Found Friday

This weeks finds

It doesn't rain it pours - cross-stitch
These roses need a frame - I love the orange and white stripe washi tape next to it so maybe an orange stripe frame to make it pop, I'm already imagining how I might make that project work??

The little owl and the little house both need a little attention too and possibly a little more space to breathe, they seem a bit penned in in these wee frames - maybe it's just the gold trim.

I think the owl is perfect for a nursery or little boys room - the woodlands themed room I want to do for my little man may have just found a feathered friend. The house tapestry is a little twee as it is but I think I can dandy it up with an ultra bright frame say in green or orange and berry combined? Projects #178, #179, #180 (really I lost count a while ago)

This week I hunted this

And gathered these

On a beautiful walk through our local Botanic Gardens. There is so much space there for little legs to run and so many things to touch and see - we had a simple but delicious picnic by the duck pond, soaked up some winter sun and collected these cool leaves the simple things are the best.

And stole some cars, from my son that is, I bought him some bags of toy cars from the op-shop and amongst them were this yellow 50's looking number and this London black cab - there are lots more I hope he doesn't miss these.

Happy weekend - I hope you find what you are looking for. x

Rock My World - Gardens

There are something shifts in scale and location  throughout this post - from the grand, impressive and no expenses spared rooftop of a a bank in Washington to a small to a Hawaiian small house courtyard each of these gardens make me appreciate the artful placement of rocks in their natural setting - outdoors.

The 17th-floor  of Washington Mutual Bank features this roof garden.

I first featured this bushfire resistant home (and garden) of architect Chris Clark in my Australia Day post Oz it Up Day.
I love the mix of materials with the timber, brick, rusted metal and great boulders and slabs of rock.

I was drawn to this image by it's simplicity and sense of peace. It is just enough for a small house. When space is limited any outdoor space gives you a chance to claim some back by bringing you back to nature - uncluttered simplicity does that well here.

I am increasingly convinced by the idea of making a native Australian garden and I don't just mean plant selection. I do love a meadow looking flowering European garden and grass and lawn but trying to replicate that here just doesn't make sense. Something like this with native plants, wandering paths, stones and timber sleepers would do just fine. Reminds me of a bush walk down to the beach.

Rock My World - Rock Pool

This natural pool installation 'Bathe' by Phillip Johnson Landscapes won Most Sustainable Garden & a Bronze Award at the International Flower and Garden Show 2011 in Melbourne.

Most materials are reclaimed including the large piece of granite at the top of the pool which was salvaged before being crushed up for road base - nice save. Unfortunately this was temporary but it is inspiring. It is too cold here right now to full indulge in the imagining of a dip in this gorgeous little billabong, bring on summer I say and bring on one of these of my very own.

Rock My World - New York Park

I really don't need another excuse to visit New York, I have always wanted to go and hope to sooner than later, but if ever I was to be further convinced it was on seeing this park in lower Manhattan. The Teardrop park by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates is a public residential park surrounded by buildings higher than park’s width but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in visual impact.

It has been built using sustainable principles and with the urban child in mind "the park is designed to address the urban child’s lack of natural experience, offering adventure and sanctuary while also engaging mind and body".

I love that so much careful and clever design has gone into this public space - too often I see parks of catalogue ordered furniture and playground equipment just plonked there with little thought to how people will use the space, it is tired looking before the ribbon is cut. This park looks well utilised and will, like nature, develop and age gracefully. It looks like a community and in cities we need more spaces like this to reconnect with each-other and with nature 'a shopping centre is not a community'.

I can't wait to have an itinerary to add it to.

Images via landezine.com/

A Cuppa with mum

Happy mothers day to all the mummy's.

This is my second mothers day and today I was feeling very blessed. We had a great day despite a false start when we went in search of a cafe for breakfast - without booking - only because we didn't know if my assignments would be complete but 1.30am took care of that. Looking for a place for breakfast on mothers day without booking is never easy and there aren't a lot of nice ones where we
now live.

However this mishap lead to an unexpected exploration through the local botanic gardens with coffee, banana bread and croissants alfresco and tumbles in the grass. Sometimes things not going to plan have the best outcomes. We even found the gardens has a nice cafe with a playground which only equals more fun times to come.

I sadly couldn't be with my mum today as she lives too far away but we will be hanging out soon enough.

One of the things I like to do best of all with my mum, even from when I was a little girl, is have a cup of tea together on the verandah. We still try and fit in a few quiet cuppa moments during my trips back home.

I once described to my friend Ben, a fellow tea appreciator, that tea with milk was like a warm hug and a good chat with your mum while black tea was like a chat with your dad where he cuts to the chase and helps you sort stuff out. I think we need both in life (whether we get it from our actual mum and dad or other people who fill these roles).

But today is in honour of mums. So here is my tribute to mine. All milky tea and verandahs.


A Pride and Prejudice quote for mum

The Beatles for mum

I have always liked dunking

A little selection of beau-tea

And while I would gladly sit on any of these verandahs for a cuppa with mum my preference will always be home.

Home grown inspiration

Looking around my parents garden I found inspiration everywhere - here are some snippets of my favourite things growing there (plus a flower that will never grow but it was made by my Dad and is beautiful none the less). There is so much more and I was lucky enough to come back with home grown pumpkins and sweet potato plus my mums awesome choko pickles. I also scored chilly jam, quince paste, chillies, tomato seeds and ginger plants from a friends farm. Now I really have to get cracking on that veggie garden as I have a head start with the above plus pumpkin and marigold seeds and potted herbs from Mum and Dad. Nature really does do it best - I hope I can do it justice in my own patch of dirt.

Found Friday

Well I haven't found as much time for finding as I would have liked on holiday - nor time for anything else - where did it all go? I have fit in a few swims and beach walks, an early morning river stroll with the first chills of autumn, some great catch ups with old friends and a revisit of some favourite finding haunts (my jollys further afield will have to wait for the next visit as Easter festivities take over for the rest of my time here).

I did manage to find some great fabric remnants - 2 are big enough to probably warrant a little more respect than that

Here they are in my folks backyard - perched on their found object bean trellis. The one on the left is a grey, purple, orange and turquoise chinoiserie fabric featuring foo dogs like the ceramic turquoise ones I am fond of - like these at Ada & Darcy

The middle is an 80's esque multicoloured pattern that grabbed my eye and I hope to use in some pattern clash cushion creations. Lastly sunny yellow diagonal stripes - so 70's Swedish - my yellow obsession for the new loungeroom continues.

I also fond this sweet handpainted doily

While we are on the subject of my folks garden I love this other bean trellis made from bed springs - I think I know where I get this from. I have been snapping away at all their plants as well and will show you the inspiration I have found in pots and planters some time next week. Off to catch some zzz's now to enjoy the bagpiping tomorrow. Ooh I feel a tartan feature coming on - Vivienne Westwood wallpaper anyone?