gran's loose change

Change is as good as a holiday...

2012-01-04T17:09:00.003+13:00

New year, new direction for both my personal blog and this one. Watch this space. 2012, we've got a lot of shit to get done this year my friend.

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas...

2011-12-21T13:24:00.005+13:00

Images via Shop Market HQ and We Heart It except this last image which was snapped by Jade Culton.

This is the first Christmas in 27 years that I haven't spent with my family. I'm going through a whirlwind of emotions - there'll be none of Granny's salty mashed potatoes and mushy broccoli (her specialty), no Christmas Eve with all of my favourite people at Major Toms, no 'All I want for Christmas is you'* (Mum's favourite!)...

On the plus side, instead of making my way between different houses, families and meals, I can relax in one place for the entire day as I play host to my fellow Kiwi orphans. Christmas Day also happens to be my flatmate's birthday so come dinner time, we're swapping our Christmas cheer for party hats and let me tell you, this is going to be one Christmas I'll never forget.

Love and happiness to you all this festive season. Be safe, be happy and be very, very merry.

*There will DEFINITELY be Mariah Carey's 'All I want for Christmas is you', in fact, I think Josh has downloaded her entire Christmas album! He's a keeper Mum!

Outpost 2011...

2011-12-19T22:31:00.007+13:00

All images by me, except this last one - which was snapped by Ben Young.

Last weekend, the troops and I made our way down to Circular Quay where we caught a ferry across to Cockatoo Island. I'm not going to lie, we had had a particularly early morning so the prospect of a 40 minute bus ride then a 20 minute ferry definitely didn't have us jumping for joy. But we made the effort so we could experience one of the final days of Outpost.

The Outpost Project celebrates global street art and transforms the industrial space of Cockatoo Island into a colourful paradise of large-scale installations and live art creations including aerosol art, stencilling, paste-ups, sticker art, cup rocking, sculpture, murals and billboards.

Seeing Lister's and Banksy's in real life is something I am glad I dragged my sorry ass onto the ferry for. Read more about the festival here.

Don't shoot...

2011-12-13T22:32:00.003+13:00

Fun (marketing) party for El Jimador Tequila. The boys managed to make the social pages....

Beyond cute...

2011-12-05T22:43:00.002+13:00

Image: Daily Movement

No idea who this little cutie is, but the kid's got style. Too cute!

Hello summer...

2011-12-02T22:41:00.006+13:00

Strawberries. Bathing at the beach. Barbecues. Fresh fruit and yoghurt. Roadtrips. Sunset beers. Camping. Friends. Garage sales. Outdoor cinema. Swimming. Sunshine. Fuck I love summer.

The Little Big Markets

2011-11-24T15:16:00.003+13:00

Images: TLBM Blog

If you haven't heard, The Little Big Markets are back in Mount Maunganui on December 3rd and you should DEFINITELY be there. TLBM are one of my proudest achievements. Rachelle and I worked our butts off last year but I sadly said goodbye to any responsibility or management when I made the move to Sydney and I have to say, Rachelle has KICKED ASS!

TLBM have gone from strength to strength in 2011 with over 80 stalls on some days, the introduction of a 'bank' and even a night market! Make sure you head down to the corner of Matai St and Maunganui Rd on December 3 and visit the blog for more info and for a full list of remaining market days. Im so proud to have been a part of these markets and can't wait to see more pics. Wish I was there!

What I've been up to lately...

2011-11-15T23:20:00.005+13:00

Eating mini gelato and drinking Cointreau cocktails at the Seventh Wonderland pop-up launch at The Grand Social.

Being featured on the LookSmart Alterations poster for Westfield. Even more exciting, Beyond the Square PR managed to secure a slot on Seven's Good Morning Show! Watch it here. Congratulations Melba!

Dancing to tunes by Leah Simmons and Pip Edwards from Chicks on Decks at Pedestrian TV's Absolut Mode launch.

Upcycling...

2011-10-25T20:31:00.009+13:00

Last Thursday, I got a phone call from a very dear friend of mine asking if I would take part in a shoot for LookSmart Alterations. Initially, I thought she wanted my help with art direction and/or styling. That, I would have been totally comfortable with - I have afterall styled and directed every single gran's loose change lookbook and product photography since inception in early 2010.

But no.

This dear friend of mine actually wanted my body.

She wanted me to model. *Cue hot sweats and panic attacks.

I have always been far more confident behind the camera - bossing people around, zhushing, styling and telling everyone what to do. But I have to say, once I got over myself, it was a super fun day and I got to work with some amazing people (a photographer that gives direction, doesn't make you feel like a complete fraud AND can curl hair? That's you Caroline!!).

The purpose was to showcase the incredible talents of LookSmart and their ability to alter or redesign garments. The term is 'upcycling' - when you take an old favourite and make it into something new, or when you buy something daggy for it's 'potential' and turn it from drab to fab, or even when you buy something amazing albeit a little too big because it's on sale and making it fit like a glove.

Thanks to the styling genius of [the incredibly funny and sassy] Sophie Hart and assistant Ro, four outfits were completely transformed by Rami Mikhael and his team, ALL within just one day. LookSmart are not just your standard 'jean hemming' tailors. They are actually skilled in fit, alterations and clothing maintenance to make every item suit your individual shape and style. Put simply, they know their shit!

Here are a few before and after behind the scenes pics (or as we affectionately called it on the day 'from drab to fab')...

Huge thanks to Beyond the Square, LookSmart Alterations, Caroline McCredie, Rory Anderson and Sophie Hart.

And that dear friend of mine? Mel, you're a superstar. LookSmart are lucky to have you and I'm blessed to have you in my life.

Anything but that...

2011-10-17T19:36:00.004+13:00

Being in Sydney isn't all it's cracked up to be when my beautiful home town is in dire need of help. It's heartbreaking being so far away and I'm trying to distract myself from the devastation of the Rena oil spill by trawling my fave blogs...

But just so you know, I love you Mount Maunganui and I'm thinking of you!

Images via They all hate us, Oracle Fox and Emma's Blogg. Hello Mauao photo by Rambo Estrada.

A few of my favourite things...

2011-10-04T23:00:00.005+13:00

I'm currently spending a lot of time on the net searching for jobs in our new home, Sydney. The trouble is, I'm also getting easily distracted trawling through my favourite blogs...

Image via: They all hate us, sass and bide blog and google images

Bali backlog...

2011-09-28T15:00:00.003+13:00

It seems like months ago that we were relaxing in the sun in beautiful Bali. *Cue sad face.

Here's a small selection of some of our snaps. Take me back! Please!

TWR in Sydney town

2011-09-21T20:27:00.003+12:00

Look out Australia, Chaos & Harmony is about to rock your world!

The Wearer's Right...

2011-09-01T09:10:00.003+12:00

First stop in Sydney is The Wearer's Right tradeshow where I will be helping out the incredibly talented and equally as lovely Chaos & Harmony girls.

The Wearer's Right is an industry only event where brands can display their product in a tactile and targeted environment. Alongside brands like Stolen Girlfriends Club, Perks and Mini, Nom d and I love Ugly, Chaos & Harmony will soon be the name on everyone's lips. That's MY opinion anyway.

By the way, have you checked out Chaos & Harmony's new summer collection? TO DIE FOR!

In the loop...

2011-08-30T11:14:00.004+12:00

Design by Juliet Mclaren

If you've been a fan of gran's loose change and a follower of the blog for the past year and a half, you would know by now that gran's loose change is no longer a live site. gran's loose change is heading on an adventure this Saturday with no set time of return. I have to say I'm feeling a little nervous, I'm not one to not plan, but this time I can't think of a more perfect way to fulfil my need of wanderlust.

I will be updating the gran's loose change blog with lots of bits and pieces - things that inspire me, places I go, things I see - so stay tuned, join us on the ride, you never know where we might end up xx

Wanderlust...

2011-08-29T18:15:00.000+12:00

Five days until paradise...

Goldie Hawn...

2011-08-23T18:42:00.004+12:00

Images via Love More blog

Such a babe! I love Goldie!

garage sale...

2011-08-21T20:54:00.003+12:00

A huge thanks to everyone who came down and saw us at the garage sale. Big thanks to Major Tom for hosting us and my Mama Bear, Jamee and Josh for being their amazing selves.

If anyone is interested in a limited edition illustration by the amazing Jade Culton (see above), shoot me an email. YOU NEED ONE IN YOUR LIFE!!

The website will be under construction for the next few days as I sort out what sold and what's still listed so please forgive me if you make a purchase and the order cannot be fulfilled, I will work as quick as I can to make sure the site is up to date.

Happy Sunday!

Hot buy!!

2011-08-11T11:38:00.000+12:00

Moochi, $299.99

gran's loose change, $26.40. Shop here

Up to 50% off EVERYTHING!!

2011-08-10T08:44:00.002+12:00

Sale online now and next Saturday, there will be a real life sale for you to rummage through too. Don't miss out! Everything must go!

It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not...

2011-08-08T16:15:00.003+12:00

Before my darling friend Juliet shipped off to London early this year, I asked her to redesign elements of the gran's loose change website. My situation has since changed, as you well know, so we won't be investing time or money into a design refresh BUT, it is so freak'n cool I wanted to share it with you anyway. Thanks so much Julie, I love you one million hearts x

P.S The great gran's loose change garage sale is online NOW! Up to 50% off everything! And make sure you jot down Saturday 20th August, 12-4pm because we're having a real life garage sale that day too! EVERYTHING'S GOT TO GO!!

Breaking news....!!!

2011-08-01T18:13:00.003+12:00

After a long weekend of discussions, JM and I have made a rather large decision which will greatly affect gran's loose change.

On September 3rd, we are heading off to Bali for two wonderful weeks of sun, relaxation, adventure and fun. We arrive back in New Zealand on the 17th of September, only to turn around, hop back on a plane and make ourselves a life in Sydney....

gran's loose change is now 18 months old. In the past year and a half I have poured my heart and soul into the development and growth of the site and have loved (nearly) every second of it.

I have styled four lookbooks. I have had press in some of New Zealand's most popular magazines, blogs and newspaper supplements. I have featured in Frankie mag, twice. I have been interviewed on Central News and the Good Morning Show. I have worked with amazing designers, photographers and fellow creatives. I co-found The Little Big Markets and have met the most amazing people along the way.

But during this time, I have also worked (mostly) full time and recently, have felt really, really tired. My gran, my constant inspiration for this site, has always told me: "If you're going to do something, do it properly" and in the last few months, I haven't felt that I've been able to put 100% into the site that I am so ridiculously proud of.

With that in mind, as of the 1st of September, gran's loose change will no longer be a live site. We are going AWOL for awhile. I am going to refresh and relax my mind in Bali and then assess the market in Sydney as well as reevaluate what I want and what's best for me.

gran's loose change is not closing down, gran's loose change is just taking a much deserved rest. What that means is SALE time!!! Starting this Friday, ALL of gran's loose change will be on sale.

And we will also be holding 'The great gran's loose change garage sale' at a yet to be confirmed location in Mount Maunganui. Keep an ear out for more information.

I thank you all for your incredible support during the past year and a half. It truly means the world to me.

A beautiful mess...

2011-07-29T13:58:00.003+12:00

After a huge spring clean of my little beachside bungalow earlier this week, I realised I have a lot of unused bits and pieces floating around my wardrobe. So, I decided to declutter. And with that, I have a few personal pieces listed on Trade Me. Make sure you check out my listings, there may be a couple of special items that catch your eye....

Like these incredible lambskin leather skinnies.

I love them to death but I just don't wear them often enough and seeing as they cost so much, thought I would invite someone else to enjoy them for a fraction of the price! Check out the listing here. And if you miss out on these ones, there's a high waisted pair of leather skinnies available on gran's loose change with your name on them. Shop here.

Hey Westie, if you're reading this, this is my 'leather outfit post'...sad, but true.

2011-07-26T19:29:00.001+12:00

Babe'n...

2011-07-19T20:04:00.004+12:00

A collection of today's love...

(Seriously, how cute is this kid!!)

Images via Oracle Fox, Wolfbyday, Baby Anything, They all hate us, Inside Am-lul's Closet.

I do not seek, I find. Midwinter 2011.

2011-07-16T17:01:00.007+12:00

Elise wears: Show me the light fur, Mishka wedges by Chaos and Harmony, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades, rings by d_luxe.

Josh wears:The start of something new parka and Be true, get real shirt.
Elise wears: Viva la diva knit, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades, Bittersweet shoes by Chaos and Harmony.

Josh wears: Vintage corduroy Levis (will be available very soon)

Elise wears: The Selina dress, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades.

Josh wears: Vintage corduroy Levis.
Elise wears: Sheer delight bodysuit, rings by d_luxe, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades.

Elise wears: 1. Too hip to be square trench, Mishka wedges by Chaos and Harmony. 2. Sheer delight bodysuit, rings by d_luxe.

Elise wears: Running from bees knit and Take it from me tutu, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades.
Josh wears: Taking time out from the world knit

Elise wears: One to be remembered blazer, bracelets by Lindi Kingi and One of Spades.

Models: Elise Hislop and Josh Muller
Photographer and Stylist: Kelly Barriball
Creative Assistant: Nat Peri
Hair and Make Up: Fiona Wright

P.S For some reason when I exported these images they shat themselves and look extremely pixelated. F@*! it! If I get the motivation to reupload these pics I will do so in the next few days. If you'd like to use these images please contact kelly@gransloosechange.co.nz for better quality shots. Thanks!! xx

Behind the scenes...

2011-07-16T15:50:00.003+12:00

Unedited shots of our midwinter lookbook. Coming soon!!

(Beyond amazing!) hair and make up artist (slash model dresser), Fiona.

Models getting into the swing of things...
HUGE thanks to Nat, Elise, Fi and Joshy xx

Antics.

Monday montage...

2011-07-11T19:47:00.005+12:00

Images via Theyallhateus, Yimmy's Yayo and Baby Anything.

Erin Wasson by Fred Meylan for Elle France...

2011-07-03T21:04:00.003+12:00

via Oracle Fox

By far, one of my favourite editorials of the year! Erin, I love you.

Sneak peek...

2011-07-03T20:54:00.003+12:00

Raw and unedited from today's shoot. Lookbook coming soon.

There's no such thing as too many shoes...

2011-06-29T14:19:00.003+12:00

As published on www.fashionz.co.nz

I stopped in to visit my darling mum at work the other day and we discussed the two things in life you should always spend money on. Good beds and good shoes. My mum works for Beds R Us so the bed situation is sorted and as for shoes, well a woman can never have too many and my first stop is always Chaos & Harmony.

Chaos & Harmony launched in 2008 and quickly became one of New Zealand's favourite shoe brands. The obsessive passion for shoes developed early for Lead Designer and Managing Director, Rebecca Anderson. In order to transform this love into an art form she pursued study at the Instituto Europeo di Design in Rome, Italy. Upon her return, Rebecca collaborated with long-time friend and colleague, Renee Ryland, to form the now well established brand. They are now into their sixth season and just keep getting better and better.

I chatted with Beks about inspiration, drive and all things shoes.

How long have you been designing shoes?

Since 2006 - so coming up five years.

Was this always your childhood dream?

It wasn't always as specific as being a shoe designer, but I definitely had a shoe obsession at a young age. At one stage I wanted to be a shoe buyer, so the shoe theme has always been strong!

Where did you study?

I studied at IED - Istituto Europeo di Design in beautiful Roma, Italia.

How did this location influence your designs?

I loved Europe and the strength of style, so our designs are definitely something we look at and ask ourselves, how would these sit on an international platform?

How do you get into the 'zone' when you design?

Oh the zone, it's always a novel experience and different each time, sometimes it's being locked away, sometimes it's in a cafe. I often travel up to the Coromandel and stay, just to be away from the phone/email/Facebook/Twitter :)

I find that if we have a strong inspirational starting point, the design flows!

What inspires you?

People, culture, chairs (I have a thing for them), Interior design, travel, music, airports (I have a strange fascination with airports), conversations, sunny days, thoughts, ideas, "what ifs", the future.

Three things you couldn't live without?

Superficially...... makeup, iPhone and shoes

Realistically.......friends, family and hope

What are your favourite shoes from your winter collection?

I've been obsessed with the 'In the Parlours' this week. I love that they give a different look for each outfit I wear, they go the distance style wise.

What can we expect to see in summer?

Pink, fun playful shoes, platforms at a mid height that are so comfortable you will sleep in them, and some silver!

Do you believe in luck?

Nope. I believe in working hard and creating opportunities.

Quick fire five. I say, you say:

Love - Holidays

Success - it's a journey

Food - Italian every time

Music - Loving The Jezabels at the moment

Shoes - Can't get enough of them!

Now go, get to the website and see for yourself, the amazingness that is Chaos & Harmony.

Lookbook lovin'

2011-06-28T09:37:00.005+12:00

Images: Theyallhateus, Wethepeople

I know I know, I've been saying 'the lookbook is coming' for weeks now but the coordination of six people has proved harder than anticipated. However, we have finally locked down a date that works with the models, makeup artists, photographer and creative assistant so really, I mean it when I say the lookbook is coming! Here's some inspiration in the meantime.

Alice in Wonderland...

2011-06-24T12:02:00.002+12:00

Images: Google

Two of my favourite Alices, Alice Dellal, model and Alice Glass, lead singer of Crystal Castles.

See you soon Bali...

2011-06-23T15:50:00.003+12:00

I was just doing my daily blog trawl and saw this pic on They all hate us. I love bracelets and even more so on a man wearing red jeans!

Speaking of bracelets...I'm taking a two week break in September and my other half and I are buggering off, away from this winter weather, to the delightful shores of Bali.

In Bali I plan to:

Read a lot, I've just bought much acclaimed Shantaram and Leo Tolstoy's classic War and Peace. Both are over 1000 pages long so they should keep me busy.

Lie in the sun - there's nothing like getting a tan during New Zealand's winter

Shop - if there's one thing I do well it's shop. Hello markets! Hello leather! Hello shoes, bracelets, dresses, bags, rings, trinkets and treasures! Oh my!

Eat - I love food. Full stop.

Drink - JM and I have already decided 'it's never too early in Bali'.

Attempt surfing again - JM took me for my first surf lesson ever in Taupo Bay this summer so I'm hoping to progress to paddling into a wave on my own!

Do yoga - JM will definitely want to make the most of the surf in Indo so I plan to refresh my mind with a little yoga.

Get facials and massages - I've heard only good things about spas in Bali and plan to make the most of cheap massages!

Sounds blissful right? I can't wait! Oh my, I have digressed. The point of this post is that I also love the warmer weather because I LOVE jewellery and being covered in winter wool just doesn't really work with wearing lots of gems.

I can't wait til my wrists are free from the constraints of sleeves and I can layer up bracelets to my heart's content. I'll be wearing One of Spades and Lindi Kingi that's for sure!

Well suited...

2011-06-22T09:09:00.004+12:00

I have never been a big fan of the fellas wearing blazers with jeans. I think it goes back to my uni days when an unnamed man used to wear a blazer layered over a hoody, over a tee. It hurt my eyes a little.

However, I've started to warm to the idea, when worn with a shirt and jeans, it can actually pack quite a punch. My friend Hope arrived at dinner a couple of weeks back looking rather swish in a shirt and blazer with jeans. Nevermind the fact that his girlfriend asked him why he was so dressed up, he simply replied: 'I like to make an effort'.

Well boys, take a leaf out of Hope and James Franco's books and add a blazer to your wardrobe wares. Oh look, we even have a couple on gran's loose change at the moment, fancy that!

Woops, I'm not sure how this one got in here, he's not even wearing a blazer?.....(anyone else think he is a complete and utter dreamboat?)

All images: Google

The adventurer's blazer

The dirty way to fame blazer

For your eyes only...

2011-06-21T09:06:00.003+12:00

You may have noticed that when I blog for gran's loose change I often say 'we'. As if gran's loose change is this kick ass corporation with hundreds of staff. I guess I started doing that right from day one as back then, I had a business partner so we were a we. However, I have owned gran's loose change solely for a long time now and as the past year has ticked by, I have started to say 'I' more often. From this day on, I will be blogging for gran's loose change as me. Kelly. Because that's who gran's loose change is. Hi, nice to meet you.

What I won't do, is use this blog as a 'personal style blog'. That's just not me. Generally I don't like having my photo taken and I can't pose for shit. I end up with a double chin or a racoon face. But, I am posting 'style pics' today, mostly for Fashion Westie as we'd both been looking for a fluffy bear-like fur vest or jacket for a wee while and lookie lookie what I found.... so Westie, this is for you. And just so you know, taking photos of myself was the most awkward and unnatural experience I have ever had. How the fuck do you pose for a self-timer without laughing? (Short answer, you don't, check out the last pic). Enjoy.

I'm wearing Rubi suede heels (don't laugh, such a bargain! And so comfy!), Levis Extreme Skinnys, WOMEN Design sheer shirt with tails and vintage faux long-fur vest (Ebay).

Nom nom nom...

2011-06-20T13:58:00.003+12:00

Images by Vela Images

A little while back we were approached to start stocking Lindi Kingi Jewellery, and after seeing the range we are super excited to announce that as of next week, a selection of Lindi Kingi jewels will be available online! Keep an eye out and in the meantime, become a fan on facebook here.

Sunday funday...

2011-06-19T20:57:00.006+12:00

After waking up to pouring rain, the sun came out long enough to enjoy a late brunch with my lovely product models Georgia and Josh. I'm lucky enough that Georgia is also a wonderful friend of mine and Josh is my other half so their company is always welcome and we always have fun.

We headed to Back Porch in the Mount. They have a quiet little outdoor area and it was surprisingly warm today so we spread out the paper and enjoyed coffees until our food came. Georgia ordered the 'Energiser' breakfast - eggs, hummus, spinach, cottage cheese, mushrooms and toast. I wasn't in the mood for 'brunch food' so chose the calamari. Josh's 'Grill' took longer to come than our meals so I was busy devouring my meal and didn't get a chance to photograph it!

After we filled our tummies, Josh made the most of the stormy weather and went surfing while Georgia and I poured over our local second hand bookstore where we both walked away with a handful of new novels. I then spent the rest of the afternoon uploading new product, I hope you enjoy!!

Get in quick because these winter warmers won't last. Shop online here!

Little Navajo...

2011-06-15T10:37:00.002+12:00

You might remember our friend Julia as the photographer for our first three lookbooks...

Magpies to Butterflies

The drifter's escape

Run away with me

However, the incredibly talented Julia is now not only a graphic designer at Trelise Cooper, she has her own blog Little Navajo and sells some of her new and upcycled wares through her other blog, Byzantine Market.

Little Navajo is a constant source of inspiration for us as Jules is a whizz behind the camera. She has the capability to create emotion through images and she tells a story while doing so. We're super proud of her and we're sure you'll love her work as much as we do.

All images by Julia Keddell.

New stock Sunday...

2011-06-14T14:50:00.003+12:00

We know, we've been slack with the product uploads of late. But that's not because we haven't been doing anything. We have been buying, washing and measuring to our heart's content and this weekend, we will be shooting all of our new stock. Both guys and girls, we are particularly excited about our pair of Men's Original Wallabee Clarks.

This footwear classic originated in 1965 when Lance Clark sketched out a moccasin built on 'our nature-formed last' to create the world's first comfortable shoe.

Images via Google. Please note, ours are black on black leather and they are vintage, not new.

Keep your eyes peeled for these babies as well as denim jackets and leathers, furs and woollen knits for the ladies.

Love love leather...

2011-06-10T15:51:00.001+12:00

I have been on the hunt for the perfect leather pants ("trousers!" as my friend Lucy would say) and thanks to my lovely friend Julia, I am now the owner of the perfect lambskin pair.... can't wait to wear them!

Images via Google

Stop existing, start living...

2011-06-10T15:41:00.005+12:00

This week is Bowel Cancer Awareness Week in New Zealand. Did you know that more people get bowel cancer in New Zealand than any other cancer? And it is the second highest cause of cancer death?

Probably not because no one talks about this asshole of a disease, mind the pun. Well, I am, because I have spent the past two and a half years watching my darling Mum fight this very cancer.

Approximately 2700 people get bowel cancer in New Zealand each year and of that about 1500 die. My mum was one of the lucky ones. We need a cure. Do a good deed for the day and donate here - and help find a cure for bowel cancer.

Love is...

2011-06-08T16:52:00.005+12:00

....seeing the successes of someone with drive, determination and passion.

I was trawling the web last night (serious online shopping compulsion) and as usual, was lusting over the goods on the One Teaspoon site.

Florentine Cape, yes please!

I always like to read about the people/team behind the brands/sites I am viewing and I have probably read Jamie Blakely's intro about a hundred times. How's this for drive, determination and passion!...

"I once saw Jamie Blakey dressed as Wonder Woman...

In true Jamie style she had whipped together an awesome outfit hours before the party and looked like sex on legs when she rolled up, all smokey eyed, power hair and lycra. It was only when I looked back on these photos a year or so later, James assuming the strong 6 foot Wonder Woman stirling pose, hands on hips, staring straight down the barrel that it occurred to me... this wasn't any kinda alias or alter ego....Jamie Blakey is in fact a bloody super hero!

From jumping on a bus from Queensland to Sydney when she was a teen, hand making the first denim jeans on her bedroom floor to building an internationally successful brand in just 10 years. Jamie is the most motivational, creative and ingenuitive person I have ever met. The words 'can't and 'won't' do not exist in her vocab. Give her 30mins, a bag of fabric and a sewing machine and BOOM you're on the social pages 'it gal' list by Sunday.

And she does this all with an essence of pure calm and a no-bullshit attitude....

...One Teaspoon has dug it's leopard print flag in the ground and marked it's territory by providing awesome chicks with cool threads, 24/7 from the beach to the streets of the big smoke. James aka Wonder Woman ain't going nowhere soon, she is and will continue to ride her own wild horse into a glorious sunset in a damn hot pair of the best denim shorts you will ever get your cotton pickin hands on!

Jump on board the OT train and enjoy the Love affair with life, the best journey you can ever imagine".

I only hope one day someone will say something equally as fierce about me.

FYI: Busy is better...

2011-06-08T11:20:00.003+12:00

As of Monday week I am about to become one busy beaver. Many of you already know, but I work at Family Design co. four days a week -, as of Monday, I will be full time with Family.

What does that mean for you I hear you ask?! NOTHING my friends, it just means I will have to work harder and more efficiently to ensure gran's loose change is business as usual.

gran's loose change is my baby, she's been an experience and she was a challenge I wanted to give myself and exceed. My career however, is in the communications/marketing/design industry and I need to push myself further within my role and development, hence the decision to take on a fulltime role.

gran's loose change will continue to grow and build and you will still find all of your favourite vintage finds online, as usual. It just means I will be 'gran's loose change-ing' in my sleep, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So good to my eyes...

2011-06-06T18:19:00.004+12:00

One of my favourite men in the whole wide world has recently joined the blogosphere where he displays his beautiful work and mixes it in with dope quotes, lyrics and sayings. Tane Coffin is one hell of a photographer - he has assisted on covers for Oyster, worked with noted fashion photographer Steven Chee, shot and videoed for twentyseven names and can be found here and here.

Tane and I met in Wellington years ago and lived together in Sydney for a year or so before I moved home to the Mount. Tane has an amazing soul and a beautiful spirit and I hope only good things come his way. Make sure you add New Eyes for the Greedy to your blog roll and make sure you tell your friends.

I miss you Tane Mahuta xx

Never gets old...

2011-06-06T10:46:00.002+12:00

Boys want to bang her and girls want to be her. Erin Wasson, I love you.

Too fierce to be fashionable...

2011-06-03T11:39:00.003+12:00

My friend Jade and I were talking about our work attire this morning when she arrived wearing a turban. We're pretty flexible in terms of what we can wear to work, we are a design agency after all (I'm talking about my day job here...!) All of us girls generally wear heels, more often than not -chunky wedges; we wear oversized jumpers and layered dresses. If we're feeling daring, we might wear a bright lip. Jade wasn't sure she felt comfortable (for work) in her turban but I thought it looked rad.

There are times when I want to be different, when I might like to wear some kind of hat or a jacket that isn't your everyday but I feel like I can't. We can be bold in our work wear but must be professional, and sometimes, when working with our corporate clients that means toning it down.

That got me thinking about the way I dress in general.

By the time the end of the week comes around, I can't be bothered making much of an effort and my weekend attire generally consists of jeans, chucks and a big, warm jumper. Living in the Mount doesn't help my desire to be different - this little seaside town isn't used to extremeties, they're used to beach wear - that being, 'nothing too bold'. Hmmm, whilst writing this, I have already decided - fuck it. I'm going to just be me. And if I feel like standing out from the crowd, I will. It's not about being fashionable, it's about being me. Do you have to change the way you dress for certain occasions/people/events? What do you think?

Images: weheartit

One of Spades - Get it in ya!!...

2011-06-01T18:59:00.004+12:00

gran's loose change is VERY excited to launch our newest 'Shop New' designer, One of Spades. The founder and designer Nat Peri has been an influential force in the drive of gran's loose change, especially throughout the past six months and we wish her all the very best with her ventures. She is a beautiful, kind souled, creative being and fits in her jewellery design amongst being a mum to three beautiful 'under fives', Ballet, Cuban and Ali.

We are very proud to be a part of Nat's journey. We love One of Spades and we know you will too...

Read on to learn more about Nat...

What motivated you to start your own jewellery range?

Learning to listen to my creative instincts and following them. The Little Big Markets had a lot to do with getting my jewellery out there too.

What inspires your collections?

Memories, Music, old things , photography, anything that makes me feel, stop and think, wonder or dream.

At the moment I’m interested in 60’s 70’ and more so the grunge movement.

Every collections is a reflection of what was inspiring me at the time.

What three things couldn’t you live without?

Family, friends and sunshine.

Who’s your favourite jewellery designer?

Pamela Love. I love her style and her jewellery is amazing.

If you could have one person wear your jewellery who would it be?

Caleb Followill

What are your top five songs of all time?

Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit

Guns n roses - Sweet child o mine

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Every one of Bob Marley's songs

Neil Young - Heart of Gold

Quote you live by?

"None but ourselves can free our minds" — Bob Marley.

Delightful delights...

2011-06-01T12:01:00.004+12:00

Did you know gran's loose change has a whole SHOP NEW section? When we launched over a year ago we just had d_luxe jewellery. We then took on Neverland, then jasmin sparrow, 2Gypsies and now, ++ Two Lost Souls ++ and later this week One of Spades.

Whew, plenty of delightful products in amongst our handpicked array of second hand and vintage winter woollies. Dreamy.

We've also collaborated with Laurel from Ooh La La Vintage to bring you a bigger and more diverse vintage range.

So go, get shopping! We're waiting for you xx

2011-05-28T16:05:00.000+12:00

WANT! Does anyone know where I can get a similar one that won't break my bank?

Kei te aroha au i a ruru...

2011-05-27T09:57:00.004+12:00

Illustration by Sara Blake

Images from We Heart It.

Maori believe that Hineruru, the Owl Guardian, has the power to protect, warn and advise. As well as appearing at night when someone is about to die, she may announce the imminent arrival of visitors. If she is seen flying ahead or walking along the road, she is usually there as a protector at a time of danger. If she flies straight in front of your path something is wrong. A high piercing call is bad news; an ordinary owl call is good news.

Different cultures believe didn't things but in summary, they all say owls represent wisdom and knowledge. I have a few old wise owls in my family, maybe that's why I am so drawn to them?

Jeez, how's this weather?

2011-05-26T13:49:00.002+12:00

I don't know about the rest of you but it is pouring down in the Mount today.

Thank goodness we have a selection of winter jumpers and coats to keep you warm and dry. These are my top picks this week...

Stitched together with good intentions knit

Kaleidoscopic mind coat

Follow up with Fiona...

2011-05-26T10:08:00.002+12:00

Now that we've introduced Fi to you, we thought you might like to get to know her a little better. We sat down with Fiona and found out about a few of her favourite things...

What's your name?
Fiona Clare Wright

What nicknames do you answer to?
Mostly and only Fi

What do you do?
I am a full time hairdresser at Rodney Wayne

How did you get to where you are?
I applied for a job when I was 15, with no qualification or skills in the industry but passion. So I guess passion has got me where i am today :)

Who are your favourite NZ designers?
Ruby, Stolen Girlfriends Club, RiddleMeThis, twentsevennames all of which I can never afford but you can only dream right?

Which runway show would you love to work on?
Most probably Alexander McQueen as he always has the most outrageous clothing and accessories - and the hair would be as equally outrageous

Whose hair would you love to do?
Nicole Richie

What music are you currently listening to on repeat?
adele 21

What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration at the mo is Frankie magazine..I'm hooked!

Best advice you've ever been given?
Don't ever get caught up about what other people think, no matter what.

What three things can't you live without?
My Richard Kavanagh curling tongs, heels, and my mum.

Meet Fiona...

2011-05-24T10:26:00.007+12:00

A huge thank you to all hairstylists and makeup artists who contacted us about our winter lookbook. After much consideration we have chosen the lovely and incredibly talented Fiona Wright....

Fiona works for Rodney Wayne Bayfair and was this year, chosen as one of 'The Dream Team', otherwise known as Rodney Wayne's Artistic Team.

"Fiona was one of 12 talented individuals personally picked by Richard Kavanagh for their skill, style and ability to communicate to our salon stylists.

Richard says he is "proud and honoured" to be mentoring this team with the latest looks hot off the runways of the world. The team are then sharing this knowledge with Rodney Wayne stylists through hands-on workshops and seminars all over the country. This means you get the freshest looks even faster".

Fiona's Creative Team audition

We're very excited to have Fi on board and look forward to showing you the end results! Lookbook is coming VERY soon!

Coming soon...

2011-05-23T13:59:00.005+12:00

Currently en route from lovely London, Two Lost Souls coronas will be available on gran's loose change VERY SOON!

Images Two Lost Souls. Illustration by Jade Culton.

Something to tell you...

2011-05-22T20:09:00.007+12:00

Over the past couple of months, I have been working on ideas to build and grow the selection on gran's loose change and I am very excited to announce that, as of this week, the selection will be even bigger. We have teamed up with Laurel from Ooh La La Vintage whose pretty wares will be available on the site this week. I stumbled across Laurel as a Trade Me seller and she will now update new stock on gran's loose change every fortnight. The drill is the same, buy online as you usually would and then Laurel will send your pretty little parcel from Wellington.

Read the Q & A below to learn more about Laurel...

Who are you?

Laurel Smith of Ooh La La Vintage.

What do you do?

I spend my days hunting for treasure in op shops and fixing up vintage clothing to sell online.

What would your dream job be?

I think I am doing it! I want to keep growing and expanding my business and compliment it with other creative projects - like the vintage inspired fashion range that my boyfriend and I are currently working on!

Three things that inspire you?

- Creative people doing what they love.

- Books. Books. Books. (Reading is life people!)

- My friends.

Top five songs currently on your playlist?

Crazy - Patsy Cline

Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins

Imagine - John Lennon

Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald

These Boots Are Made for Walking - Nancy Sinatra

(I have most of these on vinyl but am still on the hunt for Crazy!)

Who is your style inspiration?

I am obsessed with the 60s and adore Jane Birkin, Marianne Faithful, Pattie Boyd and Anna Karina. I take modern day inspiration from style blogs - a few favorites include The Snail & The Cyclops, Esme and the Lane Way, A Cat of Impossible Color and Sally Jane Vintage.

Why did you want to work with gran's loose change?

I love the philosophy behind gran's loose change and the thought of collaborating with creatives with a similar vision to my own is beyond exciting!

Best advice you've ever been given?

Follow your dreams no matter what.

Adventures are my absolute favourite...

2011-05-18T11:20:00.005+12:00

Last week, Nat from One of Spades and I went on a buying trip out of town. It was super exciting to scour through stores that were pretty much untouched and we came home with a booty of goodies. (Many of which have been uploaded to gran's loose change just this week...

...like this one. Check the rest out here.) Here's a little documentation of our day...

Can you guess where we went?

Love love Lily...

2011-05-17T14:43:00.004+12:00

If you are a long term follower of this blog, you will know how much I love Lily Aldridge. I first posted about her here.

She married her long term love Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill this past weekend and I loved their media-released pic so much I had to share. How happy does she look (...and incredibly natural. Damn her for being so beautiful!) and how smug does he. It's like he's saying, 'yeah fellas, check out my wife'.

Saturday inspiration...

2011-05-14T14:06:00.006+12:00

Images from Theyallhateus and weheartit.

Hot dang I forgot how much of a babe Isabel Lucas is! She's amazing. Loving those bright orange lips (can't wait to dye my hair back dark tomorrow so I can rock bright lips again). WANT a long fur vest for winter.

Babes and books...

2011-05-10T13:34:00.004+12:00

My dear friend Kate just sent me a link to a pretty sweet tumblr blog (*note! some people have WAYYY too much time on their hands! But I like it!. Check out two of my favourite things here.

Girl crush...

2011-05-09T13:08:00.000+12:00

Hanneli Mustaparta. Golly. What a babe.

Cute and colourful...

2011-05-08T07:53:00.000+12:00

Something a lot of people don't know about me is that I actually spent my first year of university in Auckland, at Massey on the North Shore. It was a trying time but amidst all of the change, I met a girl called Rochelle. Through Rochelle I met a whole bunch of wonderful girls including Miss Sarah Tuxford (read her blog here) and one talented little lady called Katie Coleman, best known these days as the founder and designer of 'Katiemaree Cole'.

Katiemaree Cole is a kick ass New Zealand fashion label with the perfect mix of femininity and (I think) a certain mystery...this description on her website sums her designs up perfectly.

"Katie-maree started dancing when she was 3 years old. Introduced to the fantasies explored through her various roles and productions she grew a desire and passion to explore life through the colour and design of costume.

She joined hundreds of years of tradition of exploring the femininity, adventure and romance of fashion in their day-to-day lives…

“Each day I open my wardrobe and ask myself

“What part do I want to play today?” she says.

Her designs explore the adventure of being a woman, the beauty and the elegance."

Half cat, half woman...

2011-05-06T15:20:00.001+12:00

Images: Weheartit

Catwoman jumpsuit, available here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JM!!!

2011-05-04T13:31:00.001+12:00

Wishing our recurring gran's loose change model (and my lovely other half) the happiest of all birthdays....

Happy 25th day of birth!

The blogger series continues across the ditch...

2011-05-02T08:10:00.003+12:00

All images by We The People

This week's Q & A is with blogger Jessie Bush, an expat Kiwi living in one of my favourite cities, Sydney. I lived in Sydney for two years before moving home due to an illness in my family and can relate to all of the places Jessie refers to below. Jessie is a street style photographer for one of my favourite fashion blogs, We The People.

What do you do?
Stalk down strangers who catch my eye, kindly ask to take their photo, and sometimes talk about all the cool things going on in their lives.

Where can we find you?

we the people
facebook
twitter

Where do you live?
Surry Hills, Sydney. It's a rad place, I do recommend it if you head these ways; amazing restaurants, bars, pubs and vintage stores....

What's your favourite thing about living there?

I have a pool. Ha. But also how central it is - the city's only a twenty minute walk away, and my favourite spots are all within walking distance. Our local pub, Cricketers is just around the corner and has a cute courtyard and a good vibe. Just down the street is Thomas Dux The Grocer, which is pretty much a supermarket with only the good stuff. And Bourke St Bakery is just around the corner. Famously good, and rightly so. But be prepared to line up down the street as if it was a tacky night club.

What inspires you?

Kindness, honesty and humour. The people I meet and photography every day. Ambition. Beautiful photography. Fashion.

Three things you couldn't live without?

Cooking. The Internet. Music.

Five songs on your ipod/playlist right now?

I don't blame you - Cat Power Yonkers - Tyler the Creator We All Know- Devendra Banhart You Do You - Bear in Heaven Lindes Farne I & II - James Blake

Fave blogs?

Garance Dore

Jak & Jill
The Man Repeller
Hanneli
I am hurt in fashion

Quote you live by?

Not a big quote person, but I am a firm believer in positive energy. You attract what you send out.

I beat up my boyfriend because I didn't like his jeans...

2011-04-29T10:21:00.002+12:00

Love these cute couple pics! I googled 'stylish couples', jeez, you'd be surprised how many magazines have actually dedicated whole articles to this very concept.

Do you dress similarly to your mate? I do, and I think it's because the BF and I have similar opinions on style in every sense of the word - fashion, interiors, artwork...

Do you dress for yourself, your partner, or other people?... Why?

The planning stages...

2011-04-25T12:14:00.005+12:00

Images from Theyallhateus and Google

Lookbook planning stage one: inspiration...

London loving: blogger series...

2011-04-21T07:04:00.006+12:00

Cynarra, left, Esperanza

A year or two ago, I met the beautiful and talented Cynarra (who hails from little ol' NZ) during her summer in the Mount. As summer came to an end, so did her time in NZ and she packed her bags and headed for London town. Since being there, she has become one half of the up and coming Two Lost Souls. Cynarra, along with Esperanza, describe themselves as... 'two lost souls. we believe in love. we believe in freedom. we spend our days california dreaming and are full of wanderlust. our parents wish we would get real jobs but our heads are too far up in the clouds. instead we like to make beautiful things for beautiful souls. come get lost with us.' (* Shit, I love that description!!)

Read on to find out more about these wanderlusting dreamers.

What do you do?
During the day we slave away together at our day job where we spend 90% of the time day-dreaming up a storm and at night we try and make the day-dreams reality by making beautiful paper flower coronas and blogging away our adventures. We've both previously been doing the whole fashion intern thing for awhile and although we have both worked for and met some amazing people we are well over being used and abused and penniless so Two Lost Souls was born out of a desire to combine our writing/styling/creative skills and do things our way for a change!

Where can we find you?
At the moment you can find us on our blog, we're currently working on our website and online shop but we're just a bit technologically challenged so they're a slow work in progress!!

We are also lucky enough to be stocking our crowns at a few of our friend's stores in London and Madrid

Where do you live?
Far across the sea in London-town, although one half of us is originally from New Zealand and the other half from Spain.

What's your favourite thing about living there?
That in London you are completely free to be whoever and whatever you want to be! Everyone is young, free and creating their own dreams and when the sun shines there's no other place we'd rather be.

What inspires you?
Sundays in London provide endless inspiration; breakfast bagels on Brick Lane then along to see the beauty of Columbia Road flower market followed by a stroll along the canal in the sunshine to lounge in the grass in London Fields drinking cold ciders and making daisy chains for hours on end. But our biggest source of inspiration is our desire to be able to leave our current job and work solely for ourselves!

Three things you couldn't live without?
Cynarra's flatmate's ridiculously funny looking and acting ginger Persian cat Frankie, he is the only man for us!

Copious amounts of hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows and above all L O V E !

Five songs on your ipod/playlist right now?
Currently when we're working away we have these songs obsessively on repeat:

'Halah' Mazzy Star
'Sea Of Love' Cat Power
'Master Of None' Beach House
'Skinny Love' Bon Iver
'Home' Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Fave blogs?
When we find ourselves with some spare time we trawl through the hundreds bookmarked on our lappies but particular faves include mostly London based Style Bubble, Park and Cube, Discotheque Confusion, Because I'm Addicted and Lulu Kennedy's blog. We also make sure we keep up with blogs from our respective homelands to stay in touch!

What's next for Two Lost Souls?
Aargh so much we don't no where to start! We've been slow to catch up with our quiet successes so far, we can be fairly easy-going in our business approach! But we have plans to widen the availability of our floral coronas with our online shop and we have some super amazingly talented people putting together our first official shoot for us soon. We also have some ideas that we want to bring to life on Espe's sewing machine and we've been collecting crystals and beautiful stones for awhile which we've sent away to be shaped and made into little bits of magic. We'll keep blogging it all along the way so watch this space...

Quote you live by?
E: 'Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.' H.D Thoreau
C: 'Just phase out, breathe in, wear sandals and pretend it's a fine world.' C. Bukowski.

Keep checking on on the gran's loose change blog as you MAY be able to get your own Two Lost Souls coronas RIGHT here in the not so near future. We will let you know as soon as we know xx

Hey you! Join us!...

2011-04-20T14:36:00.002+12:00

gran's loose change is currently in the throes of organising the Winter '11 lookbook. We're mixing things up this year and we're looking for some extra hands to help us out.

From the beginning gran's loose change has always been collaborative. I am lucky enough to have some of the most amazingly talented friends and family who have been able to help out with advertising, design, photography, modelling and more.

Well, I want to be able to help YOU out too. So we're looking for a hair and makeup artist to be a part of our Winter '11 shoot. This is NOT a paid position but what you'll get is publicity. And nothing is more poweful than PR. Our lookbooks have been featured on numerous blogs in both Australia and New Zealand so it is a wonderful opportunity to boost your profile. AND, you get to be a part of the hilarity that ensues behind the scenes of gran's loose change lookbooks.

To register your interest, please send an email to kelly@gransloosechange.co.nz along with images of your work or ways we can see some of your work, ie, a blog. You will need to be available during a weekend in May and be able to get to Mount Maunganui - we can arrange your transport, if needed, from there.

Look forward to hearing from you!! K x

Happy first birthday...

2011-04-20T07:18:00.006+12:00

Dear gran's loose change,

I can't believe you are one year old already. It seems like just yesterday that you went live.

In the past year you have had 467, 459 page views, where visitors spent an average of 3.38 minutes on the site. You have had 48,124 visits where visitors looked at an average of 9.71 page views per visit. 62% of your visitors come back (so you must be doing something right). Your biggest fan base is in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton and Dunedin. You have even had visitors from Italy, Spain, Singapore and France.

We have shot three lookbooks: (huge thanks to Julia Keddell, Bridie Fitzgerald, Jamee Thomas, Josh Muller, Natalie Brownrigg and Finn Geoghegan).

Magpies to Butterflies

The drifter's escape, Winter '10

And,
Run away with me, summer '10/11

We have photographed, edited and uploaded hundreds of product. I have packaged and couriered hundreds of parcels. I have responded to hundreds of emails. I have PR'ed the shit out of you and we have had articles published in some of the countries most well read publications - Sunday magazine and Viva in New Zealand Herald as well as Girlfriend, NZGirl, Here Comes the Sun blog, Bay of Plenty Times, Fashion Guru, Studio Home blog, Sideroom, Beauty Bible and Australia's much loved Frankie mag. We have also been on Central News and The Good Morning Show live.

Some days, I feel like I was extremely naive going into this business. I have done so with no capital behind me, I struggle to keep afloat but I am proud to say that while you don't currently (or should I say regularly) pay me, you do pay for yourself and one year on, you are still alive and kicking.

In the past year, I became sole director and I have never been more satisfied. Sometimes I wish I could start it all again as there are times when I still feel like some of the decisions for gran's loose change weren't entirely mine and I would have done things differently...but that just means I can make those changes as we move forward.

There are big plans for gran's loose change this next year, a web revise has already been designed and is waiting to be revealed and we are welcoming some new friends on board....

There are days when I lose motivation - because I work a 'day job' as well as running gran's loose change and there are days when I am beyond exhausted, but new initiatives like those mentioned above and days like today - your first birthday - remind me that we are doing something special. Something amazing, and I am so proud to be the director of such an awesome site.

Happy birthday baby, here's to many more.

Love, Kelly x

Top five...

2011-04-19T10:47:00.003+12:00

We've been busy buying, photographing, editing and uploading product this week and we are loving these five items!...

The Levon Boot

The wall you have created cardy

You don't always know what you see knit

The importance of being idle duffle coat

Hip hip hooray knit (Model also wears Jasmin Sparrow There's no such thing as boring leather pouch necklace).

* Apologies for the shoddy lighting, the 9-5 'real job' means I often have to shoot at night with minimal lighting...this will soon be resolved with the use of a studio.

Week Four of the Blogger Series...

2011-04-18T10:37:00.004+12:00

Fashion Westie is a regular blog stalk of mine and her tweets are ridiculously funny. I'm delighted to introduce you to her...

What do you do?
When I’m not socialising and ensconced in the air-kissy fashion realm [jokes]? Eating, blogging, working…and rubbing my belly for luck while trying to figure out how my intense desire for fashion, blogging and styling is going to be possible while cultivating my awesome little person.

Where can we find you?
BLOG
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
LOOKBOOK.NU

Where do you live?
The awesomeness that is the North Shore in the most unconventional location.

What's your favourite thing about living where you do?

Watching pukekos strutting below our deck and living their lives to the left, while tradesmen are eating pies, smoking and driving their vans to the right. Ooh, definite bonus has to be seriously close access to macarons from Farro and good coffee at Mozaik. Though the 3 minute walk to Mickey D’s does not go unnoticed or under utilised.

What inspires you?
Honesty and integrity. Whether it be in your words, your creations, your intentions or what you’re wearing. Trust me, I can smell the honesty/integrity, or lack there-of in an image, a comment or your pants [not that I go around sniffing pants all day…you know what I mean] so I’m inspired by those displays of truth. Visually and moral-compass-ly.

Three things you can't live without?

Laughter, Fashion, Making up words to get my point across….I swear I need more than three. Can another interviewee lend me there allocation? I’ll add: Internet, Oranges and Toothpaste.

How did you get to where you are now?

I came down the hallway, hung a right and sat down. That’s not what your asking is it? I’m not quite there yet but hopefully with passion, enthusiasm and hard work, I’ll arrive to this ‘now’ you speak of.

Where do you want to be in ten years?

At my unborn bumps 10^th birthday with all the Mum’s so jealous at my awesome party throwing skills….and my bow staff skills, nunchuck skills….

Fave blogs?
The Usual Suspects [all those superstar out of the stratosphere bloggers, they know that I know that you know who they are] not gonna lie, I daily stalk them. Must reads are: Rag Pony, SRC783, the bulwark and the sunbeam, Gloria’s Jeans, Zara Mirkin, Imogen Wilson and duh, gran's loose change.

Top five songs on your ipod/playlist?

LMFAO-Party Rock Anthem
Naked and Famous-Girl Like You
Alexisonfire- This Could Be Anywhere In The World
North Shore Pony Club- Sex, Drugs and a Drum Machine
Princess Superstar-The Mysterious Hanger

Favourite quote or words of wisdom you live by...

This changes…lately it’s been: “If it smells funny or has fuzz on it, Babe, don’t eat it!” Big R

Pretty pictures...

2011-04-14T10:47:00.004+12:00

Images: Love More, Tuula, They All Hate Us, Rambo Estrada

New boutique...

2011-04-13T07:31:00.002+12:00

One of our friends is set to launch an online lingerie boutique next week and we can't wait! We love online shopping and we love lingerie! Check out my interview on All The Pretty Things blog here and become a fan of ATPT on facebook (and hear all of the news and special offers before everyone else) here.

To do list...

2011-04-12T13:17:00.001+12:00

Meet the latest...

2011-04-11T09:13:00.005+12:00

So, as you know, I have been interviewing bloggers (I check their blogs religiously) and this week's blogger is the lovely Ilana from See Me Everywhere...

What do you do?
A bit of everything really :) I am part owner of a sweet little boutique jewellery & giftsware store called Rox at The Base here in Hamilton as well as a graphic designer.

Where can we find you?
See Me Everywhere

Bloglovin'

Facebook

Twitter

Where do you live?
In Hamilton, New Zealand, where I have lived the last 10 years but I am originally from South Africa.

What's your favourite thing about living in Hamilton?

Hamilton is big enough to keep you entertained but small enough to know everyone. It's such a central place to live here in New Zealand, as the beach is only 40min away and the snow is only 2 hours away - so they both make me very happy. You can always find gorgeous little coffee spots and great opshops.

What inspires you?

I can find inspiration in everything. I must say, blogging has helped a great amount with finding inspiration and it's opened my world to a range resources. I also love music, so sometimes I find that a song lyric can trigger my imagination and bring forth great ideas. Books are becoming a much loved possession of mine as well, as they are always full of neat ideas! The Selby's is my absolute favourite at the moment.

Three things you can't live without?

My husband, my bunny and my friends - oh oh oh and cliche, but family!! I seriously have the best, most amazing, splendid, hot bunch of babes I call family.

How did you get to where you are now?
Mostly luck to tell you the truth. The opportunity to buy into a business just fell into our lap, and I pretty much got handed my graphics job on a silver platter (along with a lot of hard work!!). I am a very lucky girl and feel so honoured to be in the place I am in at the moment. I do believe I have a very good Daddy that looks out for me and always has the best plans for my life, so probably not so much of it is actually luck as what it was planned :)

Where do you want to be in ten years?

On some gorgeous lifestyle property with 6 kids frolicking in the grass singing songs and being the von Trapp family... okay not quite,but close! I want to be a stay at home mumma and focus on doing craft and design projects from home, including launching my own brand.

Fave blogs?

Oh wow there are seriously so many beautiful, inspiring blogs (including all my beautiful bloggy friends' which you can go through on my blog). This is just a list of a few of my favourites at the moment:

A Little Brighter - http://alittlebrightervintage.blogspot.com/

Andrew & Carissa - http://www.andrewandcarissa.com/

Kelli Murray - http://www.kellimurray.com/news/

The Rockstar Diaries - http://taza-and-husband.blogspot.com/

The Velvet Bow - http://www.thevelvetbow.net/

Top five songs on your ipod/playlist?

Angus & Julia Stone - Babylon

The Script - Science & Faith

Mumford & Sons - Sigh no more

The Almost - Extravagent Love

Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko

Quite a mix in music taste, I know!

Favourite quote or words of wisdom you live by...

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." - Alice in Wonderland.

Such a great mindset to have - believing the impossible and seeing it come to pass.

Them and us...

2011-04-05T14:16:00.006+12:00

Shakuhachi.

Us.

Topshop, Miu Miu, Jeffrey Campbell, Stuart Weitzman, Opening Ceremony.

Us.

Asos.

Us.

Urban Outfitters.

Us.

Shakuhachi.

Us.

Alice McCall.

Us.

Images: Google.

Shop now.

Timeless icon...

2011-04-05T12:12:00.002+12:00

My friends and I had a wee dinner party last week. And every time we do, Fleetwood Mac is on the playlist. Without fail. Everything about Stevie Nicks rocks.

The Blogger Series continues...

2011-03-30T12:08:00.005+13:00

Meet Julia from Studio Home...

What do you do?
Given the chance I would spend ALLLL the time researching for my blog BUT everyones got to have a job and at the moment I work as the Sales and Marketing Co ordinator for Treble Cone Ski Area in Wanaka.

Where can we find you?
Studio Home (hang out mostly there)
Facebook (also spend a lot of time here, re posting links to the days posts, re posting great links from my favourite pages and sifting around discovering new wonderful talent)
Twitter (links to my days posts feed here as well and I am really enjoying getting into the swing of this massive networking platform)

Where do you live?
The amazing, beautiful, mindblowing and alllways awesome Wanaka, Otago.

What's your favourite thing about living in Wanaka?
Coming home from holiday only to realise that the place I call home is one of the most stunning spots in the country and allows me a lifestyle that I constantly have to remind myself isn't the norm for most people. That, and of course, the quality group of people I count as my own, spread around the region.

Photo by Camilla Stoddart

What inspires you?
One of the coolest things about embedding yourself in the world of design blogging is the discovery of people that are pushing forward with their own little passions. For sure some are more/going to be more successful than others, but I get a massive buzz from seeing people with raw talent being brave enough to give it a go.

Three things you can't live without?
Family, friends, my eyes

How did you get to where you are now?
After four years of ski instructing following a student exchange and high school I bit the bullet and applied to do a short Foundation Course in Fine Art at the Design and Arts College. This was all in preparation for the Diploma of Interior Design which followed.

I then headed to Auckland to work in furniture and design consulting for a few years then in a massive wave of ignorant confidence I moved to Queenstown to launch my interior design business with no money or sense. This was brilliant at times with some fantastic projects and steep learning curves, however, the recession just kicked me when I was only just getting some traction and I just couldn't seem to maintain any flow of work.

After three years I skipped the hill for a change of scenery in Wanaka and plans to re-base my business there...then the universe did a back flip and a series of events led me to landing a job on the marketing side of the ski industry. From the time I landed in Queenstown I also launched the first version of my blog with the same ethos it has now, of profiling creative talent from NZ and Australia. Essentially it was a way of visual bookmarking for myself and an effort of promoting my interior design.

Over the last three years it has slowly but surely become my passion and way to keep myself strongly attached to the wonderful creative scene downunder. I would also realllly like it if it started paying me a salary. Wow. That would be a perfect world.

Where do you want to be in ten years?
Really not sure where, but hope there are babies and a husband hanging around :)

Fave blogs?
Pretty much an impossible question!! I guess the ones I read everyday (aside from the other billion I visit regularly) are:
-A Cup of Jo
- Creature Comforts
- Oh Joy!
- The Design Files

....but there are SOOOOOO many more!!!

Favourite quote or words of wisdom you live by...
"Fortune Favours the Brave"

Note from glc! We e'met Julia when she blogged about our very first gran's loose change lookbook here and then again when she blogged about our third lookbook here

Quote of the day...

2011-03-30T11:45:00.000+13:00

Thanks Georgia.

Khaki lovin'...

2011-03-28T13:27:00.001+13:00

Images: Weheartit

Loving everything khaki at the moment.

Friends of gran's loose change...

2011-03-23T14:20:00.004+13:00

Since launching gran's loose change, I have been lucky enough to meet an amazing collective of people through blogging and the world wide web. I have had people contact me with messages of luck and congratulations, I have had bloggers write about the site, I have become friends with other bloggers who I have never even met (but hope to meet one day).

So, to thank all of these people and to share their beauty and passion with you all, gran's loose change is running a series of Q & As. We're starting this off with the wonderful Amanda from Here Comes the Sun. Amanda and I were first e-troduced when she blogged about last winter's lookbook. We featured on her blog again in November last year. Read on to find out more about Amanda and her work.

Introducing...Amanda Thomas.

What do you do?
Currently my life is a mixture of working in a boutique and blogging and a few little projects I have coming up.

Where can we find you?
Here Comes the Sun
Twitter
Facebook
Bloglovin
Formspring

Where do you live?
Hamilton, New Zealand. It gets a bit of a hard knock but I actually love it.

What's your favourite thing about living there?
My best friends all live here so it's just great getting to do life together and spend so much time with each other. Also the op shops are pretty cheap here, and I have so many favourite cafes/ restaurants/ gardens that I love to visit pretty regularly.

What inspires you?
It's different everyday depending on what I'm doing. My husband and my friends definitely inspire me, I have some really great people in my life. Obviously I am quite influenced by the Beatles and they are always a constant source of inspiration, as well as Bob Dylan and other magical things that came from the 60's. Other than that I would say old books and records, vintage homewares, analogue culture, women in business and I always love it when it rains.

Three things you can't live without?
Cell phone, lap top, husband. Not in that order haha.

How did you get to where you are now?
By working really hard, chasing opportunities and being true to myself.

Where do you want to be in 10 years?
In 10 years I hope to have two little kiddies with my husband and be working from home. I'm not ready for it just yet but I really do look forward to be a mama bear one day!

Fave blogs?
Daydreamlily will always be my number one. Other than that I read a lot of blogs but some favourites are Andrew & Carissa, Rockstar Diaries, Fieldguided, See Hear Say and of course my friends blogs But Honestly, See Me Everywhere and Tornadoes and Tigers.

Top five songs on your ipod/playlist?
A Day in the Life- The Beatles
23- Jimmy Eat World
Soco Amaretto Lime- Brand New
Made for Each Other- Jack's Mannequin
Norwegian Wood- The Beatles

Favourite quote or words of wisdom you live by?
"Dream big, work it out from there"- I love that.

What makes our house, our home...

2011-03-22T17:20:00.002+13:00

Just a few snippets of some of the treasures in our wee home...

My favourite photo of my grandmother and Mama Bear, ever. Taken at my mum's 21st birthday.

Our money jar. I bought this porcelain jug with my friend Jamee and it's found a better use than serving tea or looking pretty on the shelf. It is slowly collecting all of our loose change.

Our array of paintings. The Minnie Mouse ears in the top left and the pencil illustration of Kate Moss (age 15) were drawn by our amazingly talented friend Jake Macartney, the stencil of Kate Moss is by another friend, Sanga, and the others - a Goldie, a couple of Sara Moons and a couple of randoms have been collected from garage sales and thrift stores. Oh, and my little Tikis are from Good as Gold - they're by local artist Jared Bryant.

JM found me the two fat owls, centre back, on an op-shopping trip to Gisborne last summer and the collection is slowly growing. You'd never believe it but owls are bloody hard to come by!! We were lucky enough to be gifted the white pair, back left, (which are actually salt and pepper shakers!!) as a housewarming present from the lovely Nat of One of Spades.

One of our collections of books. We have them in our wooden sideboard, next to our bed, on this ladder and on a shelf in the lounge.

Things to come...

2011-03-22T08:57:00.006+13:00

Images via weheartit and Lookbook

New winter product is being shot tonight. Bring on winter knits, fur, jackets, leather, maxi skirts and boots....

Bless...!

2011-03-18T17:46:00.003+13:00

My beautiful nephew Mitchell watching his Aunty Kelly on the Good Morning Show today. Love you baby!

Watch the video here...

YES PLEASE!!!

2011-03-18T17:43:00.001+13:00

Just casually picking the kids up from school... Elle Macpherson, you are my idol!

Happy Day Patricia...

2011-03-17T11:41:00.003+13:00

Happy Day Patricia? Confused? It's St Patrick's Day right. Well, it's also the day my beautiful, wonderful, amazing grandmother was born. Happy Birthday Patricia Kelly. I love you.

Thank you for everything.

Fan mail...

2011-03-16T15:16:00.002+13:00

My heart did a wee skip when this popped up in my inbox this afternoon!

" My purchases are so lovely that I just wanted to say a quick thankyou :)"

- Casey.

Thank YOU Casey, we hope enjoy your purchases xx

The nature of the business...

2011-03-15T09:11:00.002+13:00

A friend of mine recently called me in a bit of a frenzy asking if I had sold gran's loose change. My mum then popped round to my house with a magazine in tow demanding to know why I hadn't told her that I sold gran's loose change! I had no idea what they were talking about until I read the article in the Enterprise magazine and was saddened at the lazy and confused journalism which reported that my Little Big Markets co-founder was the owner of gran's loose change.

We are all human and we all make mistakes, but considering I come from a journalistic background, I was annoyed that the journalist hadn't even done a general google search of 'gran's loose change' (which would have told her everything she needed to know) or checked her information before going to print.

Needless to say, a retraction will be in the April edition of Enterprise and you can all rest assured that I am still the rightful owner of gran's loose change.

It then got me thinking about my trip to Wellington for the recording of my slot on The Good Morning Show. It is generally filmed live and while my slot was pre-recorded, there was no room for mistakes. No second takes. It was an exciting yet scary experience where you don't have any script or run throughs and questions are fired at you to answer on the spot! I had a lot of fun but the line of questioning differed to what I had prepared and planned for - but that's the nature of the business. What I have learnt from being on both sides of journalism, is that unless you are writing it yourself, it never quite turns out how you'd expect.

Tune in to TV1 THIS Friday (March 18th) at approx 9.14am to see me in action, (and by that I mean trying my best to look like I knew what I was doing!!) Have a lovely Tuesday xx

Healthier for you...

2011-03-14T16:27:00.006+13:00

Something you may not know, (well you should know, so if you don't I haven't done a very good job of telling you!) is that I personally wash all garments (unless they're dry clean only in which case I leave it to the experts) before uploading them to gran's loose change, ready to sell. This quite often means a lot of hand-washing, due to wool and delicates, and several loads a week.

Well, our friends at ecostore have come on board and helped us out with the best, most efficient and healthiest laundry powders on the market. As of this week, every gran's loose change product will be washed with love, (by me), using ecostore products.

Why use ecostore?

Making changes to the laundry products you use is one of the simplest things you can do to reduce your exposure to unnecessary chemicals and enjoy a healthier home.

Over the past 18 years many of our customers have shared stories with us of their rashes, allergies and eczema improving or disappearing altogether since they made the switch to ecostore.

Use a little, save a lot

By safely super-concentrating our laundry products we have significantly cut down on cost per use; so while our products might look a little more expensive on shelf at your local health food store or supermarket they actually compare well with conventional brands.

And it really works!

You don't need to sacrifice performance when you use our laundry powder. All ecostore products are evaluated against our performance benchmark; to be comparable, if not better than conventional brands.

Images from ecostore.co.nz

Safer for our environment

When selecting ingredients for our products we give priority to plant and mineral based ingredients and only those petrochemicals which are classified as low hazard and biodegradable making our products safer for septic tanks and grey water systems. Our laundry liquid is so mild that with a filtration system in place you can re-use the waste water on your garden, lawn and trees.

Monday funday...

2011-03-14T16:17:00.001+13:00

Images from We Heart It and Litter

You can never have too many shoes...

2011-03-13T13:34:00.003+13:00

Images from Lookbook

Inspired? Good, get shopping then. New men's shoes online now.

Welcome winter...oh how I've missed you...

2011-03-11T12:07:00.003+13:00

So, we're down to our last two market days at The Little Big Markets and that means we're CLEARING OUT most of our summer stock as well as sneaking a few winter bits and pieces in there too.

And this in turn means, more space for NEW WINTER STOCK (we're starting to shoot winter next week)!! I know, I know, that means summer is over. Goodbye to singlets and cut off shorts, jandals, after work swims, sunbathing and ciders on the deck. As much as I love summer for all of these reasons and more, I LOVE winter dressing. Jeans, boots, fur, layered cardies, shirts, tights and socks...I can't wait! Here's some inspiration to get you in the winter mood...

Images from They All Hate Us and Style Scrapbook

Wednesday inspiration...

2011-03-09T08:21:00.003+13:00

Love love love this shoot over at Oracle Fox. I've been dreaming of a one way ticket to somewhere (anywhere?! Please!) of late and this shoot makes me happy inside. 'Somewhere' could be closer than we think. Is 'freedom' what I want? Or 'adventure'? Either way, thanks Oracle Fox, I'm going to day dream the day away xx

Lady, I think I love you...

2011-03-08T14:37:00.001+13:00

Loving the looks of style blogger Andy Torres.

For more, check out her blog here.

Mad love...

2011-03-07T10:32:00.003+13:00

Blogged on one of our favourites... The Cowboy Geisha.

You're on my mind...

2011-03-02T15:09:00.004+13:00

Last night, as I sat down to a homecooked meal, as I sipped on a cider, as I took pics of the beautiful Georgia and the babelicious JM, I felt guilty. I felt sad. I felt helpless.

Just over a week has passed since the horrific Christchurch earthquake and while we are forced to continue with our daily lives, we don't forget. We won't forget. I haven't forgotten. Christchurch, you're on my mind.