Balcony

I had a bit of fun with Photoshop. Click to view larger.

For a while now I've been looking for an outdoor set for the front balcony. I finally found the perfect set this weekend in Bunnings.

All it needs are pink chair cushions that are suitable for outdoors

This here is where I'll spend my mornings with my son overlooking the (very distant) view of the city. I'm very happy about this.

PS: I've worked on my blog layout a little today. Please let me know if you have problems viewing this format - thanks!

Happy weekend

LOVE garland created by Darling Dexter for her wedding. Instructions on how to make one can be found here.

Hope you are having a LOVELY weekend!

Eames Rocker

Image by O!Rachew!

I have a massive craving for an Eames rocker. I might end up buying a replica though. Has anyone seen a pink version floating around somewhere in Sydney? I'm guessing not.

Image by wiz wharton

Blue is lovely as well.

Twenty Hearts (Heather Bailey fabric)

I went for a walk with my son this morning and bought these lovely flowers so I had to show them off along with my latest work - Twenty Hearts in the lovely Heather Bailey fabrics.

New additions to the nursery

The circus print I posted about last week now lives on the nursery wall. I like the way it looks next to the wallpaper. I didn't mean for the colours to match so closely but I like that it does.



And I've finally hung this growth chart which was given to my son as a gift. It's from Kikki-K. Cute. I'm tempted to mark the actual door with his age at each height and not the chart.

And the winner is...

Lady T!

Congratulations! Please email me at viv@ishandchi.com with your address details and I'll forward it on to interiorinstyle so they can send you out your gift!

Thank you to everyone who entered and for all the lovely comments you left me! It was nice to hear from you all and I'm glad you enjoy my blog.

I hope to be running more giveaways in the future because, let's face it, everyone enjoys free stuff yes?

Have a lovely day!

Circus Merry Go Round Print

NEW! Circus Merry Go Round print now available at Ish and Chi. I made one for my son's room. He seems to like it.

Masculine is in

I was listening to the radio the other day and apparently women want men to burn their pastel shirts and bring back the rugged look. That's right gentlemen! The metrosexual look is now 'out' (sorry) and the masculine man is 'in' (or so we're told).

I haven't been on the dating scene for forever so I wouldn't have a clue. So let me ask all the single ladies out there (great, now I have the Beyonce song stuck in my head) - what do you think? Do you prefer the masculine man over the metrosexual?

Images Jun Sato, WireImage & chud.com

Listening to this segment got me thinking about what a masculine man's home would look like. Does the masculine man even care for decorating?

A friend of mine is looking for a home and he's asked me to 'do it up' once he finds the perfect place. So I'm after inspiration. Have you seen any pictures of rooms you think would be perfect for the masculine man? Please email them to viv@ishandchi.com or link me to them in the comments section below and I'll post them here. Please also include where you found the image from so that I can credit properly. I'm happy to link to your website/blog as well. Thanks!

In the meantime, I found this image via Preston Lee Designs but it's more metrosexual I think.


HELP!

DUST Team Treasury

I recently joined the Etsy DUST team to meet other Australian sellers and I am happy I did. There is so much talent coming out of Australia it is truly inspiring.

I put together a treasury full of goodies from some DUST team members. Check it out.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=47388

Featured sellers are: eclecticmoi, LushPunk, LightAndShade, NostaligiaBloom, lyndell, lisspopps, benconservato, NeverEver, TansleyandTandsley, MaryBfromOz, innerearthsoaps, leahkl

In other news, I donated one of my pink Vintage Chandelier prints to the OzBushfireAppeal and it sold, yay! All proceeds are donated to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

The OzBushfireAppeal store will close on the 31st March. So if you are looking for a gift for someone or just for yourself, check out what is selling. You'll be helping a good cause. Thank you.

Stop, smile, breathe. Life is beautiful.

If you haven't already visited The Bright Side Project you must. They give away a new item every day - CRAZY! While I was over there I found this free PDF download.

Image via The Bright Side Project

So I printed my very own copy and it now lives on my studio desk to remind me not to take life too seriously and to try to be less farklempt (thanks Miss B for introducing me to that word).



While we are on the topic of free stuff - don't forget to enter the giveaway I posted about earlier this week. Entries close this Sunday. Good luck!

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy...

Like this little train I bought for my son's room made with his name.


I also discovered that you can still buy Little Golden Books. They've been around now for 65 years! Some of the stories I remember from when I was a child. So I bought a whole stack of them to read to Robbie.

I'm sure I've still got some of my old books somewhere. I've probably scribbled all over the pages though. I seem to recall drawing a moustache on Cinderella once.

Giveaway!

I'm really excited to write this post today for two reasons:

1. One of my readers will receive a gift valued at $150 just for posting a comment here - too easy!

2. I get to introduce to you an Australian company called interiorinstyle who are sponsoring this giveaway. Check out their website here (to come soon). They create pretty removable art decor that I know you'll love.

Here is some of their collection:


They also have wallpaper decals for all you wallpaper lovers out there.

interiorinstyle will send one reader a kit of their cherry blossom removable art decor valued at $150.


For your chance to win, all you have to do is post a comment below (one entry per person please). That's it! The winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator.

You have until Sunday 22nd March at 11:59PM (EST) to enter and the winner will be announced here next Monday 23rd March at 9am (EST). Check back then to see if you've won!

This is what interiorinstyle say about their products:

Whether you demand the latest in style, love to update your living environment as trends and seasons change, or you’re restricted by renting, interiorinstyle is the latest modern and affordable solution. Personalise your living or working environments (inside and out) with professionally designed removable wall art. From contemporary to traditional, our range satisfies all tastes and transforms any environment into a desirable urban space.

You install and remove when you want or reposition if you make a mistake, confident you won’t damage your walls or leave behind messy residue. Create an interior designer look without destroying your walls or your pocket.

Embroidery hoops

I'm considering displaying some fabric I've collected on my studio wall like this.



I'm considering displaying some fabric I've collected on my studio wall like this.

Images via ComTradição (flickr)

I remember seeing this idea in a magazine somewhere also. What do you think of it?

Owls

Everywhere I look these days I see owls...

Image via BURKEDECOR.com

Image via Asos.com

Image via UrbanOutfitters.com (unfortunately out of stock)

Image via Etsy seller GreaterYesterday

Image via Etsy seller fruitflypie

Image via Peter Alexander

Image via UrbanOutfitters.com

Soon to be released: Bowie Wong wallpaper for Porter's Paints

A good friend of mine mentioned to me yesterday Bowie Wong, fashion and costume designer, is set to launch a range of wallpaper for Porter's Paints on March 26.

If you've been following this blog you'll know I'm a fan of Porter's Paints wallpaper and have used Catherine Martin's Circus Silhouette wallpaper in my son's nursery.

Here are a few sneak peak images of Bowie's range. My favourite is Spring:

And here's what Bowie says about his designs:

Toys
“Innocence, purity, delight. Handmade toys, learn to create, draw with me - this was my childhood.”

Summer
“The morning dew glistened in the sun. Through the silence you could hear the wings of the dragonfly inviting the Iris to dance.”

Autumn
“Looking down from above, chrysanthemums covered the deep red earth. It was then I appreciated the inherent beauty of aboriginal art.”

Spring
“It was spring time in Kyoto. A gentle breeze and the delicate cherry blossom petals began to fall. I couldn't help myself - I had to sketch what I saw.”

Winter
“As the moonlight shone on the snow, the bamboo formed a perfect silhouette against the sky. The cranes sang to the night.”

Four Seasons
“Looking through the kaleidoscope, the four seasons came to life. The flowers bloomed, the leaves turned red and the snow - peaked mountaintop rose to the sun.’

(Quotes and images via babynews.com.au)

Jennifer Ramos Home Tour: My art on her wall!

I adore Jennifer's style. She's the talented designer behind MadeByGirl. She has posted a few updated photos of her home and it is divine.


Check out the art on her wall. If you've seen my Etsy store then two of the prints will look very familiar :D



I'm so honoured Jen included my work amongst these fabulous artists!











Her studio is wonderful. I've really got to get cracking on mine!

Heather Bailey fabrics

I have been secretly stalking Heather Bailey's blog for a while now. Her range of fabrics and eye for colour is simply AMAZING and I find myself checking her site often to feed my colour addiction.


I have my eye on the above fabrics which I'm hoping to turn into new designs in my Etsy store.

Bouffant ponytail

Image via AAA Fashion

I wish I was glamorous enough to pull this off without looking like I lost my hairbrush. Le sigh.

Winter white coat

I can't believe I'm already thinking about my winter wardrobe. I'm waiting for this to arrive in the mail.

Image via Ezibuy

I adore wearing white in winter even though I become a magnet for red wine spills. Is anyone else thinking about their winter wardrobe (or summer if you are on the other side of the hemisphere)?

Decorating the dungeon

I'm not sold on either of these mockups but here are my thoughts so far for the studio. I can't wait to take to the walls with a paintbrush this weekend, hopefully.

Rather than buy the IKEA sideboard. I'm on the lookout for an old sideboard that I can paint instead.

I should mention I'm on a really tight budget which is influencing my choices.