beneath it looking up into the canopy. Photo: Chris Cooney

I think they both looked perfect, happy and proud and I was so glad to have been a part of such a glorious day.

Seriously photogenic couple! Photo: Chris Cooney

Photo: Chris Cooney

xo

rabia

S A L E s a l e S A L E!!

Tonight marks the official end of Summer here in Sydney *sob*. And as if to give a taste of things to come the weather cruelly dropped 10 degrees in the middle of the day and whipped through some lashing rain and wind.

And so we sit here in G&J HQ sipping tea, sifting through and sorting pieces into SALE and non-sale piles...

This is the biggest sale in G&J history and runs until March 31st or until sold. As you all know we make our pieces in such hysterically small runs (some of only 6 pieces!!) that in most cases there are only one or two pieces remaining in a particular style...

~ All clothing is currently discounted between 25% and a whopping 70%...
~ Select brooches, necklaces and earrings at least 20% off...
~ Straw hat sale of up to 50% off (wowza!)...
~ Flirty floral combs all handmade by yours truly are discounted by 15%
~ New CLEARANCE category for end of line and one-off items. There are some fantastic bargains to be had in this category in particular.

And please be aware that once the 31st of March comes around most of these pieces will revert to original pricing, so don't dally. 

Well, go on then - grab yourselves a bargain!

xo
g&j

Dawn Dishaw Ceramics

We recently stumbled across the stunning ceramics from Dawn Dishaw whilst scrawling through pages of ceramics on Etsy on search - once again - for the perfect mug.

We had that rare quick fluttery-heart leap which makes trawling through pages and pages (and pages and pages) on Etsy so worthwhile. Eventually you will unearth the gold!

Wheel Thrown Ceramic Mug in pink navy and red - $36

The delicate hand drawn patterns, the slightly chunky lip, the mottled slight-grey of the ceramic base, the perfectly chosen colour combinations...

Wheel Thrown Ceramic Mug in red, blue and purple - $36

Wheel Thrown Espresso Mug in blue, orange and red - $28

And then we delved into her bowls. Bowls used to be our real ceramic weakness. For years they were hoarded, some too nice to ever be used. Some to simply hold flowers, some to hold one variety of fruit each and muddled in a haphazard way on the kitchen counter.
Bowls are still a weakness...especially when they're all scalloped edged and delicately patterned like this:

Ceramic Bowl in turquoise, orange and red - $58

Ceramic Bowl in salmon and blue - $58

Wheel Thrown Ceramic Bowl in blue, navy and purple - $62

Underneath detail of Ceramic Bowl in navy and salmon pink - $52

Each wheel thrown piece is a labour of love with the whole beautiful process from the painstaking hand drawn patterns to the series of glazes taking between one and a half to a staggering 12 hours to complete.

Now the impossible decision has to be made...which mug?
And, naturally, to take advantage of combined shipping, which bowl...

xo
g&j

'The Girl Can't Help It' Summer 2012/13 collection from Ginny & Jude

Ginny & Jude Designs present their Summer 2012/13 collection 'The Girl Can't Help It' - where romantic fabrics and designs are married to an adventurous spirit in a flirty anthology of clothing, accessories and gorgeous hats.

The perfect attire for ladies keen on cavorting amongst rocks, wandering through copses of waving trees and resting beneath hidden canopies of green.

Proudly designed and made in Australia.

 'Pina Colada' woven straw hat ~ $145
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in white pinstripe ~ $115
'Cream Puff' full skirt in pastel stripes ~ $150

'Sunny Side' headwrap made from vintage kimono silk ~ $30
'Evergreen' button-back, collared blouse in Blue Bouquet chiffon ~ $105
'Banana Split' peplum skirt in yellow linen and tulle ~ $175

 'Gardener Cecily' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in coral pinstripe ~ $115
'Promenade' button-up wiggle skirt in mint broderie cotton ~ $155

'Gardener Penelope' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Putting on Airs' lace collar with vintage Czech glass drops ~ $45
'Ballet Tee' in Ice ~ $85

 'Gardener Marcy' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Swing' necklace in Amazonite ~ $65
'Ballet Tee' in Lime ~ $85
'Cream Puff' full skirt in grey floral ~ $150

 'Gardener Edith' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in white pinstripe ~ $115
'Promenade' skirt in vintage peach embroidered cotton ~ $165

 'Gin & Tonic' woven straw hat with grosgrain trim ~ $145
'Evergreen' button-back, collared blouse in pastel bows ~ $105
'Banana Split' peplum skirt in mint linen and tulle ~ $175

 ~ C R E D I T S ~
Photography: All photos copyright Lyndal Irons
Hair and Makeup: Tania Bowers
Model: Gabrielle Dillon
Styling: Rabia Lockwood

Shot on location at Girrahween Park, Earlwood
Girrahween is an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of flowers'.

NEW STOCK!!

Oh my, for those of you following us on Instagram (@ginnyandjude for those who are not!), you will have noticed all the new stock we are slowing posting out to our stockists and even more slowly putting up into the Ginny & Jude Etsy shop...

We are going all gelato-hued this summer and here is a little taste of what you can expect:

First up, our super-duper tulle peplum skirts, guaranteed to pop a wide smile on your dial! We have *just* popped these online to purchase. We are making only the tiniest quantity of these, so don't get complacent and miss out. These are also available to purchase from Follow Store if you prefer to try before you buy...

Banana Split Peplum Skirt in Lemon // $175

Banana Split Peplum Skirt in Mint // $175

Our spectacular v-back peplum blouses have been a hit before we even put them online to purchase! And I think you can see why we are already into our second run of this very versatile style. Currently these are available to purchase in-store from Follow (Sydney) and Spacebar (Hobart). We hope to re-stock these online shortly!

Heat Wave Peplum Blouse in White // $115

Heat Wave Peplum Blouse in Watermelon // $115

We reinvent our staple button-down skirt with vintage broderie anglais fabrics in coral and spearmint with fun flower shaped mother of pearl buttons. Again, these are also limited edition (this skirt below is one of only nine which will ever be made from this fabric).

Heat Wave Peplum Blouse in white with Promenade Skirt in Coral

And finally - a simple wardrobe staple with our new Ballet tee! Made from textured knit fabric and available in fresh colours of Ice, Lime and Watermelon these work perfectly with the Banana Split skirts! These are also now available in-store at Follow and Spacebar, and we will have them online shortly!

Enjoy!
g&j
x

Get the Look: Wildflowers

Spring is in the air, can you feel it? Our beau brought us the first few sprigs of Jasmine that he had found in bloom yesterday which has us feeling very positive about Springs prospects...
It may not feel like Spring, but there's no harm in being prepared when it does happen though!

And so, today we look to tall wildflowers encased in some early morning mist - a very early spring image if I ever saw one!

We discovered this picture courtesy of the unerringly stylish Julianna Swaney on Pinterest

If we were to dress as this photo...

Buttercup 1940s maxi dress // ON SALE $99.20 from DearGolden Vintage

Enamel floral brooch // $14 from Rivetting

1950s straw sunhat // $52 from Dalena Vintage

Vintage pastel pink Pedro Garcia t-bars // $59 from Trottinette

 I should say that we are so *desperately* sad that these are too small for us!!

Vintage wicker and wood picnic basket // $45 from VintageElectricity

Antique Japanese floral arrangement book // $7 from VintageInclination

Looks like a plan doesn't it!
xo
g&j

hand dyed, hand-woven

Spurred on by a general unshakeable feeling of chilliness, we recently went on an all-out search for the perfect blanket. During this jaunt around the internet, we discovered the amazingly subtle work of American weaver Dianne Nordt and fell in love.

Our love for woven things - rugs, scarves, mittens, throws - knows no bounds, but there is something effortlessly comforting about the cosy colours and simple 'tabby' weave of Dianne's pieces.

Using wool from the backs of her very own merino flock in Virginia, the wool is either left it's natural hue or dyed using plant dyes such as walnut shells (seriously!), sawdust and other naturally occurring bits and pieces.

From the paddock to the loom!

The results are beautifully organic looking throws and rugs in grey marle, chocolate, coffee, vanilla with accents of pale pinks, periwinkle and olive.

Our favourite?

This stunning grey marle, rose and olive blanket:

Made primarily from the wool of their silver ram Charlie, $175 from Etsy

More pieces are available from the Nordt Family Farm Etsy shop
Get your orders in now for a toasty end to winter!

xo
g&j

images: courtesy of the Nordt Family Farm on Facebook and Etsy