free.

So it's Wednesday, and i quit my job today.
In exactly two weeks i'm going to be a self-employed full time op- shopper...

holyshit.
words cannot describe, but these photos can :)

refreshing.

It's official. This is by far the longest i have ever gone without doing a post- seven days! I don't know what i have been doing the past week but the days have slipped by me all too quickly. It's Monday, isn't it? So firstly, let me start by wishing everyone an embarrassingly belated merry christmas! I've had a nightmare trying to get internet access whilst visiting the family down south but to be honest, it was a refreshing change, which is exactly what i needed. I've arrived home with 30kg of new vintage goodies and an additional 8kg that i had to send in the post so i wouldn't exceed my baggage allowance (again!). Even though i have a daunting amount of things i need to get done by the end of the week for Gary Pepper, i am so excited to show you our new listings and start the new year working for myself and doing something i love. Something i love almost as much as this:


Luke and the moments like these i share with my friends every single day.

one.

One thing I’ve learnt and really adore about the blogging world is that when someone admires another's work whether it is photos, words, design or even an idea, we give credit to where it should be given, an unwritten rule and sign of respect. It’s as simple as that. So in saying that, I thought I would share with you one idea I really admire from “The Clothes Horse” where you take one photo every hour to document your day. I absolutely fell in love with the idea and thought it was brilliant, nothing like a new challenge. Seeing as I’m currently in Tasmania visiting the family for Christmas, which is probably the only week of the year that I get to spend my time so carelessly and not feel guilty for doing absolutely nothing, I thought I would try this idea for myself, and surprisingly, it wasn’t as easy at it looks.

Tuesday 23rd:

9am: breakfast: fresh scrambled eggs on buttered toast :)

10am: quickly post some items before christmas.

11am: hand delivering pete’s CV to the australian antartic division.

12pm: road trip home with stops for apple stands.

1pm: some light reading and brainstorming.

2pm: making daisy chains with bailey.

3pm: afternoon walk with bailey to the seaside.

4pm: day dreaming under a blanket of clouds & thinking of luke.

5pm: strolling through some meadows on the way home :)

6pm: picking fresh raspberries from the garden for dessert.


7pm: start cooking dinner /listening to music in the kitchen.

8pm: check my ebay/emails/blog/addictction.

9pm: unwinding with a hot cup of English breakfast.

Such a wonderful week :)

"One day at a time; this is enough."

escape.

I really loved this post from daydream lily, I feel like it really captures how i feel today:


"You know that place between sleep and awake where you're still dreaming?"

{Photography & words: Je m'appelle n.}

words.

Blah, what a crazy week! My lack of posts is a result of Christmas shopping for two families, eight people and seven birthdays, but I'm happy to announce that all sorts of shopping for the year are done and dusted, and with 8 days to spare! Goodbye overly crowded shopping center, hello wrapping paper and cute love notes.

I picked up these super cute notebooks on my quest for the perfect Christmas present last night. A new store called 'Typo' opened recently (think along the lines of 'Smiggle' in the city) and i absolutely lost my marbles. My life revolves around a good notebook and i am completely smitten with this brown paper one i picked up for $14.95. It's neutral, simple and clean and going to contain all the secrets and wonders of Gary Pepper :) I also found these huge wooden letters that i plan on painting white and using as props for GPV in the New year. God, i cannot wait to quit my job in two weeks and take this full- time, which by the way, did i tell you I'm doing? see.. i told you it's been a crazy week :)

pixie.

Impatiently, i had to wait a couple of days to publish this post as it would have given away the surprise for my dear friend, Eleanor, to whom these were a gift for her 21st birthday. But now that they are safely in her possession as of last Friday, i can happily share with you my very first Etsy purchase! Arriving from the States in all their glory are these cute little lace ups that fit like a pixie boot and belong on a ninja. I knew it was meant to be when i look inside and realized they were by a spanish brand called 'NICOLE'. Weird, huh? I should probably tell Eleanor that i'll be following her wherever she goes now...

Anyway, I've recently had quite a lot of people email me asking about where i get my boots from. Although i find mine all locally at op shops, Etsy.com is the only online store that i have seen such a beautiful and impressive collection of vintage boots. So if you are after a pair of your own, go on Etsy and have a look. I promise you won't be disappointed as i know i was over the moon with mine :)

{Boots: Vintage, Top: Witchery.}

hearts.

I spent my Friday morning quickly making these masks for a masquerade party i had on the weekend. The pink one i made for my friend and easily covered it in tiny little foam hearts. Mine on the other hand, required a hot glue gun and hundreds of tiny silver beads which i finished off with some white tassel and a diamond vintage brooch. I have quite a large collection of vintage brooches and this one was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, somebody else thought it was just as pretty and decided to steal it later in the night. Always a shame to know people still do that. But besides that it was a wonderful night. A night where you dance so badly people will laugh at you, a night where you take off your shoes and run down the street, and a night where you wake up in the morning and appreciate how amazing your friends are because they they don't care what people think and make your cheeks hurt from smiling so much :)

sunshine.

So i just realized that this is actually our very last listings for 2009! With the planner quickly filling up with places to go and people to see, i thought it would be wise to have a two week break over Christmas. I actually don't want to but i thought it was only fair as i would not expect you all to be sitting inside on your computer, especially when the weather is so nice outside. But absence only makes the heart grow fonder and i will be returning on the 1st of January with the biggest, brightest and most beautiful listings! With the new year comes new hopes, new aspirations, new ideas, new stock and a new attitude. I cannot wait to show you all the direction i plan to take Gary Pepper next year, with so many mini projects about to begin, i feel as if i am getting one step closer everyday.

As for me, I'm defiantly considering buying myself a little something as a 'well done' and 'congratulations'. Top of my list is the Canon EOD 1000D SLR that i have been eying off all year. I think it's perfect for what i need right now as my photos are the only part that i am not completely happy with. It also means that i can finally start my closet love affair that I've had with photography for too many years now, as well as contributing largely to the fashion shoots (project one) for my website, which i can also happily announce has some sort of content on it and is up and running! It is temporary until i have perfected the final layout and design. You can check it out here :)

So my lovelies, remember to have a look in store to view Gary's last range for 2009! It will brighten my day and in return i will brighten yours with a little bit of sunshine for your Thursday :)

ache.

So right now i'm living out of suitcases as were still trying to find a new place. I really could not have anticipated that it would take this long and feel foolish for thinking we'd be settled in before Christmas. I'm beginning to miss the beautiful little things i had scattered around my room like my cats, owls, costume jewelery, photos and endless memories. This only reinforces how much i want my own place so i can nail as many holes as i want into the walls and buy anything and everything that i have ever wanted from ikea. I already know what my house will look like. Completely modern but with a familiar homely feel, with white clean open spaces, huge rooms and high ceilings, down lighting and large entertaining balconies, and packed to the brim with vintage knick knacks that will litter a rainbow of colors and patterns throughout. Everything will have it's place, a place to belong. I wouldn't say I'm a perfectionist, I like to call it, being 'particular'. I suppose you could say it will just look like an extension of my room and a little like this...

skip.

It's a rare occasion that i get to have a night in by myself. Whilst my friends were at Fleetwood Mac, i planned on having an early night as the weight of the past week was quickly catching up with me. Unwinding with a hot cup of english breakfast, a tin of vanilla wafer sticks, monte carlos and one of the most comfortable lounges i have ever experienced, i happily turned off my phone and somehow, unable to move, watched Titanic (ohgodpleasedontask) from start to finish. Some would say this is a little depressing, others would say it's my coming of age, i would laugh and say that i really couldn't be bothered changing the channel and would probably agree with you both. After feeling the way stupid romantic movies make you feel, i was grateful my boyfriend was coming home in just two hours and got thinking about how attractive Leo was in 1997. I should learn from my mistakes but I intend on getting Romeo & Juliet out this weekend, no doubt prepping for my hungover state come Saturday and Sunday morning. Oh dear.

It's moments like these that make my heart flutter.

new.

After working like a maniac and borderline sweatshop worker for the past two days, i finally have 59 brand new items listed in store tonight. It is by far Gary's largest range to date with some of my absolute favorites on sale. I know I'm being completely biased, I feel like a clucky mother when her child takes their first steps, but i honestly feel every range is getting better and stronger and i'm finding it harder to part with some of these gems. With over 30 summer dresses listed I hope you all will find something you love & just in time for the Christmas holidays :) Have a look here to see our very first December collection.

"Vintage objects have a history. New objects are still searching for theirs".

Top three favorites in store now:

1. Vintage cream backless leaf detail jumpsuit.


2. Vintage rose ruffle layer pearl dress.


3. Vintage two toned nautical pocket dress.