Island Life Inspiration

I have been browsing through the pages of India Hicks and David Flint Wood's Island Life recently to gather inspiration for my upcoming birthday lunch by the beach.  The images always has me daydreaming about visiting the Caribbean.  Hence these recent vintage purchases have been largely influenced by my tropical musings... palm tree prints and pineapple lamps... and of course the obligatory blue and white ginger jar I couldn't pass up for a steal!  I'm pondering whether to spray paint the pineapple lamps white... thinking, thinking...

Perfect Peacocks

Today I went for a quick wander through New Farm Antique Centre followed by James Street to pick up some coffee.  Peacock chairs ruled the day as everywhere I turned they seemed to be featuring in display windows.  I loved the vintage natural rattan one from the antique centre more than the new white one at Magnolia (sorry for the reflections...) but they are both perfect, the detail is amazing. Last year I came across two vintage matching and very ornate peacock chairs online for a steal and convinced friends to purchase as we have no space and I couldn't bear the thought of never seeing them again if they were sold to someone else!  I have to remember to take a snap next I'm at their place...

Espresso Del Lago

Currently listening to Yeki.  It's a little electronic for a Sunday morning however it does flow well.  Anyway, it's just what I need to get the ideas flowing here at our makeshift home office (our living room).  Pens out, lines to be drawn, a design to emerge.  Now I feel like a coffee...

Tennis & Roses

A lovely friend of mine invited us to catch up with her and her husband over a game of tennis and a glass of Pimm's.  I'm a total novice but we were lucky enough to be able to play at her childhood home's grass court. It rained a little during our game but we managed to avoid getting drenched to finish our doubles game.  Enough said I need a lot more practice!  The beautiful Queenslander style home also has lovely grounds and some beautiful blooms were out in the rose garden.  I couldn't resist taking some snaps of all that colour as well the pretty lavender.

Chinoise Chic

Another image I love from a recent issue of Lonny... am having a serious I heart moment with this shelter e-zine!  Love the drawers with the decorative Chinese handles, the bamboo motif mirror frame, all the books and perfume and the blue and white porcelain of course!  I only wish my dresser was so neat!

Bar Style

I came across this image in Lonny recently and love the style of this casual bar...  kind of vintage industrial using an old laundry trolley.  Love the display of mismatched plates trailing up the wall too...

Australian Writers

One of my favourite ABC TV programs when I manage to catch it is the First Tuesday Book Club.  I've been buying books in transit at airport newsagents and came across David Malouf's Ransom which I remembered from one of the shows.  It is Malouf's take on one of the key events in Homer's Iliad and I found it a fascinating and moving read.  I also loved Alex Miller's Lovesong set in Paris and Melbourne, another purchase at the airport. I've always found Australian writers to have a voice I feel I can relate to so much more for obvious reasons.  On a different tangent is Australian stylist Sibella Court's Etcetera which I purchased on a wander through Mary Ryan's last weekend and love for it's beautiful photographs of interesting tactile interiors... so many books, so little time!

Market Flowers & Penan Baskets

The Powerhouse markets were on yesterday but we only just managed to get there before the stalls started to pack up at midday.  I arrived back from my monthly work stint in Adelaide at midnight on Friday so I slept past my usual up-and-at-it time.  Saturday was a glorious day in Brisbane and after we picked up all the fruit, vegies and flowers we needed I convinced James I needed to quickly dash in to Black + Spiro to check out their annual much anticipated sale.  Obviously 12.30pm was after the fact as the place was almost completely emptied with SOLD stickers on practically everything.  I was happy with my market flowers anyway. The pressed glass goblets in the photo I picked up from a Paddington thrift store last Saturday for a couple of dollars each... my thrifting for the week!

I finally got around to hanging up the Penan rattan baskets Angela gave me from her trip to the jungle villages in Borneo.  They are so very beautifully made, all naturally dyed and hand woven.  I love them too much to use them for anything but display!  The Penan use them for carrying everyday items and for gathering food from the jungle.  We had a look at the possibility of setting up a fair trade scheme to import these baskets for sale in Brisbane but it looks like it's not going to be the simplest thing. I think they would definitely sell very well seeing they are just lovely...

Paris... I miss you!

A good friend of mine is currently spending three months travelling through Europe and sent me this photo yesterday from atop the Centre Pompidou... lucky thing!  I have never been to Paris in the Spring.  This is certainly a much sunnier and greener view than when we were there...

The Sardine Tin

A couple of weeks ago we met up with friends for a quick bite before seeing Herbie Hancock at QPAC. The Sardine Tin is a small tapas and wine bar just a few minutes walk from the theatre.  The food was fantastic and so moreish, too yummy to stop for photographs!  We ordered all the day's specials and a few more, everything came out at lightning speed.  I loved the way they wrote reservations out in chalk on their metal tables.  We're looking forward to going back to try a few more off their tapas menu.

Image source:
http://6lumens.com/blog/2011/01/sardine-tin/

Mirror Mirror

Our task for last weekend was to put up our newly acquired vintage mirror.  After some difficulty we finally managed to get the darn thing up having underestimated how heavy it was.  We discovered a new appreciation for ornate mirrors during our trip to France and decided we would hunt for one to go above James' inherited sideboard.  It arrived from Sydney four weeks ago but it's been so hectic that the mirror remained lying next to our front door all this time... I love the decorative frame, especially the woven motif at the sides... reminds me of a classic Bottega Veneta leather handbag!

Easter Baking

Good friends of ours moved into their new house over Easter.  James had a hand in the design so we were keen to see the finished result.  Hence we decided to pay a visit with afternoon tea in hand to have a sticky beak and also offer them a brief respite from all the unpacking and cleaning.  I baked a batch of scones followed by a coffee walnut tea cake to take with us.  One of the advantages of having a longer weekend is definitely the chance to do some baking and then to enjoy the resulting goodies with friends...

Tuesday Touring

Making the most of our Tuesday public holiday we packed a picnic hamper before heading off for the Brisbane Valley.  We meandered our way through the lush Brisbane Forest Park stopping for morning tea of homemade scones and tea atop Mt Nebo.  Then to Esk via Lake Somerset for a late lunch.  The striking scents of the forest, the birdsong and the lakes made for tranquil surrounds.  Our destination for lunch was a park where the old Esk railway yard used to be, the old station a great centre piece.  For lunch we had pasta and tea cake for dessert.  I love fresh pasta and this one, prepared with asparagus, tomato and zucchini from the Saturday markets, was definitely a favourite.  I didn't think to take photos of lunch... too tasty.  Anyway, having enjoyed the last patches of warm sunshine we returned home before late afternoon showers washed the day away.

Sharing with:
A Beach Cottage

Bilinga Beach

We managed one more trip to the beach this weekend and it possibly may be the last swim we get in before the weather cools down much more.  There was definitely a chill in the air as the late afternoon sun tracked across the sky.  I admit we are so lucky to be able to enjoy the beach into late Autumn here and I really do think we have some of the most beautiful beaches.

The annual Anzac Day parade through our city is about to start at the top of our street.  It's a day of remembrance for those who fought on another much more distant beach 95 years ago...

Market Days

As you probably already know, I love market days at the Powerhouse especially when it's a clear crisp Brisbane morning.  Jan Power's markets have been established for over a decade now and apparently Gourmet Traveller recently ranked the markets 22nd in Australia and 1st in Queensland in their Top 100 Gourmet Experiences poll.  Whenever I can I try to get there every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, but you have to get there either quite early or rather late as the mid morning crowd surges to the point of barely being able to move an inch or two at a time!

What I love is that there's always something new that catches my eye; a new stall or display, the changing produce coming into season and then there are always the favourites to return to.  The first image is of the French Sin stall which I find the most tempting with it's beautiful marquee and freshly baked viennoiseries.  One particular fruit and vegetables stall which is a favourite goes to such effort to display everything on lovely old crates, worn timber shelves and rattan baskets.  Yesterday James and I left laden with fresh vegies, an armful of lilies and of course our mandatory pain au chocolat and pain au raisin.  I would love to know if you have similar markets where you live and what they're like!

I hope everyone is enjoying a lovely Easter.

Spots & Stripes

Another birthday is coming up... mine!  We had lots of fun last night making invites for a lunch we're holding in June.  I found these cute envelopes and mini paper lanterns yesterday from Typo that were perfect.  We got out the vintage Olivetti typewriter my brother gave me and made many typos ourselves trying to tap out everyone's addresses with a glass of bubbly by our sides.   James was convinced he was doing an efficient job but I was not agreeable!

A French Garden

I love our little city apartment but I do daydream about the possibilities of one day having extensive, sprawling gardens. Only the hardiest plants survive the drying conditions of being up high so pretty, delicate flowering things are basically a no-go.  We stayed at a hotel called Le Pigonnet during our visit to Aix en Provence and when we weren't out and about, being able to wander through or sit and read in their beautifully kept gardens was one of the loveliest things about the hotel. It made me want a large, leafy garden even more.  It was winter and nothing was in flower, many of the vines were bare but there was a wonderful tranquility and stillness to the garden... especially in the wintery late afternoon sun.

Sharing with:
A Beach Cottage

Time for Reading

Last night I finished reading Paul Johnson's biography Churchill which I thoroughly enjoyed.  While a short read it really does capture the liveliness of the man and has made me want to learn more.  I picked up this book at Changi Airport having just finished Perfume, my travel companion through France. Helen gave me Tender is the Night as part of my Christmas present which I enjoyed but found rather sad.  Much in the same way as I felt having read The Great Gatsby I suppose.  But all have been well worth the ride.  I do feel a little sad to have parted with the characters I met in these books.  My old boss travelled a lot and almost always had a book with him.  He once said to me that books are a friend you take on your journey.  Now I look to find a new one.

Beautiful Film

I watched Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon again recently.  The film is based on Thackeray's novel and it really must be one of the most visually stunning films ever made.  Every scene is like an 18th century painting and Marisa Berenson is so luminescently beautiful as Lady Lyndon.  The lighting, set design and costumes are all a feast for the eyes not to mention the score.  Has anyone seen this film and love it as much as I do?

Market Days

I love sunny Saturday mornings spent wandering about the Powerhouse Markets.  It is so refreshing after a week spent in an air-conditioned office and the fact that the skies cleared enough for a little sunshine to appear made me all the more glad to get out and about.  While James caught up with Stuart for breakfast at Lady Marmalade, I met up with Caroline for a market breakfast of my favourite pain au raisin from the French Sin patisserie stall and a Merlo coffee to clear the cobwebs before meandering our way through the produce stalls.  Fresh figs, basil, rosemary, mushrooms, garlic, semolina pasta and big bunches of pink asters were my picks.  The flower lady called her asters recovery flowers as they were the first plantings to bloom after the Queensland floods.  After posting about Parisian macarons during the week I was reminded to try the local market macarons... and they did not disappoint! Tiramisu, Lavender and Pistachio, yum!  Oh dear...