Isn't it beautiful?!?!

Weeeeeeeeeeeee my new custom designed banner from the oh so incredibly brilliant Sara Duckett of Sadie Olive design has arrived!

I couldn't be happier if I were twins! lol

In my inital brief I asked Sara if she could create something similar to her very own Sadie Olive "farmhouse" design (the one on her blog and her magazine advertisments) and this is what she came up with!

It's everything I dreamed my heading would look like and more.

Thank you a bazillion times Sara for your patience, vision, understanding and efficiency!

Thank you also Claudia from The Paris Apartment for recommending Sadie Olive design to me :)

If anyone who is clueless - like me - about web design and wants to leave it up to a professional to create something special, you know where to go!

http://www.sadieolive.com/design/index.shtml

J'adore!

(image courtesy of marie claire maison via country french antiques)

I couldn't resist posting this absolutely perfect image of a french/shabby chic style bathroom. I'm so in love with it I can barely speak.

Country French Antiques is one of my very favourite blogs and the author Shawn never ever fails to inspire me on a regular basis. Today she has featured a post on some incredibly beautiful images of her (and now my) current favourite french interiors.

You must skoot over there and enjoy!

http://euroantiquemarket.blogspot.com/

Beautiful bedding...

While continuing my research for the perfect look for my new bedroom I came across these two stunning images at Sheridan.

I love the two painted panels on ither side of the bed which could easily be mistaken for etched mirrors - Gorgeous.

In this image I love the luxurious bedding, round pillows and chandelier sconces. The She Sheridan range is made for royalty featuring 1000 thread counts and retails for a few thousand dollars. I wonder, have any of you ever slept in such luxury? I can only imagine how incredible it must feel.

Alas this is my beautiful brand new duck egg blue 350 thread count sheet set by Mercer and Reid. I personally feel like royalty sleeping on this silky soft bed linen and the colour is perfect.

(image courtesy of Lynn's Linen Loft)


Of course this is my dream bedding and probably a near future purchase lol - Ralph Lauren's Villandry Highfields. Just beautiful!

http://www.sheridan.com.au/She.html

http://www.adairs.com.au/brand.asp?id=36

Here's one for you ladies ;)

Don't get me wrong, I love my romantic interiors but this is ridiculous lol.

This townhouse is for sale in Brisbane and has had around 17,000 hits on the realestate website.

76 yr old Joan Pool has spent the last 2 years decorating entirely with roses - artificial ones!

All I can say is poor hubby! lol

(images via realestate.com)

http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rsearch?id=104707044&a=qfp&cu=fn-rea&t=res&q=Go

There is even a tea service in the ensuite

(to view the video about this house click here http://video.aol.com/video-detail/entire-house-carpeted-with-roses/2082217812)


I also wanted to briefly make mention of a lovely Yum Cha brunch my family and I went to this morning to celebrate my sister Sarah's birthday. The kids and I had a great time, thank you sista! :)

(Sarah and her beau Enrique)


(My son Will, me and daughter Sophie)

My day at The Show...

The Sydney royal easter show happens annually around the two weeks of easter and is run by the Australian agricultural society. This is a time for people from the city to the country to showcase their animals, arts and crafts and compete for top honours.

It is also a fabulous (yet unfortunately expensive) family day out with rides, entertainment, a culinary feast of gormet foods, and lets not forget the SHOWBAGS! Every childs favourite thing about the show, mine included :)

I was a little unkind and decided to leave the kids at home as usually with them, the day consists of rides, baby animals, showbags and home but this year I wanted to really take in all the show has to offer. They weren't too disappointed as they were quick to hand me the list of bags they desired lol.

The day certainly didn't disappoint with the weather being perfect and the crowds bearable. Even Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were apparrently walking around but I didn't spot them ;)

The following pics are just some of my favourite entries this year...

Incredible fruit and vegetable displays

There was a stunning array of porcelain dolls. Please excuse my unsteady hand - terrible, just terrible lol ;)

This sweet ballet slipper pink baby dress won a prize for the smocking detail

First and second prize in paper tole. I'm in awe of the delicate detail of this artform.

A lovely piece of intricate needlework

This run down old boat was my favourite painting of all that were submitted. It wasn't a prize winner but I thought it was amazing. My poor photography skills just doesn't do it justice.

The my little cupcake company had a darling display booth - so enticing!

naturally morning tea consisted of a skinny mocha and a cupcake!

Stunning show horses

Look! He's smiling at me :)

Some of the gorgeous prize winning dogs.

(bag made by pretty in pink)

My present to self for the day was this gorgeous cotton/pvc tote bag. It features the most beautiful design and almost every colour of the rainbow so it's perfect for work and will go with any outfit.

(exquisite painting by artist extraordinaire Gail McCormack)

Unfortunately the downside to my day was that I missed out on buying this! ^^ Boo Hoo :(

You gotta be so quick!

Next time ;)




http://www.eastershow.com.au/

http://www.prettyinpink.com.au/home/home

http://gailmccormack.blogspot.com/

Newest Creations

{Click picture for larger image}



$38 {SOLD}





$49

$39 {SOLD}


These are my newest designs. Hope you love them! If you would like more information on any of these, please e-mail me at melissamariejewelry@gmail.com.

French Style...

My new pal Anastasia of the Anastasia drawings and dreaming blog hooked me up with the Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine which I'd never heard of (living under a rock and all lol) but I'm sure you all know and love. I had to spread the word just incase some of you hadn't seen this months issue yet. There is a feature that almost left me speechless!

'Inspired by her sojourns to France, a self-proclaimed "mademoiselle wannabe" transforms a forgotten California bedroom into the chic Parisian atelier of her dreams' - and mine!

Pamela Blackwell enlisted the talents of Linda McFalone and Laura Ziffer of lulu Pom in Los Gatos and together the three women turned a blah extra room into a posh hideaway.

There's truly nothing I dislike about this room. It's beautiful and functional in every way. You know I LOVE the duck egg blue walls, I also love the dark timber table, The gathered linen skirt across the built in cabinet, the needlepoint louis chair, the ornate framed chalk board, the framed map of Paris and the gold, black and silver accents. I could seriously name every little detail.

I apologise for my bodgy scanned pictures but this months magazine in my opinion a a definate must buy!

While purchasing the Mary Engelbreit magazine I also couldn't resist this months Romantic Homes. The whole magazine is dedicated to 'French Style' and the stories and pics are stunning!! More wicker, patina, linen, antiques and brocante than I've ever seen in one edition before. So again for all you self proclaimed francophile's out there - like me - it's a must buy!

My favourite article was the story of Corey Amaro and her 'French Husband'. Her Parisian apartment is too die for and her blog is as equally enchanting.

http://willows95988.typepad.com/


http://anastasiac.blogspot.com/

http://www.homecompanionmag.com/

http://www.romantichomes.com/index.html

Janet Hill Studio...

(Esmarelda - Oh I would have LOVED to own this painting!)

(Eggs)

(Satin slippers)

(Slippers)

(Bath oil and pink carnations)

(The gardeners cottage)

(Linen tablecloth)


(The old hutch)


(A cushy chair)

(Venetian mirror)

(Books and roses)




Anna from Absolutely Beautiful Things made my day today with her gorgeous post on Janet Hill, a truly inspiring artist from Ontario, Canada.


Ever since my recent purchase I've found a new fondness for original art and a growing desire to start a new collection lol.


I couldn't resist posting a few of my favourite pieces of Janets stunning work.


http://janethillstudio.blogspot.com/


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5535176


http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/2008/03/interior-paintings-by-janet-hill.html