Small Acorns

snapshots of summer

2012-01-20T14:47:00.000+13:00

Life has settled well in to holiday mode. I could get used to this gentle routine.

As per the 'snapshots' above, snapped on my phone, using the barest amount of energy possible, each day revolves around swimming, biking & eating.

(OK - and some wine too!)

One moment there are no less than ten girls giggling on the lawn, and then there are none, as they roam to someone elses bach & another food source.

Another bike ride. Another trip to the rope swing. Another swim. Another iceblock.

It's exhausting just thinking about it.

It's the same childhood I had here at the same little beach, and how wonderful that absolutely nothing has changed in 40 something years.

Except my girls are now playing with the children of the children I used to play with.

Long, long, long, may it last!

Amanda xx

cabin fever

2012-01-09T10:41:00.000+13:00

Bach, cottage, shack or cabin...which ever way you look at it, there is a reason we call it cabin fever - that 'fever' that comes from being stuck indoors while the rain continues to fall outside.

Exacerbated by the confines of a small space.

I love the bach, but this is meant to be summer.

Even though I detest the thought of myself wearing togs, I would actually quite like to wear them now, if you know what I mean.

Although the fact that all I do all day is eat might make me want to reconsider that rash sentence.

Some of you asked whether our bach was a beach house or a shack.
There are both varieties here at the beach, but ours is definitely more of the shack variety, albeit a nice shack.
To use my favourite terms (courtesy of Sibella Court), it is the ultimate in lo-fi and upcycling, and usually absolutely perfect for a beachy, bachy, sunny kind of holiday.
Usually I wouldn't want to change a thing.
And some of my collected treasures I would happily transport back to Wellington, but it is always nice to 'rediscover' them whenever we are here.

If only the rain would go away.

Brunnel is working in Sydney this week.

Yesterday we got the message that if he wanted to actually make it on to the plane, then we needed to consider getting out from the beach because the river was flood level high, and likely to trap us in.
So we high-tailed it over the hill and invited ourselves to stay with my parents in town.
Brunnel had one of those heart in your mouth flights down to Wellington, and will now be embracing the Sydney sunshine and the joy of Bills, while pretending to work hard.
The girls and I have had a little hi-fi (read TV for them, and internet for me).
Now I'm ready to return to my little bach, feeling as though I can embrace the cabin fever more readily!

Amanda xx

a new year derby

2012-01-05T22:31:00.002+13:00

Happy New Year and hello 2012!

The wishes are a little belated, but then that's the beach for you.

Waipatiki time is not known for being fast.

And that makes it all the more idyllic.

Although I could do with a little less rain, it doesn't dampen the holiday mode too much.

And the image above?

Well our little beach community does love a little sporting get together.

Over the years there have been a few.

The golf tournament - no previous experience necessary, in fact no golf course necessary. Just tee off over the river, onto the farmers land, past the odd bull or sheep, and into the cardboard box.

The annual cricket match - again no experience necessary, but this one does get very competitive.

And this year - the trolley derby!

No experience necessary, but one did require a trolley cart.

Making a trolley is not exactly Brunnel's forte, but Eva was quite determined to race.

Murray-do (that's what we call my Dad) to the rescue.

Meet No.368 - "Old Drawers".

Guess what she's made from?

Yes, that, and the wheels off my dear-long-since-departed grandmother's golf trundler.

Despite little Eva and cousin Emma's loving (and might I say, stylish) paint job, state of the art probably isn't quite the term for No.368.

The competition was serious!

And the rain departed for just long enough for everyone to come out in force.

The girls looked just a tad worried before they set off.

But the sheepskin pillow made "Old Drawers" very plush indeed, the golf trundler wheels hung in there, and they both made it safely to the finish line, even if it wasn't the fastest time of the day!

The excitement over, while I think some of the Dad's are already plotting their entry

for next year, it's back to the books and magazines for me.

I think I'm better at plotting my next interior move!

And though the internet is non-existent out at the beach, I'll be driving over the hill, searching for those magic bars, so that I can visit you all as soon as possible.

Amanda xx

merry christmas!

2011-12-24T00:06:00.000+13:00

Where, oh where has this year gone?

I truly can't believe that Christmas Day is almost here once again.

It has certainly been a big year.

I've been on my own here at home for a couple of days as Brunnel and the girls have gone ahead to the bach. (A bach is the NZ term for a beach cottage!)

The house feels so quiet!

Anyway, having a quiet moment to myself, I was looking around, and I couldn't help but think how lucky I am. Here I am in my beautiful newly renovated home, while today the poor people of Christchurch were enduring yet more strong earthquakes, breakages and liquefaction. It must be awful living on the edge constantly. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be strong enough to cope.

Over two years ago, when we first started planning our renovation, I used this image as an example of how our house felt. Obviously, it was a gross exaggeration. Aestheticly, our house might have felt like this, but the reality wasn't remotely the same. And using this image has weighed heavily on my mind ever since the destructive Christchurch earthquakes, because a house like this is now a reality for so many people. It was weighing heavily before I received an anonymous comment pointing out this very fact.

A comment that still came with a smile. I'm suitably humbled. And sorry.

Eight months in Camp David & I have a lovely home.The solution isn't quite so clear cut for Christchurch.

(44 quakes today, 4892 since the most devastating in February. No exaggeration.)

So, to my anonymous commentator, thank you, and oh how I wish calm days ahead for you.

Fine, sunny, beach days.

Simple pleasures.

A cornucopia of all the things you love (just like this inspiration board of mine!)

Merry Merry Christmas all my blogging friends.

Thank you so much for reading, and for making me feel so welcome over at your blog patch.

I'll see you all in a week or so!

Amanda xx

tired little pixy

2011-12-21T22:35:00.001+13:00

I have decided that being one of Santa's helpers was easier when I had youth on my side.

Back then and working in retail, I might have had a chance to be the perky little pixy sitting on top of the heap.

Pick me now?

I'm the one face-planted into the mat.

(But still smiling see, despite the weariness!)

Nearly there now.

Only a few more days of gift-wrapping frenzy... everyone in good spirits, lots of bantering amongst the team, a glass of bubbles at the counter as soon as the clock strikes five. Tired pixies at the end of the day.

It might be exhausting, but it's still fun!

Amanda xx

(image courtesy maileg)

bottles, brown paper & blooms

2011-12-17T13:59:00.001+13:00

I'm just going to say this once and for all.

Next year, I think we'll go out for dinner.

This year there was only one place the acorns team wanted to go for our Christmas get together, and that was my place.

They wanted a tour.

Maybe a tour, drinks and then out for dinner?

No, Brunnel thought dinner at home would be nice.

So did everyone else.

I'd have been fine if I hadn't broken every cardinal rule about entertaining at home.

Especially the rule about never attempting to cook anything that you've never tried before.

My usual go-to repertoire had been gone-to before.

I needed something new, but quite possibly, not so new that I had never actually tried it before.

The only thing pre-planned was the ice cream to accompany the mystery dessert.

I managed to make that the night before, so it was actually frozen (always a bonus).

Everything else was, hmmm, quite spur-of-the-moment-market-fresh that morning.

No wonder Brunnel thinks I turn into someone else in the kitchen!

He was very helpful and went to get his hair cut.

Surely I could dazzle with my table setting, keep pouring lots of wine, and the food, if I was lucky, might be overlooked?

This was the best plan I could come up with.

That morning, I had been given a hilarious old box of stencils, amongst which was a flower stencil.

We rolled out the brown paper, and Milly set to work with her brush and some white paint.

The resulting disposable table cloth was perfect.

We stamped everyone's names on to luggage tags and tied them around the neck of an old bottle with twine to use as place settings.

The bottles were filled with a mix of sweet peas, antique carnations and queen anne's lace and placed on the table en mass.

A last minute napkin panic arose when I couldn't find my old white napkins anywhere. However, a lucky linen remnant and pinking shears saved the day. It was all very upcycled!

Don't be silly! As if there are photos of the food!

That was far too stressful.

It's stressful just thinking about it now!

It quite possibly sounds better than it tasted -

Pan-seared salmon with a fresh pea, broad bean, mint and feta rissotto, topped with a drizzle of parsley salsa verde and accompanied by a green salad & asparagus.

Followed by warm caramel & ginger cake with homemade ginger, cranberry & pistachio ice cream.

Oh yes, I can do that restaurant menu-speak quite well!

I just can't quite turn out the actual dishes.

Ah well. Brunnel came home from his hair cut, handed me a stiff drink, and all was well that ended well.

I think....

Amanda xx

flowers in the house

2011-12-13T08:37:00.000+13:00

When I saw that Jane was having one of her regular Flowers in the House tours, my initial thoughts were, yay, here's something I can do. Now I'm thinking that I need to get over the urge to rush and take better photos because there just isn't time, and these will have to suffice.

This little collection of milk bottles and one of the now ubiquitous mason jars,

are sitting on the kitchen bench.

Apparently people 'think of me' when they come across treasures like these.

My lovely neighbour & friend Bridget found the old milk & cream bottles complete with original tops and dust, and gathered them up for me.

And the lovely miss Melissa cornered her milkman in England, and sent me the lovely bottle emblazoned with the union jack, because amongst the other things we seem to have in common, is a shared love of milk bottles. (My girls are a little worried that the milk bottle police might knock on the door at any moment because Melissa's milk bottle quite clearly states that it belongs to a dairy company, and should be rinsed and returned.)

Then, Sarah, my favourite florist rang, and said she'd found some flowers at the market that 'had my name on them'. And no, when she presented me with some weeds I wasn't insulted. She was right! Roadside Queen Anne's Lace is the sort of thing I stop the car for too. And perfect with the stunning lacey hydrangea.

And then there are the peonies.

So very beautiful. And the season so short, and over almost before it has begun.

Last weeks tall peony is this weeks short one.

Once they're all blousey I love to enjoy them a little longer by floating them...

...or popping them into an old tin. Peonies and olives...such a natural pairing!

I know none of these are very Christmassy. Well, not in the northern hemisphere anyway.

But here, in this house anyway, anything goes, including peonies in an olive tin, and it is summer.

A few lovely glass decorations in the hall, amongst more old bottles, and an oliga-whatsit flower. (I'm not good with names as you can tell!)

Can a bottle fetish get out of hand?

I'm not sure, but the postman did just deliver some more found on trade me! I have some table-decorating to do when the Acorns team comes for dinner on Thursday.

No clue whatsoever what I'm feeding them, but at least I have a few ideas for the table.

So that's my flowers in the house this week.

Weeds, old bottles and a load of rubbish.

(I know that's what my father is thinking anyway!)

And the winner of my giveaway is..... KathyR.

Yay!!! Email me with your address Kathy and I'll get these little brown paper packages sent to you right away! Thanks to all for entering.

Amanda xx

the silly season gets silly

2011-12-07T21:59:00.001+13:00

Thanks so much for so many lovely lovely comments over at my giveaway.(You can still enter here.)

I think I'd like you all to win! And I love it when something prompts so many 'quiet ones' to have a say.

I'm just popping in, ever so briefly, to apologise for not being around much at the moment - either here, or visiting at yours.

The silly season is just a little silly.

As well as trying to amass that Christmas spirit at the store, I have visitors staying at home all week, and it is that crazy last week of school for the girls.

Tonight we had the school carol service at the Cathedral.

Oh yes, Milly takes her choir singing very seriously. But it seems all those 7.45am practices pay off when you hear your favourite carols and those young voices sounding so lovely.

It's hard not to join in lustily.

And I only had to poke Brunnel awake once so that is something.

But look what is stirring out in the garden!

The first dahlia of the season.

As you may or may not know, I am slightly crazy about these flowers.

Well after the success of last year's plantings, earlier in the year, a friend referred me to a specialist grower, and I was able to order online.

I may have gone overboard. In fact I ordered so many tubers that the grower quite possibly thinks I have a garden the size of a park. Not the handkerchief sized few square metres that is the reality of my backyard.

And because of our domestic situation, when the boxes arrived, the garden was still very much the domain of big builder boots and rubbish and weeds and mud, so the tubers were really late going in to the ground.

Every night after work I rush outside to see the daily growth!

Not long now...

(Can you tell I'm quite excited!)

Amanda xx

ho ho ho - it's a giveaway

2011-12-05T22:47:00.001+13:00

Could there be a more gorgeous way to say 'it's Christmas' than with the 'I just want it all' maileg range?

I don't think so.
Our pixie advent calendar is a much loved Christmas tradition in this little family, each pocket filled with a little treat.

I also think a little giveaway is a lovely way to start the week. Hope you agree!

I have some gorgeous maileg decorations for you to hang on your tree, and a little pixie, who I think will become your friend every month of the year, not just at Christmas time.

And see some of those little parcels wrapped in brown paper & tied up with string?

Yes, I have some little surprise treats for you to enjoy too.

But you will just have to be patient to find out what they are.

Because I love a little surprise!

All this for one lucky friend to win.

So, are you in?

Hope so!

All you have to do is leave me a comment, and let me know that you're either already a follower, or have just become one. Then you'll be in the draw.

Yes of course you can enter if you're an email subscriber too! And I'm happy to post worldwide.

I'll announce the lucky winner next Monday, December12th.

Good luck!

Amanda xx

happy weekend

2011-12-03T08:03:00.001+13:00

It's been a busy little week in the store this week, and I'm looking forward to a day or so at home.

It's that time of year when the race is on to complete lots of interior work for our clients, and I feel as though I'm juggling a lot of balls, and trying really hard not to drop any.

I'm feeling the urge to make this house a little more festive, and not just devote all my

decorating attempts to the store.

Because we have Christmas itself away at the beach, our Christmas tree happens at the bach rather than here but a little Christmas spirit anywhere is always nice isn't it?

And I'm looking for any excuse to bring some of these vintage glass decorations home, so it may be time for a wee 'play' over the weekend.

I'm sure the girls will help.

Thanks for all your lovely comments about my bathroom, and wanting to see more.

Those of you who know me will know I wasn't trying to be smart or coy, but genuinely a little hesitant.

I promise that with better photos, I will gradually reveal more of our lovely new home.

Have a lovely weekend!

Amanda xx

quick fix no.16 - advent style

2011-11-30T22:14:00.001+13:00

Sometimes when Milly asks me to help with her maths homework I despair.

Really? 256 divided by 8? The square root of 324? Find the value of x when the moon is in the 7th house?

In my head? In Year 7?

Don't they have calculators for that these days?

But this weeks was much more fun.

My kind of maths.

I mean, I can at least count to 24.

In an advent calendar kind of way.

So, if you don't have your advent ready for tomorrow, here's a little quick fix to your maths dilemma.

A few downloaded fonts, some cute little envelopes, pinking shears, paper, glue, pegs & string.

And before you can count to 25, it's done.

All ready to fill with little treats.

And we were very pleased with ourselves, and hope to get a top mark!

Can you believe it is December tomorrow!

Santa is on his way...

Amanda xx

blooms & ball jars

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000+13:00

Thank heavens for peonies.

They are so truly luscious and beautiful, that even the worst photos look instantly better somehow.

(Note to self - Do not attempt photoshop tutorial on a Monday night.

Particularly when photos are revealed as less than brilliant & it is too dark to take more.)

Here's the thing...

I have had more than a few hints dropped about showing a few more images of my (almost) newly completed home on my blog.

Especially from a few lovely blog readers who have been instore.

And then one of my team reminded me that I had been playing the renovation game all year, so it really was only fair that I show the end results.

Confession time.

I'm a little nervous!

What if you don't like it?

I know that it shouldn't matter.

My home is totally my style, and I love it.

And OMG, it is now worlds from where we started, back in March.

So here is a little look at the bathroom.

It's a little bit vintage and a little bit new, a little bit classic and a little bit contemporary.

White subway tiles on two walls, oversize wallpaper on another.

Industrial steel, glossy white paint & marble mixed together on the vanity.

My upcycled ball jar light, alongside modern Kartell wall lights.

A bath that is heavenly, especially when filled with bubbles, and a shower that is all business.

So there you go.

Peonies and the bathroom.

Half the bathroom.

The rest is cropped out.

So what do you think?

(Be nice. You'll have to encourage me if you'd like to see more!)

Amanda xx

let me tell you a story...

2011-11-23T21:38:00.001+13:00

Let me tell you a story...it is quite extraordinary.

A while ago, to celebrate the notion that Brunnel & I had been married for an extraordinarily

long time, a length of time that easily beat the bookmakers odds, Brunnel,

very rashly for him, bought me an extraordinarily beautiful ring.

And, even more extraordinary, because, clearly, I am extraordinarily fussy & difficult

to please, I loved it.

And wore it every day.

A 22ct gold one-of-a-kind handmade piece, like a tiny, wonky princess crown, set all the way around with 14 tanzanite gems. Extraordinarily special.

I wasn't happy when I lost the first stone, let alone the second, but when I looked down two weeks ago to see that I was now missing three, I felt sick.

Although it had not been purchased directly from the jeweller who had made it, I knew she was the only one who would be able to fix it. I was however, quite worried about the cost,

and whether or not, insurance would cover it.

You know how they get about wear and tear and the small print!

Anyway, I went to see Dorthe Kristensen, the jeweller, at her gallery here in Wellington, Vilders.

Of course she remembered my ring straight away. She had only ever made one like it.

And she was as upset as me when I showed her the missing stones.

When she studied it closely, she could see that at least two more were also cracked,

and about to break loose also.

I was worried it was my fault. Perhaps this wasn't a ring to wear every day.

So here is the extraordinary part.

Without even a moments hesitation Dorthe said that she makes jewellery for life.

She thought it would be best if she replaced ALL fourteen of the stones, so that I would no longer have to worry about how and when I wore the ring, or about losing any more stones.

And, what's more, if it was all right with me, she would like to replace them with sapphires, which are a much harder, & therefore hardier gem, and that it would be at NO COST.

I couldn't believe it!

I went back to Vilders last weekend (just one week later) to collect my ring,

which is unbelievably, even more beautiful than it was.

So, that is my story, about a goldsmith artist, who has such pride and passion in her work, and makes jewellery for life, and who has won me for life as well with her extraordinary service.

And believe me, coming from the retail world, that is a level of service to aspire to.

Amanda xx

channeling sibella

2011-11-21T22:46:00.001+13:00

Sibella Court's amazing new book Nomad arrived instore at the beginning of last week.

That same night I brought a copy home with me.

There is only one problem.

It is so lovely, so tactile, so full of inspiration and beautiful imagery and lovely fonts, that I do not want to read it for fear of coming to the end.

Do you sometimes have this same dilemma?

It usually strikes when the book or magazine is long-awaited & very special.

And yet I know too that this is silly, because books like Nomad, and indeed Etc before it, are exactly the sort of book that I pick up over and over and over again, they are well-thumbed and much-loved, and each time I see something different, or the inspiration strikes in a completely different way.

Nomad is all about the pleasure of bringing your travels home. Of opening your eyes to what's around you.

"To have a piece of that experience and memory reflected in your interior - even the smallest incidental that makes you smile and takes you to another place - is what it is all about."

And no, we are not in any way, shape or form, talking about a 'themed' interior.

As with everything, it is about composition. It's an emotive way to style your space and be surrounded by the things you love, and that reflect your personality.

And even if you are not travelling, you can still take journeys and be inspired by reading, by movies, and by opening your eyes to life in your town, wherever that may be.

And so I've been channeling my inner Sibella.

Except my inner Sibella has a lot to learn.

(I think lessons in Photoshop might be on the agenda for the new year!)

But Photoshop frustrations aside, Nomad has my eyes wide open to all sorts of interior possibilities, and that could be both exciting (if you're me) or worrying (if you're Brunnel!).

Amanda xx

excess baggage

2011-11-17T21:16:00.001+13:00

Hi all!

I was dismantling a display at the store today which featured these beautiful old leather suitcases.

And you know how your mind wanders? Even though I've had my old suitcases for years now, or perhaps because I've had them for so long, I really hadn't looked at them properly in a long while.

Maybe it's because Brunnel & I saw 'Midnight in Paris' last night, but I couldn't help but think of where these suitcases have been, and the stories they might be able to tell.

Just look at their luggage labels.

These suitcases have been around the world, and in style.

Good thing excess baggage wasn't an issue in those days.

They weigh a ton... and that's before they have anything in them!

Amanda xx

there is an island in the sun...

2011-11-15T00:36:00.001+13:00

I think the pictures say it all really.

Idyllic.

If it looks as though there was no-one else there, that's because that's how it felt.

Lush, tropical flowers, water so blue and so clear, balmy warm temperatures, and a beach that stretched forever.

And then there was my sister's wedding...

...which was more than lovely.

Happy bride, happy groom, happy flower girls, happy happy day.

I'm sorry about the photos.

I'm sure there are many taken by other guests which will do the bride and groom proud.

All I can say is that it is hard to juggle cameras and flower girls and bridesmaid duties at the best of times.

The stilts made it even harder. If you look carefully you can see them in the top montage. I'm afraid it was too far down to bend and take a photo of the actual height!

I thought I was doing OK with the wearing part until the official photographer had the bright idea that a 'jump' on the beach in them would be good.

Not so good...

Thank goodness everything else went swimmingly!

And yes, that frangipani in the bouquets looked and smelt every bit as beautiful as it looks here.

And now I'm looking forward to catching up with all your goings on while I've been away.

Except these photos have taken so long to 'do' that bedtime will have to come first!

And hello to some new followers too! Welcome along..

Amanda xx

sun, sand and stilts

2011-11-02T23:31:00.000+13:00

I know you all thought that the wedding of the year was Kate & William's.

Not so. For our family, it is that of my sister, this weekend, in tropical Rarotonga.

We all go tomorrow.

The girls are wildly excited.

Not only do they get to spend a week in the sun with their cousins, but they are all bridesmaids.

I am the matron of honour. My job is to calm the bride, & get her to the beach on time.

Except that she is making me wear the highest shoes I've ever seen in my life.They are not just high, they are stilts. I'm not sure that I can walk in them, let alone gather up the bride & her five bridesmaids average age 8, and, get us all to the wedding. (Yes, this being Rarotonga, apparently I may also have to be the driver.)

I've pleaded for a ballet flat, a lower heel, a jandal.

But my sister just reminds me of the outfit she was forced to wear when bridesmaid for me.

I have no comeback sadly. It was the eighties after all. (Think of 'The Wedding Singer', multiply those outfits, that hair and makeup by 10 and you still might not be close.)

Stilts it is.

Of course an island wedding means accelerated summer preparations.

Amongst everything, I forgot to book an appointment for a bikini wax.

Never mind said a friend. Ring up the beauty therapy school, and see if they can fit you in. I had my waxing done there yesterday, and it was brilliant.

So I ring up, and yes, I can dash across the road to see them at 11.30.

I get there, and am ushered in to a room full of people. It is like a hospital ward.

I'm starting to wonder if this is a good idea, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

The therapist holds up a handtowel to give me some privacy while I undress. A handtowel!

Unfortunately I have quite tight skinny fit trousers on, and they don't want to come off easily. I feel sorry for the person in close proximity to me trying to have a relaxing massage, while I am bending over trying to get the trousers over my feet.

Isn't it great that it's 'dollar day' says the tutor.

I ask why my bikini wax will cost only a dollar.

Because it is the students first session she says. Their first time with a real client.

Does she see the panic in my eyes? I look around me.

There are facials and massages and manicures. A group beauty therapy session.

Not much waxing going on. Just me.

My poor student therapist looks nervous.

How does she think I feel!

I think positive thoughts - like thank goodness it is just a regular old bikini wax. Definitely not the time to go wild and have a Brazilian!

The tutor suggests a screen at the foot of the bed might be good.

I think so too.

There are some things that the poor lady opposite me just did not need to see.

And on with the wax...

As it turns out, my student was overly cautious and did a great job, and it truly was (relatively) painless.

And while I certainly felt that all eyes were 'down there' with much pointing and discussion, all's well that ends well.

I'm ready for sun, sand, & swimming. And a nervous bride.

See you next week!

Amanda xx

(image with permission Designers Guild)

sweet dreams

2011-11-01T22:31:00.001+13:00

I'm dreaming in black and white tonight.

Or is that charcoal and chalk?

Black and white sounds crisp, and this beautiful bedroom is so much softer than that.

The mix of elements, stunning wallpaper, a little rustic wood, wonderful tiles, the painted ceiling (this apartment in Barcelona was an art school in a former life) - it all works together with this lovely muted palette.

Plus I have a bit of a thing for pure linen bedlinen at the moment, creases and all.

This is indeed a bedroom for sweet dreams.

Alas, my own dreams may not be so sweet tonight.

It seems that Brunnel, coming down from the exhilaration, joy and conviviality of six weeks of uninterrupted rugby, and all that this entails, has succumbed to... a 'cold'.

A man with a cold.

Oh joy indeed.

Wish me luck!

Amanda xx

(image with permission Designers Guild)

just hanging

2011-10-27T23:03:00.000+13:00

You know me. I have a myriad number of ideas for this home. Some far fetched.

Some beyond the realm of Brunnel's tolerance level.

And some where the idea and inspirational photos have been stored away for some time, just waiting for the opportunity to try them.

Megan Morton calls this little idea a "French hang" - this basically means that you hang all sorts of smaller sized mixed media art works on the one wall. The wall acts as an equaliser, and, as in my case, accommodates everything from favourite etchings, prints & paintings to works of 'importance' by my girls.

Normally I'm pretty gung ho when it comes to hanging art.

None of this banging on the wall to find the dwang which dictates where the piece can be hung.

Please - is there anything worse than a painting hung too high?

I belong more to the school that hammers now and sometimes pays the price later.

Or just makes another hole in the wall.

And this is where I came a little unstuck.

Suddenly the realisation that I wanted to experiment on a brand new, pristine, freshly plastered and painted wall hit home.

What if I got it wrong? And lets face it, the chances were quite high - I wasn't even entirely sure which pieces were going into my 'mini gallery', let alone where and how high on the wall. And in this instance, laying it out on the floor just didn't work.

A wall full of holes, and Brunnel's face were the only picture I could imagine!

I skirted the issue for days, stacking and unstacking my frames.

Finally I decided that if ever there was a time to make the mistake it would be now - before the painters come back next week.

So the hammer came out. And away I went. I started in the centre and went from there.

Being a work in progress, there are still gaps to fill, but that's the whole idea really.

Nothing has to stay static.

So far so good I think.

Amanda xx

normal service can now resume

2011-10-25T21:25:00.000+13:00

My, it has been an emotionally fraught week.

Make that two weeks.

Who would believe how much emotional intensity would sit alongside an eighty minute rugby game.

It has been the only topic of conversation, whether you be a diehard rugby fan or not.

Actually, I think every New Zealander has become a diehard fan, whether they anticipated it or not. Everyone has been swept up in Rugby World Cup fever.

And the final was, as we all know, nail-biting to say the least.

But the All Blacks won, and the result is nothing short of sweet.

It is not every day that an entire country dances in the street.

Especially when it has everything and nothing to do with rugby at the same time.

And I think we'll be dancing for some time yet.

Amanda xx

orla kiely love...

2011-10-19T22:10:00.000+13:00

I know I am easily excited by pretty much everything I am lucky enough to sell through my store.

But there are some ranges that ellicit more than the average squeal.

A new season delivery of Orla Kiely goodness will always do it.

Yesterday Jo & I waited patiently. Every time a truck drove past we looked up expectantly.

And finally, at about 3.30pm, the van we were waiting for pulled up.

Nonchalantly the driver got out.

For goodness sake, did he not realise what precious cargo he had on board?

What riches? What treasures?

I was trying to load everything into our system from the invoice.

Jo opened all the boxes.

All I heard was 'ooooh, that's pretty', 'ooooh that one's lovely', 'oh, that's special',

'oh, this one is my favourite so far', and all this as she lovingly strokes the bags and clothes, and sighs. A lot.

It was very distracting I tell you!

But you can see for yourself.

The colours and patterns are just gorgeous.

That Orla is so clever!

I tried on a cardigan. I was sure my name was written all over it.

Brunnel told me they are not for me.

I am apparently meant to sell them. Such a novel and new idea he had come up with!

I think I may have to take advantage of that perk called a 'staff account'...

That will show him!

Amanda xx

oh the irony...

2011-10-17T22:02:00.002+13:00

..... or I could subtitle this post with something along the lines of 'the lies we tell will eventually bite us on the bottom'.

Shall I elaborate?

Every year when I have a birthday, I turn 39. Yes, that's right, every year.

Or so I tell my girls anyway. No one else believes me.

For a long time this didn't seem to pose any problems.

Things got a little complicated when my younger sister turned 40, and it dawned on Milly that I couldn't be 39 and have a younger sister who was older, but Eva, only 3 at the time, kept the faith.

Perhaps I should have come clean then, and confessed that in reality, I was 39 two years before she was born. But I didn't.

Anyway, bless her, now that she has just turned 8, and is quite good at maths, she still plays the 39 game.

Even on Friday, out of the blue, she'd worked out that the last time New Zealand won the rugby world cup, Mummy was 16. I nearly corrected her, until I worked out how she had come to that conclusion - the 39 game again.

Oh, I know what you are thinking!

I am obviously having some kind of mid-life crisis, because I'm well into my 40's and I'm just deluded.

You think I have issues! I do!

I'm kicking and screaming all the way.

Anyway, on Saturday morning, I'm quietly minding my own business, when my phone erupts with texts.

"Did you know you were a newspaper star now in your 50's" said one.

"When you lie about your age it's usual to go younger not older...hee hee" said another.

"Wow I didn't know you were in your 50's!!!"

"...mature women changing careers. You feature and u are (journalists do not lie) in your 50's."

It suddenly dawned on me. I had been interviewed some months ago for a story about 'encore careers - ditching a job for life and starting again', and it was featuring in the paper.

My neighbour, who thought the age thing was hilarious, handed the paper over the fence.

The article was great. Really well written, and the bit about me - all true...until it said I was now in my 50's.

Even my bank manager emailed this morning at 8.07am to say she'd read the great article, but she couldn't believe the bit about being in my 50's because according to their bank records I wasn't set to hit 50 until September next year. Could I confirm the records were correct?

On the plus side, I don't have to have 'that' party now because apparently I've already had it, and quite possibly, I do now look quite well preserved for someone in her 50's.

It takes me back to when I was just 18, and pretended to be 20 so that I could work in a winery bar. Only the manager and I knew how old I really was....

See? I've been doing it all my life!

What goes around, comes around, and I deserve all that I had coming to me.

Amanda xx

shouting it out

2011-10-14T08:19:00.000+13:00

There is only one thing on my mind at the moment.

I think it would be fair to say it's a collective thing on the minds of most kiwis.

It explains the constant cat on a hot tin roof, nervous knot in my stomach.

The sick feeling I've had all week.

Yes, I know it's only a game.

Yes, I also know it's beyond my control. (Really? Are you sure?)

But if we could just have a little luck this weekend it would be...fantastic.

Time out from earthquakes & mining tragedies & shipping disasters.

The girls spelt it out in 'shouty' writing on our blackboard.

It's what we're all about right now.

GO ALL BLACKS!!!!!

Amanda xx

airing my dirty laundry

2011-10-10T23:13:00.000+13:00

No, I won't subject you to the dirty laundry, just a glimpse through the door.

The sign reads 'Patients Only'.

Well, let me tell you, Brunnel felt the need to check me in somewhere where straight jackets are de rigeur when I first came up with this bright little idea.

When ever I visit one of my favourite second hand stores I am immediately drawn to the tool section.

All sorts of old, & odd, bits and pieces turn up there, from random jars with all sorts of screws and nails, a flick-flack ruler to add to my collection if I'm lucky, hammers, really heavy spades, you-name-it, it will be there somewhere. I love it all.

But for ages, I've been trying to think of a reason to buy some of the lovely old wooden planes that are always jumbled up in a box on the floor.

Each visit I'd get them all out, line them up, look at them lovingly, and then put them all back again.

And then I came up with the idea of turning them into a row of 'hooks' for the laundry.

I had a reason to buy some at last!

When I told Brunnel my idea he gave me that look. The one that said he knew I'd finally gone over the edge and was a total nutter.

He gives me that look a lot.

Sadly for him, it has never been known to stop me.

And so I lined the planes up on the floor once more, and managed to restrict myself to just five.

Easier said than done, they were all so lovely, in a 'plane' kind of way.

A wee clean up, some wood glue, and bob's your uncle.

I'm very happy with my 'hooks', and even Brunnel grudgingly agrees that they do look quite good after all.

High praise indeed.

He's not committing me just yet then.

Amanda xx

lost and found

2011-10-06T22:40:00.000+13:00

I've been unpacking some of my 'treasures'.

I say treasures in inverted commas, because truly, many of them would qualify as junk to most others.

But for one reason or another, they mean something to me.

There are some bits and bobs that I'm very happy to see again.

My photos tell me that there are some that I'm yet to find.

And I've even found one box of goodies that moved here with us five years ago, and had never been unpacked.

(I'm sure Millicent will be very happy to have her money box back.

She may not be quite so excited when she realises that in the five years that it has been missing, all those coins have become obsolete. Whoops.

On the other hand, I was very pleased to rediscover some of my Carltonware, which I

definitely had been missing.)

So now, all these treasures are sitting on the table in front of me.

And I'm feeling like a stylist's big toe.

In other words, I'm moving them here and there, but really I haven't a clue.

What is wrong with me? I do this for a living.

I must be struggling, because suddenly, writing a blog post seems the easier option!

In store I'm always telling people how easy it is.

Keep playing. Nothing has to stay where it is first placed.

Add and subtract and rearrange.

Flowers will always help.

Challenge yourself.

Remember that your home is not a showroom, and as such, the rooms in your home

should be constantly evolving and changing according to your mood and current obsessions.

And by this, I'm not talking about redecorating on a whim, but mixing up your existing things.

It's about displaying your pieces according to your desires, inspirations and personality.

Have fun becoming a curator.

Hmmm.

Well, it seems, that I might just have to heed some of my own advice.

Or I could listen to some of yours...

Any thoughts to add?

Amanda xx

waste not want not

2011-10-03T22:59:00.000+13:00

My little pallet table has been the subject of much mirth over the past few days.

'Where is that thing going?' mocked my brother over the weekend.

I guess he at least recognised that it was a table, even if he wasn't sure what kind.

More insultingly, the builders thought that it was really cool that I had made myself a little

trolley to help wheel the furniture around without scratching the floors.

Well I should like to point out that the most predominant trend according to the who's who of the interior and retail design world in the latest Elle Deco magazine is the use of natural and humble materials in furniture and furnishings.

And what could be more humble than an upcycled pallet?

And to prove my point, just look at these beautiful pieces made by London's Hendzel+Hunt.

The top of this amazing Hinckley table is made entirely from discarded pallets, as is this Gowlett stool.

OK, so they are a lot more elegant than my exceedingly humble attempt, and trends are not always something I take notice of, but in this case, I'm quite happy just to follow along!

Amanda xx

(First image my own, other images Henzel+Hunt)

don't fight with me screw

2011-09-30T17:13:00.000+13:00

Brunnel is a man of many talents.

Being a home handyman is not one of them.

Primarily he blames Mr Howarth for this.

Brunnel used to work for Mr Howarth as a high school boy. Mowing lawns, odd jobs, I'm not sure what else. But Mr Howarth must have been a hard taskmaster, because he has left an indelible impact.

I think Brunnel must have unresolved 'issues' with Mr Howarth, and to this day, whenever something on the home handyman front goes wrong, Mr Howarth's name is uttered in vain, along with other unmentionable words.

Sadly for Brunnel, he has a wife, definitely a father-in-law, and what is looking quite likely to be, two daughters, who quite like the old home-handy stuff.

Last night, Brunnel was planning to watch yet another rugby world cup game on television.

I had other plans.

Earlier this week, I had an old steel office shelving unit delivered back home. With its fresh new grey powdercoat, it was moving up in the world, from warehouse to home office.
However, upon delivery, there was one dreadful realisation.
There was no way we were going to be able to get it into the room where I wanted it to go.
It was too tall for the doorway, too wide to turn and dip in the hall.
The delivery man scarpered, and the shelf unit was left languishing in the hall.
I was determined there had to be a way.
Brunnel paused his rugby game long enough to tell me I was being ridiculous.
I figured we could take off the top, maybe one side, and then it would fit.
The powdercoater had managed to powdercoat the screws firmly in place.
Brunnel paused the rugby game again to help.
I might know it all, but I needed a little brute strength to break that powdercoat seal.
Mr Howarth's name was invoked one or two times, and I was apparently weak.
The top and side off, we attempted my strategic manoeuvre.
It still wouldn't go into the study.
And apparently I also put a hole in the new wall.
Time to take the bottom of the unit off too I thought. An hour later and finally, only one screw remained. More swearing. More wifely complements(!)
And then, in a very loud voice.
"Don't fight with me screw!!!!!#%@!%&#!!!!"
The little screw fought valiantly. It would not budge.
Brunnel was defeated. Slumped against the wall.
I was rolling around the floor in hysterics, tears of laughter.
Brunnel was not happy.
He'd missed the rugby by now, it was 11.30 at night, his new 'old' shelf was now a kitset, he had a wife who was clearly delusional, and now was not the time to ask him if he'd enjoyed meccano when he was little.
Apparently he did not.
But, we had done enough to get our kitset pieces into the study, albeit with a little 'folding' because that little screw was still stuck fast.
Shall I tell you about the reassembly dramas too?
Let's just say that I'm treading on very thin ice!!
And it was a late night, but I'm very happy with my shelving now.

RIP Mr Howarth.

Amanda xx

(image Atelier Abigail Ahern of Deborah Bowness Genuine Fake Bookshelf wallpaper)

flowers in the house

2011-09-26T23:26:00.000+13:00

Oh my poor neglected blog.

A week since my last post. A pathetic effort.

And I promised Jane I'd join in with her 'Flowers in the House' post today.

Silly me. Jane is a florist. I expected I could do better.

Instead I'm disguising my flowers with the trickery-pokery of Hipstamatic, and hoping you'll all overlook yet another photo of a mason jar with a few camellias plonked in it.

You'll be yawning & thinking that's all I have in my bag of styling tricks, and guess what?

That's all I have in my bag of styling tricks!

Good thing I like mason jars!

I'd love to be able to tell you that the reason for my neglect is that I've been busily unpacking and playing house.

Only a little. The newly recovered furniture is sadly, still under (plastic) wrap.

My Dad came to stay for a night or two.

He had a sandwich thrown at him for dinner & a (hearty) scotch in a mug.

(No Mum, he didn't go to sleep at the school concert. That would have been Brunnel.)

I gave Dad a few 'jobs' to do while he was here.

I think he thinks I have a few unresolved issues with clutter & junk & hoarding.

But despite raising his not insignificant eyebrows and giving me 'that' look, he did as he was told.

The girls are so happy to have their old crates back up on the wall.

And there was definitely a look exchanged between Dad and the builders when I had to rush to rescue the just-staggered-up-the-path-with-pallet from the ever-so-efficient-and-helpful-lets-get-this-on-the-rubbish-truck-for-her-builders because I had plans for it, and they involved Dad and his drill!

But since then, the kitchen is nearly done, and I'm attempting to master the induction hob.

And I love it! The kitchen that is, not the hob - although I'm told that given a little time, I will come to love it.

Jane, I am sorry about the flowers! Despite the chaos in your house, your flowers look gorgeous.

I will try harder next time!

Amanda xx

light at the end of the tunnel

2011-09-19T21:56:00.000+12:00

I feel as though there is light at the end of the tunnel, on the home front, at long, long last.

Suddenly, after all the turmoil and chaos of the last few months,

our house is again beginning to resemble a home.

And although, there isn't yet a room finished, it is within shouting distance.

(And believe me, I often wish to shout - for reasons both good and not so good!)

When we started this renovation, Brunnel, the girls, and I each picked a completion date,

and wrote it up on the wall. Some of our neighbours joined in too.

Brunnel, ever the optimist, allowed the builders a weeks grace over their estimated time,

and wrote July 25th.

Milly chose September 22nd, which, back at the beginning of March, seemed way beyond the realms of possibility.

And a nightmarish thought.

Surely it wouldn't take that long.

I think she'll be the closest, if still a little optimistic.

The kitchen started going in this week, and this is the last major hurdle.

This time next week, I may even be able to cook a meal again.

(Thank goodness - my one-pot-gas-ring-and-rice-cooker repertoire is wearing very thin.

I may never want to eat rice again.)

Above all, I'm starting to get excited as each little piece comes together.

Amanda xx

P.S Note the mason jars in these photos. I had a wee accident with one of the jars in my light fitting.

Since then I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find a replacement jar that fits.

These are too big and too small - but they do make a lovely vase!

AND - I got my way with that wallpaper!

china blue

2011-09-13T22:54:00.000+12:00

I love my wee stash of old japanese blue and white china.

A mish mash mix of tea cups, bowls and little dishes, all of which were picked up for a song.

Humble in origin, and each piece beautiful to my way of thinking.

I use them for whatever takes my fancy - flowers, tealights, jewellery, trinkets as well as the more predictable foodie things.

And I love to think of where they have come from and how long ago they might have been used originally.

Not remotely rarefied or expensive, and precious only to me.

And coming across a new 'old' piece to add to my collection is still exciting.

The thrill of an on-going treasure hunt! Who's with me?

Amanda xx

enlightened

2011-09-08T13:29:00.000+12:00

I can't help but feel just a tad excited when I look at our very own candle range which has just arrived instore.

And, like any mother hen, just a tad protective too.

Usually I am notoriously bad at promoting my own ranges or creations.

Obviously I can't handle rejection well, and if I pick up any mutterings

or even a hint of a mutter, it's taken personally and I'm a major failure!

No wonder Brunnel despairs - he is the sort of person who thrives on a room full of strangers, and makes friends with them all within half an hour. I would like to run a mile. It must be the Virgo in me.

But these candles really are gorgeous - and they're a joint collaboration in creativity, so my mindset says it's OK to talk just a little about them.

They look really good, they burn beautifully, and they smell great.

And I hope I don't have to take them all home, but if I do, then frankly, that will be OK too.

Amanda xx

when bright ideas light up

2011-09-06T00:03:00.000+12:00

I can't resist a sneak peek to start the week.

Only because I was so excited when I finally finished assembling my old mason jar lights in the bathroom yesterday.

You might remember my little obsession from this post a few months ago.

Well from bright idea to finally switching it on has been an exercise in persistance believe me.

Things might have been easier if I had stayed with the original plan, and used the Agee Special jars I had been collecting. However, after I found my first aqua-coloured Ball jar, complete with galvanised lid, I knew the mission had changed. Finding the jars is easy enough. Finding the jars, complete with lids - not so easy.

Jars finally collected, I had to convince the electrician that I wanted them in the bathroom.

The problem was that if I really tried hard, and stood on a stool, with one foot in the bath, and accidentally at the same time, swung on the jar, then I might electrocute myself.

No, I would have to have a transformer and other electrical goobledygook jargon if they were to hang in the bathroom.

Undeterred, I found myself a 'lighting man' who could turn my little preserving jars into a safe bathroom pendant.

"No problem" he said. "I can do that, and at the same time, I can get that old paint off the jar lids, clean them up for you."

"Thanks, that's fabulous, but don't worry about getting the paint off" I said.

"Oh, but it's easy for me to get it off for you."

"No, I want the paint left on. I like the paint."

"Really????"

"Yes - and also, I want 3 metres of flex on each jar please."

"But, they'll hang on the floor."

"No, I'm going to hook them up, with a few knots in the flex."

"But I could just make them the right length, and you won't have to do that..."

....and around in circles the conversation went for some time.

However, as you can see, in the end, I got my way, flex, knots, paint and all.

And I'm very happy!

Amanda xx

from small acorns...

2011-09-03T09:17:00.001+12:00

...do mighty oaks grow.
On a visit to the old Napier cemetery last weekend, (I'll save that story for another day),

I came across these little treasures. And of course, being a 'small acorn' myself, couldn't resist the symbolism. Is there a more sure sign of spring than a wee oak sprouting in this way.

I gathered up as many acorns as I could before the gardeners swept them away.

It has been a busy week. The girls are excited because they can finally move into their new bedrooms this weekend. They're not finished but close enough, and just to give them each their own space again will be fantastic. The bickering, constant squabbling and cabin fever generated from nearly seven months in close confinement is understandable, but enough to drive me crazy!

And our week at the store was capped off by being crowned second place for our World of Wearable Art window, so we have some celebrating to do!

Happy weekend!

Amanda xx

when life gets gritty

2011-08-30T22:11:00.000+12:00

I am in need of gazing upon something lovely.

I find myself spending inordinate amounts of time just looking at images of beautiful things.

(Like this beautiful interior, featuring the new Designers Guild Amrapali collection. Isn't that wallpaper stunning?)

As a serial collector & acquirer, and constant reshuffler, it is starting to drive me crazy that all my treasures are - well, actually I no longer know where most of them are. Somewhere vaguely in the direction of the shed, or the garage, or somewhere in between.

If I understand anything about myself, it is that I really enjoy having my 'things' around me, and I miss them.

Yes, I'm that shallow.

Life here at home is gritty.

The floor-sanders have been having a fabulous time.

I have never seen so much dust in all my life. There is no escaping it.

Insidiously, it finds its way into and on top of, and across everything.

The vacuum makes a path through it, and by morning another layer has settled.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

In a few weeks time I will be able to unpack everything, and all this minor inconvenience will be behind us.

And then I will just have the problem of trying to convince Brunnel that some of my new acquisitions are really just old ones that just haven't seen the light of day for some time.

Which, strictly speaking, is true!

Amanda xx

(image with permission Designers Guild)

it's wow & we're barking mad

2011-08-24T23:16:00.003+12:00

What happens if you take your wellington map book, rip it to shreds, and then get caught up in the crazy balloon fetish of one of your team?

You lose direction, quickly realise that it's a good thing that entertaining at children's parties isn't your thing, (or yours Jo) and wonder why you thought it was ever a good idea to enter the World of Wearable Arts window competition in the first place.

If you've not heard of WOW before, it is the most amazing, most spectacular, most creative and crazy extravaganza of wearable art, all wrapped up in a stunning Cirque du Soleil-type show where art & fashion collide. It is a major highlight every year in Wellington, and the city gets involved in every way to celebrate.

The 2011 season gets underway tomorrow - hence the window display.

I would have to say that despite my early misgivings, making the dress was the easy part. I drew the longer straw obviously.

Especially when I saw Jo wrestling with those poodles.

A You Tube tutorial is all very well, but not when your vision says you must have lots of poodles - or should that be balloodles? And lets be clear - it wasn't my vision!

We called in an expert balloodle maker, and he literally blew & pulled those puppies in to shape before our very eyes.

All 21 of them.

Getting those puppies on their leads took much time, believe me.
Some of them had attitude!

The theme is 'Wellington is all Dressed Up for WOW' - hence the map dress.

And the final result. Even if it drove us barking mad, we secretly love it.

We hope it makes everyone smile!

You can see more photos on our facebook page.

Amanda xx

P.S If you are visiting Wellington for WOW, do pop in and see us. We have some little goody bags for you to take away that include a few treats, along with our secret Small Acorns map of our favourite Wellington shops & eateries. xx

P.P.S I'm linking up with Sarah's Good Life Wednesday over at A Beach Cottage. And I'm taking my girls to the show tomorrow night - we're all so excited!

to cotton or not

2011-08-22T22:15:00.000+12:00

There is something so appealing about wooden cotton reels.

Their simplicity. Their shape. Their humble nature.

My grandmother would think my little fascination with them both hilarious and strange.

Well, who would think that such a common household notion would become so collectable?

How did they go from wooden reel to cardboard core overnight?

We were talking about this at work today, where some of my collection currently reside as props.

One of my team was excitedly relaying her junk shop foraging over the weekend, & her happiness at finding a new old cotton reel to add to her collection. Her husband, like mine, could not understand.

To them, merely junk.

To us, beauty can be found in many things, no matter how inexpensive or seemingly ordinary.

Happy Monday!

Amanda xx

stamp collections

2011-08-17T22:25:00.000+12:00

Did you collect stamps when you were little?

I had quite the collecting thing going on.

A Japanese pen-friend and an Aunt who lived in Germany meant the collection was a little skewed in favour of these countries, but all in all, quite a varied little album.

After all, mail was quite popular back then, and mail meant stamps.

Not a prepaid envelope or a franking machine, or an inbox.

I think all was going quite well with my little collection until I realised that stamp collecting was

so not cool, and was quite possibly harming any little chance I had of hanging with the in crowd, let alone meeting a boy.

I gave it up overnight.

Now I look at those stamps in a whole different light.

They really are miniature works of art, and a snap shot of world events at the time.

And you could post a letter for 2 cents!

The colours and imagery are often too lovely to be glued in to a seldom looked at album.

I find myself plotting other ways to use them.

When it came to this collage image the old collector in me came out though.

I made sure I only used my double-up or reject stamps, which were still filed in their 'swap' envelopes!

My sister always did say I was a nerd!

Amanda xx

snow, ice & flowers

2011-08-15T21:11:00.000+12:00

My, it is cold.

Snow, in downtown Wellington.

It's unheard of. And yet, to see cars driving around today with bonnets and roofs covered in a thick blanket of snow, you would think this was an alpine village.

Camp David is almost a tropical hideaway compared to the chill factor outside - so long as one continues to wear hat, scarf and multi layers inside.

A comparison to the Michelin Man comes to mind.

The photo is blurred.

My hands were shivering.

But the quote is so lovely...

"A flowerless room is a soulless room...but even one solitary living flower

may redeem it."

Vita Sackville-West

I couldn't agree more. So ventured out in the blizzard for a few spring blooms!

Keep warm!

Amanda xx

going round in circles

2011-08-11T22:32:00.000+12:00

Do you sometimes have days where nothing goes to plan?

Not in a bad way.

Just in a chaotic way where things head off on their own little tangent.

I'm sure the time-management gurus would say days like this are all of my own making.

That I should not allow myself to be distracted, stick to my to-do list, or my Pomodoro timer, and motor through the day efficiently and in control.

They're probably right.

But I did allow myself to get distracted - and my to-do list remains to do.

I promise I was working - its just that a little job led to another little job, which turned into a bigger job, and then that led to something else, and then I noticed something else, which became another job, and on it went.

It's mae's fault. If a giant box of their gorgeous fabric stickers hadn't arrived this morning the day could have been more focused. They are altogether distracting, especially with their detail and imagery. New dress up dolls. New photo sticky up things, message tiles - and that's just looking at them on screen at the office, tomorrow I get to play instore with them!

I love this mini mae Tea Time design. I have it stuck on my laptop.

And speaking of tea - I think it is indeed time...

Amanda xx

(Image with permission mae)

the game is up

2011-08-09T22:31:00.001+12:00

It goes without saying that rugby is big in this household.

It is our national game after all.

For one household member in particular, it is a religion.

Every game gets watched, recorded, replayed, analysed at length, watched again, committed to memory, brought up at some random moment, discussed, read about, compared & watched again. (Sound familiar anyone?)

In this household, for Brunnel, the whole of 2011 has been geared towards Rugby World Cup, which starts in - let me just look it up - ooh, 30 days!

And no, before you get excited, he is not an All Black.

I have a seat in the stadium of four-million (New Zealand's catchphrase to inspire the whole country to get behind such a huge sporting event) - in other words, I'll be watching it at home on television.

Brunnel has a seat in the actual stadium. Several seats actually. For several games. In several stadiums.

The first tickets arrived. A flick-flack of tickets. Enough to wallpaper a small room.

Oh, but he assured me they weren't just for him. He was just the 'ticket getter', for his group.

Of course.

Then he made a small mistake.

He ever so furtively, ordered his tickets for the final rounds -semi final & final.

(Heck, I hope we're even in them, but that's another story.)

And made the mistake of printing out his order confirmation and leaving it on the printer.

Where I found it.

Of course the tickets weren't for him. They were for Doug. Sure.

Well, naturally, I've dined out unashamedly on that little 'treasure' ever since. Actually, it has given me much leverage on our house renovation. Any of my little junk shop & Trade Me finds can very quickly be justified by mentioning their infintessimal value compared to his Rugby World Cup tickets.

He has no comeback.

He also has no tickets.

I wondered when he would notice.

He has been thinking they should have arrived by now.

I overheard him three weeks ago, asking friends if they had received theirs.

Some had & some hadn't. He relaxed a bit. No need to panic if they hadn't all been delivered yet.

Last week I overheard him asking again.

Yes, it seemed they had all received them now.
I smiled to myself.

How strange then that Brunnel didn't have his. He was quite worried.

What if they'd been delivered to our building site, and gone missing?

He thinks they're stolen.

Brunnel rang the ticket office with his no ticket problem.

'Yes sir, you should definitely have them by now. We'll do an immediate track & trace on them and get back to you'.

Yesterday they rang him back.

'Sir, the tickets were delivered on Jul 7 2011 at 9:28AM and signed for by "AMANDA".

I'm still smiling to myself!
Amanda xx

a spring fling

2011-08-06T09:43:00.000+12:00

I know that officially spring is still a few weeks away, but this week,

in and amongst the cold snaps,

there has been a wee glimpse of sunshine and warmer days ahead.

I think I mean this both literally, and also figuratively, in the terms of my current renovating climate.

So here it is, Saturday morning.

I'm fortifying myself on coffee and toast (yet again.)

And the building team are fortifying themselves on V (yet again.)

The chit chat is all about tonights crucial rugby match between the All Blacks & the Wallabies.

There is a little nervousness in the camp.

Brunnel will have no fingernails left by the end of the game, and depending on the referee, will most likely have demonstrated some of his finer verbal repartee to his children.

In the meantime, we have our own crucial sporting contests - netball starts again today for both girls.

I know I've been a little neglectful of the blogworld this week. I hope you understand.

I'm looking forward to a wee wander your way over the weekend.

In the meantime, aren't these daffodils, just the most gorgeous sign of all that lies ahead!

Happy weekend.

Amanda xx

domestic bliss

2011-08-03T08:53:00.000+12:00

We're back home.

You may remember this post from two weeks ago, when it seemed to be almost an impossible feat to achieve.

Well, lets just say that the living is not entirely easy, but here we are.

We scrubbed our neighbours house from top to toe, and then came across the fence to do the same here, although it was a little depressing to say the least.

Headquarters is the laundry.

A temporary setup in a temporary space.

But you can see we have our priorities right - the coffee machine, and two wine glasses.

So far they're the only glasses we can find. I think it must be a sign. Brunnel & I were damn quick to fill them. Even if it was 10 o'clock on a Monday night.

It's not that I've become a lush, but boy, it sure is tempting!

The sink is our 'running water', and the electrician has rigged up a light.

The electric barbeque came out of retirement for all of 15 minutes. Sadly, on its first test run it decided to blow up. We have yet to entirely solve this little problem.

Although a chicken sandwich for dinner every night is probably not going to be the answer.

You see it will still be at least 6 weeks before we have any sign of a kitchen. It seems that our joiner decided to try skateboarding. The result was a broken leg in two places, and no kitchen or bathroom joinery for us.

On the positive side, we do have a toilet, and a shower.

And with our new electric blankets, and a heater borrowed from our neighbours, in some strange way, it is quite nice to be back in our own beds!

Amanda xx

the much-maligned carnation

2011-07-27T22:07:00.000+12:00

Why is the carnation so maligned? So out-of-favour?

Associated with sad 'I forgot, I'm sorry' flowers picked up from the garage or dairy, & an unfortunate relationship with gypsophila.

Quite desperate really.

Personally I rather like them.

The colours are usually lovely, the smell is soft, & reminds me of soap, they last really well, they look great, and a bunch of spray carnations goes a long way amongst all my bottles and little indiscriminate vessels. (You know me - if it holds water, I consider it a vase!)

Especially when they are as beautiful as these.

And the vibrant fresh green of viburnum is a much better pairing than the gypsophila don't you agree?

I think I could start a crusade to bring the carnation back in to vogue!

Amanda xx

pink & platners - take a seat

2011-07-25T21:52:00.000+12:00

I know this is a very pink image. It is a very deliberate choice.

With the bitterly cold weather we have had today (apparently it is Wellington's coldest day on record ever, so that must be cold) I am hoping that some of the pinkness will translate into warmth, and perhaps radiate from the screen somehow.

And, not only do I love the gorgeously tactile, flocked Designers Guild Fioravanti wallpaper, but I've also had a bit of a crush on these iconic wire chairs designed by Warren Platner, for some time.

Platner's modernist wire pieces for Knoll have been in continuous production since 1966.

As he once said, 'a classic is something that you look at often and always accept as it is. You can see no way of improving it'.

So true, no matter what you're talking about when it comes to design.

And now I have a date to keep with my electric blanket! Keep warm!

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with permission Designers Guild)

living on the block

2011-07-20T11:37:00.001+12:00

My little family and I have become addicted to 'The Block' - the Australian reality show about 4 couples competing to renovate 4 derelict houses, which started here on Prime last week.

More than anything else, we can relate to the state of those houses and the living conditions each couple must endure!

But, how do they do it in only eight weeks?

We are now four months in to our renovation, and I'm losing sleep as reality sinks in.

Our neighbourly vacation ends next week, and here is the current state of affairs, as of this morning...

The 'facilities'. Fullstop.

Quite open air. No actual running water.

Does that matter?

The kitchen.

Not a lot of cooking going on here.

Let there be light.

This is it.

In the entire house.

At least it is portable.

Living.

Very cosy.

Might have to rummage my way to the the beloved 'temple bar', buried under here somewhere, for sanity.

Sleeping.

I'm sure there is room in here for a few mattresses and the dog's bed.

Should I be worried do you think?

Living conditions on The Block seem to be better than this!
We move back in to this at the end of next week.
No wonder sleeping is fitful.

Amanda xx

quick fix no. 15 - eva's lampshade

2011-07-18T22:47:00.000+12:00

I've had several meetings over the last couple of weeks in an effort to sort out our lighting.

Once the plan was finalised I thought everything looked pretty good.

All appeared to be within the budget, which would please Brunnel.

And then I looked at the number of fittings that were coded to 'AJH'.

AJH was all over the house.

Every room had something coded to... me.

That would be payback for coming up with ideas that involve Agee jars then.

So, slightly panicked, I thought I'd make a start with something for Eva's room.

Note, this is the 'before' shot.

It is always a worry when your child is wildly excited about the 'before', especially when it looked as manky and tired as this little gem from the op-shop, complete with bug and spiders web.

After some bribery, and with the promise that if she didn't like my attempts to improve it, that she wouldn't have to have it in her room, I was allowed to set to.

Off came the layers. The girls have their own (worrying) d.i.y plans for the crochet cover so that was whisked quickly away. Then I sanded the frame, and sprayed it with some white paint.

While the frame was drying, I readied my ribbons and fabric remnants. I had a mix of linen, silk & nice grosgrain ribbon, all within my chosen colour palette. Once the shade is up in Eva's bedroom, it will be seen from the underside as well, so all my materials were chosen to work from both sides. Cut the fabric into strips about the same width as the ribbons. I'm more than happy with some fraying edges on my fabrics, but if this will bother you, then stick to ribbons!

Starting at the top, I simply worked my way around the frame, wrapping each ribbon tightly, and knotting it to the next one when I wanted a colour change. I like things a bit random, so deliberately chose when and where to change the fabric. As always, my favourite black & white is in the mix to add some definition, and to prevent the whole thing becoming too much.

And the final result - so within budget, it hardly counts!

I have some frilly trim which I may, or may not, yet add to the bottom.

I'll decide once I see Eva's room as it comes together.

In the meantime, I am pleased to report that Eva is very happy, and approves of her new lampshade.

It is apparently, good enough. Whew! That's a hard test to pass.

Happy Monday!

Amanda xx

glamping

2011-07-14T22:48:00.001+12:00

Don't you love jasmine?

I do, despite it's reputation as a terrible rampant vine. The fragrance is so beautiful.

I always think of it as a spring fragrance, but currently the market here is selling

huge bunches of it, which I find hard to resist.

We've had some wild winter weather this week.

But as we've been glamping it up next door at our neighbours, I've had no complaints whatsoever.

Let that tarpaulin next door rattle away.

Who cares that there are no lights, no walls, no water.

Things have fallen into total disarray since we vacated Camp David.

Even the electric barbecue is no longer working.

I don't mind at all.

I'm quite relaxed even.

I'll just pretend I live here instead of there.

Just for a week or two.

With my jasmine in a vase, and my neighbours fantastic pile of magazines.

It will indeed be, a happy weekend!

Amanda xx

subterfuge

2011-07-12T16:48:00.001+12:00

You may remember that I had plans to subtlely slip some Deborah Bowness wallpaper into my home somehow? Well, here is my plan...

I am ever so lucky (and so excited) to announce that these gorgeous digital/handprinted wallpapers are now available instore at Small Acorns. Today my 'samples' (yeah right) arrived.

I've hung the lamps in the window, where they look amazing.

I can't find anywhere to hang the frocks.

I've tried hard.

(No, really Brunnel - I did try!)

Shall I look after them carefully at home for a while...?

Amanda xx

(image Deborah Bowness via Paper Room)

crystal constructions

2011-07-09T17:56:00.000+12:00

Some time ago now, I posted about these candlesticks. Milly and I finally had enough collected cut glass bits and pieces to have a go ourselves recently.

We made the tallest one, which is about 80cm tall, with my Mum's birthday in mind.

She and her friends used to be quite partial to a glass or two of sherry back in the day, but the old sherry glasses haven't been so popular lately. Far too small! Perfect for a candle instead.

Milly and I had lots of fun working out the best order to pile up all our glasses and dishes.

Kind of like a 'stack one hundred times and glue only once' scenario.

When we delivered the birthday present I'm not sure what Mum thought. She certainly wasn't expecting a 'crystal construction' as she has called it ever since, but because Milly had 'made it' she was very polite!

And having received many a compliment about it since, I think Mum has decided that it is certainly a good talking point!

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend.

Amanda xx

love thy neighbour

2011-07-06T22:47:00.002+12:00

"Guess where we're going for the school holidays?" I asked the girls a couple of weeks ago.

"Fiji!" said Eva excitedly.

"Sydney" said Milly hopefully.

"No" I said, "we're going to 'number 23'!"

"Huh??" Puzzlement & confused shrugs.

And then the penny dropped.

'Number 23' is our neighbours house.

Heading away for a couple of weeks, they wondered if we'd like to house sit.

Do you think they had to ask twice?

Truth be told, we had moved in, and were sitting around their table eating dinner when I realised they would still be sitting at Wellington airport, waiting for their flight.

That felt, perhaps just a little eager on our part. And strange.

I'd hate them to have any regrets!

I have threatened the girls (and Brunnel) with the riot act, if they are not the most perfect houseguests.

(I'm already perfect - and paranoid!)

No casually wondering around the house with a hot blackcurrant drink (Eva), no slurping your noodles so that they land on a painting (Milly), no unmentionable habits (Brunnel).

After the joys of Camp David, we feel as if we are staying at the Hilton.

Milly thinks she is in the masterchef kitchen. Brunnel has multi channel TV in the bedroom.

Eva has discovered three drawers of DVD's.

And I have.... heating!!!

As far as I'm concerned Fiji pales in comparison right now.

This is the best holiday!

Amanda xx

And I'm linking up with Sarah's Good Life Wednesday over at A Beach Cottage,
because life is obviously good!

(image copyright & with permission Designers Guild.)

something to make you smile

2011-07-04T08:39:00.000+12:00

Aren't they gorgeous? Of course 'Moo' & 'Kingston' have only become acquainted

since meeting in our wee peg doll village, but they're getting on really well.

Scarlett is a little shy. And she'd like to get to know her neighbour Lola,

who can never keep her halo on straight.

Clockwise from top left - Tallulah Fallulah, Miss D.Licious, Thandi & the twins Laura & Lucy.

Even Wills & Kate have dropped in.

She may not have won Wimbledon, but Miss Maria Sharipova is a winner in the fashion stakes.

Keeping her company are Holly & Rosabelle.

Mr Pirate & Jake the Guitarist have lots of parties in their apartment.

Miss Stella, with the African Princess in the background.

Just a few of the many many amazing peg personalities who have arrived to take up

residence in our window for our peg doll competition. (I believe I have another 100 or so to photograph today, and then they too, will join the other pegs in the top peg village.)

My team are a little worried because I talk to them...a lot.

It's almost impossible not to!

Youngest entrant so far - 3 years.

Oldest - 69 ... & three quarters!

Entries close today, & then the judging will begin.

Oh my, that is NOT going to be easy.

They all make me smile.

And I thought it might be a nice way to start your week also.

Amanda xx

less is a bore

2011-06-29T08:57:00.000+12:00

How I love Jonathan Adler's quote - 'Less is a bore.'

I can relate to it totally.

How else can I justify the pick-and-mix look that I seem to achieve without even trying!

Brunnel sometimes worries that I might be getting things 'wrong'.

His response to my SAD, was that instead, I have MAD.

Just plain old crazy then.

Currently, I'm trying to narrow down some wallpaper selections.

I thought I'd do the wifely thing and ask Brunnel what sort of wallpaper he would like.

After all, it is his bathroom too.

He would like something quote-unquote 'a little more butch'.

Hmmm.

Is it any use even showing him this one? Even if it is my favourite?

I knew I should never have asked for his opinion.

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with permission Designers Guild)

happy monday

2011-06-27T09:23:00.000+12:00

OK, I admit it. I had something of a grumpy day yesterday.

Small children and particularly husbands needed to bear this in mind.

Even Bruno the dog was fearful.

But doing his business right outside the door, just because it was freezing, is no excuse!!

We packed even more of what is left at Camp David into boxes. Ready for the next phase of demolition. It seems that the mobile clothes racks would agree with Brunnel on the size of my wardrobe.

They both broke. Of course it was my fault. I have too many clothes apparently.

I asked too much of the racks and whatever I said was not helpful.

It would never be that the *!%#!**!! racks were just pathetically weak, because believe me, I never have anything to wear!

So the clothes were all in a heap on the floor, and I heard Brunnel throwing things in the shed.

It was definitely not the time to hang around.

I heard talk of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) on the radio this morning.

Maybe that was it. A day confined in the dark behind the tarpaulin with the inside temperature reaching a high of 9 degrees.

So I'm sure my family were relieved when I got out of bed on the right side this morning.

And this photo reminds me of treasures currently packed away, just waiting for their day in the sunshine again soon. Happy Monday!

Amanda xx

nana & friend

2011-06-24T23:17:00.000+12:00

I'm sure if I had a dollar for everyone who has asked if this charming couple are for sale I'd be doing quite well by now.

My grandmother had a china cabinet full of Staffordshire figurines.

I thought they were very, well, 'nana-ish'.

I can honestly say that until recently, I wouldn't have given them a second glance.

I can also honestly say I had absolutely no intention of buying them.

Or their friend, the dancing Spanish senorita.

You see I had my eye on a few things at an auction. Some were pieces I fancied very much for myself - like an amazing assortment of bone-handled cutlery. Then there were a few bits and bobs that I thought could be good, with a little upcycling, for the store.

Unfortunately, much as I would have liked to mooch around the auction for a whole day,

work called. So, I left some absentee bids.

I was thrilled to learn that some of them had been successful. They just weren't quite what I had been hoping for. I missed out on the cutlery. I secured a lamp, and a vase - and with them the Staffordshire figures. They were just part of the bundle, almost like a 'gift with purchase'.

At the time it was hilarious.

Now I have a newfound appreciation for them. The detail is amazingly beautiful.

They are definitely of my Nanas' era, and several together in a china cabinet might be Nana-ish. But one or two dotted amongst our store displays looks surprisingly good, and they are great talking points - especially because everyone remembers their Nana having them.

So no, they're not for sale. And Nana would have the last laugh!

Have a lovely weekend my friends.

Amanda xx

what's in a name?

2011-06-22T08:54:00.000+12:00

I am seduced by the names of paints.

It's a bit like trying to choose a book without taking the slightest bit of notice of the cover.

Almost impossible. (For me anyway.)

So while I don't want a green house, I can't help but get carried away by a name like 'Caravanserai'.

How about 'Moon Shadow' or 'Sea Fog'? 'Loveletter' or 'Doeskin'?

'Pirate Black', 'Paperbag', 'Gravel'...

They sound nice...

And you may wonder why I'm even remotely looking at paint colours when it will surely be some time before there is a paint brush picked up at this house.

And you'd be right of course.

But there are some big steel beam thingies needing to be powdercoated, and some big wooden beam thingies waiting to be stained, and they will be at the centre of whatever colours I choose.

No pressure.

I'm all for brave and surprising uses of colour, but I'm not so sure Brunnel wants a house

painted 'Attar of Rose' ( dark dusky pink).

But it is such a lovely name!

Amanda xx

happy monday

2011-06-20T13:18:00.000+12:00

Idly scanning through some of my photos yesterday, I literally did a double take when I came across this treasure.

In some bizarre combination of cliched life, or that you don't realise how like your parents you are until you have become them, this image is of my sister & I in bed with Mum & Dad, and our dog Louie.

It's probably a Sunday morning, and my Dad will have set the camera up to automatically take the photo, leapt back into bed, and grabbed the dog on the way. He possibly also had Bach's Toccata & Fugue for the Organ playing at some screechingly high volume, because he used to think that sort of thing was hilarious also.

(It was definitely his idea of a joke when I was a teenager. How I hate that music to this day.)

My Mum looks thrilled.

Fast forward forty or so years, and let history repeat.

Except of course, it is our girls leaping in to bed with Brunnel & I.

Anything in an effort to keep warm given the freezing conditions still ongoing at Camp David.

Scarily, in this photo, not only do Milly & Eva look like my sister & I, but Bruno, our spoodle, looks uncannily like Louie.

And I look like my Mum! Thrilled.

Before you say it - Brunnel does not look like my Dad!

And no, there will be no photos to prove it.

I hope things are warmer wherever you are. Our tarpaulin novelty is wearing thin. The lack of ceilings and boarded up windows adds nicely to the wind chill factor.

But it is a new week, and good things take time.

Amanda xx

paper artistry

2011-06-16T16:04:00.000+12:00

Earlier this week, the courier delivered us, as he worriedly put it,

two boxes of fresh air.

I think he genuinely thought that whatever was in the two generously sized boxes

originally, it was no longer there.

Fortunately, he was wrong.

The boxes may have been light as air, but inside were these amazing paper dresses, by former Wellingtonian, Anne Wilson.

New York, Paris, London or the World.

Each dress is made from a beautiful sepia-toned map.

Each carefully folded, cut and crafted into a unique piece of art.

I do love the Parisian roses!

Quite beautiful don't you think?

It is so hard to choose a favourite.

And of course I have two little girls eyeing them up avidly.

Jo humoured me by adding my paper dress garlands to her display. I had to feel useful somehow. Of course I had to go and find a sepia-toned newspaper to do the job, and that left her in peace for at least an hour!

Maybe that was her plan all along!

Amanda xx

age & beauty

2011-06-13T22:59:00.000+12:00

Aging imprints beauty onto even the

most humble of man-made objects.

I love this quote from Sibella Court in my very well-thumbed copy of her gorgeous

book Etcetera etc.

And how true this is don't you think?

It so explains my current fetish with old preserving jars! Could there be anything more humble?

I always think too that age brings a level of authenticity to an interior that something new cannot always achieve. Or cannot always achieve alone.

Particularly in today's world of recognisable, mass-produced objects.

I say all this bravely, while living in the most authentically freezing shell of a cruddy old house, with the wind whistling by.

However, despite the minor inconvenience of having to wear a scarf & coat indoors, I am still convinced that, once our renovations are all done and dusted, the 'old' combined with the 'new' is something I couldn't do without.

I look at my collection of old fabric print designs, like the one above, & imagine how beautiful the fabric would have been. They are all meticulously designed and painted by hand, with the pattern repeat calculated into the gridlines. These are old school. From a different age.

I love the so-called imperfections and hallmarks of age that a vintage item like this has.

I also love the story that it has to tell.

Who owned it before me? Where has it come from? What stories could it tell?

And what will its next story be?

I'm still trying to decide!

Amanda xx

and so to bed

2011-06-09T21:57:00.002+12:00

And so the blogging this week has been non-existent.

Have you missed me? No, don't answer that! It may not be the answer I want to hear!

Frankly, for most of the week, I have just wanted to lie down somewhere dark and cosy and quiet.

Somewhere I could splutter and snort (and occasionally feel sorry for myself) without being disturbed.

But of course, when you are sharing your dormitory with ever so cheery builders, that is just not an option.

In the interests of getting this house even remotely close to resembling anything other than a demolition site, I couldn't risk scaring the builders away.

Just imagine if they trotted in to see me lying there in my bed.

Put it this way, there's no way they could ever get the wrong message!!

Anyway, I'm sure you're relieved to know I'm on the mend.

And I tried not to breathe while at work, so I'm really hoping that this strategy worked well for me

(and my poor customers & team.)

Brunnel is starting to complain that I may have passed something on to him.

And, as with all men, whatever bug I had, he will get the version that is infinitely worse.

Rocky roads ahead.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to catching up with all your doings.

And, wow, 300 followers!

I'm amazed!

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with permission Designers Guild)

happy (long) weekend

2011-06-03T23:18:00.000+12:00

Remember these gorgeous treasures from last year?

Oh yes, it's the return of the peg doll competition!

And I am so excited!!

Can you tell?

I'm awfully clucky when it comes to my little peg dolls.

Already I'm wondering how on earth last years amazing entries can be topped.

After all they set the bar fairly high.

Anyhow, we announced the competition two days ago, and since then I feel as though

we've been making our peg doll starter kits non-stop.

We've sent out 108 so far, and haven't even started on todays email pile yet!

Wow. Such enthusiasm. No wonder I'm so excited.

The girls & I are going to make our own versions this weekend.

Once again Eva struggles to understand why she isn't allowed to enter the competition.

I explain that she is allowed to enter as many times as she likes.

She just isn't going to win. She thinks that is so unfair.

I am such a mean mother!

Happy weekend everyone. Hope you have a lovely one.

Amanda xx

P.S If you'd like to enter, all the details are here.

We have a special 'grownup' category this year!

a difficult client

2011-06-01T22:21:00.000+12:00

It's official. I'm my own worst client.

On a daily basis I am surrounded by so many beautiful fabrics and wallpapers, and I seemingly have no difficulty in helping my clients with their selections.

When it comes to working with my architect I am very no-nonsense.

Decisions are made almost on the spot. Done and dusted. Very sure.

This finish. That tap. Those tiles. That profile.

I'm a well-behaved client. (Most of the time.)

So why, when faced with my interior decorating decisions have I morphed into this other type of client?

My own worst nightmare.

Indecisive. Procrastinating. Suddenly uncertain. Unable to commit to anything.

And of course, the answer is fear.

What if I get it wrong?

What if (heaven forbid) my Dad is right and it is a "bloody awful light fitting"?

(Unlikely, but you never know!)

Suddenly I see things from the other side. It's what we all feel when faced with similar decisions.

We don't want to get it wrong.

And strangely, this realisation makes me feel a little more confident.

Do I trust my instincts? Yes.

Restraint equals boredom. The most successful interiors always feature an element of the unexpected, and this cannot be achieved without taking the odd risk. And heck, it doesn't have to be forever.

So, onwards and upwards with the mood boards...

Time to make some decisions.

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with permission of Designers Guild)

happy (pretty) monday

2011-05-30T12:51:00.000+12:00

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I was lucky enough to receive some absolutely beautiful flowers from Brunnel for our wedding anniversary.

And because he was in cahoots with Sarah, instead of a bunch of flowers which I would, as she well knows, have de-constructed immediately so that they could be spread throughout the house, a whole box of blooms arrived.

Ready for me to play with.

The only 'problem' being that there isn't much of a house to spread them through at the moment.

The 'playing' is pretty much confined to one room. And that one room is my oasis of calm amongst the bombsite that is everywhere else.

And so long as I have that oasis, I can overlook the chaos everywhere else.

So, I commissioned one of my old jars as a vase, and played to my hearts content for a while.

A little prettiness is so good for the soul don't you think.

And I just know the builders are going to appreciate the slipper orchid in what is left of the bathroom!!

Amanda xx

oh happy day

2011-05-27T08:56:00.001+12:00

After my last post, my Dad has sent me an email.

He thinks the communal dormitory living may be getting to me.

According to Dad, yesterday's post followed on from 'some fairly dreary ones lately.'

'Grey wallpaper, drab quilt and bloody awful light fitting' to be specific.

Hmmm. Just wait until you see the house then Dad! Can't wait to see your face.

However, obviously I need a happy post today.

So, it is a co-incidence is it not, that 22 years ago today, Dad happily dragged me down the aisle, and married me off to Brunnel. For a handsome dowry. (Just joking!)

Of course I was a child bride. I'd have to have been if I'm still only 39.

22 years. That's quite a long time!

Being the romantics that we are, Brunnel is cooking dinner tonight.

I am thankful for the electric barbeque.

It means I am spared a recreation of one of his woo-ing recipes - to this day I'm not sure what he was attempting to cook, but something akin to porridge fish is what was on the plate.

And let us not remember the apricot a la mode chicken-with-a-dash-of-rolled-oats thingy either.

Both 'recipes' memorable for all the wrong reasons.

So, I didn't marry him for his cooking then. Tonight a 'Brunnel's curry' will be just fine.

And it is a happy day! Happy anniversary darling!

Amanda xx

P.S Thanks everyone for your comments and emails yesterday. They were truly lovely.

(image maileg)

holding hands

2011-05-26T16:07:00.000+12:00

I'm worried about my Eva.

She is not herself.

A heart on her sleeve kind of girl, Eva always tells it like it is.

And usually at the top of her voice.

Especially where her parents and sister are concerned.

Quite dramatic - "sob sob 'my life is just so horrible' sob sob", to (five minutes later) "you have always been so warm hearted inside and out Mummy".

A romantic - she made the card in the photo for my brother's birthday.

The words on the back said 'we all stick together holdings hands in a line of people and love.'

Even the most staunch in our family (and there are a few) thought that was pretty special.

Her current aspirations to be a singer involve much time at the piano, writing, composing and playing her songs. This is great - except that it is all consuming.

I ask her to get in the shower.

I hear the piano.

She has forgotten her homework book.

I hear the piano.

Breakfast is uneaten, she's not ready for school, she's meant to be putting on her shoes.

She is at the piano - in her undies. Singing.

I spend my time yelling. Eva is still singing.

Her teacher thinks the alterations could be unsettling her. Maybe.

She has the focus of a newt. (My words, not his - I think he used the words 'bit of a diz' instead.)

She forgot her diary/homework/cross-country gear/you-name-it-she-forgets-it. Often.

She turned up to cross-country looking like a waif. The only one kitted out in whatever happened to be in her bag. Everyone else looking the part in athletic gear. The only one without a parent on the sideline, because she forgot to give us the notice. I know she looked like a waif because a friend kindly took a photo for me.

I cried when I saw it.

Of course, I blame myself. I am a bad parent.

I am obviously not spending enough time with her. That's what my own mum will say.

The dilemma of the working mother. Do all working mothers blame themselves?

I know when I go home each night the first thing I do is hug my girls tight.

Whatever I'm doing, it obviously isn't enough.

So sorry to vent! I'm not sure I'm even making sense.

Any advice?

Amanda xx

tattered treasure

2011-05-24T21:13:00.000+12:00

Brunnel thinks this is a load of old rags.

And (as usual) he is right.

However, whereas I look at this amazing and very old Japanese boro and wonder about its story, Brunnel still really thinks it is a load of old rags.

Boro is a Japanese word meaning tattered rags, and it is the term used to describe Japan's mended and patched textiles. Each futon cover or quilt was patched and repaired over and over again by the rural housewife, from re-used and re-cycled indigo cotton rags. The diversity of patches on any given piece is a veritable storybook of hand pieced indigo cotton from old Japan. In most cases, the beautiful and haphazard arrangement of patches and mending stitches is the result of wear and tear, and necessity, and not of planning. Each quilt was patched and passed through the generations. Layers of life and living.

A piece with a utilitarian past, never intended as an object of beauty, I think I am unbelievably lucky to have found such a tattered treasure.

So now I just need to convince Brunnel that my new treasure really is as beautiful as I think it is.

Amanda xx

happy weekend

2011-05-21T17:19:00.000+12:00

The week feels as though it has escaped on me - again!

Busy, but good busy, so I'm not complaining.

My girls both had netball today, as the new season got underway.

Chaotic madness as a thousand kids and two thousand screaming parents all negotiated the courts together.

Or so it seemed anyway.

It was Eva's first game ever. Hilarious to say the least.

She and her team all seemed so little, whereas suddenly Milly and her team all seemed so grownup.

Where does time go?

Anyway, we're off out for a cheap and cheerful tonight.

I am in desperate need of a break from the electric barbecue.

Hope you all have a happy & fun-filled weekend.

Amanda xx

P.S Oh yes, the amazing Deborah Bowness wallpapers above. I'm casually slipping them in, just as I'm trying really hard to casually slip them in to the house!! Do you think Brunnel will notice? They're available in NZ from paper room.

bright ideas

2011-05-18T22:58:00.002+12:00

This is my latest obsession.

I have developed a bit of a 'thing' for old preserving jars upcycled into lights.

Add several metres of twisty flex for full effect, and I'm even happier.

I'm not the only one thinking along these lines, as this image from the latest issue of Inside Out goes to show.

A cluster of different old jars looks even better don't you agree?

So for several weeks now, I've been on a bit of a jar mission.

Stalking Trade Me, and sending my mother and godmother on op-shop missions.

On the weekend I casually mentioned to Brunnel that we needed to take a little drive together to collect one of my successful auction purchases.

Being blissfully unaware of my motives, he couldn't believe it when after an hours drive, I swapped $22.50 from his wallet for five old jars.

'Good luck with your preserving' said the lovely man who appeared at the car to hand over my big purchase.

'Oh, I'm not going to be preserving. I'm going to be making some lights', I said.

His face said it all really.

I was very happy with my jars.

Brunnel, who still faced another hours drive to get home, is, funnily enough, still unconvinced by my lightbulb moments.

But I'll show him. Wait and see.

Amanda xx

a dahlia retrospective

2011-05-16T08:29:00.001+12:00

No, don't panic!

I'm not about to subject you to hundreds of skitey photos of dahlias.

Just this one. A small retrospective then.

But I am feeling a little glum now that my dahlia season seems to have come to a sudden and abrupt end.

One day there were blooms and buds galore, and then this morning there were none.

Just like that. Not even one.
And no, I can't blame the builders and their big boots.
Threatened with their lives, and after a quick dahlia recognition lesson, they were sensible boys, and stayed well away.
Considering we are well into autumn, and I've had six months of beautiful blooms, I really can't complain.
I shall just have to live vicariously through old photos, and look forward to the arrival of my already-ordered multitude of tubers ready for next season!

And before you ask about the fabulous old 'children crossing' sign, no, I'm not at liberty to say where it came from. Let's just say, its an awfully long time since any children have actually 'crossed' there, and I don't think it will be missed. And, it would still be there if my partner in crime (Dad) and I, hadn't had permission to remove it and preserve it for generations to come!

Happy Monday!
Amanda xx

P.S Thanks for the faith in my office chair upholstery skills. I could not possibly take credit, other than for the idea. Every girl needs a good upholsterer in her armoury! Especially one that though he might think she is crazy, still does as he is told.

before and after

2011-05-12T08:31:00.000+12:00

How about a little before and after today?

Well actually we're doing the 'after' before the 'before', & I'm hoping

that you've already gathered this, or I'm truly doing something wrong!

Here is the 'before'.

You know me. I had to have the pretty picture first!

And another 'after'.

With a little extra padding & some lovely new upholstery, courtesy of the Designers Guild Miami and Deltona collections, I think these rather tired old office chairs scrubbed up rather well.

Very Mad Men office typing pool.

Amanda xx

easy breezy - quick fix no. 14

2011-05-09T22:43:00.000+12:00

How I wish there was a quick fix to this house of ours.

There isn't.

And lets just say that part of the reason there isn't, is because a few too many 'quick fixes' have been made in its past.

'Quick fixes' that were quickly hidden within walls, above the ceiling, and under tiles and lino.

'Quick fixes' that are definitely not so quick to fix now.

But I'm grateful that things are being done more carefully and thoroughly this time around.

I'd like to think that this house will last another hundred years, even if it is hard to tell exactly what has survived the first hundred, or, closer to the truth, how it has survived its first hundred given some of the hurried renovating decisions made on its behalf.

We found this old window under the house, and another truly beautiful, but broken one, up in the roof.

Once upon a time, our house must have had a lot of character.

I'm hoping to put a little back in, albeit of a different generation and time.

The builders and I are plotting ways to use the beautiful window.

Meanwhile, I've put this one to use as a pegboard for all my decorating ideas and inspirations.

It is a genuine easy breezy quick fix to keep track of magazine tear outs, pictures of taps and shower heads, paint colours, wallpapers & wild ideas.

If old windows aren't hanging around at your place, you could use a picture frame instead.

Washi tape, hemp twine and mini clothes pegs are the only tools you need.

However you construct it, the visual references are what I find most helpful.

All those images that you've ripped out, saved and dreamed about, are right there where you can see them and imagine them.

And hopefully, some of those ideas just might take flight.

Amanda xx

singing the blues

2011-05-05T23:17:00.000+12:00

(image - designers guild)

(images clockwise from top left - polly wretham, designers guild)

(images clockwise from top left - via pia jane bijkerk, designers guild, amanda, designers guild)

(images all designers guild)

(images clockwise from top left - designers guild, living etc, designers guild, anthropologie)

(images clockwise from top left - designers guild, rob ryan, designers guild, petite details)

After being out in the cold for a little while, it seems that blue is back with a vengeance when it comes to the interior scene.

True blue - cobalt, sky, azure, hyacinth.
Mixed with plenty of white, these blues have a fresh and modern look.

And why does blue have the reputation for being cold?

As these images proclaim, while it can be cool, blue needn't be cold.

Mix these blues with any interior style, and they'll be in perfect harmony.
Call me old-fashioned, but I've always sung the blues.
Probably always will. Do you have a favourite colour?

Amanda xx

mod cons

2011-05-02T13:49:00.000+12:00

I am a happy homemaker...

... and who wouldn't be.

Bosch, Miele, Gaggenau, eat your hearts out.

My kitchen has a bespoke cooktop.

It sure is one of a kind.

The electric barbeque, made just for me by my lovely builders.

I knew you'd all be jealous!

I bet you're all just dying to know what the rest of the kitchen is like.

Even more fabulous, believe me.

Amanda xx

fairytales & princesses

2011-04-28T20:12:00.000+12:00

Do you think Kate will sleep well tonight?

Maybe that pesky pea will have her tossing and turning all night.

Or will she be just too excited to sleep?

I would be, if I was becoming a princess tomorrow!

Amanda xx

(the princess & the pea image by maileg)

autumn at the beach

2011-04-26T22:37:00.001+12:00

I know that escaping to the beach and the bach in summer is almost impossible to beat.

But it is also a pretty special place in autumn.

For a start, it's so quiet.

There isn't the constant hum of summer.

Everything is more contemplative.

Lots of long walks, and plenty of exploring.

A swim one day and gumboots the next.

I was trying to capture the perfect image of this golden tree - all fiery autumn colours, and alone amongst a sea of evergreen, it looked amazing.

A perfect weekend if you've been having a few of those 'can't see the woods for the trees' moments!

Hope you all had a lovely long weekend too. And hello to some new followers.

It's lovely to see you here.

Amanda xx

I'm late, I'm late...

2011-04-21T09:35:00.000+12:00

...for a very important date.

Well no, not really.

But my sister is picking me up shortly, and she is not someone who likes to be kept waiting.

Especially by her sister, and anything to do with blogging.

We have a family weekend ahead.

I have books, magazines and a big bunch of dahlias waiting by the door.

She'll think I'm crazy for taking those away with me too, but I sure am going to try!

So, I'm literally 'throwing' this post together, and wishing you all a happy Easter weekend.

Eat all the chocolate you want! Personally, I feel a bun-fest coming on!

(Maybe that's because I've been indulging in just a little too much pre-Easter bun eating, and I'm starting to look like one, all hot and cross!)

Happy days!

Amanda xx

(image taken at our flowers& frippery workshop)

my heart wanders

2011-04-20T12:59:00.000+12:00

Look what we unwrapped yesterday, all nestled in its brown paper deliciousness

- Pia's beautiful new book 'My Heart Wanders' wandered into Small Acorns.

As is to be expected, the imagery throughout is absolutely beautiful, but, as I settled down for a little late lunch read, it was the poetic nature of the text that has me enthralled. I will have to go back and linger over the photos longer, but I want to read every bit of Pia's story now.

As the pre-launch blurb said, 'My Heart Wanders' is a reflective, inspirational, tender memoir that speaks to 'the wandering heart' in all of us. It is intensely personal, something that I have always admired most about Pia's writing style and her blog, which is one of my long-term favourites.

Something wonderful to look forward to over the long weekend.

Amanda xx

club tropicana

2011-04-18T21:25:00.000+12:00

Camp David (as Brunnel likes to call our current all-in-together dormitory sleeping arrangements) is, shall we say, testing my resolve tonight.

Club Tropicana it is not.

The extreme natural ventilation (there is no front on the house at all), aided and abetted by the boarded up holes where windows used to be, and the sudden onslaught of antartic ice outside is a little bone chilling.

The tarpaulins don't appear to be thermally lined.

My poor builders were outside this morning in torrential rain and gale force winds, trying to fix the gas heating for me.

Brunnel & the girls have de-camped to warmer and less drafty climes in Hawkes Bay.

I am shivering and toughing it out!

And going to bed with two hotties and ten blankets.

Amanda xx

P.S no, NOT that kind of hottie!!!

(image used with permission Designers Guild)

serial tendencies

2011-04-14T17:01:00.000+12:00

Are you a serial hoarder?

Oh please tell me you are.

Maybe hoarder is too harsh a word. Collector sounds much nicer.

Are you a serial collector? As in, "Hi, my name is Amanda and I am a serial collector."

"And what is it that you collect Amanda?"

"Oh, this and that, small things, interesting things, I'm-not-really-sure-what-they-are things (cue Japanese stampy things in image above), old things, I can't help myself things, and other general paraphenalia, generally described by my husband as 'junk'."

"But also old bread knives, railway china, old kitchenware, Carltonware, bottles, old signs and anything with a font on it, fabric, design books, magazines, tins, shoes, practically anything handmade, but especially beautiful hand made ceramics, dahlias, jugs, Crown Lynn mixing bowls, old teaspoons, old china, chairs, indian printing stamps, old pharmacy ephemera, cards....don't forget the general paraphenalia etc etc etc, and lately something of a predilection for light fittings & old filing cabinets."

It is only when one has to pack most of her collections up, albeit for a short time, that one wonders if she has a little problem?

What do you think?

Amanda xx

flowers & frippery

2011-04-11T15:50:00.000+12:00

Do you ever get the feeling that you may have bitten off more than you can chew?

At the time, coming up with the notion of hosting a 'flowers & frippery' workshop at the store seemed like such a brilliant idea.

Then I advertised it, thinking perhaps that if no-one showed an interest, that I could either quietly forget about it, or find a nice friendly rent-a-crowd to fill the seats.

Blow me down, we oversold it in 2 days. Even the Dominion Post thinks it could be worth 'covering'!

Well I must admit - the idea of a fabulous workshop, where I could enjoy a glass of wine, while a scintillating hostess inspired me with some floral wonders does sound positively lovely.

Until I remember with a resounding jolt, that I'm meant to be the scintillating hostess.And scintillating is not something I do well.

Thank goodness then for a co-host.

Sarah from Daisy A Day actually knows about flowers. And she's creative. She gets to talk about the flowers part. I get to fritter on about the frippery.

Now I just need to figure out what I'm frittering on about - before tomorrow night.

So you see, definitely bitten off more than I can chew.

Oh, happy monday!

Amanda xx

P.S I do love using this teapot for flowers at home. I have no idea who Miss Waddington was. But I felt sad that this beautiful teapot, which was presented to her in 1906 by the Arnold House boarders, apparently no longer had a home. I needed to give it one, and it always makes me smile!

a colour story

2011-04-06T21:36:00.000+12:00

I love this Designers Guild image showcasing fabrics from their latest Miami collection.

And not that I'm planning on six ottomans for my living room, or suggesting it for yours, but there is something about that exuberance of colour and pattern that perfectly illustrates the point that it is absolutely OK to mix fabrics together in this way.

Two patterns, two stripes, two plains.

The trick to this mix is that despite the contrasts, the fabrics all tone together. The vital links of chartreuse and pink, anchored by a little dark charcoal in the ottoman fabrics, and by the graphic black and white crayon wallpaper. And although you can't see it so well in this image, the balance of the white walls throughout the rest of this space.

And as Designers Guild do so well, a wildcard, by way of that zesty orange, which lifts everything out of the ordinary, and instantly lifts my spirits as well.

Hope your week is treating you beautifully!

Amanda xx

(image with permission Designers Guild)

what's your type?

2011-04-04T21:55:00.000+12:00

We have two old typewriters like this at the store.

My Mum reminded me that she took three of them to the dump when I helped clean out our family home 3 years ago. I feel sure that, had I known exactly what my father had laden up on his trailer that day, I would never have let this happen. In her 'younger' days, my mother was a court stenographer, so she was a bit of a whiz on a typewriter. I'd have thought she may want to keep one of her typewriters for old times sake. She was only too happy to embrace that newfound technology called a 'word-processor'.

Nonetheless, I was very pleased when I found this typewriter at an op-shop recently.

I bought it for its old-fashioned font, and printing inconsistencies, letters which jump, and some which like to position themselves half a space lower than the rest of the word.

All the little quirks that would drive any real typist crazy.

But what we really love about having it instore is the reaction we get from all our visitors as they jump on it, and remember the pre-computer days. Or, in the case of younger visitors, the most commonly asked question, after "where is the 'enter' key", is "where is the 'delete' key, because I made a mistake."

We like to leave it with a little question posed at the top of our paper.

And, spelling mistakes aside, we love reading the messages that get typed.

In response to 'make a wish', amongst world peace, winning lotto, & that the typewriter could spell, and perhaps have a new ribbon, Simon really wishes that Abby would marry him.

I hope she picked up the message.

Amanda xx

vintage or retro?

2011-03-30T23:25:00.004+13:00

I need your help.

Please look at the following images and give me your opinion.

Retro or vintage?

Vintage or retro?

Retro or vintage?

Last one. Retro or vintage?

You see, I know they're both buzz words at the moment as far as interiors go, but sometimes it is hard to define them. My team & I were having a training session the other day, and what one described as vintage, the others saw as retro. And vice versa. And can they be both? And with both terms tossed about so much, I really do want to know what you think?

To me, vintage is pre-loved, not necessarily of value, but something that I can be sentimental about.

Often chippy (to use a Melissa-ism), perfect in an imperfect way. Perhaps ripe for upcycling into a modern vintage piece with some gorgeous new fabric, like all of these.

I find 'retro' less easy to define. I can say something is 'retro-inspired' and think of the chair in the first photo. But could this also be vintage? I think of retro more as a time frame. Vintage as more time worn.

Retro is hard. Vintage is soft.

What do you think?

Amanda xx

(images all with permission of Designers Guild)

(not so) happy monday

2011-03-28T23:56:00.001+13:00

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend.

I thought, because so many of you seem to be interested, that I'd just give you a quick update on our renovations. Absolutely nothing to show you, but I am viewing the fact that the place has been totally ripped apart in a positive light. Last night in the wind I wasn't quite so sure. The tarpaulins didn't last long in the gentle Wellington breeze (ha ha), so we were just a little exposed to the elements.

Dormitory living is cosy to say the least. The girls love it. And the dog loves it. The dog vomiting beside the bed on Night 2 - not so good. In my disoriented state (because our bed has been turned around) I only narrowly avoided walking in it as I found my way to the laundry.

My little Eva is not so sure about all that is going on. We arrived home tonight to find the skip outside full of smashed up bits of pink walls. As the realisation hit Eva that her room was literally in the skip, she cried and cried. And once she got inside, and saw that all that was left of her room was one and a half walls she was distraught. She didn't want a new room anymore. She just wanted the comfort (and security) of her old room.'Why couldn't we just get a new kitchen and not do everything?' she cried.

I think that in all my excitement, I confess that I perhaps overlooked how the extent of the remodelling would affect her. Old enough to understand everything that is going on. Too young to quite take it all in.Tired and emotional. Not a good combination.

I almost promised her that pink spiral staircase - anything to try and cheer her up.
So that's the home camping report for now. So far, mostly good. Ask me again in a few weeks time!

Amanda xx

(image Designers Guild - with permission)

the art of display

2011-03-24T22:58:00.003+13:00

We've had fun this week, literally playing instore with many of our displays.

Personally, I love nothing more than working on making my store as visually enticing as possible, and I really get a kick out of it when the results are obviously enjoyed by our customers.

We were so happy to see the very beautiful o-check graphics range when it arrived on Monday.

This simple and nostalgic range of stationery from Korea gave us plenty of ideas for a window display.

I thought you may like to see the process involved in putting it together.

First, we gathered together all our props & the stationery. We wanted to recreate the same nostalgic, almost old-fashioned look and feel of this charming range with our window display.

So our props were mostly vintage too. Jo found some wonderful old clipboards in a local junk shop, and I confess that I seized the opportunity NOT to pack some of my old treasures from home, and brought them in to the store for the window instead. The cardboard packing that this range was nestled in when delivered was also salvaged for the display.

Library cards, a writing slate, japanese stamps, an old pharmacy prescription stamp, box brownie cameras - all were assembled together with the lovely o-check notebooks & journals & accoutrements.

Jo added all the little details. She is a master at this!

I may be biased, but I think the result really tells a story. And captures perfectly the o-check aesthetic - notebooks which upon creation are empty, but come alive when filled with words.

What do you think?

Amanda xx

my house my castle

2011-03-22T20:51:00.001+13:00

I'm sorry I've been off the airwaves for a couple of days.

The truth is things escalated fairly rapidly on the house renovation front. To the point where my excitement at accepting and signing off on a tender last week was tempered somewhat by the builders announcing that they were ready to start this week.

Mild panic set in when the reality of what this meant set in.

You see, we intend to 'live through' this renovation. Six months of camping out in a couple of designated rooms while everything happens around us, and move rooms when our builders tell us to do so.

I second-guessed what I thought the programme, and initial designated rooms would be.

I guessed wrong.

So, we've been packing our lives into boxes, and storing furniture for the last few days.

I have no idea how things are going to go.

I'm thinking that the novelty of all of us, including the dog, sleeping dormitory style in one room is not going to last for long!

But, I'm also so excited that things are underway at last.

I just have one question...

Why do builders start so early in the morning? (And they're so chirpy too.)

And will they cope with the vision that may greet them from time to time?

(I'm talking about Brunnel of course, not me!)

Amanda xx

P.S Still room for a vase of my beloved dahlias. The only treasures that aren't packed, and woe-betide any big builder boots that stomp on these bushes!

retail detail - trelise cooper

2011-03-17T15:03:00.003+13:00

I had the pleasure last night of being invited to the opening of the new Trelise Cooper flagship store here in Wellington. And I say pleasure with an emphasis, because I don't believe Wellington has had such a beautiful store, or such a glitterati opening night in some time. As one of my lovely clients said, and I agreed, it was such a lovely excuse to dress up, and there aren't enough events in Wellington for us to do so.

The new store is located in the Old Public Trust building on Lambton Quay, one of Wellington's most beautiful historic buildings. As I approached the store last night, I realised that the last time I had ventured inside this space it was seven years ago for a scan when I was pregnant with Eva. Believe me, all traces of this former life as a radiology clinic have long gone.

And it goes to show what a little vision and foresight can uncover.

Being the sort that notices every little detail (really I hear my friends say), there was so much to take in. Soaring chapel-like ceilings with the old beams left bare and exposed, a glimpse of beautiful Designers Guild wallpaper in each changing room, sculptured copper flowers and chandeliers, the black and white tile entrance, stunning art pieces wherever one looked, hydrangeas in shades of white, pale celadon green and pink, and of course the clothes.

Oh, the clothes. In all their layered up glory.

I wasn't the only one who thought I should just spare my credit card the trouble and chop it up there and then. After seeing Trelise's beautiful creations on tall, willowy models I also vowed that I should never eat again. Ever.

But mostly, I was just so excited. Because I think this store and all that it contains, is just so fabulous.

So, congratulations Trelise, and particularly to Penny Barnett, the clever girl with the vision to create & bring this stunning store to Wellington. I can't wait to be let loose in those dressing rooms! (Just don't tell Brunnel.)

(The Trelise Cooper Wellington Flagship Store, at 131 Lambton Quay, opens this Monday.)

Amanda xx

(P.S If you hover behind the real fashion paparazzi with your little point & shoot camera, you get some fun shots like this!)

easy breezy - quick fix no. 13

2011-03-15T23:21:00.001+13:00

A wee while ago, during one of my 'getting carried away at the auction' moments, I bought a carton of old children's books. Sight unseen, and the whole lot for $10.00.

I love old children's books, they're so quaint. No vampires or rainbow/gem fairies, just lots of jolly hockey stick school girl types having brilliant adventures and solving mysteries.

Anyway, the books in my auction carton were mostly annuals circa 1930.

After losing myself in them for a day or so, my main conclusion was that they were too lovely to just go back into the box, and some especially, deserved to be singled out for a wee project I wanted to try.

I wish I could claim to be the creative brain behind this idea, but that honour goes to the lovely Jo, whom I am very lucky to have work for me, (and also whom I'm apparently working so hard she has no time for her own blog at the moment.)

It's a case of a book shelf being exactly that - a book shelf.

OK, maybe not an instant 'quick fix' in that this fabulous little project does require the help of a metalworker, but with just a little organisation, this is a novel (pardon the pun) way to create some really great shelves, and I think they are particularly cute for kids rooms.
Choose hardbound books with nice covers. If the shelf is going to be a little higher on the wall it is also best to choose a book with a nice spine, as this is the part you'll see the most.
We also used two same size books together, which gave us a little extra strength in our shelf, and enabled us to use thinner annuals which had lovely covers.
After measuring the spine, we had our 'man of steel', Steve, make us some brackets which were bent into a u-shape that would hug the books tightly when they were pushed into the bracket. Each shelf requires two brackets. Screw the brackets into the wall, and push the book into them.

Three or four, spaced irregularly, look really great.
And are a much better idea than to let all those lovely old reads gather dust somewhere in a box.

Amanda xx

it's ab fab

2011-03-12T08:39:00.001+13:00

As Eddie from Absolutely Fabulous would say

"It's La Croix sweetie. La Croix."

Emphasis on the 'La' and 'Croix'. And so it is.

This extraordinarily beautiful, digitally printed Vuelta panel print is from the Arles fabric collection designed by Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild.

Inspired by the south of France, this collection translates the adventurous spirit of Lacroix couture into beautiful fabrics and furnishings for the home.

This floral fabric panel is designed to be hung in either direction, so that the flowers either reach for the sky or tumble down in colourful abundance.

I love how the butterflies appear to have fluttered on to the wall to enjoy the sunshine.

I hope you enjoy some sunshine yourselves this weekend!

After breaking her arm in the holidays, Eva is finally allowed to go swimming again. But only for 15 minutes according to the physio. And we're still not allowed back on our bike. But this is progress at last.

Have a lovely one!

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with the permission of Designers Guild)

happy accidents

2011-03-09T09:35:00.001+13:00

One of the most admired pieces in our new store is this little old french cot bed with its patchwork mattress.

Upon finding the cot bed at Cherry Orchard Antiques, I excitedly planned a display around it, and ordered a gorgeous new Designers Guild velvet to make the mattress cover.

However, as happens from time to time, the fabric was delayed out of the UK.

I knew time would be tight, but I also knew that the end result was worth the wait, so I decided to wait for my first choice of fabric.

An email advising a further delay had me in a bit of a panic. The store was due to reopen in just over a week's time, and the fabric wasn't remotely going to make it, and to make matters worse, I now had no time to choose a different fabric.

And so, out came my fabric offcuts and sewing machine.

It may look haphazard, but actually the patchwork was carefully planned.

I made my upholsterer a front and back panel, so that he could just cut it as if it were several metres of fabric, and I also made the patchwork gusset for the box portion of the mattress.

I limited my colour palette, but used all sorts of textures. There are silks, velvets, & embroideries in the mix of stunning Designers Guild fabrics.

Adding a little black & white into the mix is a key ingredient. It breaks up the dynamic mix of colour and pattern, and adds a new perspective. Colour is nothing without black & white.

And so the end result is spontaneous and unique.

A contemporary look for a rustic old furniture piece, using vibrant colour and texture, beautiful fabrics and an ancient sewing machine!

And as beautiful as my original choice of fabric was, I think I ended up with something that I love even more. A very happy accident!

Amanda xx

happy monday

2011-03-07T09:19:00.001+13:00

Usually my 'homework' involves one or both of my girls, a crash course in factors, fractions and division to awaken my rusty brain, a spellathon, and helping with whatever else they may be studying at school.

Yesterday, I had a little of my own to complete.

And it was a lot more fun!

You see I'm currently taking a blogging course with Holly from Decor8, which I am just loving.

Oh yes, give me a mood board assignment any day!

Here's just a portion of mine. I could have taken over the dining table without too much prodding, but attempted to show some restraint.

My inspirations are clear - to me at least. They quite possibly look awfully chaotic to anyone else. I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing, but I'm giving myself an A for this assignment!

Happy Monday!

Amanda xx

a little loveliness

2011-03-03T13:07:00.001+13:00

We have had so many people visit our store this week just to, as they put it - look at something pretty, something that will take us out of the everyday.
Particularly our current everyday.

And I know what they mean by needing something lovely to gaze upon. I'm exactly the same.
And I'm flattered that they choose Small Acorns as their 'something lovely'.
We know how lucky we are to surround ourselves with so much loveliness everyday.
And the colour in our store is so uplifting. Colour in general is so uplifting.

And these little treasures from my dahlia patch are just amazing! Absolute perfection with so much frilli-ness.
Because a little frilli-ness goes a long way at the moment too.

And I'm sorry if my blogging has been a little absent of late. Or absentminded. Or rambly (see above!)
I'll be back to my usual frilly self from now on.

Amanda xx

a higher education

2011-02-28T08:55:00.001+13:00

It has been such a grim week. No news is not good news. The television and newspaper has become compulsive viewing, but for all the wrong reasons.

And yet, life, strangely has to go on.

And amongst it all, a little 'Eva mail' to make me smile.

Her love knows no bounds - it's all the way around the university!

Amanda xx

what can one say?

2011-02-24T13:43:00.001+13:00

No matter what I do at the moment, my attention is on Christchurch.

I'm sure it is the same for the rest of New Zealand.

It is hard to reconcile going about your daily business, life as usual, when you know that only a hop, skip and a jump away, for the people of Christchurch, normal will never be the same again.

Lives literally turned upside down.

I wish I could roll my sleeves up and help, & I know many who feel the same way.

New Zealand is a small country, with a very big heart. And we all have friends and family in Christchurch.

And we're all shedding tears...and thinking of them.

Amanda xx

P.S For those of you overseas, take a look at this 'quake map', which shows you the aftershocks Christchurch has endured since the first major quake on September 4th. All 5009 of them (as I write). No, that figure is not an exaggeration.

(image Lisa Jones)

happy monday

2011-02-21T08:53:00.002+13:00

There are many many many reasons to get excited about the new seasons Designers Guild collections, and here's just one of my favourites.

I just love this gorgeous pure wool Coconut Grove floor rug. A stunning monochromatic pattern on a vibrant acacia green background.

With the dizzying prospect of some (hopefully) lovely polished wooden floors ahead, might there be a wee spot for this underfoot luxe here at my place?

(And just wait until you see the accompanying fabrics...)

Amanda xx

(image copyright & with permission Designers Guild)

pardon the pun...

2011-02-17T14:54:00.001+13:00

I've been getting my ducks in a row because I'm off to Sydney for a few days.

It has been a frantic few days, made all the more hectic because of my long weekend last weekend. Try as I might not to, I always seem to stress myself out. A mixture of everyday stuff, compounded by irrational thoughts about leaving my girls, even though I well know it's only for a few days. And although I'm not remotely scared about flying, suddenly I develop this silly mantra which goes along the lines of 'all my journeys are safe'. Plus, if ever there is a time for Brunnell and I to have an argument, on the way to the airport is probably it! Crazy stuff I know!

Once I'm on the way I'm fine, and I'll probably even have a great time once there. Bill's can expect me for breakfast tomorrow morning, and then it will be off on the trail of some great new things for the store.

I'll return next week, and everything will be hunky dory again. See you then!

In the meantime...all my journeys are safe, all my journeys are safe...

Amanda xx

P.S. Don't you love these lovely old ducks which Eva gave me for Christmas?

take a seat - may i please?

2011-02-16T08:45:00.001+13:00

Sometimes you come across a chair that is just so lovely!

This upcycled gem is the work of Dutch artist Jane Schouten.

Jane's artwork is an eclectix mix of found treasures, treasured trash and almost forgotten memories all brought together by cutting, pasting, drawing, snipping, sewing and embroidering.

I love this combination of old thrifted articles to create something so special. The patchwork of old blankets and the beautiful embroidered details.

Some people are just so clever! See more of Jane's beautiful work here...

And may I take this seat? Yes please.

If I could, I would be adding it to my collection in a heartbeat!

Amanda xx

(image Jane Schouten)

weekend wanders

2011-02-14T17:10:00.003+13:00

I've been playing hookie for a few days. Have you noticed?

Brunnel & I have been on a whirlwind tour through the South Island to attend a friends beautiful wedding in picturesque Wanaka.

To get there we drove through Middle Earth territory. Literally through the area where much of Lord of the Rings was filmed.

It is a strange thing playing tourist in your own country.

Why don't we do it more often?

I'm almost certain that we were the only kiwis around when we stopped to take these photos at Lake Tekapo. And the photos don't remotely do justice to the truly spectacular scenery. And I'm not even being biased! It is spectacular.

There is something quite special about seeing your own country through another's eyes.

It makes you open your own much wider!

Amanda xx

P.S The long drive gave us the chance to 'discuss' our house renovations some more. Lets just say the tender was a little 'over budget'. Over both budgets unfortunately. But with a little debate, a little chopping here and there & everywhere, I'm still confident that things will go ahead. Thanks for all your comments. I'll keep you posted!
Oh, and Happy Valentines Day!

my house my castle update

2011-02-08T08:40:00.000+13:00

Remember this little treasure? My (only slightly exaggerated) house depiction.

Well things have progressed since then.

No, don't get too excited - I am not about to suddenly 'reveal' something wonderful.

Truth be told, the house has continued to barely stand up.

Ah, but I think today, what just might be revealed, is the results of the tenders on our proposed renovation.

I still say proposed, because lets face it - if the tender comes in at $XXXX instead of $XXX, there will be no renovation. Quite possibly there would be a divorce instead.

I have been trying to get Brunnel's head around the cost of this renovation all summer. Don't get me wrong - we have always had a budget that we're working to. But then there is the question of what happens when you put all your ideas in to the ring, and the cost of those ideas. And there is the reality of working with a house that is much tireder (is there such a word?) than appearances would suggest. So no, you can't see that we have two-tooth borer (yes, there is apparently such a variety!), and need to replace all the piles. You can hear that the roof is barely hanging on, it flaps around so much in the wind. You can see that not much guttering is left. You may not realise that one whole side of the exterior is rotten. Unless you pull up the mould-ridden carpet in the bathroom (oh yes, we have that much style!) you may not see the mould-ridden floor underneath. But the reality is that we are almost building a new house, and there is much to be done that won't even be noticable, but adds to the cost.

So I chopped a few things off the plan to make savings. I still can't understand why Brunnel was so upset at losing his barbecue shed!

Anyway, today is hopefully the day. Cross fingers for both of us - especially as it's Brunnel's birthday too.

He has a figure in his head. I have a different one in mine.

And the two somehow have to meet...

Amanda xx

crockery of distinction

2011-02-07T10:39:00.001+13:00

There would be few kiwis who haven't grown up eating off Crown Lynn crockery. And now, this iconic New Zealand brand, which commenced production in 1929 and ceased operation in 1989, is being celebrated in a fabulous exhibition - Crown Lynn: Crockery of Distinction at the City Gallery here in Wellington.

I loved the exhibition - it is a potted collection of the company's history and output, as seen through the eyes of some special collections and those who have collected them.

Everything seems 'strangely familiar', and as you listen to other exhibition goers in the gallery, you hear constant cries of 'Nana had that pattern', 'Aunty So-and-so had that'.

My own love affair with Crown Lynn revolves around the monogrammed ware produced for numerous New Zealand institutions. In particular I collect New Zealand Railways china, which was first produced by Crown Lynn in the early 1940's. Crown Lynn produced almost 300,000 pieces of this china each year, but as it was apparently a ritual to throw it gleefully from the train carriage windows whenever a bridge or viaduct was in sight, very little of it survives intact today, and the NZR monogram is increasingly hard to find.

If nothing else, this exhibition acknowledges that there are many different Crown Lynns to different people, and some of the individual collections are quite amazing.

The exhibition is on until April 25th. If you have the chance to go and see it, you must.

Amanda xx

P.S I was also quite pleased to confirm that my favourite white vase, rescued from obscurity in my Mother's laundry, is an Ernest Shufflebotham hand-potted. As Mum said, she only kept it because it was her mothers.

Fashions change.