March 27, 2012

heart of gold.


Oh neil young, how your songs make my heart beat faster. This post is dedicated to the musical genius and quite conveniently compliments the golden/autumn welcoming treats I found yesterday. No opshop adventure is complete without a Johnson find, so when I found what can only be described as THE Johnson find of the year for me…I was over the moon. My eyes scoured the shelves of this newly discovered oppy hoping and wishing for a piece of floral beauty. It took me a few seconds to realise what was staring back at me and as I took it down from the shelf, handling it with such care like it was gold (well, it pretty much is) I couldn’t believe what I had in my arms. A few squeals of glee and some cuddles later and it was mine. A pristine, in the box set of 4 johnson sunflower cups and saucers. Not only is this a new design for me, it’s my first Johnson purchase that I’ve found in it’s original box. A lot of hoo hah over some retro floral crockery but I know that many of you out there share the same love affair. I know of a few special ladies in particular that I will be dedicating a post to later in the week. You know where to come for your Johnson fix this week! happy treasure hunting gorgeous ones.


the current love of my life.

staffordshire beauty.

lemon floral..hello.

mustard canister...need i say more?

apple crumble on the menu.

indulging in peanut butter flavoured goodness whilst wearing a mustard skirt...can anyone say hello autumn!?


March 26, 2012

fresh finds.


happy monday all and hello monthly monday off! it's tainted a teeny bit by the sadness of mum and dad leaving. waving them goodbye this morning was a little heartbreaking, but knowing this is the last leg of their time in sf does comfort me. i thought i'd pop by with a few of last wednesday's finds that i picked up from one of my old time favourite opshops. so many memories of wandering the aisles with my bestie during uni when we should have been in rock art lectures. that place always delivers and i remember the joy of filling a basket with the then lesser known johnson and staffordshire potteries crockery. a little johnson find on wednesday sparked that memory and so did a few beautiful linen finds. my favourite of the day being a sanderson fabric cushion that is the EXACT same fabric as the couch suite in my childhood home. happy memories and a few squeals of excitement later and the treats were mine. i'm still waiting to hear back about my rummage registration but i am looking forward to sharing a few treats with you this sunday if all goes to plan. metre rolls of vintage wallpaper will be available for that day only so keep your eyes peeled. i hope you have a lovely week and that the sun is shining wherever you may be.



a new favourite mug of mine.

the sanderson cushion.

a pretty little pot.

a cute collection.

some johnson love (and a new mug design for me)

vintage floral, of course.

the linen stack complete with pink & mint winter blanket!


March 22, 2012

sand between my toes.


a beautiful sun soaked day on the coast was in order for us on wednesday. having lived on the coast for several years (before moving to the big brissie smoke) it was on the agenda for us to revisit a few of our favourite places whilst mum and dad were in town. the sun put on a real show and the clouds were just incredible. being with my most loved cloud watcher, she was in her element all day. a quick stop at one of my old time favourite opshops (and a few finds i'll share later) and then it was onto some lunch at our old beach hotspot aka the best lime milkshake maker on the coast. i've never been much of a beach babe but wandering the expansive sands and snapping pics along the way, was just incredible...heaven infact. the minty/turquoise colours had me in awe and soaking my milky british skin in some sunshine with some of my favourite people was just what the doctor ordered. the weather has been a bit unpredictable this week, so lots of yummy dinners after work and chats over mugs of tea and tim tams has provided us with the perfect amount of family time. dinner at mine is on the agenda tonight before they fly out early tomorrow morning. the chance of seeing them in london town in june now has me even more excited about europe. the family ties have loosened once again as we let them head back to their sf home (and our gorgeous pup) but i will continue to go about my days with the memories we've made until we're reunited once again. we all know that absence only makes the heart grow fonder.




beach love.


the colours!


sand between my toes.


lime milkshake heaven.


mama and i.


opshopping with my awesome dad.


March 18, 2012

favourites.


This weekend began a little differently to the last…due to the fact that on Friday afternoon my mum and dad flew in from San Francisco! A fly in fly out visit lasting just over a week that would allow me to top up on mum hugs and renew life chat sessions with dad. I really don’t know how we get by each week without a visit to see them for a quick cuppa or bbq dinner, not forgetting the puppy cuddles that we used to have on tap but now only dream about. Our family reunions make our love so much stronger and although I miss them dearly I know in the future they’ll be back in our lives even more involved than ever. I have plans of renovating a caravan with dad’s help, having mum help serve and design my baked treats from said caravan (can’t wait for her to model my vintage apron collection!) and of course not forgetting the obligatory babysitting sessions they’ll be subjected to when I finally settle down and have babies. It’s weird talking about a time so far from now (and babies!) but it keeps me going when we are physically so far apart. We have spent some quality time this weekend just catching up, sharing my new (and old) dreams and how it will all bring us back together. Drinking cups of tea & enjoying sweet treats, indulging in pints of cider and eating at some of our favourite places in town. On Wednesday we meet up with family friends on the coast and pay a visit to a couple of my favourite oppies (at their request of course). This weekend has been a little quiet finds wise but I’m so topped up with family love I haven’t even wanted to venture out. I swear I can hear a strawberry & lime cider calling my name so I’ll love you and leave you and be back during the week with some recipes and perhaps some Wednesday finds. Hope your weekend has been just as lovely and you’ve been spending time with some of your favourites.


sunday lunch at apples.

apple's table decorations.

beautiful coffee.

trying on vintage aprons.

afternoon tea on the balcony with mama.

inspired to get back into my baking again.

still decorating the new place with favourite treasures.

unearthing old favourites ready for winter tea parties.

and finally hanging some melbourne finds.


March 14, 2012

painting the town mint.


there are hundreds of paint colours to peruse at your local bunnings. that's half the excitement...letting your eyes wander the wide walls of paint candy. it was love at first sight on sunday. nothing else seemed to compare and as i plucked the card buried amongst it's tonal friends out so fast with a tiny (yet noticable) squeal, it was only seconds before a sample pot of 'mint twist' was mixed and mine to take home. wow, sounds like i really need to get out more...but the years of working at an art store and my inner artist/overall paint chip admirer was instantly inspired by the colour held before me. i bought it to paint just ONE bit of furniture, but as i look around me i can see other items/frames/canvases just calling out to be coated with said minty goodness. back to the point of this post and a little thank you for all of the wonderful instagram feedback/constant lovin' lately. i snagged a cute piece of retro shelving the other day at the antiques centre and although screaming at me to take it home...i had to do the maths...seriously, the iphone calculator was out budgeting how many $$ i had left for food this week and whether or not i could afford this beautiful artefact. i went with my gut and grabbed the bright blue (not my favourite colour) find and lugged it back to the car. complete buyers remorse until i got home, unloaded it and starting thinking colours. geez, this really is a long story just about a freakin furniture makeover, but i'm in the sharing mood so will proceed. (feel free to scroll down to the end result in picture format.) a chat amongst my girls and mint green was decided upon (thanks morgan!) i'll never go back..not even to mustard. the makeover was completed within a couple of hours and the johnson/staffordshire collection piled on soon after. i can feel it being a work in progress as it only fits my cup collection, but it has found pride of place in my studio and i am already in awe of its wonderfulness. check back in soon to see what else i've minted and please, do yourself a favour and grab a pot of mint green paint..or make some mint icing, or whip up some mint coloured playdough...because this colour ladies and gentlemen, IS the new mustard.



bye blue..hello mint loveliness!

looking all beautiful even without treats.

heaven on earth.

some studio decor.

stacks of delight about the place.

cosies are up and looking cute.

and i'm dreaming of paris in july. not long to go now!


March 11, 2012

hint of mint.


a cooler sunday was welcomed today and so a trip to apples was on the cards. haloumi and avocado on sourdough was inhaled whilst perusing pretty floral dresses and reading old (and more fantastic if you ask me) copies of vogue living. hanging out with my sister is always a welcomed treat (now that we don't live together and always seem to be so busy) so chats over an extended breakfast that led to sharing a sweet treat slice made for a great start to my sunday. picking out some paint for my latest furniture find (to display my favourite staffordshire & johnson delights) meant a trip to bunnings, which is never a bad thing. spent the afternoon pottering about the house catching up on chores and getting stuck into the studio. everything now seems to have been touched, in some shape or form, by a hint of mint, because i fell utterly and completely in love with the colour after the first brush stroke. my vintage wallpaper has found a new home in a cheap oppie find and the space seems to really be coming together. will post some pics once the johnson/staffordshire collections are in their new homes and the floral eye candy overload can begin. i'm about to crawl into bed before an early start at work tomorrow but will firstly show you a few pics from my weekend. hope yours has been just as lovely, and word on the street (my mouth) is that mint is the new mustard. remember, you heard it here first.



cute tea caddy, staffordshire mug, avon powder box and lemon johnson delights.

a norwegian, german and english blend of plates this time.

my morning at apples, documented quite well with delicious food and vintage dresses.

pottering in the lounge i couldn't resist nanna's mirror/chandelier combo.

the apples setup.

pretty green florals, my afternoon painting project and my soon to be expanding wallpaper collection.


March 10, 2012

better late than never.


well hello there. thought i'd pop in, a week later than planned to share a bit of goodness from around the place amidst the mess (huge sweaty mess) of unpacking the new digs. and what an amazing new dig she is. i'm in love, infact both my room mate and i (who is a piece of awesome by the way) have developed such a deep love for the house that we actually feel like our jobs are doing us an injustice by requiring us to attend work everyday. i have had one of the heaviest work weeks in what feels like forever so am so blissed out on this beautiful sunny saturday morning to be spending some long overdue time with the palace. i have old tunes playing, about to whip up some scrambled eggs and hang some washing on our beautiful rickety old hills hoist. i'm attacking the studio later after i pop out for the weekly grocery run and a little local oppy perve. my instagram has been alight with new images from about the place so i'll be back later on to stock up the eye candy levels. mum and dad arrive from SF next friday night and although they're only staying a little over a week, i am terribly excited and have gallery/coffee dates with mama sorted and a big family feast prepared for my nearest and dearest here at the pattern palace. anyone say raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake? have a wonderful weekend beautiful people. looking forward to checking in on all the fun you're getting up to.



it's better than ok.

beautiful afternoon light in my bedroom.

a few of the goodies opshopped last weekend.

i was photo bombed by a chubby gecko.

some pretty corners of my home.

the view from my sunroom/studio makes me so happy.


March 6, 2012

the pattern palace.


what seemed like 100’s of boxes (mostly full of fabrics and crockery), a bed, an egg chair, nanna’s buffet, more boxes, 3 trips in a budget van and many bruises from attempting to carry a flat screen on my own later…and I was in.. moving day last week was super sunny after a miserable weather weekend which meant a stress free (but still exhausting) move. her baby pink bathroom with orange taps, axminster carpet, colourful toilet lino and beautiful oriental rugs had me charmed from the start. a much loved early 1900’s home with plenty of character and space for myself and my room mate to live, cook, bake, host and create in. the weekend just gone was spent opshopping for extra bits of furniture and also happened to turn up several lovely fabric finds. the kitchen already seems to be our favourite room in the house with breakfast nook, stacks of pyrex, stained glass windows and enough cupboard space to display all of our beautiful crockery collections. our separate studio spaces both have highset views over our beautiful neighbourhood and the high ceilings, vj’s and decorative carpets in the bedrooms made unpacking over the weekend an absolute joy. with many afternoon teas planned with beautiful friends, sunday baking sessions and constant rearranging (and hosting with) our beloved collections…I can see our new home playing a huge part in what appears to already be one of my favourite years yet. below are a few pics of her beautiful patterns and why she has so aptly been named the pattern palace.



the axminster in the sitting room.

oriental rug love in the lounge and main bedroom.

the colourful toilet lino...my fav!

pink and orange bathroom.

my bedroom carpet.

third bedroom floral lino.

inside the kitchen cupboards.

the hallway carpet.