First weekend: Relaxing a.k.a. garage sales!

Like the little dance shoe single earring I thrifted? Might turn it into a brooch. Or pendant. We'll see.

It's my first weekend here. I have been so blessed by my in laws (hence referred to as "family") and so many of you readers. So surprised by the support emails, the understanding and encouragement! Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

I lived in this area some years ago for 3 years and used to really get into one of my favourite activities:

garage sale and thrifting

. This week gone by has been hard on my nerves, with unpacking, finding space, making do etc etc. So today, my MIL (mother in law) took me garage sale-ing with her (she loves it, and now is so glad to have someone else go with her that she doesn't have to drag around, i.e. her husband!!).

I scored my first Chris Chun piece at $2!! It's only a cheapie teapot stand from Ashdene, but it's so pretty!



(I've adored Chris Chun's works for so long. My favourites would have to be Kyoto Blossom and The Celebration, but at those prices, I'll have to content myself with them as my screensaver!)

I also scored a surprise gift from my MIL. I said "I love that, mum" but since there was no price on it (there were prices on the other pieces surrounding it) I thought it wasn't for sale. I walked out, mum stayed inside. Mum walked out with it, big grin on her face. Presenting it to me with a kiss, "It was only $3, darling!" MILs are great.



(If we stay longer than 8 months, we're painting the entire place white. Walls, doors, trim... everything. The slightly white-washed plywood walls is driving me mad.)

Isn't she gorgeous?

Got the cutest monkey skipping rope for Hannah for $5, brand new still in packaging... I was happy.



Also scored a cute stout yellow art glass vase to add to my collection :)
[Of course, said collection is packed away beneath oodles of newspaper and bubble wrap in box #67.)
Only 50¢ :)

Moving and why

Thanks to you all who have sent me comments and personal emails and messages. I hate moving (esp to a rental or a smaller space).



The long and short of it all is that we have moved back to the in laws to pursue two dreams: having another baby and opening a third-wave cafe focusing on speciality coffee (sorry guys, but Starbucks is not real coffee, it's confectionery coffee!!!). We have been passionate about coffee for a while now, (third wave style) of course...



So there it is. Sacrifices of following our dreams? The main one: moving from a spacious, lovely 220m2 (2370 sq foot) home into a 40.5m2 (430 sq foot) shoebox. Literally. Picture a shoebox. Corner off one tiny slim space (the width of a toilet bowl and a half, and the length of a small shower stall, sink and toilet bowl and narry a space to step in between) for the bathroom. As my father in law pointed out, we've lost 80% of our living space.



And no built ins... so every piece of furniture we bring in needs to count for way more than "just a coffee table" or "just a hall table". I've had to look at pieces that go upward rather than sprawl-ward.

Pardon the clothes, unmade bed (why make bed when the rest is so bomb-shelter-like?)

So now, our TV shares a sideboard with our underclothes. Our coffee table will be dining table cum toy storage. Our bed will also store bed linen beneath. Our bedside tables will share dressing table uses... One chest of drawers will now be used to store the clothes of 2 adults and 1 very fashionable almost-4 year old.

Please do keep reading this blog as I find ways to make our shoebox a home for the next 2 years. (Or less, please God??)
Thank you for reading this major whine... I thought I should update you (and whine) hahahah :)
Thanks also for bearing and caring for me. Photos to come soon.

Blessings on you all!

Finally

We've moved. Today. We're so exhausted... emotionally, physically and mentally. We've moved from a 220m2 home to a tiny one-room studio at the back of my in law's place. So it's all high stresses, moving was a nightmare...

But we are back with family.

Talk soon!!!

Peony accessories

Via Green Wedding Shoes

I love peonies and am so into wearing it everywhere now.... Let's go shopping!!

Belts

Via Charlotte English Boutique

Via mykarim @ Etsy

Via fatalefemme @ Etsy

In your hair

Via PenelliBelle @ Etsy

Around your neck

Via myrakim @ Etsy

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Via bpoetic @ Etsy

Brooches, pins

Via RiRiFisch @ Etsy

Via RiRiFisch @ Etsy

Via Cultivar @ Etsy

Via myrakim @ Etsy

Scarfs, shawls, those things

Via ericacavanagh @ Etsy

Wrist-wear

Via invitemecreative @ Etsy

Like any of them? I'm dying to go shopping!!!!

Anna Wintour

I am looking forward to ordering The September Issue, featuring Anna Wintour, to be released in April 2010 on DVD.



It's a documentary, sort of answering the Devil Wears Prada, showing the other side to the sleek image of the top lady at a top fashion magazine. The September Issue is normally the fattest monthly edition of Vogue and it basically records the creative and financial organisation chaos to produce it. We apparently get to see a way more human side to what is thought to be Meryl Streep's character in Devil Wears Prada (incidentally, the story is written by Ms Wintour's former personal assistant). Of course, she still has to guard herself because her every word, action is seen through media's often very critising eyes.



Anyone seen it? What did you think?

The September Issue at IMDB.com
The September Issue official site
The September Issue at Amazon

I want a terrarium... and a hedgehog... or two!

Ever since seeing Martha Stewart's video podcast on how to create terrariums and care for them, I've been looking for an old, oversized glass jar. We're moving up to the Blue Mountains in 2 weeks and being up a mountain is one of the best places to score some good carpet moss plants... so terrariums are definitely in my future!



But would I let you down by stopping just there? Of course not!

Not enough that terrariums are absolutely top on my favourite items to have for interest, now I want some of Woodland Terrarium magic from Etsy seller DoodleBirdie's store!

I'd get me some:

toadstools

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

cute little yellow birds perched on birdbaths

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

and my favourites so far: mama and little baby hedgehogs!!

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

and of course, to finish it off,

toadstool home for secret fairy (or hedgehog family!)

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

Links:

Read more about how to with a succulent terrarium (succulent versions most be uncovered).

Dresses on walls

Sarah Kaye Representations

I don't like dust... or dusting, but have always loved the romance of a frilly, beautiful dress hanging on some wall to create such a feminine touch. (No one in my family would blink at that, with what I have hanging around the place and my well-known quirkiness.)

I did hang my favourite two of Hannah's frocks when she was a year old in her room, but that's gone now, packed away.



But I gathered some great eye candy from my inspiration files:

Image via Beach Studios

Image via Polly Wreford

Image via Selina Lake

Rachel Whiting

Image via Country Living

Image via House to Home

Image via Melanie Coddington

Image via Debi Treloar

Aren't you inspired? I am! Even though we can't afford much now, or will have the room... I can't help but go back to yearn for a few of my favourites from Etsy; like sellers Calendar Girl, TimelessVixenVintage and vintage & silk.

by Etsy seller CalendarGirlVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

Great blog to visit: dress, design and decor