paper aeroplane

A Cup of Life

2009-07-07T19:09:00.010+10:00

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company."
Author Unknown

Oh how I love a cup of hot sugary tea, followed by a delicious morel or two! Whether in the company of friends or a really good book, it is a precious cup to have by my side on this freezing cold, wet day. xo

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T08:36:00.008+10:00

Happy 4th of July. I so wish that our Australia Day decorations could be this chic!

(Images via Martha and paper aeroplane)

Congratulations!

2009-03-21T14:59:00.004+10:00

"Part decorating advice, part inspiration, the two women's blogs have become a ritual in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people,
mainly women, across the globe."

Just wanted to pass along a big congratulations to Judy from Lily-G for her Courier Mail mention today! You can read the rest of the story here. Anna Spiro from ABT is also mentioned, well done Ladies! You and your stores look absolutely gorgeous!

(Image via Courier Mail on-line)

Good Food, Even Better Friends

2009-03-21T14:47:00.003+10:00

After a big week, the weekend is finally here. It was lovely to spend the morning with beautiful friends. Tomorrow breakfast by the bay and then we are off to find treasure in Brisbane's antique heart-land, Paddington! Should be lots of fun. For now I am off to arrange flowers and make lunch for my family and friends with the fabulous fresh produce from the Farmers Market. Happy Weekend xo.

All White

2009-03-19T21:24:00.002+10:00

Loving this bedroom. My bedroom is nothing like this one. All that mine has in common with this one is the colour of the bed linen! My own room has a more masculine, tailored feel. I love the mirrors used as a headboard. I would love to create a room like this for my daughter when she is older. Somehow I think she will be requesting more colour!

(Image unknown)

A Good Egg

2009-03-18T10:44:00.007+10:00

Easter time is so close! I love Easter. The weather, the long weekend always spent with family. Easter is a reflective time and has a great relaxed feeling about it. Like many Aussie families, we always spend the weekend away at the beach. It's a great tradition and a fun way to farewell Summer for the year.

Another thing I love about Easter is the crafts! The egg blowing and dying, card making and Easter baskets. I love these baskets, so much fun and the kids will be still playing with these long after the chocolate is in their bellies! I have been collecting things to put in baskets for the kids to play with at our Sunday lunch. I hope the girls love them! I do!!

(Images via Martha Stewart)

Go in the Direction of Your Dreams...

2009-03-06T08:46:00.003+10:00

Have a splendid weekend, where ever it may lead.

(Image Rebecca Russ)

Delicious Autumn

2009-03-05T21:08:00.020+10:00

I'm so excited that is finally Autumn here. It has been a long, hot summer and I am looking forward to cooler days. The mornings have a delightfully familiar chill in the air. Autumn is my favourite time of the year, Easter-time and lots of holiday weekends, which means weekends away camping (or should I say, Glamping!) and lots of tea and scones!

(Images via Martha, Vogue Living, Jordan Ferney, needlebook and paper aeroplane)

Beach Bungalow

2009-03-04T19:18:00.005+10:00

I just love this pretty, little place. I could never convince my husband to go for a look like this - too girly! It has a feeling of whimsy that really speaks to my heart. I love the palm frond in the vase, I have been doing this on my dining table lately. The foxtail palms in the front garden inspired me to plant two in my own front yard, I love the way they frame that front door! But you know the best part?! All that white!!

(Images via Coastal Living)

The Candy Man

2009-03-02T19:50:00.014+10:00

This is a post for you, Jude. Inspiration for our gorgeous friend Claudine's baby shower. It's going to be beautiful and so much fun! These are the candy bars that inspired me to have one at my wedding, it was a huge hit. Guests filled their bags to the brim with chocolate covered almonds, jelly beans and lots of other sweet treats! Yum! xo

(Images Rebecca Russ)

Happy Friday!

2009-02-20T15:26:00.003+10:00

Surely the best day of the week! Friday holds so much promise. Things to come over the weekend, looking forward to spending time with family and friends, treasures to find and adventures as yet unknown! It would be lovely to be heading off to this little pearl, Designer Thom Filicia's holiday home...to dream. xo

You Can Plan a Pretty Picnic...

2009-02-20T15:12:00.009+10:00

...But you can't predict the weather. Hopefully tomorrow is lovely! Tomorrow a whole bunch of us are off on a picnic with our friends, who have come up from Sydney for the weekend. I just love a good picnic. Lots of great food to share, games, relaxing and sharing stories. Ah, good times.

(Images via Getty Images and Martha Stewart)

Bye, Bye Chandeliers? Death of the Louis Chair?

2009-02-19T21:53:00.010+10:00

This is an article that a friend sent me this morning after I was whinging to her the other day, that the houses featured in many of our Aussie magazines these days just don't have the "soul" that they used to. This was written by Stephen Lacey for the Life & Style section of the Sydney Morning Herald...Thanks evai!

OUT WITH THE UNFASHIONABLE

There are lots of things that seemed like a good idea at the time: bubble skirts, Betamax, the Ting Tings, George W. Bush. It's only with the benefit of hindsight that you realise . . . what the hell was I thinking?

Same goes for the stuff we put in, on and around our homes. I mean, who still believes aluminium cladding is a great feature?

We've assembled a list of recent design trends that, quite frankly, have already had their day. So if you're about to give your house a makeover in 2009, these might be the things to avoid.

But what if it's already too late? Well, in these times of environmental awareness it would be irresponsible of us to urge you to empty the entire house into landfill. But you might want to consider hiding some stuff in a very big cupboard and remember that everything comes back into fashion if you just wait long enough.

Glamour gets the hammer

Following the biggest stockmarket crash in living memory and with so many people doing it tough, the credo "greed is good" is certainly not the case. In fact, conspicuous consumption has never looked so crass.

The upshot will be an end to the over-the-top luxury aesthetic that has dominated interiors since the retirement of minimalism several years ago.

This means, no more shiny black and chrome surfaces, no more gilded lamp bases and ornate mirrors, no more rooms filled with fake 18th-century Louis chairs and (drum roll) - no more chandeliers.

Heck, the whole chandelier thing got so silly that people were even hanging them in their toilets. And they were rarely the real deal anyway, with most being manufactured yesterday from cheap glass and plastics (let's face it, if you're going to have one it should be old, crystal and preferably French).

So, if you own a chandelier - or several dozen of them - please do us all a favour and have a licensed electrician take it down, then store it for at least a century. Or put it in the dog kennel.

The other big look-at-me glamour item that we should be seeing less of is wallpaper; specifically in highly textured damask, or gleaming metallic silver and gold.

And when it comes to patterns on wallpaper and fabrics, surely 2009 will herald the end of those overwrought baroque motifs. It's reached the point where you can't pick up a cup and saucer or greeting card, let alone a scatter cushion, without having your senses bombarded with swirls and curls.

"The pattern filtered through over several years and now it's everywhere, so you know it's time to go," says designer Ruth Levine.

And while on the subject of conspicuous consumption, Levine adds it's time to say adios to the kind of senseless, unnecessary space found in McMansions.

"These places have formal living and dining rooms that are never ever used," she says. "In fact, some of these homes have more space than anybody could possibly walk through, it's disproportionate to human scale."

Things of stone and wood (and concrete)

Last year, it seemed any wall that wasn't draped in headache-inducing wallpaper was smothered in some form of timber panelling. All manner of timbers were used from walnut to oak. The idea, so designers told us, was to "warm things up". (Haven't they heard of reverse-cycle air-conditioning?)

What we ended up with was usually a cross between a Swedish sauna and one of those crusty old gentlemen's clubs, where blokes sit around in tweed jackets, smoke pipes and talk about the war.

If you did tread that particular design path, the great thing is you can easily rip all that timber panelling down and it makes terrific firewood - which really should warm things up.

Another wall cladding material that has been popular recently (but is going under the sledgehammer in 2009) is stacked stone. Whether created by solid rock or a thin veneer, the result is invariably the same: it looks like you live in the Flinstones' house (or at the very least a quarry).

Sure, these stone walls might have a certain groovy, 1960s appeal but not everything about the '60s was worth repeating - I mean, would you really want to watch reruns of The Flying Nun or have Tiny Tim on your iPod?

And let's hope and pray that '09 sees the demise of the ubiquitous polished concrete floor. Inspired by that whole industrial aesthetic, folks seemed to have forgotten that factories are noisy, smelly places, populated by grubby blokes in overalls who have posters of naked women on their lunchroom walls. Why not go the whole hog and install an assembly line and metal lathe in your living room?

Ditto when it comes to stainless steel kitchen bench tops and splashbacks. Not only are they hard and cold, they're also reminiscent of a mortuary.

Star-gazers

Of all the trends in recent years that are headed for the chopping block, the most overdue is the "constellation" ceiling. That's where home owners see the need to punctuate their ceilings with so many halogen lights that it becomes a starry, starry night up there.

Not only is this a bog-ugly way to light your room, casting Frankenstein shadows on anybody who ventures beneath, it's also a shocking waste of power.

Even a dimmed MR16 Halogen can draw up to 55 watts (with a lot of the energy transformed into heat, rather than light).

Compare this with a new-generation LED, which draws just nine watts and lasts up to 50,000 hours, and you can understand why this year halogens should go the same way as the dinosaurs.

Plastic not so fantastic

Plastic is made from petroleum products - the same petroleum products used by idiots who drive massive, look-at-me Hummers and ruin the environment.

This is obviously not a good thing. Which is why designers, including Levine, are predicting we'll see less use of plastic around the home this year.

"It's cold, it's shiny and it's easily scratched," Levine says. "And unlike say, timber, when plastic is scratched it's ruined."

Hmm, Designers, Decorators, Fellow Bloggers, what do you think??

(Images via frenchieinteriors.com and theparisapartment.net)

Duneside

2009-02-19T21:40:00.005+10:00

Love this house. We are planning to put our house on the market next month. We are moving on! This evening we went to view a potential new home, it was lovely but I wish it looked like this! For a start it's in an inner city suburb and nowhere near a beach! Maybe one day?

(Image via Coastal Home)

Mon Amour

2009-02-17T21:05:00.007+10:00

My Love...I know this Dior commercial has been playing for a little while now, but I just couldn't resist sharing it. While watching one of my favourite shows tonight, they have been playing it over and over. She's a clever little lady that Sofia Coppola. First she gives us the visual feast of Marie Attoinette and now this little gem. Makes me want to pack my bags and head to the airport at once!

(Miss Dior Cherie Commercial, Courtesy of YouTube)

Love, Love, Love

2009-02-13T17:37:00.005+10:00

Happy Valentines Day! This day, eleven years ago, was the perfect excuse for my husband and I to exchange a small token of affection. The rest, as they say, is history. xo

I Believe in a Thing Called Love

2009-02-13T15:56:00.006+10:00

Such a wet day here in Brisbane. A perfect way to spend an afternoon to get us in the mood for Valentines Day. Snuggles in bed, rain falling on the tin roof and of course, chocolate!

(Images via House Beautiful and Getty Images)

Be Mine

2009-02-12T21:50:00.005+10:00

These pretty images are inspiring me to get excited about Valentines Day. They are all such simple projects but oh so sweet. A little home-made packet of candies, a collection of roses and vases arranged in a heart-shape, a block of chocolate wrapped in a love letter (I would love to receive this, two gifts in one!) and cute little tea bags. All so simple to craft! Especially when you leave things to the last minute, as I tend to do!

(Images courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Wednesday Night Sewing Club

2009-02-11T17:48:00.003+10:00

My girlfriends and I have decided to drag out our sewing machines, dust them off and start crafting together. We figure if we do it as a group and add food (tonight is Thai!) we might be more inclined to finish the projects that we start! Not sure what my project for the evening is going to be, but I have packed my great-aunt's vintage button collection and some fabric, see what happens. If it turns out great I might post a picture, if not, we can pretend this post does not exist! xo

(Image via i88.photobucket.com)

Easy Being Green

2009-02-10T21:47:00.008+10:00

I love these images with hints of green. Lots of neutral with just a touch of colour. Green is always so fresh and calming. In fact green is such a peaceful color that actors and musicians use it to settle their nerves before performing or going onstage, hence the name "the green room"!

(Images via Coastal Living)

Peace

2009-02-10T18:33:00.009+10:00

The enormity of what has happened in Victoria is almost unfathomable. To those who are hurting, we are thinking of you as you rebuild your lives, piece by piece.

"What soap is for the body,
tears are for the soul."
- Jewish Proverb

Market Treasures

2009-02-08T21:39:00.006+10:00

Did I say I would show you my market finds on Tuesday? I meant Sunday! I didn't get my camera charger til Friday - don't loose your camera charger, they are hard to buy again!

Here are last weeks treasures, as well as this week's acquisitions. Last week I bought the little poetry book, it has lovely verses for all the special times of the year, including Valentines Day but I was drawn to the little bird motif on the cover, so cute. I am going to find a way to display the vintage bag in my bedroom, the pattern of the beading is so pretty and so sparkly! It was a bit of a slow week this week at the market, maybe it was the heat, and again I was only supposed to be plant buying, but I did find a pretty glass vase that has "made in France" stamped on the bottom, so I guess that makes it French! Always a makes a market-find a little more glamorous. At the markets there is a sweet Greek couple that I have bought a lot of treasures from over the years (like 10!), and since I have had my baby girl they love to give things to me, which is so lovely. Today they gave her a little pair of sandals that they found on their last buying trip to Europe. They gave me a cute little mirror with a gold "bamboo" edge. So nice to know there is still people like them around!

Off to find homes for the new arrivals! Hope your week is lovely...xo

P.S. My thoughts are with those who have suffered such loss in the Victorian bushfires, such tragedy.

Blue Eyes

2009-02-02T08:42:00.008+10:00

Blue and white really is a timeless classic. So calming and serene. I remember as a child admiring my aunt's collection of blue and white Willow and Wedgewood dishes. Blue and white is so versatile, it lends itself to the the most casual of beachside settings, to the most formal of sitting rooms. With the moody blues and bright whites of Greece and the old toiles of France, blue and white really is a popular colour scheme the world over.

I have a set of oars, the same as the ones that are above the windows. They used to live in the Southport Surf Club on the Gold Coast. Currently they are leaning against the wall and I really want to hang them. I live across the creek from a marine shop that sells boats and marine accessories, so I really must take a walk across the bridge and see if they have something handsome I could use!

(Images courtesy of Coastal Living and House Beautiful)

Love Bite

2009-02-01T22:20:00.011+10:00

Today was a warm, humid day in ol' Brisbane town. I started the day with a very short sleep-in while my husband, Darren took care of Lola and then it was off to the markets to go treasure hunting! When we (Lola and I) got there it poured down with rain and of course my umbrella was hanging on the coat rack at home! We were really late (we were there to buy plants for the garden!) so I didn't expect there to be any real treasures at all but, of course, we still managed to unearth a few things. I am getting a new camera charger to replace the one I lost (baby brain, it's my excuse and I'm milking it!) on Tuesday so I will take a photo to share then. We found a lovely poetry book, a pretty, vintage handbag and a small, deco, bevilled edge mirror.

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I would get in the spirit today and bake some heart-shaped cookies for my husband. We are at the end of a very long (2 years) owner-builder project and he was painting and planting today. So I surprised him with a ice cream and cookie sandwich. He was grateful for the break, don't know that he even realised they were heart shaped til I pointed it out! Oh well, I had fun.

(Images courtesy of Getty Images)

Sweet Dreams

2009-01-30T14:07:00.005+10:00

This is a beautiful sleeping bag from Rachel Ashwell. I am putting my order in to buy one for my daughter, Lola. She is only six months old, so it will be a while before she is having sleepovers but my, it makes a welcome change from the "licensed doll" sleeping bags that are on the market. Don't really fancy my daughter sleeping in something that has a scantily clad, 5 foot doll on the front of it!

(Image courtesy of Shabby Chic)

Storybook Cottage

2009-01-30T13:46:00.011+10:00

Oh my, I am in love with this little cottage in Maleny which is about an hour north of Brisbane, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. As do most of you, I love to fantasize about my next home purchase by trawling realestate.com.au. Don't you think it looks like something that Goldilocks could have lived in?! Oh so lovely.

I love the barn. What a fun place to play hide and seek as a child. I particularly like the barn's cute little coral coloured bench seat.

I would love to be heading off to spend my weekend here! I hope whatever you do, your weekend is as wonderful as this pretty home. xo

If You Can Dream it...

2009-01-29T21:25:00.006+10:00

Well it has been a while! Life got really chaotic but hopefully it has settled down ALOT now. We had a lovely Australia Day long weekend. We spent it at home with a heap of friends, a bbq and front yard cricket (our backyard has too many trees!)! It was a lovely day spending time with friends and having a laugh. Very Aussie. I decorated the house with tropical greenery from my back yard in vases tied in red and navy ribbons. It was a hot day and I think that the greenery helped us to feel cooler!

I don't know about you, but there is a lot of doom and gloom talk about lately. I think that it's a bit of an average way to start out a new year. When you sit and think about it we all have so many things to be thankful for, no matter how seemingly small they may be.

So my mantra for the year is this, THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER. I have this poster in a vintage frame on my bedroom wall. One of my favourite quotes is that of the late Walt Disney, "If you can dream it, you can do it". I am certain he lived up to those words. Every time I feel down or hear something else about the economic doom, I'm going to raise my head high say those words to myself! Take that newspapers etc!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

2008-11-16T19:35:00.017+10:00

I love this jingle bell wreath by Martha Stewart. I have a lovely jingle bell wreath with a huge buff coloured satin ribbon hanging from my door and I just can't get enough of the blissful ringing as my family and friends go in and out the door!

White Christmas trees have the most beautiful fantasy about them. A winter wonderland...

This is the bed I want to wake up in on Christmas morning. With my husband and my daughter Lola...just need to have a few more kids for those extra stockings! I love the mismatch stockings, oh so cute.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! This week I will gather the trees and the ornaments and add the new ones that I bought on the weekend to the collection. Every year I buy something new, just can't resist! My tree is always silver and white. My family and friends think I am colour phobic! Well, maybe! We are going to put up the tree this Friday night. I can't wait!

(Images via Country Living magazine and Martha Stewart)

A Place to Dream...

2008-11-10T15:25:00.002+10:00

There are so many things I love about this clip. It is called Neopolitan Dreams by Lisa Mitchell. The enchanted forest, the four poster bed, the cupcakes and just the beautiful whimsy of it all! Take a look for yourself, you won't be disappointed. It's like a fairytale from your childhood. So much fun. This blog will be my space to daydream... Shanyn xo