Summer treats..

One of my fondest memories of this time of year, as a child, would have to be Mum coming back from the markets laden with Summer stone fruit.., mangoes, nectarines, plums, apricots and the most exciting, a whole box of glossy black cherries. Yum!!

I ate them by the kilo with red stained fingers, wore them as earrings and (if we lived in a cooler climate) would be responsible for an orchard of cherry trees in the back yard from all the discarded pips...

Since then, the first bite of a new season cherry and I instantly think of Summer Holidays and Christmas... Thom tasted his very first cherries when we shared this bowl yesterday and is definitely a fan!

I wonder if they will evoke similar memories for him when he's all grown up..?

recommended viewing...

Tonight I intend to be firmly planted on the sofa in front of the telly... The 2010 series of Upstairs Downstairs is here at last!!

Although I never saw the original 70's version (I was a tad too young), I'm a sucker for anything period made by the BBC and adored the similarly themed film Gosford Park and the ITV series Downton Abbey.

Following the intertwining lives of a aristrocratic family (upstairs) and their house staff (below stairs) and set in Belgravia, London in the elegant 30's, Upstairs Downstairs promises to be quite the visual treat!

Just add ice cream and pj's and I think I might have my perfect Sunday night in...

painting clay

Twice a year my friend Jan hosts a 'clay play' day at her lovely home.
An all round creative and a part-time potter, she whips up (throws actually) a kiln load of bowls, beakers, plates and cookie cutter shapes and then invites friends and family around to paint them.

We all set up at long tables under her house with a cuppa and stacks of books and magazines for inspiration and then get creating...

In between painting up a storm and gossiping with old friends (there's plenty of regulars at these events), there's the feast of a lunch to be shared on Jan's beautiful verandah. It really is a delightful day allround...

Bowls and shapes ready for decoration.

The gorgeous palette of glazes to paint with.

The finished product, freshly fired.

colour or neutral?

Yesterday I picked up a couple of bedside tables I won on Ebay...

We were in desperate need of new bedsides (not my husbands opinion exactly) and these two fitted the bill. The price was right; they're in great condition; have drawers to stash things away from little fingers and (non dust collecting) space underneath for all those books I never get around to reading.

But before they take pride of place in our bedroom, the one thing they do need is a colour make over. Currently a wishy washy grey (very 80's Gold Coast apartment), they need a little drama to bring them up to date.

There's so many great examples of vintage cane refinished in bold colour right now and so I was thinking maybe a beautiful peacock or teal blue...

Or do I go neutral?? I don't think white is right for these, the cane is too fussy and our walls are a blah cream colour.. A soft charcoal could be kind of cool, what do you think??

sneak peek...

Yep more beading... I thought I'd share a few pics of the necklaces I've been working on for my nieces and a few little friends for Christmas.

Next on the list, I'm hoping to sew little matching drawstring bags to keep them in. That's the plan anyway...

Only 31 sleeps..!

pool envy...

David Hockney's 'A Bigger Splash'

Summer has well and truly arrived here and the evening air is full of the delicious aroma of sizzling BBQs and the sound of neighbours splashing about in their backyard pools...

There's nothing like diving into the cool depths after a stinker of a day, or so I imagine... Aah, if only we had one of these beauties to cool off in at the bottom of our garden.

Fab or what?! The iconic Kauffman House, Palm Springs

Post splash... Novogratz residence, Great Barrington

poolside beauty courtesy of Elle DECOR

'Pink Pool Innertube' by Californian Artist Danny Heller

Stone clad beauty captured by The Selby

'Peach Sky Empty Pool' by Sydney Artist Paul Davies

One day... In the meantime, we really should become better friends with our neighbours..

love it!

I'm not usually one for gimmicks, especially in the lead up to Christmas... But how cute is this??!! Typography you can eat!! You can snap them up here.

Have a great weekend!! xx