Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

(Over)indulging in my favorite things



Unbelievably, the weeks have sped by and I must confess that I've been overindulging in pretty much all my favorite things. Crafting, reading books and magazines, decorating, shopping the thrifts, spending time outdoors. Not much time on the computer as some of you might have noticed. I always forget how much more time I need to devote to the kiddos in the summertime. But I do plan to get busy with my camera this week since I have a few things I'd like to show you.

Meanwhile, do meander over to the latest issue of the online Australian magazine papier mache. Their latest edition is devoted to all things deco. It contains many pretty images and much to be inspired by in interviews with creative artists and others. The home shown in the photo above belongs to Barbara Hvidt, a Danish mom and co-founder of a beautiful children's label (Soft Gallery). I love the relaxed and stylish look that her living room exudes.

I hope you're indulging in more than a few of your favorite things as well.

Hugs,

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Visually inspiring online kids' magazine

The online magazine papier mache is billed as a "very cute children's magazine," but the Australian publication goes well beyond being just cute. It is full of visual inspiration that comes by way of dreamy images of handmade goods, art, fashion and design.

Here's my favorite image from issue three of papier mache, just out this weekend:


The image is part of a feature on dollmaker Jess Brown, an artist based in Petaluma, Calif., whose website says she first started making dolls 11 years ago. She used old cashmere sweaters and bits from antique textiles to make dolls for her children. What fortunate kids to have such a creative and resourceful mom!

You can check out the latest issue of the online magazine papier mache here. It's produced by a team of four based in Sydney, Australia.


Also, the decor8 blog had a fabulous round-up of other online magazines in a post last week. You can find that round-up here. I spent way too much time ogling, er, reading design mag Lonny, crammed with many shots of beautifully styled homes. Believe me, it's an online decor magazine well worth a visit. Find it here.

Let me know if you know of any others out there.

Happy reading!


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A lovely handmade gift from Australia

My dear blog friend Tina Rubie, who blogs from Australia, sent me the most exquisite handmade gift.



It is a French linen heart that traveled a long way to remind me of a special woman who has been an inspiration to me in so many ways since we met in the blogosphere. I was one of three lucky recipients of a giveaway on her blog, Rubie's Place, a few weeks ago. Tina is such a sweetheart that she monogrammed my initial and even gave me a choice of red or blue thread. I chose red, of course, since it is one of my favorite colors.



Here is the hand-sized heart on an antique basket in my living room, where I placed it shortly after receiving it yesterday. I plan to fill it with lavender and place it on my bedside or on my desk.

Tina, the mother of three beautiful girls, is studying to become a primary school teacher. She has been such an inspiration to me in so many ways. She is an incredibly talented and generous soul, who has shared on an almost daily basis the details of her home renovating and decorating projects. I just adore looking at photos of her home, which is filled with warmth and personality. The French linen heart is just one of many, many projects that she has shared with her readers.

Do check out her blog if you can. You are likely to become enamored of all of Tina's beautiful creations.



A warm thank you to Tina for making me such a beautiful gift.




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Inspiring mamas 'round the world



Bouncing around on the Web from blog to blog the past couple of years, I've found kinship and inspiration from so many bloggers.

The blogging community seemed so creative and nurturing that I decided to start my own blog. It was a venture I had been thinking about for months, fine tuning it in my head, waiting for just the right moment to launch it. Then, Holly Becker of decor8 announced her plans to teach an e-course on blogging. I was one of the lucky 200 or so to enroll out of the more than 800 bloggers who wanted in. I'm not surprised so many would want to learn from Holly, whose blog has 950,000 readers each month! She is an endless source of inspiration, with her numerous daily posts containing beautiful, dreamy images of her design finds along with special features like a series on creativity.

The only requirement for the month-long e-course was that I had to have a blog. So with Holly's gentle nudging, I launched Mama Without Borders at the same time that her e-workshop began last month. Let me tell you, Holly worked all of us hard. She had us listen to her "lectures" on podcasts, post our homework for all our classmates to see, form a critique group, and so forth. But Holly did more than provide us with the nuts and bolts of running an effective blog. With stories of her own path toward success, she encouraged each of us to look deep within ourselves to discover what will feed our soul on our journey as bloggers.

With that in mind, I would like to honor today five mamas, all fellow students in Holly's course, whose blogs are inspiring me with images of all kinds of creativity from around the world. Reading over their blogs tonight has made me feel like I've been on a wondrous trip, much like opening a cupboard full of goodies. I hope you enjoy their blogs as much as I do:


sam's notebook: Sam, mom to a two-year-old daughter, is an Australian living in Malmö, Sweden who posts lovely images of all that inspires her, including this Swedish Gustavian 18th century secretaire.



kireei: Cristina Grascamarena, a professor who has a son, writes this blog along with three other parents who live in Spain. Their blog is a "catalogue of beautiful things" from all over the world, including artwork from an Australian artist who uses pencils as his canvas.



hardakerandpope: Two mothers from the Cotswolds in England who combine their creativity to document everything from their love of rubber stamps to tea parties they host. Sarah, one of the mothers, is also a designer who makes wallcoverings, pillows and other items from fabrics she designs for her company Sarah Hardaker Ltd.



bondville: Stephanie Bond, who has a young daughter, blogs about Australian art, design and products, such as this flocked ampersand cushion.


littlehendesigns: This is written by a "self-proclaimed crafter and do-it-yourselfer" who writes about her ideas, projects and bargain finds. Below is the nursery that this talented mom designed for her son, featuring a tree she painted herself.


I would also like to mention fellow bloggers in the class who took the time to critique my blog:
doodlebuds, mamaloves, moorethanamom: blaubeermund, she & helix.

Image credits:
Top photo of world cupboard: Desire to Inspire;
secretaire by Appley Hoare Antiques via samsnotebook;
blue-and-red cushions by hardakerandpope;
ampersand cushion Aunty Cookie Etsy shop via bondville;
nursery by Little Hen Designs.