Monday, January 31, 2011

It's time...

to have a little fun with the alphabet and so I thought I'd feature every letter in a separate post throughout the year. The posts won't be in alphabetical order - I wouldn't want to be too predictable - but I will get the ball rolling with the letter "A".



Image via here

 Antlers seem to be quite the decorating trend at the moment. I love that they lend themselves to so many different looks.

They can be light and contemporary -


















From left to right: Dear Deer Humane Antlers, Bookshelf by Antler & Co, faux taxidermy by Bornanoldsoul, lovely cross stitch cushions from Wallflower Cushions, very cool wall tatoo from The Made Shop, Nice wall clock, a beautiful antler basket and a gorgeous drawing from the very talented Kari Herer


a little more warm and traditional -







 
From left to right: Moose antler mini sculpture nutshell - can you believe how sweet this is?! From etsy seller artartist, Skull and Antlers photograph by Opart, original etching by Fleurografie, vintage deer antlers, Stag burlap giftie bags and Taxidermy Deer Wall Wear from Neawear


for boys -















Clockwise from the top: Kudu Miniature Horns and Skull (my husband tells me that Kudu are very tasty, hmmm!),   "Cariboo"  and "Antantlers" Prints from Hiss - I love these! Awesome antler frame from PaperdollwoodshopIdentity antler pillow and "Carry That Weight" print - just beautiful.


or girls -



















From top to bottom: Planet Fur's felt mounted deer head, White Wood Dweller brooch by Sweet Bestiary, "Girl with Antlers" mixed media painting by the wonderful Mary's Granddaughter, super cute Antler alphabet print by rachaelanderson, life size moose antlers, "These Girls" print by Prettylitttlethieves - I just love their work., "Roosting" print - seriously sweet- and Dooreh no. 3 by Doubleparlour

They can also be fun and whimsical  -

"Things with Antlers" Print via here



Something for everyone don't you think? So what are you waiting for? Time to get a little "Antler Action" in your life!

Happy Monday,
Stephie x

Friday, January 28, 2011

Good Bye...

 
Image via Coastal News

Oh my goodness! Where did the Summer holidays go?  I am off to make the most of the last few days of our break before gearing up for the new school and work year ahead.



Hope your weekend is summer breezy,
Stephie x

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Hello Possums...

 and a happy Australia Day to you all!

Images via: L'uccello   Miss Pen Pen   All Things Lovely   Linens and Royals   Miss Pen Pen   Lark   A Beach Cottage    


It's a public holiday here. It's hot and sunny and I'm listening to Triple J's hottest one hundred with a cold drink in hand. We are heading into the city a bit later this evening to see Amanda Palmer at the Opera House. All in all, not a bad way to spend the day methinks!

Happy Birthday wonderful country of ours,
Stephie x

Monday, January 24, 2011

Feeling..

beachy!



Happy Monday,
Stephie x

Friday, January 21, 2011

Today...

is my birthday!

So...

Print available from here

and head off to celebrate with my lovely family!

Happiest of weekends to you,
Stephie x

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Take a look...

at these lovely images, found via Britta's blog, My Blackbook. I am a regular visitor to Britta's site and I am constantly blown away by her amazing images. It is a such a beautiful and inspiring blog and well worth a visit!





And in very exciting news, Britta has not only received but has nominated me for the -



Woo! Hoo!

Once I have received the award, I have to:

* Link back to the person that awarded me.
* Share 7 things about myself.
* Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered bloggers.
* Contact those bloggers about the award!

So here goes...

 One:

Image via here

I originally trained as a scientist and am a qualified agricultural chemist.

Two:

Image via Lola's Room

I loooove cupcakes. We have a great local bakery and I am there way too regularly!


Three:

The older I get the more curly and frizzy my hair gets. I think I need to -

from Etsy seller Funnelcloud

 and not get so stressed about it all the time - although I know that this is easier said than done!


Four:

Image via here

I have never, ever seen snow. It is on my "To Do" List.


Five:

Image via here

 I am a big Dr Who fan. I love the daleks - they are so cool. My husband actually bought me one.


Six:

Image via Shoponline

I buy cookbooks for the pretty pictures and usually never cook anything that's in them. Cooking really isn't my scene. I would rather make the table look nice!


 Seven:

from Brookish

I would leave my husband for Colin Firth. Don't worry, he is well aware of this.

As I have only been blogging for a few months and many of my favourite reads have received this award already, I have the following nominations -

Make sure that you check them out when you get a chance!

Here's to a stylish Wednesday,
Stephie x

Monday, January 17, 2011

Pink Drinks!

A couple of weeks ago, I organised for a few close friends to come to my place to toast the New Year. It had been a while "between drinks" for us and I thought it would be nice to catch up with each other properly.

We have an old Ikea TV trolley which I set up as a drink station. I covered the shelves in some pretty pink wrapping paper and added some large cardboard hearts to the sides. I used a beautiful glass basket that I had picked up in my travels a few years back, filled it with hydrangea from the garden and made a "Happy New Year" tag. Finally I added some thrifted pink wine glasses (these are so pretty and had never been used) and some flowery napkins and my mobile bar was ready to go!


Photos by me, StephieB
Pink cupcakes, bubbles and friends - quite a civilised way to spend an evening!

Happy Monday to you,
Stephie x

Friday, January 14, 2011

Inspiration...

One of the main things that I love about the New Year is that feeling of promise and optimism and the belief that anything is possible. To keep the momentum going, I like to have an affirmation of some sort at my desk to remind me of this. Nothing too deep and meaningful, just a few words of encouragement for when I'm not feeling so inspired!

Here are a few of my favourites -


Simple and to the point. Available from here.



"High Hopes" jar from the amazingly talented Dottie Angel. I love it!



It isn't hard to get moving if you have this lovely reminder!



 So simple and beautiful, as is all of her work. Available from Paloma's Nest.




My mum always told me that Scrabble was educational! Get your special message from here.


Proof that repetition can be fun -


Available from here

see?!

Get yours here

and finally,



 this one just makes me smile! Available from this great Aussie shop, Blacklist Studios.

Some wonderful messages I do believe. I hope that there is something there that inspires you.

As the great Muhammad Ali said -

      "It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."

I am going to put this in to practise myself this year. I hope you will too!

May your weekend be full of belief in possibility,
Stephie x

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Now that..

the calendar situation is sorted, it's time to organise a diary. I usually have one well and truly by now but not this year. So if you are also still in the hunt for a planner of some description, here are a few suggestions -



Top row:
               2011 A6 Graphic Diary from Kikki K. This is such a great brand - really stylish home office and  organisational products. It can be very dangerous for your wallet though!

              2011 Weekly Planner from Nico Papergoods.

              Aaaah! Frankie, how I love you! Daily Journal available here. They publish a great magazine every few months and their books are beautiful with such attention to detail. Well worth a look, especially the new Spaces publication.

Bottom row:
               
                 Assorted animal journals from Heroes and Criminals Press.

                "Ordinary notebooks" from Jen Fries. Not a diary I know but there is a great story about the inspiration behind these. I think a set of these for me might be in order!

                Custom cover 2011 Diary by Miss Meg . There are a few options for the cover but I am quite partial to the typewriter myself. 

So there you have it, my 2011 Diary Roundup. The only excuse now for me not getting a new diary is that I don't know which one to choose!

Happy Wednesday,,
 Stephie x

Monday, January 10, 2011

Just in case...

you don't have a 2011 calendar yet, I thought I'd remind you about this cute option which I posted about last year.

Just select your images for each month -
 


print them out and trim them -


  put them together in order -
 

 add a pretty clip -




 and your calendar is done!



I am really happy with how this one turned out and in case you are now feeling inspired, you can download your copy here or click on the "make my own owl calendar" icon in the sidebar.

Happy Monday,
Stephie x

Friday, January 7, 2011

Today...

I thought I'd share some fun pink art for your walls!


From left to right:

                              Yes, "Life is Beautiful"! Available from here

                               Love (Closeup) print by AshleyG

                               "Make Do and Mend" by Bold and Noble. Good advice in these economic times!

                               "Ditto on the Love" print by Etsy seller Gingiber. She has a pretty cute Owl Calendar too! Actually all her work is pretty cute!
                           
                               How sweet are "Madame and Monsieur Optimist"? They'd look great in my bedroom methinks
                     
                              Of course, EVERYONE  needs a bear of some description in their life and this pink "Bear of Few Words" print by Kerry has my name on it. She also has a pretty awesome "Bigdrop" Print - I suggest you go take a look!

                                I don't know why, but I love this "Snap, Crackle, Pop" print. Maybe it's because it reminds me of one of my favourite childhood breakfast cereals. Available from here

So here's to the end of the first week of a new year and a new decade. I have really enjoyed featuring pink this week and have loved all of the wonderful feedback I have received - many thanks to all of you! I think that this is enough pink for a little while but, be warned,  pink will be sneaking into my posts now and then for the rest of the year. I hope that this will be OK!

In the words of my friends, Mari and Bibbitybob
                                           
  "Le monde voit l'avenir en rose"

Hope your weekend is pink and pretty,
Stephie x

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I am...

     
"tickled pink!" to be guest blogging for the lovely Ana of Rearranged Design today. My post features interior decorating schemes which incorporate, yes, you guessed it, pink. I hope you will pop over and take a look - it's the first time I've done this!

To tie in with this I thought I would take a look at using pink outside. First up in bold tones-


Images via:ApartmentTherapy   Decorpad   Real Simple   Velvet Brown   ArhDeco   Human Flower Project   Singapore Bikes   dreamstime    

I've got to get a Vespa methinks, or maybe a Volkswagon?!

 and then in something a little more pastel -

Images via:Flickr   We Heart It   Adirondack Resource Guide   The Sweetest Occasion   Old Fashioned Pretty   You and Your Wedding   Maggie Moon Interiors   

I just love that little caravan - I could live in it until that little pink house becomes available!

So there you have it, some pink for the great outdoors. I quite like it. What do you think?

Happy Wednesday,
Stephie x

Monday, January 3, 2011

In 2011...


Image via here

is the colour of the year. So...
 
                this week, it's all about ... pink!      

Now anyone that knows me well knows that I have a bit of a thing for pink. I really don't need any encouragement when it comes to using it but I know that there would be those amongst you who are not so convinced. Since, at this time of the year, it's all about parties, I thought I'd start the week looking at using pink to celebrate!


It can be bold and fuchsia

Images via:
thepinkcart,   Flickriver,   My Biggest Day   Martha Stewart   vi.sualize   wanderfuls   feelgoodstyle   Sugar Siren    

or pretty and pastel

Images via:  dexknows   thisnext   blowoutparty   blowoutparty   lushlee   Flickr
 bellarosa antiques   MarthaStewartWeddings 
bridegoggles StyleMePretty  
 penandpaperflowers

or just simply a pretty afternoon tea or picnic

Images via:  theweddingheaven   readymade
  Country Living   shoponline   amazingbridalshowers   StyleMePretty   Kaitlyn
 intimateweddings    


Whatever your preference, it's time to find your inner pink and enjoy.

See you on Wednesday with some pink decorating and some exciting news!

Hope your New Year was rosy,
Stephie x