watercolour

Saturday finds me up early, skyping with my dear cousin and Godson. Pushing a few design bits and bobs around and enjoying the cooler morning with a cup of Irish Breakfast tea and delicious golden crumpets.

Whilst on my usual blog perusal I came across the prettiest nails I have seen - watercolour DIY nail painting via A Cup Of Jo. Delicate and intriguing, with the right amount artist embellishment. On to the ever-growing spare time to-do/experiment list!

I'm off to enjoy the Autumn sun and light breeze by the river.

Happy Saturday!

{image via Jo}

simple character

... all in the place you rest your hips.

{mismatched marvel}

can we

... dance in our very own kitchen some day?

It'll be so nice.

{traveling toward}

home made

Monday afternoon finds me at home post job interview & rainy travels, in the kitchen baking accompanied by Birdy's latest album. My goodness.

Sweet serenity. I am in a good place.

Happy Monday,

from a Monday Child fair of face.

{Birdy}

thursday

It's Thursday, it's summer - it's warm, but not totally uncomfortable. There is a pleasant little breeze that pops through my kitchen as I'm multi-tasking many a thing.

In light of a recent lay-off from my job in the design world (due to co. financial issues - it's tough out there!) I have resolved to keep my hands busy and my mind creative so as to not lose too much steam and keep one's soul happy.

Yesterday, I made a quirky little 'tongue in cheek' calendar (collaboration with the BF), today I'm trawling the world wide web for the perfect font for a logotype, whilst making shortbread and conjuring up sweet packaging concepts for said products. I'm quite liking my at-home baking experiences of late and pondering the idea of markets in the future. But let's just test run these delicious treats first - it's a little exciting! ;)

Last week's success was my gingerbread men and mango chutney. I cooked up a batch of gingerbread men and took a jar of chutney to the Boyf's house Christmas dinner, and to my surprised delight it was a hit! I've never cooked anything so fancy before and feel this may have ignited a little flame of passionate curiosity for the kitchen. Especially when you see those around you enjoying it.

This year will see a small Christmas at home with the BF, brother and sister. My parents will be in Adelaide, so the success of Christmas lunch and dinner rests with us. We have the turkey and ham (and mango chutney), we will have the gingerbread men and shortbread, but the rest is something I'm looking forward to putting together. Summer salads and seafood perfectly matched with our drinks and refreshments of choice. Let's hope there is a gorgeous breeze to accompany the day!

It's nice to be able to focus a little more on the blog aswell, despite the employment situation is not ideal. I am really looking forward to establishing more freelance opportunities and seeing what else is out there. In the meantime, creative freedom is here. Time to extend one's creative abilities, to collaborate and enjoy the summer season.

Mixing the butter, sugar and flour. 

The Christmas ingredients - cranberries, almonds, pistachios and white chocolate!

Where it all comes together. Cookie cutters galore! 

My festive oven mit ready to take the first batch out of the oven! 

My first batch of Christmas Shortbread is a success. Huzzah!

What are your plans for Christmas? Not many sleeps now!

Happy Thursday.

X

bright white lights

That multi-facet gleam in your eyes.

 

Light up your life.

{sparkle shop here}

right this way

While I'm studying away here today, I'm also perusing my favourite blogs... as always. I found the perfect, easy, affordable doormat for my apartment. A little bit of geometric design mixed in with cheap goods, spray paint and getting my mittens a little messy - perfect DIY right?

And while the original DIY, by Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess, was posted to be a festive project - I think it would look fabulous all year round by my front door!

Next stop - Bunnings.

kitchen sink

March 22 : Photo-A-Day

Kitchen Sink

a corner of my home

March 18 : Photo-A-Day

A Corner Of My Home

pick-a-pallet

There's a few DIY dreams floating around in my mind of late... and the idea of recycling pallets/crates seems to tickle my fancy. They can be used for so many different purposes and as you can see below, can be rather aesthetically pleasing in one's humble abode.

Wine racks, wall gardens, movable outdoor couches, coffee tables, bookshelves... the possibilities seem endless.

I'm loving the rustic, earthy look and  how it can be effortlessly teamed with the clean, crisp, minimal or eclectic interiors.

{source unknown - credit if you can}

fotografía friday

When is fotografía friday ever on a Friday, you say? When this lady is organised and not working in the fine industry of hospitality or freelancing around the webosphere... so, without further adieu I give you a catch-up of sorts on the last two scheduled fotografía friday's ::

The Granite Belt at sunset, south of Ballandean.

This first photograph is one of my favourite road trip photos. Taken on a whirlwind 24hour road trip with my sister, driving home to surprise and visit our parents interstate.

I believe this is on the way back to Brisbane, as the sun is setting over the Granite Belt wine region. If you are so inclined, you can peruse my old road trip post here. I do love going home.

Countryside views, via train.

This second photograph was taken on a journey home around June last year, however this trip I took the train and bus ride back to my parents rather than drive myself. The fields were so green and while it was slightly overcast the journey was just what I wanted as I travelled home - big seat to myself and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery. I particularly like the self-reflection caught in the train window as I took this shot.

A little nostalgic today, I am... must plan a road trip and few days in my hometown again soon. Especially as Autumn arrives and it cools down... my favourite time of year. Ahhh.

mi casa, su casa

A little post for the house-bound.

If you were, and this were your humble abode why would you want to leave? Lovely, light and airy with a good portion of bookshelves. Funny...  I colour-code mine as well.

It's a gorgeous mix of old and new, restored and comfortably coloured. A little mis-matched, but oh so perfect - and yes, plenty of books. How I dream of decorating my first home some day... Ah :)


{source unknown}

bedside

March 4 : Photo-A-Day

Bedside

fruit

March 2 : Photo-A-Day

Fruit

My flatmate's lonesome orange.

fotografía friday

fotografía friday this week is a home edition, as I am in New South Wales visiting my parents, and the family pets.

This little rascal was my shadow this morning of my 26th birthday. My sister and I hand raised, the aptly named Typhoon from 3 to around 9 weeks, as he was found on a construction site in inner city Brisbane. My Mum came to visit, fell in-love and then adopted him. It's quite ironic that he sat still enough for me to take this 'portrait perfect' shot. All other moments he was stealthily stalking me or tearing around, from upstairs to down, like a literal typhoon.

He's got me on my toes (or is wrapped around my ankles), that's for sure. Just look at the fierce concentration.

inside my fridge

January 29 : Photo-A-Day

Inside My Fridge

light

January 28 : Photo-A-Day

Light

The cloudy light on this Saturday morning.

comfy materialistic love

In the latest edition of madison magazine, I came across these delightful graphic cushions. I can only say, they would sit lovely in my home.

Such a sweet label - Me And Amber.

You can find them here.

lunch

January 27 : Photo-A-Day

Lunch

Lunch

Today my lunch looked something like this.

colour

January 26 : Photo-A-Day

Colour

A section of my bookshelves.

I like to colour code my bookshelves, and thought that the hues of orange and pinks here was worthy of the Photo-A-Day entry donned Colour. A few fave titles there too.