Fairy Wands, Ginger Jars and French antiques New Orleans Style!

This beautiful fairy wand was made by the gorgeous Anita from www.castlescrownsandcottages.blogspot.com

It is amazing what we can access from all parts of the world and it seems so far away and yet so close ......

This delicate little bird wand with the flowing ribbons is so sweet and so elegant ... just like Anita .... she has started her etsy store and is finding her passion.... already a very experienced and talented French teacher this lovely lady decided to follow her creative heart and start designing and making these incredible treasures!  My little bird is nestled in a silver mercury vase on our mantle and her name is "Rose". Thank-you and congratulations Anita....

which brings me to the next fabulous creation from Florida based Anne Harwell ..... Anne's ginger jar/ming vase on the hot pink canvas took my breath away and I thought it belongs on my Designer's Guild stripe wallpaper.  Anne's work is incredible and is so versatile ..... www.annechovie.blogspot.com

I also bought these so cute match boxes with the same art on the side .... I have bought Anne's work before and everytime I love it and it works with everything ..... she is a very talented lady ..... what is it with the American ladies .....

I want to share something very special with you all ..... today I received a phone call from my wonderful friend, Karina, in New Orleans and it was just what I needed .....

Like everyone I have been so busy, stressed and out of time .... time is so precious and so are people .... our family, our friends and also ourselves ..... I have realized that people are what make me feel inspired, energized, excited and happy ... with what we can share and laugh about.  I sometimes feel quite isolated as we live in a regional area so I often think ....  I have no idea what I am doing and then I get a call from a beautiful friend and I feel instantly positive and excited ... (by the way this beautiful mirror above at Karina's 1st dibs store has my name all over it!)

Then I remember all the things that are special like this sofa below .... I love this sofa .... the tufting, the patina of the frame and the story it tells ....

This chair above is one of Karina's and is also one of my favourites ..... the elegance of these French antiques is stunning and something which Karina is so brilliant at ... her ability to create something so beautiful out of tired, worn out pieces is incredible.

 

more of Karina's work and yes she does ship to Australia ....

for more beautiful pieces go to

www.karinagentinetta.1stdibs.com

with my love and best wishes

M.A. the 2nd!

House and Garden

I know it has been three thousand years since I have blogged and all I can say is that I am sorry!  It has been a very hectic time with Georgiana in eisteddfod for speech and drama and ballet, jazz and tap!  Very  busy with clients and all the usual day to day "deadlines"!  We have much to celebrate though as our home was featured in this months Australian House and Garden, Dominic received a 6 which is a distinction on his first exams for his Bachelor of Fine Art, Acting course and Alexander has just landed the role as "Billy" in the remake of the 1976 film "Carrie".  We are so proud of them ........ 

here are some pictures from the magazine ....

I am working on posting again soon and I also will be doing a post on the lovely Anita from Castles, Crowns and Cottages who I have just bought some of her delightful etsy treasures and Anne from Annechovie and her beautiful artwork.  Have a gorgeous week-end ......

m.a. the 2nd

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a fabulous art exhibition .....

The artwork was by the very talented Katka Adams and my friend, Dee hosted a fabulous opening for the exhibition ..... every detail was exquisite ....

Dee had organized the catering with Claire Catering and had designed the cupcakes to resemble the artwork ....

The raspberries on the white chocolate cake reflected a piece of the artwork that I  bought shown below ......

Dee and Katka ......

beautiful, exquisite artwork .....

Cupcake anyone ...... I also was lucky to help Dee and supply the shades for the chandeliers and the cushions for the displays ......

check out

www.deannmuirgallery.com.au

www.katka.net

clairecatering@bigpond.com

Caribbean Coastal Chic

I just wanted to share a lovely project I have been working on at the coast .....

My lovely clients are originally from Trinidad and they wanted to remember their island home ....

so for their coastal apartment we went with a caribbean style .. with palm tree lampbases, Waverley "Coral" cushions,  Designers Guild stripe wallpaper and the most beautiful artwork by Kerri Shipp of www.driftwoodinteriors.com.au

 with the coral being framed in floating glass so that the wallpaper would show through ..... my friend Dee helped me hang the artwork yesterday and it looks so beautiful ...

it makes me feel like sitting under a palm tree!  Have a great week!

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake ........

Just a quick post to show you the delicious Chocolate Sour Cream cake that I bought back with me from our trip to Brisbane .... this gorgeous cake is from Jocelyn's Provisions and one of my favourite haunts...

so we had a little cup of tea, some chicken and rocket sandwiches and "the cake"!  I know it is a Tuesday and we should be working but just sometimes it is nice to say I will take this hour and I will enjoy this time ....... the cake had to go back in the fridge for later as we certainly could not partake of it all!  So my lovely friend, Tonya, had bought the beautiful Charbonnel chocolates hiding under the glass dome!

that then leads to this beautiful fabric which I have been working on for Tonya and it is such a stunning piece from Designer's Guild ..... I also have done a wallpaper for my friend Becky in the gold and white .... the urns are so French and so divine ....

.... another friend of mine, Dee, who is an art gallery curator is currently working on a fabulous exhibition which involves artwork of tea-cups, silver sugar bowls, wedding cakes and lots more ...... she has asked me to organize some beautiful cushions and drops for the exhibition ....

and then after I pulled the washing off the line after a big day .... this beautiful rose was there waiting to be picked and stand elegantly beside my blue ginger jar in the kitchen ....

have a wonderful week .....

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE ~  Georgiana and I were lucky enough to share a "Mad Hatter's High Tea" at The Stamford Plaza in Brisbane with her cousins!   

The table settings were exquisite and the mad hatter himself couldn't have done a better job ..... there were tick tock clock cupcakes, white chocolate rabbits, sandwiches the colour of pink and green .... toadstool macaroons,  pink lemonade and sparkling champagne ...... delicious tea .... a perfect setting for a high tea!

Georgiana and I waiting for her cousins .....

I forgot to mention this little delicate morsel .... pink fairy floss covering the most delicious caramel creme brulee .....

                               
                            Georgiana and cousin Elizabeth sharing a chicken sandwich and a giggle ......

I hope you all had a beautiful and special Easter with your family and friends because they are the most cherished of all!

"Craig Waddell" ~ The Australian Modern Day Monet!

"His work is exquisite" ..... Craig Waddell, an Australian artist, whose talent makes me think of a modern day master, has an uncanny way of bringing the subject to life through his medium ..... I have just had the privilege of acquiring this beautiful oil on linen piece called "Magnolia" and she has reached her home nestled in amongst the drapes of  the coronet ....

This piece has a life of it's own and I feel like I want to reach out and pick the bloom and put it in a vase ... such is the ability of the artist to convey a life .... the texture of the painting is incredible .... thick, rich oils delicately layered on a linen base .....

I found this piece through Edwina Corlette Gallery in Brisbane and Edwina was amazing in her communication with me as I bought this piece without seeing it ... but I knew it would be perfect.  Edwina described it as "raspberry ripple ice-cream" and so it was!

Craig's work is a must see and though most of these works from his collections have been sold there are still a few left and he also has a new collection which he is launching ....

the richness, the depth and the genius of his work is outstanding! 

www.craigwaddell.com

www.edwinacorlette.com