Red stripes

I was browsing through Carl Bengtsson's photography and couldn't keep my eye off this image.

Image left Carl Bengtsson.

The stripes reminded me of the wallpaper Catherine Martin used in her child's bedroom so I dusted off my old issue of Home Beautiful and browsed through Catherine's beautiful home again.

Image Home Beautiful October 2008

This is the bedroom I am referring to which also inspired me to use her circus wallpaper in Robert's room. It was nice to see it again.

While I'm seeing red stripes, here are a few other ways of using them in your home aside from walls:

Image found here

Image via Apartment Therapy

Image via Patricia Gray

Image Coastal Living

Image Coastal Living

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the last few days of October.

Alex Perry for Designer Rugs

Anthi

Baso

Bibelo

Ipografi

Nisaki

Palati

Psaraki

Rhodes

Oh how exciting! The designs are beautiful and I like that the rugs have been given Greek names paying homage to Alex Perry's Greek heritage. If only I could make room in my house for the Palati rug. I would need the dress to go with it as well of course.

(Images Designer Rugs)

Happy 1st birthday Robert!

This last year has been amazing, tiring and fun. Every day I am learning something new about you and about being a mum. You love to explore, cruise around furniture, climb, jump and sing. One of my favourite moments with you is when I sing you a lullaby and you lie on top of me with your ear pressed to my chest listening to the words. Or when you jump up and down in your cot when you hear me approaching and then we both jump up and down for a while until we're laughing so hard we fall. Thank you for bringing out the big kid in me again.

It is a blessing to watch you grow and change and learn new things and I love that our home is full of your toys. It feels so alive. Happy birthday my little one. I love you more than I can even put into words. When you wake up from your morning nap, let's celebrate!

The circus party

Thank you everyone for enduring my talk about the party. It all turned out well despite the rainy weather. I'm so grateful for everyone who came and for braving the weather for us! Here are some photos.

The setup

Signs I made for the games.

Duck pond game.

Skittles game and winning tickets that could be claimed for a prize.

Mystery box game. There was a hole in the right side of the box that kids put their hand into to guess what was inside.

Kids used their winning tickets to claim a prize

Activities poster I made for the party.

Costumes beside the photo booth that guests could help themselves to. We had some really fun photos taken. I'm planning on having them printed and sending out to guests along with a thank you note.

A few of the adults wanted a bag too. The party brought out the big kid in all of us!

I made it!

For entertainment we had:

• Two clowns who entertained both the kids and the adults
• Face painting - my friend did an amazing job!
  
• Another friend performed magic tricks and made balloon animals.
  
• My sister read the kids fortune just of fun
• We had lots of games - pass the parcel, duck pond, mystery box, skittles, pin the nose on the clown, guess how many smarties in the jar (the winner won 1237 smarties!)
• Guests had silly photos taken at the photo booth. Thanks Carolyn for the idea. It was a hit!
  

We almost had a hiccup with the food but we pulled it off in the end thanks to my parents and inlaws who are much more experienced than I am at throwing kids parties.

The birthday boy cutting his cake with his godfather.

Happy birthday baby boy! Your actual birthday is tomorrow and I'm going to smother you with 1000 kisses (sorry). I love you.

The circus is (almost) coming to town

The party is this weekend. Forecast = rain periods. Boo.

We still have food to buy and a couple of things to organise. Most importantly though, I can't wait to spend the day with my little man.

I'm heading off a little early this week. Have a fun weekend and see you next week!

(Photography by Laspata DeCaro. Models Jessica Stam & Gabriel Aubrey. Images found here)

Kids series

Love love love (yep, that much) the children's series Amanda of Swish & Swanky has put together. These are some of the images Amanda has posted that have made their way into my inspiration folder. Which is your favourite?

LOVE: The lanterns

LOVE: Framing children's artwork

LOVE: Hand painted murals

LOVE: A stylish place to do homework

LOVE: Large blackboard and ABC cut-outs

Amanda has also posted some beautiful nursery tours which I'm really enjoying and today she posted Robert's room which you can see here. I'm so honoured Amanda asked me to be involved. From both Robert and I - thank you!!

(Images Real Living, Home Beautiful, Real Living, Desire to Inspire, Living Etc via Swish and Swanky)

Prizes

Hi there! Did you have a fun weekend? I spent it with the family as well as making a total mess in the studio in preparation for the party. Lots of fun.

Hope you had a fun one!

Apartment Therapy feature

Did I say I was leaving for the week? I'm back for just a tick.

Beth Zeigler of Apartment Therapy asked if she could write about my use of decorative paper in my home and I gladly accepted! I didn't realise how much wallpaper and paper I have used in areas around my home until saw the images together in one post. Click on over and have a read.

Thanks Beth!

Birthday cake

Looks like I will indeed be making Robert's first birthday cake. My mum found an old Woman's Weekly recipe book full of birthday cakes and she gave it to me to flip through to see if there is anything in it that I like.

I'm thinking of making the number '1'. I know it's not circus-themed but it looks easier to make than the clown recipes and I would hate to ruin the cake by being over ambitious.

Oh and guess what! In the comments of this post I mentioned that my mum once made me an amazing piano cake for my birthday which I still remember to this day.


I found the recipe in the book! I remember being so proud of it and gathered all my friends around the table to see it. I had just started piano lessons so this was a very fitting cake. I hope one day Robert is proud of what I make for him too.

Have a great weekend and see you next week! But before you go, please share, is there a birthday cake or a birthday party that sticks in your mind? What made it memorable for you?

Pretty papers

I was walking past Ruby Star Traders the other day and like a magnet I was drawn in. I was like a kid in a candy store. I walked out with a collection of pretty papers - each on sale at $2 or $3 a roll. I wish I had walked out of the store with one of their inlaid bone furniture or the lounge covered in the same fabric as the bird print pillow I own. Next time, maybe?

I'm thinking of using the tiger print paper to fix up this old desk for Robert to use one day. Perhaps to cover the top of the desk or the drawers. If I don't do anything with the desk soon I fear my husband will put it out for the next council pick-up.

Do you collect pretty papers? What do you use yours for?

Guest spot at Simply Grove

Hi guys! I'm over at Simply Grove today. Kirsten asked me to fill in while she is away (thanks!). The mood board I created above will make more sense if you pop on over to Simply Grove and read the post.

See you there!

Shop update: New designs

I've been a busy girl. Available here.