Make Mine... Imperfection....

Oh, I'm so sick of perfection.... aren't you? We've had years of it, quite frankly and the stress of keeping up with it all really is doing my head in! Oh, for the joy of a lived in house... Newspapers piled up on the floor, tele on, a kitchen that gets some use, a bathroom with accoutrements at your fingertips... I mean, at the end of the day, isn't that what a house is for? To live in? Not to sit in, back upright, knees in tight... Too scared to move for fear of ruffling the ruffles... Really all, don't you find that the art of decorating is meant to create a beautiful support system upon which we can live? I mean, really live... kick off your shoes, get the floor a little muddy and all that... Sometimes I think we have it all back to front? Why oh why would one decorate the house with a fear of enjoying the fruits of the decoration? Are we just so busy these days, that the art of making mess is seen as more work, rather than it be a reflection of a well lived life... Are we so bound up in the 9 to 5 - that we can't allow ourselves even a second to exhale? To make a cup of tea? To nibble on a bicky without worrying about the crumbs!
Oh please do forgive me all - I know it's Friday and all, and Fridays are for joy not for grumbles... But really... I've had enough... I'm marching as we speak... Placard raised... Loudspeaker on... Enjoy thy house is my message... Whatever shape in which it comes... Love it, tend it but most of all, be at peace in it... It is, after all, a temple within which to be you...
Happy Weekend all...
p.s I promise I'll be less grumpy next week!

pics from Country Living

The Old Tree...

Some days, I like to head out into the paddock up at the farm to check out the creeks and the old trees that dot around the place. It's such a peaceful interlude - just me, Isobel the Spoodle and nature. Next door to our farm is the old blueberry farm - and as I walk I get to peek at the blueberry trees  that are hidden under the gigantic nets that protect them from the flying wildlife that soars above... There are so many trees in our paddocks, however it's the old figs that really speak to me... They tell the stories of the land, of the comings and goings, of what came before... And they whisper the future as they sway in the breeze - their upstanding root system ensuring that they last the distance amongst the often wild and woolly elements of nature that we experience up here in the Hinterland... Do you have a tree that speaks the truth to you? One that guides you as you head along your journey? Well, if you don't then you can share mine... This old fig is graceful, a stalwart in the paddock, but with branches that are low enough for us to climb on board enabling us to share the stories of the wind... Listen closely... Can you hear them now?

Early Bird Special Last Days for Decorate In Style...

If you'd like a dose of creativity before the end of 2011, then come along to the Decorate in Style workshop here at the Little Cottage studio in Bangalow on Friday November 4th. We have an early special until Wednesday this week... Click on the link to the right for all of the details and to book... It's going to be a hoot of a day all - and what with the sun shining in Bangalow it's a great opportunity to stop, breathe and give yourself some time before the Christmas rush descends. See you in Bangalow on Friday 4th November. xxx

Memories...

Goodness all, where has the time gone... It's been busy busy busy this week as we build up to the end of 2011! Yes,  blink and you could have missed it... 2011 is quickly drawing to a close. However, as life is never dull in our neck of the woods, the next couple of months are sure to be jam packed with loads of fun things and the completion of some very dear projects... I've had a fortunate year this year, working with some amazing clients and putting together some lovely creative work (all to be revealed in 2012, roll on, roll on)... I'm always struck with a nostalgic tear as the year draws to a close - where I find myself thinking about the time that has passed and where good things began. Recently, I was rifling through some old bits and bobs when I came across these tear sheets (of myself and my daughter Inez... Joe in tummy!) in our old house in Camp Cove in Sydney. Inez was not even a year old back then (she's now nearly 13) and our little weatherboard home had just had a makeover and as it was gleaming with freshness, it ended up in the second issue of the newly created INside Out magazine. Remember this one all? Looking at these pictures of Inez reminded me of old times, where we've been and how far we've all come along our journey... I have to admit that I did shed a little tear when I found these pics... My, how quickly everybody grows... And so with that, a reminder to seize the day, enjoy every minute (even the frustrating ones!) and to go with the flow... As time will pass - exactly as it's meant to...
Happy Weekend all...
x

Happy Weekend All...

Every now and then, I check in with the gorgeous and inspiring India Hicks to see what she's been up to... She leads such an enviable lifestyle down there on Harbour Island in the Bahamas... One filled with the kind of life-balance that we could do with a little more of... I was fortunate enough, many many years ago now, to spend some time on Harbour Island (on a photo shoot for Dolly magazine!) - and I can see why India has fallen in love with the place... The sandy beaches cast the softest pink hue, the water is aqua at it's purest and the pace is quiet and every so slow...  It's lovely to be reminded to slow down the pace and whenever I check out pics of the Bahamas this is exactly how I feel, if but for a minute... Of course, living in pure heaven here myself, up in Byron Bay, I know that life in paradise isn't always lived at such a slow pace... There is much to be done... Cows to heard, vege patches to grow, grass to mow and visitors to entertain (summer is on it's way and with that an influx of friends and family!)... But nonetheless, even just a second of peace is a peaceful second gained... And so, thank you, dear India, for reminding me to stop and relish the peace... I hope this weekend, you get to spend some peaceful time... Even if it's but a second or two.... Happy Weekend...

pics from India Hicks site are of Savannah on Windemere Island - just a hop skip and a jump from Harbour...

Paris Les Touriste Style...

I was so inspired by the story on the lovely Carla Coulson in this months Inside Out magazine. Her apartment in the Marais district of Paris is just pure gorgeous and filled with great ideas for teeny tiny spaces and working with someone elses' wallpaper! Carla is the most talented photographer - and I had the great pleasure of meeting her during a trip to Paris with my family over Christmas last year. In fact, we spent the day as Carla took a series of black and white portraits of us in locations all over Paris... They are so beautiful and line the walls of my lounge room... Every one who drops by marvels at how moody and evocative they are... And, every time I look at them... I do think of Carla...
However, I do digress... One of the wonderful things about this article is that it profiles some of Carlas' favourite places in Paris - and a favourite is Les Touristes... Those of you who know Les Touristes will know it is a colourful treasure troves of all things homey.... A bright and cheerful retreat from the grey (but lovely!) streets of Paris... Uplifting, quirky, fun, amazing...
Thanks Carla for reminding me of Les Touristes.... I was momentarily whisked back to this beautiful city...