Emerson and Ryan's House

A while back I posted about Emerson, the girl behind the label 'Emerson Fry'
love the clothes,
love the clutches and fabric flowers,
love Pedro,
their cute little pup,
Emerson's styling and Ryan's playful photo direction

and now a peek into Emerson & Ryan's gorgeous home!
what can I say....
sigh ...just stunning!!

images found on (The Nest)

Colour Combination: Purple & white

Do you like Japanese Washi tape?

I bought some when we were in Hong Kong recently

.... pretty shades of Purple (love my purples) with a teeny tiny white flower print - sweet!

inspired by this lovely lady, I ended up making some tags.

Cute!!

I like they way they turned out!

next up - cup cake toppers and note cards...im on a roll ( washi tape roll)

Top image - Tia Borgsmidt,

Craft images by Me

Gift Tags available in my shop

Vintage Beauty - Nena Von Schlebrugge

(also known as Uma Thurman's Mother...)

long limbs, feline eyes...sultry face.

(all images via google image search )

making me smile today....



Actually, its been making me smile all week!

The latest *Bespoke* Zine - Issue 4
with my illustration on the Cover!!

*Bespoke* is a quaterly Craft zine
edited by Jess and
made by the handmade community, for the handmade community chock full of crafty goodness!

to buy a copy visit here

*image via Rachel of LovelyClusters

Etsy picks of the week: delicately hued...

top image (photographer unknown) via Russhnoise

* screen printed Organic cotton herbs Produce bags by OhLittleRabbit

* Mod Party Dress by FactoryHandbook *

Vintage Flower Plate by ShavingKitSupplies

Inspiration Now - Kitchen prints
Aren't these kitchen prints amazing? i love them!

Designed by Ana, a graphic designer and illustrator sells these and other great prints in her Etsy shop Anek ..now dont forget to have your 2 fruits and 5 vegies each and everyday!!




Some fun things happening...

* Newspaper Taxi is hosting 'We love SnailMail' competition'

* Issue 4 of *Bespoke* zine is now out and with my illustration on the cover!

* 52 weeks of Mail project bought to you by the EtsyGreeting Team - join in on this great event!

* Sydney bloggers - the next ABCD Meetup is tommorow night in Rozelle..info here. I wont be able to make it this time around but have fun!!

Creative Inspiration

i love getting inspired by beautiful images - when I saw the facade colours of this adorable flower shop, I knew I wanted to create a card in similar shades....

I didn't manage to capture the brightness and my card is far from folksy but I still like how it turned out...oh and i love her white gloves - when did we stop wearing gloves anyways...

Top image

by Marcel Van Driel

and Greeting card made by me - in my shop now...

Iconography: Dreaming of a bygone Era

Have you seen the beautiful images of Kate Winslet channelling Elizabeth Taylor ...an A-list movie star playing dress up to look like another famous Star! photographed by Mario Testino (genius!!) and styled by Carine Roitfeld ( so Chic!), the 'V Magazine' photos look amazing! You can see them here.

Its been done so many times before but it never feels tired... Iconic looks and styles refreshed into current times.

I've always loved this shot of Isabella Rossellini portraying flirty Sophia Loren, photographed by Steven Meisel in the early 90's

Va va Va Voom!

Shades of a new season....

I'm embracing the changes but sadly not the hay fever....

I'm suffering so badly but I'm

stocked up on my antihistamine tablets so that'll get me through the next few weeks.

I spotted this wonderful green growth

in-between our garden pavers the other day

....a quick reminder that when it comes to Man vs Nature,

...Nature always wins!

i love how they have forced their prettiness through the heavy concrete slabs....

and to finish off this Happy Tuesday post, some new 'SPRING in your step' items added to my shop!!

a lucky winner

Look what I won!

I was pleasantly suprised to find out I won Stella's 'name this print' competition over at her blog,

Crimson Circle Studios'

My prize was to choose not one, but two prints from her Etsy shop.

Stella even sent me one of her dreamy Artist Trading Cards (ATC) as well - lucky me!!

thanks so much Stella, everything is beautiful!

you can see Stella's

shop here

Etsy picks of the Week - Star Bright

i always kiss my boys goodnight and whisper ....'i love you all the way to the moon and stars'....they are the bright stars in my life!

Star light
Star Bright
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Top image via Marissa Mayer via Pinterest * Vintage Comic paper folded stars by ShePinTea
Stargazing photo print by KittyRogers * Star Print Coin Purse by MilkandHoneyHandbags *

Busy

When I'm at work I day dream and long to be home playing with my crafty stuff but it seems once I do get the chance to work on all those creative ideas swirling in my brain -
I find something else to do.
Yes, I'm a procrastinator - big time! but its not all bad....

I've been busy in the kitchen going through my cookbooks, getting inspired with ingredients.
I made jambalaya for the first time last week - so easy, so tasty!
I made some very bland biscuits using quinoa, seeds and nuts. That Martha...I guess she doesn't always get it right!
I've been tending to two sick little boys who have runny noses and scary chest coughs,
ive been trying to declutter the spare room - my crafty mess, as we're planning some changes in our house. A revamp of our formal living room, a room neglected and unused
to what I envision to be a great workspace/casual hang out room - exciting!!

So I haven't been lazing around doing nothing....ive been a busy girl!

I've also been watching many documentaries' on 9/11, I cant believe its been 10 years...it seems like yesterday when we watched the shocking scenes on TV in disbelief, scared at what would happen next?!
Ive been thinking sadly of those who lost their lives on that tragic day
and for all the innocent people and committed soldiers who continue to lose their lives during this 'War on Terror' - when will it ever end?

*images - my crafty work in progress pile

Inspiration Today: Vintage Glass + hand picked Flowers

Just a question for you bloggers
- do you plan posts or do you only blog randomly whenever you feel like it?

I try to mix it up but as a busy gal, a little planning is necessary...
however Im starting a new spontaneous blog post feature
all about inspiration
you know how I love to share what inspires....

so here is my first post for
Inspiration Today.

a Happy day and a smile your way!!

These beautiful images are from
'the Fox and the Spoon' vintage store on Etsy - a gorgeous selection of goods.
Im loving the old fashioned cake tins.

Well hello Spring!!

first day of Spring on this side of the world...I love the changes you sense, feel and see when a new season begins...looking forward to warmer days and spending more time outdoors.



Just to push things along I say yay to
fresh flowers in the home
open windows to let that breeze in and winter damp out - i do this daily even when Im at work (no fear!)
maybe its time to change the bedcovers to something lighter and softer in colour...

happy Spring!

*images
by Victoria Pearson for HouseBeautiful and bottom image by Micky Hoyle

Lady Grooming

I'm a low maintenance girl and can go weeks without some lady grooming

but
I was getting a little desperate so whilst I was out yesterday I ended up walking into a beauty salon that I don't normally visit
for some waxing.
I always get a little weary when you can just walk in without an appointment and they can fit you right in but as I said I was desperate, it was my day off so I went for it....

The first thing the beautician said after she waxed and plucked my eyebrows,
'go have a look in the mirror and let me know if they look okay?'
and the first thing I thought,
well its a bit late now isnt it??!?

how can you fix botched up eyebrows....
but lucky for me
they look fine, actually they look really good!!

I'm pleased and for less than $10 an instant pick me up...groomed eyebrows make such a difference don't you think?

HaPPy Wednesday to you all!

*image by Leombruno Bodi 1960 for CondeNast

Black & White & Wood
I dont know if Id ever paint my kitchen walls black, im just not that game to experiment with black paint anywhere in my home but I do love how both these kitchens look - the black creates an almost cocoon feel to the space - very cosy, warm and comforting!
I also love how they've added a thrifted/country style table to balance the black, white and modern floor.
Both these great kitchens have now been pinned - dont you just love pinterest!?
Ive been catching up on my visual feast!

Where else have I been? (my poor blog has been neglected...)
Ive been clearing up and decluttering a little, cooking a lot - guess I missed being in the kitchen!
Ive also been reading...being away for a month means lots of new magazines in the mail and I started reading Keith Richard's autobiography 'Life' whilst on holiday - i finished it the other day - it was great!!


images via desire to inspire and bottom via A Lazy Man

Diluted Cherry + Vanilla creme

10 days until the start of Spring...i cant wait!

Having had a recent taste of warm sunny days its being so hard coming back to a winter wardrobe of knits and woollens.

....longing for some sunny rays,
tank tops, open toe sandals and
icy cold cherry popsicles to cool things down!
* images
Top - Reclusive-Genius.tumblr
Bottom - Martha Stewart craft project via
Style-Files on pinterset

Back Home!

Oh its so good to be back home, there is no feeling like it...home sweet home right? I always get emotional when I land in Sydney.
don't get me wrong, we had a brilliant time overseas but being in the comfort of your home, your own bed, your belongings and normal surroundings - SO good!

I was feeling extremely inspired, refreshed and invigorated whilst overseas but I'm trying to reconnect to those 'feel good' feelings because right now im exhausted and lifeless from the long flights (how many movies can one watch - well Ok, I did get to see the whole of Season 4 of Mad Men - thumbs up!), the time change, the drop in Temperature ( back to Winter), the pace of travelling as a family trying to take as much in as we can.
I'm getting there, slowly...we all woke up so late this morning and it was a frantic rush to get ready for work and the boys for school.
.....slowly sipping some tea as I type trying to keep my eyes from closing.

Hope you all had a wonderful month, I was hardly online during our travels and surprisingly I survived!
ha-ha...we all rely on the internet to connect and keep up to date but it was really great to have a break from it all!
Big thanks and hugs to my lovely Guest bloggers with their inspiring posts, you gals are the best!!

*image -
'Home Sweet Home from theWheatfield on Etsy

Colour Inspiration: Blue as the Meditterenean Sky....
Beautiful Blues all around, how can you not be inspired?

top image : Home Beautiful Australia and bottom from Pinterest

Oriental Opulence

by the time this post is up I'll be in Hong Kong for the first time!

*images by Nicole Bentely for Australian Vogue