Bicycle Fun

Anton brought around the finished product on Saturday evening which was very exciting for me.  Thank you Anton!  I just had to give it a ride the following day.  It was fun.  I also decided to purchase this cool brass bell from manufactum.com which I look forward to adding.  I figure that it's got old school cool factor to match Grandpa's bicycle.  The next accessories will be front and rear lamps though I really have to start thinking about Helen's bicycle!

Rattan Wreath

Christmas is nearly upon us once again, I can't believe how quickly this year seems to have gone.  The decorations are well and truly up at all the retailers and along the city streets.  I decided to forego a store bought wreath by grabbing a few bits and pieces from my crafty stash and quickly put this simple wreath together. I think I quite like the result actually, some crafting cane, some remanent twine and ribbon and bits of shell with holes worn through. Of course it's shells and rattan once again, very predictable of me I know!

Fabric Love

How beautiful are these fabrics! Ok, so I have a weakness for all the rattan in the styling as well but the upholstery is definitely on the wishlist for all the rattan furniture I seem to be accumulating.


http://www.thibautdesign.com/

Sunday in the Gardens

While in Toowoomba a couple weeks ago we had enjoyed a continental breakfast on the verandah where we stayed followed by a morning stroll through the Toowoomba Japanese Garden.  I enjoyed watching the families of ducks, Helen especially liked the little ducklings.  A lone white duck put on a bit of a display washing itself while the turtles seemed to be rather interested in watching us.  It was a rejuvenating Sunday morning.

The Great Gatsby

Ok, so I'm definitely in a reading groove now.  Last night I finished reading The Great Gatsby which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I love the sense of excitement and glamour of the parties as well the mystery that exists around the gentlemanly character called Gatsby.  Feeling inspired to keep on reading and perhaps something a bit closer to home this time.  I think my next book will be Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.

Crime and Punishment

Last week I picked up Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment again after having put it down almost a year ago.  For a long while I had thought I wasn't much of a reader and never would be however it would seem not so.  Every time I picked up this book I was disappointed to have to put it down.  I suppose it was a completely different world to immerse myself in. One of a completely different place, time and condition and yet very human.  The book does paint a very morbid but real picture of humanity. Why I picked this book to read as opposed to any other I'm not sure, perhaps it was the bold and geometric cover. Anyway, I am certainly thankful to have read it.  Now to decide on the next read...

Evening Blaze

Another thing I really enjoyed about our stay in Toowoomba, sitting by the fire with a glass of wine.  Soo cosy and novel for me.  Of course there is no need for a fireplace in Brisbane with our benign climate. Here the fire is dying down a bit... perhaps I should have taken a photo while it was actually ablaze.

Picnic & Vacy Hall

It has been a hectic two weeks and once again the weekend is upon us.  Last weekend James and I made a trip up to Toowoomba to attend Lachlan and Bec's engagement picnic.  Perfect weather made for a very enjoyable afternoon in the park. We stayed overnight at Vacy Hall and just loved this historic mansion full of nostalgic grandeur. I had to snap some of the details to remember it by. The expansive verandahs furnished with an abundance of cane and rattan furniture were just beautiful as were the hydrangea at every turn. A perfectly set breakfast on the verandah with silver and linen was an indulgent start to Sunday morning.

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!  

Sunday Lunch

It's been a mad busy week with a busier one ahead.  We decided to take some time out for lunch today and took the opportunity to pay the recently opened South Bank Surf Club a visit.  South Bank was packed with weekend revellers.  We were able to grab a table on the river side deck and enjoyed a relaxed lunch overlooking the Sunday markets and riverside pool areas. We picked up some chocolate from Max Brenner afterwards which also opened recently. There was certainly an endless queue for tables.  Churros from the market was a much shorter wait and very delicious!

Image source:
http://www.loveisaroundtheworld.com/
http://local.my247.com.au/

Mirror Balls

Anton pointed me to these Tom Dixon mirror ball lights the other day.  They are fantastic!  They look good individually, in a row or even better, in clusters.  This installation is pretty cool.  We like the contrast of the super crisp mirror balls against an industrial backdrop.  The backrop is almost too busy for me, it almost overpowers the installation.  Still cool though.  They would look great suspended over an expansive staircase.


Image source:
www.dedece.com

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.

More Jazz...

While on the jazz theme I thought I'd mention this Herbie Hancock/Joni Mitchell album.  We've been listen through a number of my jazz records today.  I picked up River shortly after it's release and of course it is another of my favourite albums.  I first heard Herbie as a kid and played his stuff in jazz combos in my teens.  The second track Edith and the Kingpin with Tina Turner is a particular favourite.  It gets me grooving every time I hear it.  If Tina was to come to Brisbane performing an all jazz set I'd be there in a shot.

Kurt Elling Plays the Powerhouse

From the first note this evening we knew we were in for a treat.  Kurt and his rhythm section put on a solid and fun show.  One vocal solo sounded as if here were playing a saxophone.  Gob smacking good if you ask me!  Definitely worth all the excitement.

Dedicated to You

With Kurt Elling performing in Brisbane tonight it's no coincidence that I'm currently listening to Kurt's album Dedicated to You.  I am soo looking forward to this gig.

Mt Cootha Sunset

Photos taken yesterday at Mt Cootha lookout.  Just a slight detour on the way home from the bay.  It was unusually chilly up there for mid October.

Rock Wall

Here's some rocks down at Wellington Point... and Helen's foot...

Seashells by the Seashore

While wondering about the sandy shores at Wellington Point I found a number of beautifully weathered seashells and just loved their faded colour.  Examining their structure is always such an amazing thing.  I love a bit of beachcombing...

Sunday Bayside

After a couple weeks of rainy weather the clouds passed and beautiful sunny weather came our way.  Just in time for the weekend.  This afternoon we decided to make a dash for Wellington Point and see if we could walk across the sandbar to King Island.  Unfortunately we arrived with the tide coming in and while some decided to wade toward the disappearing sandbar we decided to go for a stroll amongst the mangroves.  Though the point was full of humanity we had the mangroves all to ourselves.

Adore Home

All the local shelter blogs are enamoured with this new online home interiors magazine and I must admit it's great to have a local e-zine featuring local design and products.  I guess it's like having our own Australian version of a Lonny style magazine.  These are some of my favourite pages from the first issue of Adore Home featuring a home in Dubai full of natural light, orchids, and chinoiserie.  We spotted a pair of similar Chinese lamps in an antique store's window on Logan Road last weekend but at something like $550.00 each they weren't exactly a steal! 

http://www.adoremagazine.com/