Appreciate or Emulate - Participate

The last of the weeks love fest with the combo that IS! - stripes and florals

I was having so much fun with this combination - in case you couldn't tell - that I had to join in.

I picked up this skirt from the op-shop the other day and with no shortage of stripes in the wardrobe here I am dressed for a lunch date with my mum and sister - perfect excuse for a new skirt.

I also fancied dressing up the house so I grabbed a $2 'vase' (aka a ceramic toothbrush holder) from a variety store then some black electric tape and a $5 bunch of fruit shop snapdragons later and these are prettying up our house right now

So there you have it my love affair with stripes and florals comes to an end, on the blog anyway, because I don't think I will ever tire of this perfect match for me or my home.

Found Friday

Some of this weeks little treasures. I learnt a ribbon weaving technique the other week and can't wait to practice with this beautiful orange crossgrain.

I also have a portfolio of properties I found this week - little embroidery hoop ones that is what else would it be in Sydney.

Appreciate or Emulate - Titivate

A bold, pretty and fun look for spring through to summer - more and more stripes and florals

Image Source: Melissa Esplin - I Still Love You

Image Source: Tales of Endearment

Image Source: Kansas Couture

I especially love the subtlety of the striped sandal in this one - plus I covet them badly

Image Source: Its not her its me

Image Source: Sincerely Jules via Hotbeautyhealth.com

Image Source: Aplomb Aplenty

 

The look also works in pastels and muted tones for something softer

Image Source: Denimology.com - Current Eliott SS 2012

Appreciate or Emulate - Celebrate

Continuing on from this weeks Finding Everywhere theme, Stripes and Flowers, how to celebrate with this pattern perfect match.

I am in love with the stripes and floral combo for a party - bold and bright and festive.
Add a bit of gold or silver tableware bling and it's a classic soirée setting.

Image Source: hellomay.com.au

Image Source: greenweddingshoes.com

Image Source: Two Delighted

Image Source: Miss Brache Etsy Store

Image Source: southerweddings.com.au

Appreciate or Emulate - Decorate

In last weeks Finding Everywhere I showed just some of the graphic and pretty stripey meets floral items I am noticing all about town for spring/summer.

I am a huge fan of a pattern mix, especially a bold one and this has to be a favourite of mine. 

Here are five of my favourite examples of how to decorate with this look. 

Do you think I need a black and white striped rug?

Stripes and Floral

Image Source: Au fil des Couleurs

Image: Pinterest - Original Source: Mixr 

Image Source: Lonny

Image Source: A Beautiful Mess

Image Source: The Glitter Guide

Finding Everywhere

I'm getting the band back together!

Well not really but I am back, from an absence of no small amount of time. I can attribute my absence to the presence and addition of a new and wonderful small human in my life and my home - more on him later.

In the meantime here is what I have been finding everywhere and you will find it everywhere too this summer - the stripey and floral, the graphic and pretty have arrived! Some of my picks

1. Decorative Cushion Cover by Habitation Boheme on Etsy
2. Also via Etsy iPhone case from Another Case
3. You know I love Etsy right? Love these Lacey stripey, floral nickers - pretty and graphic!
4. Valentino dress - vintage and groovy elegance
5. Marni Edition shopping tote
6. Wishing I had the body and confidence to pull these off Giejo Bikini
7. My size please - Stella McCartney Kids Rosie striped knit dress
8. Two vintage floral combined with stripes queen pillowcases
9. Stripped Cabbage Rose shower curtain from Urban Outfitters. They also did a rug but sadly it's sold out
10. Last, but by no means least, a great upcycled dress combining an 80's graphic dress and a vintage print scarf by Janavi on Etsy

There is so much more to this trend so an Appreciate or Emulate will be coming soon.

Found Friday

Found Friday (on a Sunday of course)


It seems my little techno holiday had an impact on my technical abilities as I typed this post Friday and it disappeared. Oh well!


I have enjoyed my break - time to rebalance my virtual and physical lives - something I hope to continue. I have tried to invest the time in my little people one outside and one breaking out soon. 
Today's FF is all about finding space - the metaphorical space I found by having a self imposed social media break of 3 weeks and an actual physical one.


We recently started off our reno in a most unglamorous but necessary way by replacing the leaking asbestos roof on our garage. Hum drum as it was it gave us an opportunity to do what we fully intended on moving in 18 moths ago - setting up the garage as 1/2 storage 1/2 create space. It never happened then as the boxes and furniture, and my finds if I'm really honest, just kept piling in. Now we have reorganized, consolidated and shuffled to have a 2/3 storage 1/3 create space scenario - better than nothing!


There is now a corner of the new 'create space' which is the new home of Find and Dandy - still very much in unpack and organize mode itself but now my finds can have a temporary home, other than my desk or dining room table, as they await their permanent home or their Dandy do over. 


I can't wait to set it up properly and get creative. It will also double as an extra space for rainy day craft projects and generally getting little people out of the house - perfect new space much needed in out tiny - soon to become teeny - little home.

Here is the still to be dandy-ied "find parking station".

Unplugging

I love blogging, it's my favourite thing to do each week, I'm addicted to Pinterest in a crazy way, I have reconnected and stayed in touch with with long lost far away friends via Facebook, I often find out the most interesting things through Twitter and I have recently 'met' the most amazingly talented, supportive and encouraging community through Instagram BUT...... I am currently


























Sometimes in this world of social media, devices and connectedness our own, actual lives, and not our virtual ones need a little more attention than we are giving them - that is me right now. So I am listening to my non-virtual world and unplugging for a bit. A little techno holiday if you like, just for a few weeks or so. I know I will be back and I know I will love every minute of my virtual connections once more - like the feeling of returning home after living out of a suitcase for too long. So 'see' you soon.

Appreciate or Emulate - Gingham

I am still checking out all things gingham and here are my picks for how you can check in.

Sweet and simple, bold and bright, graphic and minimal - decorate with gingham

 

 

 

It's a wrap, a party, a picnic - celebrate with gingham

Country, cute, creative and classy gingham is a classic

There is no-one more able to get you to join in than Martha - here are two of my favourite 'gingham' DIY'S that I found both from The Crafts Dept via marthastewart.com

Oilcloth lunchbag tutorial

Drawstring bags tutorial

The good news is I found my sewing machine in the garage the other day and we in the midst of creating a bit of space in there for us each to have a 'create' corner - or for me a 'dandy' corner. The bad news is the skills can't be downloaded matrix style - better get my learn on so I can fully check in to the gingham trend as well.