All Things Lovely

Uh Oh, More Paint Colours

I'm still on a search to find the perfect colour for my studio. I've now fallen in love with this colour, which I found via the Fixing Adam's House blog. This is Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore. Now that would all be well and good, and I'd be dashing out for a sample pot, except as far as I know it's not a brand that is stocked in Australia!

I've just used the colour viewer on the website to recolour this bedroom to get an idea of the look. I really like it, and I know it would look beautiful with white furniture, but will it go with the fabric I've picked and want to use for recovering chairs and other little features?

Does anyone know how I would get the formula for this paint so I could try and get it made up here with another brand? Granted, it may not be perfect but I could give it a shot!

Wordle Magic

Thanks to Nicole at Making It Lovely, today I discovered Worldle. You put in a block of text and it makes it into funky art. You can change the colours, layout etc. I decided to Wordle my favourite verse from the Bible, what a cool idea!

More Studio Inspiration

I am really taking my time on this studio! I'm having so many problems picking a wall colour just to start with. So far, there are splotches of pink, green and yellow on the walls, as well as it's original blue. It looks quite diseased. I'm going to give a pale aqua a shot, and then I'm determined to make a decision. I've even booked time off work, so I have to paint it then.

I've found some more studios I think are lovely for various reasons, I have no idea where they come from so my apologies for the lack of links.

I love the brilliant storage from all the cupboards, as well as the old sewing machine sitting there, just gorgeous.

This room just looks so fresh and crisp, the wall colour in fact is not far from what I've chosen for my master bedroom. I also like the white furniture which is what I'm hoping to end up with. The storage in the desk is a brilliant idea.

I like all the shelving in this one, it looks fantastic and is also incredibly functional.

Lastly, the storage here looks amazing. Ikea has these fabulous bookcases and boxes, so I dare say one will end up in my craft room.

So, now I'm just counting down to finally having some time off work and getting it all done! I had a lovely trip to Ikea on the weekend to scope out some ideas, I'm now rather excited about it all.

Just What I Need

I am really loving these new posters from Orange Beautiful, I think they would be perfect in my new crafty room when I'm feeling like I have too much to do.

I especially love this one, it's become a favourite phrase of mine! And the bonus is, it will even go with the colour scheme! 

They are limited edition prints, so if you want one, do something about it and buy one. 

Anthropologie Envy

In my blogging travels, I've seen an abundance of beautiful decorating items from Anthropologie. Me being a slightly obsessed online shopper, I of course checked out their website only to discover they don't ship to Australia. Of course, there are ways around this, but it still just adds to the price.

I am completely pea green with envy that US residents, and others have such easy access to this amazing shop! I can't even think of any major shop in Australia that would come close. It's like a combination of Myer, Freedom and a whole lot of little gift shops. Aaah... I think it would be my mecca!

Anyway, enough rambling, here are some items I would really like to get shipped over here for future projects.

The Waterwing Knob and Tweet Knob - would be perfect on a set of drawers I'm planning to use in my new sewing room.

 

And then there is this beautiful Floral Kingdom Frame, perfect for anything I think.

At close to a cool $800, I am dreaming but how cool is this light fitting? The Songbird Chandelier... so pretty.

 

A more affordable option might be the Aviaries Shade.

I guess I will just have to keep dreaming until I can do a massive online shopping trip... in the meantime I will just dream.

Meet Indiana

I'd like you to meet my dog, Indiana. He's 9, so certainly not new, but I adore him! I named him after Indiana Jones, and his adventuring spirit has certainly had him live up to his name. My parents gave him to me for my 21st birthday present. I had so badly wanted a dog, and thought there was no way I could, until they surprised me with this wriggling little bundle of joy and love. He is still to this day the best present EVER!

He is a beautiful handsome golden labrador, and the best puppy I could ever ask for. Aren't pets the best? Unconditional love.

Unfortunately, when I moved out of home I couldn't take him with me. A number of reasons; my backyard has no shelter for him, the backyard is quite small and he is a bit of a diva and doesn't cope well when away from his 'home'. The first two problems could have been overcome reasonably easily, but taking him away from my dad would have been too hard on him. So, he does come for visits and I visit him a lot, but for now his home is sadly not with me.

The iPhone Hype

Tomorrow is a momentous day in Australian history - the Apple iPhone finally will be launched here! And yay, we get the 3G version. Still not sure whether I will get it in the next few days or not, I do still have a working Nokia N73, but the iPhone is just so pretty! I know when I see them out and about I won't be able to resist.

I would love to hear particularly from US readers who have had the iPhone for what seems like ages. Is it worth the hype? Is it relatively easy to pick up and use? I am a bit of a geek, so new technology is fun for me.

Studio Inspiration

I've finally succumbed to the need to have a dedicated space to make stationery, sew and just generally be creative. I'm sick of having my dining table and lounge room taken over. So, I took the plunge and pulled down my spare bed and I've started the very slow process of turning the spare room into a studio of sorts. To me, studio sounds a bit wanky as I don't consider myself a designer at all, but it's quicker to say than sewing room/craft room/workspace. So, for the purposes of this blog, excuse my wankiness.

Currently, it's painted in a nice blue colour, but I've decided to get rid of that. Since my absolute favourite fabric at the moment is this one from Anna Maria Horner's Drawing Room, I've decided to draw my colour inspiration from that, as I'm going to use it on chair cushions and possible curtain ties.

I'm thinking a few different colours, currently there is a buttery yellow and a soft green on the walls as a test, but none of them are really making me happy. These are a few I've found from a quick look, all kind of tone with the fabric in some way.

One: Berry Break by British Paints  Two: Arthur's Knight by British Paints Three: Dancing Daffodil by British Paints Four: Scarlet Ribbons by Dulux. Don't you just love the names of paint?

So far, I'm envisaging lots of white furniture with bold walls. I'm slowly collecting pieces of furniture off eBay that I can strip back and paint, like my 99 cent chair I recently purchased. I love the idea of a mismatch of furniture shapes and styles tied together with a colour.

These are some spaces I like. I love Sharilyn's studio from Apartment Therapy. The white and aqua green colour looks so lovely together. Not to mention those floors! They are way out of the budget though.

Also, Heather Bailey's studio is one of my favourites. I love the eclectic mix of colours, and little nick naks. Gorgeous!

And Nicole's office space from Pink Loves Brown, I adore the pink walls, the red furniture and the gorgeous pictures.

So, hit me. What can I do in there? What colours do you suggest? I need ideas!

The Knitting Challenge

I set myself a little bit of a challenge with this scarf. I needed it for a friend's birthday, which is tomorrow, I'd never knitted this pattern before, and I only started about 10 days ago - and for me that doesn't leave much time! My work colleagues thought I was mad, sitting at my desk in my lunch break furiously knitting like a little Nana, but I finally got there!

I will definitely be knitting this pattern again, I got it from the fabulous The Purl Bee. It's a lacy scarf which I've not done before, but really it was very easy. It just required some concentration and a lot of counting! Hopefully she likes it. I've used a much thicker wool than they recommend so the lacy look doesn't really come through as much as it would in a lighter wool. When I knit it again, I'll use the recommended wool.

Etsy Faves

I've been so flat out this week at my 'real job' with the end of the financial year. I wish I'd had some time to spend in my home, but alas I have really only slept here.

I thought I'd share a few of my Etsy faves that have been lurking in my favourites for months in the hopes that you too will find something you love!

Free To Be, by Wyanne. This shop has some of the loveliest prints and originals, I just need to find a home for this print in my house.

Pomegranate Victorian Teardrop Soap, by 4th Ave Soap Co. Don't you think it would just look delicious in a bathroom?

Aviary Personalised Stationery Set, Silhouette Blue. Even though I can make my own cards, I think sometimes it would be far lovelier to have them made for you! Especially when a bird and birdcage are involved.

Bird Cage Coaster, from Sidney Ann. My new coffee table and TV unit are arriving today, I need coasters!