Cold and confrontational or calm and peaceful? Loving

I find this house so peaceful and calm. Is it my current state of mind or is it the ugliest, antiseptic abode you've ever seen? I am all about less at the moment. Less of this, less of that. I have taken a step back from life. It feels like I am waiting for something, but I don't know what. All I know is that I am on the right path - it feels right. Why am I here? I have no idea.

I am loving concrete structures, at the moment. They go against my sustainable ethic, yes. But they hit my modernist love in it's most simplest form. It seems so neat, tidy and uncluttered, to me. It seems safe, comforting and secure. It seems like nothing would touch me in these concrete structures and I could live my life in quiet contemplation. Love.



Images found here.

Fabric competitions - Marimekko and Michael Miller

Get thinking all you creative types, as there are some pretty good competitions on offer at the mo'. The above one is a....drum roll, puh-lease....Marimekko competition. It's to help celebrate their 60th anniversary....ohhh errrr. Competition details are here.

And the below one is for Michael Miller fabrics. If you've got a great idea for a boys fabric then you can upload it onto Spoonflower and be in it to win it! I found the competition on the wonderful True Up site and you can find more detailed information here.



Happy brainstorming, all!

An experience like no other

All of a sudden I questioned why the interiors of our homes are largely similar - except, of course, those homes that are designed by creatives and built with creativity in mind (and, let's face it - those homes are very expensive!).

We have similar lighting. Similar design. Similar walls. Similar bathrooms. Some are retro. Some are modernist. Some are contemporary. Why are they so similar? Are we scared of creativity, of re-selling homes only a handful of people would like or is it just costs behind the ideas?

I would love to offer an interior experience to visitors in my home. Wouldn't it be exciting to live with?

Image via here.

Coming atomic attractions - and the path for me...

Watching the horror of the earthquake hitting Christchurch in New Zealand was so very, very sad yesterday. Justin is from the North Island, but NZ is his homeland and it hit him quite hard. He's much better today and very thankful they are still finding survivors.

It made me realise the journey I am on is the right thing for me. Focusing on myself and my family and health is so important. Working more hours a day is not so important - I think of that famous saying questioning whether, when you are on your deathbed, you would wish you had worked more. Heck no! So that's me, at the moment - taking time out and getting to the roots of my life.

I uploaded some new vintage fabrics today - these two I have pictured here are not far away, either. They are giant atomic panels and we are very lucky to have multiple panels we will be selling. As you can see, they are incredibly rare pieces and will suit those who want a kapow! piece of wall art in their home perfectly...

A slight change

For once, life is more about me of late. My life focus has become more centralised, my town has become more of a community and I am finding I am quieter and more contemplative, questioning whether things should be thus or changed for a reason.

I am back to being inspired by colours and words and my creativity is building again. My dreams are more vivid and intricate. Time is slowing down a little.

It's not all business, tax and new arrivals. It's been about exercise, good food, loving and slowing and becoming more aware. I am not expecting so much of myself. I am just letting things take their course instead of trying to change the course of things.

Sorry if I sound a bit new-age-ish :)

Loving

I came across this photo and house on Dezeen - for some reason I am totally inspired by this photo. It's not necessarily the colour - it's the colour and architecture combined, I think.

Loving

Now that I have slowed my life down and I am focusing on me I am being inspired by so much. Colour is big with me, at the moment - which is strange, as I work with colour every day. But I am loving these shots of a hotel in Tunisia called Dar Hi. Originally I found out about the hotel here, but most of these images come off the hotel's website.

I am on day five of a new me. And already I can feel a difference.

OMG - I have just found the lounge suite of my dreams

Trouble is - it's in America.

Oh, this is so me. My dream suite...and all six pieces for only $1000US. Picture it without those horrid covers on it. But thank you for putting the covers on it, original owner.

View auction here.

Found here.

Sometimes I hate not living in the US.

I want it.

Did I say I wanted it?

Anyone live near there?

Anyone love me enough to buy it and get it sent to Australia?

Did I say I realllllllllllyyy wanted it?

I'll owe you big time if you get it for me.

Thank you.

The New Me - 2011

We have a lot we want to do in 2011 - Justin and I have ideas for the business and we also have ideas for ourselves, our family and our lifestyle.

I started on a new 'me' journey yesterday. I want a new me in 2011. I want to work on my mind, body and spirit to be where I want to be and to be who I want to be. When life gets complicated and busy you tend to forget about the most important person - you. I know the day I became a Mum for the first time my whole life changed - for the good, but 'me' ended up coming in last.

I am changing that now. I have a 10-week journey ahead of me that I am very excited about. I am not going to blog about it now, but I am writing a journal behind-the-lines which I'll choose shap shots of after the 10 weeks have concluded.

At last - it feels so right to love myself more than ever. About time, I say!

Loving

I am such a fan of pink flamingos standing in retro gardens and of trios of pretty birds flying up a wall. This modern chair design completely fits in to the vintage kitsch aesthetic., I think. It totally gives me a giggle...I can imagine myself relaxing on the green island chair when in need of relaxation. All I need is the ukulele music in the background. Image found here.

Rescue

Both of my boys are sick...the 'in bed' type sick. The type of illness where fevers blaze and food is declined (even ice cream and any other treat I could think of). It's a blessing just to get some water into them. On the days when our household is a mad-house, when I can barely hear myself think and the neighbours must loathe us, I wish for quiet days. But not illness quiet days. I prefer the boys yelling at the top of their lungs, as at least I know they're well.

I want those days back, please.

Loving

I know the lure of Australia's open spaces and a long, winding and lazy caravan trip will call me one day...the longer the trip, the better. I'd love to do it in vintage style, though. Hence why this rejuvenation of the 1978 Airstream takes my breath away! More photos here.

Family

Is there anything as important in this world (apart from loving yourself and ensuring you are healthy) than family? I think family is vitally important to the health of an individual. And I think family has nothing to do with blood. Family can made with love, I think. When the family bond is there, it's there.

Justin's family visited from New Zealand this weekend and we had a ball (apart from an illness glitch). Apologies for the 50 million photos, but I wanted to put up a post for family and the memories we created this weekend. It made my heart glow.

PS. That woman in the boho mono top is my Mum. I don't think I tell her enough just how much I love her, how grateful I am to have her and how special a person she is to me. Note to self to remember to tell her how much I love her. She has, without fail, always been there for me. And I think that means she's a pretty wonderful woman.

Loving

I have a thing for gardens on roofs. Anything that grows looks fabulous, really - but I do love a minimalist grass rooftop.



And when I have finished mowing my grass roof (or would I get a goat to mow it for me?) I would love to sit in my cool room watching my family play in the pool...

More photos from this house here.

Absolutely loving

How wonderful is this idea! Is it the epitome of reuse, recycle and sustainability...and look at the respect the owners had for the original building. This is absolutely stunning in my eyes...

More photos and information on the project here.

There is too much noise & sharing for me now...

It has taken me a while to work it out, but I finally did.

You see, my aversion to online societies, blogs, Facebook, RSS links, Twitter...you name it...has been growing and growing over the last six months. I found so much to read and so many people to interact with it was overwhelming. People want to tell us everything these days - there is not a great deal that is edited or streamlined. I can understand this - it's our modern world - but I realise the online noise is just too much for me now.

I read this post by Christopher Penn and it completely made sense. Of course, he's talking about it from a business perspective, but it works the other way around. From a reader and a browser's perspective there is too much, so you weed out the lives and businesses and personalities you can't be bothered reading anymore or sites you have liked for years are removed off your reading list.

I have been doing this for the past month and already I feel so much lighter and more focused. I missed the interaction at the start (well - the voyeurism into other people's lives), but now I no longer really remember what or who I have struck off my list. Kind of like when you declutter your home - you think you'll miss your possessions, but you really don't.

I had to streamline my online world to feel better in the real world.

A very strange feeling, indeed.

But now my life offline is so much richer for it.