Raspberry Doors, Exquisite Artwork and Lavender Cupcakes!

I just had to share this with you .... this is a lovely client and best friend of mine's new business door!  We have been working on the design and interiors for some weeks and it is starting to come together perfectly!  We have gone for gorgeous grey and a raspberry door for the exterior and perfect pink walls inside .... coupled with a gorgeous Designers Guild wallpaper and a sparkling chandelier!

This business is very special and very beautiful to my friend Becky ..... the store is called "Victoria Grace" and will be a beautiful respite filled with gorgeous Crabtree and Evelyn products and exquisite home and giftwares!  The name is coined from two of Becky's three daughters .....  Sophie is the oldest and works with me in my interior design business and I feel a very talented and special young lady .... Sophie said to her Mum "I don't mind not being in the name as I feel it is important to have Victoria and Grace in it."  Grace is Becky's youngest daughter and she is 16 and an absolute doll.  Victoria, who died as a baby, would have been the second girl.  So it is so special for this shop and this name ..... "Victoria Grace".  Both Sophie and Grace are beautiful young ladies and I know that Becky is so proud of them! 

Here is our glittering chandelier .....

                   The stunning Designers Guild wallpaper ......

      Stay tuned for the opening it is going to be gorgeous!

and then I just wanted to show these amazing pieces of artwork which I thought were just beautiful ...... acrylic on canvas with I think a water glaze or drip ... to create the abstract feel .....

These pieces are called "the Bellas" by Melinda Musco and I think they are absolutely exquisite ....  I am looking at one of them for a client and one of them for my home ...

and then I just had to share these beautiful cupcakes which my gorgeous friend Tonya baked for Georgiana and myself ...

She is the most amazing lady and the cupcakes were "Divine, Delicious and Delectable" and perfect for Marie Antoinette herself!  Tonya's son Riley has just moved in with our Dominic into an apartment in Brisbane so we are sharing the sadness but also celebrating the joy!!!!! 

St. Valentine's Day!

Happy St. Valentine's Day ..... there are varied thoughts on the origin of St. Valentine but the main theory is that he was a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity and died on February 14th 269 A.D.  Legend says that St. Valentine left a note for the jailor's daughter, signed from "Your Valentine" ......

So on this Valentine's Day ..... sample a Laduree confection...

Wear some gorgeous Miss Dior perfume ..... and go floating above Paris ....

Hang a beautiful piece of artwork from The Pink Pagoda on your wall ....

Send the one you love some beautiful blooms ....

.... if you are lucky go to celebrate St. Valentine at Laduree ..... however, I will probably be  cooking a delicious dinner  for Andrew and Georgiana and watching one of my favourite Australian films .... "Picnic at Hanging Rock" .....

.... it is an iconic Australian film and was first screened in 1975 and directed by the great Peter Weir ......   "On St. Valentine's Day in 1900 a party of schoolgirls set out to picnic at Hanging Rock ..... some were never to return ....."
It is a very haunting movie and was based on the novel by Joan Lindsay and rumoured to be based on a true story.  It received international acclaim and the film centres on a party of schoolgirls from Appleyard College in Victoria, Australia who go for a picnic on St. Valentine's Day.  The girls mysteriously vanish after being drawn toward an eerie like rock formation called "Hanging Rock" in the Macedon Ranges.  It is known for it's eerie yet hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and the unresolved story ........

So whatever you are doing or wherever you are dear friends Happy St. Valentine's Day!  I am sad today as our second son Dominic is moving to Brisbane to go to university, so it is even more poignant I think that the greatest gift of all is to love and be loved and that our families are the most precious commoditiy in the world! This is a picture of all of us together last Christmas and it reminds me of such beautiful family memories.  Good luck Dom we love you and will miss you so much ...... (I will see you in Brisbane this Friday to check out the apartment!!!!)

images http://www.laduree.fr/
http://www.dior.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkpagoda
http://www.google.com/
http://www.floral-art-school.com.au/

18th Century Crown Jewel!

 This 18th century tablecloth is an absolutely stunning piece that I found at the beautiful site of http://www.myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/  The exquisite detail of this piece is breathtaking and I just had to do a post on it which Sharon kindly allowed me to do.  This piece is circa 18th century and is in mint condition with the exception of two small holes that could easily be repaired.

Look at the embroidery done on a very fine linen .....

this is a "crown" which Sharon has never seen on  any of her pieces ..... I wonder then if this could be a "royal" piece .....

It certainly would be beautiful enough to grace the table of Marie Antoinette .... and most certainly of M.A. the 2nd!

I do believe her majesty would have loved to have that cloth at one of her tables .... the little confections would have looked perfect sitting atop such a graceful cloth ....

This beautiful cloth has embroidered flowers, dragon-flies, bees and of course the "crowns" .... beautiful 18th century motifs on a piece of history that is rare and timeless ......

I adore this cloth .... I wonder who sat down to tea at this cloth .... what conversations were whispered ..... what gossip did ensue and what stories would this tablecloth tell us!

This is a magnificent piece ..... are you going to have your next tea party on it or mount it on the wall of your dining room to be forever immortal .....

Visit Sharon at http://www.myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/  for this exquisite piece and many more beautiful monogrammed linens and pieces.

A New Day ~ it all started with a bath!

After everything that has happened ..... I ran a bath.  We renovated and did our ensuite last year and for me, a bath, is the ultimate luxury.  So candles, roses and chardonnay are a must ..... and a good book ....

 Calcutta marble was the marble du jour ..... and parfait indeed......

         So I raise a glass to a new day and a new beginning .......

For you who don't know me .... this image is perfect ... love or hate "Marie Antoinette" you must admire her ... and the film of Sopia Coppola was stunning .... I know the zealots say it was not perfect but it was historically correct.  I have decided that I will begin a new era of saying what I think, which is not like me.  Normally, I am a diplomat .... so here I am ....

This is my version of "Marie Antoinette" from a costume party.... I had the most amazing fun and I so loved all of the costumes ....  I always new I was born in the wrong era!!!!

My favourite "Macarons" .....

I believe, truly and honestly, that all women are princesses and that is why we are all connected ... there is an underlying pull between us all ....

Pink bubbles of course for the special ladies ....

Roses scattered and a flute to toast ...

Gorgeous cupcakes ...  (and I didn't say "Let Them Eat Cake")

Divine , delectable and delicious chairs ....

and then of course the beautiful script fabric that allows us to dream of what life was really like ......

                 I hope you know me .... I would love to know you ..... 

Come and join me for a glass of champagne and your gorgeous company ... I would relish that now ....

You could come and see the beautiful artwork my little daughter has prepared ......

And then we could watch a beautiful sunset together ....

I wish you were here .....

Mother Nature's Fury!

Queensland was hit last night  by a massive cyclone which had a 700km coastal front and a 35km diameter across the eye.  North and Far North Queensland were put on alert for a monster cyclone.  It has caused major devastation to the areas that copped the brunt of the 300km an hour winds.  Tully, Mission Beach, Innisfail and Ingham have suffered major damage with crops such as banana and sugar cane plantations being completely wiped out and homes being flattened.  Townsville and Cairns were also severely affected.  We still don't know all details as the SES (State Emergency Services) are just beginning to go back into the areas of devastation.  My thoughts and prayers are with those families who have been through such a traumatic event especially those who had to leave their homes and stay in evacuation centres.  Queensland has had an absolutely devastating last couple of months with the monsoonal/torrential rain and wind followed by the flooding in my town Rockhampton in Central Queensland.  Then south east Queensland was engulfed by terrible weather and flash flooding causing horrific damage and loss of life in Toowoomba and Grantham.  Brisbane was inundated with terrible flooding causing heartache and despair to so many people.  Now we look to the north in hopes that they too can rebuild their lives following Cyclone Yasi's fury.  We are with you North Queensland ... our beautiful tropical paradise!

The Enchanted Home's Enchanting Bourguinon!

Last night I attempted the beautiful "Beef Bourguinon" recipe from "The Enchanted Home" and it was wonderful and my family devoured it! 

Some of the ingredients .... including potatoes and fresh thyme.....

                          ...... and fresh mushrooms ......

Cooking up a storm.....

Lighting the match over the dish was fun...

bubbling away.....

the melted butter and flour mixed together ....

Dinner is served .....

I served my beef with a creamy mash potato with a sprig of rosemary to garnish .... also a beautiful fresh green salad of cos with shaved parmesan and balsamic ... and little vine ripened grape tomatoes

Thank-you so much to "The Enchanted Home" for this beautiful recipe .... go to Tina's beautiful blog http://www.theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/

for a real treat!