Street Style....

She wore a Raspberry Beret...the kind you find in a second hand store
(haha remember that song by Prince?)

I love looking at French street-style images...those French gals always look chic!!
I wonder if living in Paris would make you feel pressured to always look good, always be unique and super stylish?.

In Australia we're so relaxed about style...especially in Summer - loose dresses teamed with flipflops, sunnies, loads of sunblock and out the door you go!

Wouldnt it be great if the Sartorialist came down under
to shoot some street style,
I wonder what he'd think?
but its not about following trends is it - i think its all about confidence and developing a style that your comfortable with...im still working on that!

Top image by The Sartorialist

Bottom two images by GaranceDore

Eye Spy - A Burst of colour

i did some searching around the house - it was hard to focus on what stood out

but here are some white tags I made - love the texture on these!

So is white a colour?

and then there is a small watercolour floral doodle I painted years ago - i think it stands out on my neutral wall

and the sleeve of a new summer dress - i need to wear more colour, black is too safe!

i also spotted this on Flickr yesterday, now that sure is colourful!!!

have a FAB Monday everyone

and big thanks to Flossy-P for this week's topic and to Cindy for hosting EyeSpy

Sunshine

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.

~Jane Austen

After a gray, wet and cold week we have sun

again - its a bit of a stinker, very humid but hey Im not complaining!

Ive been barefoot all day, I did loads of washing and got to dry everything outside on the line, the boys have been outdoors looking for lizards, our cockatiels are happy chirping noisly,

who doesnt love the sun!?

I even started my first batch of Christmas baking - Mince Pies...next on the list are

Chocolate walnut balls!

have a happy Saturday everyone!

* White Peach and Fig Granita image from Donna Hay magazine *

6 things
Im trying so hard to get into the spirit of Christmas but must admit Im not feeling it (yet)...our tree is up, most of the gifts have been purchased and wrapped but I dont know what it is...guess Im just exhausted.
There's so much to do at work before the year is over that I come home simply shattered,
too tired to do anything...i need to write all my Christmas cards too - they've been on the table in a neat pile for days now...waiting for me (big sigh!)


the lovely Maisy tagged me for '6 things about me' but Ive done this a few times before so here are 6 things Im loving right now...


* Evian Water bottle designed by Christian Lacroix , i wonder if we stock these in Australia...pretty for the Christmas dinner table!


* Lacey party dresses - i adore lace so much that I think it deserves a post on its own!

* Christmas Cookie swap - that Martha! she always inspires me...

*thin Hammered silver bangles


*Pods (twix flavour)
warning: you cannot eat just one! impossible!



* Nerdy Chic - loving the large frame reading glasses...I had a pair very similar when I was 15 (mid 80's) but there was no way they looked that chic!

Images:
Evian Bottle from Such Pretty Things
Cookies from Martha Stewart.com
Bottom Image - from my desktop, cant remember where I saved it from?!

oh forgot to add: I made more birdy tags - they are in the shop !

Tinnie Girl Tin has arrived...

I was super lucky to have
won one of Cathy's great Tinnie Girl
tins in her giveaway two weeks ago!!
it was to celebrate her new
Tinnie Girl shop and I must say i just love the idea of having tins full of crafty supplies, what a perfect treat for yourself or for any crafty creative friend!


Look what was in mine!
everything is so gorgeous...love all the floral fabrics, they are right up my alley & the lacey vintage trim is perfect - cute buttons too!! cant wait to make something now!

Thanks SO much Cathy for being such a sweetie and an inspiration to so many of us!

Eye Spy something in my garden.....

lots of shade from my Jacarandah tree which is perfect in Summer

but its purple leaves make my

garden very messy

lucky its a pretty mess!

and I spot two cheeky boys who cant sit still to smile at mum and the camera!

we tried to take pictures of our shadows

but not much sun today...

Thanks Curlypops for this week's post and to Cindy at Bugandpop for hosting EyeSpy, anyone can join in!

speaking of gardens - I loved this idea in British SHE mag,

a simple organising tip for the shed!

Nice!

Lady Like ....Not!!

the silly season is here people!

I can feel the traffic getting worse, people were

rushing and pushing their way around

the shops today...one crazy mother had a complete melt down screaming at her hysterical toddler (gasp!! who's having the tantrum huh?)

Then I had some looney hovering behind my car, man I was peeved off - did he really think that I would drive faster by him doing that - i wasnt doing anything wrong, i was driving at the right speed but no, that wasnt enough!!

He had to drive by my side and tell me off...

well let me tell you - i was NO lady today!! I
@$#*&!!!! him right back.....and honked my

horn too! so there!

*Top image of a Lady - Vogue 1957

*Middle image of Non Lady behaviour by Ellen Von Unwerth

*Bottom image - cool calm collected drawn by me for

'A Fashionable Challenge'

A Good Mail Day...
Lucky Me!!
I won one of Vanessa's giveaways over at her blog - Im totally spoilt, look at all the fabulous postcard sets she sent me!! thanks Miss Vanessa...you're a real sweet heart - i have such wonderful blogging friends!

I had my bookbinding class

last night and we have one more week to go...its been SO good, Ive learnt so much.

We finished this lovely A5 album/scrapbook which even has protective layers on all the pages...the stitching for this was tricky as its so thick!! ( practise needed)

We also made a hard covered notebook and now we are working on repairing an old paperback book. I hope to start experimenting (time?? where can I find more time??) at home now...

I also found this free bookbinding workshop

...well she found me but Ive booked in to go...if anyone in Sydney is interseted, it sure sounds like a fun workshop!

Eye-Spy

Yeahhh we have a new weekly game to play!

thanks Cindy for starting Eye-Spy

'Eye-Spy: What I want for Christmas'

Carla Coulson's new book 'Paris Tango' - it looks SO good!

I love big coffee table style books that show beautiful places, faces and inspring images!

I have Carla's other book 'Italian Joy'

and its one of my favourites,

so yes, this is what I want for Christmas (ive been good Santa!)

Carla also has a blog - go say Hi, she's lovely!!

we had Peter's 6th birthday party yesterday - rain and children's parties do not mix

Ughhh!! i spent the day cleaning the house!! back to work tommorow so i can relax!

For more 'Eye-Spy' posts go visit Cindy to see who is playing along!

a whisper of colour....

lately im finding myself drawn to pastel hues...from my new Ikea dinner plates to the palest of pink nailpolish on my nails...
very soft, always feminine...
this beautiful image in an old issue of
Vogue inspired the two greeting cards I made yesterday....whispers of colour....

what shades of colour
are you loving right now? Id love to hear....

*top image by Tim Walker

for British Vogue

a little boy turns 6....

happy birthday to my darling Peter,

he turned 6 today!!!

wow! cant believe he is 6 already....

i stayed up last night making cupcakes, did some ironing whilst they cooled down, then frosted and

decorated them for him to take to school today

to share with his classmates...

he woke up very happy & excited and went straight to the growth chart that hangs on his bedroom wall to see if

being 6 meant growing overnight ...

haha...so sweet!

My darling boy I love you with all my heart and more!

*image illustrated by Joan Walsh Anglund found on Flickr.com*

Food festive food....

Look who is planning Christmas menus.....I love baking and fussing during the
festive season!
i get so inspired by Con Poulos images,
he collaborates with
Donna Hay on her magazines and books
- everything always look SO good...
wouldnt it be great to work on a food
publication, im sure they get to eat it all afterwards - you wouldnt want to be counting calories ...
* all images
by Con Poulos

Flock to it!

Come see my new birdy tags

in my little shop!

ive only got one set available but plan to make more in different colours and patterns!

they are hand cut by me and are double thickness of cardstock and decorative papers so quite thick and sturdy! a simple & cheap way to spruce up your parcels....

Hey the sun is out in Sydney today...do i stay home and do washing or head out to take advantage of this FAB weather!?

Counting down...

6 days until my Peter turns 6!

11 days until his birthday party - invites sent but nothing planned yet!! Eeek!!!

32 days until Neo turns 4!

36 days until Christmas (is that right? cant be!!!)

43 days until a brand new year!!

43 days until my birthday....

62 days until our Summer holiday ( waaahhh...that still sounds SO far away - i need a break now!!)

ive had such a busy week so far and looks like the rest of the year is going to be non-stop with Christmas parties, Christmas picnics and my Uncle is even having a huge 60th in 3 weeks time!!

I hope to catch up with this lovely girl

soon as well before she leaves for the UK!

its going to be a busy few weeks ahead....

tommorow Im home so hope to catch up with you all on your lovely blogs!

now Im off to bed!

* image from Emporium magazine*

This is...my favourite things from nature

* fragrant flowers especially jasmine and gardenias

* birds singing- do you take the time to listen?

* spider webs, so delicate and very beautiful!

* wind through your hair and rain on your face

* sunrise and sunset

* twinkling stars on a black velvet sky

* listening to crashing waves against beach rocks

so many many more - we need to stop and observe, listen, smell and see the beauty thats all around us!!

thanks to Cloth and Fodder for a wonderful theme this week and to Angela for hosting 'This is' each week!

*image by Jessie Wilcox Smith via Flamencourt

My Island Home....

what a gorgeous picture from a scene of the upcoming movie

'Australia'

I dont know about you but

i cant wait to see it...not long to go now with its release on 26th November!

Im loving all the 'outback' inspired fashions in the latest mags too!

Australiana chic!!

*Top image from

Vogue Living Australia

via Villa Anna

*all other images from

Instyle Australia magazine

A little thrifting

part of my bookbinding

course is learning to repair an old book so what a great excuse to do some thrift shopping...on Friday I met my friend Patty for a quick coffee and afterwards off I went in search of a tattered book but look what else I found?

a 60's clutch purse full of faux pearl necklaces - all mine for just $3.00! beautiful shades of lusture...pretty pretty!

i also found some sweet childrens books - darling illustrations that make me smile! a good thrifting day it was!!

Just wanted to say 'Thank you, thank you...' for all your warm, wonderful comments about my Etsy shop, your encouragement and support is just the BEST!!!!!!

This is my favourite Quote(s)....
way too many beautiful, thoughtful quotes out there!

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."
~Helen Keller ( i was obsessed with the Helen Keller story as a young girl)

"Be the change you want to see in the world."-Ghandi

"Don't point a finger, lend a hand"

"Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier." –anonymous

To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are."

"Fall down seven, stand up eight"
Japanese proverb

thanks to Strawberry Kisses for this week's
'This is' suggestion!
*image via Wicked Halo on Flickr

A Celebration

Im still reeling from the happiness of yesterday - what happened in America was amazing!! a moment for all to be proud ...i stayed up way too late watching CNN and had tears of joy
watching the speeches and ecstatic people...

So today I celebrate a little myself, by
opening my Etsy shop!
finally!! Yeahhhh! (still adding stuff as I type this....)
ive been talking about it for SO long...im scared but super excited too!!

Come have a look at
Percival
Road Designs - would love to hear your comments, any tips and advice...we're all here to help one other and Id appreciate any advice!!

Lollishops
will also be opening at the end of this month too so Im busy crafting, creating and
having a good old time!!!
Hugs,
Anastasia
x

A Small World

My sister sent me a text this morning - today they are spending the day at

Disneyland!!
how exciting...

what fun for my

little nieces!

it doesn't matter what beautiful landmarks or architecture you see on your travels,

kids will be kids...I think this will be the

highlight of Stephanie and Styliana's trip!

and rightly so!

its a small world after all!

I remember as a kid sitting down every

Sunday night at 6.30pm to watch

'The Wonderful World of Disney'...

what I loved the most was when they'd feature the park with its magical castle, fun rides, special characters - my sister and I wanted to go SO badly...I did get there many many years later and I had the best time....i have lots of silly photos of me hugging Pooh, Minnie, Pluto ...posing at Mikey's house in 'Toontown' and Andrew happily posing with Ariel the mermaid - silly boy! silly us!
Its magic for all ages!

*Vintage Disneyland photo (how cute is that!!!!!) found on Flickr.com

This is ....a favourite recipe Id like to share

Greek Yoghurt Dip

my parents had us over for a BBQ today - they are off to Darwin for a week so was nice to catch up with them before they leave!

I love this garlicky dip, its perfect with lamb or any grilled meat!

*Grate 3 cucumbers - sprinkle with salt and refrigerate for half an hour

*remove from fridge and drain the liquid well, you can even squeeze the cucumber with washed hands if you prefer.

* In a bowl add the cucumber, 500g of thick Yoghurt, 3 cloves garlic (more or less as you prefer - i love garlic), good pinch of dried mint, splash of olive oil.

* Mix well and put in your dip bowl, you can

add more olive oil and dried mint on top for presentation. So good! so easy!!

Thanks to Angela for this week's topic!!