WHO'S BETTER THAN WHO ...

OK .. this one will stir the ol' 'Melbourne v Sydney debate' .. but I still think it is a great Christmas present idea. Found these via the Source Bottle link at online store My Favourite.

BLOCK BEAUTIES ..

I love simple, monochromatic artwork. My grandparents visited Hobart in the early 70's and bought these lovely illustrations of native Australian animals (wallaby, tassie devil - you know, all the good ones) and they must never have put them up. My parents kept them and also never used them. When my parents sold their house a few years ago to do the grey-nomad adventure, they found them and I got to keep them. As they were still wrapped in the original tissue paper, the quality was perfect - not a dent or smear on them. I went and had them framed and they are now in our bedroom, 6 beautiful black & white drawings in huge white frames. I love them .. not only for the style of the art - but that they were my nans!!

Anyway, I am heading off track a little. I found these lovely block-prints on the etsy shop of Stacey Bradley's "Perla Anne". She has such a great choice of images including the eames chairs - and also some simple words - and if you go to her shop and buy 5 .. you get one free. Really well priced at only $20US each, buying something this lovely and handmade would make a great christmas present (but alas, I am a few weeks behind in posting this and she is now on holidays).

If you read her bio, she is a mum of 2, a wife to a muso AND she has a golden lab. As we too had a golden lab when we were growing up (we called her 'goldie' - a rather witty and inspired name don't you think) it makes me like her even more (-:

TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGING ...

Image from here

Tomorrow is a big day in our little house. Ever since we had our first son more than 7 years ago, we have had an extra voice, an extra body with us .. all day, every day. We were lucky enough never to have to put the kids in childcare - and as much as it was a struggle when they were little, when we didn't have any family around to help us look after them while we worked, or renovated - or heh, even if we wanted to go out and be 'just us' - we made it through with both of them at our side.

Tomorrow, that all changes. Well, it starts to change. Our 2nd son is about to finish his last ever day at kindy. Next year he will be a Prep student. A BIG school boy. And me, well - let's just say that I am very, very, very emotional. I know we will be blessed with more time on our hands during the day. We can have a clean house in the morning - and it will remain that way until 3.30pm when we pick them up from school. We can come and go as we please without having an extra little person to consider. BUT. I am feeling quite teary.

I will miss him. Both of them. Off on their way to becoming big(ger) boys. Off learning new things. I'm sure a few more years will pass in a blur and they will be become teenagers with their own agendas - and friends (oh my, and dare I say it - 'girlfriends'!!). And so therefore, tomorrow is a big day. I will treasure it forever. I will remember it forever. It is the last time my little one will be a kindy boy. And me. It is also the first time that I will become 'one of those mothers' that cry in public because they are filled with happiness and fear at the same time over one teeny weeny step in the journey of a boy.

So, this picture reminds me of the moments of joy when kids are small. Their happy faces at silly little things. The fun they see in everything. THIS pic makes me smile. Hope it does to you too.

I'M IN LOVE ..

I'm thinking these lovely letters ..

with the yellow/mustard twine ..

Usually I don't fall in love with stationery and the likes. I guess because if I need to do anything original, I can do it here myself. BUT THIS. It has me all giddy and ready to whip out my credit card (actually, I think tonight I will - but don't tell the Mr OK).

Bespoke Letterpress Boutique (visit here) are the designers/creators of this gorgeous range of christmas tags and cards. The colours are delish - and they also sell that cute & colour twine - and the stock is a very hefty 600gsm. I guess now you can see why I am in love.

Oh, and note: there is free shipping for Australian orders if we all order before the 15th. Yipeee

GO VISIT THIS ..

I 'think' I found this blog via Louise at Table Tonic - either way, you too will want to go visit THE DESIGNER PAD. The design of the blog is perfect (I love the clipboard element) and every post includes something new and fresh. Love it. Hope you do too.

HOUSE HUMOUR ..

YOUR HOUSE .. as seen by yourself

.. as seen by a buyer

.. as seen by your lender

.. as seen by the bank's appraiser

.. as seen by your council rate assessor

I received this via email this morning .. too funny not to share.

FOAMING AT THE MOUTH ..

About time I got back to posting houses don't you think! And WHAT a house this one is.

20 Foam Road in Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula (hence the foam-ing at the mouth title - orginal huh!!). This one ticks all my boxes and if I could buy it, I would. The views, the outdoor living, the stone fireplace, the large windows, the floorboards, the kitchen .. well, I could go on. Utter perfection. And the fact that, on the real estate website it states 'the west wing includes ..' - I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a house that has a west wing!!

It's not auctioned until Jan 23 next year, which amazingly isn't that far away - freaky - so maybe santa might bring me a few $m and I can buy it. If I do, you can all come over for a perve OK.

CUSTOM PAPER TOYS ..

who's that cute little guy

see how the plans are on one sheet, with a perforation - so you pop them out and awayyyyy you go

this one looks a bit like my sister when she is in one of her 'moods'

This guy, Matt Hawkins, is one crafty dude. I'm sure he is a whiz at wrapping christmas presents if these little paper toys are anything to go by. His illustrations alone are worthy of a blog post - but to then make them as paper cutouts that then become toys - is so cool.

He has a blog where he updates all his new designs - and also a webshop 'The Custom Paper Toy Company' where you can buy signed copies of his work.

I found these here - where I also went on to find the ultimate Star Wars A2 walker paper toy. I downloaded all the (free) plans and one day, next winter when we are stuck inside, will spend a few days cutting all the little pieces out. It would be a huge project - but I think my boys would love it.

I ADORE ADORE ..

I am feeling so amazed this morning. The new Summer issue of the fantastic ADORE HOME online magazine is out .. and guess what, there are 4 (THAT'S RIGHT - YELL IT OUT LOUD) whole pages with my OEKE stuff. Am I a lucky duck or what!!

When Loni asked if I could send some pictures of our outdoor space through, I gladly did - thinking that only it would be a wee-little pic on the corner of a page (which, might I add, I would still have been quite chuffed out). And then I hop online this morning and see all this. Now, once you've calmed down (or is it just me who is out of breath about this) - please, go have a a peek/browse/read. I thought the last issue was top notch - but this one takes the cake. Summer fun on all pages, lots of present ideas, great homes (L.O.V.E. Brisbane's Lime Hotel) - and as usual, a visual treat in terms of graphic design. Loni just knows how to do things right!!

Here's the link ... grab a cuppa and sit back and enjoy!!

NEW FURNITURE STORE ..

The super talented team of Paul J Hopper and Bianca Moore are opening their new furniture store in Woolahara this Saturday, 4th December.

I think it may have been a few months in the making - finding the right store, the right address, the right suburb - but I know with such a creative eye, the products will be spot on. Paul has also just been officially made 'contributing style editor' of Habitus magazine! I know I have commented a gazillion times about how that is in fact my favourite magazine, so you can see if THEY want him on their team .. YOU will want to go see what this stylish ex-UK, ex-Elle Decoration, ex-Marks & Spense, ex-Habitat, ex-CITING stylist has chosen for his new store.

Check out here, here and here for more info