Bubbles for New Years Eve...

I love the simplicity of using adhesive numbers on the champagne glasses representing those anticipated last ten seconds to the new year - pass one to your friends... and enjoy! Aside, I can't believe how the hiatus of Christmas has passed so quickly again for another year! And with that I'm ready for some good times & few bubbles tonight shared with great friends...

So whatever it is that you're up to this evening I hope you have a wonderful time & a very Happy New Year for 2009. May your New Year be continually inspirational, creative, stylish and of course - Palatial! Cheers...

Image courtesy of Martha Stewart

In Love with Toile...

Today I am in love with toile prints - I was inspired by a client that has a fabulous foot stool placed at the end of their bed in red & cream toile. I particularly love toile when used with a modern bright ground colours, but also have a true fondness for the traditional toiles that lend themselves to their French heritage.

Images courtesy of Domino magazine & Studio Printworks

It's Christmas Eve....

With Christmas Eve upon us I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Christmas with your family & friends - be it that you are madly wrapping presents to the last minute, eating the cookies in lieu of Santa coming tonight,

or just having a wonderful time with your loved ones...

Many blessings & I hope that you have a truly wonderful evening under the

twinkle of the Christmas lights. Enjoy x

Image courtesy of Living Etc Magazine

Counting Down...

Counting down... Not long now to Christmas Day - with only 2 sleeps to go!

Without doubt there has been a number of parties and celebrations that we have attended over the past week in the lead up to the festive season and Christmas will be a welcomed by sitting down amongst family and friends with good food, and a few bubbles... I think that is one of the reasons I love this image it has hint of surprise and an element of anticipation - the rubbed back painted buckets filled with white heather seem to be peering out from the crisp clean lines of the lanterns. I love the use of festive colour utilised in a clean, decorative & contemporary way.

Image courtesy of Southern Living

Christmas Table & Place Settings...

Above. Sprucing it up
Above. Miniature Tree Napkin rings
Above. Personalised Initial Berries

Above. Your very own little tree

Above. Candied Ribbon Places

With so many Christmas lunches and dinners during this festive time inevitably dressing the table and place settings will come up - and so to further inspire me I found these creative and individual settings that I am sure will add a little smile to your guest's eyes when they find their spot at your table! Enjoy.

{Gorgeous} Floral Arrangements...

On the weekend we had my {little} sister, Felicity's, engagement party - she's back from London with her fiance, Alex, to celebrate with the family and their friends their engagement & Christmas with us here in Sydney.

I promised to share with you their floral arrangements that Sarah Cox - Floral Stylist, put together for the cafe tables under the marquee that we had in arranged on our parents garden lawn.....

Images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Happy Friday... Off to the Carols!

Well somehow Friday has come around again... and tonight we're off to the 'Carols in the Domain' the dress rehearsal in Sydney. Our families love going to this Sydney tradition each year - the main event is held every year on Saturday (the Saturday before Christmas) in The Domain, Sydney N.S.W. But this year we are attending the dress rehearsal - a little known thing you can do - because my (little) sister is holding her engagement party on Saturday evening at our parent's home in the garden we won't be attaendign the main event on Saturday evening [I will post photos of the beautiful floral arrangements we ordered from our family friend Sarah Cox - Floral Stylist for the event on Sunday!].

So tonight will be about singing our hearts out to favourite old carols under the Sydney stars on a picnic blanket with our family & friends - with a glass of wine, and cheese & crackers in tow! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! xx

Images from Damian White / Flickr

{More} Christmas Florals....

Above: This is the image I decided upon for this years cards - I love the detail ,

the subtle texture and the natural pattern within the petal.

The other day I posted my Christmas cards that I made for this year, and thought I would share the inspiration behind the floral images - that are my Grandmother's , aka Sarah & 'Grandma', beautiful & luscious - Hippeastrums. Their large petals in cherry tomato red, bright white, and long juicy, lime greens stems are sublimely perfect epitomising the freshness of a southern hemisphere summer Christmas

Images 'Grandma's Hippeastrums' by Sarah Verity/ Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Christmas Inspired Florals...

Having taken photos of my Grandma's Hippeastrums for my Christmas cards this year (yesterday's post) I thought I would share some of my other favourite Christmas inspired florals.

Hope you're inspired to incorporate some floral arrangements into your Christmas decorating! Enjoy....

Images courtesy of Martha Stewart

Floral Christmas Cards...

Here's a little snapshot of the Christmas Cards I made this year.... the floral image is one I photographed up at my Grandma's house in the Blue Mountains of her Hippeastrums. I just love these bulb flowers - their striking red & white stripes and bright green stems & centres, perfect for Christmas... Needless to say my Grandmother's garden is also a wondrous treat of natural delight - I always learn something about gardening when I am with her hoping to hang onto her gardening secrets!

Images - by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

{New} Fave Book... [the nest] home design

I was so excited to receive the book that I had just recently ordered - 'The Nest Home Design Handbook: Simple ways to decorate, organize, and personalize your place '. It is full of gorgeous modern, contemporary & fun styling & decorating ideas - not to mention fabulous colour combinations, you can also keep up-to-date with The Nest decor tips through their web site.

Their sister sites 'The Knot' and 'The Bump' catering for different stages of your life - might also interest you or your friends. I just bought my sister, who was recently engaged 'The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions'

Find this book on Amazon and check out 'The Nest' website

Delicious Christmas...

Peppermint drops
Peppermint Choc Cookies
Lemon Myrtle Frosted Cookies

Shortbread Rounds in a stack

Christmas Gingerbread Men

Peppermint sticks

There's nothing like freshly baked biscuits or treats from the oven - especially when they are as cute as these little numbers! I am so inspired to whip something up now over the weekend for treats over Christmas or emergency gift bags to friends who drop in unexpectedly, or as small gifts to our neighbours! Delicious - hope you enjoy!

Recipes can be found on My Recipes.com and Martha Stewart

Images courtesy of My Recipes.com and Martha Stewart

Early Christmas Present - New Fave Book for Me!

The other day I had an early Christmas splurge on myself - something I can never resist (other than shoes) Interior / Design BOOKS! I found this great book, U.S House Beautiful's 'Colours For your Home - 300 Designer Favourites' from a great design source in Sydney, The Building Bookshop at The Home Ideas Centre. It's one of those books that's small enough tot take anywhere and flick through to get quick inspriation as well as doubling as a good side table book and reference for colour mixes. All paint colours referenced are American but many of them can either be purcahsed in Australia through distributors or colour matched to other large paint companies. The other great part of this book is that well known interior designer share thweir fave colours - so you'll have so much fun further Google-ing their names and work for more inspiration!

Book Blurb.... Colors for Your Home
What transforms a room from monotone to magical? Color! So, if you're nervous about splashing that white with bright, this conveniently portable primer based on House Beautiful's most popular column will help. A convenient flexibind makes this perfect and practical to throw in your bag or car for ease while shopping

Image courtesy of House Beautiful

10 Days til Christmas.... time for wrapping gifts

Above: Modern Monochromatic Romantic Glamour wrapping in an array of patterns.I love this!

Above: Multi Candy Stripe Paper - plain paper wrapped with white & different colour lengths of

paper & ribbon to create the stripe. How fresh!

Above: Favourite fabric pieces / swatches photocopied to make wrapping paper.
How individual!

Above - Yule Log Wrapping / painted with white to effect of the wood grain - brown mailing tubes. How Original!

With only 10 days til Christmas arrives I have yet to wrap all my gifts, I have a red, white & silver theme this year and found some true inspiration from the lady that started it all - Martha Stewart....

I love these gift wrapping ideas, I hope you do too!

Images courtesy of Martha Stewart.com

With 13 Days to Go - 12 Days of Christmas Inspiration...

With only 13 Days to go til Christmas Day - I was inspired by the '12 Days of Christmas' song and came across these gorgeous '12 Days Holiday' plates from Rosanna. With each day linking to the song in a contemporary whimsical approach - each plate a work of art in itself, you could choose your favourite day or have them all - as displayed! I just love them!

Images Courtesy of Rosanna Inc

Happy Friday - Off to the Beach...

This evening we're off to the beach, to Bilgola on Sydney's Northern Beaches,

to our best friend's place for dinner to celebrate their little girl, Siena's, 2nd birthday & an early Christmas together. And in the spirit of Christmas & their gorgeous beach side location I thought this Shell Wreath image was perfect - not to mention my obsession with Christmas Wreaths!

Happy Friday & Happy Weekend! xxx

Image Courtesy of Coastal Living