The Summer Wind

Yesterday at home whilst enjoying the company of family, the first hint of a summer wind stopped me in my tracks. It's that warm summery wind that reminds me of happy times at the beach or by the pool on holidays with family and friends. I also think of Frank crooning in the moonlight...

The summer wind, came blowin' in from across the sea

It lingered there, to touch your hair and walk with me

All summer long, we sang a song and then we strolled that golden sand

Two sweethearts and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights they went flyin' by

The world was new, beneath a blue umbrella sky

Then softer than, a piper man, one day it called to you

I lost you, I lost you to the summer wind

The autumn wind, and the winter winds they have come and gone

And still these days, those lonely days they go on and on

And guess who sighs his lullabies through nights that never end

My fickle friend, the summer wind

The summer wind, warm summer wind, the summer wind

I'll leave you to ponder that and some beautiful images to remind us of the beautiful summer days which lay ahead.

image credits -

Black & Spiro Christmas

Here is our Christmas display at Black & Spiro which we installed today. I collaborated with talented Brisbane artist Sue-Ching Lascelles to create this installation. Sue made all of the amazing animals and wreath and screen in a mixture of paper and fabric....she is very, very clever!! We conceptualized the design with Mexican otomi textile as our inspiration. Unfortunately these photos aren't great so if you are in Brisbane, make sure you pop in for a visit. We'd love to see you...

Pine Cones

Whilst driving Harry to school this morning I spotted a few pine cones on the side of the road in a little spot along the way. I know pine cones are much more of a winter Christmas thing but I think I might stop in the morning and collect a few as I love the idea of mixing them with a few lovely baubles in a big bowl just like this image above!

image via interior divine

Blue & White Christmas Ornaments

Aren't these the perfect Christmas ornament for the blue and white lover! They are handpainted Delft porcelain by Harriet Damave. Click HERE to purchase.

Pretty Poppies for Grace

Look at these lovely invitations by Poppies for Grace. Wouldn't they be perfect for a Summer garden party...

Weekend Arrangements & Tidbits

I spent my entire weekend pottering and arranging things. I recently read a comment on a blog post from a reader saying how tired they were of vignettes. I can actually see where they are coming from as there really has been alot of vignette talk of late but I must say I personally could never tire of creating vignettes. It's so relaxing and almost therapeutic for me arranging flowers and vases and family treasured bits and pieces on tables in my home.



Going out into my garden early on Saturday morning was a real treat. I took my secateurs and went to work cutting some beautiful foliage from some of the tress in my garden which I arranged in vases for the house.

Over the weekend the boys and I visited my cousin Ben and his gorgeous fiance Phoebe as they moved into their beautiful new apartment yesterday. I went to work immediately helping them with a few bits for their new home. We quickly sorted out a furniture placement plan and then went down to Black & Spiro and collected a few things to pretty up the space. They have a moraya hedge in their courtyard so we cut some and arranged it in a vase which we placed in a vignette on a table in their lounge room.

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful cushions, a few accessory pieces and lamps can make such a huge improvement.

As we left the apartment this afternoon my Aunty Jane {Ben's mum} handed me this AMAZING book. She picked it up this morning for me. It was the perfect gift. She knows how much I am enjoying my garden and this book certainly is right up my alley as it showcases so many beautiful gardens in the same style as mine...well, the same style I hope my garden will be one day!!

I had such a great weekend. I hope you all had a great weekend too...

xo
Anna

Boys Christmas Gift Idea

Personally, I'm not the camping type. But, being the mother of 2 boys I thought these fun sleeping bags and teepee could be a great Christmas present! I thought it would be lots of fun setting something up like this in the garden for a kids sleep-over! The sleeping bags come in adult size as well as child size!

Sleeping bags from Anorak

Backyard Teepees from Reform School Rules

Tis the season...

Fun personalised Christmas signs

Pretty Christmas gift boxes

Fresh Christmas trees at Dural Christmas Tree Farm

Bec & Jude Christmas Stars

Reform School Rules Decoration Embroidery Kits

Christmas really is creeping into my thoughts. I have found myself on websites looking for Christmas wrap, cards, decorations, gifts. So, I will advise you all to prepare yourselves for an onslaught of Christmas goodies from me. I'm so into Christmas this year! I'm excited!!! Here are a few things to get you excited too...

My Weekend at Home

Ever since we've moved into the homestead {the term our family and friends use when talking about the house} we just don't seem to want to leave. Weekends are spent here with lots of family and friends dropping in for a swim and for lunch. This weekend was no different. Whilst pottering around the homestead this morning I rearranged some of my blue and white things in the cabinet in our kitchen. I must say I think I really am turning into my mother now...should I be concerned? I haven't used one bit of pink in this cabinet which is such a refreshing change for me.

Whilst Brad was standing in the kitchen this morning preparing lunch for our friends I couldn't stop looking at his navy check shorts and immediately made the decision to get our new dining chairs made in navy and white check. I have been trying to decide on a fabric for our new dining chairs for a while so now, based on Brad's shorts, the decision has been made!

We seem to have a standard menu for kid's at the homestead....sausages on bread with tomato sauce. It's so easy and it seems that most children will eat sausages on a bread roll.

Whilst enjoying a bit of sunshine around the pool today I also enjoyed looking at my orchids which have just bloomed.

I also tried to enjoy a few moments reading one of my gardening books around the pool but Ned just wouldn't leave me alone.

It seemed that all he wanted was my hat.

Ever since we have started swimming in the pool over the last few weeks Ned has been angling at diving in and today he did it. He dived in and then we just couldn't stop him from diving in. It was very funny, I must say.

How was your weekend?

xo

Anna

IVP MAG IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to announce the launch of Ivy & Piper e-magazine created by none other than fellow Aussie Designers Melanie Parker and Elizabeth Raptis. Their first Spring issue features the gorgeous home of Kimberlee Brown from Brown Button Trading {my absolute favourite house in the entire issue!}, a gorgeous house from MWM Designers in the US, a little article by me on arranging vignettes, Kelly Green is featured along with Louise from Table Tonic and lots and lots of other gorgeous things. Be sure to check it out HERE!!

Congrats to Melanie & Elizabeth!!!

Geometric Textured & Colourful

I am very intrigued by geometric forms at the moment and colour and texture. Here are a few images I have saved in my picture file of different things which I can identify geometric shapes and colourful texture in. There are just so many things out there which form different shapes. You're probably wondering where I am going with this but I really am very obsessed with this concept right now and how these types of geometric form can be applied to fabric design.

image 1 - john cottrell artist, image 2 - sosorosey, image 3 - sue ching-lascelles, image 4 - kate greiner, image 5 - emily pwerele artist

Colourful Cushions

I stumbled across this photo in my camera this afternoon. It's one the girls snapped of some fabrics which they were emailing through to one of our e-decorating clients. I think they are making some cushions with the floral pattern on the fronts and different coloured plain fabrics on the backs. I love the little black and white gingham thrown in for one of the backs...so unexpected and fun!

Lonny in the flesh...

Today, whilst the rest of Australia enjoyed Melbourne Cup festivities, I enjoyed a few moments at Black & Spiro to myself with a hard copy of Lonny. I have decided that I am going to order every issue in hard copy format. It's so thick and full and in actual fact is very much like a book. I loved reading the articles and flipping the pages and I love having a copy to put on my coffee table to keep forever.

Today

Today I arranged flowers in a restaurant in the city in preparation for Melbourne Cup tomorrow. Today I delivered this fantastic big round industrial table {above} to one of my lovely clients and arranged a vignette on top of it. Today I visited another lovely client who just had a beautiful French dining table delivered which I found for her. Today was such a fun day!