Fashionably Late Friday: A long weekend with friends

There is not much I love more than catching up with my friends and we had a great excuse to do so this weekend to raise money for the Kids Helpline by holding a tea party. I will show you photos soon.

The party was held in honour of Ava (read about Ava and the vision for the party). In her mother's words:

Ava's tea party is about taking time. Making time. Moments put aside to love and laugh with those you adore.

And that's what I did.

New friends. Old friends. Friends who have been and continue to be a special part of my life. People I'm hoping will become a special part. It's a nice feeling to stop and take the time to appreciate the people you adore.

There was a bit of sun today and I dared to venture outdoors bare-legged. The skirt falls below the knee but I bunched it up for a casual weekend feel. I have worn the top before in this previous post. I hope this beautiful weather holds up!

A place to read a good book

Last summer I purchased a pod chair with the intention of sitting in it forever and ever. It never quite got the use I wanted it to because it took me a while to assemble it. Incidentally, I assembled it myself and moved it up a few stairs to its current position in the garden. Not recommended! Two people are definitely needed to carry it.

I'm having a tea party this weekend with my girlfriends and this little spot will provide another place for guests to sit and relax with a cup of tea and cake. One project I would like to tackle soon is the garden. When the weather warms up again I'll be out there with my gardening gloves on.

1960s sofa

I really like 1950s and 1960s style furniture and interiors at the moment which is why it was difficult to resist this 1960s sofa when it popped up on eBay.

If I can't get it to work in the living room it will probably end up in the study. The sofa arrives on Friday!

(Image eBay seller)

Rose Seidler Fifties Fair

What a great day! The crowds gathered on Sunday at the Rose Seidler House for the fair and it felt as though we had stepped back in time. The men and women were dressed beautifully, there were people groovin' and jivin' and it was so much fun.

There were markets selling 50s goods, everything from gloves, dresses, pillbox hats to furniture and artwork. There were hot dogs, fairy floss, hula hoop lessons (for the big kids too), vintage cars, quiffs and curls.

I met the beautiful Candice DeVille who judged the Best Dressed competition and gave fashion lessons. Robbie stole a million hearts and my heart grew even more for him.

Hope your weekend was fabulous!

Fashionably Late Friday: A party

Apologies for being late again with my Fashion Friday posts but I did have a reason this time. I headed off to my brother's 21st birthday party after work. We had such a great time! Can't quite believe he is 21. This is what I wore to the party.

This weekend is going to be so much fun, starting with Saturday In Design, a catch-up with friends in the evening and the Rose Seidler House Fifties Fair on Sunday.

See you next week. Have a lovely weekend!

Overdosing on wallpaper

How much is too much?

I have run the idea of papering the wall at the entrance of my home by a few people and some people are absolutely for it, others say "won't there be too much wallpaper in your home?". Never. Surely?

There is currently wallpaper in Robert's bedroom, in the study, framed in the bedroom and backing the kitchen display cabinet.

In the above image, to the left is the main bedroom. Straight ahead is the study. The darker room is Robert's bedroom and I am thinking of papering the wall that the console table is leaning against. It faces the front entrance.

My latest love? Japanese bamboo.

I think it will play off the gold detail in the wallpaper in the study beautifully and make quite an impact. Tempting!

(Top image: Kristin Perers, Wallpaper: Signature Prints)

New bicycle

Hello! Did you have a nice weekend? I was able to see all the events I wanted to see as well as the friends I planned to spend time with.

I also managed to sneak in some cycling! My bicycle arrived from Papillionaire earlier in the week but I must have had a brain freeze because I couldn't for the life of me work out how to assemble. So I reached out for help and voila! A brand new bicycle ready for the road. Yes!

Fashion Friday: Smile hard

I was on the hunt recently for an outfit to wear and came across this striped dress. There is a certain elegance to shape of the dress that I adore.

It's Friday! I'm looking forward to this weekend. The fun starts tonight with a film called Design in Motion that I am catching on a rooftop in Surry Hills as part of Sydney Design. Tomorrow I will be visiting the 52 Suburbs exhibit (have you seen it?) and catching up with my dear friends over the weekend.

I hope to sneak in some time to relax as well and maybe even do some homework. Hmm, maybe. I feel as though I am in such a good place right now where all the pieces just seem to fall together. It is such a nice feeling that makes me smile so hard.

Have a beautiful weekend and hope you are smiling hard too.

Uh oh.

Sydney Design: ReForm - turning old objects into something new

This year's Sydney Design festival theme is "is old new again?". I visited an exhibition over the weekend called ReForm which explored this theme. It was held in a quiet laneway by thethefortynine team who scoured roadsides for old finds that they could turn into something new.

Fit new knobs on a chest of drawers, turn a helmet into a pot or a stool into a lamp - maybe there is an idea you can borrow from this collection to try yourself?

Still to decide on...

A bed head for Robbie's bed. I like these from BedNest and you can order online or have one custom made. Or perhaps the bed doesn't need a bed head at all?

A chest of drawers for the bedroom - this mother of pearl inlay one or perhaps in a colour such as blue or pink! I will also get rid of the art on the right corner of the room which was placed there temporarily.

Rose Seidler House (including the rooms you don't always see)

Last week I listened to an inspiring talk on the importance of preserving mid-century modern architecture. The talk was focused on the magnificent properties in LA, Palm Springs and Chicago and I was left craving a visit to these homes. Seeing as I wouldn't be able to get myself over to see those homes anytime soon I decided this weekend to pay a visit to Sydney's own beautiful piece of Australian mid-century architecture - the Rose Seidler House.

For anyone who may not be familiar with the Rose Seidler House it was designed by architect Harry Seidler for his mother Rose and father Max from 1948 - 50. His parents lived in the home until 1967 and it is now the property of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales (HHT).

After taking our shoes off, we walked up the stairs and were greeted by volunteer Andrew who asked us to make ourselves at home. The open plan space of the living and dining has such a wonderful feel to it. From every angle there is a view and a connection with the outdoors.

Everything in this home is original including the furniture which is placed as it was when Rose and Max lived here. I wanted to also explore areas of the house that you don't always see photographed, such as the bathrooms.

We also discovered this old ironing board that folds out from the wall and which you can see has been well used.

If you are planning a visit to the Rose Seidler House there is a Fifties Fair being held on the 21 August which will be a fun time to go. Look out for me in my finest fifties frock.

Oh, and I have to ask - could you live here?

(See the entire collection of photos on the ish and chi facebook page.)