Its cold (well, Queensland cold which is about 14°C) and rainy here so these cosy cup warmers are looking really good right now. They are from H is for Home, a fabulous UK based online store selling unusual, quirky, one off, handmade and vintage goodies for your home. Hot chocolate with marshmallows anyone?
Discovered via Happy Cavalier.
Sweet fridge magnets by Nathalie Lété from quirky French online store La Marelle. They also have stationery, bags, badges and kitchenware.
Owls motifs have been very popular in jewellery and fashion accessories in the last year but what about some owls for around the house?
Clockwise from top left: Tree Owl lamp from Anthropologie, Ceramic vintage owl family from The Tilted Tulip, Snow owl tea set from Anthropologie, Pair of vintage owls from Dead Bird Finds, Owl shakers and sake pot from Anthropologie, Owl planter from Fruitfly Pie, Wise owl lamp base from Urban Outfitters.
Have a hoot of a weekend!
This is a very versatile recipe for yummy biscuits (cookies). You can substitute whatever you happen to have in the pantry. So there is no need to follow the ingredients religiously. As long as you have the butter, sugar, egg and flour, you'll be fine. Also, I never measure anything so the quantities are approximate.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup or 4 tablespoons of butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar (I used brown sugar for these)
1 egg
1 (generous) tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp mixed spice
at least a handful of sultanas/mixed fruit/nuts or combination of these
approximately 2 cups self-raising flour (I used wholemeal SR flour)
For the coating:
1/2 cut coconut
1 crushed weetbix or cornflakes
1/4 cup rolled oats
What to do:
1. Combine butter and sugar. Then add egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
2. Throw in your fruit and nuts - don't be stingy. Add the spices.
3. Gradually add the flour until you have a cookie dough consistency - you should be able to form balls without any stickiness on your hands.
4. Combine coating mixture in a large bowl.
5. Form balls and roll them in the coating mixture. Place on a greased tray and bake for about 15 minutes (until golden) in a 180 degree Celsius oven.
6. Lick the spoon (or get your helper to do that for you).
I think cushions are an easy way to brighten up a room and add a little personality. These ones from Binth are great. The designs are screen-printed on organic linen, filled with luxurious down and hand sewn. Unfortunately, at US$72 each they're out of my price range, especially when the kids are just going to spill stuff on them. Things like cushions need to be semi-disposable in our house.
You know, I thought I would be over the whole wall decal thing by now. But I always see more that I like. These ones are from Wallcandy Arts.
I love those adorable deer and the idea of a chalkboard wall sticker is very cool. You can get the chalkboard ones in children's designs as well. Head over to the Wallcandy Arts website to check them out.
Today I'm giving you my best Mothers Day idea ever. My own very easy recipe for homemade pancakes.
Ingredients:
1 cup of self-raising flour
1 egg
1 cup of milk
a little sugar (couple of tablespoons)
What to do:
Put flour and sugar into a bowl and give it a mix. Make a well in the centre and crack in the egg. Start mixing, working the flour in from the sides as you go, start adding the milk a little bit at a time. Once its all mixed in give it a good beating. Let it stand for a little while while your frying pan heats up. Little bubbles should rise to the surface.
Grease your frying pan, I use an oil spray because its easy. Getting your pan to the right temperature is important. It depends on your stove and the frying pan. I always do a little test pancake to make sure its right. When your pan is ready pour some batter into the centre of the pan. I only ever do one pancake at a time - that way they will all be cooked uniformly and will be nice and round. When little bubbles start popping all over the pancake its ready to flip it over. When the other side is cooked get the pancake out - only ever flip once. Keep your pancakes in a stack while you are cooking them so that the stay hot.
Gobble them up with butter and maple syrup. Yummy. This recipe should make about 5 or 6 pancakes. If you want to make more its easy to double the quantities.
What I'm really hoping for on Sunday is a sleep-in.
Check out these cool Urban Gnomes from off-the-wall British homewares designers, Vitamin. Bet your granny never had any like these on her front porch.
These cute little fellas are made of bone china and are 21cm tall (8.26 inches). They come in huge range of designs. Visit Vitamin's website to see them all. While you are there, be sure to check out the I.V. drip for self-watering pot plants and Spruce, the lamp that doubles as a floor sweeper. Handy.
These exquisite, Danish-designed pieces would add class to any home.
Top row (L-R): Fried Egg Chair by Hans Olsen, Verner Panton FlowerPot Table Lamp, SW 86 chairs by Finn Juhl.
Second row (L-R): Image of Great Dane's Brisbane showroom, Plank Sofa by Hans J. Wegner.
Third row (L-R): CH-25 easy chair by Hans J. Wegner, Danish modern occasional chair, Danish Teak Sideboard.
Last row (L-R): Green Modern Lounge, Arm Chair by E. Larsen & A.B. Madsen, Purple Modern Lounge.
Images and more fabulous Danish design from: Danish Furniture Design, Vampt Vintage Design, Great Dane, Dansk Mobel Kunst, Danish Teak Classics.
Decorative Country Living is a delightful store in the UK selling antiques and vintage (and vintage-inspired) goodies. From homewares, furniture, accessories and children's toys to things for the garden, everything is so pretty. If you live outside the UK the site is still worth a look even just for inspiration. Makes me want to put on a frilly apron and bake some scones.
Inject some colour into your home with these easy Urban Outfitter pieces.
Clockwise from Top Right: Fawn Gehweiler Table (US$32), Crazy Satin Patchwork Pillow ($42) Painted Curio Shelf (US$68), Candy Coloured Glass Pedestals (US$8-12), Life in the 21st City of Lights Pillow (US$28), Rectangular Kashmir Tray (US$10).
All from Urban Outfitters online.
Designer rugs and drool-worthy interiors from The Rug Company.
These rugs have been designed by the likes of Marni, Diane Von Furstenberg, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood and Lulu Guinness. If you had one, would you let anyone walk on it?
Cupcakes (or pattycakes as most Australians call them) are popular everywhere these days. I like to think I can make a pretty mean cupcake. Although, my decorating skills generally suffer due to a strong urge to just gobble them up.
Here are some delicious cupcakes by Sue Tickner of Cupcake Cuisine.
Apparently Sue packed up her family and moved to the Sunshine Coast to establish herself as the Queen of Cupcakes. Well, thats what I'm calling her. Sue has a stall at Queensland's famous Eumundi Markets or you can get more details from her website.
For the record, its almost lunchtime as I'm posting this and my mouth is watering.
I know I posted about wallpaper earlier in the week but I couldn't resist showing this beautiful 'French Dot' couture wall paper by Nama Rococo. Each sheet is handmade!
Their website is beautiful too.
I found this via Jane d'Avril.
Ditch those plain walls in favour of bold retro wallpaper or very cool murals.
These gorgeous interiors feature Harlequin wallpapers which are available at decorator shops all over the world. I found these at Wallpapershop.com.au. I've dealt with them before and they are really friendly.
Who knew murals could be so cool? These are from Wallpapershop.com.au.
Get instant street-cred with these murals from Urban Outfitters.
