Macrame inspiration...

One of my favourite trends at the moment is macrame, either plant hangers (natural and vivid colours) and glorious bohemian wall hangings, I can't get enough!  Here's some of the most inspiring pictures I've come across and links to a couple of great books, if you want to give a go yourself.  I'm keen to have a go at a larger piece and would love any advise on where to find the natural cord (preferably in NZ).  Thanks in advance!

Four cheeky monkeys on instagram

I LOVE plants in kids rooms (as blogged about here) and this is one of the best examples I've seen, what a rad room!

via etsy

My favourite style of macrame hanging includes driftwood and lots of beautiful curves, a perfect statement piece in a lounge, or above a bed.  Next on my 'to make' list!

Here's my 'petite' first attempt.  I actually really love it, despite running out of cord, hence the staggered fringing.  It was great practice and surprisingly easy.  I used my clothes rack to hang it from while I knotted, which was perfect, I could sit on the couch with it in front of me.  I just used cord I already had from a hardware store, it was fine for this, but am after a slighter thinner one for a larger project.

For all those enjoying the resurgence of crafts, this book is for you!  Full of instructions on traditional crafting techniques, yet thoroughly modern in style, you'll love it.  Find out more here.

I bought a copy of this book off trademe, and found it covered all I needed to know, albeit in a bit more detail than I was after, at this stage anyway.  Available here.

Macrame wall hanging from MissMollyCoddle

If you're not up for making one, we sell this beauty. Perfect in all it's natural, simplicity.

Sarah x

Belly basket inspiration...

In case you needed any convincing of how fabulous these baskets are!  

They're my favourite on the website at the moment, are in almost every room of our home, but honestly, I could use one in every room, I'm just trying to practice some restraint.  

We have the white dipped ones available in a bundle buy.  

Here's a natural seagrass belly basket, I painted to match a beautiful old chair I've restored and recovered in vintage ballerina barkcloth. The basket is available for sale here, or you could paint your own to match your colour scheme. 

Here's our hallway, with one of our medium sized black belly baskets. 

I love the natural seagrass look too.  We have a deal till Thursday midnight, buy a large natural seagrass belly basket and get a medium for half price, whoop whoop!  Just enter code ''naturalbellydeal' at checkout. 

You're welcome! x

*Unless stated, images are via pinterest

My little lady in a 'little lady' coat...

A few 'action shots' from our recent photo shoot. I've got a few coats underway, so please message me if you're looking for one, or keep an eye out on our facebook page for updates. 

This wee beauty is available now and comes with a matching bonnet, it's size one and photographed on my 'bonnie' 10 month old.  I can't believe how fast she's growing,  feels like yesterday she was tucked up in a bassinet, so little and new. 

Winter 2015...

Winter 2015 x

Edens room...

Here's some pics from Edens recently redecorated room (minus her large villa window, a mammoth restoration job,  it's still on the "to do" list).  I've chosen a palette of turquoise, pink and white.  These colours were dictated by the colours in a pair of vintage ballerina barkcloth curtains I bought many years ago, bought because I knew I'd regret not buying, even though I had no window to fit them, I don't think I even had a daughter at that time.  When we shifted I crossed my fingers they'd fit her window,  it wasn't to be, so  I unpicked the curtains and painstakingly lined up the print and made them into a gorgeous duvet cover.  I'd bought some plain pink sheeting fabric from spotlight, which would have done the trick, but I found a perfect retro sheet in my stash, bright blue floral that match the blues in the barkcloth, it looks amazing.  I also had just enough of the perfect pink piping to edge it.  I love it when it all comes together after a rummage through what I've already got.

I really wanted to finish the bedhead (remember I blogged about it here?) before I showed you the duvet too, as it all ties in together. I picked the colour Resene Hippie Blue for it as it was a good match with the blue in duvet. I love mixing vintage with new and bright, but find getting the colours right is crucial, too vivid and it can just make anything vintage look old and faded, but match it just right and it can look gorgeous.  I took the colour chart to a paint shop and had a batch of fast dry enamel mixed and put in a spray can.  He did an amazing job and gave me a little extra for those inevitable chips.  I cannot imagine painting it using anything other than a spray can, it would have been an absolute nightmare.

The beautiful art deco light shade was from the kids room in our previous home.  The pink electrical cord and cast iron ceiling rose were won from Ico Traders, who I highly recommend.  Miranda was so lovely to deal with, super helpful and friendly.  Thank you so much, I absolutely love it! My amateur photography didn't really capture the pink of the shade or cable, so check out their website to see the great range of colours available.

Washi tape, ceramic bunny handles, bunny led night light (back soon), pink wall hook, felt ball garland (in store very soon) and similar ballerina cushion, all available through missmollycoddle.

Sarah x

The wonderful world of washi...

I was asked today for some ideas on how to use washi tape. Sticking mainly to gift wrapping with mine, I felt this was not really an overly inspiring answer, so I turned to my good friend pinterest, and boy did they come to the party!  Here is a round up of my absolute favourites, which you can find (for image sources too) on my new board, wonderful washi.

Love these pegs! Perfect for hanging kids artwork.

Washi + twine = gorgeous bunting wrapping!

So many uses for parties

I'm pretty budget with plasters, no princess ones in our house, I go for the plain old bulk packs, so boring I know.  This is a great way to cutesy them up for kids and a pretty cool activity too.

A very "on trend" idea for wall art.

Here's another one, very effective in white.

Love the classic look of black and white, which looks great on brown paper wrapping

and equally classy around tea lights. 

Here's my image which prompted the "inspiration" hunt.  You can see my full range here.  Feel free to comment here or on facebook with any ideas you have for washi tape, I'd love to hear them, thanks.

Sarah x

A quick wee project...

My knife block revamp & flowers courtesy of my kids... aww bless x

This knife set was a wedding gift from a good friend who had lived with us for a while and had been subjected to cooking with my hideous old cheap knifes.  Her set transformed my life... no seriously, they did. I've never been a fan of knife blocks in general though, wood seemed too plain with all my vintage accessories and stainless too modern.  So, feeling inspired by my punnet of shimmering gold paint (Resenes metallic range) I recently gave it a quick revamp.  I love the result and I love the gold with mint, gorgeous!

I sanded it lightly, masked it up, applied a couple of coats of shimmering gold paint, removed tape and applied a couple of coats of water based varnish and there you have, a bit of bling for my knife block.  Eden did a bit of painting as well, ditching her water colours for the much more enticing shimmering gold and some stones from the garden.

Here's the plain before shot, complete with bad lighting.

Have a lovely evening x