Colourful seating

A few images to brighten up the start of our week. You may have already come across these but I love seeing them together in the one post.

Anna's chair now available as a print by Annechovie!

Anthropologie chair owned by Nicole. It hurts that I can't get my hands on Anthropologie furniture here in Australia so I'll have to swoon from afar instead.

Hello Missoni, I still love you. Image via here. I have another saved in my WISTS list too. If only I had a spare.. oh, $1200 or so?

Settee from Country Living. I found vintage fabric in a similar pattern at the markets on the weekend. Why why WHY didn't I bring it home with me?

Another Anthropologie oops, Urban Outfitters love. This one is owned by Jen.

Ohh my heart is racing.

PS: Thank you for your comments and suggestions regarding what to do with the chandelier. I'm still bummed that it is too big for the bathroom. I stupidly suggested we raise our ceiling and my husband had to remind me that we have a tin roof on top of that part of the house so ummm.. impossible. Meanwhile I've immortalised the chandelier in a print inspired by it. Now this one I can definitely hang!

Chandelier for second bathroom

It arrived in pieces.

I slowly put it together. The shape is exactly what I was after.

Remember that chandelier that had me considering travelling interstate to pick up because it was a bargain at $89?

It arrived and I was happy.

But it is too big and now I'm sad.

A home full of treasures

By now you may know about my love of hunting for treasures at garage sales, the markets and *ahem* the roadside. There is some part of me that is drawn to these discarded or unwanted pieces and if we had a home big enough I would probably collect more.

When I came across Galadriel's photos of her Kansas City home on Flickr, what appealed to me the most was that it was decorated with pieces as she says were 'either thrifted, second-hand, given to us, or handmade'. She has created a family home that is not only beautiful but also creative, budget-friendly and full of treasures.

Horse canvas was a garage sale bargain at $10!

Chocolate walls in the dining room replace the three different prints of wallpaper that used to cover the walls. Shiny triple layered wallpaper was also removed in the kitchen and the brown kitchen replaced with this classic, simple white kitchen.

Daughter Iso's room 'full of the past and present'. The kitchen set is handmade and the artwork hanging above the bed and the kitchen sink are also garage sale finds bought for only $1 each!

The quilt on the bed was created by great grandma Elo and behind the hanging light are flowers Galadriel wore on her wedding day.

Isn't it lovely?

(PS: Horse canvas owned by Galadriel not me - I wish!! Sorry for the confusion!)

Today I also love...

Watching my son experience sand between his fingers and toes for the first time.

I tried (bookcase organisation)

Along with many others we own an Expedit bookcase. The plan was for my husband and I to grow our teeny tiny book collection together and fill the bookcase over time. These days we barely have time to dress ourselves in the morning let along read books so the collection is still teeny tiny. Instead, we use the bookcase to dump the contents of our pockets and store blankets and cushions which is why we have all those boxes.

The other day I tried fancying it up with fabric and adding a few display pieces and photos to fill it up but it is too styled for my liking. I much prefer my dream of growing our book collection one day and adding to it our son's favourite books (the ones that survive being torn apart that is). I wouldn't style it or arrange the books by colour - just a nice random collection of well worn and much loved books.

If I had the courage...

I would paint the floorboards of our home white.

Or even blue if it suited as well as it does this room.

(Images Apartment Therapy - Lyn Gardeners home, Apartment Therapy via Flickr user ooh_food)

Pink Polaroid Camera

Hello friends! How was your weekend? Did you do all that you planned? I didn't get through half of what I planned to but it was a perfect weekend regardless.

I'm loving Polaroid photos all over again these days. I remember the excitement as a child when after a Polaroid photo was taken everyone would crowd around and watch the image develop. Do you have similar memories? Have you held onto your old Polaroid camera?

I never did own my own camera but my dad had a few of them which he used for work. I wonder if he still has them someplace. I've recently bought a pink Polaroid camera (I know, pink!) and I can't wait to have some fun with it again. If only the film wasn't so expensive.

If you are in Sydney and you happen to spot someone holding a crazy pink Polaroid camera, trying desperately to get everyone into position to take that perfect shot so as not to waste the film - then that's probably me. Come and say hi and cheeeeese!

PS: Have you heard of The Impossible Project? When Polaroid closed production they purchased their equipment with a mission to reproduce the film production process and bring back instant film photography by 2010. They are on track to achieving that goal which is great news for Polaroid lovers!

(Beautiful Polaroid photography by Flickr member deadmethods)

Etsy finds: Ninainvorm

While I'm on an Etsy hit I thought I would share with you one of my favourite sellers (and I promise no bad jokes this time). I linked you to her beautiful home the other day. It is lovely isn't it?

The store is called Ninainvorm. Nina is an artist who lives in the Netherlands and screenprints her own designs onto vintage ceramics to create beautiful unique collectables. It's taking all of my strength not to snap up a heap of her pieces. Check out her gorgeous blog here too.

If I liked watching the time...

... I would get this because it's pretty. But for now, time is not my friend. In fact I dislike time so much that if I met it in person I would tell it their time is up!

(Forgive me)

But really the clock is rather lovely. I also dislike the mountain of clothes I need to iron but I can't think of any ironing jokes which is probably a good thing.

(Image pilotdesign)

Circus brain

It seems I've had circuses on the brain this year what with the circus print wallpaper in the nursery, the circus print I designed, my circus-themed 30th birthday that we enjoyed so much and now my husband and I are thinking of having a circus party for my son's first birthday.

Next I'll be telling you I've run away to join an actual circus. Imagine!

While I consider my future as, hmm... the trapeze artist (yep, that will do)... I'll leave you with these images by photographer Ditte Isager. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

(Images Ditte Isager. Click images to view larger.)

Today I'm loving...

Bright interiors

A wall of colourful art and frames

Ribbons tied around the knobs of a dresser

Patterned plates to brighten up a plain cabinet

This illustration by michele maule

And the beautiful home of Nina van De Goor. More photos here.

The sun was out this weekend which has inspired this bright collection of images today. I'm not sure if it reached 28°C (does anyone know?) but it sure was a nice change to be wearing short sleeves.

(Images Mark Lund Photography, michele maule, Nina van De Goor via decor8)

Did someone say 28°C this Sunday?

It seems someone got my memo asking for the warmer weather to return early this year and this Sunday we should be seeing 28°C or more here in Sydney. FABULOUS. I wonder if it means I can start thinking about beachwear? Okay I will.



This year, post-baby, I'll be in one-pieces. Not that I mind. I love the look. I'll take any one of the one-pieces above from Zimmermann, throw on a flowing kaftan/dress, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen and I'm set. Too early? Not for me. I've been ready for months.

I hope the weather agrees with your plans this weekend. Have fun!

(Images Zimmermann)

Website launches

It's great to see Anna of Black and Spiro and the gorgeous Absolutely Beautiful Things blog has launched her new website - congratulations! As soon as that 'Shop' button becomes active I just know I'll be in trouble.


Also congratulations to Kristina of Tiny Concept for her new beautiful store full of handmade dolls and cards. I first came across Kristina's work via Swish & Swanky and I've loved reading about her home decorating projects and new designs on her blog.

Well done ladies!

Gathered skirt for sink

It's always nice to tick off things from my to-do list. Here's one of them - the gathered skirt for the laundry sink. I don't own a sewing machine so my mum did the sewing for me. Thanks mum!

I promise the tulips were already in the sink after my trip to the flower markets and I didn't purposely style them for the photo.

I've used 4 metres of fabric and threaded elastic through to make it nice and tight around the sink. It's attached with bows on either side so I can take the fabric down and wash it if I ever need to.

Have you ticked off anything from your to-do list lately? I'd love to hear from you.

Craving: Have You Met Miss Jones

It seems my craving for Have You Met Miss Jones has returned BIG TIME. I love the sneak peak posted of the new range here. My fave is the butterfly votive.

(Images Have You Met Miss Jones)

T2 teacups

I now have another reason to love T2 aside from their teas - their Turkish Delight teacup range. Have you seen them? I have managed to grab two of them the other day. There are seven teacups in their range.

This one is hiding away in the bookshelf

So pretty and colourful.