spring is here

Finally it seems the cold has broken, and the air has that warm feeling,
time to put socks away and wear Summer dresses again............

fleur wood dress in store now

bride & wolfe

These adorable new little birds from bride & wolfe have just come in,
they are black on one side and white on the other,
and the eggs different colors on each side also,
and the branch can be turned upside down to be a nest.....
very clever!!

Lots of new things

There is loads of new things arriving in store at the moment,
these great plates are the best out there at the moment for kids.....

SALE SALE SALE

From tomorrow until Sunday 14th September,
we have 25% off SALE prices on all WINTER clothing,
so come on in and grab a bargain ........

Isak UK

I love what these guys do, they are an English company called Isak,
we don't have it in store, unfortunately the power of the pound make it a little bit expensive once it is shipped and in store....
but I'm sure you could probably order it on-line.

all blogged out

am feeling a bit blogged out, maybe its an end of winter thing?
I'm getting itchy feet to get outside into some warmer air, and go for nice long walks.
I wonder if the blog post ratio for winter to summer is different, I bet more post are done in Winter?


These bike racks have been done by artist David Byrne, and they have been scattered all over New York City,
in an effort to promote bicycling, and to lower the city's carbon footprint.
I just can't make out what the one at top left is?

billy the bison

There is a new member of the cardboard puzzles, billy the bison.

self promotion

Ask anyone who runs their own business and they will tell you that any type of promotion is good...
generally it comes in the form of magazine or newspaper editorial, of which douglas & hope has done incredibly well in the past...
but this time, as in next Wednseday 13th August at 9am, it will come in the form of television!
bit scary I know, but 9am with David and Kim will be showing an interview with myself about quilting....
and being one to want to share, I also roped in my weekly craft/quilting girls.
There is a group of 8 of us who for the last 5 years have met weekly on a Thursday night at our different houses to quilt.
It started with me teaching them how to quilt, and now it is more about the wine, the food, the weekly catch up, the cups of tea and cakes and a little bit of sewing also gets done.
The craft girls filming section was done at Melissas lovely home.
If you get a chance 9am Wednesday 13th August, Channel 10.

hookmaker

this is a stylish way to help deal with all that crap that acumulates on the kitchen bench......
in store now $69 each

a book everyone should read

'A day in the life of Ivan Denisivich' by Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of those books everyone should read.
And anyone who has read it would probably say it is one of their favorites.

But I am a Solzhenitsyn fan, having also read Cancer Ward and Gulag Archipilago, and let me just say they are not easy going!
Solzhenitsyn won a Nobel Peace prize for Literature in 1970, may he rest in peace after passing away on the weekend.

new d & h

Jazz up the kitchen with some of these new douglas & hope cannisters and mugs,

there is also the same designs applied to vintage plates and bowls, but no images available as they don't hang around long enough!

I think the yellow is my current favorite.......

tree of the month

Just about every month there is a tree flowering that is worth the space in your garden.
Every year when the deciduous magnolias flower, I kick myself that I have never planted one.
The buds have started bursting all over town, and there is one special one to check out this year,
out the front of Penelope Durstons shop, Cottage Industry, in Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
It has been crocheted and doilied, and now its flowering, it is certainly going to be gorgeous......





images courtesy of Penelope Durston

As they say.....

she who dies with the most fabric wins......
well I'm officially out of the race, after moving my sewing studio today from one end of the building to the other,
and realising the amount of fabric I have accumulated, I am only going to collect fabric that gets used.
Some people are very happy, the local kinder/creche, and the St Mary's house of welcome both did well from donations today!
I do now have a lovely BIG bright new studio overlooking Brunswick St.
I will explain the reasons for this later,

for now here's some photos that I have had for a while that I love


unknown quilters

I think photo by Lagioiuzza, and if anyone can tell me anything about this installation I would be greatful.

photographer unknown

There's something to be said for being Amish....

Since I started quilting, I have nurtured a fascination of the Amish,
they are the most brilliant quilters, I love, love, love the simplcity of them and the intricate quilting is incredible, I have secretly fostered the idea of going and living amongst them, and quilting to my hearts content....

Currently with the world seeming to be headed towards environmental disaster, their ideals of simple living, plain dressing and resisting all things technological, are becoming even more increasingly attractive to me.

With the global oil crisis and claims petrol will reach $10 a litre, horses and buggies are also looking like an ecconomical and eco friendly alternative! horse poo is fantastic for growing those organic vegies......

I can see myself hanging out at this little market, maybe not wearing the bonnet....

but look, snoop shows how to in-corporate Amish ideals with modern day... and I'm sure I could too!!

brighten up this cold day

these little cuties might make this freezing weather feel a little better.......
its from a shop in Copenhagen called 'Creme de la creme a la Edgar',
run by a gorgeous looking Danish couple, they have 2 gorgeous kids and a gorgeous house filled with all things Danish!

'ouch' that hurts

I have this week cancelled a holiday due to circumstances beyond my control.
Not your average holiday, but one that was going here first for a few weeks to stay with a great friend....

then here for my boys to meet their grandpa.....


and then here, because I love it sooo much.......


life's a bitch

I want to be here

Misool Eco Resort
Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
www.misoolecoresort.com


image Emma Dover



This is my idea of heaven, this new resort in Indonesia is opening in October,
and with a very strong committment to environmental and social responsibility, it is an incredible example of how to operate in a sustainable environment.
And going by these photos, this type of beauty is well worth preserving.

images courtesy www.misoolecoresort.com

stamp collecting

I never thought I would be the stamp collecting type, but after seeing these Charles and Ray Eames commemorative sheets, everything could change!
Available through United States Postal Service, (usps.com) but unfortunately they won't ship internationally,
so if you know someone in the States, call in a favour.

little twinkle rugs

Here are the new little rugs to arrive from New York this week, made from 100% New Zealand wool.

fifi lapin

Valentino

Philosphy by Alberta Ferretti

Chanel

I have loved this blog, by a rabbbit called Fifi Lapin for quite a while now,
anyone who is remotely interested in fashion will as well, its gorgeous and always makes me smile......

images courtesy Fifi Lapin
fifi-lapin.blogspot.com