mermaid dreaming

We're so lucky to be enjoying a relaxing time with family and friends - particularly our special UK TW1 visitors. Long days on the beach, bbqs and beach cricket, fish and chips on the sand and mermaid dreaming (Babe 2's illustration above... I chuckle every time I look at the expression on the blue whale's face). Despite some inclement weather the only issue has been when the Lovely One lost his glasses in the sea whilst diving for a catch (the cricket - not fish - kind) which hasn't been all bad because his hazy vision suits the holiday vibe.

Hoping you have a great new year.

wall dots

Have been meaning to share some of the treasures given to me at Christmas. The girls gave me these Wall Dots by Muuto coat hooks which I have coveted for many years... and now that we are building a beautiful new foyer (oh how grown up) on the extension I have just the spot to put them. Also the Lovely One has been travelling a lot for work this last year and on a recent trip to Rome he picked up this delicious coffee (with equally delicious packaging) as a Christmas treat for me. yum.

my girl thursday gift tags

Oh so sweet. Download these at the always inspiring 'My Girl Thursday'.

diy candle holders

How beautiful are these? They're made with simple discount store tea light candle holders and pretty coloured paper. Check out how to make them over at How About Orange. It's still pouring with rain outside so we're going to make some with our own designs this weekend. Thank you Jessica for yet another lovely diy.

advent calendar

I love hiding little treats for the Babes each day in the lead up to Christmas. This advent calendar over at Oh Happy Day! is beautiful. You'll just need some little bags and iron-on transfer paper. Check out the downloads and instructions here.

christmas is coming

...and we've already starting celebrating with some tiny decorations around the place.

Red felt tree - IKEA

Sweet white bone china reindeer - Papaya

back to nature

Our poor old garden has been a bit neglected this last year. The first 6 months of 2011 I was deeply entrenched - and enjoying - long days in my studio and then the last 6 months have been preoccupied with renovations... so whilst I've kept up with basic maintenance, it's been in need of love and affection.

So today marked the beginning of a few weeks of focussed gardening for me.
Had a great day tidying and sorting and all the new plants arrived for around the pool so I'll be preparing the garden beds this weekend. I'm enjoying being back in the thick of it again very much - and I'm realising how much I've missed it.

a scrap of paper

Loving this. Babe2 was busy as a bee with the newspaper the other day and created these beautiful birds. She went through the newspaper and selected coloured sections and then tore them into tiny pieces, grouping them by colour. Then she drew these little birds and selected coloured paper as feathers and glued them on. So beautiful, we're going to attach some ribbon and hang them as Christmas decorations... she thought the Lorikeets in our garden would like them.

packed corners

I have just realised that I have neglected my posts on 'a corner of home' and soon enough all the corners will be packed away and relocated to their new rooms. So here are some elements of our current dining room which will be converted to Babe1's bedroom next year.

Timber swallows - Design for Use
'home' timber letters - David Met Nicole
White porcelain flowers - a gift from my big sister for my birthday
White bone china origami bird hanging in cage - Have You Met Miss Jones
Bird cages - Berry markets (country NSW)
Marimekko fabric canvas that I made about 8 years ago for the kitchen in our Surry Hills terrace (and I still love it) - Chee Soon & Fitzgerald

festive season

I love everything that they create over at SHIMTOKK and thought you might be interested in these gorgeous gift tag downloads that they've created with Meant To Be Calligraphy. Enjoy.