It was nice to see the sun today. Hello sunny, I knew you were still there somewhere! I had a lovely indulgent lunch but what really topped it off was my plate of dark chocolate dipped strawberries at Max Brenner, I ended up using my fingers to ensure I got every last bit. Anyway I digress, I saw two gorgeous girls at flinders station while waiting for my friend.

Emma, 17, Student

I am wearing a second hand mens jumper from Savers in Footscray. My shoes were $7 from Big W. My bag belongs to my mum.

Casey, 20, Student

I am wearing a Charlie Brown jacket from a sample sale. My top is from Witchery, my skirt is from a cheap asian shop and my tights are from Sportsgirl.

As promised I said I would post some photos of extremely well dressed Melbournians at the opening of Kelly Thompson’s exhibition Bookworms never go to bed alone.

Clare, 21, Student

I am wearing a Sass and Bide jacket. My feather stole is from Ksubi and my boots are from Santini. My dress/top is from Therese Rawsthorne.

Jarrod, 23, Independant Designer

Most of the stuff I am wearing is from op shops, except my boots. They are custom made RM Williams boots, so I am never going to take them off.

Lucy, Gallery Assistant

I am wearing a vintage leather jacket. I got my top is from Opening Ceremony in New York. My jeans are from Gorman and my shoes are from overseas. My bag is from Chanel.

Leonie, 21, energy company employee

My boots are vintage. I bought them four years ago. My jacket is from Max Shop. My friend made my necklace.

Walking into Kathryn Baulch’s (House of Baulch) workroom made me clap my hands with glee (which I quite literally did). Her workroom is a beautiful light filled room with original floorboards and shelves with design books and magazines. Numerous little drawers filled with chains, clasps, beads and trimmings in a multitude of colours, textures and shapes reminded me of a grown up version of the local lolly store. On the opposite wall, her current range and past ranges are displayed pinned to large boards and sitting enticingly underneath are her amazing bags. I did not know where to look first. Behind her computer sits a wall filled with colourful tears and samples.

Kathryn herself is an inspiration, when she came running to the door to greet me she was like a burst of colour. Her dress was covered with splashes of colour and her sparkly green leggings perfectly matching her glittery 80s eyeshadow. When I spoke to her about her Loreal Fashion Festival Parade (earlier this year) she came running out with some of her couture pieces, putting them on and modelling each piece, some around the waist and putting headpieces on her head. If I didn’t feel so bad about bothering her during a busy week I might have stayed there the whole afternoon playing with all her amazing jewellery and handbags.

Kathryn is creative director and designer of House of Baulch a Melbourne based jewellery, bags and accessories label.  House of Baulch was launched in 2007 and has been highly coveted since. Prior to this Kathryn, (who is trained in fine art) spendt 5 years as the jewellery designer for Mimco nurturing its jewellery to become the signature part of the brand it is today.

I spoke to her earlier this week about what her favourite things were at the moment…

House of Baulch , Couture Headpiece, Price on application

This headpiece is from the parade I had in March at the Loral Melbourne Fashion Festival. The parade was quite theatrical and a mixture of my more wearable items and also some couture pieces. I made the couture pieces specifically for the show and it gave me an opportunity to really extend myself without the usual commercial constaints. This couture headpiece sits on the head and also attaches to the ears. Quite a few of my couture pieces from the show have been used for various things, for example Boy Plus Girl a Melbourne electro pop duo have used the pieces in their new film clip.

Patrick Nagel Book, foreword by Elena G Millie

Patrick Nagel is a graphic artist from the eighties. He did the cover work for Duran Duran’s album Rio which I grew up with in the eighties. I found it really difficult to find a book on him and have been looking for ages. I finally found this book on ebay from America. I am really into eighties art and airbrushing art.

Eighties Sunglasses

I bought these ages ago from an op shop. They are genuine original eighties. The lenses are not the best quality but I love the shape of the glasses. I think I have around 40 pairs of sunglasses. As soon as I saw them I knew I liked them but they weren’t quite ‘ready’ yet. I recently pulled them out and suddenly they were perfect.

House of Baulch, Crystal Studded Orb, $300

This handbag is from my current collection in stores. The collection is called Scheherezade after the heroine of the mythical tale of One Thousand and One Nights. It is a blend of Art Deco refinement and Middle Eastern opulence. I get inspired by lots of things like, film, TV, music and pop culture.

House of Baulch, Orac Gold Backpack, $499

This gold backpack is from my summer collection out in September. The collection is called Servalan and is inspired by an science fiction show my mum used to watch in the early eighties on ABC called Blake’s 7. The show was pre- Dr Who. Servalan was an evil leader/queen who was the supreme commander of the Terran Federation. She had some fantastic outfits. I remember parts of the show - sometimes images and ideas just come back to you. This bag is a bit like a space ship.

House of Baulch, Neopolitan bangle, $129

This bangle is also from my summer collection out in September. The collection is a real tribute to ‘cyber eighties’ and retro cyber glamour. Real icy pastels were big in the eighties.  Everyone has been going insane about this bangle. It is made from Lucite plastic, an old style plastic.

House of Baulch, Neopolitan Pendant Necklace, $169

This is also part of the Servalan collection. The chain for this necklace is painted icy pink. I assemble most of pieces myself. For some pieces I design the specs and then get them made. But generally I am really hands on with my design. I really enjoy creating something new, a technological innovation. The best way to achieve this is by physically working with the materials. I get real satisfaction from creating something myself. My pieces are generally quite bold and I like exploring the idea of machine and  hard edged items. My mum is an art teacher so I was always quite indulged creatively when I was growing up. I have always had a fascination with art. My dad was a photographer and great with carpentry and his hands so I guess I get that from him.

Peach Porcelain Flamingo

This is one half of a pair of porcelain flamingo birds I found at a garage sale in Footscray. They were sitting in the corner and it was like a beacon of light was illuminating them for me! They formed the inspiration for the Paradise Miami collection, House of Baulch’s first season. I think it demonstrates the eighties/twenties dichotomy. I loves both these two eras and design wise there is a strong link between the two. Also there is something a bit cheesy about the piece which I really like. I have a big love for anything kitsch, I am a bit of a crazy collector. I love markets and op shopping, for example the Camberwell Market. Whenever I am out I am always looking for things at new and different op shops. I guess when you are a collector you never turn off and are always on the look out for something different. But sometimes these things also find you.

Shots above are from House of Baulch’s next season, Servalan out in stores September check House of Baulch’s website for stockists details. Clockwise from top left, Mixed chain necklace $169, Glamour tote $179, Diamond pendant $169, Cable chain neck $129, Rondelle Chocker $129, Diagonal bag $199.

Tonight I went to the packed opening of Kelly Thompson’s exhibition Bookworms never go to bed alone at the Gorker Gallery in Fitzroy. A few weeks ago I wrote about Kelly’s combined exhibition with Kelly Smith, A Tale of Two Kellys .  Bookworms never go to bed alone is Kelly Thompson’s solo exhibition.

Featuring sensual full and pouting lips, a characteristic of her work, this exhibition features twelve ‘geeky’ girls and two ‘nerdy’ boys. Think heavy glasses, freckled faces and books, though there is something extremely attractive about Kelly’s bookworms.

A new body of mixed media work using recycled card, coloured pencils, photoshop and giclee prints, remnisent of school yard days, Kelly’s work includes red heads, blondes and brunettes with wide set bewitching eyes demonstrating there is nothing unsexy about being a bookworm.

Stayed tuned I’ll post some photos of some snappy dressers I saw on the night.

Bookworms never go to bed alone, 2 July 2009 until 19 July 2009, Gorker Gallery, 395 Gore Street, Fitzroy 3065 +6139416 5111

Last night at around 11 pm I conducted the draw for the 5 double passes for Every Little Step. The process involved a giant saucepan and lots of little folded pieces of paper - all seem quite archaic but effective nevertheless. My man acted as official auditor to ensure that all conduct was fair and aboveboard.

The winners are (name/email provider): Charlotte/gmail, Jocelyn/hotmail, Lisa /bigpond, Lainy M, Jacqueline/gmail, Emma H/hotmail.  I will email you all to get your contact details.

Zhourelle, 22, Waitress

All my clothes are from op shops or from warehouse outlet sales mostly. I’m not really into brands and I generally don’t shop at chain stores. I got my shoes from an old house mate. 

Ellie, 18, Student

My sunglasses are by Von Zipper from Barwon Heads. My skirt is from Supre and my leotard is from a crazy cheap asian store in Melbourne Central - I think it  is called Happy Apple. My paddington bear jacket is actually from Country Road and belongs to my house mate. My tights are from the Factory X outlet up the road. My ring is an Irish engagement ring which is a Claddagh symbol. If you wear the ring turning inwards it means you are single and if you turn it the other way you are taken!

Kiaya, 20, Hospitality

I am basically wearing all of Ellie’s (see above) clothes. She lent me her clothes this morning as I stayed over after we went out last night. The shorts are pants from the op shop which she cut into shorts. My black leotard she bought from the same cheap asian shop. The sunglasses are Ray Bans belonging to her mum and the ‘pleather’ jacket is from Bronze Snake. Apparently she always gets chatted up when she wears this outfit so she thought it would be good for me! My shoes belong to me though, they were $10.