Sunday in the Garden

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Dress: Anthea Crawford shantung

Sandals: Mei rubber with gold hardware

Bag: Forever New vinyl with gold hardware

Hat: Vintage, Ipswich Antique Centre straw & raffia

Square Stone Bracelet: Sabah Lifestyle, Coolangatta semi-precious stone

Jade Bracelet: Wanfu Jewellery jade

Round Stone Bracelet: Tree of Life semi-precious stone, twine

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Nothing better than spending a balmy Sunday morning exploring the Botanical Garden Markets in Brisbane City... particularly if by some small miracle, you are up early enough to snag a carpark close-by & when you walk through those imposing wrought-iron gates, the Hierba Santa Iced Tea man has set up his stall & is ready to pour you a large glass of the imaginatively-titled "Aztec Blood," enabling you to sip as you peruse in the sunshine.

Avid readers of this blog will already know that "casual" is not really my style, so won't be surprised that I am wearing a rather fancy chrysanthemum-printed shantung fit-to-flare dress with modified sweetheart neckline & thin straps from Anthea Crawford... however, I am wearing a pair of flat rubber "toe bar" thongs (you know, with the strap in between your first & second toes for gripping) made from red plastic with a lovely large cream bow & gold detailing from a brand called Mei (purchased from an amazing store called LaOnda at Sunnybank Plaza, one of my favourite fashion haunts) to you know, "dress it down." Over my shoulder, I am wearing a pearlised blush tone vinyl handbag with gold hardware from Forever New to carry all the essentials - money, phone, sunglasses, scarf that doubles as a teeny tiny picnic-rug-for-one when sitting on the damp grass to name but a few... Jewellery was simple: a Wanfu Jewellery jade beaded bracelet my brother brought back for me from China, square pink semi-precious stone bracelet from Sabah Lifestyle in The Strand at Coolangatta & finally, a colourful array of rainbow semi-precious stone beads with a "drawstring" clasp that I found at Tree of Life during the Boxing Day sales & just couldn't resist. Well, it was under $10 after all.

Scroll down to take a peek at the rest of the morning...

Posing among the otherworldy, historic fig trees...

Loving the way the Ibis perch right up the top of the tallest palms...

Exploring the newly-created areas in & around the gardens...

Listening to the crazy bird call of an Aussie icon...

Admiring my new sandals...

Watching the boats bobbing on the fast-moving Brisbane River...

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Gallery Girl

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Dress: Jayson Brunsdon Black Label twill

Heels: Novo laser-cut leather

Bag: Denim with silver hardware

Necklace: Gift, silver & leather (handmade in Paris)

Cuff: Tree of Life silver

Beaded Bracelet: Thousand Island Dressing painted wood & silver

Studded Bracelet: Mahnee leather, twine & silver

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There's a lot to be said for exploring one's home city. In the hustle & bustle of daily life we often take for granted what is all around us & when things are quiet, we're at a loss to find something interesting to do. With that in mind, my mother & I decided to spend the day enjoying cultural pursuits, traversing the Queensland Art Gallery, State Library, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) & the Queensland Museum before finally ending up by the water at Southbank Parklands, watching boats make their way up & down the Brisbane River.

For such a big day out, I decided to go a little more casual & comfortable in a simply-cut black & green leaf printed twill shift dress with intricate sleeves from Jayson Brunsdon Black Label at Myer; sturdy black leather laser-cut heels with laces from Novo; oversized envelope shoulder bag in black denim with silver hardware from Wittner (ideal for carrying all of the essentials... including a small bottle of water); funky leather necklace with handmade silver heart pendant from Paris; silver Celtic cuff from Tree of Life on one arm; black wooden beaded bracelet with silver sun & moon charms from Thousand Island Dressing & black leather, twine & silver studded bracelet from Mahnee (unfortunately the store at Coolangatta is now closed) on the other arm.

Scroll down to see how the day unfolded...

Pelicans (1985) by Leonard & Kathleen Shillam

Scenes from the Papua New Guinea cultural display

Posing mid-way along the Queensland Art Gallery's famed "Infinity Pool"

Gallery Girls

Cristo risorgente (The Risen Christ) 1555 by Tintoretto

Bathers (1906) by Rupert Bunny

Time out in the lush, green courtyard...

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Getting into the spirit at the Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London exhibit at the State Library; remembering our own trip to "The Old Smoke." I absolutely ADORE these gorgeous tomes, written & illustrated by the talented Kate Knapp.

Lunching at The Library Cafe with the rest of the school holiday crowd...

We shared a Cornish Pastie with Cous Cous Side Salad & Lemon Meringue Pie with Ice Cream & Strawberry Sauce for dessert! Y-U-M! Highly recommended!

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Posing on the terraced walkway with a view of the Victoria Bridge into Brisbane City...

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Intricate artwork at GOMA

In Bed (2005) by Ron Mueck

Waiting for my "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow...

Feeling Furry

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My favourite place when I was a little girl: the "Whale Mall" at the Queensland Museum...

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Bougainvillea Arches in Bloom

Permaculture in the Parklands

Windswept by the Water

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