The Pineneedle Collective

Thursday, 5 March 2015

It's autumn - time to break out the giant carrot scarves!

I am so happy that it's finally autumn. I am so done with the heat, and more than happy to relinquish summer over to the Northern hemisphere. You guys can have it. Because autumn means that I finally get to layer AND that I get to wear this amazing giant carrot scarf every day.

My giant carrot scarf is from Yummy You! If you haven't heard of Twinkie Chan before - what are you doing? Go and check her stuff out right this moment! Anyway, crocheting and crafting goddess Twinkie Chan recently started up her own brand and line of clothing called Yummy You, for which she designs food-themed crochet pieces and also features cool handmade jewellery brands like Fatally Feminine Designs!
Yummy You is a food-lovers, novelty-accessory-connoisseur's dream shop.

(The difference between Yummy You and Twinkie Chan's etsy store is that Twinkie Chan crochets all the items herself on her etsy store, but Yummy You is manufactured in China and therefore a cheaper alternative.)

My mum also found a bunch of Rugrats-themed badges that I used to own when I was about 10 years old. Who was your favourite Rugrats character? Mine were Kimi and Lilian, but Chuckie's colours matched my outfit perfectly (we totally have matching orange hair, aw yeah)!

Outfit details:

Scarf is c/o Yummy You

Skirt and top are thrifted

Shoes are from Naot (Kedma)
Socks are from Japan

Headband is from Hong Kong

Tomorrow I should be uploading a DIY-your-own-underwear video, so keep an eye out for that! I've made about 10 pairs of my own so far and they're the comfiest things in the world - I'm never buying underwear again ;)

Much love,

Sunday, 1 March 2015

DIY T-Shirt | "Get Sewing With Me" Episode #1

I have started a new Youtube Series called Get Sewing With Me - it's like "Get Ready With Me" videos but better ;) (and don't worry, Make Thrift Buy isn't going anywhere!)

In my spare time, I do a lot of sewing which I don't film either because I don't have a specific tutorial in mind, or it might require a bit of specialized equipment that most people don't own. But I thought that it would be cool to start filming some of these things that I make, because it could still help inspire your own sewing projects, show you some tips and tricks, or give you ideas for equipment you might want to get in the future! (And of course if you're a more intermediate-advanced sewer, then you could definitely use this as a tutorial!)

This tutorial will (hopefully!) teach you how to DIY a t-shirt from scratch, using an old top as a pattern. It can be used to make any kind of t-shirt.

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Scary Rides & New Friends: Hong Kong Travel Vlog #4!

I've already talked about how I was lucky enough to meet up with some really cool people in Hong Kong - and one of them was Maddy! She showed me around a couple of places in Hong Kong, one of them being Ocean Park, an amusement park on Hong Kong Island. I snuck my camera onto a couple of rides (not the heaps dangerous ones, I was too scared haha) and I made a little vlog! I hope that you like it :)

Saturday, 21 February 2015

DIY Daisy Boobs Tee | Make Thrift Buy #14

My sewing machine and overlocker were the first thing that I hugged when I got back to my house after a month away (my boyfriend came to pick me up from the airport - so don't worry, he was actually the first thing to be hugged!). Getting back into making clothes after a month away felt SO good - I think that I was having DIY withdrawals overseas, and even all the amazing thrift shops in Hong Kong couldn't satiate me!

So I started with a fairly simple tutorial to get back into the swing of making things - nonetheless, I hope that you all enjoy this video!

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Tiny Waists, Slender Legs & Body Policing

Contact lenses make me look like a terrifying half-human half-cyborg-doll lady, and I love it ;)

While I was at an amusement park in Hong Kong last week, waiting in line for a scary-looking rollercoaster, a ride attendant walked up to me, pointed at my belly and exclaimed, "no baby! No baby!"

Yep. She was telling me that I couldn't get on the ride because she thought that I was several months pregnant.

Horrified as I was, I assured her that I wasn't in fact pregnant and probably just had a bit of a food baby going on. The ride attendant grumpily walked away without offering an apology or looking even the slightest bit remorseful.

Now, I'm not posting this here for reassurance - I know that I do not look pregnant and any suggestion that I look like I am is somewhat ridiculous. And sure, maybe I was just standing in a relaxed position with my hands clasped over my tummy, which could possibly have led to the mistaken idea that I was well into my third trimester.

But this experience led me to what I think is a much more problematic and deeply-rooted issue involving the policing of women's bodies: the idea that if a women doesn't have a perfectly flat stomach, she shouldn't wear a tight-fitting dress (likewise, the idea that any woman over a size 6 shouldn't wear leggings). If women have any fat on their stomachs, they are expected to hide it - leading to situations like mine wherein any women showing off her little belly is assumed to be pregnant rather than merely having fat deposits on her abdomen.

Think about it. Have you ever, ever seen a model with a belly wearing a bodycon dress?? Even brands that use plus size models make sure that those models are curvy in all the "right" places. We're now being told that it's okay to be curvy and to love your curvy body - as long as those fat deposits decide to reside solely on your bust and your buttocks, giving you the perfect hourglass figure.

And I'll admit that I was still sucking my stomach in while taking these photos. I also tend to only wear clothing which flares out at the waist in order to hide my stomach. Because I am a product of this oppressive thought, and part of me believes that I'll be taken less seriously and that my photos will be less liked if I show that tummy off.

This needs to change.

I want to be able to wear anything that I want, regardless of whether it suits me or looks "flattering" on my body.

I'm fitter and healthier than I've been in a long, long time. And yet, I still have a little pot belly. And this is okay and perfectly, perfectly normal. So this is my pledge: I'm not going to automatically shy away from wearing dresses which show it off. I'm going to wear dresses that aren't "right" for my body type. I'm going to dress in the clothes that I like, and focus on what my body can do rather than what it looks like - regardless of what society thinks.

And I encourage you all to do that same, whatever that may be for you. Grow your body hair long, wear leggings, singlet tops, tight pants and short skirts - do something that makes either yourself or other people uncomfortable, and then realise how much it just doesn't matter. Forgo make up, cake on make up, dress up, dress down - do whatever the hell you want. Because it's your body, and your body can do amazing things.

Outfit details:

Dress is thrifted (originally Asos)

Shoes are from Asos

Necklace is from Tash Tash Jewelry

Tote bag is Lazy Oaf

Headband is from Hong Kong

Lenses are GeoMedical (Magic Color Violet)

Love,

Sunday, 15 February 2015

Closet Cleanout

So I really need to make space in my wardrobe, and I also have to stop holding onto items which no longer fit me. That's why, with some regret, I'm selling a bunch of my favourite dresses. I am really sad about letting them go, but I need to make space for clothes which actually fit me!

Things that I am selling include this gorgeous dress, which isn't ever going to fit me again thanks to my damn boobs:

And these ;__;

Yep, all of these too:

Please give my clothes lovely new homes!

Oh - and if you live in Australia, I've made the shipping rate super cheap to compensate for the sucky exchange rate, because unfortunately Storenvy only lets me process payments through US dollars.

Here's the link to my store! Happy shopping :D