Another design triumph :-)

I LOVE formica, especially the woodgrain one :-)

99% of people HATE it, but i think it is cool! If it is up to me, i would go back to the 1960s/1970s and live in cool homes of that era, surrounded by formica, cool mahogany sideboards, fully stocked vinyl-padded bars, outrageous lighting and punchy colors.

I have been noticing a lot of formica pieces in retro shops in Auckland and around, making a bit of a comback lately... (yey!). This is why I have decided to put one of my customized formica pieces for sale on TradeMe. It is the cutest little coffee table which i have customized by applying a sort of reverse stencil of a fantail on it.


I loved it for so long but i am running out of space so it was time for it to fly away to someone who will love it even more.

The auction was a blast - it had 80 watchers on it (I still cant believe this number!!!) and after a bit of a bidding war, sold at $165.


I think it is precious and worth way more, but it is wonderful to see other people appreciating these gorgeous pieces that are sturdy as anything, even though they are 40 years old. Not to mention that they were not made in China and that they will last another 40 years. :-)

I will be making another piece, similar to this one, as soon as i find time. It will be offered for sale on Trademe again, for those 79 people who have missed out ! :-) In the meantime, some more pics of a lovely coffee table:

My shop is ready ! :-)

Finally!!!!!! My shop is ready for all the eager customers who have been waiting for weeks! :-)

I have some AMAZING things: 1980s, 1970s, some gorgeous art deco and 1920s/1930s stuff, loads of 1950s dresses and jackets, hats, loads of shoes and lots of modern designer stuff. i have hundreds and hundreds of garments that i have got at estate sales all over the countly. I daresay this is a treasure trove :-) And, prices are waaaaay below retails, as the 'shop' is in my house in Torbay.

Some pics below:

Beautiful 1930s velvet coctail dress for sale on Trademe

Auction Number: 200544597

Absolutely gorgeous authentic black velvet dress in size 12! Price is very fair, considering this is an authentic dress. Would look AMAZING at the Auckland Cup parade, and also, you could wear this gorgeous dress later too: to the theatre or any formal occassion. If you are size 12- please have a look! Auction Number: 200544597

Love, Fatima

Auckland Cup parade - gorgeous dress for sale on TradeMe! (size 16)

Hello all-

just found this dress for sale on Trademe, in wearable size 16! It is gorgeous(the picture is not that good though, but i can just imagine this being worn with some beads and a feather headband!! ( I hope someone snaps this up. The best is that Monsoon has very good quality garments, and i am sure this would make a gorgeous coctail dress for later on... I have asked the seller to put the dimensions up btw.

Auction Number: 197520795

Louie and me in Saturday Herald :-)

Hello -

below is the page of the last Saturday Herald, which featured me and Louie! :-)

I must say we both look cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just click on the page to see it in bigger format:

Beautiful vintage style jewelry from "Wendy J" - NZ designer

Hello all:

me and Louie are in papers today! And i have to say, we both look very cute! :-) I will try to scan the article and post it here ...

In the meantime, I was just looking at Tatty Devine jewerly again, and wondered whether we have anyone doing similar stuff in NZ. I actually own a gorgeous piece from Wendy J, jewelry designer from Welsford. It is a laser cut and printed pendant of a girl feeding swans. Picture on top. I wear it all the time and get so many comments on it! I have found this designer on TradeMe. I can say with confidence that her pieces are not sloppy DIY, oh no! They are perfectly finished and gorgeous. I bought the necklace last year, but have just logged in to see whether she had any other pieces for sale and she does! I have to say, pieces are gorgeous, just check out the "Keep Calm and Carry on" pendant below!!! SO COOL. This slogan was commissioned in 1939 by the British Ministry of Information to send a message of reassurance to the people from King George VI ( hence the crown ), that everything was being done in the time of war, and " Keep Calm". They were printed on posters and tea towles. A message just as relevant today!The pendants are made from black and white laser cut Perspex combined in a layering technique to give the framed look.The images are laser engraved " into" the white perspex and filled with black metallic pigment, so that they can not be "rubbed off"!It measures 4.75 cm in length and 3.2 cm across and will come on a 62 cm long chain with thick silver plating made to last ! Wendy can shorten this if you prefer a shorter chain She also has these as brooches , so check out my other listings. All her pieces come in organza bags for safe keeping when not being worn (this makes them perfect gifts).
























And the best part, prices are so good, honestly, I think that she should be charging 5 times more, for the quality is superb, and craftmanship flawless.
Do check out her stuff for sale on Trademe here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=1337997

Love, Fatima

Auckland Cup parade - shoes on Trademe!!!

hello all-

just have been browsing Trademe and found absolutely gerogeous and completely flapper-ish red leather heels by SABEN (NZ designer)! Just check them out (not the best picture, but you will get an idea). These would look AMAZING on the Auckland Cup parade, when incorporated in the right outfot. Now, they are red -all you need is a red hat (or any hat with red flowers or accents), red wrist gloves and say , long neutral color (black, white, nude, brown) dress and you would look great!!!!!!! These are size 7 and auction number is 195786481. The best part about these is that they are from SABEN (NZ designer) and you can wear them after the event too, they are gorgeous and would look great with a number of looks! Price is VERY good, as in shops these would be over $250. Hope someone snaps these up!