nursery done

Yay! The nursery is done. Except for a few more pictures and obviously lots more baby "stuff" - poor little guy doesn't really have anything except furniture and clothes at the moment. But Im sure that will change and we have plenty of storage space ready for it.

There were quite a few little DIY projects which might explain why I feel so exhausted. But very pleased with how everything turned out, it was worth it. Little one's initials I bought from spotlight, painted the same colour as the wall and used spray glue to attach some glitter scrapbook paper. The painting above the crib is just simple stripes painted on, then strips of ribbon added for more colour and texture.

Auntie Jackie made the beautiful crocheted blanket, and Grandma Bell made the gorgeous rocket mobile pieces which I put together with a wooden hanger purchased from etsy. Behind the door is another artwork I did of an owl which is mixed media using security envelope paper. Uncle Chris is working on some crazy alien illustrations which I'll use to make an ABC poster.

And because I love before and afters - the change table with drawers was an ebay find for $100 which I painted the same colour as the walls. Then I used left over test pots to create the ombre effect and navy handles. The rocking chair was another ebay purchase for just $40. Just a lick of gloss white paint and some nice new fabric.  

To finish it off - twinkle curtains. Black out curtains in navy blue with little lazer cut stars that let just a little light in. Oh and we're missing a before shot of the whole room - yup, that's an improvement.

Nico Krijno

Pattern, pattern, pattern.
Love this image by Cape Town based photographer Nico Krijno

loving this week...

...this. But it sadly doesn't seem to have a home.  :(

finally the kitchen done

Who doesn't love a good before and after pic?! So here we go - the kitchen is finally finished. Looks amazing and is SO easy to work in. We removed the wall between the old kitchen and the 'sun room' which was a big waste of space just storing the fridge which was too big for the kitchen.  

We removed the wall between the kitchen and the dinning area opening the whole back of the house up into one massive space. A job for next year will be to paint the dinning area, but for now all the morning sun comes streaming in and we can see the beautiful old frangipani tree outside.

The old oven alcove works brilliantly as a walk in pantry, it did take me ages to source some simple track and bracket shelving in a shiny silver. Eventually found it tucked away at the back of our local hardware store and used ikea silver shelves. That came to about $250 as opposed to using a matt grey or white system from Howards Storage World which would have been $750. The double bin works great for the doggy food, the rubbish bin is built into the back of the island unit.  

We finished it all off with some under shelf wine racks, either side of the fridge, and a vertical herb garden using pots and bars from ikea. And of course my magnetic chalkboard which I've always wanted. Just a sheet of metal from the hardware store painted with chalkboard paint and ikea magnetic storage containers for all of our herbs and spices. 

Just a slight improvement on the kitchen before...

linda arthurs

The work of Linda Arthurs caught my eye this week. Big on my to do list has been the idea of mixed media or pen drawn interiors, just full of pattern, and Linda has a few pieces that remind me of this.

face I

I've managed to coax the printer back to life so prints are now available of my security envelope portrait via etsy

kitchen progress

Finally we're making some progress with the kitchen reno. After a bit of hunting we found a builder who actually looked in the roof space to confirm one of the walls we wanted to remove wasn't structural. Everythings been ripped out and we're busy painting and puttying while the kitchen is being built.

caroline slotte

Since I started working with envelope lining I've become a little obsessed with all things blue and white, like willow pattern china. I'm loving the work of Caroline Slotte who reassembles ceramic plates into artworks. Wow.

the fairytale is over

The Once Upon a Time exhibition has ended. Thanks to everyone who came along, made a purchase or donation to Make a Wish and a big thanks the gals from the Creative Activists for putting it all together. Here are a few pics from the opening taken by my very talented hubby.

You can still check out my work for the exhibit in creative monsoon's online gallery and a few smaller versions of the prints are still available.

security envelope portraits

Something I've been really keen to do for a while is portraits using the security envelope lining. I just finished this test piece today. What do you think?
If you would like to be immortalised in envelopes contact me about a commission!

Debra Hood

Called into Manly this weekend and was really taken by the work of Debra Hood, a local artist who paints Brisbane cityscapes. You can find her work at the Manly Gallery, 11 Cambridge Parade, Manly, QLD.

creative-monsoon.com

The creative monsoon website is now back up and running, so if you can't make the exhibition in Brisbane be sure to check it out at www.creative-monsoon.com

sneak peek

A little look at a section of the latest piece Im working on for the Once Upon A Time Exhibition this month.

Once Upon a Time is a group exhibition held The Art & Design Precinct, 10 Bailey St, West End, Brisbane from the 16th to 26th August.

once upon a time

I've been very busy the last couple of months, renovating and designing and getting ready for an exhibition in August. Once Upon a Time is a group exhibition held The Art & Design Precinct, 10 Bailey St, West End, Brisbane from the 16th to 26th August.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the work I've been creating for it. I've been focusing on the enchanted forest as my theme:

kitchen mood board

My mood boards for i do it yourself have been so popular, we currently have nearly 12,000 pinterest followers, I thought I'd start doing some interior design ones. So to start with - a plan for the new kitchen:

• Industrial style lights
• An big island unit - clutter free
• Artwork - subway style for all the places we have lived
• Chalkboard for shopping list and message
• Antique buffet and hutch
• A farmhouse sink
• Floor to ceiling storage with a ladder
• Butlers pantry / appliance garage - shut the door to hide all the clutter
• White shaker style cabinets
• Espresso caesarstone top
• White subway brick tiles

Pics via pinterest

everything but the kitchen sink

Pic pinterest

Who knew there where so many choices for a sink. I've always wanted a ceramic sink and I call them farmhouse sinks. I thought there were different names for the same thing, but it looks like there is a difference between a farmhouse, butlers, apron, belfast and laboratory sink. I think I'm after a butlers sink. But to under mount or counter mount? The Kitchn has a great little article on under mounted sinks here. It's my preference but it does make the caesar stone $200 more.

Pic Glumber