Career crossroad.

O.k so you may have just read my facebook status saying that I have been accepted into university to study teaching.
You may ask why, considering teaching is not  related to fashion except that I don't have to wear a uniform. Could not have a job wearing a uniform!

Last year I had come to a career crossroad once again with the need to provide a consistent solid income for myself and Sebastian. Unfortunately I don't think that I could sew fast enough to be able to buy a house one day and send Sebastian to the high school that I want or maybe  as a mother I can't take the risk.

These were the options that I were considering:

No. 1 ~ Manufacture 'Sebastian and Sienna', producing more and wholesaling ~ my role would change and I am not a huge risk taker. I also love to sew and support handmade.

No. 2 ~ Move to Melbourne and get a job in the industry as a patternmaker for a designer/company. I love patternmaking but don't really like Melbourne and all my support network is here in Adelaide but unfortunately no jobs here in patternmaking.

No. 3 ~ Go and study the course that I got into when I was 18, teaching.

The decision to become a junior primary/primary teacher has been given a huge amount of consideration, it is one of the most important jobs and I am extremely excited to play an important role in children's education. The closer that it got to finding out if I was offered a place to study the more excited I got and last thursday after one and half hours of trying to log on I found out that I got into my first preference Junior primary/primary teaching.  Whoohooo for me.


Here are some pics of what I will taking to uni.

So in love with this bag, purchased from local markets.

Leather diary and folder- both handmade in Australia.

My over the shoulder satchel/handbag.

I will continue with 'Sebastian and Sienna' as I love and am very proud with what I have achieved, we are in a wonderful place with lots of interest and recognition happening. Thank-you everyone that has supported us so far. I am still overwhelmed that people part with their precious money to buy something I have created. I am already working on some things for winter and ideas for next summer as another thing that I love and find extremely relaxing to do is to draw. I have plans to incorporate this into 'Sebastian and Sienna' more as some of you may already own a tank with a Sienna or Sebastian print.

Here are some of the drawings I have done in the past.

Thanks for coming by,

Vanessa xx

I collect cute ceramic things.

Once again I would like to say that I am a collector and not a hoarder........ well that's my theory and I am sticking to it. One thing I LOVE more than clothes shopping is thrift shopping........... love it, love it, love it.
Sebastian unfortunately does not always share my passion for op shopping, he pretty much declares that it smells like Nanna's.

I really don't own any expensive furniture at all, my couch is from Ikea and is possibly the only brand new piece of furniture I have bought apart from my bed which is ancient. I don't own the house I live in and like many of my single friends dreaming of owning our own piece of property bigger than a 1 bedroom, is so 13 years ago. What was I doing 13-15 years ago when houses were cheaper, oh thats right I was an underpaid overworked hairdresser.(o.k probably didn't need to share that last part on my 'Sebastian and Sienna' blog but anyway)  My point is that since I don't own this house which is my home, I take great pleasure in filling it with lovely things that I adore. Most of these things are what I like to call pre-loved and is pretty much making my house look like my Nanna Rowe's, but hey unless Sebastian starts compaining of any nanna smells I can keep collecting.

Here are some pics of my cute ceramic things:

My very cute egg cups.

My cool salt and pepper shakers.

Money boxes.

The last two are not ceramic but super cute all the same.

Most of these are kept behind sliding glass or are on top of my pre-loved vintage buffet cupboards.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Vanessa   xo

P.s hopefully no nanna's were offended while reading this post. We love you Nanna's.

I collect pretty things.

As I have shared previously in my first post, I collect things.

At the moment I have been collecting all things 'Nicole Richie'. On Christmas day I unwrapped one of my presents to find a lovely wooden box.

When I opened this lovely wooden box I found this picture.

I was a bit confused because I already own this gorgeous 'Winter Kate' Jacket.

Instead I found this equally gorgeous peacock ring, which she is wearing.

LOVE it.

I also own this 'Winter kate' peacock silk jacket.

....... and this dress.

Also the following books.

I will keep collecting her 'Winter Kate' range and 'House of Harlow' collection, as much as I can afford to anyway.

Her carefree, pretty,  bohemiem style will always inspire me and is  exactly what I love to wear.

Longlive beautiful prints, exquisite fabric such as silk and velvet and interesting design.

I may even be inspired to make some silk threads for the little people.

p.s ...did I mention I am off to see 'Lionel Richie' in concert next year, this of course has nothing to do with Nicole and her lovely clothes.

Cheers Vanessa.

Sebastian and Sienna hearts kittens

Yes we do! We're not sure exactly when our love of all things kitten started but we're pretty sure the huge number of Little Golden Books featuring gorgeous little kittens has something to do with it.  For some reason you can take almost anything and as soon as you add a beautiful little kitten illustration, it instantly takes on a vintage feel.

We spent hours listening to our The Colour Kittens record when we were younger and now Sienna has taken on the tradition!

We first introduced kittens into the Sebastian and Sienna range a little over a year ago with our Little Lucy Blouson shorts and they became one of our best sellers ~ it seems others share our love of kittens! 

The coordinating tank and long sleeve followed soon after and we've now added to our kitten family with some gorgeous little playsuits and a beautiful prom style party dress.

Our Kitten Collection!

We have decided to keep our kittens as part of the Sebastian and Sienna range so keep an eye out for more kitten designs.
                                                                                                                      Vanessa and Peta x

Christmas shopping for Sienna.

This year I have decided to try and do most of my christmas shopping with a little more fun.
For anyone that knows me personally I LOVE op-shopping, love it , love it , love it. I get so excited if I find wonderful little things tucked away amongst all the surrounding stuff. I always wonder why has no one else seen this and taken it home. I like to think of myself as a collector of different things, others may call it hoarding but that is a whole other story that I will eventually post about.

The easiest person to shop for at an op-shop is little Sienna, she loves dolls  and tea-parties, playing in her kitchen and she is also a collector of things. She is still at the stage of collecting rocks, shells and even sticks. To her these things are like gold and she is not happy if any of these things are taken away, I am talking tantrum unhappy. Evie is usually the one that will sneakily walk up grab something and run like the wind.
On Tuesday we were leaving to pick up Sebastian from school so she ran and got a bag and quickly filled it with lots of little things from around the house. Peta would often find bags full of stuff from around the house that Sienna had collected.

So I know that Sienna will love and appreciate the things I have found her for Christmas even if someone loved them before her.

Retro orange kitchenware - apron, tablecloth, milk jug and cannister set.

Great for her play kitchen.
 

Vintage Strawberry Shortcake framed picture and china tea set. 

Lovely pink sewing basket. Which I will fill with buttons for hours of amusement.


Thought I would show you my little collection minus the pink of course.

Bunch of dolls clothes.

Hope you love these Sienna.

Love Aunty Ness.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Vanessa



Giveaway winner.

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to suggest friends to Sebastian and Sienna.

Sebastian was not in a very cooperative mood so we got Evangeline to pick the winner out.

And the winner is  ACx3  which we think is you Anastasia.

Yippee, let us know whether you would like the girls or boys prize and what size.

Thank-you to everyone else who left comments and suggested friends. As a thank-you we would like to offer 20% off any purchase till the end of October for those who commented on this giveaway.
E-mail to sales@sebastianandsienna.com with any order.

Many thanks

Vanessa and Peta.

Giveaway!

We are on a mission to spread the word about Sebastian and Sienna and would love your help.  As a reward we are offering a giveaway and all you have to do to be in the running is suggest us to your friends and leave a comment on our blog below so we know that you've suggested us.
At the end of the week Sebastian will draw a name and 1 lucky winner will receive 1 of the following items:-

 For the little girls

For the little boys

Please still suggest if you have a baby and we'll find you a special prize.

We'll provide photographic evidence of Sebastian drawing the name!

Thanks in advance ~ Vanessa and Peta