"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

I can't believe we are so close to Christmas.  I am going to do a post tomorrow for a Christmas Eve  post but I just wanted to say hello to everyone and I have been so busy and I am so sorry but I wish everyone a truly beautiful Christmas. 

This picture is from our front verandah when a storm was imminent.  We are currently experiencing extreme weather conditions and have had huge amounts of rain with terrible flooding.  It is expected that we will have a very wet, blustery Christmas Day which is very unusual for Queensland unless a traditional wet season is forecast.  Normally at this time of year we have 36 degree celius days so we can go swimming at night!  I am so sorry I have not posted for so long but I have been so busy.  I have more beautiful pictures to show you and I will but I just wanted to say ..... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!   Soon the bells will chime....

Gorgeous Christmas tree in Queens Plaza shopping centre in Brisbane ... love the silver and blue!

Louis 15th has Arrived!

These little cupcakes we had to celebrate the arrival of my beautiful Louis 15th style sofa circa 1910 from Karina in New Orleans.  This is quite remarkable .... New Orleans to Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia!

This beautiful lady and her ladies in waiting arrived in timber framed boxes and as the photos show .... we peeled back the layers to reveal the beauty within that had travelled so far to come home to me.  Karina and I have been talking at length about this and I now am the "Keeper of History" of these beautiful pieces and I so cherish that honour.  I do not undertake this lightly .... for me antiques and history are the footprint of life and we need to cherish and nurture that what has come before us.  Karina always knows this and she has entrusted to me these beautiful pieces.  I remember saying to Karina "It is a long journey down under but I believe our beautiful lady will be happy with me because I will look after her and cherish her!"

Please enjoy these pictures and just think for one moment .... this Louis sofa is 100 years old .... who has sat on her before, what secrets has she heard and what style and grace she carries forth!

 Unwrapping the gauze .....  and a special present which lies within .........

Karina sent to me wrapped in the folds of the gorgeous salon chairs a beautiful gift which I will cherish forever...... I know now that we will be eating our Christmas Plum Pudding with these gorgeous silver spoons ..... I will definitely feel like Marie Antoinette!  Thank-you Karina for such a beautiful gift!

Coming out of the Box .....

My beautiful Louis sofa at home finally.....

Sheer Heaven!

This is the home of Maleiah and Ryan Rogers ......

            
                Simply stunning ....... definitely my cup of tea .....

Gorgeous Marie from Classic Style in the City posted this recently and I just had to share as it is so my style  ... LOVE IT!

I am in Brisbane at the moment but have lots to share .... some of my client's work will be posted soon as will my recent arrival of my stunning Louis sofa from Karina .... can't wait ...

Chocolate Cake Recipe

This is my chocolate cake recipe for Karina ..... this is the one I did for Geogiana's birthday and Karina said she would like to try it so I thought I might as well just post it and then everyone can have it!
It is from a "Donna Hay" recipe book but I just made some modifications ......


Require~
2 x 20cm cake tins
300g (10 oz) dark cooking chocolate, chopped
375g (12 oz) butter, chopped
6 eggs
1.5 cups caster sugar
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 cups self-raising flour
half a cup of cocoa powder

Pre-heat oven to 140 degree C or 280 degree F.  Stir the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth.  Set aside.  Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer until creamy and thick.  Fold in the chocolate mixture.  Sift the flour and cocoa over the top and gently fold through.

Line the tin with non-stick baking paper (grease thinly with butter first).  Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the cake is cooked when tested with a knife in the middle.  It may take a little longer or shorter but just keep checking.  Allow to cool the cake in the tin. 

To serve ~
Whip 300g fresh thickened cream with one teaspoon vanilla extract and about one tablespoon of icing sugar.  Whip in an electric mixer until peaks form.  Serve on a cake stand ...... place one of the cakes on the bottom with the crust top face down and put a layer of thick cream on the top.  Then place the other cake on top with the crust face up.  Dust liberally with icing sugar and decorate to whatever you like.  I generally use rose petals and place them around the edge of the cake stand as well and then serve with strawberries or blueberries!  I hope you enjoy it!

Details for not too many Dollars!

I just wanted to share some details of the party we had for Georgiana last week-end.  Her party with her little friends we had on Saturday ..... I got these beautiful pink spotted cups and old-fashioned green-striped straws from "Details Details" in Brisbane and Siobhan was so helpful .... remember drinking milkshakes on the odd occasion for a treat and you had it in an icy cold silver metal milk shake tall cup all frothy and then you drank the magic liquid through one of these stripy straws .... how exciting our children can have that experience as well ....

I set the party table up with one of my linen cloths, a flower arrangement of peonies and roses ... green spotted napkins with pink stripe plates also from Details Details ...

The gorgeous footed vessels containing the yummy pink chocolate beans are from "Sharnel Dollar Designs" in Brisbane .... Sharnel also has the bunting for hire which is so pretty and creates an instant party feel for very little effort ...

Of course we had to have princess balloons and I got them locally .... the cute pink and aqua pom poms I just scattered around the ground for a whimsical fun look .... they came from "Donna Hay" in Sydney .....

The pom poms come flat and are easy to post anywhere and then you just make them up ... Georgiana helped with these and she loved it.....

Princess party bags of course .....

One for each of the princesses .... I wrote their names on the bags and it is lovely to see that something so simple makes them so happy ... a party bag with your name on it to take home full of exciting treats and sweets .....

Dominic and his friend, Reilly, were lifeguards on duty for pool watch .... they were free!!!!!! (Had to give them food though to maintain their strength...... )

I made Georgiana's favourite chocolate cake .... again (I had to make one Thursday night as well for her real birthday when we had family over ...) so I actually remembered it without having to look at the recipe book which never usually happens ...

Dusted with icing sugar and scattered with rose petals ....

The little girls had a wonderful time and one I know Georgiana will always remember .... friendship and love and just laughing, giggling and playing and celebrating life .....

http://www.sharneldollardesigns.com.au/
http://www.detailsdetails.com.au/

Happy Birthday My Princess!

Happy, happy Birthday to my beautiful "Princess". Georgiana was born on the 11th of November 2002 .... something so special that we thought would never happen.  We had two beautiful boys and then we had our princess.
Georgiana's name comes from the Duchess of Devonshire in the 18th century.  This ethereal picture above was taken by a great friend of my niece, Rachael.  Rachael then arranged to have it placed on canvas for Georgiana's 8th birthday.   Here she is flying a kite on the beach in full flight ...... 

Alexander and Dominic giving Georgiana a "Sandwich Kiss" for her birthday!

Party of Five ..... The Russells.... Georgiana's Birthday!

Georgie and Franny

I am so lucky to have my princess and my beautiful boys .... chocolate cake for the party ....

Second cousin Henry helping Georgiana unwrap presents .... he is the coolest little dude ever .....

My beautiful neice, Rachael (Henry's Yummy Mummy) with Georgie ......

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Girl ....... Beautiful Balloons from Pat and Cath!

I never thought I would have a daughter and I am truly blessed to have been given this angel ....... my beautiful sons and wonderful husband who I adore and admire immensely make me realize how lucky and fortunate I am.  Thank-you ... you complete me.....

150th Anniversary of The Melbourne Cup!

 The 150th anniversary of the running of the iconic Melbourne Cup was celebrated here yesterday in Australia!  The famous race that "stops a nation" was won by none other than a beautiful French horse called "Americain"!  Here he is nearly 3 lengths in front winning and victorious with the jockey Gerald Mosse giving a kiss of victory!  Americain was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre who was somewhat overcome with his incredible win. 

I am so happy that a French horse won especially with a name like "Americain".  Once again the links between us all are so close ..... France is famous for so many wonderful things that make life special like..... the iconic Hermes fashion house that uses equestrian icons and themes for many of its pieces .....

 and of course my favourite champagne "Belle Epoque" produced by the champagne house Perrier-Jouet.  This beautiful champagne has hand-painted flowers on the front and is absolutely exquisite ....

 and what would champagne be without a beautiful double brie and French stick .....

 and something sweet .....France has also given the world macarons .... which are divine, delicious and delectable .....

This gorgeous champagne bar in the Harvey Nichols flagship store in London was inspired by the gorgeous "Belle Epoque" bottle .... how perfect and the colours are so gorgeous .... everything they do they do to perfection and it is the attention to detail that I love and so admire.

Rachael and myself off to the big day .....  I didn't back the winner and I was so sorry but never mind it is all in the spirit of the day.  What other Tuesday can you get dressed up, sip gorgeous champagne, eat a lavish lunch and bet on the most magnificent animals in the world.... only on Melbourne Cup day!  I should have had a premonition because I had been talking to Karina earlier in the day about my antique French sofa arriving soon here to me and I should have put it together .... talking to Karina who is American and my sofa which is French!  Never mind there is always next year!

Andrew even managed to get half of the day which is unheard of for him as he usually works huge days and rarely arrives home early.. so we were lucky to be able to spend it together and it was also my brother's birthday so if was a day full of celebration!

              Champagne bar based on Belle Epoque .....

              
                More gorgeous French pastries from Laduree ......

Congratulations Americain on winning the

150th Melbourne

Cup!

images by Google, Perrier Jouet, Laduree, Hermes, Harvey Nichols and my own.