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Tilly's House

2011-12-06T16:35:00.002+10:00

Well, I have been a bad blogger, haven't I?! I've had a few weeks from hell, but I don't want to go into that or be negative, so how about we just get on with it? :-)

I discovered these pictures below one day on flickr. They are pages in a book I used to have as a little girl and absolutely loved. It was a story of a little doll who was sick of being the scullery maid in a big doll house so she decided to try and make it on her own. I love the illustrations, don't you?

My Dream House...

2011-10-26T15:25:00.000+10:00

Will have heaps of windows....

~ Images from here ~

~ Image from here via Pinterest ~

Lots of natural light.....

~ Image from here via Pinterest ~

~ Image from here ~

~ Image from Desire to Inspire via Pinterest ~

~ Image from here via Pinterest ~

Sunshine...

~ Image from here via Pinterest ~

Maybe even a bit of nature!

Green Thumb

2011-10-14T16:40:00.002+10:00

I can't really take much of the credit for this beautifully growing vege garden that I'm just about to show you. The green thumb belongs to my husband, but he is teaching me.
Our vege garden is still in it's early days. We can't eat anything yet, but it's getting there. At least we haven't killed them yet!

Clockwise order from top left. The bottom two are just some beautiful flowers we also have growing at the moment.
1. Cos lettuce 2. Beans (not sure which type) 3. Tomatoes 4. More tomatoes. They seem to be the slow growers. 5. Pink bromeliad 6. King orchids 7. Blackberry 8. Corn!

Wednesday

2011-10-12T15:50:00.000+10:00

Some links for your Wednesday!

1. Beautiful green colour therapy (via Pinterest)
2. A very inspirational, mezzanine office! I would love to work in a space like this! (via Design Attractor)
3. I've been looking at lots of entryways this week. I'm re-styling our little entry and needed some inspiration. Love the map on the wall and the unusual lamp (via Maurice & King)
4. Brrrr, it's supposed to be spring but it's been decidedly cold around here! I don't like it, but I do like this jumper! (via Pinterest)
5. Beautiful combination of colours in this painting (via Pinterest)
6. I really love all the indoor plants that seem to be popping up on blogs all over the place. I've been so inspired I've started an indoor plants board on Pinterest. Follow it here (image via Old Brand New)

My Week

2011-10-11T17:15:00.000+10:00

Last week:

I mowed the lawn. Yeah ok, maybe half of it (we live on half an acre. With a push mower, that takes a lonnnnnng time!)
I went on a bustrip to the airport
I flew to Sydney for a conference. It was fun but the trip was quite short. No time to explore!
I spent a day in Brisbane with my hubby. We had breakfast at a little French cafe in the morning and wandered around in the city for the rest of the day.
I watched robots beating each other up in Real Steel (good movie actually!)
I went bookshelf shopping. Found a solid, second hand shelf for the office. Score!

This week:

I'm home alone :( The hubby is away working for three weeks.
I'm rearranging the house while the hubby is away. Hehe, while the cats away the mouse will play!
I hope it gets warmer! This is supposed to be spring!
I'm sewing curtains for our bedroom. Need to get rid of the bedsheets-as-curtains look!
I'm watching as our vege garden is starting to come to life. I'll post some pictures sometime. Love seeing veges growing...
I'm reading The Girl Who Played With Fire.

What are you up to this week?

Huettenpalast

2011-10-10T09:05:00.000+10:00

Ever feel like going on a caravaning trip but the weather is just miserable? What about an indoor caravan experience!
I've done a lot of traveling in this past week and while on the plane between cities, I discovered this cutesy, German place to stay.

Sandstone walls. Skylight. Almost like sleeping in a cave....

I'd pick this one!

A mini grand palace!

The little cabins and caravans are arranged in neighbourly fashion.

Old-school spaceship sleeping quarters?

A cute little garden that I wish I were in right now. In the sun....

And a beer on the patio at dusk. Perfect!

~ All images from Huettenpalast ~

Pinterest Pretties

2011-09-16T15:45:00.002+10:00

I know this is starting to be an old trend now, but I've always loved blackboards. So, recently I've been collecting/pinning heaps of awesome blackboard art. Check it out!

~ Link from here ~

Let's have a great summer indeed! Sunshine here we come!

Our holiday

2011-09-07T17:40:00.001+10:00

I've finally got my act together, and edited some of our photos from our holidays a whole seven (eep!) weeks ago. Feels like forever ago!
This isn't all the photos we took. You'd be downloading forever if I did that! (You might still be yet!) but these are the best photos we took (I think). Sorry, but this is a photo heavy post. You have been warned! :)

The biggest bottle tree you will ever see in your life! (in Roma)

PHOTO HEAVY POST!!

The first place we went to was Miles, which is a township roughly 5 hours west of Brisbane. At Miles, there is a little touristy spot called the Miles Historical Village, which is full of historical buildings, artifacts and memorabilia from decades ago. It was a bit like a museum, but more fun!
The first photo, Washed, was taken in this historical village. One thing I noticed about the place was all the collections of objects. Bottles (like those beautiful coloured ones above), cameras, typewriters, lamps, shells, collections everywhere! So I decided that as I was walking around the village, I would try and photograph as many "collections" as I could.

The photo on the left is a view of part of the "village". Each little building was created as replica of one in the past - shops, barbers, pubs, even banks!
The photo on the right is a set of scales found in one of the "corner shops". It was so exact, it could weigh a piece of paper!

The local pharmacy. Love all those colours shining in the light.

A bank ledger from a real bank in the 1900s!

Once going through the historical village at Miles, we kept driving until we got to Roma, where we stayed for three days. In Roma is Queensland's oldest winery, Romavilla. I can say that I was expecting a lot of history from this place, but I didn't expect to see an old rundown shed full of wine kegs hundreds of years old!

A cute little shack which used to be an outdoor water closet, in the field next to the wine shed.

After leaving Roma, we drove up to the Bunya Mountains, which was about 3 hours back towards the coast. The top of the Bunya Mountains are covered in lush rainforest and we stayed in a cabin, right in the middle of the rainforest. Think log fire, wine and cheese, good books and a beautiful rainforest just outside the door! Now THAT'S my kind of holiday!
The next few photos were shot on a rainforest walk we went on. I'm not terribly good with the camera, so my hubby was giving me lessons as we walked through.

A ray of sunshine, seeping through the canopy, caught this log. I didn't realise it was so bright at the time!!

The gorgeous little cabin in the rainforest where we stayed. We had wildlife coming up to the backdoor in the evenings - mainly looking for food, but very cute nonetheless!

Some cute little mushrooms growing on the side of a dying tree. To get this shot, I had to dodge numerous stinging nettles and stinging trees. I felt like a proper Bear-Grylls-style wilderness photographer!

Don't you just feel like walking up that pathway?

Can you see him?

Yes, it was a lovely time, and I kind of wish we'd had a bit longer. Unfortunately, we've spent most of the last seven weeks just trying to catch up from this holiday, so it feels like forever ago. The next holiday won't be until January/February 2012 sometime (if we even get one). At least it will be summer, but I don't think you'll want to see photos of me lying on the beach because that's all I'll be doing!

ABC

2011-09-05T17:12:00.002+10:00

I'm very sorry for the lack of posts! I've been madly trying to get some photos edited from our holiday recently. They will be coming soon, I promise!
In the meantime, here's some useless tidbits about me. I don't normally like doing these meme kind of things, but this one seems like a bit of fun....

AGE - 28 years and 2 months
BED SIZE - Queen. Double is too small and I think I'd get lost in a King!

CHORE THAT I HATE - Cleaning the shower!!

DOGS - None :( and I'm so sad about that. I'd really love a dog. We used to have a labrador when I was young and she was the cutest thing, but very lazy. If I were to get a dog now, I'd love a Nova Scotia Tolling Retriever (haha, look that one up!) or a pug or a golden retriever or a labrador or an english bulldog or or or....
ESSENTIAL START TO MY DAY - A coffee! Unfortunate, but true.

FAVOURITE COLOUR - I've gone through a lot of "favourite colours" over the years, so I've decided that I simply just love ALL colour! But at the moment, I do love yellow and orange and grey. Oh! And turquoise and coral. And! Ok, leaving this question alone now.

GOLD OR SILVER - Gold, but I like silver a lot too.

HEIGHT - Oh dear. I just got measured by the doctor last week and now I can't remember. 200-and-something centimetres. Helpful? No?

INSTRUMENTS - Double bass! I've been playing it since 1998, which makes it 13 years! Wow! I also used to play flute and piano, but I'm pretty rusty (read: dodgy) on these now.

JOB TITLE - At my proper job, I am a senior web analyst, but that doesn't come anywhere near describing what I do (ie. much much more than analysing). When I'm at home, I'm the chef, cleaner/tidier, sewer, gardener (at times), and general woman about the house.
KIDS - Nein no non. Not that we won't ever be having them, but not right now.

LIVES - With my hubby on half an acre in beautiful, sunny Queensland.

MOTHER'S NAME - Suzanne

NICKNAMES - Really? I've had so many over the years. Apart from normal ones, Norb, Chimesy, Bron-whiggams, Bronweena (thanks Dad!), Bronnikins (again, thanks Dad!), etc.

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS - None!

PET PEEVES - Greed. There's just no need for it.

QUOTE FROM A MOVIE - Hahaha, oh dear. When I was little, I used to watch Disney's Alice In Wonderland over and over and over, so now I can quote a fair bit of it.
"In my world, books would be nothing BUT pictures!"
"The time has come, my little friends, to talk of other things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings. Haha! Callooh, callay, come run away! We're cabbages and kings!"

RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED - Right handed.

SIBLINGS - One little sister and one little brother. Except they're not so little anymore.....

TIME TO WAKE UP - I aim for 6am, but that doesn't always happen. As for my hubby, well! After I've tickled, pulled the covers off, and almost resorted to throwing water, he gets up a little bit after me ;)

UNDERWEAR - Am I wearing any? That would be yes.

VEGETABLE I HATE - I don't know that I hate any vegetables, but there are ones that I certainly don't eat as much, such as asparagus.

WHAT MAKES ME RUN LATE - The hubby! Usually because my tickling (etc) to get him out of bed hasn't worked and then he dawdles around. Haha.
X-RAYS - Abdomen at some point (can't remember when but I've got the Xrays!) and teeth when I got my wisdom teeth out.

YUMMY FOOD THAT I MAKE - Well, I am fairly good at making desserts (if I do say so myself) but can't really eat all that much of it myself. Yes, the hubby has got it pretty good!
ZOO ANIMAL - Cheetah. Just always been fascinated by them.

Pinterest Pretties

2011-08-19T16:24:00.000+10:00

Are you addicted to this site too? I've seriously had to put measures in place to prevent me from wasting HOURS on this site! So bad!
I've decided I might start a little regular feature of "Pinterest Pretties" (a bit like Etsy inspiration!) showing some of the beautiful things I see on there (and I might add, some things on there are just rubbish, but I guess having different tastes is what makes everyone unique).
So here goes.....

A beautiful painting that looks like a quilt!

~ Link from here ~

Funky turquoise door on a rustic cabin.

~ Link from unknown original source ~

Love all this glass and sunlight!

~ Link from here ~

Beautiful mexican colours in this outfit.

~ Link from here ~

Lovely burnt, autumn colours, reminding me that our colder months are almost over!

~ Link from here ~

Hope you have a great weekend!

Blog Love

2011-08-10T16:37:00.000+10:00

A little bit of blog love today for you all. I stumbled over A Merry Mishap, by Jennifer Hagler, a little while ago and promptly forgot about it. Silly me, because it's full of stunning (and I mean, stunning!) interiors, vibrant colours, and pictures of her life with her husband and son. I've been looking at so many "crafty" blogs lately (not a bad thing) that I'd almost forgotten how much I love looking at beautiful interiors. If you have an afternoon, browse through this blog for awhile - you'll lose yourself for awhile!

~ Original images from/via Merry Mishap. ~

Wednesday

2011-08-03T11:20:00.002+10:00

Just a few little things I've found wandering around lately...

1. A beautiful floral studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Check out the studio makeover at design*sponge and Sarah's blog.
2. A cute little print shop. (via Making It Lovely)
3. A stunning dress, belt and bag combo (via Mr & Mrs Globetrot)
4. Grilled Soft Cheese with Thyme Honey and Fresh Figs.... wow! Need I say any more?
5. One of my favourite blogs from South Africa has posted pictures of her new home in Obs.
6. A funky painted benchseat from Christina Diaz which I am very tempted to try myself!! (via Melissa Anderson)

Holiday Sneak Peak

2011-07-25T14:32:00.000+10:00

Hello!! It has been awhile, hasn't it? Sorry about that. Planning for a holiday, having said holiday and then the craziness of trying to get back into the swing of things once we got back left me with no time for blog posts I'm afraid. But I'm back and I had a great holiday!
I've put a few quick photos up there from our holiday. These are mainly iPhone shots, so the quality is not so good. I did take quite a few photos with the SLR. I just have to find time to upload them. They'll be coming soon!
For our holiday, we decided to do something a little bit different this time. Normally we would just go to the beach, but being winter here (and a particularly nasty one this year), we decided that the beach would quite possibly be really miserable and so we went out west instead. We first went through Chinchilla, Miles and Roma for a couple of days; and then we went to the Bunya Mountains for five days (which is technically going north, not west). Sitting in front of a log fire, in a cabin deep in the rainforest, drinking wine, reading books.... what more could you ask for?
Anyway, I'll go into a little bit more detail when I upload the SLR shots. How is your week going?

Lately

2011-06-17T20:53:00.000+10:00

~ image from Flickr ~

Lately I've been feeling really quite down about life. I'm not having fun anymore, I have no time to do anything but work, my house is always a mess and I feel stressed all the time. Do you ever feel like this? I find it so easy sometimes to get really negative about life and be one of those annoying "glass half empty" people. I think these next "Lately's" need to be positive!

Lately I've been getting a bit excited for my husband who is about to complete his first semester of study at university! We made the difficult decision late last year that he would go back to uni, knowing that life would be a bit tight (ie money, haha) until he finishes. He's through one semester! Woohoo!

Lately I've been making plans for a little holiday we're going on in two weeks time (to celebrate the end of my husband's first semester - and no I don't think we're going to do this every semester). We're heading to the mountains and staying in a little cabin with a log fire! I can't wait! There's rumour that it might snow this winter too (almost unheard of here). I'll show you some photos when I get back, promise!

~ image from Flickr ~

Lately I've been trying to make my wardrobe brighter and wear more colour. I mentioned this in another post a little while back but years ago I used to wear bright clothes all the time and I've let myself slip into the habit of dressing in dull black all the time. Don't get me wrong, black can be really stylish at times, but sometimes really dreary too! I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothes, so I've been trying to find my old bright clothes I used to wear, or checking out second hand shops for colourful items.

Lately I've been making beautiful bouquets for beautiful friends and their wedding tomorrow!

Apologies for the iPhone shot.

Lately I've been getting my hair cut! I haven't had it cut in over six months so it was starting to look a little ratty. Sorry, no picture this time. (Next time, maybe ;-))

Lately I've been thinking about Christmas. Yes, crazy I know! It's ages away! This year we're hopefully having our families come to our place for Christmas, so I've been thinking about all the sweet little decor things we can do and the table decorations. Oh, it's going to be oh so much fun!

Lately I've been thinking....

~ image from here via Pinterest ~

Stripe Mania

2011-06-09T22:14:00.001+10:00

Well, it wasn't really my intention to have this as the first photo of me on the blog, but oh well! I'm participating in Decor8's stripe mania - you can read about it on Holly's blog decor8. I think stripes can be really classy but in this instance, also really fun!

(PS. Excuse the "bathroom shot". It's the only room in the house with a mirror!)

I hope you're all having a great week. We're almost at the end!

My Weekend

2011-06-07T18:47:00.000+10:00

On Saturday, we went on a roadtrip to Brisbane. We actually went down to take a tour of the lighting rig at the Kylie Minogue concert (yes, we're nerds) but it ended up being really interesting. We wandered down to a jetty in a part of Brisbane I've never been to before, Shorncliffe. Beautiful spot! We had a delicious meal at a restaurant on the side of the cliff and watched the lights twinkle over the harbour. It was so good to spend time with my man again. He's been so busy studying lately. Quality time it was.

So how was your weekend?

Papercup

2011-05-27T17:15:00.001+10:00

I stumbled over this gorgeous, Kiwi clothing line yesterday, called Papercup. Papercup is an independent label in Wellington, specializing in handmade clothes with a vintagey feel. They are just gorgeous!
I'm so happy about this current trend of colour blocking in fashion at the moment. As a girl who just loves colour (and has been wearing way too much black in the last few years), it's making dressing up so much fun! (and I bought some bright yellow cords this week! Yay!)

To view their complete collection, go to their shop website at Swonderful.

~ all images from Swonderful via Royal Milk Tea ~

New Blog Design

2011-05-23T20:52:00.000+10:00

I thought I'd start of the week afresh with a new design! Welcome!
I hope you like my new digs, and yes, it is a bit bright! I do like my bright colours, so I thought I'd show that side of me to the world.
Now that my new blog design is here, I'm hoping to start up more regular posts again, which should be exciting (if not for you, then certainly for me! heehee).
If anything looks a bit funny or doesn't work as it should, could you let me know? Just click Contact in the menu.
Anyway, have a look around and please do let me know what you think!

Collected

2011-05-17T16:17:00.000+10:00

We interrupt this blog silence to bring you a news flash!
Sorry for the silence, but I'm still busily trying to get the blog makeover done. In the meantime, I thought I'd share about a new online mag, that I'm sure everyone has already heard about, but I just couldn't resist! Collected mag is by Krista Schrock and Jessica Comingore in LA, California.
It is a very beautiful, clean design, which I just adore. Check it out if you get the chance.

~ image from here via for me, for you ~

Long weekend

2011-04-21T16:56:00.000+10:00

I have been looking forward to this weekend for so long!! Five whole days off! Wow!
I feel like I've been falling behind with everything in the last two months, so these next 5 days will hopefully be a time for me to catch up, refresh and recharge.

~ image from here via pinterest ~

Things have been a bit quiet around here for the reasons above, but also because I've decided to do a blog redesign! I haven't quite been around for a whole year yet (so I hope this isn't too early), but I really want to start taking this blogging "thing" a bit more seriously, so I think a redesign is in order!

~ image via love made me do it ~

And...I know this is like months late, but here is the photo of the curtains I made ages ago (sorry, bad photo I know). I'm actually planning to make another set this weekend.

Hope you all have a lovely, relaxing Easter with your family and friends.
Isn't this egg holder just gorgeous!

~ by Hop and Peck via Eat Drink Chic ~

P.S. I've decided that from this weekend on I'm not going to chew my fingernails anymore (I've been doing it for years). Wish me luck!

Wordless

2011-04-08T16:59:00.002+10:00

This picture kind of describes how I'm feeling today - so exhausted that I don't really have any words. I'm wordless! I get a bit that way sometimes.
I do have to say that I find writing quite difficult (and that's part of the reason I started this blog - so that I can practice writing and get better at it). I'm the kind of person who takes 400 words and turns them into 40 words... so when I'm tired, those 40 words turn into 4. I am tired today - there's 4!
I hope that you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend. My sister-in-law is staying for the weekend, so not much sleep will be happening, but at least it will be fun!

Blog Love

2011-04-01T10:12:00.005+10:00

Well, my one day of blogger's silence turned into well over a week. Sorry about that. Things have been a bit hectic around here.
I thought I might mention a few more blogs that are on my weekly reads list!

Love Made Me Do It is a cute little blog by Maike from South Africa. I do have to say that even though I've never been there, I do have a soft spot for South Africa. Firstly because my husband is South African, and secondly, because they have a very similar climate, landscape and native plants to Australia (like proteas, which Maike seems to have in abundance in her home). Maike and her husband, Travis, are wedding photographers and own welovepictures. Make sure you check out their blog. They have some beautiful wedding shots.

Little Things is a blog written by local Aussie, Chantelle Grady, and all I can say about this girl is she has style! She is a designer and stylist, living in Brisbane, QLD. She frequently has recipes accompanied by the most scrumptious photos that just make you want to run to the kitchen straight away! Her blog is "a visual diary of the things that inspire her". She also has a gorgeous puppy, Dexter! What more could you want?

All images taken from the respective blogs above.

For Japan With Love

2011-03-17T16:03:00.007+10:00

I've been watching the news for the last week with great sadness. The pictures of Japan are almost unbelievable, they are so horrible. In respect for them, I am participating in the Blogger's Day of Silence, started by Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged, tomorrow. I know that I have many "days of silence" around here because I don't post everyday, but I still feel that this is important.
If you would like to donate towards rebuilding the devastation in Japan, visit the website www.forjapanwithlove.com.au.

~ image from Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged ~

Friday Catchup

2011-03-11T15:17:00.013+10:00

Ever had the feeling like you take three steps forward, only to fall back four steps? That's how my last 3 weeks have been. In other words, really frustrating!! I've been so busy and stressed that I'm getting home absolutely exhausted and getting absolutely nothing done. I'm really determined to at least make a dent (even if it's a small one!) in my to-do list this weekend.

TO-DO this weekend

10 million loads of laundry, plus cleaning
Mow the lawn
Go to friend's baby shower
Wrap present for said friend's baby shower
Organise the office (now that the hubby is actually using it!)
Go to church (on Sunday)
Vaccuum

Do you think that sounds reasonable? If only I could get through all that! I can try!
And just to remind myself what a clean house looks like, some beautiful homes...

~ by Full House via pinterest ~

~ by Jen Huang via Design*Sponge ~

~ by Living Agency via You Are My Fave ~

~ by Virginia Macdonald via decor8 ~

Finding...

2011-02-22T21:49:00.010+10:00

Three cute little finds that I came across recently....

~ source ~

A very funky apartment in San Francisco (on Apartment Therapy). Loving that record player shelf!

~ source ~

A very cute little sewing shed. Wish my sewing room looked as cute as this! See more pictures here...

~ source ~

I totally wish I could visit this awesome shop! Alas it is in Florida. Beautiful illustrations from Rifle Paper Co.

Mag Collection

2011-02-01T17:57:00.033+10:00

Online mags seemed to be popping up all over the place last year. I love it because I don't always have to subscribe to them or purchase them to read (a bit stingy I know - unfortunately, my budget is tight!!), but I still get my monthly/quarterly "swoon-fest", as I call them!

I know I am a bit behind the times, but I thought I'd do a quick summary of online mags that have been released in the last 3 months (that I've been reading - there are quite a lot out there).

First off, Lonny! I've loved this mag ever since the day they released their first issue, and I've been following their progress ever since. This is their January/February 2011 issue. I'd love to have some curtains like that in our house.... just to convince the hubby now ;-)

Secondly, Rue!! Can't forget this epic interiors magazine. I've also followed this one since their debut, and at first, I wasn't so enthusiastic about this mag, but I've come around and I think their issues are just superb! Their latest issue is number three!

Next up is Covet Garden and, if you haven't heard of this little magazine, then you are in for a treat! Covet Garden takes "a peek into the homes and lives of some of the city’s most interesting people—spaces that have not been styled by interior decorators." Each issue only features one person (which makes for a small magazine), however you really do get an broader perspective on the whole lifestyle, personality and surroundings of that person (which is different to other magazines). Check out their back issues too - they're currently up to their seventh issue!

Next up is Matchbook Mag by the gorgeous pair, Katie Armour (of the neo-traditionalist) and Jane Lilly Warren (of Lox Papers). This is a new mag and they've only done one issue so far, but they are off to a good start! (And, yes I know I've included an advertisement there, but I'm just going weak at the knees at that stripy dress!!)

You just can't do an online magazine roundup without mentioning Sweet Paul! Sweet Paul has a number of issues out now, and every single one is a beauty. The latest issue is a holiday issue released late last year. Sweet Paul also has a gorgeous blog, filled with DIY's and beautiful pictures.

The next two magazines were released a little while ago and relate to Christmas (and so far, have been single release magazines) but I thought they were so good, that they really could be read and referenced at any time of the year.
The first one is the What Katie Ate Christmas '10 edition and it is the biggest at over 400 pages! If you love food, then you will be absolutely smitten with this mag. Katie is an Australian foodie/photographer and she is very good at what she does!

The second mag related to Christmas is Creature Comfort's Gifted mag. It is chock-a-block full of little DIY goodies to make, wrapping inspiration and pretty little party dresses.

The last magazine I'd like to point out is a little Aussie mag that has been published only in the last year. Toffee mag is published by the ever-so-cute Nancy of Wolf and Willow and does have a small subscription price, but is well worth it! Her first issue (and only one so far) is very kitschy-cute and retro. Looking forward to the second issue!

Gosh, that was a lot of magazines! Sorry for the long post, but I thought you were well due one! I do have to say that even though I like online magazines, I still love a good print magazine. You just can't beat holding a freshly printed magazine in your hands....

P.S. All the images are from the magazines themselves.

New Beginnings

2011-01-19T20:19:00.014+10:00

Hello... My apologies for my absence...

Quite a lot has happened in the period that I have been away. Years have come and gone, holidays have been spent, goals have been pondered over, time has been spent with family, and tragedy has come to my home state.

For me, a new year is always exciting. Always about new beginnings, wondering what the new year will bring. And this new year has been very different. It's taken me awhile to even want to post here. I thought it was so very un-important and frivolous in the face of my surroundings, when some around me had lost everything they had. Sometimes a different perspective in life is needed to realize what the truly important things in life are.

So finally right at the very end of January, I'm keen to get back into more regular posting! The recovery process has well and truly started and life, for me at least, is back to normal.

I've really been enjoying everyone's end-of-year summaries and new year posts. They are just so refreshing.

So, here is to a new year, and may the rest of the year be better than the beginning!

A hint at one of the "new" things for me this year. We planted a few hydrangeas a fortnight ago (one of my favourite flowers) and I can't wait till they are blooming!

~ source ~

Happy birthday Mum!

2010-12-11T12:34:00.004+10:00

This is a big shout out post to my beautiful mum whose birthday is today!! Hope you have a great day today, even though I can't spend it with you. Love you heaps!

~ source ~

Link Love

2010-12-04T21:45:00.019+10:00

~ source ~

Rain. Fog. Mud. A tad on the cold side. That describes the first four days of summer so far. I've never experienced a summer quite like this. I'm really REALLY hoping that the sun will turn up to the party soon. I'm getting desperate!

Anyway, a little bit of link love on this "lovely", wet Saturday.....

Rachel from Smile and Wave is featuring 'Home for the Holidays', a lovely little series about making your holiday season merry and bright! Check it out at her blog.

Some simply stunning pictures from South Africa on Love Made Me Do It (a just gorgeous blog!) about Kamersvol Geskenke.
A cute little tutorial on how to make your own fabric backed business card on Here's Looking' At You Kid!
If it's going to be wet and cold and dreary, I'd much rather be here. What a cute little cottage! In Hunter, New York.

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And finally, a little wrapping kit from Letterbox Co. I just love Chinese scissors!

Dreaming of....

2010-11-11T18:05:00.004+10:00

Well, I hope you will forgive me for the lack of posting lately. I haven't had a very good week and I was intending on doing a lovely long post for you today, but I just don't have the heart. I'm currently dreaming of a getaway in the lovely Positano, Italy. Would you like to come?
Hope you are all having a lovely week and hopefully I'll be back to myself next week.

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Mid-week eats

2010-11-03T17:15:00.005+10:00

It's November already! Where is this year going? Hope you are all having a great week so far! Just quick post this time. Dreaming of pancakes....

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Blog love

2010-10-25T15:30:00.026+10:00

This is a bit of a "penance post" for not posting much this last week, and I'm tempted to make it into a regular (the blog love bit not the penance bit!). These are two blogs that are regular reads of mine and I just love coming back day after day and seeing their beautiful posts.

Brandi likes to "sing in the car, take pictures, write, watch cheesy romantic movies, bake and eat delicious desserts, drink milk, cuddle with and wake up next to M. and my three cats, wander around the streets of New York (and other cities), get lost in nature, laugh with friends, stare at the ocean, sit in front of a warm fire outdoors on an autumn night, organize things and make lists, dream up home designs, find inspiration, collect books (lots and lots of books), read, ice skate, dream, inspire people..." Doesn't that sound like someone you'd love to be friends with? I just feel right at home whenever I visit Brandi's blog. We have a lot of interests in common (I think anyway!), so it is always fun reading everything that interests her and the little tidbits she posts. She also has a very cute little food blog as well, called Pizzelles Bakery.

I've only just stumbled over this blog in the last few days but I've decided I'm madly in love! Katie is a cobbler, seamstress, fine art photographer, entrepreneur, crafter & collector of fine things. She is also a very creative, beautiful soul and her blog reflects the same.

Simplicity

2010-10-19T15:53:00.005+10:00

So, how was your weekend? Yes, I know I'm a day behind, but yesterday was so busy! I did finish my curtains, but it was late last night that we put them up. Maybe I'll post a photo later if you're interested.
I'm just loving the space above. What an inspiring space to work in. Well, just a short post from me today. Hope your week is filled with sunshine and pretty things.

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A Little Friday Link Love

2010-10-15T15:28:00.024+10:00

Well, it has been a long week indeed, and I'm really looking forward to a bit of a sleep in tomorrow. I mentioned in my last post that we've had a lot of rain lately (that's an understatement) and we had a reasonably clear day yesterday, but now today the rain has set in again. I'll probably have to consult the "10 little ways to spend a rainy day" list for this weekend too. One item on my to do list is to make some curtains for our living room. I started them during the week and I'm hoping to have at least one of them finished this weekend. What are you doing this weekend?
Well, in case you're doing nothing, here's a few link goodies to check out for the weekend....

1. A very funky doily star DIY from Belinda Graham here in Australia. Wow, some people are creative!
2. A beautiful little online magazine called By Fryd just released their second issue. It's not in English, but their pictures are just divine.

3. Lonny Mag, along with a few other US publications, participated in Operation Dollhouse (organised by Curbed). They had one week to decorate a little dollhouse and theirs is a beauty!

4. Another stylish online magazine that I've only just stumbled on is Covet Garden. What gorgeousness! (Yes, that is a word! Well, it is now...) Short but sweet little mag.

5. Finally, another awesome DIY from the Thompson Family. Fabric pumpkins! We don't really "celebrate" Halloween here in Australia, but these pumpkins are cute!

Rain is a good thing

2010-10-12T15:00:00.007+10:00

Lox Papers made this very cute little list of things to do on rainy days and what timing! In the last few days, towns very close to me have been flooding and we've had non-stop rain since almost the beginning of spring.
I'd love to work on a craft project or pop on my favourite film... around about now!

Happy Birthday Lonny Mag!

2010-10-11T17:35:00.005+10:00

Once again, the absolutely fabulous interiors magazine, Lonny mag, has released a just stunning issue, but this time it's their birthday edition. Congratulations Lonny mag! I've just loved reading this magazine over the last year and I'm looking forward to even more fantastic issues to come!

Always, Sometimes, Never

2010-10-07T17:34:00.015+10:00

Alice in Wonderland wedding shoot via Wedding Chicks

Thought I'd end the week on a bit more of a personal post, to introduce myself (in a vague kind of way).

I always....

can quote Alice in Wonderland
leave the yummy things on my plate to eat last
carry a little Field Notes notebook around with me
bite my nails

I sometimes....

eat breakfast food at lunch or even dinner time!
spend too much time on the internet
wish I lived in Montreal or Italy or France or Spain...
think winter will never end

I never....

listen to country music! (unless forced...)
cry during movies
put milk in my coffee
stop missing my sister and brother who both live over 20 hours away from me

Have a great weekend!
(Always, Sometimes, Never inspired from Here Comes The Sun.)

Dreaming of....

2010-10-06T15:25:00.017+10:00

gazing at imaginary stars....
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musing over good books....
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wandering the wild mists of my imagination...
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changing my work location....?
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having a tea party with the one I love...
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I'm so tired and it's only Wednesday! Today I'm dreaming of escaping into a wonderland teepee....

Happy weekend!

2010-10-01T16:10:00.007+10:00

It's Friday! I love Fridays. Well, I hope you've had a great week. I've had a really long week, and I'm looking forward to the weekend.
It's also October already! Where has this year gone? It was only New Year's Day just the other day, wasn't it? My, how the time flies.....

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Link love

2010-09-27T21:34:00.048+10:00

It's been rainy and altogether muddy for the last week. As much as I love the rain, I'm just loving the days when the sun comes out and it smells like spring again. Here's some link love for your Tuesday to inspire you!

onelatenight has some awesome, felt, plushie cameras - just gorgeous!
Danielle from Thompson Family blog shared a really cute DIY arrow tutorial. Check it out on Modern Kiddo.
Briones+Co. are selling a pennant letter kit. These are cute enough to get me sending snail mail again!
Wowsers, I wish this were my staff room!!!
Smooth under-foot moss carpet for your bathroom (via veerle)

Link Love ribbon created from Pugly Pixel graphics.

Today is the day...

2010-09-22T22:23:00.006+10:00

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Spooning

2010-09-07T14:41:00.003+10:00

Aww, what sweetness!
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Spring spring spring!

2010-09-03T20:27:00.018+10:00

Well, it look like winter listened to me! It's gone! Ok, enough of being silly. I guess you've gathered by now that I really don't like winter, but I do love spring and summer. What a wonderful time of year!
I've been searching high and low for some pretties to get me in the mood of spring.

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Winter Wunderbar

2010-08-26T17:39:00.020+10:00

Wow, I have totally left this on the sideline for too long! Woops! And to leave it hanging on Friday 13th! What was I thinking?!

I've been away for a few days up in the sunny city of Cairns, Queensland and I got back home to discover that it's frickin' freezing here! I wish someone could just flick a switch and end winter. I am over it!

I decided that I'd give winter one last chance to sneak away peacefully while I'm not looking, and I'd be nice to it. So here are a few goodies that our friends in the northern hemisphere will soon be experiencing (enjoying? who knows!)....

Some beautiful knitwear coming out of Amy Butler this winter!!

A gorgeous chartreuse cowl from missmaggielove's etsy shop.

A funky, leafy, little headpiece from YesJess's etsy shop.

Socks for your tables and chairs from Decor8.

Winter time in the beautiful city of Montreal.

There you go winter! Now shoo!

Owling

2010-08-13T17:00:00.005+10:00

I've noticed a lot of owl things around lately and I think they are so cute!! Here's a few good ones....

Owl Mini Vase from Have You Met Miss Jones

The Vintage Mod Owl Locket from verabel

Owl Love You Always from Chez Sucre Chez

Embroidered Flour Sack Towels from CreationsByChristi

Owl Cushion from One Red Robin

Lonny is here!

2010-08-11T09:23:00.007+10:00

One of my favourite online home interiors magazine just released their latest issue. So much lovely colour in here, just makes you want to swoon over it for hours. Love Lonny Mag!

Singing of Sewing

2010-08-06T17:43:00.008+10:00

Well, I am excited!!! I start an online Home Ec Class tomorrow. Doesn't it look so lovely!

If you want to join in the fun, check it out here.

A Little Cottage Getaway

2010-07-30T16:29:00.001+10:00

I'm not usually a huge fan of the shabby chic look (but only because I like more colours than pastels) but this little cottage is just to die for. Just imagine a weekend here, with nothing but books and good wine.

Swoon! I want a windowsill box just like that!
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