New art!

I've never been a bird lover! That was until I came to Australia. The birds here are amazing, raucous cockatoos, lyrical lyrebirds and my favourite, the kookaburra, such a beautiful and wise old bird, last winter we even had a peacock stay with us for the duration of winter, so I was very excited yesterday to receive these gorgeous pieces from Melbourne artist Bridget Farmer of Bridbird. Bridget is such a talented artist and she is having a huge sale at the moment, all her prints are reduced to $10 and if you buy 2 she will throw in a 3rd for free! So go take a peek at her shop.

Hey Wombat!!

Just look at this little chap. 'Oh, how adorable', I hear you cry!

Well, the little sweetheart is nothing but a common thief!

My dear Alice (eldest daughter) left her Mummy to go on her 1st camping trip alone.

After arriving at the beautiful Wilsons Promontary on the south coast of our lovely State of Victoria, she and her charming boyfriend decided to do 'a spot of grocery shopping'. Well, clearly I have failed as a mother to provide my baby with the necessary skills to survive a 3 day camping trip as she apparently doesn't know how to 'buy food'. She spent $80 on lollies (sweets/candy), sugary breakfast cereal (god forbid! I mean, her teeth?), chicken (no fridge to keep it in!) porterhouse steak, white (yes, white!) bread and a jar of curry sauce (well, she is English!). She did think of me briefly and buy a quantity of fruit!

Satisfied with their purchases they went of to explore!

Enter Craig!!

On returning from their little journey of exploration, they discovered a large hole ripped into the side of their tent out of which was protruding the ample bottom of Craig the Wombat!

Craig had devoured the steak and the chicken, now call me ignorant, but I thought wombats were vegetarian! Clearly not! He had consumed an entire box of Cocoa Pops(this serves her right as there is no way she'd get those at home!) box and all! He'd scattered cherry tomatoes everywhere and was just attempting to tear open the bread when he was discovered!

I won't bore you with the details but it took a full hour to remove him from the tent and while they were sleeping soundly that night, he returned, clearly hoping they'd been back to the store for more provisions and walked over them to get to what was left of the food. He returned several times more before their trip was over.

Needless to say, should you wish to see the usually nocturnal, elusive and shy wombat head off to Wilson's Prom, Craig will be more than happy to keep you entertained!

This weeks Flickr faves

Open Studio Friday

The delightful and extremely talented Jenny Cameron from Glass Addictions has been kind enough to feature my humble studio space on her Open Studio Friday. I'm honored Jenny, thank you, it looks great! It's the 1st time in a while that it's looked that tidy!

I made Front Page!!

Flickr Favourites

These are this weeks Flickr faves! Just a tiny sample of my ever expanding collection, check them out for yourself here.

I adore the relaxed style of Australian country living, it suits my taste perfectly, but I still find myself drawn back to my European roots from time to time, rustic English country, French elegance and always the chic understated and usually white interiors of Scandinavia, I've recently discovered Jeanne d'Arc Living and I'm in love!

This is Laura, a talented and much loved member of the Etsy community who has recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, here's what she has to say:

I believe that you must play the hand you’re dealt. Six weeks ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. My mom died from the same. I am a huge believer in eating right, exercising, and getting regular checkups. I’ve done all those things, yet, I have cancer. WOW. That’s a life-changing situation, for sure. I just turned 46 …. (a very very young 46!) Strangely, I feel blessed. Most everyday of these 6 weeks, I’ve had a smile on my face. I’m going to play the hand I’ve been dealt in the best and most positive way I know how. I’m so fortunate my boys are older, they drive, they can do laundry and help around the house. There will always be some people in this world who have it better and some who have it worse. That’s just life.

I’ve been an Etsy addict since around this time last year, when I started doing treasuries. My sister Jenn, of jennreese7 and my niece Kelly, of SweetnessJewelry, are also crazy about Etsy. The one thing I’ve learned in the past year is that Etsy has made it a point to have their competing sellers be friends through promoting each other in the treasuries. That sounds kind of funny, but, on the quest to have the “coveted” FP, we create treasuries, we comment on other treasuries, we “convo” people all over the world to congratulate them on their successes, and we make friends. Aren’t we supposed to be competing for sales?? Well, maybe some things are just more important than sales. From the moment I had a diagnosis, while still in the hospital, my Etsy friends were first on the scene – building treasuries just for me, wishing me well, offering advice, sending gifts, and a few have gone so far as to donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society in my
honor!! Just to remind you………these are people ....I’VE NEVER MET! They have completely gone out of their way to be a friend or try to put a smile on my face. I now even talk to some of them on the phone! Now, I’m not talking 2 or 3 friends, I’m talking like 30 or 40! Some people just have checked my profile and offer words of encouragement! The first day that we learned about my chemo and all the ‘ins and outs’, the ‘goods and bads’, etc., my husband went online to search for support groups. He said to me that night, “I will never do that again, I was so depressed that I had to get off the computer” I said, in reply, “I don’t need support groups, I all need are my friends on Etsy”! They lift me up on a daily basis.

It is Sunday. Tomorrow morning, I will leave my house at 7:30 am for my first round of chemo. I will have an IV drip for about 6 hours and be home around 5:00 pm. I will do that again on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday. then again on the following Monday. I look forward to 8 months of that chemo schedule, followed by another year of some form of maintenance chemo.

There are 4 things I know for sure:
1. I am a Christian and I believe God has a plan for me.
2. I believe in myself to do the very best I can do and try to help others in the process by getting my story out there.
3. I have the most wonderful and supportive husband, family and friends.
4. Logging onto Etsy everyday and hearing from my friends will keep this smile on my face, not matter what I am going through.

Some friends on Etsy have started a project which aims to raise money for cancer research and promote awareness in support of Laura. We are calling the project 'etsyprojectembrace'.

If you would like to be a part of etsyprojectembrace you could donate the profits or percentage of profits from one or more listings to theAmerican Cancer Society. Add the tag 'etsyprojectembrace' to the listing (or listings) and mention the project and reason for it in your listing description/s.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/DON_0.asp

A place for everything

I'm messy, I don't mind admitting it! I dream of an uncluttered organised world where when asked "where's my .....? I can smile serenely and reply with absolute precision as to the whereabouts of said item. Sadly this is just a dream and unlikely to ever become a reality, but this doesn't stop me marvelling over the order of other peoples storage solutions. Whilst searching for some ideas I found that I need go no further than Country Living! Oh, how wonderful it would be!!

I came across these gorgeous customized stamps while browsing for my daughter, who loves anything with her name on it! They are available from Sydney based Imprintables, who supply tres stylish invitations, birth announcements, tags etc.

Yippee!

Made Etsy's front page today for the 1st time in a while, it's always a nice surprise!

Puffing Billy

I thought I'd introduce you to a special friend of mine. His name is Puffing Billy and he is a restored steam train that huffs and puffs his way through the forested hills and valleys of our mountain home. He passes noisily through our village several times a day to the delight of any one who sees him, bringing with him tourists from Melbourne who sit on the open carriage windows with legs dangling, grinning and waving at passers by.  He is a wonderful part of life here in the Ranges, I can't imagine life without him!

Flower Inspiration

I always think fresh displays of flowers finish a room but I am utterly hopeless at arranging them.  I like the informal, effortless look but struggle to achieve it! 

Then I discovered Scarlet and Violet, what more inspiration could anyone need! 

Wonderful White

I adore the simple decor of a white room. A white room filled with beautiful textures and natural splashes of colour in the form of aged timber or old leather is a sight to behold. 

via beachstudios.co.uk

Divine Raspberry Tart!!!

I've been watching Masterchef Australia with increasing amounts of enthusiasm and now I can't miss it! I  made their Raspberry Tart yesterday and it was absolutely divine so I thought I would pass on the recipe. You can watch the video here. Try it, it's the simplest recipe!

2 1/4 cups flour (plain/all purpose)

1/4 cup icing/confectioners sugar

125g(1 stick) butter

2 eggs

450ml thick cream sweetened with a little icing sugar and vanilla

350g raspberries

Blend the flour, butter and sugar in a processor briefly until crumblike or rub in by hand, add the eggs to make a soft pastry and chill for 30 mins. Roll out to fit a tart or flan tin, I used a 30cm loose bottomed tin. Prick the base with a fork and bake blind for 15 mins at 180c.  Allow to cool completely.  Whip up the cream  to soft peaks, add the sugar and vanilla and pile the raspberries on top.  So simple yet soooooo delicious!

Apply to face!

I have been tagged .......

I have been tagged .......

I've been tagged by my fellow pom Kim from slinkymalinkicat! Bless you my child!!

I've been Tagged

What is your current obsession?

Encaustic art, I think I must start painting again!

What is your weirdest obsession?

Spicy food, pickled chillies, in fact anything pickled, weird stuff like that!

What are you wearing today?

My fave jeans,  a t-shirt, a black sweater and a long olive green cardi! (it's really cold here in Melbourne)

What's for dinner?

One of my favorite recipes from the Moro cookbook, a tomatoey, aubergine and mixed spice concoction!

What is your favourite book?

Middlemarch by George Eliot

What's the last thing you bought?

Some beautiful linen cord

What are you listening to right now?

Raucos parrots, laughing kookaburras and Puffing Billy, the wonderful old steam train that passes through our village.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour?

Lemon sorbet

What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Kim is a lovely, friendly and kind person, I think we have alot in common, which is probably why we get on so well!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

The Cotswolds, England

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?

To visit my mum in England, I haven't seen her for 2 years!

Which language do you want to learn?

I'd love to speak fluent Hungarian, my father in law is Hungarian and it is a beautiful language, but horribly difficult!

Who do you want to meet right now?

My family in England!

What is your favourite colour?

Green, no blue, no green!

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

A long parachute silk skirt with a slight puffball hem, in a linen colour, it's so beautiful!

What is your favourite magazine?

I always buy British Country Living to remind me of home, but I love Australian Country Style .

If you had a £100 now, what would you spend it on?

Art.

Favourite artist/s?

 I love alot of etsy artists, I have some wonderful pieces from Emily Martin and  Jon Carling

Do you admire anyone's style?

I like free, independant easy style

Describe your personal style?

Relaxed, understated and simple

What are you going to do after this?

 I'm going to buy some damar resin and some gesso!

What are your favourite movies?

Little Miss Sunshine, Roman Holiday, Romeo and Juliet

What is your favourite fruit?

Raspberries

What inspires you?

Kind people and beautiful art and food!

What music do you like this week?

My daughters make me listen to the most dreadful rubbish (I'm turning into my mother!) So I'm liking the sound of silence! Well  actually, the parrots and kookaburras.

What is your dream job?

I have it, to create things, but I would quite like to be a food writer!

What is stopping you?

Not sure, maybe thats whats next!

If you could change something in the world to make it a better place what would that be?

I would like to make it a place where children and animals don't get hurt.

Who in history would you like to meet?

Queen Elizabeth 1st 

The rules:

1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people.

I am tagging:

I'm working on it!

Gigi a la Maison

Here's a tiny peek at one of my favourite shops, Gigi in South Melbourne. They always have a wonderfully eclectic mix of vintage, antique and new finds, many direct from France. Always something irresistable!

Wonderful Wallpaper!!

I absolutely adore this wallpaper from those wonderful people at kindred spirit. I have had this  gorgeous design from artist Fifi Lapin on my desktop for at least a week, which is incredible! Go get yourself one!!

I am just loving this!!

From  sbarao

I made some soap today!

I wish you could smell this soap,  one has the lavender drenched smell of summer, the other a spiky peppermint wake up call. Can't wait to use it!

Gorgeous Encaustics

I've long been a fan of encaustic art and have dabbled with it myself.  A little while ago I discovered the work of Edinburgh based Natasha Morton on Etsy, an incredibly talented artist who uses many different types of medium, not just wax. 

 I love the contemporary feel of her work and thought I would share  a couple of her pieces with you

Trip to Brighton Beach

Well, finally my blog is up and running and here is my first post!

Today was the 1st sunny day for a while , so we took Hamish McDuff, our Bearded Collie to his favourite beach at Brighton. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, paddling and playing with the other dogs. His day got even better when we went for breakfast at Pantry and the waitress bought him his own rather large, bone shaped biscuit! It didn't stop him trying to steal my bacon though!! He'll steal your latte given half a chance too, this must be a Melbourne dog!