Peony Perfection, Crystal Rose Bowl and New Orleans Fried Chicken!

The first peonies of the season are here and so beautiful they are .... I adore peonies as they have a wildness to them ....  a little bit like Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights ... exactly what Heathcliffe loved about her!  Wild, beautiful, yet soulful and intense!

I bought these and popped them in front of the fireplace and they look so gorgeous......

Then I have to share with you this gorgeous crystal rose bowl which my beautiful mother has given to me ..... it was a gift to her and now she has bestowed on me the privilege of looking after a piece of history ...... I feel so lucky to have received such a gift .....

Then onto a very exciting topic .... food .... New Orleans style food .......

My gorgeous friend, Karina, gave me this amazing recipe for fried chicken ..... Louisiana style baby!  Karina had met my son, Alexander, in Los Angeles when she was there on business ....  we skyped whilst they were having champagne and I so wished I could be there with them ..... Karina new Alex was a "foodie" and she instantly said "You have to have fried chicken wings by the best chef in New Orleans, Austin Leslie....." 

Karina sent me the recipe and I did my best to do the recipe justice .... it was magnificent!  and I never say that about my cooking .... everyone loved it and it was just perfect ... the right amount of seasoning, the right amount of coating on the chicken and best of all the most amazing story of an incredible New Orleans chef, Austin Leslie ....... Austin passed away after Hurricane Katrina, after he had suffered so much trying to survive .... I believe his legacy will live on ... it has even reached us all the way down here in Australia!

Chicken sizzling ......

Austin Leslie's "Fried Chicken" .... New Orleans style but a little bit by Franny from Down Under .... thank-you Karina, dear friend, it was wonderful!!!!! 

Pretty in Pink ~ Fuschia Pink!

Firstly, I have to apologize for my so lack of posting and commenting ... a great deal of the latter has to do with the fact that I cannot comment on many of your beautiful blogs and for that I am so very sorry!  I am working on the technical side with a professional but somehow I don't think that matters in the blogger world!  I know that also many of you have had similar problems ... I will do my best to reply in some way either through email or posting replies on my blog!

This little tutu above is Georgiana's and it is so gorgeous!  The colour is fabulous .... vibrant, exciting and perfect for an 8 year old!  Georgie is still of an age where she loves fairy costumes, ballet costumes and all the beautiful girly things we all love.  I know that there is not much time until that won't be the case.... so I have had a fabulous photographer who I will tell you about in a later post photograph her for photoart.  We had a fabulous day and Georgiana loved it and I cannot wait to see the beautiful creations and memories .....

I also have been quite busy sourcing new products and found this gorgeous lampbase and shade from Magnolia in Brisbane .... the shade is a Manuel Canovas and just perfect .... see how it reflects the colour in the peaches and also the cravat of the rider in the artwork ...

Last Saturday I had an afternoon tea on the verandah for my family .... mum, aunt, cousin, neices, great nephews, great neices and more!  It was a beautiful day and we had lots and lots and lots of cups of tea from big pots and I talked to my beautiful blue-eyed mother as she held her great-grandson, Oliver.  These are the days to cherish .... look at the moment and savour it!  We had old-fashioned sponge-cake my aunty Colleen made, tiny shortbread and kiss biscuits Mum made, baby quiches and many more delectable treats.

This is my gorgeous Mum holding her great grandson, Oliver Francis ... holding a fuschia pink rose ...... taken and styled by second cousin, Brigid .... (we are Irish say no more!!!!)

Which leads to my next wonderful, exciting discovery ....... two amazing artists, one French and one Australian .......

above is the exquisite work of Laurence Amelie recently featured on the cover of Rachel Ashwell's new book ....

and then above the beautiful, arresting work of Australian artist .....Kerri Shipp.  I had the pleasure of meeting Kerri on my trip to Brisbane and her work took my breath away .... I truly do not know how she does this stunning work with such attention to detail and palette ....

Please enjoy and visit these incredibly talented artists sites ...

http://www.driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/

http://www.laurence-amelie.com/

M.A. the 2nd

Coronets, Roses, Sweet William, Tufted Salons and Licorice Allsorts!

Now I kid you not ... I took this photo of this gorgeous rose with my new iphone 4!  I am very excited as I feel like I have finally launched myself into the 21st century!  (Even if it is 11 years later!)

Part of this post is to show you our new coronet in our bedroom ... I have been thinking about for this for a long time and it has come from Imagine This in Sydney........ it is absolutely exquisite!  Of course Karina's gorgeous tufted salon chairs look perfect next to the bed and I have now moved them into our bedroom for good ....

I played around with some different cushions and they all looked gorgeous .....

Carolyn Quartermaine script is always perfect .....

Then a lovely friend of mine gave me these gorgeous Sweet William flowers ... she is Irish and her Mum used to grow these in her garden in Ireland ..... I am also of Irish ancestory so it was the perfect gift!

Then I just wanted to show this great mug that I have been drinking my coffee from ... I drink tea mostly but when I want a coffee I thought this was perfect and I LOVE licorice allsorts!  Perfect colours for us ...

Another one of our new coronet .... it is so beautiful .........

Spring in Sydney!

It is spring in Australia and we are celebrating!  I was just in Sydney on the week-end to say good-bye to Alexander who is heading back to Los Angeles and I just had to get some beautiful pictures of spring unfolding ......

gorgeous Victorian terrace houses in Woollahra ....

Stunning sweet-peas looking perfect as they are reflected in the mirrored glass table at Parterre Garden ....

The view from our hotel room is that of Hyde Park and St. Mary's Cathedral ... the cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathdral in Australia and she is absolutely stunning!

Sailing boats on Sydney Harbour in the distance .....

Imagine This in Woollahra in Sydney had on display these gorgeous drapes and coronet which I have actually bought for our bedroom ......

The Donna Hay General Store in Woollahra never disappoints ... enjoy!

Botanical Louis and Sugar!

Just wanted to share with you this gorgeous Louis 15th style chair that I had upholstered in a beautiful Designers Guild botanical.  I love the duck-egg blue background .....

Then of course Sugar decided she wanted to get in the photo and of course she looks perfect!

best wishes ....

One Lovely Blog Award!

I am so honoured to receive this lovely award from Melissah at http://www.scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ It was quite by chance or fate that we met as Melissah was looking for ideas for pool-houses and stumbled across my blog!

Melissah emailed me as she couldn't believe there was another person out there who loved absolutely exactly the same things as she did!  Even owning the same laptop!  She wrote me this beautiful email conveying that she just wanted to communicate with someone else who loves what she loves!  I suggested that she should start a blog as she was obviously very talented and passionate about so many things.  So thank-you Melissah and I look forward to meeting you in October!

Here are the 15 blogs I would like to pass the award onto ~

1. http://www.castlescrownsandcottages.blogspot.com/
~ Anita you are the sweetest person and always comment on my blog without fail and I find that loyalty and friendship so endearing!  Also, your artwork is exquisite and I believe you will publish great works.

2. http://www.karinagentinetta.blogspot.com/
~ Karina you and I have become such friends without even meeting!  We are so alike and your work with French antiques is outstanding!  You have a gift my friend and a great strength that not many people possess.

3. http://www.hamptontoes.blogspot.com/ ~
Lisa you were one of the first bloggers who I found and became so excited that you commented on my blog.  Then we swapped recipes and the world seems all that much smaller.  Your chic ability with interiors and the lovely way you go about your everyday life is awe-inspiring.

4. http://www.chicprovence.blogspot.com/ ~
Kit .... the Queen of French Provincial ... everything you do is so amazing from table settings to high end interiors in San Francisco.... it is a pleasure to have met you via blogging and to have had the pleasure of your seeing your work.

5. http://www.classicstyleinthecity.blogspot.com/ ~
Dear Marie  .... you were so sweet to email me and ask if you could use my home on your blog which I was so honoured by!  You were also one of the first to comment on my blog and gave me the recipe for the snow-effect which I think has become the best feature of my blog!  You have such style and a great eye for detail.

6. http://www.belgianpearls.blogspot.com/ ~
Greet your work and your family business are so inspiring and make me feel like I want to start designing classic cabinetry with all of the details.  There is a serene quality to your designs that is so wonderful.

7. http://www.mypinksketchbook.blogspot.com/ ~
Alexandra I look at your website and think how beautiful are these interiors with such style and elegance.  You are obviously so dedicated and every detail matters. 

8. http://www.chateaudelille.blogspot.com/ ~
Fiona ... all you post on your blog is filled with such love and grace and a love for life!  You have created so much and even started your own on-line store ..... congratulations!

9.  http://www.porchlightinteriors.blogspot.com/ ~
Tracey .. I am loving your work and interiors and also the restraint you show.  Your refined interiors show through your blog and it is so lovely to see.

10. http://www.adaanddarcy.blogspot.com/ ~
What can I say Kellie ... your exuberance, your talent and your love of the simple things in life which make us happy and which you show through on your beautiful blog!

11. http://www.mysummerhouse.blogspot.com/ ~
Laura .... every time you post it is beautiful and fun and it makes me feel like there will be great things happening.  You have a great eye and a lovely heart.

12. http://www.lapetiteplume.blogspot.com/ ~
Queen Daisy ... you defintely have the gift for transporting us to another place where we all feel like princesses!  You gave me the inspiration for my crown motif and I thank-you so much for that.  Your design work with stationary is stunning!

13. http://www.rattusscribus.blogspot.com/ ~
Ruben ... you so deserve an award because your depth of thought and concern for our world and humankind is incredible.  Your heart breaks when you see a disservice done and when justice is not served.  You are so inspiring!

14.  http://www.designchic.blogspot.com/ ~
Always so chic and fun and always inspirational.  Thank-you for giving me so many ideas and feeling like I can achieve anything!

15.  http://www.apageofinspiration.blogspot.com/ ~
Kristin your camera catches the most amazing and breathtaking images!  So beautiful and your images particularly of France and Laduree had me at "Hello"!  Thank-you for your inspiration!

I would also just like to make an honourable mention to http://www.theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/ as I have enjoyed her posts so much and can't believe how much Tina fits into her posts.  Tina I know you got this same award from Melissah but I just wanted to mention you as well!  The house is looking amazing and we are all so excited and waiting with anticipation!

7  Things About Me ~

~  I dream of one day finishing my two books and having them published!

~  I have always felt that I have been born in the wrong era and that I belonged in another century!

~  I always feel like I have never quite achieved enough and that there aren't enough days to achieve everything!

~  I believe the greatest gift you can give someone is to listen to them and to believe in them!

~  I am obsessed with crowns and the 18th century!

~  I would love to ride in the French countryside in full equestrian kit!

~  I love getting into my pyjamas and watching movies with my beautiful family!


my best wishes always
M.A. the 2nd

Lavender and Lilac

I am so excited as the antique Louis 15th settee I bought and had restored is looking beautiful.....

I decided to use a Manuel Canovas toile on the settee and studs or nailheads to trim it.  I left the original timber as I think it is perfect as it is ....

I also have done these scatter cushions in a Canovas lilac, white and black stripe just to show Tonya as she is absolutely in love with lavender, lilac and purple ..... plus they look gorgeous on the settee...

This is also a Manuel Canovas fabric from the same collection and both of these are outdoor fabrics .... these were the fabrics that were in the outdoor tent/pavilion at the Hotel Georges V in Paris.

So if I know my good friend and client .... it won't be long before she "has to have them"....

have a lovely week-end everyone ....

best wishes

M.A. the 2nd

King George Palace ~ Athens

This is the beautiful King George Palace Hotel in Athens .... this restaurant has views overlooking the Acropolis and is absolutely stunning ..... love the white long cloths and the taupe Louis 15th style chairs which are always so elegant. 

I love the tufted white leather armchairs which flow beautifully down to the marble floors ...

Gorgeous bedrooms overlooking Constitution Square .... we actually stayed here on our last night in Greece and it was actually only about 5 days after the riots which was a little concerning ..it was very sad to see the damage done but also to see the plight of such a beautiful country. 

Parliament House ..... overlooks Constitution Square ....

The ancient acropolis ... to see this is awe-inspiring...

The main restaurant with parquet flooring .....

The ultimate luxurious booth seating....

I forgot to take a picture of the bed before we slept in it but actually I think it looks quite beautiful slightly dishevelled with the pink satin underside of the quilt showing through.

It was quite sobering to be in Athens at such a difficult time for such a beautiful country ...... the people of Greece were amazing and I hope the political and economic atmosphere can recover to return it to her former glory!

Gorgeous Greece!

The second part of our holiday was in Greece where we went to a traditional Greek wedding ... two beautiful Australians with Greek heritage married on Paros and it was spectacular!  Alexander was best man and it was the experience of a lifetime ....

beautiful sunsets .......

Paros Poros beach ....

anyone for a little tennis?

we went to this beautiful restaurant on our last night in Paros and it was just wonderful ... I loved the interiors ... so beachy, clean lines, the rope artwork and timber floors ....

This was our bed in our Mykonos hotel .... YUM!!!!! 

another gorgeous sunset whilst having dinner on Mykonos ... I had the risotto and it was wonderful!  Lisa at Hamptontoes loves my risotto but Lisa I  think you would have loved this one!

Dominic and Georgiana at dinner ....

I am loving this wicker chair ......

Cycladic architecture is beautiful with white buildings, blue domed roof-tops ....

Whilst at our hotel we met a relative purely by chance from Ireland .... it was incredible ....my maiden name is O'Driscoll (very Irish ~ County Cork) .... Patrick had his cap on which read "Pat O'Driscoll" Real Estate as he has them for advertising ... we met these lovely people and decided that we must be related as Lisa's parents hailed from County Cork as well!   

what can I say ... pink wicker!!!!

pink sunbeds!!!!!

just a little bit of orange to throw into the mix ....

perfection!!!!!  Hope you all had a great week-end!

best wishes always

M.A. the 2nd