January 30, 2010

Landscaping

Some kind soul just told me that the rambling plant that Michael loves in the front yard is from South Africa so I have had a win and we will be pulling it out tomorrow. We're aiming for a Aussie native landscape so I'm on the hunt for some Banksia birthday candles or cherry candles to replace the sprawling Pigface.

cherry candles


I'll have to post some pics of the garden after we have finished landscaping. We've started to design the front and side yard around aussie natives and a modern paving design.



I just love the simple lines of modern pavers, decorative pebbles and green foliage. Divine.

January 21, 2010

Planting




After 12 months the front yard needs another couple of trailer loads of biomat. The soil does seem to be improving as the good stuff 'bleeds through' the heavy clay soil. The natives are doing well ... we lost a few in the heat wave but most have tolerated our ho hum gardening methods. The house next door is nearly complete so we can start thinking about boundary planting.

We've decided on a row of Eucalyptus Caesia or Silver Princess, and will try and source Hakea Victoria for the other boundary. Beautiful plants.



Hakea Victoria

August 17, 2009

Artists

Some gorgeous designs by Cassie Thring who sculps with coils or rolled slabs of clay and decorates the pieces with paint, shells, broken china and mosaic tiles.

Unique pieces of art that would be perfect in a niche.







Porcelein by Tamara Hahn, Susan Frost, and Bridgette Minuzzo



August 7, 2009

winter warm soup

One of my most successful potato and leek soup recipes which is beeewtiful.

35 g butter
3 thickly sliced pieces bacon
paremesan cheese
2 leeks sliced (white parts only or it will turn green and not taste as good)
1 medium brown onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic crushed
600 g potatoes peeled and chopped
3 cups chicken stock or veg stock (I did half and half)
1 x 375 ml tin evaporated milk (alternative is cream or milk)
salt and black pepper to taste
pinch nutmeg

method:
melt butter and gently saute onion & garlic & leeks for 3-4 minutes. Add roughly chopped bacon and cook for extra 5 minutes. Don't let the saucepan get brown. Add potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Add stock and simmer uncovered until potatoes are tender. Don't overcook the potatoes. Puree mixture (you can use a potato masher, bamix or blender). Return to heat and add evap. milk or cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to boil and serve with grated Parmesan, garlic bread or brown bread.

Another version is to cook the bacon first until crispy and take it out of the pan. Then put it back into the soup at the end for some yummy crunchy pieces.

Gorgeous soup... even Miss Fussy loved it.

August 1, 2009

kids pressies take 2

Found these ruffled pettiskirts from Princess Ratbag .. strictly for the girly girl who loves to twirl. These gorgeous floaty pettiskirts are made from 7 metres of chiffon with an elastic waistband and draw string waist. Mia just loved them.





The printed tights and light weight stockings are pretty cute as well.

July 25, 2009

Kids presents take 1

I've been looking around for presents for our daughter's upcoming birthday and came across these laser cut acrylic necklaces. The animals have zwarovski crystal eyes, and are finished off with a cute heart logo charm and box for safe keeping. I'm sure she'll love them.

Measurements
Charm is about 1 1/2 inches tall
Chain length adjustable from 16 to 18 inche

You can get them in Australia from Monkey and Wellington or from the US (Destroyed by Design).




etsy - destroyed by design

July 17, 2009

Mix and match

This week I've been on the lookout for a side table for the family room and coffee cups. This Zaishu stool from Nicola Cerini caught my eye as did the coffee cups



July 14, 2009

Changing fabric

This is the fabric I am thinking of purchasing to recover my antique chair


the cushion that I just purchased - Cloth Fabric


I'll update with pics of the room/chair soon, so Kate can help select the right fabric.

July 12, 2009

Supporting a creative mind

While hunting for something special that was reasonably educational for Miss 6, I came across Lyra pencils from Waldorf and Stockmar crayons. She loved them so I purchased a few metallics and a pencil roll from Dragonfly. They are long lasting, soft and highly pigmented pencils that have a triangular grip for little hands. Fantastic for school projects and artistic flights of fancy. Best of all ... she takes care of them!


Another favourite has been the Djeco range from Thats My Toy that are designed for preschool and primary school children. She has enjoyed the felt tip brushes, coloured sand kits and beautiful collages.

Next stop for her birthday is a few natural beauty and craft kits that will help her create her own recipes, inventions and concoctions ..... from Seedling.

July 10, 2009

Natural Textiles

I adore these screen printed textiles from Cloth Fabric. Julie Paterson creates the designs on natural fabric in Sydney using the beach and local landscape as her inspiration. The small batch production ensures that each piece is unique. I fell in love with several of her designs and purchased a stunning patched cushion from Little Bird in Port Elliott. Kate, the owner personally picked the fabric remnants for the emerald/grey cushion. I think I've found the perfect colour story for my family room and the old chair that is desperate for an update. Here are a few products and fabrics that caught my eye but there are many more to choose from:
fabric



rugs
cushions