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!

Time to... pick your chrissy cards (can you believe it?)

Chrissy cards in everything from cool retro designs to so-Aussie beach style

What with putting up my Christmas tree at the weekend (and taking it down again. Check out the website Monday for pics and a completely awesome and totally insightful interview I did with myself. ha!) reading this month's Christmas issue of Real Living, writing about tree decorations and uploading yummy turkey recipes to the website, I'm very much in the Christmas mood! I've even kinda started shopping - so far though, for myself. So when the lovely Natalie Sullivan who designed and printed Layla's birth announcements for me emailed to tell me her shop had gone live and she was adding Chrissy cards to her range, I figured now is as good a time as ever for a gentle reminder that now is the time to get cracking on ordering personalised Christmas cards.

Sweet and simple.

For years I've attempted to do the Christmas photo card and every year they go out with a photo stuffed inside, but this year, I just might get my act together and actually get a family pic put on a card. Especially because we still haven't had a decent family-of-four photo! I love this one, above, from Natalie. Sweet and simple. And there's nothing quite like receiving a customised card - you feel oh-so-special when the greeting comes from the sender, not Hallmark. Check out Dizzy Wizzy Design and chat to Natalie if you'd like something different - she loves the challenge of creating something new.

theatrical wallpaper

Nope, it's not a professionally styled pic from the website, it's the Circus Silhouette in a real room! Check out more here

In case you hadn't heard, set and costume designer Catherine Martin (the woman behind the glamour of Moulin Rouge!) has partnered with Porter's Paints to release a range of bold and beautiful wallpapers. Stripes, flowers, birds and my fave - little circus silhouettes - could be adorning your walls sometime soon. It's sometimes hard to imagine a style in a room setting as usually the examples are shot up close with minimal styling to let the wallpaper shine. But I just posted a beautiful nursery tour at Mini Meez which shows the red circus silhouettes in a real room (part of which is pictured, above) and I must say I'm impressed! Here is a looky at some of the other prints in her collection. What do you think?

The blue version. The stripes are also part of the collection

Catherine Martin Eucalyptus in blue

Catherine Martin Lace Medallion in Aniseed

Catherine Martin Lyrebird in Grey Green

loving... attia

My two fave Attia products: statement worthy in their simplistic style. Picture courtesy Attia

A flip through a recent issue of Real Living I noticed that everything I put in my if-I-had-spare-money-lying-around-I'd-so-buy-this cart was from a label called Attia. Never heard of it before, but boy, did they have some beautiful things: wool and linen cushions, skin cushions, beaded storage baskets, matte-black ceramic tea cup with wooden saucers... lovely!

Hand-beaded storage basket, $US99.95, Attia

Then a few more pages in, I found out it's owned by Rachel Brown - one of our freelance interior stylists, which explained it all. Attia is her baby - a collection of homewares that fits into Rachel's "stylist pre-requisites", namely through its main focus of form, texture and colour. The website is coming soon, but if you can't wait, Rachel also has an Etsy store selling a sample of the range, some of which is pictured here. See what I mean about beautiful?

Black ceramic cup with handmade wooden saucer, $US44, Attia

In case you're wondering, I have a half-naked hallway (the walls have been ripped off halfway up) but my office wall is still standing, hence the post. It goes tomorrow so I have to unplug the laptop now. Oh gosh, separation anxiety already!

letterpressed calling cards

Business cards for the kiddies! Picture from Bespoke Press

I've always loved the look of letterpressed stationery - there's an old-world feel about receiving an invitation or card with etched patterns. And since my dealings with the lovely Alischa from Bespoke Press, I know why. It's a long, archaic process involving an antique printing press machine from 1893 to make something so beautiful and makes me appreciate the workmanship that goes into it even more. A few weeks ago Alisha graciously offered to make me some mummy calling cards after I blogged about the trend at Mini Meez. She sent me a few designs and I picked my fave, changed a few colours around and the result is above: beautiful and bright calling cards to exchange with potential playmates (for the kids) and their parents (for me). I received them on Wednesday and already used one on Thursday with a new mum we asked to join our mother's group (such the exclusive club it is!!!) Makes a simple and stylish way to give someone your phone number without having to dig through a car-sized bag filled with all sorts of, well, crap, with one arm with a baby on your hip and a toddler hanging off your leg to try and find a pen. Let alone something to write on.

How they arrived. I felt bad ripping the paper! Image from Bespoke Press

I just wanted to thank Alisha so much for my beautiful cards - and want to send you all over to her blog where you can not only see for yourself the step-by-step process of making my cards, but witness her own home renovation, and website to drool over gorgeous wedding packages (invites, menus, table cards) and invitations she's created for clients. The full website will launch soon, but if you're getting married, having a baby or just want to celebrate something in style, Alisha is your girl for gorgeously unique stationery. And too-pretty-to-unwrap packaging!