baby blue.

it really is no secret that i'm a sucker for babies, vintage baby clothes or the idea of having a couple of my own one day. however, i've always been team girls. having grown up in a family of them, that's easily explained. but over the past year or so i've been overwhelmed with the baby boy love. two of my favourite gallery girls have created two of the most handsome little men i have ever come across and another favourite is cooking up another as we speak. it has been a real blessing to follow these incredible women through their pregnancies and to share in the ups and downs for the most part of the last year or so. it was a beautiful affair yesterday when those ladies, some other favourites and i came together at work to celebrate the impending birth of a new bubba boy. even though we were restricted by a work timeline, we made sure the sugar levels were kept pumping continually throughout the day. blue velvet cupcakes were made and enjoyed whilst leaving a long lasting blue stain upon any lips they touched. cookies and cream blondie jampacked with oreos were served up for the oreo loving mama-to-be and home made scones with lashings (serious lashings) of jam and cream were indulged upon. this all happened before 10am so a gang of sugar hungry gallery kids were on the rampage from the get go. although there'll be no baby making by me anytime soon, i can honestly sit here and say that i have never been so inspired and grateful for the amazing mamas that surround me. not only balancing their friendships so beautifully but the lives of their children that will only enrich the lives of others for years to come. the journey of motherhood is an amazing one, one that i never tire of seeing first hand. 

the opposite of dull.

there hasn't been a dull moment around these parts for as long as i can remember. this may be mainly due to the daily double caffeine hits but i'm running with it. there's been non stop art making, george michael ticket buying, enrolling to screen print with rachel castle (!!) in october, date loaf baking and overeating, prado exhibition admiring, love letter receiving, navy graduation celebrating, baby snuggling and a whoooollleee lot of coffee consuming. life's been busy and i've loved ever second of it. the bags under my eyes will tell you a different story but i've missed the feeling of being as equally productive as i am inspired...something i struggle with on a daily basis. i've just got back from installing my artworks and am ready for the art opening of the year on saturday night. the support has been overwhelming, i am truly in awe of my creative colleagues and proud to be collaborating with such a talented team. being an artist really is all it's cracked up to be.

my life according to instagram.

johnson rose. (1 of 3 of my cross stitched johnson plate artwork)

geometric johnson heaven.

my favourite design of all time.

three's a beautiful crowd.

found.

twas the week before europe and all through the house, new treats were being collected and sunday was spent snuggled up in bed. hasn't got the same ring to it, but it is eerily quiet around these parts today, and with chilly temps and the odd rain shower...it makes for a perfect sunday in bed. i've had a busy week full of late nights (at work and icing cakes!) and after a gorgeous 3 year old's birthday yesterday, i was ready for a much needed nap. instead post party, i pottered about a couple of oppies, did some washing, cleaned my room, sorted more clothes for the suitcase and was up till 1am booking copenhagen & amsterdam flights. nowhere in that sentence was that much needed nap. so when i woke to rain this morning i knew an epic sleep in was the only answer. it's just after 1pm now and i'm still in bed, pajamas on, peanut butter leftovers on my face and a new episode of friends about to commence. i COULD tend to my washing attempting to dry under the house but i feel boiling the kettle again for the umpteenth time and showing you some of my opshopped finds from the week will be more beneficial, for everyone. i am officially ready for my europe adventure and will be back in the week to show you some of the pretty patterns filling my suitcase and the treats on my anthropologie/liberty/retro villa shopping list. i feel making a rough list now will save me from going a little too crazy when confronted with so much beauty. although it's quite obvious that the crazy levels are already at an all time high due to the fact that i'm flying into copenhagen for a grand total of 6 hours so that i can visit what can only be described as my mecca. somewhere, deep within my pattern adoring heart i am being called to such an amazing place. hundreds of dollars later means logic is clearly nowhere to be seen in this equation but i am finally making the trip to THE most amazing vintage wallpaper shop on earth. if you're following me on instagram/ or know me in real life, you'll have a small inkling of what i'm talking about. here's wishing you a happy week ahead. thanks for listening to my crazy ramblings, or at least...looking at my pretty pictures.

found for me by a lovely lady at work. is my obsession THAT obvious? ;)

german teacups found for a mere few dollars on my way to the party.

possibly THE most pristine piece of pyrex i have ever found. it's no turquoise beauty but this gigantic casserole dish now takes pride of place in my kitchen.

some johnson, staffordshire and parisian plates found and loved.

this beauty still astounds me. found amongst a pile of crappy china plates and priceless. i was almost scared it would evade my grasp.

still unsure about this beauty. looks good here, but on, it's really not my style. being handmade and an absolute steal, i just had to snap it up. i mean, check out the green floral!

gorgeous detail.

what IS it with me and baby knits?

saturday wanderings.

what a beautiful sunny saturday! my market date with two of my favourite ladies was the bright start to my much awaited weekend. pork dumplings, lattes to go, pastel macarons, fresh banana bread and gorgeous company was the perfect fix. afternoon tea at the pattern palace meant the champagne praline tea was brewed, macarons were devoured and many, many bubba snuggles were had. i so enjoy watching this lady grow before my eyes, and i am in constant awe of her beautiful mama. holding little lady for 5 minutes makes my muscles sore and my funny faces don't always help ease her tears. watching her mama work her magic and share bucketfuls of love so effortlessly is an education i one day can only hope to experience, but until then i have a total pro to learn from. a mother's love is something that cannot be contained or measured, but from what i saw today, i was reminded how wholeheartedly i treasure it. a blissful saturday, i sure hope yours was too.

the afternoon tea spread.

we snuggle a lot.

little legs at the market.

coffee from a kombi at the markets. oh the love.

she is one hot mama.

blue skies.

she sleeps. x

a new year.

it seems like the older i get the faster the years seem to pass me by. i know i sound like an over observant 92 year old, but you know what i'm talking about. ironic really, considering the beginning of 2011 seemed to go on for what felt like forever. the floods shocked my beautiful state and city and many were left wondering how the rest of the year would unfold. mother nature tested the strength of many communities and we were left to watch in disbelief as what appeared to be almost every country was touched by her destructive behaviour. i got through the shitty time and it reinstated the importance of being with family and friends and knowing when to stop and enjoy the simple things. i know many are still dealing with this sadness and my heart goes out to those still rebuilding their lives. 2011 also brought news of my beautiful friend's baby being born who has brought more joy than anyone could have imagined. there was a reunion in the beautiful hawaii with my even more beautiful family, the decision to no longer live by myself and to leave my little vintage abode that i'd spent the last 2 years creating. it saw my two best friends relocate to europe and even though i miss them terribly, their courage continues to inspire me everyday. i wrote to tell my nan that i would be flying to london for her 88th birthday and i bit the bullet and made the decision (after years of talking about it) to start the surface design course in sydney in 2013 and priorities were realigned with the help of my beautiful support network who continue to drive my creativity and inspire me daily. i spent the last day of 2011 opshopping, baking moustache cookies and spending the evening with some beautiful friends (a few who i hadn't seen in forever!). we swam at midnight, drank delicious ciders, posed with edible moustaches and welcomed what already appears to be a wonderful start to 2012. i haven't made any resolutions this year but rather a little to do list that i'll work through slowly. starting with an instagram a day in january. like i need any more excuses to whip out my iphone. hello 2012!

my thrifty finds.

nanna's rolling pin and chocolate shortbread moustaches.

working the mo's.

part two.

some johnson gifts to bring in the new year. thank you kimberley & melania!

today was THE most beautiful day weather wise. i slept in, did my washing and packed up a few of my belongings. tomorrow i plan to bike to breakfast with my sister, bake my nanna's date loaf and watch an old movie. life in 2012 is good.

happy new year to you all and thank you for your amazing support throughout 2011. kit and nancy wouldn't be what it is without you.

cake & christmas.

this could quite possibly have been the longest week, ever. not a lot of overtime was done at work but the days just seemed to drag. this made me sad for another reason too. the weather has been GLORIOUS here in brisbane. i was stuck inside when i could have been pottering about in comfortable temperatures. cooler temps, beautiful bright blue cloudy skies and chilly evenings which call for a cardigan...IN SUMMER...IN QUEENSLAND. shouldn't say that too loudly, the humidity gods are probably going to surprise us with a scorching christmas day and make my whole day of oven use completely unbearable. bring on the trifle...which outta save my boiling ass if need be. woke this morning after being subjected to a god awful dream (think death, think family...not cool) and then an early morning boxing session which saw me throwing up in a sweaty mess 40 minutes in. again, not cool. a caramel latte from a sweet as pie coffee vendor and a market wander later, i was back in business. kate and i hit my local oppy and second hand store (totally helped cure my nausea) before stocking up on christmas day supplies and baking ingredients. white christmas and gingerbread whoopie pies were on the menu today, and with the cooler temps (but no lack of sunshine as i got totally burnt earlier on) i had an absolute blast baking up a storm! the fruits of my labour can be seen below. this was all done whilst watching the holiday and hanging washing on the line. tomorrow sees me off to the coast for a little gang get together and then monday night sees me gathering with some of my favourite ladies for a christmas feast. let's see if the whoopies & white christmas last that long. hope you're all having a lovely last weekend before christmas. loving all of your baking adventures and to all my lovelies on instagram...love! happy sunday all.

cooler temps have brought us beautiful skies.

eating so much zucchini slice, graffiti in my hood, nanna's crockery to be used for christmas lunch & what i believe 2012 will be for me.

deer in the mail (thanks kylie!), sorting my teapot collection, setting up christmas on the piano and eating festive pretzels.

billy buttons, country style recipes, weekend reading & mid week max brenner love.

market wanderings today, blue is beautiful, pastel love & a present for an 83 year old.

my find of the week...beautiful floral johnson plates in 3 sizes.

snowflakes and turquoise on pyrex? yes please!

couldn't resist more bubba clothes, johnson cake plates and that wonderful rose pattern.

white christmas & gingerbread whoopie pies with lemon cream cheese filling. yum!

love is...

...taking a long weekend. shopping for the perfect vintage dress. cuddles with my favourite little one. breakfasting at kinfolk. eating my body weight in baked goods. wanting to eat more than more body weight in baked goods. colourful street art. ferreting in lost & found heaven. being mistaken for a mother. chats over cider and lemonade. lullabies and crappy chinese takeout. beautiful sunshine. florals that make my heart beat faster. mona & moustaches. reuniting with old friends over perfect lattes. spending far too much on the perfect vintage dress. love is melbourne.

blue skies with a touch of cloud.

cake love at hopetoun & croissants at babka.

this...is cool.

rose street with my ladies.

loveliness everywhere.

take me thrifting! you got it babe.

mona, moustaches & orange kitchenalia.

cider & moustaches at little creatures.

hello beautiful ones.

it's true.

hello lover.

cream with a side of eclair.

oh i will.

colours!

floral and wallpaper love.

love.

chats over fruit loaf and lattes.

decisions, decisions.

luna fun.

third drawer down.

window shopping.

yes.

lunch at vege bar and more delicious design.

cupcakes and caramel slice.

heaven.

more heaven.

and some more.

bike love.

i'll take 3 metres, thanks.

mama and bubba.

my fabric treats.

get in my closet.