Spring, where are you spring? I miss you.

One bad thing about living in a 50+ year old weatherboard home is the constant struggle to keep it warm. Cold air rises up from the garage underneath, under doors and through the gaps around the windows. My heavy duty heater sometimes isn't enough to keep me warm.

Anyway, I'll stop my whinging and leave you this week with a few images from London photographer Debi Treloar. They remind me of spring. Just got to get through the next 3 months...

Check out the cute map covered suitcase

Have a lovely weekend and thank you for your comments this week, particularly on my living/dining area. I'm glad you like it. I have lots of exciting things lined up for next week so see you then!

(All images Debi Treloar)

Real Living July '09

My copy of the latest Real Living arrived yesterday and I've managed to find the time to read it today. I wanted to share with you some of my favourite pages.

The cover page is natural and neutral. A nice change from the more colourful covers which incidentally I also like but sometimes a simple neutral space is what I need to feel relaxed.

Most of the cover page furniture pieces are from Ikea. I have my eye on the white Stockholm side table. The tabletop swivels and there is hidden storage underneath. A good spot to hide coasters I think.

Here's what I love inside the magazine:

This look

Image source Page 23

The wallpaper is not one I would normally choose but it seems to work with the navy lounge, cream throw and yellow cushion. I must add the striped bobble throw & woven felt yellow cushion from Country Road onto my ever growing wish list.

The DIY Projects

Image source Page 34

One idea is to wrap paper around old tins and containers to create pretty storage. Other DIY projects featured include - a chair makeover, wastepaper-basket lamp, painting tin objects, framing metal trays, painting a magazine rack with chalkboard paint and creating a pretty lantern by removing the paper shade. Phew!

This home

Images from Pages 72-75

My favourite parts of the magazine each month are the interiors featured (no surprise there) with tips on how to achieve the same look. This month I was particularly drawn to the home of Michelle Adams. She's the designer behind Rubie Green that sells 100% organic cotton fabrics.

Image source Page 44

My favourite products mentioned are the Rambling Rose cup and saucer set from Domayne and the Iniko cushion from Freedom (see above). And then there are the clever paint and wallpaper ideas, the pretty courtyard makeover and the recipes I am going to try to cook next week.

Do you subscribe to Real Living? If so, what do you like from the latest issue?

(Click images to view larger. All images copyright Real Living. PS: I am not affiliated with Real Living, just a fan of the magazine.)

DIY by Dandi

The other day I was sent a link to Dandi's homewares website and I clicked straight into the DIY section - as I do.


I love their fabric mobiles and thought I would share with you. I remember looking for a similar one for my son's nursery and it cost over $100 dollars. I considered making one myself but by the time I found enough different fabrics to use it would probably have ended up being a similarly expensive project.

Anyway, Dandi have DIY kits for $25 to make your own 1 metre long fabric mobile.

Their bamboo chopping boards are lovely too. They also sell tablecloths, napkins, placemats and tea towels etc.

All images copyright Dandi

Tempting, very tempting. Pity I'm on a spending ban until 2022.

The combined living / dining room

A good friend of mine helped me take better photos of my home over the weekend. I am so grateful for his time. Check out the photos of the living and dining area below.

The living area

The dining area

The Black Apple and Rosie Music prints hang above the dining. I think the girls look right at home here.

Our living/dining area is teeny tiny. The previous owners used the entire space for their L-shaped lounge and TV unit. They also had a small square dining table that could only seat two people.

When we moved in we brought with us a three seater and two seater lounge, a coffee table, TV unit, side tables and an 8 seat dining table to fit into the same space. I was panicked it wouldn't fit but it does - just. To give us extra space we removed a huge built in cabinet on the far wall.

Here's the before shot:

I know we're crazy for removing built in storage but the space it has given us has gone to good use. Plus, the cabinets were a bit of an eye-sore.

It all fits quite nicely now. So there you have it, a little more of my home I wanted to share with you.

If you would like to see more photos of my home, check out the Flickr album I've put together here.

Hello beautiful, I love you

I finally won a sideboard on eBay after looking for... forever. I gave up on trying to find a retro sideboard because it seems everyone is wanting one at the moment.

So I picked up this beauty and she currently lives in my studio.

I was so excited I posted 'I WON!' on Twitter and a few people thought I had won the lottery or something. Ha! I wish...

Hope you had a lovely weekend.

Happy weekend

Gowns by Janet Hill

I hope you have a nice, relaxing weekend planned. I have plans to take my son to the zoo with friends but the weather isn't looking so great.

Butterfly Chair by Janet Hill

I am also planning to take new photos of my home for a little interview which I'll tell you more about next week.

Willow Grey Chair by Janet Hill

By the way, these paintings are by Janet Hill who is an artist working from Stratford, Ontario. Aren't they lovely? I came across her work via Bijou Kaleidoscope. When you get a chance I recommend you check out Janet's blog here where she posts regularly about her new paintings.

Have a lovely weekend - drink tea, hug loved ones and put your feet up if you can (and want to).

Paper napkin party invitations

I saw this sweet idea over at Apartment Therapy that I had to share. Paper invitations are lovely but I'm always on the lookout for different ways (not necessarily cheap ways) of inviting guests to a function.

Images: 100 Layer Cake via Apartment Therapy

These hand drawn illustrations require some talent but if you are creatively inclined then it's a nice idea.

I wouldn't mind trying it when I next have a dinner party at my place. How nice would it be to receive a little invitation in the mail as opposed to an email? Knowing my luck though I'll end up tearing the napkins as I draw on them or they'll probably bleed terribly. We'll see...

Tagged....a little bit about moi!

Anastasia of Anastasia Drawing and Dreaming tagged me (thanks!) and here are my responses:

What is your current obsession?Browsing ebay for old furniture. At the moment I'm looking for a retro sideboard however it seems that so is the rest of Australia. I keep bidding too low and missing out.

Image Apartment Therapy

Who is the last person you hugged?My son just before I put him in his bed.

What's your favourite dinner?Like Anastasia, I too have a Greek background and it is ALL about sharing good food with good company. My favourite Greek dish is pastitsio, especially the way my mother makes it with extra creamy sauce - yum! I also love stuffed anything - tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums, eggplant. And I make a pretty mean pizza with chorizo sausages and haloumi cheese.

What was the last thing you bought? (to wear)This dress to wear to my son's christening.

What are you listening to right now?TV commercials.

What is your favourite weather?Rain (when I'm indoors). I love the sound of rain hitting the tin roof out the back of our house.

Say something to the person/s who tagged you?
Anastasia has wonderful style which is reflected in her Etsy products and blog. It's been lovely getting to know her through DUST along with other talented Australian sellers.

Images copyright Percival Road Designs

Tea or coffee?Both. A tall coffee milkshake is a must for me in the morning. I usually have *ahem* 2.5 teaspoons of coffee in it. By mid afternoon I've finished bouncing off the walls and that's when I usually have a tea.

What did you want to become as a child?An artist or fashion designer.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?
My mother's childhood home in Greece. It's empty at the moment but I would go to see if I can find any treasures of hers left there.

Who do you want to meet in person?

I have a couple of friends who are pregnant at the moment. I can't wait to meet their little ones when they arrive.

What is your most challenging goal right now?
Trying to find time to devote to my store. I've got so many ideas rolling around in my head but I'm lacking time to work on these designs.

What is your weirdest obsession?Having cupboard doors and drawers closed. Before I go to bed I'll check the kitchen to make sure the oven is turned off the cabinets are all shut.

Why did you start a blog?I used to bore friends and family with all my talk about interior design and the latest project I was working on at home. I decided to start a blog to document my progress and to, well, try to stop talking about it but I'm not sure I'm succeeding with that last part.

What is your blog about?
Mainly interior design and my home projects but also a little fashion and food when I find the time to cook something special as opposed to the reheated/defrosted meals we've been having lately.

Which blogs are you obsessed with at the moment?I enjoy reading so many blogs. There is a lot of inspiration out there. I'm currently loving decor8, Making It Lovely, Swish & Swanky, This Young House, The Happy Home, Made By Girl, Simply Grove to name a few.

What is your dream job? (realistic or unrealistic)
My dream was to have my own business selling my own work which is what I have done. I don't know what took me so long to do it.

If you could change professions or careers, what would you like to try? (realistically speaking)Interior decorating/design although I'm not sure how I would do designing someone else's home.

Who is your favourite designer at the moment?

Fleur Wood. My most favourite collection is the Spring/Summer 2007/08 collection. I adore the tulle and lace dresses.

Image copyright Fleur Wood

What's your favourite brand of jeans?

Nobody jeans seem to fit me well. I have a pair I love but no longer fit into since giving birth. I'd love to track the style down again and buy it in a larger size.

One thing that you would snitch out of someone's closest, with no regrets?

Hangers. You can never have enough and somehow mine always go missing.

What piece of designer clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)

I know it will never happen but I would love to own Grace Kelly's wedding dress. I wouldn't try it on - just sit and stare at it.

Source unknown

I'm going to tag:
Mishi

Franziska
Candace Rose

Feel free to play along!

Easton Pearson Rugs

Launch party @ BLUE Hotel (left), Pamela Easton & Lydia Peason (right)

Here is some eye candy that landed in my inbox today (although they were launched last month I believe) - eight new rugs designed by Easton Pearson and available through Designer Rugs.

The styled photos were taken in the apartment of Pamela Easton. I'm loving the exposed brickwork in her home.

(Images copyright Designer Rugs)

My new clipboards

Inspired by this photo, I bought myself some clipboards and dressed them up with some Momo butterfly fabric I already owned.

I'll show you what these look like hanging when I reveal the entire studio (I'm sure you are sick of me talking about it already!).

Rainbow coloured studio

I came across these photos of thecupcakery girl's studio on Flickr. Each and every photo is a little dose of rainbow love with lots of girly pink accents. You've got to admit these photos make you happy. How can they not?

All images copyright thecupcakery girl

It's no wonder her Etsy store products are equally as bright and colourful. How cute are these wooden doll playsets?

Pink and yellow cupcake treehouse wooden doll playset
& Green and blue cupcake treehouse wooden doll playset

Spool doll dollhouse

If only I could be young again...

Invitations

Here's how I've been spending my evenings this week.

Cutting, folding, gluing, tying, wrapping and finally posting my son's christening invitations.


We settled on something a little different from the usual paper invitations. I purchased boxes of recycled paper coloured pencils, wrapped a simple invite around the lower half and tied off the boxes with a bright running stitch ribbon.


We've asked guests to write Robbie a little message or create a drawing for him as a gift and we'll compile it into a keepsake album for him. I hope a few of our family and friends play along. It would be nice to look back on when he is older to understand.

Best of neck warmers

Are you feeling the weather getting chilly? I am. Especially at night. It's getting hard to keep the little man comfortable when he sleeps. I'm constantly checking whether he is too cold, too hot.

Today's search on Etsy is neck warmers - scarfs, cowls, wraps. Here is a roundup of some of my favourites that I'm coveting. Let me know if you have come across any you like too.

Mustardy cowl scarf by amerrymishap & Twist of fate cowl by fringe

Screen printed jersey scarf in light blue with red wallpaper motif by MichelleBrusegaard & Soft and pretty hand knit cowl by MateriaTextil

Edelweiss scarflette no. 3 by flutter & Antique silver dupioni raw silk wrap by bonzie. Great to dress up an evening outfit!

Three flowers handprinted scarf in raspberry red by inmybackyard & Grey bow print scarf by victorianbird