Inspired. Make Marks Daily.

Make Marks Daily.

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Make Marks Daily 

I recently read a great article in #AustralianCountryStyle (from Summer January 15 issue) on ceramicist and artist Claire Atkins. As I began reading her story it felt familiar - mainly because her quest & commitment over the course the year for 2014 was to 'Make Marks Daily'.It was this familiarity became apparent as I learnt that we are from same alumni design school, the College of Fine Arts UNSW in Paddington Sydney, also known as CoFA. Whilst Claire a '95 graduate and I a '99 grad we most likely shared a number of the same teachers & professors across the studies we undertook.  
I love this concept, it spurns you to immediately create without being precious about what exactly. It is simple.

It heralds back to teachings I received (most likely from the same professor as Claire) from the once head of school and now assoc dean of international art, and expert ceramicist (Dr.) Vaughan Rees (hails from Australian art royalty also, is the nephew of Australian artist Lloyd Rees).
So this is my small tribute to #MakeMarksDaily - would be a very interesting surface print... It has inspired me to get my

shed in order and set up my studio - soon!
 

Thanks #ClaireAtkins & #AustralianCountryStyle for sharing the inspiration.

Enjoy,

 Sarah - #PalatialLiving
 

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Images: (1) - via #pinterest; (2 - 6) images via Claire Atkins FB page #pinky&maurice contemporary ceramics https://www.facebook.com/PinkyMauriceContemporaryCeramics?fref=photo 

 

For more details please visit:  
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/makemarksdaily

  https://www.facebook.com/PinkyMauriceContemporaryCeramics?fref=photo

 

The Christmas - New Year Holidays....

It' been a little while between posts - I hope you have been keeping well and inspired! I have missed you ...

Lots has been happening on my side with jobs, family, house renovations & landscaping and I have embarked on more study - certifications in business & management, and diploma in marketing! With that I have been updating my business website & the Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions facebook page - please visit and like me!

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed your Christmas with your family and friends... and the Summer [in Australia] and the Winter [in the Northern hemisphere- for my sister and her family].

This Christmas was especially fun as our little 2.5year old Isabelle really got the jist of it all including Santa and the idea of the Nutcracker guarding the gifts! Christmas is magic once again with little ones...

 

And you're enjoying a little rest over these holidays and gearing up for a fun new years!

Take care - Enjoy,

 

images via Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living SOlutions & homelife.com.

Australian Country Style - photography Prue Ruscoe - styling Shannon Fricke

Loving Pale Blue & White Festive Decor...

Just a few of my favourite pale blue & white Christmas [inspired] images that I have been collecting lately that I wanted to share with you.

Can you tell that I love this theme too... Maybe for next year? Enjoy,

images via homelife.com.au Australian Country Style; my home ideas, elle decor, coastal living & country living.

A Bit of Christmas...

I thought I'd start sharing some snippets of Christmas, my December 2010 Christmas issue of Australian Country Style just arrived last week and I am loving all the gorgeous magazine Christmas covers. I have started a Christmas cushion project to 'festive-up' my couch cushions, nothing worse than not having enough cushions - although all my family & friends would laugh at that - they mostly can't fit on the couch amongst all the cushions!

So here's a little peek of the fabrics I'm going to use, in my said 'peppermint red & white' colour scheme for this year... Stay tuned - I will reveal all very soon!

images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home+Garden Living Solutions

Pink is for October Too!

Pink is the colour of October - Why? Not only is it a fabulous colour that teams with so many other colours through design, fashion, art, interiors, food & the affliate colour for girls & women, it is the official colour for Breast Cancer Awareness, and its 'Pink Ribbon' campaign.

You don't need to know anyone who has had breast cancer to be touched by it - by just contributing to the prevention and research for a cure - helps all. I have been touched by it - not directly, but indirectly - with a great aunt, and now with news last week of my best friend's mum who has been in remission for close to15 years is now off to have a biopsy, and preparing for treatment again on a 'new' side where the doctor's have found it's come back again. Words we just don't want to hear. But with your help and early detection, and support -  there is a positive light and fight in it.

So I urge to contribute in any way possible to help in fund raising, hosting a morning or afternoon tea, 'wearing pink to work day' at he office, holding a movie night, ask people to sponsor for going pink in some way! Or just buying a Pink Ribbon. However & whatever you do you will be contributing to the prevention & cure.

Monday 25th October is the official Pink Ribbon day - but you don't have to wait til then - get your Pink on and start today to make your October a Pink one!

Extract from Pink Ribbon Day website...

Did You Know .... 'One in every nine Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85. It could be a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece or friend. Whoever they are, one thing they have in common is that they will all need our help and support.

This October, Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day is your chance to help raise money and awareness for all Australian women affected by breast cancer.

For as much as we do to help improve survival rates and treatments, the fact is there is still so much more to be done in the fight against this terrible disease.

Show your support for breast cancer by ordering pink products to sell, volunteering your time to help, buying pink, holding a pink fundraiser, or making a donation.'

For Australian residents - click here on how you can get involved. Or buy pink or make a donation then click here to go to the official Pink Ribbon Day website.

Other merchandise can be found at these Australian locations - Where can I find pink products?

Look out for our Pink Ribbon stalls across Australia throughout October and on Pink Ribbon Day, Monday, October 25th.

Pink products are available across Australia for the month of October from our supporting national outlets: Amcal, Autograph, BeMe, Best & Less, Crossroads, Curves, Millers, Rockmans and Wombat.

images from Australian Country Style October 2010 issue, & Country Living [US].

Something About Typeface...

[1] Australian Home Beautiful August 2010

[2] Australian Country Style July 2010

[3] Wood Block Printing Letters, Rust - Avalon

I am in love with typeface 'letters', I know they have been on trend for a little while now but nothing says 'personal' when you add your own initial or a monogram to something that's yours - be it a living or office space, a bed head, to a book or a pillow/ quilt set! And these images from recent interior mags now proves to me that I need an 'S' for my design area, and maybe a 'V' too.

I particularly love our zinc green number '9' that my best girlfriend bought us from [fave store]  Rust in Avalon, as a special wedding anniversary present for our first home. The other day I bought my daughter Isabelle a capital 'I' from a children's store, I think it's getting a lick of 'Raspberry paint and being hung with a Pisatchio grograin ribbon above her cot....now for mine, I think an 'S' and a 'V' for Verandah too!

For more wooden letters & numbers be sure to check out madeit.com.au & etsy.com  

Images viz [1] Australian Home Beautiful August 2010 & [2] Australian Country Style July 2010, and Rust -  Avalon 

Folkloric Colour Splash...

[images 1,2, &3] Australian Counrty Style June 2010 issue 

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image 4 - courtesy of black*eiffel

Colour Splash... I'm in love with the June '10 issue of Australian Country Style, especially with several stories in the issue - one in particular on the home of the Van Loon & de Colomb de Daunant family located in the idyllic south of France near Saint Remy de Provence and ...here their home shows beautiful simple furniture pieces combined with splashes of [my favourite colour combinations] - vermilion orange, ruby red, cerulean & china blue with off white, white & dark walnut -teak stain timbers. Whilst I was blog watching I also came a gorgeous stamp that Black Eiffel posted from her stamp collection and I just love it - would love this as a large framed poster, perfect colour combo for my living area! S x

Images from Australian Country Style June 2010 issue, Black Eiffel, & Ikea

Home Is Where The Heart Is...

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I'm home now with our precious baby girl, Isabelle, and I am sure glad to be out of hospital, in the surrounds & comfort of my own home [not to mention bigger laptop & interior mags]! It is truly amazing the emotional & physical pull that our homes have on us... the comfort of familiar smells, touch, and visual recognition can make all the difference to our sense of well being. It is with these ever so important sensory levels that by changing, updating, and styling our homes [living spaces] to a genuinely pleasing aesthetic that can make all the difference to how we function, and connect with who we live with...What are some of the things you have done to add to or make your house a more personal space - a home, your home?

Enjoy your Home, Love your Home! S x

Images from Australian Country Style May 2010 issue - 'Decorating - Pale & Pretty' pg 84

Flowers for Friday...

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Flowers for Friday - this week are from a wonderfully inspirational spread from Australian Country Style, April 2010 issue. Here a beautiful 'neutral' floral arrangement is utilised by extracting the colours from this gorgeous arrangement into an inspirational, livable natural mood & colour palette.
I'm super excited for this weekend - tomorrow afternoon - I am having my Baby Shower with lots of family & friends attending.. And with my Mum as host & caterer extraordinaire & my best girlfriend, Alisa, as Shower Event & Games Organiser I am sure to have a wonderful & memorable time!! My darling sister-in-law Kylie is kindly photographing the afternoon so hope to have some pics to share soon! Not too long now til we're due to meet 'Baby Verity' - expected on/ around 8 May, the day before Mother's Day [Sunday 9 May]!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend - be sure to think about your decorating & chocolate egg needs this weekend - as from Friday 2nd April [Good Friday] - everything will be in full swing for Easter and limited retail hours!
Have Fun & Thank You for making Palatial Living your blog to visit this week!
Enjoy S xxx

Images from Australian Country Style, April 2010 issue

Friday Flowers - Pretty Palatial Pastels...

Not sure how much more alliteration I could try to achieve in 1 post title... but it certainly explains this post!

How lovely are these very pretty pastel floral arrangements from a fave mag of mine - Australian Country Style [April 2010 issue]! I particularly love the mood & style boards they have created from the extracted colours of the floral arrangements. A wonderful way to cue your inspiration directly from nature. This issue also explores two more floral palettes that have inspired me & I will post about in the upcoming Fridays... so stay tuned!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend & get the chance to have some fresh flowers of your own! Thank you for stopping by at Palatial Living this week. See you soon. S x

Images from Australian Country Style - April 2010 issue, out now.

Happy Friday... Friday Flowers are a-bloom!

Happy Friday & Welcome Weekend!

I just love the Australian Country Style March 2010 cover with it's vivacious full bright blooms... so deliciously gorgeous it has to make it for Palatial Living's Friday Flowers to share with you!

Also featured here is a fabulous article, from Australian Country Style March issue , on Wildflower Farmer, Craig Scott - who turned his passion of Australian Native Wildflowers into literally a bloomin' successful business... whom he also shares with his father & business partner, Colin - they formed East Coast Wildflowers. Located west of Gosford on Sydney's Central Coast Craig's wildflower farm is also home to his wife, Angie and teenage daughters - Bethany, Miranda, Eden and Cassia, and a Golden Retriever. You can purchase Craig's beautiful wild blooms at Sydney's Flower Markets - at Flemington Markets (Inner West Sydney)... you will be in good company when you have you're on huge bunch of East Coast Wildflowers - some of his clients include Sydney's major florist - Grandiflora, and displayed at the 2007 Apec Summit in the Opera House [Sydney] as well as last year's Christmas event at NSW Government House.

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With my upcoming baby shower I think I may just have to high-tail it in the wee hours of the morning to the markets to try & catch Craig and his team for some spectacular 'bush baby' blooms!

Hope you have wonderful weekend - thank you for all your wonderful comments & emails this week! Take care, Sarah xxx

Be sure to grab you're copy of Australian Country Style in newsagents, and selected supermarkets.

Images from Australian Country Style - March 2010 issue.