July 31, 2011

i let it fall, my heart.


gah. i'm so in love with adele right now it's not.even.funny. ok, now that i've got that off my chest...good early evening lovelies. it has been a wonderfully loved up, hanging with friends, baking whoopies, adele blaring in car/studio/lounge, chats with mama, love letter writing and a spot of opshopping kinda weekend. nothing much was planned but i did manage to drink my weight in strawberry & lime cider last night (nursing a lovely headache for it), perfecting a swiss caramel buttercream (that took about 3 hours to make) and spend some time with some of my nearest and dearest. i received the most beautiful message from my dad this morning full to the brim with inspiration, love and admiration. it made my day, as i've struggled a bit this week with numerous things. my dad is, and always has been, my hero (except maybe that one time i got grounded for 6 months at 18 years old...yes, there was a good reason.) i am the epitome of my mum (cute and quirky..not a bad combination) but i am also very much a daddy's girl. nothing is EVER too much for him and the kind of support he gives transcends time differences and travels across oceans. i think it's part of the reason why i haven't yet met a man that quite fits my expectations (eats my baked goods and builds me things). i can't wait to work on future projects with him, he understands and supports every passion i have (and there's a few) thank you dad, i am only the woman i am today because you nurtured me so. have a lovely week, i know some of you are feeling the strain of winter, sickness and the weight of family life....so just know i think you're utterly fabulous (you know who you are). xx



love you tel. able and game sum it up perfectly.

some sandwich plate and caramel whoopie love. (yes, they are indeed the size of a burger)

a present from trudy. love her and my johnson plates.

it's rummage time next sunday! come and say hi...i'll be there with kellie and kimberly. delicious!



July 29, 2011

hummingbird and cake.


a few jumbled thoughts on this friday evening. my mum loves hummingbirds...and clouds. so everytime i see a pretty cloud, i think of her...and everytime i see something with a hummingbird on it (usually whilst opshopping), i buy it. see cloud fabric pillowcase and hummingbird mirror below. i've been without kit this week and it's been a bit crappola. public transport just doesn't cut it. she should be back in working order by the end of the weekend, can't wait! it's only 8 weeks until i meet my parents in hawaii and i'm getting so excited. i can feel my emotions racing too, i even cried during the masterchef family reunion episode, like, really cried. artwork is being made for the exhibition which, ladies and gents...is in a month! nothing like a bit of pressure to get my creativity flowing. i feel some late nights coming on, but you know what? i love it, there's nothing quite like a 6 hour artmaking jaunt until 3am. just not quite sure how i'll do getting up at 6am to go to work. totes baking some salted caramel whoopies for a gorgeous girl's leaving party tomorrow. bound to be a sweet mix with some swedish berry cider! happy weekend all. ps. you have two more days to enter my giveaway..winner will be picked on monday, good luck!




a great mug for tea (made in israel) and floral pillowcase.


only the best cushion ever. turquoise and orange? don't mind if i do!


the sweet little hummingbird mirror..ode to mama!


a sweet thermos to be used as a vase..billy buttons are already at home in it.


the cloud pillowcase ( i have matching green cloud sheets) and some sweet cuppies i've made in the past...they matched, it just seemed right)




July 25, 2011

sweet as pie.


i'm so happy, i could burst. having just been presented with these photos, i couldn't wait any longer to share them with you. by now, you'll know that my personal (and most favourite) photographer is my sister katie. i may be biased but her photographs speak for themselves. an afternoon in my kitchen making whoopie pies, friands, cookies and brownie has never looked so beautiful. i will treasure these images forever. below i have included the recipe for the delicious carrot cake whoopie pies. they.were.divine. i've never been too crazy over carrot cake (i'm a banana cake fiend)..but these little beauties and their orange cream cheese filling have me converted. give them a go, no need to be too neat...just make sure you come back and show me your end result! enjoy my lovelies. ps. happiness IS cake and a warm puppy!















carrot cake whoopie.

(makes 9 large or 24 small)

250g plain flour
1 tsp bicarb soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
125g unsalted butter, softened
100g castor sugar
100g light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 carrots, peeled and grated
zest of 1 orange


Preheat the oven to 180°. Line two trays with baking paper. In a bowl, sift together flour, bicarb, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger. Stir in the salt and set aside. In a seperate bowl, cream the softened butter and sugars until light and fluffy, using an electric hand whisk or freestanding mixer fitted with the flat beater (insert kitchenaid need here.) Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Add the grated carrot and orange zest and mix well. Finally, add the dry ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Chill for 30 mins. Drop 18 large or 48 small scoops of batter, about 5cm apart, onto the prepared baking trays. Bake in the middle of the oven for 10-12 mins for large whoopies and 8-10 for mini whoopies, until the cakes are left with a slight impression when touched with a finger. Remove from the oven to a wire rack and cool completely.


orange mascarpone cream filling

250g cream cheese
150g mascarpone cheese
100g icing sugar
zest and juice of 1/2 orange

Whisk cheeses together until smooth. Add icing sugar and orange zest & juice.


To assemble: spread or pipe a generous scoop of filling on the flat surface of a cooled whoopie. Top with another whoopie to make a sandwich. Serve and enjoy!


recipe courtesy of the wonderful whoopie pie book.




July 24, 2011

cake face.


i'm sitting here on this chilly sunday evening hugging a big mug of tea and filling the remainder of the space in my belly with a scone. seems harmless at first...but if i tell you i hosted a cake party this afternoon with a selection of my favourite treats & favourite girls and fed my face till i got a sugar headache (summer berry cider probably didn't help either)...would you judge me? take a peek at the photos below and you'll see why i've been a total cake face today. the weather was beeeeautiful and the company delicious. there were puppies, new mamas and even babies. perfection. can't say the photos are that brilliant but who wants to stand around taking pictures of something this tempting? whoopie pies were a hit so i'll post a 'how to' demo later in the week (with professional photos, woo!) have a great week lovelies.



the food table. nanna's teacups and pot of creme brulee had their own table, of course.


lots of beautiful flowers (thanks girls) and pretty pink clouds. (gf vanilla cookies)


carrot cake whoopie pies with orange cream cheese filling and strawberry & vanilla friands.


mini teapot cookies (gluten free and gorgeous!)


just one of the cutest guests to grace the party today. her brother came adorned with a homemade bow tie. bless!



July 23, 2011

billy buttons and happy trees.



could that possibly be the cutest name for a flower? they're like little round puff balls of yellow beauty and don't even require water. best $10.50 (wholesale...i've got connections) that i've ever spent on flowers. the happy little trees is of course a bob ross reference. if you haven't heard of this gentle nature loving artist, get aquainted asap, you'll never look at clouds or trees the same way ever again. my day started with some garage sale business as trudy and tom are selling their goodies before they head off to holland. that's right, my OTHER best friend is heading overseas too! thank goodness for my favourite little lady (the amazing florist and best snail mail writer and the little dark haired beauty in my photos) who is hanging in brisbane with me for a little while yet. i am a firm believer in loving something and letting it free, but i also believe heavily in spending all of my money on pre-loved goods over shopping for food...you work it out. picked up a few gems at trudy's and a quick trip to the wholesale florist meant eye candy and a few purchases for a florist and her friend. baking was on the menu this afternoon as i am hosting a cake party for some of my favourite gallery girls tomorrow. friands, brownie, teapot/cloud cookies and carrot cake whoopie pies were made. my beautiful sister popped by with her camera for a few snaps that i shall share soon. incredible does not sum up what i think of her talent. looking forward to showing you some whoopie pie making in action and floral apron modelling. i hope your saturday has been as lovely. tomorrow will be the sweetest sunday so far, so i'll be back monday with a recap of the delicious happenings. may even save you a cookie.



another floral tablecloth and more johnson plates are always appreciated.

a pretty new tea dress (that i'm wearing tomorrow) and beautiful turquoise lace blouse.

just a few ingredients (most of them, including 18 eggs, carried home on my bike) and setting up the food table. (billy buttons top left)

late night teapot cookie baking and etsy love from a tart who knows me too well.




July 18, 2011

monday treats and a giveaway!


after a wonderful sleep in this morning after exhausting myself with foolish behaviour yesterday, i awoke to some art making and spicy fruit toast indulging (it's my new fav). i treasure my monthly monday off so i knew i had to squeeze a few happenings into the day. i popped over to james street markets (my old haunting ground) to see my lovely wheel&barrow friends, grab a smoothie from quench and some flowers for a beautiful girl. when i bought my kitchenaid i received a voucher so i decided it was a good day to spend it. of course the vintage fabrics and platter are not store bought, they're rspca finds that i walked away with for mere cents. i'll be using them for the upcoming 'cake party' that i am beyond excited about. the whoopie pie book is just divine, now to decide on which flavour to make! i hope your monday has been foolish free and sunny. brisbane is bringing out the beautiful skies today, so i'm feeling positive about the week to come. thank you for all of your beautiful comments yesterday and to thank you for your ongoing support, i'd like to invite you to enter my giveaway! please just leave a comment below and i will reveal the winner on august 1st. All are welcomed to enter...have a squizz at the last photo to see what you can win! have a great week.


pink floral sheets are my favourite and often so hard to find. whoopie pies are the new cupcakes.

a beautiful german floral platter. being slightly bigger than a dinner plate i'm thinking it will be perfect for strawberry whoopie pies!

some fabulous floral fabric placemats and an orange tablecloth. love!

the treats up for grabs (pink cupcake wrappers, 3 porcelain ramekins, a s/s 'teapot' teabag holder and teabag tongs!) perfect for sunday afternoon behaviour.



July 17, 2011

bright side.


evening lovelies. going to keep this post short & sweet. beautiful blue skies, market wandering, marmalade brunching, secret and antique centre hunting made for a joyful sunday. getting my car towed and paying $300 upfront to get it released however, was not. not going to dwell on the craziness that is game day in my home suburb. 30 or so others are feeling the sting aswell, including one freaked out porsche driver. i'm going to look on the bright side, as there are always lessons to be learned and as i had the most productive night in forever last night (see photos below) i have tapped into my inspired side to move through this unwelcome bump in the road. here are a few photos from my day. today i'm grateful for beautiful friends, gorgeous secret owners and vintage delights. no more tears, i'm seriously one lucky girl in the scheme of things. i'm off tomorrow too, which is perfectly timed....art making and tea drinking will consume me tomorrow and i couldn't be more excited. here's to being thrifty this week...and for me, that's behaving myself a little better. you guys though...go crazy for me!




late night wallpaper and fabric behaviour...the best kind!


playing with ideas until 2am...i'm back in the game!


my studio floor at this present time. ideas developed now for play time!


beautiful plants at the markets and coloured glass at woolloongabba antiques.


brunching at lady marmalade's is always a pleasure. it's my favourite place in town.


heading to secret on a sunday afternoon is also a favourite treat of mine.


detail of my new secret find that i'll be wearing opening night...a splurge pre-tow.




July 12, 2011

sweet inspiration.



i'm drinking tea out of a love heart mug, snuggled in bed under numerous layers of vintage linen (brisbane is freeeeeeezing!) and i'm brimming with inspiration. i'm featured over at the beautiful 'tea for evie' blog tonight, just had a wonderful short but sweet white chocolate chai date with the lovely sophie from 'her library adventures' (like she even needs an intro) and i'm head over heels in love (not with a boy just yet) with retro villa's vintage wallpaper collection! what a delicious tuesday and just what i needed to top up my motivation for the week. i'll be back this weekend with giveaway deets and some treasures! enjoy your wednesday beautiful people.



become aquainted please.


sophie and i post max brenner indulgence. ps. sophie is just as divine as i expected. so much to talk about and sooo much in common. i just love when people exceed your already high expectations.

a slice of vintage wallpaper heaven. this is what my suitcase will be full of when i return from copenhagen next year, woo!



July 10, 2011

sunday behaviour.



laziest. sunday. ever. i've been super productive too so it's a happy medium today. i blame the peter alexander pajama pants. i bet he's responsible for much lazy sunday behaviour. genius. i've been snapping photos for an interview, eating bacon sandwiches (ok, only one), drinking so much tea i think i'm floating in a milky ocean here, collecting ideas for my travel journal and enjoying this beautiful sunday sunshine. after some hanging out of washing and some letter writing i'm off to treat myself to a caramel latte and a slice of cake. i'm saving my baking skills for a lovely little cake party i'm hosting in a couple of weeks to celebrate my beautiful gallery girls. it will be an excuse to drink copious amounts of creme brulee tea (and a few summer berry ciders) and eat macarons (home made by moi), finger sandwiches and many whoopie pies! (if you haven't discovered the world of the whoopie...you need to, they're fabulous!) i may need to start fasting for such a decadent occasion. in other news, i'm meeting up with the gorgeous sophie for chats over white chocolate chai on tuesday whilst she's up here in brisbane and i can't wait! i am so thankful for the gorgeous support system i have here on my blog, i love each and every comment and i love seeing all of your delightful thrifted treats. a big thank you to all of you. have a wonderful sunday afternoon and enjoy the coming week. much sunday love!




i had to choose a favourite thrifted find.

some lino cutting will be taking place this week.

some cake eating and phototaking has been on the menu today. (also found this fabulous floral sheet in my collection and HAD to show it off, i'm in love all over again!)

July 9, 2011

kit and all her caboodle.


good afternoon! hope your saturday has been beautiful so far. mine's been a little bit delicious. it's chilly town here in brisbane so today's finds are very suitable for keeping warm and looking cute at the same time. i decided to take off on kit for a ride around a few of my local oppies. vinnie's, trinity church and lifeline all delivered. i do love listening to the lovely old lady conversations whilst i potter for treats. i found some delights that i can only describe as things that usually aren't on the top of my 'to find' list (but uber cute!) i also received my blog prize from sunday collector in the week which made my day considering i was nearly knocked off of my bike on the way home from work. all is well, i have a new wooden ampersand stamp, hooray! i've had a truly love-filled week with lots of supportive work friends and an uber supportive sister. i've got some awesome ideas that i want to implement in the next few years and having this support engulf me has only made it seem more exciting and obtainable. have a lovely weekend and i'll be back next week with details of a giveaway! (about time, i know!) i'm off to put the kettle on.




my lovely prize.


a delicious teacosy...totally a keeper and included in my 'future plan'.


could this flower jumpsuit BE any cuter? seriously, i'm not popping out babies anytime soon but when i do, my little lady will be modelling this!


retro floral flour sifter, the design and colours make me so happy. a total steal too.


oh i wish this was my size but it's infact one of the coolest mini knitted jumpers around. again, one for the treasure box.


booties for a bub and mustard bed socks for me.


what is it with me and my love for floral bath towels? next best thing to floral bed sheets i guess.