Last week I followed a link on Shannon Fricke's blog to a fabulous shop called LivedIn Coogee. Since the 100 day don't buy anything I don't really need challenge I set myself finished, and my habits changed a little, I don't do an enormous amount of shopping. I do some of course. I'm not silly! But I was intrigued by Vanessa's story...she'd done a Shannon Fricke workshop (as had I) and she went on to open her own shop (as I most definitely did not!). You can read about it here on Shannon's blog. Anyway, long story short...not living in Sydney, I couldn't go to the actual shop so I hopped over to the online shop and immediately fell in love with this...
I am a kaftan girl from way back...oh yes I am :) I whipped out the credit card, ordered, three days later it was delivered to the office, wore it out that night...many compliments...one happy shopper! As I emailed to Vanessa, "Iam totally in love with it. I can wear it as a dress or over trousers. It's so versatile and comfortable." This is the only item of clothing in the online store at the moment, but check out the lovely homewares you'll find there. I was a bit in love with this, but alas it's sold...pout.
Vanessa has a lovely blog too. You should check it out.
February...over already. That's ludicrous. Have I told you that ludicrous is my favourite word? Well it is. So, we know February is a short month, and I'm back at work...and back to working full time for a while (yes, it's unfortunately necessary) so you won't be surprised that I haven't read as many books this month as I did in January. That may become a record, even for me! Here's what I managed though...six...not bad for a short month.
Aunts up the Cross by Robin Eakin - memoir
The Men and the Girls by Joanna Trollope - fiction
A Married Man by Catherine Alliott - fiction
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - fiction
Details by Lili Diallo - design
So how did I go? There's quite a bit of 'fluff' this month isn't there? But that's ok...perhaps February can be official fluff month in future :) And all of the fiction is Brit fiction...how on earth did that happen! And speaking of all things Brit...that gorgeous possum Colin...ah. Here's part of his off stage press conference after winning the Oscar...
Now where was I after that momentary distraction? Of course I loved looking at all the beautiful pictures in Details...secrets of styling indeed..it was delicious. And yes, I did read all the text as well...I'm not a cheater!
Aunts up the Cross is so quirky...what a family. Eccentricity redefined. I think my favourite though was The Men and the Girls.
I don't think I've ever read a Joanna Trollope book that I haven't loved. Her characters always have the most wonderful flaws; but there's always something to love about them. This is a story of two women living with older men. The main character is Kate, married to James, and then there's Julia, married to Hugh. Hugh and James are old friends. Beatrice Bachelor (isn't that a fab name), a feisty 'spinster', comes into their lives when James knocks her off her bike, and she becomes a catalyst for enormous change. Trollope never ends her novels in quite the way you would expect, but when you're done, you nod your head and go...yep, that's just as it should be.
Two very long plane trips coming up for me this month...I've gone to the dark side and will be reading off this...
Could this be the end of the world as I know it. Doesn't bear thinking about :)
I made a big decision this week. In fact, I'd made it in my head some time ago. But on Monday I turned it into a reality. And it was a decision well and truly fueled by my entry into blogging. It was a decision inspired by so many of you, and the things you do, but especially by this woman, who has been so kind and encouraging...the exceptional Mariska from I used to be snow white but I drifted...who turned her artistic dream into a reality.
So, my decision. It may not seem monumental, but it is to me. You see, I decided that I would work four days a week from 12 July. As part owner of a business this was a hard decision. But I am going to use the extra day to create. And even better...with friends I've found through blogging, and with a friend I've had for a long time who doesn't blog...we are going to open an online store. The bloggers will probably be known to many of you who visit here, but I'm not saying who just yet...we need to finalise quite a few details first and there's a bit more to do (we may need some left brained process person to help us!!). But...I just want to tell you how excited I am. I want to say that no matter how old you are (and I'm having another birthday next week...crumbs they come around quickly!)...no matter what the circumstances of your life ...you can make good changes...choices of the heart and not the bank balance...you can, as the picture says, be free to fly. The MGM (most gorgeous man for those not in the know) and I are off to the coast for a few precious days together on Sunday, so I may have a short blogging break...or not! We'll be staying at a friend's gorgeous house at the beach so I'll be sure to take some photos to share with you. Thank you for all your wonderful comments this week; thank you to new readers and big hugs to all of you. That was all a bit schmaltzy and soppy wasn't it? Don't worry, I'll be back to normal soon:) ist image from here; 2nd from Mariska's place
They cracked me up. Edith has even refused my (I thought) very kind offer to make her one to wear to Ascot! I really don't understand :) And alas I have had to deny Jackie's request for me to rustle her up a Faberge egg out of old necklaces and some gold leaf (but only because silver leaf is my gilding metal of choice...otherwise, not a prob!) And Deborah swore that she saw her mum wearing one just like it in the 60's. Janette warned me about the dangers of being tarred and feathered if the pink fluffy thing should fall on my head while sleeping with night cream slathered on my ageing face (she didn't actually say ageing I hasten to add; I believe she is far too nice for that!) Felicity wrote me a gorgeous little poem. But best of all, Tina's Miss Lottie said she thought it was cool...high praise indeed! One day I'm going to collect all your clever comments and publish a book of bloggy peep wit! It will be too heavy to lift for sure.
Anyway, I thought that it might be fun to go etsy surfing for some feather bags to go with my feather 'hat'...so here are some of the results of a feather bag search... hmmmm...I just happen to have some peacock feathers...and nothing planned for this weekend! Breathe Edith, breathe... I think there must be a lot of naked birds out there... Oh laugh..I laughed till I stopped! And on a completely different note, I finished my first Jodi Picoult book on the weekend while pretending to be watching Australia play England in the rugby with the MGM...
I had been avoiding them (Jodi's books, not the rugby players) because they are so popular (some of them anyway...the rugby players I mean), but I have to say I was quite impressed (I'm back to talking about Jodi now) so I may even read another one...when I get through the fourteen books that are already lined up and waiting! Fourteen books on the sidelines (note another feeble rugby reference) would have been nothing before blogging began! Have a fun Tuesday. Here on this side of the world where yesterday was the shortest day of the year, the days are now getting longer. Good! I could use more than 24 hours at the moment.
A little while ago I was approached by the very lovely Maree from Buyster to see if I'd like to offer one of their amazing line of goodies as a giveaway. Ah, yep...I'm not silly...of course I would. So I am. Offering one that is...
To be honest, it took me ages to work out what I'd like to give you...so many options...I got a bit lost in the website what with looking at clocks and lights and kitchenware and bags and rugs. Go see Table Tonic for the most awesome use of a Buyster rug. Ever.
But I thought, everyone needs a good tote don't they? There were lots of those to choose from too but I really liked this simple, bit-of-fun graphic that I thought went with just about anything really...OK, not black tie, I concede that! It comes in a few colours: black, tan, burgundy or red so please nominate the colour as well when you comment.
So why a giveaway today? Three reasons: I've managed to notch up 105 posts as of right now...
I'm going here on Wednesday...
...that would be Magnetic Island in Far North Queensland (it is for work though bloggy peeps so try not to get too jealous!)
...and I've been given a few blog awards lately; from Jeanne at Collage of Life, Dash from French Sampler and Louisa from Vintage by Lou Lou and I wanted a way to use this giveaway to say thank you for that and for the now 171 people who sometimes take time out of their very busy lives to read what I have to say or see what I have to show (the weekly top ten is proving to be very competitive...I love it!!).
So, thank you to Buyster, thank you to those three lovely bloggers who've made me feel really wonderful by giving me awards in the last little while, thank you to the people who follow this blog (as it says on the sidebar, probably...no doubt out of idle curiosity) and thank you for providing me with a rich source of inspiration, giggles, thoughtfulness and sheer, unadulterated pleasure. As Jackie at Home said yesterday...bloggers rock! I'm putting the pic she used for that post here...just in case it doesn't get in to this week's top ten Jackie!
So, please enter the giveway. I think to be fair to people who do follow this blog and to the sponsor of the gift, you need to be a follower to be eligible for this one. Buyster only post within Australia BUT if this is won by an overseas reader, don't worry, I'll get it delivered to me and then I'll post it off to you. It's the least I can do! So, there you go...you know the drill!
I had three in fact...two of them absolute lemons, hence the need for a third. And one particular application [the spirit level] caused the demise of my favourite Ganesh snow dome. It was so kitsch it was completely awesome. Trust me on that. You can read about that mournful little episode here. It's reasonably amusing, although it wasn't at the time. So I gave my iPhone to the first-born and got a Crack Blackberry instead. It's nice...it's sophisticated...and I lose it in the bottom of my handbag in exactly the same way I used to lose the iPhone...
But I kind of miss it.
So, I was pleased to find these fridge magnets online at Peters of Kensington...13 buckaroonies...and no application download costs.
I might have to get some. Either that or just continue to pretend it's beyond cool to give up an iPhone voluntarily. It's my story bloggy peeps...I'm sticking to it!
I'm afraid to report that I have a new habit...aided and abetted by the first-born who sent me an email saying "I think I'm in love with this". So of course I had to go and look, as she knew I would...there was my first mistake.
...but I could only agree with her. "Would you like it for your birthday?" I most generously said...it was a public holiday, I was relaxed, I wasn't thinking straight. No prizes for guessing the answer to that one. Actually it wasn't all that generous...this is very affordable art. And it is indeed droolworthy and something you could most definitely give your heart to.
But, and there's always a but isn't there...I was looking at the site... and before I knew it, there was 'mistake' No. 2 (danger Will Robinson!). I came across so many other bits of gorgeousness by the very talented JJ at the love shop that I just had to buy this one as well for the gallery wall I'm planning for the lower level of my new black and white bedroom...
Now I may have come late to this etsy thing, and to the love shop in particular, but hey I'm jumping on the bandwagon too, oh yes I am! It's fun (and good!) supporting Australian talent, even in my own small way! And this JJ...I like her philosophy...focus on love, give love, express love...she sounds really nice! Perhaps I should go and order this as well then...??
I am an etsy novice so imagine my delight when having ordered something on-line it arrived around 10 days later from the other side of the world...where exactly in the States is Raleigh NC anyway? (it's ok, don't panic, I've googled it!). Just enough time to have almost forgotten about it (the necklace that is, not Raleigh), but nowhere near long enough to be worried that it wasn't going to get here...perfect combination. I opened the postpack and saw...
I undid the bow and there was a lovely thank you from Tracy herself
...and then revealed in all its loveliness was the gorgeous necklace I spied on opening my very first etsy-finds email
I was mightily impressed,and so it seems were some of the lovely young things in my office...this is NOT my neck!
...so, thank you Tracy for such a painless first etsy experience. You should all head on over to photoglassworks and have a look at all the lovely things that Tracy has on offer...but leave some more for me please!
Hi there. I'm Kerry. I used to have a blog called A Tranquil Townhouse. I loved it and it was fun while it lasted. But now...now I'm immersed in photography. I'm following my intention to become a photographic artist. I'd love it if you'd join me.
www.kjmartinphotography.com
