My first day of not working on a Wednesday yesterday...and did I read books, flop around drinking tea...flick through the mountain of magazines still waiting to be devoured? Nope. Of course not. I cleaned the chandeliers with the chandelier fairy (they look awesome), went looking at fabrics for cushion covers yet to be made...and scored six dining chairs at Vinnies (which of course need to be painted and reupholstered...nothing is ever straightforward around here)...but boy am I a happy little part-time worker! And the other thing I did, of course, was put this lot together. Enjoy!

by erin's art and gardens

See how there's some cunning colour grouping going on in the collaging..

via cornflake and the diversion project

...that's because I like you

via ada and darcy and little blue deer

because I care...

via brabourne farm and chinoserie chic

The grey's an aberration for me...but I just couldn't go past that chandelier...and having done a bit of chandelier cleaning yesterday...well, it was the proverbial no-brainer really...and it is a beautiful room...

via greige

and this, I feel, is country kitchen personified...how long do you reckon it would have taken to line all those jugs up properly?

via la maison boheme

...and I think if there was any profession I'd like to have (if I didn't have the one I've got of course) it would be a food stylist/photographer...this is the work of deb kaloper (via the design files for the full interview and more stunning pics)

...and, in memory of Marija...who I didn't know well but who was kind enough to hit the follow button here...and who's blog I always loved to visit...blessings to your family who must be feeling so lost...

via holding court

When I saw this I knew I had to post it...

If you haven't seen this site before, you must go and have a look. Leah Dieterich posts a thank you note a day, on anything and everything. They are a delight. Really. Do yourself a very big favour if you haven't already. And I do believe there may be a book in the offing for her as well. Hope she gets to read that one!

I wish I'd written that little note to myself because it's just how I feel about these...not that I'm a slow reader...I'm just not giving myself the time these days...

And there are more...this is just the neat pile! And this one came home with me today...an apple for the teacher...oh groan, I'm lame sometimes!

And then...on the same day that I found the thank you note post, this post from homelove, the blog of stylist majestic, Megan Morton...pointing me in the direction of this tumblr site...bookshelf porn...oh yes it is! Not in the least bit sleazy though I assure you...

And if that wasn't enough on the book front, Ann at My Villa Life has this great idea on her site for keeping herself on track with her book reading...a list on the sidebar of what she's just read, what she's reading now and what she intends to read. She said I could steal it...so I have, because it's an awesome idea. Here's hers...

If you haven't visited Ann's blog please do. She's a great writer and tells really good stories about her new(ish) life living in Auckland...her third country in four years. Impressive!

Are you like me? Has your reading gone waaaaay downhill since you started blogging? I love books and I need to make more time for them. Get my reading mojo back. How about you?

It's been a very long time since I've had the paints out bloggy peeps! Too long. So I thought I'd start with something very simple...to ease me back into it...if you know what I mean.
A friend of mine became a grandmother last week, so I thought I'd make something for her new grandson...

I wanted to give the message that every baby is unique...

different in their own special way...

'like no other' in fact...

It's a very imperfect 'painting' I know (soooo out of practice) but I like the design...and I'll be working on it...perhaps I'll use watercolours next time...

Now I'm just waiting for someone to have a daughter so I can make a girly version...butterflies I'm thinking...
Oh, and you won't believe the plotting and planning I've done for the etsy shop...even bought a new sewing machine. Whoa...my first 'day off' Wednesday is looking jam packed already! But for now I'd better go and wrap this up and send it off!
Hope your week has started well...and once again, because I can't say it too much or too often...thank you so much for all your lovely comments and incredible support. It means heaps! It really does.

This might seem like an odd 'soul food friday' post...seeing they're the ones where I usually get all philosophical on you! But it's kind of like that...because while these pictures are of my friend Susan's wonderful house at the beach, where Richard and I have just spent a few days... it's mostly about making changes. And generosity. I'll let Susan tell you her story...with just a little Q&A and a few editorial comments by moi...just can't help myself!

Why have your home at the coast when you have a full time job in Canberra? (roughly a two hour drive away over a particularly difficult mountain and therefore not a daily commute bloggy peeps!) 
I have long held the desire to return to live by the sea;  I was born by the sea and lived by it as a child.  Canberra provides me with the income to live my dream; it's a trade off.  The drive twice a week is usually fairly easy and I enjoy the scenery and sometimes I have the option to stop at one or two of the lovely country towns along the way. I am a glass half full person. I have the best of both worlds; a stimulating work, social and cultural environment in Canberra and the beauty of the environment and the gifts of small community living by the sea.

What does the name you've given your house signify to you? 
Toujours Libre - 'Always Free'.  I found the name in a beautiful book about French country houses.  Freedom is such an enormously wonderful thing;  freedom to think, freedom to be, freedom to express myself creatively, freedom to sit and watch the waves for hours and then all the great freedoms that living in a democracy brings, especially an Australian democracy (led by a strong woman PM) [K: go Julia]:) 

What gives you the most pleasure about Toujours Libre? 
Coming home at the end of the week to see its smiling face; my garden growing, a wave from the neighbours. I always, always drive by the beach to see the sand, rocks and the waves.

[That's Murphy the talking cat...much nicer and slightly less annoying than the vampire slayer...]

What was your inspiration for making the changes you made? 
I like a challenge!  I had been talking and talking about the idea of living at the coast and working in Canberra for a long long time.  My family and friends were a bit over hearing me talk about it [K: no really, we weren't] so I thought I had better do something about it.  The inspiration was getting clear about what I wanted and finding it and then selling my Canberra property for a good price - the $$ enabler.

Would you do anything differently? 
I'm still not sure about the blue house colour.  Unlike you my dear [K: who, me!!] I think I might be a bit afraid of colour, or rather too much colour.  I am a very peace loving person and love the effect of a neutral palette in a home. [K: I won't mention the raspberry colour sofa you once owned then?? And I love the blue...it's so surprising when you walk inside and see all the pale colours as a contrast]

This was what it looked liked before Susan moved in and worked her magic. Eek!
What's next? 
To enjoy the next summer.  I have more vegetable gardens to make and I want to put in a fitted wardrobe in the dressing room/study, with a whole floor to ceiling rack for shoes.  This is very funny as I live in rubber thongs [flip flops] almost all year round.  I have way too many shoes [K: I'm saying nothing!] although I have culled a lot.  I also want to renovate the laundry to make it more serviceable and neater.  I want to be able to use it as a butler's pantry when I have friends and family around - which, blessings, is often.

So, there you go. A woman who made a dream come true. And best of all...for those of us lucky enough to know this lovely person...she shares it with us. Lovingly and generously. Thank you my friend.

Richard earning his our keep!

And to you lovely people...have a wonderful weekend when you get there. I'm going to be plotting and planning for my very first four day work week...hooray and a happy dance!
all images by me except the dodgy before shots...no-one's claiming credit for those.
...and the artworks you see are all by local artists (I think). If you want to know any of the details send me a message and I'll find out for you.

Bloody heck...it's been a veritable top 10 pic overload this week. Whittling down to the required number has been...how shall I say...problematic. So let me start you off with the whole black, white and pink thing I love so much...with a few other brights thrown in for good measure...

via the decorista

It's like I've been on a photo binge...which I guess is safer than any other type...

via apartment therapy

I'm going with all the brights and bolds first ok..?

via belle maison

because once a boho...always a boho I'm afraid...

via heidi claire

no changing me now...

via bargain hoot

but never fear...the soothing neutrals are here for you too...

via a room for everyone

they're lovely as well...just not so much 'me'...

via driftwood interiors

although I could be tempted...

via lou, boo's and shoes

and some beautiful outdoor shots as well, taken by two very talented bloggers...

by vicki archer at french essence

by dash at french sampler

...and now I'm going to be completely self indulgent and show you a photo I styled and took at my friend's house down the coast...a little teaser for tomorrow's post!

by me

I think I feel a little still-life painting moment coming on...!!

Hi bloggy peeps, from the beautiful south coast of New South Wales. I'm having a few internet connection problems, so I hope this works...a very quick picture post to let you know what you're missing out on!

And the ever so wonderful Richard...man of my dreams...is currently slaving away in the kitchen making me a beautiful birthday dinner...there is a main course but it went in the oven before I could capture it! I'm a lucky woman!

I made a big decision this week. In fact, I'd made it in my head some time ago. But on Monday I turned it into a reality.  And it was a decision well and truly fueled by my entry into blogging. It was a decision inspired by so many of you, and the things you do, but especially by this woman, who has been so kind and encouraging...the exceptional Mariska from I used to be snow white but I drifted...who turned her artistic dream into a reality.

So, my decision. It may not seem monumental, but it is to me. You see, I decided that I would work four days a week from 12 July. As part owner of a business this was a hard decision. But I am going to use the extra day to create. And even better...with friends I've found through blogging, and with a friend I've had for a long time who doesn't blog...we are going to open an online store. The bloggers will probably be known to many of you who visit here, but I'm not saying who just yet...we need to finalise quite a few details first and there's a bit more to do (we may need some left brained process person to help us!!).
But...I just want to tell you how excited I am. I want to say that no matter how old you are (and I'm having another birthday next week...crumbs they come around quickly!)...no matter what the circumstances of your life ...you can make good changes...choices of the heart and not the bank balance...you can, as the picture says, be free to fly. 
The MGM (most gorgeous man for those not in the know) and I are off to the coast for a few precious days together on Sunday, so I may have a short blogging break...or not! We'll be staying at a friend's gorgeous house at the beach so I'll be sure to take some photos to share with you.
Thank you for all your wonderful comments this week; thank you to new readers and big hugs to all of you. That was all a bit schmaltzy and soppy wasn't it? Don't worry, I'll be back to normal soon:)
ist image from here; 2nd from Mariska's place