Eye-Spy

Yeahhh we have a new weekly game to play!

thanks Cindy for starting Eye-Spy

'Eye-Spy: What I want for Christmas'

Carla Coulson's new book 'Paris Tango' - it looks SO good!

I love big coffee table style books that show beautiful places, faces and inspring images!

I have Carla's other book 'Italian Joy'

and its one of my favourites,

so yes, this is what I want for Christmas (ive been good Santa!)

Carla also has a blog - go say Hi, she's lovely!!

we had Peter's 6th birthday party yesterday - rain and children's parties do not mix

Ughhh!! i spent the day cleaning the house!! back to work tommorow so i can relax!

For more 'Eye-Spy' posts go visit Cindy to see who is playing along!

a whisper of colour....

lately im finding myself drawn to pastel hues...from my new Ikea dinner plates to the palest of pink nailpolish on my nails...
very soft, always feminine...
this beautiful image in an old issue of
Vogue inspired the two greeting cards I made yesterday....whispers of colour....

what shades of colour
are you loving right now? Id love to hear....

*top image by Tim Walker

for British Vogue

a little boy turns 6....

happy birthday to my darling Peter,

he turned 6 today!!!

wow! cant believe he is 6 already....

i stayed up last night making cupcakes, did some ironing whilst they cooled down, then frosted and

decorated them for him to take to school today

to share with his classmates...

he woke up very happy & excited and went straight to the growth chart that hangs on his bedroom wall to see if

being 6 meant growing overnight ...

haha...so sweet!

My darling boy I love you with all my heart and more!

*image illustrated by Joan Walsh Anglund found on Flickr.com*

Food festive food....

Look who is planning Christmas menus.....I love baking and fussing during the
festive season!
i get so inspired by Con Poulos images,
he collaborates with
Donna Hay on her magazines and books
- everything always look SO good...
wouldnt it be great to work on a food
publication, im sure they get to eat it all afterwards - you wouldnt want to be counting calories ...
* all images
by Con Poulos

Flock to it!

Come see my new birdy tags

in my little shop!

ive only got one set available but plan to make more in different colours and patterns!

they are hand cut by me and are double thickness of cardstock and decorative papers so quite thick and sturdy! a simple & cheap way to spruce up your parcels....

Hey the sun is out in Sydney today...do i stay home and do washing or head out to take advantage of this FAB weather!?

Counting down...

6 days until my Peter turns 6!

11 days until his birthday party - invites sent but nothing planned yet!! Eeek!!!

32 days until Neo turns 4!

36 days until Christmas (is that right? cant be!!!)

43 days until a brand new year!!

43 days until my birthday....

62 days until our Summer holiday ( waaahhh...that still sounds SO far away - i need a break now!!)

ive had such a busy week so far and looks like the rest of the year is going to be non-stop with Christmas parties, Christmas picnics and my Uncle is even having a huge 60th in 3 weeks time!!

I hope to catch up with this lovely girl

soon as well before she leaves for the UK!

its going to be a busy few weeks ahead....

tommorow Im home so hope to catch up with you all on your lovely blogs!

now Im off to bed!

* image from Emporium magazine*

This is...my favourite things from nature

* fragrant flowers especially jasmine and gardenias

* birds singing- do you take the time to listen?

* spider webs, so delicate and very beautiful!

* wind through your hair and rain on your face

* sunrise and sunset

* twinkling stars on a black velvet sky

* listening to crashing waves against beach rocks

so many many more - we need to stop and observe, listen, smell and see the beauty thats all around us!!

thanks to Cloth and Fodder for a wonderful theme this week and to Angela for hosting 'This is' each week!

*image by Jessie Wilcox Smith via Flamencourt

My Island Home....

what a gorgeous picture from a scene of the upcoming movie

'Australia'

I dont know about you but

i cant wait to see it...not long to go now with its release on 26th November!

Im loving all the 'outback' inspired fashions in the latest mags too!

Australiana chic!!

*Top image from

Vogue Living Australia

via Villa Anna

*all other images from

Instyle Australia magazine

A little thrifting

part of my bookbinding

course is learning to repair an old book so what a great excuse to do some thrift shopping...on Friday I met my friend Patty for a quick coffee and afterwards off I went in search of a tattered book but look what else I found?

a 60's clutch purse full of faux pearl necklaces - all mine for just $3.00! beautiful shades of lusture...pretty pretty!

i also found some sweet childrens books - darling illustrations that make me smile! a good thrifting day it was!!

Just wanted to say 'Thank you, thank you...' for all your warm, wonderful comments about my Etsy shop, your encouragement and support is just the BEST!!!!!!

This is my favourite Quote(s)....
way too many beautiful, thoughtful quotes out there!

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."
~Helen Keller ( i was obsessed with the Helen Keller story as a young girl)

"Be the change you want to see in the world."-Ghandi

"Don't point a finger, lend a hand"

"Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier." –anonymous

To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are."

"Fall down seven, stand up eight"
Japanese proverb

thanks to Strawberry Kisses for this week's
'This is' suggestion!
*image via Wicked Halo on Flickr

A Celebration

Im still reeling from the happiness of yesterday - what happened in America was amazing!! a moment for all to be proud ...i stayed up way too late watching CNN and had tears of joy
watching the speeches and ecstatic people...

So today I celebrate a little myself, by
opening my Etsy shop!
finally!! Yeahhhh! (still adding stuff as I type this....)
ive been talking about it for SO long...im scared but super excited too!!

Come have a look at
Percival
Road Designs - would love to hear your comments, any tips and advice...we're all here to help one other and Id appreciate any advice!!

Lollishops
will also be opening at the end of this month too so Im busy crafting, creating and
having a good old time!!!
Hugs,
Anastasia
x

A Small World

My sister sent me a text this morning - today they are spending the day at

Disneyland!!
how exciting...

what fun for my

little nieces!

it doesn't matter what beautiful landmarks or architecture you see on your travels,

kids will be kids...I think this will be the

highlight of Stephanie and Styliana's trip!

and rightly so!

its a small world after all!

I remember as a kid sitting down every

Sunday night at 6.30pm to watch

'The Wonderful World of Disney'...

what I loved the most was when they'd feature the park with its magical castle, fun rides, special characters - my sister and I wanted to go SO badly...I did get there many many years later and I had the best time....i have lots of silly photos of me hugging Pooh, Minnie, Pluto ...posing at Mikey's house in 'Toontown' and Andrew happily posing with Ariel the mermaid - silly boy! silly us!
Its magic for all ages!

*Vintage Disneyland photo (how cute is that!!!!!) found on Flickr.com

This is ....a favourite recipe Id like to share

Greek Yoghurt Dip

my parents had us over for a BBQ today - they are off to Darwin for a week so was nice to catch up with them before they leave!

I love this garlicky dip, its perfect with lamb or any grilled meat!

*Grate 3 cucumbers - sprinkle with salt and refrigerate for half an hour

*remove from fridge and drain the liquid well, you can even squeeze the cucumber with washed hands if you prefer.

* In a bowl add the cucumber, 500g of thick Yoghurt, 3 cloves garlic (more or less as you prefer - i love garlic), good pinch of dried mint, splash of olive oil.

* Mix well and put in your dip bowl, you can

add more olive oil and dried mint on top for presentation. So good! so easy!!

Thanks to Angela for this week's topic!!