Garden Tea Party

Butterfly sandwiches, tea, strawberries, cheese, sugar cubes, sparkling water, cupcakes, savouries, macaroons, cake, champagne, lavender, vintage tea cups, crochet tablecloths, friends, family, kids and beautiful weather. Wish we could do it again.

Having been touched by Sheye's vision for Ava's annual tea party I wanted to celebrate life, create beautiful memories and enjoy the company of the women in my life by hosting a garden tea party. We used the day as an opportunity to raise money for charity and I'm over the moon with the generous donations made. Thank you beautiful ladies for making this afternoon a memorable one.

The weekend

I spent the weekend baking and preparing and serving and sipping and chatting and enjoying. I have photos to show you from the tea party and will share with you tomorrow. It was such a nice day!

Hope your weekend was fun too.

Spring Outfit: Floral

It has been a busy, busy week for me preparing for the party and trying to keep on top of everything else I have to do. I hope your week has been a little more relaxing.

This dress is my idea of spring. Pretty florals and colour. It is comfortable to wear too and has a vintage feel to it that I like. What have you been wearing this spring (or last spring if it isn't spring where you live)?

Dress: Sportsgirl
Hair Comb: Wanderlustings
Shoes: Asos
Necklace: Gift

Spring Outfit: Book signing

Quick post! I've got to run but wanted to stick my head in here. I wore this little dress to Fleur Wood's book signing the other week.


I blabbed on about the party I am planning and that I wanted to try a few of the recipes in her book and this is what she signed. She's lovely!

Hope you week is going well.

Spring Outfit: Stripes

I was a little unsure of how this skirt might look in person when I purchase it but it is pretty I think. I haven't worn it out yet because the waist needs to be taken in and I'm holding it in place in these photos.

I am in need an occassion to wear this outfit. Do you think it would be suitable for the races or is the skirt length not appropriate?

Top: Sportgirl
Skirt: ModCloth
Shoes: I've had forever

A week of spring fashion

Hello! Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was spent adoring my little boy. We went to the park and my favourite moment was when he spotted the swings in the distance. He did this little hop/skip/jump in excitement. I remember than excitement.



The weather is warming up and I thought it would be nice to have a week of spring dress-ups. I'm thinking of devoting a week to fashion at the start of each season. It reminds me what I have in my wardrobe and what I might need to invest in. I've worn this skirt before here and still very much like it.



I can't recall showing you the front of my house before. When I bought the house the timber was white, the gutters a red brown colour and I don't think the house had been painted for forever.

The timber is now painted in Dulux Self Destruct, all the trims are in white and a new door fitted which I painted in Dulux Dewpoint (1/2 strength). The door bell and awning are original.

I'm still thinking about that pink front door. One day...

Fashion Friday: Silver and Purple

I look for any excuse to wear these purple heels. I have owned them for years now but don't wear them as much as I would like to so I matched them today with a silver and black outfit.

I call this top my cleopatra top. The metal circles at the neckline have actually faded and changed colour a little after a cycle through the wash. I don't think it is meant for the machine but it was an accident. A good accident at that though! Before the circles were all perfectly matching. Now, although hard to see here, in person they look a bit weathered and far more interesting than before.

Have a lovely weekend and thank you for your comments on my blog birthday post. Here's to another fun year!

Top: Asos Pants: Asos Shoes: From Hawaii, purchased many years back

Old card catalogs

Do you have a love for storage? Whenever I visit Howard's Storage for example I dream about how I can put to use that box/drawer/hanger/divider/shelf/rack and imagine that it is going to make my life so much easier and simpler and my home will be always neat and tidy. Then reality hits and although there is a now spot for the garden scissors they are never in that spot and I can never find them. The intention is there though.



When I came across this photo of an old card catalog found by The Lentine Family there was instant envy. I have been searching for one of these in Australia with no luck so I gave up the hunt but I think I might renew my search again, especially after seeing the photos below of it painted and transformed into buffet table.





Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it make you wish it was yours to store all of your bits and bobs and go crazy with a label maker? Maybe that's just me... it looks fantastic just the way it is.

(Images The Lentine Family. For more information on this makeover please visit here)

I've reached the terrible twos

Do the terrible twos apply to bloggers? I'm not sure but I think I'm about to find out.

As of today, I have been blogging for two years and what fun it has been! Thank you for reading and following along my decorating journey.

Some highlights of the last year include:

• Having my home featured in Real Living - such a fun day!
  
• Fixing up my laundry - still more to do though!
• Planning a fun 1st birthday party for my son - I even baked a cake which is an accomplishment in itself
  
• Watching my little boy take his first steps - well, technically his second steps
  
• Jazzing up this chair, and this one, and this one, and this one
• Hanging wallpaper in the study
• Painting the front door, rearranging Robert's room, purchasing a new bed for the bedroom and lots of other projects around the home
  
• Enrolling into a design course to finally take my passion seriously and study interior design and decoration

On a personal note there have also been some changes to my personal life and my son and I now only live together in this home of ours. My aim is the same as it has always been, to create a beautiful life and home for us, be the best mum I can be to Robert, fill our home and lives with memories and opportunities and fun. Lots of fun. There are a few exciting things on the horizon too that I can't wait to share with you!

Thank you for your support, kind words and friendship. It means the world to me and more.

Two projects

I sometimes feel nervous sharing my school projects because I'm sure one day I will look back and cringe. I can already see things I would have done differently in these completed last semester. But never mind, I'll just try to see it as part of my journey.

Project #1: Restaurant Project

Images studied (flickr) and Basso and Brooke fashion show

Clockwise from top left: Christopher Farr cloth used on chairs
bernabeifreeman lace panel in white with yellow fabric backing used on the far walls
bernabeifreeman lace pendant
inspiration from the Ivy
restaurant painted in gouache with pink graduating shades on right wall
yellow fabric sample, natural floorboards

The theme was springtime primavera. After mapping out things that remind me of spring I looked to the sky and became fascinated with the japanese white eye bird, in particular its colours. I carried through the pinks and yellows in my restaurant colour scheme.

Project #2: Colour and Culture Project

Images studied (flickr)

Clockwise from top left: Warwick fabric
Sample off white fabric
loft space in gouache
Home Beautiful image
natural floorboard (I would have preferred a blonde wood)


The task was to pick a culture and study the use and meaning of colours used by that culture. I chose the Tuareg nomads known for their bright indigo coloured veils and clothing which rubs off onto their skin over time. The blue shades, deep purples and sandy colours became my inspiration for this loft space. If only I had a lighter blonde wood to show for the floorboard.

I wish I had more time to work on these projects (and that I had learnt to render prior to this class!) however they did open my eyes to the use of colour in nature and in culture and it was fun to work with gouache.

Fashion Friday: Garden tea party planning

I have been thinking about what to wear to the party - whether to wear something I already own or something new. I wore this dress many times last summer and it will probably get a lot of wear out of it again next summer so maybe I'll save this one for then and look for something new? Hmm.. not sure. It was fun to dress up for these photos though.




This headpiece is on its way to me from Etsy seller Wanderlustings and I'm thinking of wearing to the party with a simple dress. It was so hard to chose just one from her many headpieces. I think I drove my sister crazy umm-ing and ahh-ing over the different choices. 'What do you think of this one?' ...'or this?'.. 'or how about this one?'. Caitlin's store is just too beautiful.

Hope you have the loveliest of weekends.

Entertaining

Gosh this week is flying by. I have had my head buried in books trying to write an essay. No, I lie. I have been staring at a blank Word document wondering how to even begin. I haven't written an essay in years and I thought I would have no trouble considering I write quite often for ish and chi. Essay writing is hard. But it's done!

Last weekend I celebrated Father's day with my dad and organised a lunch at my place. I love entertaining and feel I don't do enough of it these days. It is to easy to get caught up with life and all the running about we do. For this reason, I am planning a garden tea party soon - for no reason at all other than a good excuse to stop, relax and spend time with my wonderful friends and family.

PS. I think I might make one of these cupcake stands.

New bed

The new bed arrived! My mum helped me set it up over the weekend and I am so happy with it.

I have yet to make a decision on side tables to go with it but thank you for your great suggestions. They are very helpful!

Vintage school desk

After coming across this playroom, I kind of think Robbie needs an old school desk for his new bedroom.

I recently measured up his room and it is going to be really tight to fit the dresser, tepee, the chair I adore and a new king single size bed I have yet to purchase.

Something has to go and I don't want it to be the tepee if I can help it although it is the largest item in the room. Robbie loves it! We've worked out that the maximum number of people that can fit in it is four - Robbie, his 'yiayia' and 'papou' and I... just. Wish I had a photo to show you. It must have been the funniest sight.

(Image Design*Sponge via Making It Lovely's fab google reader collection)

Fashion Friday: Dress or top

I bought this dress the other week while out with a girlfriend. I had to question whether it was a dress or top before the salesperson confirmed it was a dress. Well okay then!

I wore it with this lace blouse and heels before I became uncomfortable and threw on pants. Another time...

So, what's the plan this weekend? I am setting up my new bed. It arrived!

Blouse: ModCloth
Dress that I pulled down to not look as short as it is: Unsure of the name of the store
Heels: Asos

My first interior rendering

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy my rendering class. I was a little bit nervous to put marker to paper but I think I really like it!

This is the original image:


And this is my rendering:


I still need to put in the plant leaves and add a bit of pencil (and maybe cover up a few of the white lines) but I think it is getting there. It will be great to see how this one compares as I make more of them.

Pink fridge

I think I go through phases of colours I am drawn to. It was black earlier and I posted a few black walls. It is pink now. It has been pink in the past too. Pink front doors. Pink refrigerators.

What I think is particularly fabulous in this kitchen is that everything around this shiny pink perfect fridge is a little bit worn, a little bit not so perfect.

(Image via remodelista)