Fire in the Sky

I have decided to try and get back into photography again, especially landscapes (an achievable New Years resolution I think). I would love to have a collection of industrial photographs and farming landscapes. Farming is important to me as it is my family heritage. My Mum grew up on a crop and sheep farm, which my Grandparents still have.

These photos are of a stunning sunset at both my Uncle's farm and Grandparents farm. You do not get sunsets like this in the city. You need open space to truly see the sun set the sky on fire.

All Wrapped Up

I have finished wrapping my Christmas presents. To match my silver and teal theme on the tree I have used silver paper complete with dark blue spotted ribbon. A little blue bauble adds a nice finishing touch don’t you think?

Lady of the Night

My favourite flowers are irises, tulips and daffodils. I have tried growing these in pots for the first time. This spring I produced one lovely  purple iris and a stunning deep purple tulip. It is called something like Midnight or Lady of the Night. I like that.  And I have managed to kill two Venus Fly Traps along the way….

 

Ropes of Crystals and Pearls.

I admire the fashion from the 1920’s and ‘30’s. It was so glamorous. I especially love the jewellery the women wore, all the ropes of crystals and pearls. I must get my bead stash out and do some creating...

Here are a few of my favourite pieces.

Oh Christmas Tree...

This years theme for my Christmas tree is teal and silver. One of my favourite colour combinations for Christmas at the moment.

Bathroom Glory

I found these lovely coasters in a gift shop a while ago. I saw in a home decorating book the idea to use tiles as a splash back in the kitchen, laundry or bathroom. So I have decided to collect tiles and coasters to make one in the bathroom. I have only these four so far. Must keep collecting!

Driftwood

A new café opened up in Ocean Grove a few months ago. Mum and I go there whenever I am visiting. The name Driftwood suits. The tables are a honey coloured wood, walls an ocean blue, these lovely hessian sack pillows, brown paper serviettes and best of all  the table sugar is in small old medicine bottles. Food and coffee are great as well of course!

Magic Wishing Chair

As you know I love bright rich colours. So when I saw this chair in Ishka I feel in love. A couple of months later here it is!! The patchwork panels are a range of bright jewel coloured fabrics, with most of them flock or velvet design. It goes splendidly with my rainbow candle holder. Now I just need the matching love seat...

Green Gate

I love kitchenware and crockery. Anything red and blue, spotty or floral and it must be mine. I come across this Danish brand Green Gate in a British interiors home magazine and fell in love. Unfortunately Green Gate is not available in Australia as far as I am aware. Please, correct me if I am wrong! I am lusting after these pretty designs from their website.

I also love these designs from British website Dot Com GiftShop. Cute name too! Ah, the British do home-wares well…I would love a Smeg fridge. Red or blue of course!

The first four images are from Green Gate, the last three are from Dot Com Gift Shop.

 

Pretty Dress

 

I lived in pretty dresses when I was a little girl (still do!). My Mum was a sewer and made a lot of my sister and my clothing. I felt like such a princess in the long dresses she made me from pretty fabric. As we always called dresses ‘pretty dresses’ that is what I thought they were actually called!

These pretty dresses are from Dotti.

Crafting Away

It is a very wet, windy and cold day here today. You would not know that we are over half way through spring! Altogether a perfect day for crafting before I start work this evening. Here are some of my latest scrapbooking and card making projects...

The card was made using an image from an old sewing pattern. Second hand shops are great for old sewing patterns, along with lace and buttons too. And I found this blue frame in The Reject Shop. I brought a pack of vintage British ephemera from a gift shop and made a collage using the postcards, advertisements and what-not.

Tuna & Tomato Pasta

Tuna and Tomato Pasta

·         Gluten free pasta of your choice

·         Can diced tomatoes

·         1 zucchini, grated

·         1 carrot, grated,

·         ½ red capsicum, diced

·          Handful of sliced black olives

·         Pepper and fresh basil

·         Garlic infused olive oil

 

1.       Cook pasta according to packet direction, using as much as you need. This recipe makes about two serves. If you want more, add more vegetables and more liquid.

2.       Heat olive oil in large frying pan. When hot, add capsicum and cook on high for a few minutes. Add the other vegies and lower heat to medium, cook stirring a little for about seven minutes. Then add the tomatoes, tuna and herbs. Give a good stir and simmer on low for about 20-30 minutes.

Toss through pasta and serve with more fresh basil.

Dangerfield

Dangerfield would have to be a newly discovered favourite shop of mine. I love the Dangerfield, Princess Highway and Revival brands. They are a mixture of vintage and retro style and kind of quirky as well. Unfortunately I live no wear near a store which is probably good for my bank account.

Here are a few favourites of mine from their website…

 

Little Worlds

I woke up one morning to find these little beauties on the kitchen table. My house mate has placed small succulent plants in different kind of glass vases. Complete with rocks and little animals figurines too. Very effective I must say.

Fairies Down the Bottom of the Garden

When I was a little girl I used to make fairy soup. I would collect cuttings from Mum’s garden and mix them in a bucket with water to make fairy soup. Then I would leave it outside for the fairies. The poor things probably fell in the bucket and drowned!

My Mum is a fantastic gardener. When we moved to the current place my parents live at now around 14 years ago there was no garden at all. Fast forward to today and this is the paradise Mum has created.