Monday, March 28, 2011

Whirlwind Week...

Wow, what a whirlwind few days I have had.
A little re arranging this little reading nook in the other room as well as being super busy in the lead up to Niche -All Wrapped Up, which is the Designers Market I will be attending this very Friday 1st and 2nd of April!
Today after sitting and sewing all day I had to do something else. It had to be Niche involved.
Ah, tagging all of the items I will be selling on the beautiful handmade, hand cut recycled paper that my gorgeous friend Joelee made for Marley & Lockyer.
I love the shade and spent about an hour putting my badges and earrings onto them.
...so many more items to go and I haven't even started on the cushion covers yet!
I did get to do a dry run on the display...I like it!

but as you know I am active and had to get outside into the glorious Autumn sunshine

so Tess, our Border Collie and I went for a lovely run to pick the boys up from School.
I have had a lovely, busy week so far
...and it's only Monday!
Hope you are too =0)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Olive Grove In Manhattan NY

 
For those of you who have followed me for a while will know how much I love the styling and decorating of Olive Grove Retreat.
This divine slice of Provence was right here in Australia, Heathcote Victoria to be exact. Just over an hour from Melbourne and a heartbeat from France.
Sadly, OGR is no more. Its doors where stylishly closed to the public back in 2009, but it is still owned by Hairstylist Lazarus (Wesley) Douvos.

There are so many elements from this retreat that I fell for immediately.
The chalky hues, loads of white

The bagged walls, French fittings (a claw foot bath just like mine)

Serious charm

and the magic of thinking you are worlds away with the soft scent of Lavender wafting by on a warm evening, when you are actually not far from one of the busiest cities in Australia!

The interior  is just perfect...truly.
So, the other night while going through tonnes of emails I found one from the owner of this gorgeous slice of the earth, Lazarus!
Telling a little about the closure of the retreat and the move to NY. The two places couldn't be any further away!!
I also got a sneak peak in to Lazarus' equally stunning Manhattan apartment.
here it is....

The first thing that sprung to mind here was 'Tricia Foley'...immediately!
It is stunning...and you know I LOVE Tricia =0)

There are so many hints of Olive Grove Retreat as well...with a New York edge.

Lazarus, I am glad you are still lovin the tufting!!!

...and that panelling is divine...

ahh...it's Olive Grove all over =0)
This image, although a little blurry is a constant on my mood/inspiration board and fills me with ideas every time. I thank you for that Lazarus, and for letting me peak into your new Retreat on the other side of the world.
I hope you get back to Olive Grove soon.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

My Day...

 Each day lately is mapped out in my diary with the build up to Niche in 9 days time.
I thought I would show you my day today, just for the sake of it.
My diary holds not only events and appointments, but things which inspire me that I pick up while I am out and about and around our home.
Today it was the lace I forgot I had and some old wooden buttons
...off to 'work' I went...
       
after that it was straight to work on my new sewing machine.
I must say 1 step buttonhole is amazing =0)

then off to print a small pile of covers

pick up the loads of scraps from the floor
...my office is a mess right now

a small reminder why I do all of this

heat set the new, finished covers.
Then start the after school madness of reading, dinner etc.
A simple day for me today, but
I do love it all.

Monday, March 21, 2011

The Humble Chalkboard...

                           Chalkboard paint and chalkboards in general are on my mine right now
This one in particular is inspiring me to no end
My love of Botanic Prints, Text and the humble chalkboard are
combined with loads of white
.....whats not to love, right?

Of course Pottery Barn have made a board which not only is simple and
stylish, but very practical.
What a great idea- the rails to not only hang extras from, but break up
the day into segments
...and who can resist a Chandelier??

Friday, March 18, 2011

Whimsical...

conrananddavid
What a whimsical way to end the week.
Loving the big flower hearts
and of course the Ampersand balloon sculpture.

Have an amazing weekend won't you?
I will be busy sewing and tagging the huge amount of stock prepared for
the Designer Market
and trying to find an hour here and there to enjoy a coffee in
the sunshine on the deck with my boys =0)


Thursday, March 17, 2011

White...

Now, hows this for a kitchen?

*Bench Seat with storage.
*Huge island with sink
*vintage style tap ware
*Perfect windows
*ample natural light
*nickle hardware
*chefs oven and cook top
*Artichokes in glass bowl (never cooked them before but they look great in a bowl!)
....and all white!


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Creating a Weekend...

Finally!!
I managed to digitally print onto wood for rings which will be at the upcoming Design Markets.
I love that you can see it is a digital print with the pixels too.
This long weekend that just passed was a mix of creative and laid back - I needed both.
Loads of clay tags were made for Niche- All Wrapped Up, all piled up waiting to be finished off.
As well as some of these sweet long silver chained bird pendants (keeping one of these!)
Some feathered clay earrings
clay wrap rings on fully adjustable bases.
These are great, they actually hug around the top of the ring base, so no catching on anything!
Loads and loads of cushion covers
and some more little bird inspired clay earrings.
I am very excited about this Designer Market if you hadn't realised and also the fact that I will be featured on The Decorating Forum =0)
Hope the rest of the week is as productive as the last few.
Ness xx

Friday, March 11, 2011

Text...love it!

Sibella Court
Text always inspires me.
I love using it in interiors and lately have been hunting for images with letters or numbers in them.
I love this huge 'S' just hanging from some rope instead of the normal hanging hardware.
That bedhead is so whimsical.
Skona Hem
A letter 'A' behind a Chesterfield
...doesnt get better than that!
unknown
Letters here and there =0)
I did notice the rusty old Milo tin used as an industrial type pen holder
-Tres industrial chic!!
The hunt for text continues.

A huge thanks to all of the beautiful comments, emails, poems and stories you have all sent me after the loss of our beloved Coopah. I appreciate each and every one.
Thanks you dearly.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A Dear Friend...

On an entirely different note...
today was very, very sad for me and also for our family.
We had to say farewell to our beloved fur child, Coopah (below) who we have had since he was 5 weeks old. He was an amazing, loyal friend who was, is, loved dearly.
He had started to get Dementia and was going downhill in more ways than one and it was up to me to take him to the vet this afternoon and stay with him until the end.
My eyes are raw and my heart is broken.
We will miss you dearly old Coop... 

and will love you forever.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

New Blog

Do you like my new blog?
Thank you to Katrina from Media Mad for her AMAZING skills and know how and for turning my blog into something beautiful.
If you need a blog or web page makeover head to Media Mad and talk to Katrina.
AMAZING!!! Did I say that already?
Ness xx

Monday, March 7, 2011

Market Makeover...

After
Before
Well kind of.
When I bought this little beauty some time ago, she was a Maroon shade with a white marble effect...I know! But for $3 how could I not bring her home and give her a makeover?
The first part straight after I bought her was a undercoat in a washed grey to cover the Maroon
...and that's how she stayed...
until yesterday.


There were redeeming features I knew I could work with.
An old travel label.


from the southern part of Tasmania, which has oodles of charm.
and papered inside. Great for paint.
I gave her a few coats of a chalky white paint...everywhere!
Already she is looking amazing.
and as I am using this as display for my covers for the up coming Niche-All Wrapped Up Markets, I wanted it to not overwhelm my products and designs.
So a covering of brown paper was put over the dirty green original paper.
which I then stencilled with a little leaf design I came up with.

I didn't do the bottom of the case of the other sides because once it is filled with my cushions you wont see them. Remember it is a display piece.
I actually like the fact that one of the latches is missing.

and with one of my White Clay Tags hanging from it I think she looks much better now.
I will be using one of my Luggage White Clay Tags on the Market day though.

What a sweet lady she is now.

I feel much better now to be pulling together the ideas I have for my stall and will be starting work on another piece very soon...stay tuned.
So, what do you think?
Ness xx
p.s-You can by my White Clay Tags HERE =0)
all images-me

© Marley&Lockyer 2009-2011

Friday, March 4, 2011

Weekend List...

The days are getting longer here.
This afternoon while I was getting the washing in I noticed the shadow from our big Kitchen fireplace was hovering over the line.
That means...the cold is nearly here.
Which got me thinking about what to do this weekend.
*Place more candles about the house.

*Bake more cookies and slices for the week ahead.
*More cushions with grey tones will be coming out.
(I can never have enough!)
*All of our cable knit throws will be out too.
*Lets not forget another round of tags will be getting cured.

*and 77 more of these babies will be getting made.

*and a sleep in before any of this happens ;0)
Lets hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Ness xx
all images -me