My good two days and PIP Studio!

Did you all have a good Christmas?
I enjoyed mine.

I had such a great Thurs-Fri last week that it kinda blew my blues away :) I had to share with you:

I spent Thursday with my husband and child. It's the first in about 8-12 months since we just said no to work and responsibilities. After dropping my 4.5 year old daughter at a playdate, we enjoyed a relaxed grown-up brunch at a local cafe before tackling some chores (minus constant high-pitched whining and wheedling). After picking up Hannah from her friend's, we then pottered at home together and then had dinner at MacDonalds (yuck, but promised Hannah) and then some late-night shopping for clothes for husband.

And on Friday I found something which is the reason for sharing all this important (albeit personal) information: I went back to do some shopping and couldn't resist walking into bed, bath and table. After being disappointed by much of the bla-di-bla bedding, my eye was caught by a logo I've loved for so long!



Arriving in Australia in April this year, PIP Studio FINALLY makes it to the local stores!!!!! I have been waiting so long to see it in Australia it's not funny!

Back then, PIP Studio did not have bedding. But now!

I could not walk away from the store without my own PIP Studio bedding. :)

I'm so happy with my new bedding! I coordinated it with a white and grey cotton fitted sheet. Love it :)



I can also now buy PIP Studio china! Pretty soon I will be buying wallpaper and bags and tablecloths and. other unmentionable goodies! :)

Have you seen their stuff?

Merry Christmas y'all!

Thank you so much for coming back to read my blog and staying faithful despite my less than frequent posting.

My Christmas cards. I tend to hand-make my own every year. This year I took inspiration from Martha Stewart and went all glitter-some!

I treasure each and every one of you more than you know :)

Have a great Christmas this year and may the coming year bring loads of joy, laughter and hope.

xoxx
drey

Chic nativity sets for your home

I have just started doing glittering (thanks to Martha Stewart!) and this is a enlarged version of the custom Christmas cards I made and sent out to friends and family.

We have such a small place for the three of us that space is at an all-time high premium. So no space for any Christmas decorations this year - I am not exaggerating. So no Christmas trees, or tinsel or ornaments.

But I did find two spots for some Christmas beauty: one at our front door (see above pic) and another on our coffee table. I swopped out the normal candles and photo frame for our new nativity scene:



Hehe I couldn't help but glitter a few things in my nativity scene!

This $69.95 buy from bed, bath & table (Australian) was inspired by my sister in law's more expensive and beautiful Willow Tree Nativity Set:

Purchase the set or pieces from here

I arranged it yesterday, but last night, now in the quiet of my solitude-time, I found a few more online which were so chic, I had to share!

How charming is this beautifully crafted Pillar of Heaven nativity set by artist Kim Lawrence?

Cutesy, a winner with young children will be this gorgeous Precious Moments Nativity Set

This is a pretty unusual nativity set, by Joseph's Studio, with resin made to look like whittled pieces of wood.

The white and walnut nativity set, by Etsy seller, bunnywithatoolbelt

This nativity set has some pretty ivy detailing, from Christianbook.com

Yet another Kim Lawrence creation, this time, a one-in-all nativity set, hard to find these days though!

European Wooden Ostheimer Nativity is so sweet, so simple, it will enthrall many a heart.

What about the Origami Nativity Set? But in porcelain?

Another child friendly set, from mywoodentoys.com.au in Perth, Australia

I do like this lovely, 7 piece, serene nativity set

Lastly (but most expensive), a whimsical set by Patience Brewster

Stunning artworks using Lego

I went to Lewers Bequest Gallery with my husband this morning (I had the best day!) and was quite taken by a giant artpiece on the wall beside us, entirely made of Lego pieces.



I have to get one myself! Entirely unique! How awesome to have Lego artwork on the wall!

So I scoured the net for more gorgeous inspiration:

Starry starry night, Van Gogh; image from Ed Hall's site, complete with details here

.

Spock from Star Trek; by artist Motion5, as found on technabob.com

Alfred E. Newman, by artist Motion5, as found on technabob.com

Escher's, via here, taken at Legoland 2006.

My favourites are the Lego renditions of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein:

Kiss V 1969, via Brickworkz

Girl with Hair Ribbon, by Eugene Tan, via Brick Pop

Wham!, by Flickr user pricer45

Sunrise, via Moc Pages

Oh and check this awesome conference-size table made from Lego! I love it :) Made for advertising agency Boys and Girls, this bespoke beauty is made up of 22,742 lego pieces.

Image, and more information via walyou

More on another awesome Lego project soon...

You can buy your Lego bricks from Brick Link.

Christmas shopping ideas with Culpepers :)

Aren't these gorgeous (and affordable) Christmas ideas??

Jam Tales teatowel, $18.50 from Culpepers

Rituelle Soaps, $2.90 each from Culpepers

Annabel Trends - gardening pack for the kids, $22.90 from Culpepers

Abode Aroma Diffuser, one of my favourite perfume diffusers for the home, $44.90 (will go on and on for three months), from Culpepers

All prices are in Australian dollars.

Gorgeous cards

I had to, just had to post these gorgeous holiday cards from MOMA.

Pop up holiday house, MOMA.org

Pop up Igloo, MOMA.org

Building a Snowman, MOMA.org

Sharp, chic and beautiful: Candia Fisher!

I really appreciate sharp, clean homes and this place has it in buckets, and does it with such sophistication and allure! While it is sharp, the comfortable lounges make it so inviting!!!

I saw this apartment in Habitually Chic® and had to post it here too.

The apartment is art collector Candia Fisher's, decorated by Aman & Carson to highlight her exquisite art collection. Hence the white white walls and bright sun streaming in from windows adorned with curtains the same colour as the walls.



Her palette is almost monochromatic, to allow her artwork to be the focus of attention. But the lush seating really makes it less stark. Love the gorgeous black poodle!!!!



See the gorgeous mobile near the window? I love it! Everything here has architectural art-worthiness. I love how this is decorated. Everything has been chosen so carefully ... and yet, is so electic. Completely up my alley, interior-wise!



Move the brilliant fushcia pot of flowers to the beautiful side table. Love that this space has a grand piano. Now, just plonk a TV in a corner and this is my idea of a living room!

To the right of this image you can just see a great art piece:



I'm always amazed that the simplest, non-art artpiece can fetch millions of dollars... and this is one of them! Definitely plenty of better pieces around, but it works, against this gorgeous antique sideboard. It makes the sideboard less ... stiff!



Love the hardwork plank ebonised floor. So classy. Not a fan of that HUGE GIANT plant in plant pot, but it does add art and interest. That orange mirror is art, in this monochromatic room.



This room speaks of decadence. I love that antique wall unit. Adds such interest into the room. The walls seems to be painted in gloss white, which is sooo cool! Loving it :) Adds texture to this already texture-rich room.



Upstairs, again, loads of white with black strong lines and the collection of artpiece. Love the portrait of the lady to the right with her grabbing her twins in that magenta dress!



How cool is that arranged pile of branches in the fireplace! I think they're birch. Blue-grey walls and that sculptural fish-like object on the side table! So calm, peaceful and yet not granny! :)



Don't you LOVE that sharp white and black bathroom!? Gloss everywhere. Chandelier in the bathroom!? Yeah! Now honey, that is the bathroom I want. Don't need me a bathtub, just a great shower stall with a Chinese stool.



Ah, my favourite thing in the bathroom: the black screen. I'm so jealous! I want I want I want!



Outdoor, it's so lush and green! With a view! And perfect comfy seating area!

If I ever have an apartment, I will copy copy copy! (not really)

Images from Habitually Chic®

Check out similar mobiles from Etsy:

From The Wonderland Studio

Posies in charming glass bottles

At Black + Spiro today there's a beautiful vignette or tablescape that instantly makes me want to replicate! It's such a pretty idea for a porch table or a side table in your home! I'm loving it, Anna! (blogger from Absolutely Beautiful Things)

Image from Absolutely Beautiful Things

I love flower posies in clean, old, little charming glass bottles. Divine!

Martha Angus

In the previous blogpost, I included a gorgeous evocative image from the wonderful Martha Angus.

Image via Rex and Regina

I then checked out her work and my... she has some gorgeous rooms!

Love that coffee table!!!

This is my absolute favourite! I am always attracted to green rooms.