Thrifty Tuesday

Some antique plates I bought on the weekend (last one I got a few weeks ago). I bought others but I'll show them another time! In total I got about 10 plates and they all cost next to nothing. From left to right: $1, $6, $2.

I also got this beautiful lace doily for $12 which covers our 'new' round table (which we salvaged from a neighbour who was throwing it out a few months ago). The doily looks so pretty and because the table has a glass top it can fit underneath and avoid all the usual spills that come from dining.

But what, I hear you ask, has all this got to do with Easter?

Simple, all you need to do is arrange some favourite (mismatching) china plates on a table, add nests, eggs, flowers to you hearts content (I cheated and bought meringue nests!) and voila you have a beautiful setting for Easter tea!

Easter is Coming

Easter is coming and all I want to do is behave like a complete child!

I love Christmas and Easter as there is so much potential for being creative, even if you're not a 'make it yourself' kind of person and/or don't have much time.

This week I thought I'd post a few simple and easy ideas for dressing your table for Easter, such as hard boiled eggs on a nest of raffia for your morning breakfast...

To use a well coined phrase, 'here's one I did earlier'!

Like Mother Like Daughter

A photo of my bedroom at 'home' which I thought I'd share with you as it's a little shabby chic.

I say 'home' because this is in fact my parents house! And yes, I still have a room there with all my things that make me happy when I stay :-)

I've been collecting beautiful and gorgeous things since I was 16 and it's fair to say my Mum's been a huge influence on my style, taking me around numerous vintage fairs and antique shops. I got the thrill of the chase for a unique find young! :-)

Have a lovely weekend!

Shabby Chic Love

Sharing some Shabby Chic love with you today through some of my favourite stuffed hanging decorations :-)

Black and White Creative

Some shots I took on my lazy weekend. Just playing around with my camera, creating different effects...

It still amazes me how advanced technology is these days. Remember the time before digital where every photo counted and it usually included group shots with as many people, as many things and as much scenery as you could fit?

Thrifty Tuesday

We went to see a sneaky advance screening of the new French movie, Micmacs last night. A lovely film which I'd definitely recommend putting on your 'must watch' list this month.

A key element in the story was turning discarded 'junk' into useful or delightful pieces that have meaning or purpose.

It's so often true: one man's rubbish is another man's treasure.

A little local hunting brought me these beautiful fabrics ($3 each) and Shelley fine china plate (I was lucky enough to find two for $2 each). I love them so much.

Thank you to all the people who give away such gorgeous items for us to buy :-)

What's in a name?

"... That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo & Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

I got this beautiful mirror from a local French inspired bric a brac shop a year ago for a song. I love it.

Hope you're having a happy Monday!

A little taste of things to come...

new buys :-)

While in Brisbane I bought these gorgeous Japenese print magnets...














...and a very bright pansy shaped bowl from a little charity shop in West End in Brisbane.

Home Sweet Home

I'm back after jet setting around the country but no place feels as good as home :-)

Happy Days

Blogging today from Brisbane after a very busy few days in Melbourne.

Love to say I'm relaxing on the beach like I was this time last year on Stradbroke Island (as above) but we've had a bucket full of rain!

Still having a wonderful time, have sussed out a few gorgeous second hand book shops and other great little places. Will update with my finds when I get back to Sydney at the end of the week.

Until then, happy days! :-)

Sculpture by the Sea

Every year Sydney hosts Sculpture by the Sea, an amazing outdoor exhibition of sculptures made by local artists that are displayed along the coast from Tamarama to Bondi.

Here are some of my photos from last year. Can't wait to see what they have in store for us this October!

Bird party

I love this party from stationery designer Alannah Rose. Melbourne based, Suzi Water used her own exclusive designs for her daughter's fifth birthday party which had a bird theme.

Click on images to enlarge.

Seashells, Seashells by the Sea Shore

I love organic products as I believe it helps pave the way towards a sustainable future, which will ultimately save us all an immeasurable fortune.

These lovely little seashells filled with organic lip balm have recently caught my eye and I think they would make gorgeous presents.














I have a friend in the UK who’s getting married in June and, having been inspired during her time here in Australia, has decided to have a beach theme. They would make great presents for her guests or bridesmaids.














They come in a variety of natural coloured shells and the balms are Australian made using the finest naturally derived ingredients consisting of 100% organic, natural and Australian oils, plant and fruit extracts, fruit butters and vitamin E and they smell divine.

These cute seashell lip balms are available from Organic Island

A sneaky peak inside my home

A few things in my home :-)

My 'beachy' looking bookcase, was discarded by an old housemate a couple of years ago. I saw a find, seized the opportunity and painted it a few coats of white to spruce it up and make it more appealing :-).

My lighthouse candle lantern I found while casually purusing the aisles of Kmart one day. The hanging beaded snowflake was a present from London. The wire wall sconce I bought when I was a teen (started collecting young!) which I brought back with me from my recent trip home in the UK.

My funky black bowl was bought in a little shop in Manly for $20. It's so pretty empty I can't put anything in it!

Lastly, my favourite flowers, lilies.