#7Vignettes - February15

Ive joined in on 'The Interiorsaddict', #7Vignettes styling challenge again.
Head on over to Instagram to take a look!
its been a bit of a 'post and run' attempt for me though as I've been SO busy lately!
Tommorow's word is 'Fabric' and I have no idea what to share...I'll come up with something! ....

Im so excited to hear about this today - 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is one of my favourite books ever!  I loved George RR Martin's Twitter response to the news...

Im currently obsessed with Mexican food!  cant get enough - did you know Black beans are super high in fibre?!  this Huevos Rancheros breakfast recipe looks delish!

These Tbar heels look like fun! ...so does this 'Deco Dot' midi skirt...

Some good advice from Alisa - Jump start a creative career and wise words from Pip about social online interaction.

See you soon!

Arranging my Coffee Table

I really enjoyed this article in the latest 'Country Living' magazine - an easy 'step by step' instruction
how to arrange a beautiful coffee table.

Our coffee table needs to be replaced actually (as does our couch!) - we've had the same table for so long and it takes a daily beating from the sunshine since our back room gets a lot of exposure from the light.
Its scratched and dented (lets blame little boys...) and has an impressive split in the middle but its still quite solid and hanging in there!

Anyway back to the article - I played styist today and gave the instructions a go!
4 steps.
1. Start with a Tray - I opted for a serving platter in white.
2. Zero in on the remaining corners - books, magazines and game boxes did the trick for me - I love to be surrounded by books!
3. Just add personality - sure! why not?!
4. Finish off with something organic - I added a bright pink flower cut from a neighbours tree...I  like the punch of colour too!
Give it a go - that was easy and fun and an easy way to make a quick change!
 

an Updated wall (on the cheap)

you can always rely on Ikea for little tweeks in home decor.
I always head on over there planning to buy one thing and end up with more things that I can carry to the register - lucky I usually have my boys with me...

Is it just me or is that you too?

I spotted these lovely 'Bird' theme postcards by Melbourne artist Kareem Rizk
- such a cheap buy at $2 for 5 cards and the frames were $3 each - such a steal!!

I thought they would look nice grouped together near the window and light...
we have a very odd set of windows - we recently got rid of the blinds so the wall feels a little bare but I love all the extra sunlight!

The Growing Child....

So last year we had a bit of a reshuffle in our home – the boys moved into separate bedrooms.
Neo, my youngest is settled in the smallest bedroom in the house but the room got a little makeover (which you can see here and here)  and he seems really content and happy!
 My big boy Pete got a double bedroom all to himself but he also scored hand-me-down furniture (my old bookshelf and his dad’s old clunky desk) which somehow made their way into his bedroom – lately he's been hinting (often) that he’d also like an update to his bedroom...

He's a growing child... but he's still my little guy at only
10 years of age -  he's at that delicate age between child and teen and I want to hold onto that for as long as I can...
but maybe it is time to get rid of the 'little boy' bedroom and make some changes.

Christine who helped me out with our family room had a free 'happy up your home' session on her blog and I signed up!
The main issue I have with Peter's bedroom is that its the darkest room in the house - it has a beautiful large window but still doesn't get a lot of natural light so I asked Christine how I could brighten it up using furnishings and colour.

Christine recommended
*we paint the walls lighter and could even go for a bright  feature wall in a punchy colour.
*Change the heavy curtains and go for light holland blinds - this will also help make the window stand out nicely
 * She also recommended a lighter 'colour + print 'quilt cover and to add some funky art work.
* She also said we should leave the natural sisal rug but could add another smaller striped rug on top too add some colour and interest.

We aren't ready to change the furniture - we'll probably do that towards the end of the year but the changes Christine recommended are easy to do!  Im feeling white, gray, pale blue and accents of yellow for his bedroom!
Looking forward to letting my growing boy join in on the fun of this makeover...!
Thanks Christine!

* images Top via Pinterest and bottom via theSocialiteFamily

Vignettes & Instagram - the challenge continues.. 
Did I tell you how much I'm enjoying Instagram?
I told myself I didn't need another social media tool to take up more time that I dont really have, but Im so glad I joined in on the fun - its totally addictive!
The Instagram filters are so cool...no wonder Mr Zuckerberg and the people at Facebook bought this FAB little App as part of their internet empire! (and for a whopping $1bn dollars...yes $1bn!!!!)
I'm loving it,
I'm super inspired by everyone's images and I've met loads of new creative peeps!
...the Vignettes challenge finishes up today but here are my images taken for
Love -  set up at my desk, the vintage book is by Beverly Cleary, her books are a childhood favourite!

and for 'Cushions', a snapshot of Neo's room in the morning light - the boys are back to school now...back to a routine  (and order!)

Vignettes
I wanted to share my first two instagram Vignettes.
The first challenge was 'Books' - I tried to keep it simple and a little graphic too.  This partridge paper weight is quite heavy and sits on my bookshelf amongst my books anyway.
The Je'Taime print is meant to be on the wall - Im still waiting for my hubby to find time to hang it up... Grrr....

Challenge 2 was 'Texture' - this was a little tricky and I had something different in mind which wasn't working out the way I thought it would - the light was leaving fast
so I ended up with this shot - its a mixture of textures that I wanted to use - handmade paper, cardstock, crochet table runner, fabric pouch (so pretty!)
cardstock and tags with string, glass and some mini wooden pegs.

Vignettes - Flowers and plants
 What I set up for this challenge.
 Fresh yellow snap dragons that I had at home, add a little punch to the Purple Gray tones...my sister's oil painting 'Silver roses' she gave this to me for my birthday a few years ago -  I still love it!!

Vignettes challenge: Colour
For this challenge I gathered a mix of soft colours.
A mix of prints, patterns and 'girly' things that I  love.

Ive really enjoyed playing stylist this week...its been great and I hope to create more Vignettes in my home!

* To see all my Vignettes take a look here

7 Vignettes in 7 days challenge
'The Interiors addict' blogger Jen,  along with stylist Kara have a little instagram challenge going on
 - 7 Vignettes in 7 days.
I've been totally inspired playing around with my 'things', things I already have at home creating little displays.

We all have lovely things at home, in closed draws, packed away in boxes, or even in the garden.
We even have things that we keep for years and years just because they mean SO much we won't ever throw away...but do we display them with love?
The interior experts always tell us to only buy and decorate with things we love....

I've had the same things decorated around my house for such a long time but this challenge was a great way to shake it all up...play around and create a lovely story with what I already own,
have and love!

7 challenges in 7 days - Nature, Colour, Fun,
Flowers & Plants,  Mementos & Souvenirs,
Coffee/Side table, Kitchen.

Here is my Vignette for 'Nature' - hope you like it!
I'll share my others soon...

Just a minute in October

Reading... I took the boys to our local library last week so Ive borrowed  a few biographies - 'Dreams from my Father' by Barak Obama and 'Roots of Style' by
Isabel Toledo.
Im also still reading 'On Rue Tatin: Living and cooking in a French Town' - its a great read so far!
I also have a fresh batch of  magazines that are keeping me happy too! 

Listening...driving around in my car,  Ive been listening to 'Smooth FM 95.3 ' a good mix of 70s, 80s & 90s - Love.

Watching...I recently watched 'Moonrise Kingdom' and totally loved everything about it!!  I also watched TV series 'Puberty Blues' and it was great to watch some good TV, I'm actually sad its over now...

Buying... I bought a new skirt in a perky bright blue!  and I've been eyeing these summer sandals  

Loving... The feeling after my workout - I need to force myself to excercise but once my half an hour is done, Im one happy gal!! a great feeling!
Also loving this site 'An afternoon with...' some great creative New Yorkers...
and Instagram - im new to instagram follow me here @percivalroad


Wanting...  Food blogger 'What Katie Ate' has released her new cookbook - want want....its on my wish list! 

Images by me 
top - chilling out with my mags and a notebook to take notes!
Bottom - a little bit of Me! on instagram

Just a minute in July

Reading... 'The Country Life' by Rachel Cusk and next up I have ‘On Rue Tatin: Living and cooking in a French Town’, a recommendation via Pinterest

Listening... Stevie Wonder and catching up on some Podcasts from BYW2 course

Watching... Good Chef Bad Chef, American Pickers and Project Runway AllStars ( I already know who wins as we are SO behind here in Australia but still great viewing)
Buying... I just bought a vintage dress over on Etsy (so excited!!)  waiting for it to arrive!

Loving... Randel Plowmans new book ‘The Collage Workbook’ Sunshine during Winter days, Pinterest for inspiration (and time wasting)

Wanting... a getway!! even a weekend away would be great right now….

Images by me - stack of books, by my garden shed and playing with some new paper

Days at Home...
On my days off I just love to stay home...
today was not one of those days though.

I had a quick morning coffee with my dad and sister and then I headed out ( rain!)...first I headed to the boys school as I had a Parent/Teacher catch-up with my boys teachers (no dramas - all good!)
then it was straight to the post office
and next door to my optometrist,
spotted a clothing sale down the road ...had a look but way too cold to try on clothes.
Jumped back in the car  (rain!) then off to the supermarket for some grocery shopping - it was so tricky to find a car park so I drove around aimlessly waiting for a spot.  After picking up some necessities I ran across the road to my favourite Fruit & Vegetable grocer - way cheaper and better quality freshness,  planning the week's dinners in my head whilst I shop,  do you do this too?
Last stop was the Dry cleaners to drop off a coat 
and back home until school pick up time which comes around so fast!  
                                               some snippets around my home...
On my desk,  vintage book 'The Luckiest Girl' found on Ebay
and fresh flowers from my inlaws garden on my kitchen window sill.
The view to our Garden - a Winters Day...lots of rain.

and a new ottoman for Neo's room handmade by Coco & Milo . He loves it! happy chappy...

playing with paint, a little experiment
and mini cinnamon rolls.
These were so easy to make  store bought Puff pastry sheets + sugar + cinnamon...roll and bake!