I was hoping......

that 2011 was going to be the year of the elephant so I could use this amazing picture. 

Turns out that we are about to enter the year of the rabbit. 

I am sticking with my plan though and going for the eye candy over a fluffy rabbbit. It is the sight of a stately home, all square and symmetrical that gets me every time. (and I do have a soft spot for elephant paraphernalia.....)  So - on to those elephants! Too amazing  - look at the baby, he is almost moving! Whatever way you choose to celebrate, have a good one and see you all next year! 

Thank you again for all the wonderful comments and support - you have been sublime! 

pic from here   

Merry Christmas to all!

Well, it is exactly one year ago since I started blogging! Yes - last 25th December I decided to begin this journey which has led me up so many new exciting paths not to mention meeting many real and blogging friends. So here's to all my new customers who have found me via this blog and here's to the ones I am yet to meet. Here's to my amazing 500  followers and fellow bloggers who continue to comment and provide wonderful feed back, even when I don't always manage to get back to return the favour. Here's to the inspired and interesting blogs I read daily, both here and overseas and their authors who have opened up a whole new world! 

I hope you like my Father Christmas - he was picked up from an op. shop and now has a whole new set of clothes (well...ok...cushions scraps...) but he certainly does look happy enough with his makeover, don't you think? 

So Merry Christmas to all and to all.....see you very soon!  

    

Well, not exactly Christmassy......

but such a delightful image that I couldn't help but share it!

Velvet and wool and Hunters - a perfect combination for winter. I picked up my sister and her family yesterday from the plane from the UK. She was lucky to get out and finally see some some sunshine. Consequently, my office has now been turned into nursery for my new nephew Hugh. 

Where ever you are in the world, either enjoying the sun or the snow, I hope you are getting prepared for the 25th! 

pic. from here via Matchbook Tumblr, my new fave go to........... 

In the home stretch!

I am madly cooking, making up beds, gardening and tidying in preparation for a house full of Christmas guests. All the cushions, curtains and furniture (except for a coffee table...........) have been delivered and I am now in the home stretch before Christmas!   

There's still a bit to do, but hopefully all will come together. IIn the meantime I will leave you with these stunning canopied beds  - a perfect picture for the week leading up to Christmas, don't you think?  They remind me of a candy cane! 

pic here.

As you can tell from....

from my dreadful lack of commenting, posting and email answering this week, I am under the pump. 

It's just a tempory thing which happens at this time of year in this industry when everyone wants everything BC. (before Christmas) 

So far so good with the client work, however the paperwork has piled up as have the enquiries. I am not complaining - I LOVE being busy.

Anyway, here's a rather bad snapshot of one of a pair of chairs which has just found its way into a clients home.  We did cushions, rugs, furniture, bedlinen, lamps and bedlinen and I love how it has all come together! More pics. to come (I  have a pro. on the job) so in the meantime enjoy this one and the lead up up to Christmas! 

Madly deeply

........in love with Lulu's new 'Colours' design. 

It looks like a collage of bits of paper, so simple yet stunningly clever. 

And a new colour in 'Sunshine' too.......

I'd say this is begging me to use it. 

I am a little (ok alot ) in awe of Lulu DK. Her talent is amazing and her lifestlye is enviable. (she is also just a pretty cool and stylish kinda gal.....) 

Check out the rest of "Whats New" in her world here.

Can't you just feel Summer in all her designs? 

I know I should be....

posting pictures reflecting Christmas cheer

 and all things green and red

but once again I can't go past

 this all this mighty blueness

 it's just stuck in my head. 

A kitchen all blue, it really is a treat 

To pull this off, well its a mighty feat. 

I love its doors all glossy and shiny

Its not too big or for that matter too tiny. 

That rug, surely you didn't think that could go without mention? 

This room is a winner and breaks with convention. 

  

pic from here.

You can do no wrong.....

......Jonathon Adler. In my eyes you are perfect! 

I mean it is a simple colour scheme, 'blue, blue, green and white.' Simple yet effective. Those cushion on the bed? Labelled as 'JOY' and I know why! They remind me of the fabric I chose for Kimberlee's stool covers from yesterday. I am installing some curtains in my bedroom in same fabric this week and can't wait to show you. They will definately be 'Adler - esque'. In fact the colour palette is pretty similar.....repeat after me....'blue, blue, green and white'. (oh and I may have thrown in a touch of pink in too!)  Have a good one. 

Kimberlee's Covers.

We all ooh and ahhed over Kimberlees (from Brown Button) house in Ivy and Piper's first issue recently. Just think fresh white, a splash of colour and a few perfectly placed  books and flowers! Well here's another peek inside her gorgeous abode............

She's asked me to tell you she apologises for the lack of fresh paint and lack of artwork which I am only doing as a formality, 'cause to me her kitchen looks pretty perfect. We worked together to select this fabric for her stool covers, which before their makeover were just the ordinary Ikea version! I am so pleased with how they turned out and so is Kimberlee.

Here's another angle. Don't they look great against the black and white tiles?
And who wouldn't love a Mac in the kitchen? Thanks KB for the photos and for using my 'Design Online' service, I think we cooked up a storm together!

   

Weekend.

I have had the quickest of flicks through the latest Lonny and there is so much deliciousness that I will have to savour it for a time when I can truly spend some quality time with it! In the meantime I will be catching up this week end, so if you are wating to hear from me........I am on my way!

A Cushion of Tradition.

Don't you love how good taste never goes out of style? So, if you thought the whole Union Jack cushion thing was a new trend this fabulous picture of Edward and Mrs. Simpson goes to prove that it isn't! 

And if you want to buy one today.........

  

well go and visit the ever stylish Louise, a girl who is always bang on the money when it comes trends, and being ahead of the pack! 

photo Life.com via Matchbook

cushion pic from Table Tonic

Cushion Expressions.

These delightfully delicious cushions will be 'winging their way' to one of my clients this week. 

'Make no bones about it',

 they are the 'icing on the cake' for this room. 

I had to 'haul someone over hot coals' to get this fabric in to the country, and when it arrived, well it 'hit the nail on the head'. I wanted everything 'ship shape' and now I am 'grinning like a cheshire cat'.

It is 'raining cats and dogs' here, but as they say 'a bird in the hand' and all that. 

You can 'bet your bottom dollar' that my client will love these cushions, (which have turned up 'in the nick of time') - 'mark my words'.

You may think I am 'as mad as a hatter' but 'make no bones about it' the 'proof of the pudding cushion wil be in the err.......um ........sitting.'

Boy, that was FUN!

Pom Poms.

If you are like me and don't go too hard on the whole decorating thing for Christmas, then pay attention as I have found the perfect solution.  

Pom, poms. 

What could be easier and more effective? Now if you are crafty and have some spare time then you can make them yourself or why not buy them from Etsy shop Party Poms?

It doesn't all need to be about red and green either. 

Any colour will suffice for the festivities. So if you are after a bit of pom(p)! and ceremony this year, then look no further! 

Today begins a week of..........

Christmas carols, school presentation nights, swimming, final client wrap ups and installations and some planning for new clients* for next year.

That is why I will leave you today with a picture full of order and beauty, a picture where it's the little things that make the big difference. I'm talking trim, piping and monogramms thanks to the ever creative 

Ruthie Sommers. (oh yes, and who wouldn't want a red sofa for Christmas?)

*and ps......if you are thinking you need a little or alot of help in your houses next year, I am now taking bookings for 2011. 

Four sure!

I know most of you will have seen this amazing set of beds by now ( I hesitate to call them bunks....) but I couldn't resist posting this gorgeous image. A child's idea of heaven,

  

and straight in to the holiday house file. You only need a skinny room, ok that and a skilled tradesman.

What are your week end plans? Ours have had a last minute change so instead of being away, we will be  doing things around the house.  Oh, yes that, and checking my list, (Christmas) possibly even checking it twice! See you next week, if not before! ; )

Have just shown this to my daughter who said "sick"! I think that is good! She was particularly fond of the curtains..........

Balls and bags.

How pretty are these hand painted Christmas baubles from UK store Toast?

In fact they are too full of goodness not to consider having them in your house all year round. They could sit in a bowl or a glass vase in the non festive months waiting for their busiest time of year don't you think. It would be a shame to only have all that adoration just for December.  

I think this is fun too. A sort of Chritmas stocking disguised as a flour sack. Either way you look at it, an an excellent way to receive or give stash for the 25th, and it would look pretty fab. under the tree too.  

Get yours here  and BTW don't you love CR's bush Christmas styling?

I mean if I looked like that I too would would hang around a water hole in nothing more than an bikini and a waistcoat! : )

Wish list and Stuart.

Yes, I am thinking about it now and yes there are a couple of things I would love to wake up and find in my stocking on Christmas morning.  In my own humble opinion, there is nothing nicer than a good bok for Chrissy, so that when the feasting is over you can escape somewhere and have a good read. (or maybe just look at the pictures.....!)

So, Dear Father Christmas, I have been a good girl this year (well mostly) and I would like...... 

and if it is not too heavy on the sleigh, one of these..........

because I think the cover is the perfect shade of blue and I am sure it is just as good inside! 

In other news that extremely talented and very very nice man Stuart Membrey has joined in on all the fun and started a blog. Have a read HERE and be sure to add it to your blog roll so you don't miss a trick! 

Stuart has always been very supportive of my blog and my business so please spread the love! 

 

Late edition of the book list just in!!!!
Edited to to add please, please, please bring me this too!

Thanks Louise for the heads up on this......NICE ONE!