milk + cookies

The aftermath: not too bad for a two-year-old!

In between the ridiculously hot days we've been having here, we were thrown a rather cold 17C day last week. Seeing as it came straight after a 40C day, I considered it freezing and was expecting snow. So, being all overcast and uninspiring, I decided it was a good cookie day. And just to blow my own trumpet here, my choc chip cookies are the yummiest. Look hideous, taste heavenly. Anyway, Z and I whipped up a batch and gathered 'round the coffee table to scoff them down, perched on my Chrissy presents from Steve (that I bought! And my gift to him was clothes that he bought! We don't really like surprises). Aren't they lovely? I'd been searching for these poufs for what seemed like forever. Well, I knew where to get them, but I was after a bargain. And finally - finally! - I found one. Bless eBay.

So, here's what you need to know. Even with the crappy Aussie dollar, each was $150 (inc postage from the UK), which is a good $50 less than the next best price I found for something similar. They're new, leather, handstitched in Morocco and are sold unstuffed to keep postage costs to a minimum. Stuffed, they stand at about 30 centimetres and are 50cm in diameter. They're perfect for the kids - Z has taken up residence on the one at the end of the table for lunch, drawing, reading and just hanging out. But don't let their size fool you - these things are bottomless pits of storage space. In one there is a sleeping bag, queen-size woolly mattress protector, two good-sized garbage bags filled with baby clothes and there is still space for more. The other has another two bags of old clothes, a doona and some of Steve's old shirts. Great storage for old stuff, but be warned: they do smell rather yucky on the inside so don't put good stuff in there in case it doesn't come out in the wash!

Want one? You can get them here: Leather World Shop. They also come in a range of other colours like maroon, fuchsia and turquoise. I know what my sisters are getting for their birthdays this year!

have a peaceful christmas

Isn't this adorable? From Brenda Leann's Flickr

Well guys, I'd planned to blog about so much before the break - gift guides, round up of 2008 trends and predictions for next year - but I am only one person with many hats and work, motherhood, chores and life in general seemed to get in the way. So, I'm taking my break now (not really, I'm working up until Dec 29 when the next upload goes live) and will be back early Jan for a new year. Unless of course I get bored or have something to share! I'm determined to find my way around Flickr this holidays, so check me out here - I'll attempt to get that sorted with pics of my place and what I've been up to on my break.

Yay! Blog awards for me!

Before I go... I was awarded two "Love your blog" awards recently - one by Jo Girl and the other from Ish & Chi, so big thanks for those! I'm meant to pass it on to six bloggers I happen to love, but I'm going to do it a little differently. Instead, I thought I'd hand out some virtual Chrissy gifts to my most regular haunts. I've come across a gazillion brilliant blogs this year and check out dozens every week, but there are a handful in my daily rotation - most of which I'm sure you also regularly check out. So here are the women who've inspired me, entertained me, made me laugh, taught me things, become my blogging friends or just kept me in touch with what's happening outside of the design world- and a few things I thought each blogger would like to receive. Of course, it'd be much nicer to receive them for real, but... it's the thought that counts, right?!

Merry Christmas... Holly Becker of Decor8 and Haus Maus
Holly's Decor8 inspired me to blog regularly. She packs it with so many inspiring images, thoughts and information every single day and is so nice and sweet on top of it! Then she went and started up a second blog documenting the decoration of her German apartment and she's put me to shame. In just a few months she's achieved more than I have in five years! But I love her eclectic style and eye from what I've seen in both her homes. It's been fun following her journey, during which I've discovered she has a thing for owls. So here is a lovely Letterpressed owl print from Bespoke Press (whose store has just opened and who has a great blog too, check it out!)

Merry Christmas.... Danielle de Lange of The Style Files

I know I'm going to see something beautiful when I log on to Danielle's blog. She has exquisite taste that I wish would rub off on to me via the internet! She's a stylist, a web store owner, a blogger, a corporate girl and has just added removator to her list of talents - I hope she invites us into her new world of dust and dramas as she makes her gorgeous little farmhouse just outside of Amsterdam a home. I thought she might love this beaded storage box by Attia. White, handmade, glam beads. Perfect! Maybe even something for her to stock in Le Souk!?

Merry Christmas.... Trina McNeilly of La La Lovely Things

I'm a newish reader of Trina's blog but have found myself returning daily. It's warm and friendly and filled with all things pretty. And I love finding out interesting things about people, like that her father is a newspaper man - just like my hubby and me in a previous life (well, I was a newspaperwoman! We met in shorthand class. Everyone say ahhh). Trina represents my all things girlie side - think chandeliers, flowers and pink. I think she'd love this chandelier stationery set from Pink Paris Design.

Merry Christmas... Jennifer Ramos of Made By Girl

I live my bright, bold and colourful side through Jen! I'm not brave enough to do it in my own home so enjoy the oodles of colour she features on her blog and in her work. I now have two of her artworks - the ABC and LOVE poster - and I'm sure there is room for more! I thought I'd found a unique store in Cox & Cox and had copied this cushion into my folder a while back for this very blog post and then Holly goes and blogs about it yesterday and ruins it for me - hmph! Hehe. But here it is anyway, I know how much Jen loves her Union Jacks!

Merry Christmas... Amanda of Swish and Swanky

I found Amanda via my own blog! And she quickly became a regular for me too. Her posts are a mix of personal and inspirational and she had a genius idea these past few weeks to feature a range of different bloggers and how they celebrate Chrissy. I was honoured to be a part and thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone's responses. For Amanda I think this adorable little put-it-together-yourself felt birdhouse from Lola et Moi would be perfect - for her or her daughter's room.

Merry Christmas... Danielle of Danimezza
Danielle was my very first commenter and huge supporter of this blog from the beginning. From her incredibly interesting career choices to her love for her hubby to her battle with that horrid "I" word mums-wanting-to-be shudder at the thought of (and of which I can relate) to her dinner party table settings, she writes about everything and anything in her life - a true blogger I'd say! I know she collects turquoise glass and you just can't beat a Dinosaur Designs turquoise vase, so this one is for her!

Merry Christmas... Viv of Ish & Chi

I haven't known Viv all that long either but her nursery decroration sold me - this girl has style! She's just given birth to adorable baby Robbie but still finds time to blog about all things pretty, her eBay and market scores and her painting. Her red and white nursery is adorable and I thought this beautiful so-soft Luna Ninos blanket might make a lovely addition to it!

Merry Christmas... Mia Freedman of Mamamia

Not design related at all (in fact she's rather anti-homewares and renovations!) but my daily read for celebrity snippets and fashion eye candy which saves me from the painful Perez Hilton-type blogs I can't handle any more. Her life musings and family-life stories are always amusing and relatable and of all the blogs I read, she's the only one I've actually met in person (aside from Deb and Nat of course, but current colleagues don't count) - she was my former boss. Seeing as she's been wondering lately if Nicole Kidman's plastic-like face is really due to sunscreen as the actress claims, I thought this Nic doll by Noel Cruz would be the perfect tongue-in-cheek gift for her to spot the differences. One could argue the doll is more lifelike! Ha! (Oh and you must check out the other celebrity dolls he's created. Spooky how much they resemble the actors.)

And finally, Merry Christmas... every single one of you who's visited me here or at mini meez, commented on a post, emailed me personally, helped me, promoted me and inspired me.

It's been a joy being part of such a nice blogging community (unlike some others I've visited at times) and to thank you all, here are some little gifts for you too, beautifully wrapped by Rebecca Thuss. The gifts inside are whatever you wish them to be! So go on, treat yourself to something nice, you so deserve it! And I invite you all to give virtual gifts this year to your current faves - it's rather fun picking invisible gifts (within a realistic budget!) you think they'd like even when you don't know them that well. And if you do do, come back here and tell me so I can peek at what you've come up with.

Until 2009, have a fab, fun, safe and happy silly season.
Belinda x

loving... lovestamp!

Always with me - my babies!

Much love and big thanks goes out to Jo Petrie who's just opened two web stores selling gorgeous handmade stamped jewellery. I came home from Canberra last week to a mailbox full of bills (and a few fines, too. grr). But there was one lovely package in amongst all that: this gorgeous necklace she made and sent to me as a gift featuring my adorable children's names. I was very touched at the gesture and have worn it every day since. She said she'd sent some out to women who've inspired her, which is a gift in itself to think I've managed to do that to anyone at all amongst my ramblings!
So, Jo, I'm sending you hugs through the web and hopefully some visitors and customers too. Check her store out - Made it for Australia and New Zealand customers and Etsy for the rest of the world - she has various designs, all customisable, all sterling silver, all lovely. Great as gifts or just to treat yourself to a little reminder of those you love and those who love you back. Sweet. Jo also has a great blog Jo Girl's Journey so swing by and say hi.

Get a gripp(iks) of this!

No messy wallpaper paste! Dress up the back of a bookshelf and sides of magazine files...

Like a good quarter or so of the world's population, you have an Ikea Expedit cubed storage system, a Lack coffee table, a Billy bookcase or a Malm chest of drawers. Right? Now, while Ikea Hacker blog has some fabulous customisable ideas, you just don't have the time, energy or creative ability to personalise your own. Correct? But you'd like to give it a teeny tiny bit of pattern or colour or both. Yes? Well then, if you can peel and stick, you can give your Ikea pieces a new look. Independent Australian company Grippiks Surface Accents (not related to the Ikea group, by the way, just huge fans!) sell patterned films pre-cut to fit a range of Ikea's most popular pieces (such as the above). Unlike decals, these stick to a surface through suction, not glue, so there are no bubbles, but they can still be repositioned and removed easily. And if you likey, they're available to buy online only and ship worldwide. Here are some more ideas...

...or the front of a dresser...

...or your bedside table drawers...

...or the storage boxes in your Expedit...

...or the tops of your tables. All images from Grippiks

save or splurge: cool coffee table

Verve coffee table in light oak, $795, Globe West. Image by Tim James/Real Living magazine

So the thing I spotted while on my hurried path to the kitchen department at Ikea on Friday was the new Vejmon coffee table. It reminded me so much of the Globe West one we've used several times in real living but for a quarter of the price. And with a bonus handy shelf. It comes in dark brown/black in a coffee table and side table. I hope they add a dining table (without the shelf, obviously) because then it'd be just like the one in the first kitchen in the below post. And I LOVE that table. So, to compare: you can get the very lovely and original (I think?) Globe West version for $795 OR you can get this very similar one from good old Ikea for $199. The side table is only $129. I personally prefer the Globe West one, but it's nice to know there is a cheaper way to get the look.

Vejmon coffee table, $199, Ikea

Vejmon side table, $129, Ikea

mosey on down to mozi...

This looks suspiciously like stylist Clair Wayman's handiwork. I recognise the chair from a Real Living shoot she styled for us. I could be wrong, but surely that'd be a first? Ha!

...and you'll see they've expanded their lovely range of homewares recently to include cushions, aprons, lingerie and tote bags, crockery, handcream and, well, lots more. Well, I say recently, but it might just be new to me! Plus, they still have their gorgeously bright designs and cheery colours on their stationery, iPod covers, mugs, olive oil decanters, bathroom bags AND a pretty red and white Chrissy range. Also good news: they have global shopping so you can buy online from anywhere. Check out Mozi's full range here

Flannel Flower side plate, $12.95

Tote bag in Waratah, $34.95

Lilly Pilly cushion, $49.95

iPod cover in Marrakech, $19.95

Fields in bloom gift card, $4.95

Gift tag in silver, $1.75

Flannel Flower bath bag, from $16.95

In other news, Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop site has finally gone live. So far, it's all her newsletters archived (I'm not sure if this is what it will only be?) and a few glitches with missing pics and wrong pics, but as a website editor I can totally sympathise!! I don't think I've uploaded an issue yet without dramas! But if you hadn't signed up the newsletter or missed some, head there for some great recipes, fashion advice and health and fitness tips. Maybe she should add chef, journalist, spiritual guru and tour guide to her list of accomplishments!!

my swan princess

Organic Swan Onesie, $US18 by Green Thread Shop

There seem to be a few select nicknames that babies get: bubs, monkey, princess. I'm afraid I'm not very original: Zak is monkey because he's so cheeky and cute. It's also his most fave toy ever, but for all the love, he refuses to call it monkey: he calls it "Ooh Ahh". And so far, Layla is Angel or Princess because, well, they seem so girlie. I was calling her Princess Layla and was a little horrified when it dawned on me we'd named her after a Star Wars character. But when I mentioned this to my Star Wars guru of a husband Steve, he assured me it's actually Princess Leia. Close, though.

Steve is of the opinion that because Zak's nickname is also his fave toy, Layla needs a two-in-one too. So Swan Princess she has become. He thought a swan was fitting for a little girl - white (which she SO is), graceful and beautiful. And if she inherits my long neck, all the more fitting! So far, not much luck in the swan toy department, but I did find this cute little organic onesie with a swan on it which I'm going to get her for Chrissy. But in a week or so because I discovered the seller is coming to Australia and will be shipping from here the week of Nov 22 which will mean it's cheaper! I'm a thrifty girl at heart...

Now I know I'm not the most original, but there must be some good nick names out there - so share away! And don't forget the story behind it!
Bx

PS: My monkey's 2nd birthday party is on Sunday. I decided on a bit of a "ball" theme (well, "round" theme) because he's completely obsessed with balls. I'll share pics on Monday.

PPS: DOH! I just realised when I posted this I posted it to the wrong blog. Meant for Mini Meez, but might as well leave it. I'd blame baby brain, but I'm starting to wonder if I have a brain to blame the baby on anymore!

have a very etsy christmas!

I wanted everything from this store - Maka Le Wakan - but alas, most of it is unable to be shipped to Australia thanks to our strict quarantine laws. Grr. I especially love the little wooden gift tags or ornaments with berries.

Christmas at Etsy is shaping up to be a bit lovely! Here are a few goodies I spotted in recent days to decorate your tree, your door, your home for the silly season.

1. By The Sea pendant by Kim Westad 2. Ceramic peace doves (set of three) from Mud Puppy 3. Whirl Ornament by Kim Westad 4. Crocheted bell ornaments by Tiny Little Stitches

1. Dried flower wreath by Dancing Circle 2. Fabric bird ornament by Textile Style 3. Stocking made from recycled man's suit coat by Mandinka Designs 4. Rustic snowflake ornaments by Flying V Designs

1. Rusty Cowgirl Ornaments by Nesta USA 2. Tiny ceramic mushrooms by Mud Puppy 3. Moravian paper stars by Once Upon A Star 4. Paper butterfly wreath by Royal Buffet

1. Ceramic angel ornament by Designerlicious 2. Porcelain snowflake ornament by Shoshona Snow (best name ever!) 3. Chipboard dove set by Designerlicious 4. Cream felt flower stocking by Rik Rak

Now don't go too crazy shopping! I have a few more non-Etsy Christmas decor goodies in coming days to show you.

latest obsession: angel wings

So-pretty mirrors from Graham & Green

Not the angel itself, mind you, just its wings! It all started with the Urban Outfitter's angel wing hook I saw on eBay. I thought it'd look nice on the wall above Layla's bed as art, not as a hook. But the shipping was more than the actual item so I looked around for others on my own soil. Found! Via Have You Met Miss Jones. Only they were a dollar shy of THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS and I cannot justify that. They are lovely though. Then I thought maybe I could find some moulds and make them myself with plaster or concrete. Do you think this is possible? Nope. The ones I did finally find were about five centimetres long, so not quite the statement I was after! So, I'm still searching. And in my searches I've found other cool angel wing things. Aren't they heavenly? What's your latest obsession you find yourself Googling whenever you get a spare second?

The source of the obsession: Urban Outfitters Angel Wing Hook on eBay
The ones I really want: bone china wings from Have You Met Miss Jones

Coffee-lover's idea of heaven: angel-wing cups from Venucci

More hooks, from Rockett St George

Dainty. Pretty. Perfect. From Etsy seller Luxe Deluxe

Oooh, I think I need for my own little angel - they have shirts for kiddies too. From Cloud 9 Design Studio

calendar event: meet Amy Butler!

Amy Butler travelling stylishly to Aus (oh ok, these are clearly not travel bags but gift bags from her new line, see below)

Queen of the textile and design world, everyone's fave domestic goddess, Amy Butler, is coming to Australia! And if you live in Melbourne or Sydney (or are willing to travel to either city), you can pick her creative brain - in the flesh! Living Creatively, Highland Quiltworks and XLN Fabrics have joined forces to organise two inspiring evenings with Amy in November where her latest designs and publications will be revealed and her cleverness deconstructed.
All the important stuff:
Melbourne: Thursday, November 13 2008 in the Carillon Room from 7pm at the Sofitel Melbourne
Sydney: Thursday, November 20 2008 in the Adelaide Room from 7pm at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Want to go? You must book now as places are limited. Tickets are $45 and include drinks and canapés. You can find all the info, plus book online, here at Living Creatively. Shame I live so far away. And have a baby. And am too much of a wuss to leave the baby behind and go. Does anyone have plans to go? Would love to hear all about it if you do. And if any of her genius rubbed off onto you!

Gorgeous wrapping just in time for Christmas

And on the subject of Amy, she's recently released and eco-friendly range of gift wrap, bags and tags as well as an eco line of pretty paper partyware. Giftwrap Green is 100% recycled while the party line is printed with 100% soy ink and can also be reused themselves thanks to a water-soluble coating. The range is so pretty you will seriously never be able to use regular paper plates again. And might even consider replacing your plain white dinnerware with them! Check it all out here at her site.

Have you seen prettier paper partyware? All images from Amy's site

one more post on clever template people

Free paper flower tutorial (looks sooo simple and how beautiful is this pic?) from Dozi

Yes, I've become a little obsessed with the people behind Little Brown Pen. But it's their own fault - they've got so many great blogs between them and I've spent way too much time browsing through them and getting so many great ideas. Little Brown Pen has sooo many pretty things and Amala is perfect for my new love for all things natural, green and organic. Both have also led me to many more brilliant Etsy sellers which you'll prob hear more of soon enough. And - the reason you'll love them too - Templettes is all about the best of the best templates available on the web. Want a greeting card, business-card envelope, cheap art or apron pattern? They'll show you where to get them for next to nothing and for nothing. This is the best category: freebies! Here are a few things you can download for free, or next to it, that Templettes have discovered for you. Enjoy!

Love this "Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy" eye-chart print. From Poppytalk

Beautiful tree card from How About Orange

Cool chore chart by Little Brown Pen