Flokati rug is in the mid-mod house

I've been suffering writer's block and Jason hung up his tool belt semi-permanently over the holidays. We'd never make it in those reality TV renovating shows...given our slackness...Ha!

Anyhow, just before Christmas we acquired a new (which means used) rug for the living room. It's one of those Greek shag pile rugs called Flokati. It was time for us to mix things up a bit and become more international. And it was off to Greece we went, figuratively speaking.

Flokati rug in the living room.
It contrasts nicely with the dark timber floors.

Flokatis are handmade from pure wool in Greece and are noted for having a thick and lush pile. It's beautifully soft underfoot and the kids are more inclined to lie down on the floor when they're watching TV.

To clean it all we have to do is shake it out on the patio and give it a light vacuum. Apparently you can wash it with wool wash in a large bath tub or give it a hose. I've also read that it needs a brush every so often to keep its lush appearance.

The shag pile look is very reminiscent of the 1960s, so it is perfectly at home in our mid-century modern pad.

Buying Florence Broadhurst bed linen

It's mid-year sale time in Australia and I've finally bought the Florence Broadhurst bed linen I have always admired. As my regular readers know, it is my mission in life to never pay full retail and also to not enter a big shopping mall (they depress me).

So it was win, win all round when I discovered from a friendly commentator that Adairs online stocked some of the Florence Broadhurst range and that it gets discounted at sale time. Hooray!

The Japanese floral bed linen with Chinese Key pattern backing

I scurried to the computer and ordered the Japanese Floral quilt cover, Florence Broadhurst Chinese Key pillow cases and some random flannelette sheet set (there is free delivery until June 30).

I really love the pattern of our new quilt, although the overall quality and general finish of the product is not as great as I would have expected...which is a shame...Thank goodness it was heavily discounted...

The Chinese Key pillow cases, on the other hand, are fabulous. I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy the whole sheet set because it is just gorgeous. The sheet set I was after is now sold out.

Florence Broadhurst Chinese Key pillow cases

It is great having some new bed linen this winter. Nothing like a new quilt cover to freshen up a bedroom.

Welcome to a new sponsor Thea & Sami

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums out there!

I just wanted to give a shout-out to our brand new sponsor Thea & Sami who design and hand screen-print fabrics and linen locally in Brisbane. We are so proud to be associated with such a fine innovative business with an environmental conscience.

Using only water-based and non-toxic inks, Thea & Sami's creations are 100 per cent eco-friendly - their ethos is all about surrounding oneself with natural style. When you purchase Thea & Sami products, you can be confident that it is hand-made and not mass-produced.

Thea & Sami also make limited edition natural linen homewares such as ottomans, cushions and napery which you can purchase through their online ecostore or, if you live locally, you can pop into the Thea & Sami studio shop on Fridays (unit 1/6 Jones Road, Capalaba).

Custom made lampshades in the Fretwork pattern which is inspired by the Queenslander gable.  

If you want to find out more about Thea & Sami and the beautiful linens they produce, visit the website here.

Please help us to support the small businesses who so generously support us. 

Seeing Florence Broadhurst everywhere

I love the textiles and wallpapers designed by Florence Broadhurst. There is something so luxe and flamboyant about her designs, which originally had their heyday in the 60s and 70s in Australia.

Over the past decade or so the Florence Broadhurst collection which is owned by Signature Prints has enjoyed a renaissance with a growing presence in mainstream retail stores. Last year, Kate Spade NY successfully used the Broadhurst designs for clothing, accessories and homewares which were sold throughout the US.

Florence Broadhurst Japanese Floral canape plates by Kate Spade

For my last birthday, I was given an exquisite set of canape plates in the Florence Broadhurst Japanese Floral pattern. To say I love them, would be an understatement.

Florence Broadhurst fingers by Kate Spade iPhone cover
image from here

In Australia, Domayne online currently have a range of Florence Broadhurst bed linen and cushions that are calling my name like a siren to a scurvy-ridden sailor...although I am just waiting to see if they go on sale, as it is my mission to never pay full retail...

image from here
Imagine... I could have canapes in a matching bed!

David Jones have, as part of their 175th Anniversary, released a limited edition series of toiletry bags and accessories in the Kabuki pattern. The prices for the small cosmetic bags are very reasonable.

image from here

Next month Rapee are hopping on board the Florence Broadhurst train, launching napery and cushions that will be centred on 11 archival prints. The Broadhurst collection will be released through Australian department stores and boutique homeware retailers with premium silk jacquard, linen and cotton fabrics showcasing the amazing designs.

I'll be eyeing off some of the kitchen tea-towels and oven mitts because that's just how I roll...

Here are a few designs Rapee will have on offer in June.

Tudor floral silk  jade

Egret bag in Jade

Cockatoo double oven mitt in yellow

 Anyone else out there a fan of Florence?

Storage, cushions and meatballs

We did a quick trip to IKEA today...that is, with the kids in tow as it is the Spring school holidays. I know. What was I thinking?

Since we've been busily working on the boys' room, we needed an extra IKEA wire storage thingy for the boys' built in cupboards...but do you think I could find the one I was looking for? Unless you know the name of the design, you're stuffed!

The system we've used in the past wasn't on display and I went searching for it online but couldn't for the life of me find it. Admittedly, I was quite confident I would find it on the shelves...again what was I thinking?

In the end, I bought a completely different storage 'solution'... but failed to make sure it would fit in the cupboards. And wouldn't you know it, after 'allen keying' it into its form the stupid thing is too deep for the cupboard by a a couple of centimetres. Aye, yai, yai!

Maybe I can use it for when we renovate the laundry...because I don't fancy taking it back without all the original packing.

Anyway, all was not lost. I let the younger boys choose a cushion each for their room.

ikea cushions which the boys chose

Also, tonight we're having Swedish meatballs for dinner. (Guess who couldn't be bothered doing the grocery shopping? IKEA food will just have to do) I've never had them before, I hope they're ok...

Hoping the Kottbullars are an ok dinner option!

Just one final thing. The Master's promotion I've been spruiking here ends tonight. You can win $500 worth of vouchers to undertake your own refurbishment project. Click here to win. There's only 30 or so entries, so your odds of winning are great.

It is such a useful prize...I know that we've put our vouchers to good use...and here is a sneaky peek of part of the boys' room.

boys' room - still need to finalise a few things before it is completely done.

Some Ipswich finds and a vote for Rough Linen

I'm still banging on about how great Ipswich is...and I know that some of you have been sneaking out there to see what I've been raving about. Good on you!

Anyway, here are a couple of the treasures I found.

The first is another Japanese dolls head to put in a bowl. I know...I know...heads in a bowl is kooky but it gives my evil dark heart joy! It is from Kerrie's store ES Traders which is tucked away in Ellensborough Street.

two heads are better than one. 

The other little find was from The Vintage Advantage in Brisbane Street. That place is dangerous if you are into vintage bric a brac. I found a smoky art glass vase which spoke to me. I love its simple, yet elegant shape. It looks a bit like Whitefriars but it's not...just some old no name thing, which is still nice in my book.

smoky art glass vase

Also, on a completely different tangent I'd like to give a big shout out to fellow blogger Tricia Rose who is the mastermind behind Rough Linen, which is the most exquisite bedding made from natural linen. I covet Tricia's range of linens because of its beautiful quality and its pure simplicity - two essentials when making one's house a home.

Tricia is a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made awards and is drumming up votes to win or at least get a respectable second or third! There were 2000 entrants and she was thrilled to be in the last 100. If you know Tricia or would like to know Tricia, make sure you vote HERE!

http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/tricia-rose-1913

If you pop over to Rough Linen you can look at her beautiful range of linens. I love her video footage of how to make a bed, but Tricia and Felix stuffing a duvet cover is my absolute favourite. I could listen to their lovely accents all day long and then dive into the bed they just made! Bliss.

Visiting Thea & Sami's studio and lemon syrup cake

What a crazy busy week we've had. Hence the lack of blog posts from around here.

It was nice however to end the week with a visit to Thea & Sami which is one of Brisbane's best screen-printing design studios. Thea invited me, and a few other Brissy bloggers, to an ultra-casual morning tea in her shop/studio.

Thea's fabrics.
In the background you can see vintage chairs with her fabrics used as upholstery

I bought a few tea-towels. They are very cool.

Thea designs and hand screen-prints natural fabrics and creates linen homewares - they really are first class products. I've always admired Thea's work from when she used to create hand screen-printed clothing. She is renowned for her award winning Brisbane printed skirts that was favoured by a former Premier of Queensland (and it wasn't Peter Beattie!).

Image courtesy of Thea & Sami blog.
The skirt is no longer available but Thea still sells the  screen-print as a panel

Thea's screen-print of Brisbane is available HERE.
It is fabulous and touches my Brissy heart.

It was also great to catch up with Katherine from theoldboathouse, A-M from The House A-M Built, Annie from Red roses and crystal and of course Thea. We stuffed ourselves full of cake and sweets. A-M brought delicious carrot cake, Annie treated us to some home-made jam drops and I brought along a fantastically easy-to-bake lemon syrup cake.

Jam-drops and lemon syrup cake

I promised everyone to include the recipe here. It is a Nigella Lawson recipe from her How to be a Domestic Goddess (I think Jason bought it for me...ever hopeful he is...).


Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cake
125g unsalted butter
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
zest of 1 lemon
175g self raising flour
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk (I used Greek yoghurt because that's just how I roll)
23x13x7cm loaf tin buttered and lined

For the syrup:
juice of 1 and a half lemons
100g icing sugar


Method:

Pre-heat your oven to 180 C/ gas mark 4.
Butter and line your loaf tin well.
Cream together butter and sugar and add eggs and lemon zest, beating them in well.
Gently fold in the flour and the salt, mixing thoroughly and then add the milk (or yoghurt).
Spoon the batter into your prepared tin and bake for 45 mins or until cake tester comes out clean.

For the syrup:
Put the lemon juice and icing sugar into a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.

As soon as cake is out of oven, puncture all over with skewer and pour over the syrup. Leave cake to cool completely before removing from the tin.


Make it, because it is simply good.

Also, Thea's shop/studio, if you're interested, is located in Unit 1/ 6 Jones Road Capalaba. It's open every Friday from 10am to 4pm or by appointment. It's good to support local designers, so they are able to keep on creating. Thanks Thea!

Orange blanket

It's getting quite chilly in Brisbane as winter approaches. This usually means another wool blanket on the bed.

I found this orange blanket at the local op-shop. I bought it purely for it's 'orangeiness' and also in honour of the 2012 Pantone colour of the year: Tangerine Tango. 

Some would be appalled at buying second-hand bedding (ie Jason), but I try not to use my imagination when it comes to such things. I focus on the benefits of sleeping with wool. A wash and an airing does wonders too.

I bought a new wool blanket a couple of years ago from Target and it is not as well-made as this old blanket. The weave is looser and the quality is inferior when compared with the old one. 

So, the op-shop one is a winner - cheap as chips and in a colour that suits my aesthetic.

Vintage orange blanket
As you can see, I fail in ironing pillow slips...

Orange blanket

Retro style cushions

It's been mentioned out there in Blogtopia that to under-cushion is a deadly sin. It slots in at number two position, between Lust and Greed in the lifestyle blogger's bible.

Retro cushions

Beautiful embroidered fabric repurposed into a cushion

My mate Melissa has been fighting the good fight against under-cushioning and has made a selection of handsome one-of-a-kind cushions. She uses mostly vintage fabric, which she has collected over the past decade or so, to create unique soft furnishings. Her vintage fabric collection is amazing - I particularly like the fabulous barkcloth fabric Melissa has in her storeroom.

Melissa's also putting the love back into unloved chairs and giving them a new lease on life. Aren't they happy and fun pieces for the home?

upcycled chair with vintage barkcloth  upholstery

upcycled chair with new upholstered seat 

If you are in Brisbane, Melissa will be selling her wares on Saturday 19 May at a small market to be held at St Joachim's Church Hall, Crown Street in Holland Park from 2pm to 4pm. She's selling lots of cushions, the chairs above and handmade sun hats amongst other things. You can call/text Melissa on 0447 517 492 if something in particular caught your eye.




Disclaimer
* I may possibly receive a bottle of wine for my blogging services....it depends if Melissa sells anything as a result of  this blog post. Ha!

Indecisive cushion

My Mum made a cushion for our bedroom.

It's from some fabric which I've had for ages. I won it in a blog giveaway from Melbomba's etsy shop. I'm not a seamstress so it was quite idiotic of me to enter it in the first place. Call me a giveaway junkie.

hand printed green bellbird design on linen by Melbomba

hand printed lily design on linen by Melbomba

This is where the indecisiveness from the title comes in...

I couldn't decide what backing I should use for this fabric for cushions. So I decided that they shall back each other. I effectively have two cushions in one now. If I tire of green bellbirds one week, I can switch it to blue lilies with absolutely no effort.

Fabric designed by Mel Bombardiere can be found HERE. She has other colours and designs in her store, so be sure to check it out if you like her Scandinavian inspired designs.

Outdoor cushions

Things never happen in a hurry around here, but they do eventually happen. Like these outdoor cushions re-purposed from retro curtain fabric I salvaged from my Mum's junk room .

Remember when I talked about the fabric here?

Well, they are now a reality. My friend Melissa, who is part of Seamstress and the Daughters and sells her wares at various craft markets around Brisbane, kindly whipped up theses fantastic cushions, custom-made for our bench seats. They are brilliant and not only in colour!

The cushions have ties sewn into the side seams which then secure the cushions onto the seats. They are also the perfect cushioning - not too flat, not too puffy. We have used them for a couple of events which we have hosted on the deck.

The cushions are not weatherproof as they are made from normal fabric, although I will scotch guard them for spills and stains. I'm happy enough to store them indoors when they are not in use. Anyway, they are made from old curtains so I don't have to be particularly precious with them - it's good they have been given a second life.

Melissa can be contacted on 044 751 492 if you like and appreciate her work. As well as making cushions from reclaimed fabric, she also makes and sells fabulous sun hats. 

Italian military blanket

I picked up an old Italian military blanket to keep us warm this winter. It will come in handy in this draughty Queenslander on those cold nights.

Italian military blanket
That's number 3 son getting into the picture!!

Who needs to go to Target when you can buy at an Army Disposal?  Right?

Actually, most of our blankets are from Target, but I thought I'd mix it up a bit with some vintage military drab in this mostly male household. And since I have an Italian father, it didn't seem too unpatriotic...

The blanket is very heavy and is 100% wool. It wasn't terribly expensive given its quality. However, it does reek heavily of naphthalene, so it will need a few days on the line to lose its strong scent.

Apart from the moth ball smell, I'm very happy with it!

Barkcloth cushion and Best Australian Blogs scandal

A groovy new cushion led Son #1 to clean up his room. Hallelujah!

He sorted his toys and books, threw out old school work and removed all the forgotten bits and pieces he had stored under his bed. We can now confidently walk into his room without trampling on a colony of Storm Troopers.

Groovy barkcloth cushion (are they Roman horses or Greek?) with new polka dot pillow case

Keeping it real with the crinkly covers.

The new cushion cover was a gift from Jo at Desire to Inspire. Vintage Roman/Greek horses on barkcloth. It looks fantastic. Thanks Jo!

As you can see, I also got my package of polka dot cushions a few weeks ago. They have worked out brilliantly and I would be happy to recommend them if you were looking for affordable polka dots.

Day Four of the Australian Best Blogs Competition 2011

It is day four of the Campaign and all is not looking well.

My Campaign Manager, Make Mine Mid Century has been busy strategising, but her good work could all be for nothing...We could not have prepared for the breaking-as-I-type scandal.

Yes, you heard. A scandal.

Apparently some old pictures of dear Jason have emerged on the Internet. It's just dreadful timing.

This is not the forum to go into the specifics. Let's just say photographs of an alcohol-fuelled nudie run through ikea in the late 90s have somehow managed to rear their ugly head.

I now understand why Jason is always reluctant to accompany me to ikea! Oh the embarrassment! It makes Kevin Rudd's strip club adventures look positively tame.

Jason has ceased all go-go dancing lessons and has gone into hiding. If the media get whiff of this, I would suggest our certain victory is looking less certain.

This is a time when we need to bunker down and focus on policy, policy, policy. How will we get the popular vote to win Best Australian Blog 2011?

Polka dot pillowcases

To alter that famous line in the movie The Sixth Sense [long pause, hoarse whisper]:


"I see polka dots."

And it's not from low blood pressure. To be more precise, it is polka dot pillowcases that I see, which makes me think we need some at the Sow's Ear.

Unfortunately sewing is not in my lexicon or range of skills. Because if it were, I'd be making polka dot pillowcases for my three boys. In truth, there is only so much domesticity that I can handle...

My mind's eye tells me the polka dots have to be a certain size and distance apart. This point is very important as not all polka dot cushions are equal.

Polka dot pillowcase 
Image courtesy of here

Castle do a range of lovely polka dot pillowcases. They are 100% cotton and made in Australia. The entire shop has an elegant range of bed linen. Take note that the polka dots are not on the the diagonal which is why they have a more modern feel. Very classy.

Polka dot pillowcases
Image from here

Pop by Sheridan have recently released a range of pillowcases which are quite nice. Take note that these dots are on the diagonal and are more traditional looking.

They are 60% cotton/40% polyester but the price is reflective of that point as they are quite affordable. At the moment, there is free shipping in Australia which makes it even more attractive. There is no mention as to where they are made, but I suspect our overseas friends are involved.

As I am El-cheapo (note well, the capital E) and like free postage, I bought three different coloured Pop pillowcases. They should arrive later this week. I'll test them out for you, with my boys being the guinea pigs. I'll also let you know whether you should bother with them.

I'm good that way.

Boxing Day 2010

Boxing Day 2010 in Brisbane has been miserably wet.

It started off well with Panettone for breakfast with our morning coffee.

Panettone. It wasn't as nice as the one we had on Christmas day. This one was too dry...we still ate it though!

Afterwards, Jason decided he should tackle painting our master bedroom which has been in a confused state of custard cream and stark white for the past eight months.

This is a picture of our bedroom as it looked a day or so ago.
I bought new Orla Kiely pillowcases on sale a week ago at Myer. I blatantly copied this look from Captain KK. Thanks Captain!

See what I mean by confused. This is a really old and daggy photo, but it shows the half-arsedness of renovating a bedroom.

Today was the day to finally finish what was started when the windows were renovated all those months ago. I can't wait! 

It will be really good to have a nice bedroom.

Shirtless Jason preparing the drop sheets for the walls and floors. This photo is dedicated to Jane, whom I hope is recovering well after surgery.x

Tarped up!

Florence cushions and a thank you

All my Florence Broadhurst cushions, kindly donated by the fabulous Jo from Desire to Inspire, have been sewn and stuffed. 

I outsourced the sewing to my beautiful friend N, who did not get cross with me when I pinned all the zips incorrectly. She took pity and showed me how it should be done.

There are so many cushions!! I've read that it is a sin to "undercushion" in Blogtopia, so this will rectify the situation somewhat. So, if you can undercushion, surely you can overcushion?

Lots of Florence Broadhurst cushions

N slaving away at the sewing machine

And a big thank you to Make mine Mid-Century  for the parcel I received in the post. I won her giveaway to celebrate her 100 readers. Way to go MmMC!

MmMC writes an hilarious blog about her love for mid-century (she has great Bitossi ceramics pieces, by the way), family fun and studying law.

In my parcel, there was a cool red bracelet by ruby luxe which I love. Red is my colour of choice for my accessories. How did you know? I also received The Little Prince which I am ashamed to say I have never read. And a cute little badge to pin on my hoodie!

Don't you love the Eames chair stamped on the card? Very stylish! Thanks so much again!!

The bounty.
I would flunk hand model school but gee that's a cute bracelet.