Garden Party

Last weekend kick-started a number of upcoming celebrations... and what better way to start than with a garden party!  James and I were invited to a birthday lunch last Saturday and the most glorious Brisbane weather made the outdoor setting all the more lovely.  I loved what our friends did with just a few little freshly potted herbs and some brown glass bottles filled with bright blooms. The food was deliciously fresh, there was plenty of wine and bubbly and a most decadent chocolate cake from Jocelyn's Provisions.  Of course it wouldn't be a birthday without plenty of presents to unwrap!  I knew Oi Lai wanted to begin a collection of scallop edged mirrors so I started her off with a couple I managed to track down. I couldn't help also picking up the vintage blue and white lamp base. It came up nicely after a clean and a new shade. Lastly, here is the peacock chair I promised to take a snap of. I think it has definitely found a happy home.

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A Beach Cottage

High Tea with Friends

James and I were delighted to host Angela's birthday high tea on Sunday.  Angela and I have been great friends ever since meeting in the eighth grade of high school and we've been close ever since.  James and I have held a number of afternoon teas over the years but Angela had moved to Melbourne some years back and had missed them.  Hence I wanted to hold a high tea especially for her on a very special birthday and I wanted everything to be perfect!  James transformed our little city balcony into a leafy oasis and I baked up a storm to fill the table with scones with jam and cream, cupcakes, the most enormous birthday cake with chocolate mousse icing and ribbon sandwiches.  Everything was blue and white, the lilies from the markets opened up and Caroline bought along lots of bubbly with delicious hibiscus flowers.  It was great to finally meet all the friends Angela had mentioned over the years and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves over the never ending pots of tea.  Happy birthday Angela!

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A Beach Cottage

Toile de Jouy at Montmartre

Bonjour!  We arrived back today from our whirlwind two weeks sojourn in Paris and Aix en Provence.  It was a much needed escape and we loved every minute of it!  We took something like 1200 photos so we hope to share a few of the loveliest.  However, before we go all touristy on you, I thought it would be nice to start off with these photos of the pretty Toile de Jouy fabric we came across in the little winding streets of Montmartre.  We had just climbed back down from visiting the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur and found these tiny fabric stores lined up all along one of the streets.  Beautiful rolls of Toile all sitting so bright and colourful in the cold grey Parisien weather.  I couldn't resist a few metres of a blue toile that was on sale for 5 euros per metre.  As the store lady said "C'est incroyable, non?"

Dinner Party

Last night we hosted a joint birthday dinner for James and Sandra.  We had to shift things around a little but managed to fit everyone in.  I love the hand printed tablecloths purchased from Oxfam combined with the bold red flowers.  It was the first sit-down dinner we've hosted in our new apartment for so many people.  A very enjoyable evening.

Blue & White Ginger Jars

Did I mention that I have a slight fixation with blue and white ginger jars?  This pair was a steal at $20 each.  Ah, the wonder that is eBay!  

Bamboo Style

This morning I browsed through Perfect Porches by Paula S. Wallace over toast and coffee and was inspired by all the breezy outdoor living spaces depicted within its pages full of gorgeous outdoor settings.  I hopped on to eBay to see what I could discover in the way of similar vintage settings and came across these lounges. Blue and white, natural cane and bamboo, what's not to love?! Beautiful... now we just need that beach house! If anyone wants to snap them up they are an absolute bargain.

Modern Delftware

I came across Marcel Wanders Delft Blue vases for moooi at Space and being a lover of all things blue & white I was immediately intrigued by this modern interpretation of classic Dutch Delftware.  Of course with all things Marcel Wanders there is always a wittiness in the interpretation with new shapes and forms.  I also loved the moooi marketing for the collection in the style of still life paintings by 17th century Dutch masters.

Blue & White Beach House

I was tidying up my files and came across these images I saved from who knows where and how long ago.  If anyone knows, please leave a comment!  I just love everything about these interiors, the abundance of blue and white porcelain, the mix of bamboo, cane and rattan, all the coral and seashells on display, beautiful lamps, crisp whites and natural fibres, it's just about my perfect idea of what my island beach house would be like!  I'll keep dreaming...

Chinoiserie Style Deja Vu

I guess sometimes things are meant to be.  I posted earlier last month about regretting having lost out on a Chinoiserie style bamboo desk and chair setting.  Not too long after I couldn't believe my good luck at finding a second setting and what's more in much better, almost pristine vintage condition!  Enough said I didn't hesitate at making sure I didn't let this one go.  So here it is sitting in a snug corner of our apartment.  I'm looking forwards to sitting in this little nook organising bits and pieces.

No doubt I have mentioned myriad times how much I love blue and white and lucky me I received this beautiful print as a birthday gift from Oi Lai of delicate blue and white Chinoiserie porcelain. Can't wait to get it framed, perhaps in a brass faux bamboo frame. Our birthdays are exactly one week apart and I have a lovely little something for her too but will post a bit later!

Vintage Vase Lamps

Ok, I admit I am a bit of an eBay addict.  I guess it's the feeling of being able to go "vintage shopping" at the click of a button.  Dangerous for the bank account and very addictive, I totally advise against it!  However, feelings of guilt with regards to my constant online trawling occasionally turn into feelings of satisfaction when I manage to find the perfect thing at a happy price.  This weekend I picked up this lovely pair of blue and white porcelain lamp bases from the seller for a steal and popped past a lighting store on the way back to grab a couple of plain white lampshades and voila...new(ish) lamps for our cosy apartment.  I figured it was about time I retired my pair of pink and white floral beaded lamps from my chintz-y phase!

Another Drum Stool

Although seemingly we are fast running out of clear floor space, I couldn't go past the opportunity to acquire this second vintage Chinese garden stool.  Similar to the first purchase it is also in my favourite blue and white style ceramic.  This one is lovely with its gold highlights and peony and bird motifs.  This is likely to be the last garden stool purchase for a while but I have offered to continue to keep an eye out for Oi Lai which I admit is probably really an excuse to keep looking for them.  They are just too attractive!  

Chinese Garden Stool

I finally managed to find a vintage Chinese garden stool to my liking just before Christmas.  With the help of Ruen the stool managed to arrive safely from Sydney.  I know it has been very du jour to have these stools in interiors and there are all sorts of colours and styles now available for exorbitant prices in all the designer-y interiors stores.  However, I remember them growing up in their traditional garden setting usually consisting of four to six stools in blue and white or a famille rose pattern around a matching ceramic garden table.  Call me conservative or maybe just nostalgic but I much prefer the garden stools in the styles I remember rather than these modern styles in metallics etc. The last image is one I found at an antiques auction listing site.  I do admit I like the modern Vietnamese Craft Link version second from the top.  Tammy's family in Malaysia has a beautiful setting in their garden.  I wish I had photographed it when I was visiting, must remember next time!

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Another Drum Stool

Vintage Wanderings

Well it's certainly going to be a busy day ahead with the last of the gift shopping to be done and Christmas cupcakes to make.  I did manage to go for a wander through some of my favourite vintage stores and antique centres earlier in the week on my hunt for vintage Chinese bamboo birdcages.  Not much luck on that front but I did want to post up a few of the great little things I came across on my wanderings.  The set of Foo dogs are fantastic and of course very du jour!  I love the colourful yellow vase with the blue and white ginger jar pattern too.  I couldn't leave without the pretty matching blue and white ginger jars.  It's difficult to see in the photo but they have a subtle gold trim on them.  I'm looking forwards to using them as vases and putting lots of lovely fresh flowers in them.  Happy holidays!