Southern Highlands Stunner

I received an email from one of my blog readers, Ali, who has the most drop-dead gorgeous home in the Southern Highlands of NSW. In fact, it's so stunning, it's just been featured on The House of Turquoise, and I was only too happy to share all the pics with you all.

'Summerfield' is set on 1.2 acres with spectacular views of the surrounding meadows. But it's best if I let the photos do the talking, so take a look:

 love the artwork in this room ;)

As it happens, Ali's lovely home is now for sale, and you can get all the details over here. If only I was in the market for a country retreat - this would be absolutely perfect.

By the way, I'll be back tomorrow with all the details of the project I mentioned here - see you then!

I now have a MadeIt shop!

As well as my new Etsy store, I've also just opened a brand-new MadeIt shop.

MadeIt is an online buying and selling destination showcasing Australian artists, craftspeople and designers, and I love the idea of appealing to both international and Australian shoppers alike with a combination of storefronts and websites. Over the coming weeks, I'll be adding more items to both sites, and I'll also be featuring some works exclusively, so keep an eye on my Facebook page for all the updates. And if that's not enough, paintings won't be the only things on offer (yep, another teaser!), there will be insider sales and special offers as well, so stay tuned!

To kick off the new store, I've listed these prints:

 'Dynasty in Ming'

'Ming in Indigo'

'Chinoiserie in Green'

So pop on over, I'd love to see you there!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a little reminder of a project I've been working on - remember this?

I'll reveal all next week - catch you then!

Trick-Or-Treating In The UK

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

First of all, let me just say it is difficult to play my kids game of 'Unscramble The Halloween Word' when the word unscrambled is spelled incorrectly in the first place.

I have a hard enough time with this game, but throw in 'dlub' to be unscrambled as 'blud' (blood) - well, the kids think I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. Hey, no fair! Love the kid moments :)

Isn't this fantastic?  {via Centsational Girl}

In the US, Halloween and Trick-Or-Treating are practically synonymous. Not so in the UK. Whereas  Halloween was created hundreds of years ago in this part of the world, Trick-Or-Treating is an American tradition that began only in the 1950s.

It has been interesting to see how trick-or-treating is observed here. My sense is the older generation is nervous about this childhood activity - strangers coming to their door asking for candy. It is an unusual  tradition, isn't it?

I think the dark side of Halloween has been the association with October 31st for a long time. I've heard many fear 'tricks' could be played by the children or by the homeowner - and I'm certainly not one to say if this fear is valid or not. 

Most of the parents with small children did not trick-or-treat when they were kids, so it is a newer tradition that is evolving.  In a country filled with so many old traditions, I find it exciting and fascinating to be part of a new one :)

{Centsational Girl}

So far I've learned we are only to visit homes with a pumpkin displayed. When we ring the bell, I think we say 'Sweet or No Sweet' or perhaps nothing at all. I'll know more tomorrow :)  The kids will be given candy, cookies, or coins.

Costumes are traditional Halloween garb and only fill half an aisle in the stores, if at all - monsters, ghosts, and witches. I've heard they think it odd to have a cute little Minnie Mouse ring the doorbell.

Another interesting element is next weekend is Guy Fawkes Night, which includes fireworks and the burning of an effigy over a bonfire. This event sounds dark and eerie to me, but I have been assured it is a family friendly night with games and bonfires at most schools.

I sense that having Halloween and Bonfire Night so close together can encourage bad behavior from some over the next seven days - another reason some are nervous about this time of year.

I often realize what is 'very American' only when it is absent. This is true for candy corn and peanut butter candy bars, which are only sold in the American grocery stores here. How I'll miss my Reece's Peanut Butter Cup loot from my kids Halloween bags :)

Tomorrow my little muffins will transform into Harry Potter characters and will celebrate Halloween and trick-or-treating with our fabulous new neighbors. Fortunately for us, there will be a lot of pumpkins outside the doors on our street :)

Happy Halloween & Trick-Or-Treating wherever you are,

XO Laura

'Kellie's Vase'

As most of you are already aware, the lovely Kellie from Ada and Darcy has just opened her brand new shop, Ada and Darcy, which is full of the most beautiful homewares. When I was browsing through, I came across a gorgeous cloisonne vase, and thought it would be the perfect subject for a new painting. Take a look at 'Kellie's Vase':

...and the original inspiration:

courtesy Ada and Darcy

As you can see, I've used a little creative license and altered the design, but I think the original piece is just gorgeous. If you haven't already, head on over to Ada and Darcy to check out the beautiful pieces on offer. Just keep your credit card handy - you're going to need it!

Celebration of a New Home

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

When we moved to England, we sold our house in the US and brought everything with us. We have had a mourning period for the home we left behind. {Sigh} We loved that house - my canvas for home decor, our sacred space full of so many memories, the house we brought newborn Little G home to

Now we are renting a lovely Victorian home built around 1898 that oozes character. Except for an unhung  mirror (major procrastination), I think I can officially say we have settled in :)

Love the original door & window design

Bristles in mail slot keep the house warmer (so clever)

Renting this house actually has freed me of my design obsession. No more sewing curtains, pouring over paint colors, or ripping out inspirational magazine pages (well, not as many anyway). This home is imperfectly perfect for us, and there's not much we can do with it anyway. Who knew renting would calm my mind? At least for now?

Kitchen Window

Kitchen + Blogging HQ

I am posting photos of our home to help friends, family, and readers picture us here. Photojournaling is also a way for me to document and see the loveliness in the 'now'

Love all the molding

I love vignettes and little 'creatures' around the house. The movers thought I was crazy to have brought so many animals across the ocean. What do they know?!

Playroom

Felt Birds in Playroom Window

I mostly decorate with items from Goodwill, Target, Pottery Barn Teen, and local artists. I like the challenge of having an eclectic style on a small budget.

Everything is so expensive here, I have bought almost nothing beside necessities. I hope to find some flea markets soon :)

Reading Nook (and dog hang-out)

One fun thing about putting this house together was taking everything out of boxes and setting it in a room. To decorate the house, I went 'shopping' in that room filled with things I love.

I wonder what new memories this new house will hold for us. I hope you have enjoyed a tour of our new home :) 

XO Laura

My weekend project

I've been working on a little project for a while now, and as it involves quite a bit of mental concentration, I really need to be in the mood for it to work - at least, without much ranting, raving, and gnashing of teeth. In spite of really enjoying maths at school, I've come to realise that I have the kind of brain that trashes any sort of technical knowledge (quadratic equations and calculus anyone?) if not used frequently enough. Ask me for any sort of trivial fact, and it's no problem at all. Phone numbers of my primary school friends - easy. In fact, almost any phone number at all seems to be indelibly etched into my brain for some strange reason - but that's another story. Anyway, as my project involves much measuring and planning to look just perfect, I think I'll take my time, which, for me, is no mean feat. Patience is so not my strong point. So for now, you know what's coming - the dreaded teaser:

via style court

via desire to inspire

via martha stewart

via stylecourt

source unknown

via domino magazine courtesy houzz

So, that's my weekend. What do you have planned?

Can I do it? My biggest challenge yet!

So, my dilemma is this - can I take a tired, outdated relic, albeit with good bones and great location, and inject at least a few of my favourite style elements? Or is it just too hard? I think I can, but you know, those doubting Thomases' are sometimes hard to ignore. 

Ok, here's a bit of background info. I live in a dark brick, 70's/80's style home, but what I really want is this:

And I have to say, it doesn't help when I'm surrounded by super-stylish examples of my blog friends' gorgeous homes, that, of course, are in exactly the style I love:

Beach-chic perfection - handiwork of the gorgeous Judy of Verandah House

of course, many of you will already be familiar with the lovely A-M's home - need I say more?

...and oh my, Sharnel's home is as gorgeous as she is!

I've had so many people tell me to knock it down and start again, but in this financial climate it seems so wasteful and irresponsible to demolish a perfectly good home in the pursuit of the right 'look'. Now don't get me wrong, many of the above examples are far beyond what I have in mind for my home, but you get the idea. My brilliant solution (to my mind anyway) of covering our ugly brick with weatherboard is met with howls of protest and scorn from every male I've been foolish enough to mention it to. Is it really that silly an idea? I can't see the problem, and I don't believe that rendering is the only remedy. I think a combination of render and weatherboard could look great, but as it's a little out of the box, I'm finding it hard to garner much support.

So it's over to you, my stylin' friends - what do you think? Could it work? Do you have any other ideas for me - if so, I'm all ears. And I'm going to print out all your fabulous ideas and brandish them as proof, whenever I'm met with resistance. 

You know, I'm almost tempted to give it a go myself on my art studio........I'm sure my husband has another work trip organised in just a few weeks......!!

Have a great day everyone,

Enchanted Exhibit at Kensington Palace

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

My friend, Ashley, surprised me with tickets to Kensington Palace's current exhibition, 'The Enchanted Palace'.  Thank you, Ash!

Exhibit: The Enchanted Palace

It was a treat to go into this famous palace in London, home to many including Queen Victoria and Princess Diana.

As you may know, many royal weddings united countries through arranged marriages to strategically strengthen their European foothold.

Can you imagine marrying someone whom you've never met and doesn't even speak your language? As a result, many of the ruling families were loveless and quite dysfunctional, which makes for wonderful literature - doesn't it?

Kensington Palace

While most of the palace is closed due to construction, the State Apartments have been transformed for this temporary exhibition. The rooms looked, well, royal - tall ceilings, flocked dark wallpaper, heavy curtains, and beautiful wooden floors.

I had to hand it to them - it was a creative blend of classical masterpieces and modern art installations in a traditional palace setting.

Queen Victoria's childhood bedroom

The King's Gallery

The Gallery of War and Play featured thousands of plastic GI Joe-like soldier figures on the floor, while in the the ballroom a Victorian silhouette danced on the ceiling to a Duran Duran song. Traditional meets contemporary.

You may want to drop by this quirky exhibit which runs until February 28th, 2011. Click here for details

Afterward, you can stop by The Orangery for tea and scones - yum!

All images from Historic Royal Palaces website

XO Laura

In the picture

I was having a little look through Wisteria's latest catalogue last night, and as always there were so many gorgeous things to see. Btw, if any of the good people of Wisteria are reading this post (which I'm sure they are!) I'd like to suggest that Australia would be the perfect place for your new store :) Anyhoo, amongst the many lovely things to see, I came across this:

Some lovely blue and white paintings that look rather similar to these, that just happen to be available in my Etsy shop:

'Dynasty in Ming'

'Ginger Jar in Indigo'

Now you've indulged my little bit of shameless self-promotion ;) there is another reason for my post. I'm looking for some lovely, unique frames to pair with my new paintings. I quite like the idea of some sort of chinoiserie frame, but they seem to be few and far between. Any thoughts or suggestions? If you know of any that might suit, I'd love to hear from you. 

Ok, back to some more pretty pics courtesy of Wisteria:

Seriously Wisteria, we need you here. Stat.