Pretty Picnic

Follow me down into the garden...

It's a picnic just for us...

Pip wants to play hide and seek...she wears flowers in her hair.

                                 I don't have many words this week...just some pretty pictures. I hope to return soon.

                    "Be still and let the beauty come" - Sark

A Painting, a Cake and Sweet Friends

I finished my painting today...it makes me happy. I hope you like her too...

Remember I told you I was baking a pear and almond cake yesterday? Well, I just had to share with you, because it was super easy, and so delicious...I imagine it would be equally as lovely with apples or other fruits...here is the recipe. Oh, I didn't have any flaked almonds and I can only guess that such an addition would take this to the next level!

I shared a slice this afternoon with a dear friend who came bearing gifts of the most wonderful kind...Helen, you rock! My head is spinning with the possibilites...gotta love girlfriends...

And, I almost forgot to tell you of the lovely suprise I received recently when I went to my letterbox and discovered a lovely gift, sent all the way from across the ocean...thankyou dearest Wendy - you made my day. If you haven't already, go and visit her wonderland...it is a magical place indeed.

 and the other side...

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

Today was a Fairytale

I am enjoying just taking it nice and slow lately...I have had a houseful of sickies, and I have learned over the years to look after myself at these times, so I can continue to care for my loves.  (I refuse to catch their horrible bugs!)

So, it has been big steaming bowls of homemade chicken soup, and fresh fruit, and plenty of R & R...the weather has been crazy - hot and sunshiney one day and bitterly cold the next - strange times indeed.  Today is blustery and cold outside, so I am just enjoying pottering about the house, enjoying the quiet. It's a perfect day for baking, so I have decided to bake a pear and almond cake...I wish you could smell it cooking in the oven. It will be ready for afternoon tea...

Come, grab and cup of tea and enjoy a fairytale or two...

This is an enchanted tree I painted when I was studying Art Therapy...we all had to paint ourselves as trees...mine came out very childlike and whimsical, with a strong sturdy trunk, and branches which reached trowards the sky...heart shaped fruit and lots of swirls...we all taped them to our classroom walls, so for the rest of the term we were surrounded by a beautiful forest of trees.

I have finally come to some inner acceptance around my art...it IS childlike and whimsical, and that is ok, because it has come from somewhere inside me.  And I have always been influenced by fairytales and make-believe.I think that by realising this, it has freed me to create my art, and not expect it to look like everyone else's.  I am working on a painting at the moment, which I really love, and I cannot wait to share with you.

Please forgive me if I haven't got around to visiting you all yet - sometimes life gets a little busy. But I hope to visit soon.

Also, can't wait until this dark fairytale arrives in the cinemas...

Thyme in the Garden...a scrapbook

Well, as promised I am sharing some of my garden scrapbook inspiration with you today.  When we built our home around 8 or 9 years ago now, I told my hubby, I must have a garden...you see nature is so very important to me. I don't think I could live in the city, for I love wide open spaces and room to breathe.  Our garden is certainly a work in progress, but one that I have enjoyed immensely. I am working on creating 'garden rooms', for I love the concept of being able to wander from one part of the garden to the next, and even the idea of themes. I love the colourful mosaics in the photo above, and have been quite successful in making some for my own garden, and those of friends and families.

This little garden room is wonderful...I love the colour blue in the garden - the combination with all the green is just fantastic. The pop of colour from the leadlight (another great love of mine, and yes I have tried it myself, but became quite frustrated!) adds a whimsical, romantic touch. I also love the idea of being enveloped by garden, and just love walking beneath canopies of vines and trees. There is something so magical about it. I am particularly drawn to woodland style gardens, dotted with beautiful statuary. (You all know my love for fairies and such).  I also love water features in the garden, and there is something undeniably soothing about relaxing with the sound of trickling water from a fountain or water feature.

Isn't this a cute idea? A fish pond made from an old bathtub...

How about this Balinese inspired rooftop garden? I love the doorways leading to to other secret spaces.

This pic is from a beautiful book I have told you about before called 'Velvet Pears' - so very romantic.

Another gorgeous garden room...I love the angel statue.


 
I want to leave you with this beautiful mosaic...some of the images are mine, the rest you will find beneath the photo. Did I mention that a tree-house is also on my wish list for the garden?

1. Sunset in Somerset, 2. we built our own castles, 3. fortune teller 4759, 4. Boinga Bob's House, 5. Bruno's, 6. Bruno's, 7. The Bottom of the Garden, 8. Carousel Dreams Birthday, 9. Bruno's, 10. Forest, 11. spirale - durchgang für unsere katzen, 12. bluebell meadows III, 13. Inspiration from the net, 14. Vivre Dehors, 15. Jeanne Bayol, 16. Untitled

"What I need most of all are flowers, always, always" - Claude Monet

"He who plants a garden plants happiness" - Chinese Proverb

Whoever loves and understands a garden will find contentment within" - Chinese Proverb

"Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher" - Willian Wordsworth

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere" - Vincent Van Gogh

Inspiration Overload

Update below...

I get so much inspiration from visiting beautiful blogs - there are so many out there, but there is nothing quite like sitting down with a cup of tea, and flicking through the pages of a book or a magazine...over the years, I have wasted spent a lot of pennies on magazines. I never tire of revisiting my favourites, but the collection was growing alarmingly big, so a couple of years back, I bit the bullet and began to tear out my favourite pages and glued them into some visual diaries.  Oh yes, my friends, there were some that I could not bear to tear up, but I managed to cull quite a few mags.  The following pics are taken from my little books of inspiration...they are just some of the things that make me smile, or speak to me deeply. I hope you enjoy them as much as I.

These pics are actually from a cookbook - aren't they lovely? It is the gorgeous Miss Victoria Springs, who lives in Byron Bay, one of my very favourite places to stay in Australia. (My darling friend Wendy is moving there later in the year, so I am hoping to visit).  She makes the most beautiful jewellery, and below you will find some more photos of her gorgeous home...Victoria, not Wendy...but do go visit Wendy's new blog and read about her adventures touring America.

I also can't resist some good foodie shots, for afterall, cooking is another passion of mine...

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all" - Harriet Van Horne

This home is owned by a lovely lady who has a gorgeous shop called 'Harem'  here in Melbourne - it truly is a delight for the senses. I actually used to work with her sister in a gorgeous little shop that sits on a river near here...I think I have shown you before. It was called Riverclay in Warrandyte, but is no longer there. I don't think I saved any of the money I earned - I always spent it in the shop!

I just adore this embroidered tapestry chair...it is so whimsical.

Here are some more pics of the lovely Victoria Spring's home...just look at that raspberry sofa! Did I tell you that Abby and my husband saw a red velvet couch on the side of the road recently, and they DIDN'T PICK IT UP! I wished they had never told me...I jumped straight in my car, but alas, some other lucky soul had beat me to it...sniff....

I still do adore a bit of vintage white...

Why would you put these dishes away when they are oh so pretty? I love collecting old china...

These pages are over the top - but in a good way!

I just love this idea of the painted laundry basket for the pooch...I'm pretty sure Pippi would have that chewed up in no time at my house though!

Always fleurs! Either picked from the garden or bought from the markets...they make me happy. And I love the sentiment that is written here about imperfection - chippy, peely furniture is yum!

I love this idea of everything on display...hmmmm - not sure hubby would agree though!

So my lovely friends, I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into what floats my boat...I have another inspiration book filled with garden goodness, but I shall save that for another day, for I fear this post has been awfully long.

May I just leave you with another little quote (for you just know I collect those too!)

"A house is a home when it shelters the body and comforts the soul" - Phillip Moffit

...Update...

I couldn't pass this opportunity to tell you guys about a most beautiful kindred fairy. You simply must go and check out her amazing blog: Tricia Fountaine Design - she is an enchantress who designs the most beautiful weddings. But when I visited her yesterday, she has opened her home for everyone to enjoy. If you are like me (and I suspect that many of you are), then this is a real treat for your eyes. Tricia, I still haven't worked out how to leave a comment on your blog - frustrating - but may I just say you are indeed blessed, and I am seriously coveting your beautiful collection of bracelets! Oh my goodness - swoon!