Thank god it's Fri... oops Thursday!

the prep is about to start on Allie's Year 6 Gradation dinner decorations

Man. There are so many things I intend to do this weekend:

I am desperate to get to the amazing Lucy Feagin's Design Files Open House.  Some excellent house porn / Christmas shopping going on there.

I also really want to get to Magnolia Square at the Malvern Town Hall. It never disappoints.

I want to see New Years Eve - love a rom com.  Actually, has it even opened yet?

I can't wait to see Allie's guitar and piano concert (hilariously and bizarrely, Jeremy and I produced a musical child - she's definitely a genetic throwback to previous generations).

I will also be propping madly for a couple of upcoming shoots.

And sewing & crafting some decorations for Allie's Year Six Graduation dinner.

Hmmm, not sure how much I'll get through.

Have a great weekend.
hx

ps lol just remembered it is only Thursday, not Friday!

this shoot, I am trying not to buy...

Yep, this shoot I am eyeing off this kooky-hued Acapulco chair from Kiitos.  It doesn't look incredibly comfortable, but looks can deceive - it is heaven to lounge in.  And if the rain in Melbourne would stop for more than three minutes I would be out there, rotissering this carcass to a crispy brown.  Like the good old days.

hx

emotional highs and lows and highs and lows and...

Well, that was a doozy of a weekend!  Happy tears one minute. Sad ones the next.  Cranky tears the next minute. Embarrassing ones the next.

It started on Friday night, when I not only wept quietly at my gorgeous daughter Allie's singing performance at her end-of-year concert, but every other act as well.  Kids trying their best - they just kill me!

Saturday saw the storms - and the loss of all power at our place.  Not to worry, we thought, everyone must be in the same boat.  Oh how wrong can you be? Lol again.

Then after finishing up my Highpoint Christmas gig on Saturday arvo - where my daughters saw this sign with my name on it and laughed so much that they were crying. I'm talking paroxysms of laughter.  Supportive, huh? Well, they were eventually lovely and supportive. Once they stopped laughing.

Home to still no power, and the bad news from the power company. The rain had somehow killed some piece of equipment or something (I was searching for a cold champagne by that point) and they would have to disconnect our power for safety reasons. Overnight. Sad face.

Cue to an extremely Amish evening of take-away by candlelight, and trying to convince two teenagers and a twelve year old that the internet was overrated, and that we could enjoy an evening together actually, you know, speaking.  Cue to more hysterical laughter. But you know what? We ended up actually talking, and as lame as it sounds, starting playing an ironic game of charades and ended up - you guessed it - laughing 'til we cried. Well I was crying, but it could have been champagne related.

before and after the spray job - in Dulux's Pink Sherbet Spraypak

Sunday - I was having some serious blog reading withdrawals. What was baby-mac up to? What about Pottymouthmama, and oeke?  I didn't admit this to anyone though. Instead I spray-painted the pool chairs that had become extremely grubby after winter. And sobbed through the end of my book (Caroline Overington's haunting 'I Came To Say Goodbye').

By 5 o'clock last night we finally had our power reconnected - but if I tell you how many thousands of dollars it cost I may start crying over again. There goes my dream of a little something to hang on the wall by Arite Kannavos for Christmas, or maybe this divine ride from Papillionaire.

We rounded off the weekend with a lovely dinner for Jem's mum's birthday. Happy birthday Jude.  We're back on track now. No more tears. Sniff.
hx

Design Dispensary - a dose of great design...

(please excuse the dodgy iphone images - my camera was out of action)

Tucked away in Little Lonsdale Street in Melbourne's CBD is a wonderful store that I have been meaning to blog about for, like, ever.  It's called Design Dispensary, and the tag line is, appropriately, 'a dose of design'. Owned by the lovely Samantha, this is the go-to store for architects, designers, and all lovers of good design who want more than the usual, run-of-the-mill, seen-it-all-before homewares and gifts.  The stock is predominantly European, with a focus on ethical manufacturing, and of course, aesthetics. The good news for non-Melbournians is that it has a great online shop, www.designforuse.com.au .

Samantha has loads of new stuff arriving this week, just in time for Christmas shopping, so if you find yourself wandering the city with a case of homeware fatigue, head over to see her for an instant cure.

Design Dispensary
322 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne
61 3 9670 7221

hx

teachers' Christmas presents - Jane saves the day!

I hope my daughters' teachers don't read this blog (and I'm pretty sure they don't), because if they do, they are about to have their Christmas surprises spoilt. You see, this year I am doing some serious one-stop shopping at my mate Salvation Jane's store. Jane has just released the perfect 'thanks for a year of putting up my kids shenanigans' gift. Yep, the arty tea-towel! So with the possible exception of Allie's very young, very sporty, male teacher, this is what is coming their way. Cos I don't think he'd appreciate a tea towel covered in hearts.  Well, certainly not from me, anyway!
Hx

propping and planning...

Ah the heady aroma of paint fumes.  Today is all about prop building and sourcing the last of the products for a Savvy Shopper shoot.  The perfect start to a week!

ps absolutely no prizes for guessing which music video I am obsessed with watching at the moment!

Hx

A very Melbourne Christmas...or not!

This is one for all of my Sydney mates who like to bag out us Melburnians about our love of BLACK!

Yep, this year we are even doing black Christmas trees and baubles.

Is it stylish?

I don't know about that.

Is it emo or goth? Do they even do Christmas?  

Was it cheap? Hell yes!  The black mini-Christmas tree was bought today for just $5 at Big W in Highpoint, and the packet of black deco's? A divine $3.

Too good. Now I am just going to craft up a little black felt angel to pop on top. Then take my Ned Kelly-bearded partner out for a coffee in a cobbled inner-city laneway.  

Hx  

my Highpoint Shopping Centre Christmas table inspiration:

Ooh, I am having sooo much fun prepping for my time at Highpoint Shopping Centre over the next few weeks.  I'm putting together four different Christmas dining table inspirations, and will be setting themed tables using products from all the lovely Highpoint retailers.  I'll take along these moodboards (you can see a snippet of each of them, above) and I'll be there to answer questions about Christmas decorating trends, how to create an impact on your table, and how to get the best bang for your decorating buck.  If you are passing by - do say hi!

I'll be in the forecourt near Myer and Country Road -here are these dates and times:

Friday 18th November 2-4pm
Saturday 19th November 2-4pm
Friday 25th November 2-4pm
Saturday 26th November 2-4pm


hx

my dream boudoir...

When it came to styling this Savvy Shopper page for the Sunday Age M magazine, all I did was imagine what my dream boudoir would look like - and this is pretty much it.  Mine would also have a heaving bookshelf and a bright rug, but that's about it!  A little bit boho, a little bit French, a big bit kookster, and wildly romantic.  With masses of roses, of course.

Thanks once again to the gorgeous Petra Cremming of Pomp and Splendour for the incredible flowers (I blogged about her here).

If you'd like to know where to get any of the furniture or accessories, drop me a line.

This page appeared in the Sunday Age M magazine yesterday. Writing and styling by me. Photos by Mike Baker.  Copyright owned by Fairfax Media

As it appeared on the page

taken by me with cross process

Book love: Nomad by Sibella Court

This afternoon I have been endeavouring to finish off the mood boards for the Highpoint styling job I am doing for the next few weekends, but my mind and my eyes keep straying to the beautiful second book by the inspirational Sydney based stylist, Sibella Court. My sister Maggie dropped it into me this morning (a belated birthday present - yay!) and believe me, it is like a little holiday for the eyes. Entitled 'Nomad, bringing your travels home' it documents Sibella's travels through Italy, Japan, Syria, Mexico and India.  The pages are exquisite, with beautiful images and stylish, evocative art direction. Believe me, it's the best travel you can do whilst sitting at your desk on a Sunday afternoon. I've photographed a few of my favourite pages, above, and can't wait to settle in and read it thoroughly tonight.

I used to love popping in to Sibella's wonderful bowerbird-style store, The Society Inc, when we lived in Paddington, and her paint colour,  Samarkand, is one of my all-time favourite hues.  If you also love Sibella's style, pop this book at the top of your Christmas wish-list.

hx

something little pop up shop at the Cubbyhouse Canteen

The very lovely Bec and Narelle who have the Cubbyhouse Canteen in Union Street Park in Armadale (I blogged about it a while ago here) will be hosting a gorgeous shopping event on Sunday 27th November from 4-8pm.

It's called the something little pop up shop, and if you are smart you can get the jump on your Christmas shopping as there will be heaps of gorgeous books, art, prints, jewellery, soft furnishings and cards for sale.  All products are unique and original, and created by artists that celebrate childhood, motherhood and sisterhood in their work.  A small entry fee will be charged and will be donated to a childrens charity. Win and win!

something little pop up shop
Cubbyhouse Canteen
43a Union Street
Armadale,
Sunday 27th November from 4-8pm

see you there,

hx

this shoot, I am trying not to buy...

Goodness from The Noble Box

My home is filling up with loads of goodies ahead of a Christmas gift shoot I am styling next week, and I couldn't help but unwrap this package to see how the divine Amber Apothecary candle would look in my hallway. Pretty good, I think! It's from a fab on-line store called The Noble Box, that is the brainchild of the lovely Karina Reyne (yes, she is a mate, and yes this is an unashamed plug, but I'd do it anyway because it's a gorgeous store!). And it's not just another on-line store - The Noble Box is where you'll find unique eco gifts that have had minimal impact on the earth. Solid, huh? There's organic wine, toys, baby products, skin care products...and more. The gifts are sent to the lucky recipient in a recycled box would with natural ribbon. Yum - do have a look.

The Noble Box
www.thenoblebox.com

hx

where did that week go?

yep, only 45 days to go...

I'm an advocate of the blogging school of thought whereby if you don't feel like it, well then... don't blog.  So I guess I haven't been feeling the love this last week. It happens. I think it's that time of year when we all panic and realise how much we have to get through before the end of the year. How many of you have been sewing sequins onto your kids ballet costumes, or going batty making jams for school fetes? On top of your day job? And then feeling sick because it's only 45 days until Christmas? Yep 45.

Anyway, onwards and upwards, I have been knee deep in various Christmas styling jobs this week.  It's funny, the magazines did their Christmas shoots months ago, the newspapers are doing them now and by the time it's really Christmas, you kinda forget that it's happening.  Once I almost forgot to buy my kids easter eggs because I thought we'd already done easter! Luckily the sweet-toothed daughter reminded me.... once or twice.

I'll be doing an extra exciting Christmas activity this year - the lovely peeps at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong have invited me along to talk about the trends in  Christmas table decoration.  I do love to set a table, particularly a Christmas table, so I can't wait.

I'll be setting four tables that will highlight the latest trends, and answering any Chrissy style questions you may have.  So do come along and ask!  I'll be in the forecourt outside Myer and Country Road. Here are the dates:


Friday 18th November 2-4pm 
Saturday 19th November 2-4pm 
Friday 25th November 2-4pm 
Saturday 26th November 2-4pm


hx

why did I stop quilting?

some of my quilts

Yesterday I did a shoot at the gorgeous home of an incredible quilter, and since then I can't stop wondering, "why on earth did I stop quilting?".  I love everything about it: the fabric selection; choosing the theme; the size; the recipient; taking time to hypnotically stitch and stitch and stitch... what happened?  We all sleep under the quilts I have made, and each night we drape ourselves in older ones as we lie on the couch to watch TV.  I have an embarrassing number of unfinished quilts, so it's time for me to get them out and re-ignite this passion.  But hang on, I may have said the same thing here, over a year ago.  This time for sure!

hx