Found Friday

A little collection of finds to shine on you this Friday.

I had a day of finding a week or so ago where I found little jugs everywhere I went. Abandoned by their tea sets who'd long since moved on they are now part of a new family of sorts. On the same day I found this metallic splatter pattern contact - oh the shiny possibilities of covering things, perhaps old school book style. Last but not least today I got an opportunity  after a busy week, to take a leisurely weed walk and gather these pretties and make them shine like flowers. I am now finding farmers friends everywhere - but it's worth it.

I hope your weekend is shiny, bright and groovy too!

Found Friday

I have found much this week to be excited about, little trinkets and treasures - unfortunately I have not found the time to capture it and show you so I will have to play catchup.

In the meantime here is a little snippet of some of this weeks finding goodness captured in the autumn light falling over my bed.

Sometimes in finding I see a pattern or theme emerging over the week or even just in one shop - this all came from one place and for me it spoke of the feeling of winter arriving soon and the textures and colours - some leather boots, a woollen nanna rug in wintery tones, more needlepoint and a snuggly green cardy to keep me (and my growing bump) warm. Browns, greens, reds, navy and grey - all for me winter tones especially red because winter is when I need it most, a splash of colour to ward off the wintery blues.

I hope you find your splash of colour and something (or someone) to snuggle up to this weekend too.

Appreciate or Emulate

I am inspired at the moment by finding watercolour effect everywhere I look. I shared some of my finds in yesterdays' Finding Everywhere. 

I have been inspired before by watercolour projects of my sisters where she has created her own beautiful wrapping papers including a beautiful one she made for my birthday gift last year with apples drawn in white crayon resisting the vibrant watercolour splashes she added on top. I am wishing I had pics of that to share but with help from a then 18 month old to unwrap sadly I don't.
I was also inspired by her to do watercolour food colour painting with my nephew, and son, which I wrote about here.

It now seems everyone is awash with this dreamy effect.

Below are just a small selection os splashes, splats, drops and drips for the home, the occasion and you. You can also get all wishy washy yourself if you chose by checking out the great DIY's I found.

Artist Alisa Burke's Rubber cement resist watercolour paper tutorial - using a similar technique to my sister. So many possibilities. Alison also has online watercolour classes.

Sweet and colourful DIY watercolour tags from Eat Drink Chic 

And a DIY Watercolour and Calligraphy Birthday Card from Oh So Very Pretty

And they are aren't they? Oh so very pretty!

Finding Everywhere

Watercolour has been splashed all over lately. The dreamy effect of colours running into each other is trending in everything from homewares to fashion to full wall treatments - more to follow in this weeks Appreciate or Emulate but for now here is the watery colourfulness I have been finding everywhere

1. The Muse Multi hand painted canvas and suede Clutch available at Down that Little Lane store
2. Beautiful day original illustrated card by Lauren Merrick Illustration also at Down that Little Lane
3. This spectacular Surprise hand dyed tassle necklace from mur Mur via Etsy
4. Bonnie and Neil are amongst my favourite Australian homeware designers, here is their Pink Water Colour Ceramic Plate
5. Scrunch Designs's Watercolour Hand Painted Resin Earrings available from madeit.com.au
6. Bonnie and Neil again - what a bold statement this is for any table - hand screen printed linen watercolour orange table runner 
7. Queen of watercolour splashes - Amy Sia's Ardour Custom Clock for Deny Designs
8. Kavita Kriti Hand painted silk scarf via Etsy
9. Abstract watercolour cushion by Scottish textile designer Fi Douglas through Mildred and Co in New Zealand
10. World Map Watercolors Poster from zazzle.com.au
11. Lily Partoneau Summer Days iphone case from Etsy

Would you splash out on any of these?

A vignette or 7

I participated last week in The Interiors Addict's Instagram photo challenge 7 Vignettes.
The idea is a list of themes is published for the first 7 days of each month and you have to create a styled vignette based on that theme and post it to Instagram tagging Interiors Addict and generally also a guest judge - using the hashtag #7vignettes. If your on Instagram I recommend searching the hashtag, you will see lots of great styled pictures from some very creative people - stylists and not.

It's lots of fun and for me it's a chance to practice my styling - especially as I'm not studying or in a position to assist stylists at the moment - the main way you learn the ropes so to speak.

Below are this months themes and my vignettes for each


HANGING

LABELS

TIMBER

COLOURFUL

PORCELAIN/CERAMIC

DINING

TRAVEL

This month the guest judge was The Woodfolk store and they generously gave an overall prize and a prize for each days theme. I am so thrilled to say my Day 6 Dining entry WON! I was so excited to wake up to that news on Thursday morning.

The overall winner was the stylist Boiled Eggs and Soldiers, aka Sam, and what a deserved winner her vignettes were consistently stunning - even her celebration shot - see them all via her Instagram feed http://instagram.com/boiledeggandsoldiers

My lovely prize from The Woodsfolk is an under the sea LoveMae bamboo dinner set - I can't wait until it arrives in the post and see how they impact on toddler dinner time - fingers crossed.

I hope to join in next month too, if time allows, so if you like follow along on Instagram and I will also post my February entries later so you can see those too.

Found Friday

There is definitely a theme this week.
Continuing on from the pastels of this weeks Finding Everywhere look at these pretties I found.
I do love a nanna coat-hanger!

I also wanted to share with you some other, more virtual, finds discovered this week on my pastel journey.

The beautiful blog and work of textile designer Hermine Vandijck. Her exploration of colour and texture are truly inspiring.

Lastly the amazing work of French design duo Isabelle Gilles and Yann Poncelet that are Colonel.
One look at their online folio of work and shop and I wanted it ALL!

I hope you discover lots of colour this weekend! Happy finding.

Finding Everywhere

The power of pastel is all pervasive at the moment.

Here is a pretty pop of pastel colour for your delight.

1. Lark Store Large Ceramic Milk Bottle in 6 pastel shades
2. An old but amazing easter tea cake post by Bakers Royale. Easter was when I first caught the pastel bug - there is something so right about Easter and the delicate pastel tones.
3. One White Sundays timber block necklace via madeit.com.au
4. DDSLL GirlsStore three colour leather clutch via Etsy
5. POAST's violet pastel mini German Half timbered house also via Etsy.
6. Scout Table lamp from Urban Outfitters
7. Thank you cotton favour bags in pastel pink by Misiu from Down That Little Lane store. They come in a pack of 12.
8. The multicoloured pastel triangles of Ferm Living are back again this week - but this time it's their Spear trays
9. Wall fixture Klimoppe with origami paper lamp Moth in pink with a pastel yellow cord by Studio Snowpuppe via their Etsy store - there are 4 cord colours and 9 shade colours to chose from!
10. Nordic Night Rug from lightly.com.au



Pastel is a little tricky for me, it's not my usual thing as I generally prefer the bold and the beautiful, but the way pastels have been shown in styling and design circles lately, in a breathtakingly beautifully layered way, I have caught the pastel bug too.

There are no better examples in my opinion than these magificently styled and photographed images from photographer Jonas von der Hude in collaboration with Bettina Eulenburg for Better Living.

Sigh!

A painterly apartment

I have long been a fan of design blog Yellowtrace - part of my morning ritual involves a check of my inbox to see what new inspiring goodness they have to offer. Rarely disappointed, today I was utterly compelled to share it with you.

Upon seeing this apartment I was in interior's heaven - but it also instantly made me think of something.

I have decided that if the 17th century dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, he of the Girl with a Pearl Earring fame, had been a modern interior designer this is the apartment he would give us.

A selection of Vermeer

Then

The most amazing Old Chalet Refurbishment by Bergdorf & Nick Ruef // Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, as seen on Yellowtrace today, stunningly photographed by Martin Guggisberg.

What do you think?
Do you think living here would feel as enveloping as the faded and delicately colourful charm of a Vermeer painting?

There are many more beautiful photos of the apartment - make sure you check them out.
http://www.yellowtrace.com.au/2013/04/30/old-chalet-refurbishment-by-bergdorf-bernese-oberland-switzerland/

Finding Everywhere

Tri Colour
It seems there are three sides to every story, and many colours - triangles of bold colour keep catching my eye and I am not alone

1. Geometric Electric Cushion via Etsy
2. Multicolor Long Sleeve Triangle Print Jumper from SheInside. I would love to cosy in this for winter
3. Tiny little Triangle pendants chains from Minoux
4. Artist Eamon Donnelly's fine art print  #1 from the Tri Colour Series. This is only one of several in the series.
5. Mountain Tank shirt by Gorman in collaboration with artist Ellie Malin
6. Themis DIY Geometric paper mobile by Clara von Zweigbergk available via Top3 By Design. This is great for adults or kids.
7. Ferm living's spear vase
8. Triangle shelves/blocks/wall candy by Subtle Takeover
9. Mosaic wallpaper by Minakani Lab - I have featured this before and am mad about it but sadly have found no Australian supplier so far
10. Australian artist Beci Orpin always inspires me with colour and whimsy this cushion is from her collaboration with Urban Outfitters


If you get my tri-colour point you might like to check out these great DIY's I found

DIY painted plates from ConfettiPop

Amazing modern triangle quilt by Happy Together

A festive felt triangle garland by The Alison Show

Bathroom Brights

Today I came across and pinned this yellow bathroom to my 'For The Home board' on Pinterest

I like the idea of being woken up by this smack of colour every day when you take your morning shower.

I also realised it's not the first time I have been drawn to the idea of a brighter than bright bathroom delight.
Here are some others I have seen and loved

I am torn however as I do also love the idea of a muted tone sanctuary of relaxation as well.
What to do?

I will have to wait and see which way I go later this year when it comes to our own reno and whether I have the colour courage. Though as we plan to move on from this place I might save that sunny dose of colour for our dream home.

Would you be so bold?

Wishing you a neon bright xmas

I posted this Found Friday back in August. I had found the plastic apple container baubles and they made me think of Christmas. As I mentioned then I had already thought about doing a neon christmas this year inspired by the neon pink ribbons I found attached to trees and fences after a local primary school fun run. That combined with the strong Neon, Natural and Neutral trend that we have seen this year which I also wrote about in February and it was settled - we were having a neon christmas!

As much as I love the traditional christmas colours I am loving this for a bit of Australian summer Christmas brightness. We won't be here for the actual day but there is no reason we can't be festive before then and it is a colour party at our house right now.

I made this 'bauble' garland from cut neon card and jute string. It hangs beautifully against the crisp white walls.

My apple 'baubles' and pink ribbon needed a new branch home so I scoured my local parks after a recent storm and found a lovely selection of branches which I have tied together. I popped them into a street salvaged vintage jar with pebbles topped with lights. Even with all this it just didn't feel christmassy enough then I remembered I had found a bag of tinsel at the Op-shop the other day so made little tinsel nests - festive tree complete.

The same day I found the tinsel at the Op-shop I also found this mini silver tree.  I neon-ed it up with circle cut 'baubles' hole punched through the top and twisted in place. A mini tree would not be complete without a mini present. I think most people who opened it might be disappointed to find it is only full of the neon 'confetti' all that hole punching produced.

The last bit of Christmas bright might be a step too far? I had the idea of making a doily tree for the window, inspired by several I have seen but it had to have a neon twist. To neon it up I splatter painted the paper doilies with fluorescent paint and made a 'tree' in the window. I love it but it is possibly a little too pink for the boys in the house, they do outnumber me 2 to 1 after all. It has received some interesting comments from passers by usually along the lines of 'Pink?!' It really comes into it's own at night though all lit up. I would love to know what you think?

So there it is our neon Christmas - I figure I may never do this again so I went with it - would you do a neon Christmas? Whether you would or not may all your Christmases be bright.

xo
Siobhain

P.S a big thank you to Craig Proudford for the photos (despite his reservations about the pinkness of the tree xo)