This could be dangerous...

Am I the last person in the world to find Bird? Probably. But in case you haven't had the pleasure, take a look...

Bird's fabrics are handprinted using water based dyes, and the company is Australia's first climate neutral business. Very impressive...

...but potentially dangerous for those of us trying to stick to a budget.

Budget? What budget?

Looks like a few more items to add to the Christmas List.

x

pics and shop via here

Green Update...

gorgeous tote by piecesofkandee via etsy

Still quietly working away at becoming a little greener. I thought it was time to let you know of my progress.

I am now (plastic) bagless. The first thing I did was to buy myself a nifty little roll-up bag that fits into my everyday bag. The second thing I did was remember to use it. I have knocked back offers of plastic all over the city and am feeling a little virtuous.

I also bought the supermarket green bags - a good investment. I am a little bit in love with them as they stack brilliantly in the trolley and don't break between the car boot and the kitchen.

more lovely Envirosax

In my search for Earth Friendly and stylish products, I haven't had to look too far...

greys and greens found here

Bauwerk, the coolest paint store around, just happens to be in my neighbourhood. Check them out  for environmentally friendly paints.

I discovered these organic dresses at Loomstate, where I arrived via Pure Green, a gorgeously stylish and Earth Friendly Blog. Check it out.

So, some progress, as I travel along the road toward Green (on my bike of course). Stay tuned for more updates on some of my opshop and flea market finds.

x

A little bit of frivolity...

I'm not sure what I would do with all of these gorgeous Recycled Felt Food Sculptures from British Cream Tea. Perfect, of course, for children to delight in, but can a grown-up justify such frivolity?

Absolutely. Use it in a retro-inspired collection, displayed with aplomb on your old kitchen dresser.

Hard to choose a favourite, but I love the Blackpool Rock.

Check it out at All Things Original.

Happy Wednesday.

x

100 steps... and the first of the Springtime Face Lift

Every weekend begins for us at our local patisserie. It is a ritual that has become part of the fabric of our life. Our patisserie is simple in its magnificence. No pretension, no fuss, just pastries that speak for themselves. Yesterday, when I walked there to buy this Frangipani Tart for afternoon tea, I happily discovered it is 100 steps from my front porch to the local patisserie. (And no, I am not suffering from a compulsion to count my steps, I was just curious...truly)

The Springtime Face Lift has begun. Now I know that it is almost cheating to start with the dining table, but I'm easing myself into it (i.e. being lazy).

Lemons via my sister's tree (they make fantastic lemonade).

My own candlesticks (via Freedom a few years ago)

Vase via Trilogy, one of my favourite places. It was a housewarming gift that has been tucked away in a cupboard for a while.

Funny how old things can seem new again simply by dusting them off and using them in a different way.

x

pics my own, but find Freedom here and Trilogy here.

A Face Lift (no botox required)

via here

I can't believe it's taken me this long to find Hooked on Houses. It was one of those happy accidents - from one blog to the next and then...voila. If you haven't already been there (and you probably have - I'm possibly the last person to discover it), it's written by Julia, who clearly loves all things home.

Julia's most recent post talks about decorating her home for the change of season. She has some really simple suggestions and lovely pics of her latest Autumnal additions.

Julia...you have inspired me. I feel a project coming on (insert eye-rolls and groans from my family here). I'm wondering if it's possible to give my home a Springtime face lift, southern hemisphere style. And the challenge, with sustainability and my budget in mind, will be to give this little house a lift using what I already have, or what I can pick-up second hand. Now I haven't really got a plan, and there are certain constraints with the colour scheme (for example I don't think the obvious Springtime pink-and-green combination will work with my red and white striped wing-back chair), but I'm prepared to give it a go. Some inspiration above and below...

via here

via here

via here

via here

via here

Yellow...are you brave enough?

 Using yellow in your home (or wearing it for that matter) requires a certain amount of bravery mixed with a pretty hefty dose of confidence. These homes use just a drop with great effect. Imagine starting your day in a sunshine-yellow bathroom...almost better than coffee.

I love this sunny yellow highlight in the kitchen.  It's got a little bit of devil-may-care about it.

And I could absolutely live with this kitchen- it's so cheery.

Love the yellow, white and grey combo too.

Perhaps yellow accessories are a good place to start.

Wherever you are, I hope the sun shines, in one form or another, on your home.

pic 1,2,3 and 4 via here

Kitchenaid pic from here

Organic cotton teatowel from here

To mix or not to mix?

I am a fence-sitter when it comes to dining chairs. Should they match, or should they be mixed? I love these two pictures above, of tables with mismatched chairs. I imagine each chair has its own story to tell, and if sourced from second hand stores and flea markets, they are easy on the planet.

pic 1,2,3 via here

These chairs are mixed, but are so closely related, either by design or materials, that they may as well match. When I say I'm a fence-sitter, it's because in my home 6 of my 8 chairs match, with the ones at either end of the table being different (but matching each other). None of them match the table. Confused? 

I'd love to be brave enough to go for the first look.

What do you think? Where do you stand (or sit) on chairs?

via Country Living

via here

Going on a Journey?

via here

Oh, the charm of luggage. Luggage is ever-so romantic. It goes on journeys and comes in a matching set and, of course, should never be confused with baggage (I'm sure it would be highly offended).

Luggage begs to be taken, preferably via steam train, to the far corners of the earth. Luggage requires a traveling coat, a hat and a handsome companion.

I had forgotten that I own an old suitcase. It's been sitting, quite sadly, on the top of my wardrobe, for far too long.

A beautiful old item to reuse, perhaps?

via here

via here

If you are journeying this weekend, enjoy.

Oh no...I think I'm turning green

Gorgeous bags from Envirosax

I have an almost superhuman ability to pigeonhole things in the back of my mind. Convenient, some would say. Others (and I know who you are) would say dysfunctional. However, when spring cleaning recently in that dark recess of my mind I discovered an awful lot of concern/uncertainty about the issues surrounding sustainability. For a long time now I have been filing the stuff that I should be doing away, promising myself I'll get to it soon. I'm not sure why this is. Is it the fear that cleaning with vinegar will have my home smelling like a fish and chip shop? Perhaps the concern that one day I might just need that plastic bag that I refused? Maybe the reluctance to stop spending happy times shopping for new and gorgeous things for my home?
So, after extracting myself from the discomfort of these thoughts, I sat myself down with a cup of tea and started to do some research. Now I realise that I am a latecomer to sustainable living, and don't expect me to go all hippy on you overnight. However, I am aiming to set myself some small-but-achievable goals. The first is to give up plastic bags (is there a patch for that?) The second goal is to know more about the items I buy. The third (and I think I can only cope with three for now) is to reuse more i.e. to find things that have already been produced and reinvent, reframe etc. Doesn't sound so hard, does it?
I'm not sure if three as-yet-unachieved goals allows me to pat myself on the back, but I'm going to anyway. Gotta start somewhere. In the meantime, I have found some lovely places that support some/all of these goals. Pop along and have a look.

All of these gorgeously funky pieces are from Branch. Once you've taken a look at their lovely wares, pop over to the What is Branch? page to read their vision. It is both realistic and inspiring.