Ready To Party....

I do love a room all dressed up and ready for a party... A glass of champagne in hand, and this one is out on the town...

Loving....

You know how much I love a tree house! They are such lovely places for children to play, explore and lose themselves in their imaginations... Deep down inside - I'd love a tree house of my own - a little shack suspended amongst the wilderness... Kinda like this one - what with colourful quilts and all! Imagine such a thing?

Weekend Bliss...

I do love that the weekend has been a sunny one - because I managed a little turn in the garden which is just a lovely thing to do - particularly since I've spent the last couple of days on the sofa with the flu! Aaargh! The vege patch has been well and truly overgrown - as so I loved clearing it out to make way for a few summertime veges - tomatoes, beans, lettuce, beetroot plus sage, oregano. The soil is just lovely at the moment and so it shouldn't take long for things to flourish. Aaah, the garden - how lovely for the soul... These summery rooms are just so inspiring don't you find - and remind me that my favourite time of year is just around the corner.

pics from Marie Claire Maison

And The Winner Is...

Happy Friday everyone! How lovely to be rolling on into the weekend... After a couple of days in Sydney talking over at ISCD - it's lovely to be back on the farm - albeit with the flu! But nonetheless, it's good to be home...

Anyhoo, the time has come to make your Friday! As I'm about to announce the winner of the Blue Caravan and Honey Bee Flock Clock giveaway. This giveaway has been very, very popular - and thanks to everyone who has become a follower. Sadly, there can only be one winner (until our next bumper giveaway!) and that winner (chosen at random) is.....

Life, Love, Clutter and Other Beautiful Things....

Congratulations Life, Love, Clutter - email me with all of your details and we'll send your beautiful Honey Bee Flock Clock asap...

Happy Weekend y'all....

p.s I'm leaving with you with this lovely shade of orangey red today. This pic was taken in Bali and I just love the colour as well as the funky shape of the car... It just looks sooo happy....

Pretty In Pink...

Yes, everyone, I'm having another pink moment! I simply can't help myself it seems - it's all about pink right now... Could it be that pink is a the gentle nurturer - the calm, the relaxed, the all embracing? I have to say there are times when I do love a little bit of nurturing - life just seems to go by in a whirly girly sometimes. Of course, it doesn't help that I have a head cold! (And there I was boasting that I'd made it through winter completely unscathed!!!) And that I'm away from home right now. You see all, I'm in Sydney - for the ISCD talks called Behind Design. The first was last night, the second tonight.... It was lovely to head into the ISCD offices and to spend the evening hearing stories of design from some very talented designer-y folk. And a pleasure to have a little chat myself... I do love being in Sydney again - stripping off the farm boots and mud and getting all dressed up in my finery... And so, back to pink... Just the perfect shade for a day like today...

pic from Lobster and Swan (I think!!!)

Happy Monday Giveaway...

How lovely to begin a new week with a giveaway! I'm completely in love with this HoneyBee Flock Clock - it's cute and very funky and will look simply fabulous gracing a a cozy nook in the kitchen, hallway, or above a mantel. It's made of Blackwood veneer and has a silent mechanism so it's tick-tock won't disturb! The good news on this Happy Monday - is that you my dear readers can win one for  yourself - thanks to Blue Caravan and Honey Bee. All you need to do is sign on to become a follower - then your name automatically goes into the draw. I'll draw the winner at random on Friday - so good luck everyone...

Art Piece Inspiration...

I am forever inspired by the creative types who live in and around Byron Bay... There are writers, actors, directors, chefs and of course, artists - who live by the beaches and up there yonder in those hills. They are constantly creating beautiful things and I feel blessed to able to live amongst such beauty and to be able to see their work gracing the walls of local galleries. One favourite gallery is Art Piece Gallery in Mullumbimby - a divine shrine to all things creative. Owned by the lovely Nadine Abensur who scours the region for the best local art and crafts - Art Piece is just a breath of fresh air and not to be missed if you are heading to Byron and love to explore its regions....

Here are some pics of the gallery in full flight - Congratulations Nadine on creating such an inspirational space... 70 Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby...

Late Night Beauty...

I can't help myself - I just have to share these pics of Cath Kidston's house that was featured in Lonny Mag...
Love Cath - and Love Lonny...

We Have A Winner...

Oh I do wish that you could all be winners - but sadly my darling followers there is only one!

And today's winner (chosen at random) of the Blue Caravan/Kanimbla Clay Tea Light is Emma Treadgold...

Congratulations Emma - please email on email@shannonfricke.com with all of your details and we'll send your beautiful tea light to you...

Don't worry everyone if you didn't win today as there is another wonderful gift from Blue Caravan on it's way to be revealed in the next day... Keep your eyes peeled for more booty my friends!

A Story of Escape...

As you know, there is the odd occasion when I sneak away to Bali - generally on a work vacation but occasionally for a little getaway! I find Bali is such an inspirational place in so many ways - the Balinese are so 'in the moment' (sometimes frustratingly so!) - that thinking of the past or even the future is not in their emotional vocab... Being there is a reminder to be present in the now - a state of being that I'm forever struggling towards...

The colours of Bali always inspire me - these pics were taken at a local fruit stall and I had to take a couple of snaps. Note the muted tones mixed in with a sparkle of bright to uplift and entrance... This is Bali at it's most honest... Do you have a favourite place that inpsires you to be at peace? At one with yourself? Let me know, I'd love to hear your stories of escape...

p.s Also, a little reminder that I am going to draw the winner for the Blue Caravan Kanimbla Clay leaf tealight tomorrow - so look out - Tuesday could be your lucky day...

Progress...

Getting anything done in this world is never an easy task, don't you find. There always seems to be delays, hiccups, mistakes and problems that mar the path to a successful outcome. Being an Aries, I find this all incredibly frustrating - as us Aries gals a prone to a little impatience at times!!! However, perhaps this is the lesson of life - be patient, be present and good things will come. Having said all of this, the road to building the pool as been smooth sailing and a pain free ride - perhaps because I've already been patient 2 years worth? (Thank you universe...)

 Anyhoo all - I thought you'd like to see the progress of all that digging... Doesn't it just look fab? Things are rolling along - and we should be tiled, decked and all filled up for summer... Bring on those hot and steamy Byron Bay days...

p.s don't forget to sign up as a follower to go into the draw to win this divine leaf tealight from Kanimbla Clay via Blue Caravan... It's simply a divine piece of artistry and will beautiful grace any mantel...

Giveaway Saturday With Kanimbla Clay...

Hello everybody,

I hope you're enjoying your weekend and that the weather is glorious in your part of the world...
I thought that I would celebrate the weekend with another Blue Caravan giveaway! Yay! Now you know how much I love all things ceramic - well, I'm very excited that our giveaway is a beautiful leaf tealight from the lovely gang at Kanimbla Clay. This sublime piece is made by hand (and of course, ethical in nature) and is simply lovely by day and even lovelier all lit up at night...

If you would like to be in the running to win this lovely Kanimbla Clay piece - then click on and become a follower. The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday (so be quick y'all!)

Good luck everyone - and happy weekend...

Friday's At The Studio...

I thought you guys may be interested to see what goes on at The Little Cottage Studio on a Friday afternoon? Sadly, as you can see we are not cracking open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the end of another productive week! Instead, we are up to our eyeballs in mess - frantically researching and administrating some ideas for a new little range... This, my dear friends - is the truest example of what goes on in here on any given day. Simple divine and beautiful chaos. I remember once seeing an article about Martha's working desk and it was all white and as clean as a whistle... As hard as I try to be orderly, it;s just not a reality all the time - and so here we are - messy but happy! 


Before I bid you adieu for a happy weekend - I must announce the winner (who was chosen at random) of our lovely, jubbly Blue Caravan Earth Tribe Giveaway.... Drum roll everyone....


Congratulations to Jodie from Creativity and Love - you have won the beautiful Earth Tribe Purse...


Send us a line Jodie with your address and contact details so that your purse can be despatched asap...


I have some more giveaways coming up in the next few days - so keep your eyes peeled everyone...


Happy Weekend all....

Pretty Pictures All In A Row...

And, I couldn't end Thursday without posting some inspirational pics - and today's pretty pictures come from none other than the forever gorgeous Anthropologie. For your viewing pleasure...

p.s also, if you're interested in design and would like to hear some industry folk speaking about all things beautiful - then ISCD (International School Of Colour and Design in Sydney) are hosting some talks called Behind Design - of which I'm taking part with a group of very talented industry types. The dates are 22nd & 23rd September - although I think the 23rd is Sold Out... Head to their website for all the info...

Countdown...

Hi guys,
Don't forget that I'm drawing the winner for the divine Earth Tribe purse (see post below) tomorrow - that is Friday! All followers go into the draw - so it you're interested sign up today. I've got a couple of other goodies from Blue Caravan to give away too over the next few days - so keep your eyes peeled...
sx

Workshop Update....

Hi all,
Many of you have contacted me regarding the 2011 Workshop dates - and we are scrambling to get them plus payment info up on the website - however a setback or two means that it may be another two weeks before we get the the website up to date. If you are really, really keen to reserve your spot - and definitely don't want to miss out - then I'm posting the dates for the Styling 101, How To Decorate and Just Colour Workshops in the right hand bar on the blog. These three workshops will be held at The Little Cottage in beautiful Bangalow and the cost is $395 for the day including a luscious ploughmans lunch and goody bag at the end of the day... If you would like to book via credit card over the phone then contact us at the The Little Cottage studio on 02-66872184. If we're not there then leave a message with your name and number and we'll get right back to you. We're confirming the venue for the Follow Your Heart Creative Living Seminar - which will most likely take place at a very swanky hotel on the Gold Coast - I'm just confirming now and will get back to you with venue and cost details in the next few days.
I hope to see you in 2011! Happy Decorating y'all....

Free Range A Roaming...

I was in Sydney the other day visiting my little chicks - that is, my lovely range of ceramics called Free Range by Shannon Fricke. You see, they've left home! And gone to the big city... It's been a traumatic time, setting my lovely babies free - but it had to happen you know, because this is just how things roll... Thankfully, they've found their way to a very, very nice home. The lovely gang at Murobond paints are stocking a collection of Free Range pieces - and here they are looking absolutely to-die-for in their Sydney showroom. I'm in love with the way they've been arranged and styled - I couldn't have done it better myself. If you'd like to take a peep at the Free Range by Shannon Fricke range - then head to Murobond (81 Dickson Avenue, Artarmon). Of course, while you are there, you will be completely bowled over by their wonder wall of paint colour and no doubt will be inspired to take a pot of paint home with you too - perhaps in a tone to match Free Range? Anyhoo - thanks Murobond for the support. And good luck in the big city my lovely, lovely Free Range babies!

Giveaway Monday with Blue Caravan and EarthTribe...

You know how I do love the team at Blue Caravan - the online market place for gorgeous things created with ethics and fair trade in mind. And I'm very excited that the team at Blue Caravan have supplied us with some gorgeous things to give away to you guys - my lovely readers....

I'll be rolling out the giveaways over the next week - so stay tuned - however our first giveaway begins today.

This beautiful Scarlet Evening Purse has been created by Earth Tribe. It's pure silk, with cotton lining and has embroidery panelling and a snap button closure. And it's worth $79.95! Wow, thank you Earth Tribe for passing on your beauty to our readers and thanks Blue Caravan for organizing the booty...

Now, for the rules... If you want to be a winner then sign up as a follower on my blog - all followers will go into the drawer to win this lovely prize and the winner will be drawn and announced this Friday 10th September. Good luck all...

Why, Hello Again...

Hello everyone,
I know I've been flying under the radar a little this week - that's because I've been away on a little sourcing trip - hunting fabrics and decoration for a dinner table that I'm styling for a charity ball coming up in October. It's been rather full on work I have to say - as I have a very definite picture of how I want things to look in mind - the trick of course, is to find the pieces of the jigsaw - and I seem to be on track so far... I hope!
In the meantime, I have to show you my latest Women's Weekly project - re-upholstering and painting an old dining chair. I used an Ici et La stripe as the fabric of choice - and painted the chair a lovely soft blue - (it was an old brown one originally). What do you think?