Inspired by.....

This gorgeous room that I found via Brabourne Farm. I think it appeals to me because of all the vintage elements in it, showing that you don't have to spend a fortune to have a beautiful room.
Image by Michael Partenio via Brabourne Farm

Inspiration

I am in love with a blog I have recently been introduced to called Little Green Notebook. Blogger Jenny is mum to 3 gorgeous girls and runs her business around looking after them all! Phew! Her work is incredible, I have spent ages ogling her blog at all the wonderful things she has done to her rented(!!) home, man o man I'm inspired when I look at her work. And she does it all on a super tight budget! The image below is of a credenza in her office which cost $40!(US) and was in a very sorry state when she first got it. A can of paint later and a bit of a clean up on the handles and whaalla! One super stylish sideboard for her office. I must admit that I am able to see beauty in a lot of items in the junk yard with a bit of a clean up, but that credenza just takes the cake. I am in love! Go check the blog out at www.littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com. Just make sure you take a drink and a packed lunch with you, as you won't be able to tear yourself away from all the gorgeous images and ideas that she posts about. Don't say I didn't warn you!

50% off SALE!!! 2 weeks only!

Massive Summer Sale! 50% off all clothing* and homewares in store. 30% off jewellery.
Everything must go - so get in and get a bargain!
2 weeks only - Sale ends 16th January '10 or while stocks last!

* unless otherwise marked

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas

After much harrassment from my 6 year old, we put up the Christmas tree and decorations for the mantle this past weekend. I must admit that's all I've done so far, but I am really happy with the way it turned out. The little white birds are from Pretty Birdy (naturally) and at only $4 ea they're a lovely addition to any Christmas tree. This is the first time I have ever been able to have a full size tree, as the last house we lived in was TINY. My mother had bought me some gorgeous glass baubles a few years ago, and I've never been able to put them out until this year. So this year for my first real tree I have a theme of red, white and black, which has turned out really well against the dark brown walls in our lounge room. As for Christmas day, I am going to do a really natural, green and white bush Christmas theme for the Christmas table, which involves filling jugs full of cuttings of bottlebrush, flowering gum and any other greenery that looks interesting from the garden. I've got loads of little milk jugs to fill and crystal and glass candlesticks that I have been collecting for the table. As much as I love colour, I am looking forward to a crisp, white, clean table for Christmas.

Only 37 sleeps to go.....

Christmas is coming, and it is at this time of year that I think that maybe I was born in the wrong hemisphere.
I am not a major fan of summer (too hot for me - I much prefer spring and autumn!), and all these fabulous photos of white Christmas' with snow and candles and the like, just makes me want to pack up and head overseas. The beautiful images above are by Karen Mordechai from her blog here, for Hatch Creative. There are some seriously creative people out there in blogland....

As for Pretty Birdy, we have some beautiful Christmas decorations in store now, and if you haven't seen our gorgeous reindeer gracing our new window display, make sure you pop in and say hello to Blanche & Snowflake - they're creating quite a scene!

Melbourne Cup

As part of the Melbourne Cup celebrations we had a great day holding a fashion parade at Peden's, a local pub/restaurant here in Cessnock. It was loads of fun and the girls who so generously modelled for us looked gorgeous. Here are some photos from the day...

The girls all looked fabulous in their casual, work and evening wear. Unfortunately moi was on the microphone and not being the best of public speakers I'm sure I sounded terrible!! You know how when you hear yourself back on a recording you think "Is that really what I sound like!!??" Oh boy, that was me yesterday. But from the feedback we've had, everybody enjoyed themselves and had fun, so that is what it's all about. Totally lost out on the gee-gee's though!

Why I love living in the country....

This just happens naturally...... and I LOVE it!

Shauny

Since moving to the country, my life has definitely changed for the better. I especially love sitting on my front steps watching the kids play and saying hello to people as they walk by....