Shop Focus

This week I've come across an old favourite, West Elm. Almost like a US version of our Freedom, West Elm do great, affordable products, and this week I wanted to pick out some of my favourites from their "Green" Range. Have a great weekend!

Bright Inspiration.

marieclairemaison

These images show you can do no wrong mixing vibrant brights with earthy timbers on a canvas of crisp white.

Change Is Coming...

Those of you who are regular to the Shannon Fricke website will have noticed that not only is change coming, but it has actually arrived... Yes, our website has been taken down with a splash page of gorgeousness taking it's place. You see, it's time all. Time for change... Time for new things to seed and to grow - time for creativity, time for risk taking, time for more beauty in an altered package... We are so excited here at The Little Cottage as we shape the destiny of the new Shannon Fricke website... This new website will reflect some of the beautiful projects that we've been working on over the last little while - a new book, exciting product range, and expanded workshops... Not forgetting all the info you need to know to decorate your life with ease and joy through regular mini-mags and newsletters... Of course, you'll be the first to know when we launch - sign up as a follower or tick 'like' on the facebook page to be kept in the loop. Or send me an email to be added to the newsletter list - ah, so many ways to stay connected. Welcome change.... bring it on...

Blue Lagoon...

pininterest.com

A simple decorative touch can turn something ordinary, into something extraordinary. These blue bottles in themselves are simply sublime - a kind of blue lagoon in a bottle - but their bottle top taps make them useful too... So much cleverness... It's the weekend all - what are you up to this blustery weekend? For me, a turn in front of the fire sounds fantastic - book in hand perhaps?... Plus I'll be preparing for my trip to NYC next week - yes NYC all, for a week, photographing some lovely houses for my upcoming new book, which has been written and is being designed as we speak... So exciting! Have a lovely weekend all...

Also, just a little reminder that there are still spots available in my How To Decorate workshop (12th August 2011) and Styling 101 workshop (26th August 2011) if you're thinking a trip to lovely Bangalow could be on the cards. These are my final workshop dates at The Little Cottage for 2011 and after my Launceston How To Decorate morning on 3rd September which you can still book - the final workshop dates for the year so BOOK NOW - to reserve your spot... Hope to see you in Bangalow in August - or Launceston in September...

Shop Focus...

svenskttenn.se

Some beautiful pictures from gorgeous swedish company, Svenskt Tenn. The brand is famous for their bright textiles, and I must say, I'm also in love with their coloured glass pieces. The Swedes just seem to know how to do it... There is such clarity to their style, such humble beauty... Check out their website for a range of magical beauty...

A Tiny Space...

Proof that good things can come in small...very small, packages...

nytimes.com

It's time..

studiomama.com

We've gone through our dedicated followers list and chosen 4 people at random for the winners of the Sense Of Style: Colour book............and here are the lucky 4..
Jennifer Rizzo, Kate Ward, Letitia Linke and Nikki Yazxhi.. if this is you, kindly send us an email with your details to claim your copy.
Thanks so much to all the followers out there!

Tara Davy Textiles...

I recently went to Jamie Durie's new product launch for Big W and met the wonderful Tara Davy - who is the art director of the Outdoor Room mag. She has started up a little side project of hand screen printed Australian made and designed organic textiles featuring her own illustrations. ‘After years designing and illustrating in the magazine industry I’m thrilled to apply my work to a new surface’, says Tara.
Her fabrics are made of linen and lovely 100% certified organic Australian made jersey and are available for purchase through Kelani Fabric. Kelani has a service where you can choose a fabric and have lampshades, cushions and kids clothing sewn up for you... Too cute...

Inside, Out.

I couldn't not share these beautiful images from Anthropologie, featuring a lovely bed setting used in & out. What a perfect set up to gaze at the stars..

Take many photos.

When you get the chance to travel, its so important to take pictures. Not just to re-capture memories but to provide as inspiration for your surroundings. When thinking of your favourite place, its great to remember what it is exactly that draws you to that particular place, and how can you translate that feeling into your everyday? Is it the colours, the textures of the landscape or the smells?
There's a reason these places resonate something deep inside of us, and there is no reason you aren't able to apply something from your special place to your everyday...

Mowiekay Magazine

A Nursery.

I promise you I'm not obsessed with Nurseries, but I couldn't let this one go un-noticed. Rolling Greens Nursery is a beautiful concept, with gorgeous homewares, plants, flowers, linens and more displayed in an amazing green house style set up.

rollinggreensnursery.com

Shop Focus

I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves stationery, and this webshop based in London has caught my heart.
These are a few of my favourite things from Present & Correct.

One Moment Please...

Hi all,
I know that I promised to  draw the winners of the sense of style: colour books (x4) - however, I've just stepped out - for a few days... What with it being the holidays and all down here in Oz... And so with that, expect the winner to be announced next week... For those of you who haven't entered - you have another few days up your sleeve. Good luck, mes amis!!! sx

Picnic Spaces

H&M

Who said that decorating has to be restricted to the inside & outside of your home, decorating your surroundings for a special occasion, or a casual picnic in the sunshine is a great way to create a gorgeous atmosphere. The sun is shining today and it has me inspired to take some styling into the wide open spaces, so why not take a drive down that little windy road you haven't been before, walk up that hill or pathway in the open field, find a little patch of grass in an urban surrounding and set yourself up.

A Day At The Studio...

We've been busy organizing the studio, and just like re-organizing at home, allocating things in particular areas makes for a much cleaner & clearer space and mind. Here's a little peek of the space...

A blue dream.

PinInterest

timewitness

Colour doesn't always have to be extreme, It doesn't have to sing the loudest of songs for it to be heard. The pictures above show that sometimes, a bright greeny blue can become part of a subtle background through the right use of texture and application.

Win Some Colour...

It's Friday night here on the farm - raining and a little chilly - and whilst the angels are tucked up in front of Death At A Funeral - I've been directing my thoughts towards my new book which is incubating right now... As I look forward (rather excitedly) to what lies ahead, I'm also looking fondly at what came before and in particular the writing of my very first book ever, Sense Of Style: Colour... The writing of sos: colour was a pleasure and a journey, to be sure... Writing a book requires focus and some degree of introspection and connection - it's simultaneously invigorating and exhausting! What will one say that makes a difference? And how will one go about saying it? I was so excited when this book hit the stands, and the reception that it's received by you all out there has been overwhelming... Of course, sos: colour paved the way for sos: space and the hardback compilation sos: colour + space... It's the sos that keeps on keeping on!
Anyway, to celebrate all that came before I'm giving away 4 copies of sense of style: colour - signed, of course! If you'd like to be in the running to win then become a blog follower or click like on the facebook page. We'll draw the lucky winners randomly in a week. Good luck and happy colouring all...

A Fresh Take On Rustic...

Skona Hem

I can't get enough of rustic... There's an honesty to it, a simplicity, a carefree, make do eccentricity to it all. It speaks of an understanding of nature in it's most raw form... And of a desire to connect with the basics of our survival... Of course, rustic doesn't have to mean uncomfortable... Could there be anything worse than an uncomfortable interior. In fact, at its heart, rustic is all about comfort... I love those interiors - the ones that play to comfort and simplicity. This interior straddles the line between modern and rustic so beautifully. Starting with a white base and layering with rustic touches such as hanging pan, aged feature walls and industrial style kitchen makes for a fresh interior that still retains character and authenticity. And that green door? Well, it's simply gorgeous... I'm loving the rustic simplicity of home right now - and this weekend, (other than heading to Finders Keepers!) I'll be comfortably settling in, in front of the fire... This cold weather wont last long, and I'm planning on loving it until the sun comes back... Happy Weekend all....