The writer and her writing desk....

And as I sit here with my glass of red wine by the fire listening to David Gray I realise just how much love quite Saturday nights, particularly after fabulous eventful Saturdays. Today was certainly one of those... We spent a beautiful winter's afternoon sipping hot chocolate at Pleasantrees Frechwares and I also discovered and purchased a fabulous 1940's writing desk from Rose Harvest. A delightful day was had by all..

Image courtesy of Pleasantrees Frenchwares
The beautiful gazebo we spent the afternoon in...

Real French hot chocolate, what a delight!

Looking back to the shop.. I just love the bare trees..

Our favourite friend joined us for afternoon tea..

And now for the writing desk, my husband and I have been searching for a desk for a long time an often pop into Rose Harvest antiques. Today was just my lucky day as the owner had just recently found some lovely furniture including my very sweet little desk. It was quite a bargain and needs a little work to get it fully restored and I'm delighted that my lovely husband is looking forward to the challenge. Here are a few before pictures, there will be more once it is looking all lovely.

With the desk open and closed. I just love the simplicity of it, just can't wait to find the perfect chair for it and fill it with beautiful stationary and my quill and ink well.

Well during the week it was been freezing and I'm not kidding... just in case you didn't believe me I took a photo of the temperature on my computer on Thursday morning, see for yourself...

Now I realise what the locals were talking about!

So because it was so cold my hubby wanted me to crochet him a beanie, so I set to work and whipped one up. Problem was when I finished I loved it so much I wanted to keep it. So I recreate it a little smaller and with some more girly colours and created my signature beret. Its so versatile and soft I just love it. Will be creating some lovely different colour versions over the weeks and can't wait to use my new mannequin 'Molly' to display them in the Jade and Isobel shop. Here they are..

The boys version..

The girls version

I really hope people love them as much as I do, I just love a really great beanie/beret that you is soft and you can throw on to walk out the door on a cold winter morning.

Well that is it for me for this Saturday evening, I'm going to curl up with 'Wuthering Heights' and my now half empty glass of red and enjoy the evening. I will leave you tonight with my favourite photo of the day... the glorious winter sky in Mildura. Much love xxx

The view from the Pleasantrees Gazebo, just beautiful...

Read More

Treasures found...

And the week went so quickly but that's alright because I have really been looking forward to a quite weekend. After receiving a spotlight voucher for my birthday on Wednesday I couldn't wait to get down there on Saturday and was on the search for a mannequin head to display my hats on. Lucky me I found one! I also found some other lovely bits and pieces and had a great time searching the isles.

Here is my lovely mannequin 'Molly'. I also got a great sewing companion for my work bench, some very cute buttons and some beautiful cotton yarn.

I was so excited to see what the yarn would look like I have got straight into a beret pattern to sell in the shop.

I'm loving the colour blend and can't wait to see how it will turn out.

So other than my spotlight adventure we had a lovely quite weekend and I spent some time catching up on some writing and some exams I had to mark for Monday. Here is the lovely big mess I made by the fire on Saturday night.

Thank goodness I've got a big lounge room.

Well back to work tomorrow and I'm counting down the days until Breaking Dawn comes out, its all getting very exciting just need to keep myself occupied for another two weeks.

I will leave you with a photo of my sister and I on the City Cat in Brisbane showing off our new sunglasses. Missing everyone lots, also missing the warm weather! Bring on Spring..

Much love xx

Read More

And some days I journal..

As my little moleskine journal creeps closer to its eight month celebration I thought I would share some photos with you of some of my favourite pages. My journal is such an important part of my life, it travels with me everywhere, even to work. So when the kids are working in class I secretly pull it out and get my daily fix.

Slowly filling the pages...

Some beautiful images from Design for Mankind

Ticket for the Picasso exhibition and an ACEO card I made inspired by the roof tops of Paris.

Some lovely cut outs from Vogue Living and a little article about notebooks and journals..

And finally my little homage to the Twilight Saga, with a great photograph from Entertainment Weekly and words from an 18th century poem that I thought was quite fitting..


Here's to all the journal and diary keepers of the world,may we continue to create intimate beauty.. x

Read More

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me! How cute is my little cake..

Thank you to everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes and pressies. I am another year older and as yet I don't feel a whole lot wiser, perhaps that comes in a few days. So I just thought I would share some photos with you of the beautiful bits and pieces I received from my lovely family and friends.

What lovely presents... a hair straightener and book from my grandparents, some beautiful bits from my dear friend Tara including the gorgeous dragonfly tote and amazing piece of glass art (back left). Also the beautiful owl print from my sis and spotlight voucher and yummy book from my favourite auntie Dizey! In the middle is an incredible bracelet and and earring from my mum and stepdad, aren't I spoiled!

Here is a close up of my beautiful bracelet and earrings, onyx and pearls just amazing! Also in the background is the Hello Kitty card my 6 year old sis got me, so cute.

Much love to everyone, its nice to be back home, although ever since I got home I have been so busy! Back to school already, plenty of fun. The week is nearly over already and I can't wait to spend some time in my little sewing room and uploading some more holiday snaps.

Happy Thursday x

Read More

I heart shopping!

I wish I could be on permanent holidays all the time. Having a wonderful time visiting my family in Brisbane, already been to the GoMA (gallery of modern art) and shopped till I dropped at DFO (direct factory outlet). I even got to meet my gorgeous nephew Declan. Well I've got plenty of photos of my adventures so here they are...

Me with Declan

Very cute! (Go the Maroons!)

My sister and I playing DJ's @ GoMA

Writing a silly story on the walls @ GoMA in the I heart Art History exhibition

Mum and I outside GoMA


My shopping spree at DFO, I had so much fun (loving my new shoes and handbag!)

With many busy days ahead there will be plenty more photos soon. We are having my early birthday celebration on Friday night and I can't wait. We are going to an amazing Persian restaurant Zafron, which I'm sure will be wonderful.

Before I go I must post the very cute and a little kitsch hook case I made for my crochet hooks. I am so happy with the results that I will be whipping up quite a few for the shop when I get back home next week. I think the kookier the fabric the better!

The front with cute mushroom fabric and vintage button

Inside with contrast polka dots and room for all your hooks, scissors and a measuring tape

I hope everyone is having a lovely week. Happy Thursday!

xxx

Read More

Counting down the days...

Only two work days to go...and I'm on holidays!

Just a quick post tonight to show you some bits I have been working on over the past few days. I found this lovely mustard wool and I just had to make it into some cute hats. I made them up on Sunday and Monday night in about four hours each. I think I just got so sick of marking and writing reports I had to do something else. Well here they are, they are my own designs, with lots of loving input from my sister and bestie.

This one is a beanie that will have some cute buttons on the front

And this is the 'Phoe' Beret created especially for my sister.

I'm really happy with them both and can't wait to recreate them in some different colours. Think I will need a trip to Spotlight on the weekend..

Also very exciting was that my Black Apple sketchbook arrived today and its just beautiful! I'm so happy with it!

She was also nice enough to pop in a delightful little postcard! Very cute!

Well it's very cold and I need to cook dinner then sit down and work on Declan's baby blanket. Wishing everyone a lovely Wednesday. I will leave you with a little photo I took on Tuesday morning of the beautiful fog creeping in over the house... yep it's definitely winter.

Time to rug up by the fire..

ttfn x

Read More

A delightful weekend...

I believe that the weekend is officially the best time of the week and has it been a long week! Thank goodness I have finished writing reports, all that is left to do now is a wait to see how many mistakes are found, hopefully not many.

Its been a lovely weekend. We've been very busy tripping around antique stores and having lovely French hot chocolate under the winter trees at Pleasentrees. We had a fun night at the local Irish pub for a farewell/birthday bash for some friends from work. And today has been all about checking out lovely patterns and wool and catching up with Courtney on the phone. So here are some photos from my weekend adventures...

The beautiful lavender outside 'Rose Harvest Antiques'

The beautiful entrance that reminds me of the secret garden

We always have a lovely time at Rose Harvest, the rooms are just brimming with amazing things but today it was right out the back in the shed that I found my little treasure. I have been searching for an old ink well ever since I found my lovely quill. And look what I found...

I just love the ink stained would and lovely big pots. I've found a lovely spot for it on my dressing table. Now I really feel like Jane Austen.

A close up of my quill and cute little bottle of nut brown ink

Later in the afternoon after our weekly grocery shop we went out to 'Pleasentrees' French wares nursery. We had a lovely time wondering around the gardens and sipping there amazing french hot chocolate. It was just like chocolate from the film Chocolat. It was just beautiful. And I couldn't resist a few little cards and tags.


We had a bunch of fun last night, listening to a bad Melbourne cover band at the local Irish pub.

The gang from work
Not sure how far into the night it was but we all look very cheerful!

After all that fun and shopping its been a quite day today, lots of checking out patterns and lovely blankets. Courtney and I are just fascinated by Moonstiches and her hexagon love!

It's such a work of art..

Now I just need the time and patience to make one myself, I would really love to create a wall hanging. Its all I have been thinking about today... All those beautiful colours, what fun!

Now I'm looking forward to sitting down tonight and working on a beret for my sister. Been very inspired to get out my hook and create some goodness.

The start of the beret, loving the mustard wool

Hope everyone has had a l0vely weekend, looking forward to seeing all my family in a week tomorrow!

ttfn xx

Read More