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...

DECORATE AND STYLE WORKSHOP....

EARLY BIRD Christmas Special - BOOK BEFORE 18TH OCTOBER TO SECURE YOUR PLACE FOR ONLY $300 (normal price $395).

You asked - and we've answered. Yes, one more workshop before the end of 2011 to be held at The Little Cottage studio in Bangalow.

This workshop is a special one - a fusion of our most popular workshops - How To Decorate and Styling 101... 
Spend the morning creating decorating concepts and mood boards - learn about what your mood board says about you and how to bring your board to life with fabric, colour and accessories. 
Then, dedicate the afternoon to all things styling - learn about the golden rules of creating vignettes for both photography and interior decoration. Then we get practical - as you style and photograph your own vignette to life, with me as your guide.

This is a fun day at my studio, The LIttle Cottage in Bangalow, combining creativity, practicality and the tools of the trade. Includes a lovely lunch catered for by The Harvest Cafe in Newrybar... Don't miss out... CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED TO OUR SHOP TO BOOK YOUR PLACE....

No transfers or refunds on this workshop all - so be sure that you can make the date...

pic of the Lazybones store in Lovely Bangalow...

By The Colour Way...

Thought I'd mention that I have a special on my sense of style: colour books for Christmas... As we're down to the very last of these lovely books - we've gone crazy and are offering two for $30 + p/p - normally the books are $25 each... If you're stocking up on Christmas gifts - then head to the Free Range Shop on the right of this post which will take you through to the bigcartel shop... Press the two for $30 button to take advantage of this offer... Happy Colouring all....

I'm Inspired...

You know that I do love TOAST - the UK clothing and homewares company... There's a rusticity and simplicity that I'm always attracted to - and I always look forward to their new catalogue hitting the market... Here are some pics from their new winter catalogue to wet the appetite on this sunny Tuesday... Enjoy....

@Home Decorator...

Me again,

Just letting you guys know that our first @Home Decorator video question and answer is up on the facebook page - click here to be redirected - this one is all about what to do with Yellow Pine Floor Boards... xx

Friday Inspiration...

I do so love Anthology magazine - have you seen it all? Such inspiring pics... Enjoy your weekend all... I hope it's filled with beauty and inspiration...

Spring Planting and Other Things...

My goodness - where has the time gone! Yes, it's been a busy time up here at the farm over the last couple of weeks with much hard yakka - planting seedlings for the vege patch - popping in nectarine trees, fig trees, a magnolia or two and some vibernum hedging plants... I feel a little exhausted I must say... But in a good way, of course... There's much work to be done from now until Christmas - to ensure that everything is in ship shape for 2012. What with farm work and creative work going on simultaneously, it's go, go, go... On top of all of this - Isobel the Spoodle took on an old brown snake a couple of days and almost didn't make it... But she is a tough girl - and is back on track... And so, phew... A cuppa and piece of cake is in order I think....
But before I do - I have to show you my little trellis' - I love that a simple lick of paint can transform a dull pine trellis into something gorgeous - in just a few minutes... Soon these little beauties will be covered in tomato plants and beans... Simply lovely....

Have You Seen The Prairie Y'all...

Loving all things Rachel Ashwell right now - such girliness is the perfect pairing to this lovely spring weather we're having... If you're in Texas by any chance, then check out Rachel's new B&B - The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell - pure divine heavenliness - are but a few superlatives to describe this joint... Luckily, Qantas is flying via Dallas these days - so a stopover on your way to NYC is as easy as 1,2,3!

Beauty In A Book...

I was completely blown away when I opened my mail packages the other day to find some of the most glorious books - thanks to Penguin...
One in particular is the new book from Saskia at Grandiflora florists in Sydney called Grandiflora Celebrations. Those of you who know Saskia's work will know well that she is such an extraordinary artistic talent. Her floral installations are more artwork than anything else - and in this new book she profiles some of the celebrations that she has worked on over the past little while - everything from weddings, to fashions launches, dinner parties, big parties... even a funeral... I was so inspired that I spent the night pouring over these beautiful pages... If you're a fan on the Facebook page - then you can see a video post that I've done on the book - although the book is back to front (I'm sure that there's a way to film yourself so you're not back to front? Anyone?) - if you 'like' the Facebook page then you can access to these video link ups - which, by the way, for better or worse (!) I will be doing a little more regularly because there's nothing quite like a video link up to make us feel together... If you have any questions regarding design/paint/fabric/anything at all - then email me at email@shannonfricke.com and I'll answer any questions via video...  Happy days for you...

A Broci Update...

I had to share where my gorgeous organic broccoli (see post yesterday) - grown in my own  vege patch (very proud!) - ended up... Yes, the broccoli - did make it into the pot - and was lovingly turned into broccoli soup - which (much to my 11 years olds initial disgust!) was on the dinner menu for last night (accompanied with homemade garlic bread - made with sliced Jordans Turkish bread - just to keep things global...) I think this has to be the best, best, best broccoli I've ever tasted in my whole life. Its subtle flavour is just so edible that the 11 year old ended up finishing off a bowl and a half! Go the purple broccoli, I say, it's purely sublime...

Today....

Today is just so stunningly beautiful that I had to share with you a little snippet of my corner of the world... The skies are the brightest blue - and the air is filled with springtime flavours - the temperature is warming up so beautifully that I am beginning to turn to the swimming pool as a pass time possibility... And the vege patch? Well, the vege patch is in bloom with rocket, lettuce, beetroot and broccoli... Yes, this purple floret is indeed an organic broccoli - picked straight from the garden... I can see a lovely broccoli soup coming on - and a rocket pesto pasta... Ah spring is in the air... I hope that life is abundant and beautiful in your little nook today...
p.s the shed out the back is coming along all - do you remember the one? I'm planning on holding workshops here - namely our Follow Your Heart Seminar days... The shed looks rather blue here - but it is in fact, a soft, feminine grey... Joni our stonemason is building the entrance stairs as we speak - and this side view will play host to a picketed terrace framed with box hedge and some sweet smelling jasmine... It's all coming together now... Finally! Good things do indeed happen slowly - but when they happen, it's like beautiful music...

New Chintz...

I love everything that the clever people over at No Chintz get up to - their stores are like candy stores for creatives everywhere - with colour, fabric and lots of little beauties colliding into one big aesthetic.
If you're a No Chintz follower then you'll be excited to see that they have updated their website - it's slick, contemporary and very easy to navigate but best of all - is full of all of the colour and excitement that No Chintz is famous for... Check it out here.... and Enjoy....

A Colourful Journey...

 The Colour Society Conference

 The Beautiful Ecoco Store In Launceston

 Beautiful Women Who Love To Decorate

Decorative Creations

I've had the loveliest few days down here in Tasmania all - the weather is divine - and the spring flowers are in pure abundance, with blossom and magnolias everywhere! I had a lovely day at The Colour Society conference - where I was asked to speak on colour and in particular the language that we use to make colour more palatable and easier to digest for pass time decorators... Colour can be the trickiest thing to get right after all! Then, it was to the beautiful and totally sublime store Ecoco, owned by aesthete Di Loone for our inaugural How To Decorate in Launceston Workshop. What a lovely group girls attendeed - each with such a unique style and way of seeing things. The light and the environment in Tasmania informs so much of the interior design and general aesthetic - all the way down to the food. Thanks Di for hosting the workshop - and thanks so much to Erin, Liana, Di, Marylynn, Mel and Johanna for attending. It was very nice to meet you too. Tonight - I'm off to Black Cow - an modern institution here in Launceston for lovers of meat everywhere! I can't wait... My taste buds are bursting. And then tomorrow - (after a quick breakfast at Stillwater) I'm back to the farm to reconnect with my family after a few days away...

Thanks to Tasmania for the warmest of welcomes - I hope to be back real soon...

Sx