Canberra in bloom

I’m currently in Canberra for work – taking part in a two day workshop with our comms team.

I was in Canberra a little over a month ago, playing ‘tour guide’ to a group of 20 teachers from South Australia. While the schedule was jammed-packed I managed to schedule in some free time for the group at the Floriade Flower Festival.

Featuring more than a million blooms, Florade is Australia’s celebration of spring, as Canberra’s Commonwealth Park is transformed into an explosion of colour.  

While I wouldn’t make the trip to Canberra especially for Floriade, it is definitely worth going to if you are ever in our nation’s capital during the festival. Entry is free and even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II popped in for visit on her recent national tour.



Queen Elizabeth II with Floriade head gardener on October 20 2011. Image: Zimbio.com



By the time I had some lunch I didn’t have enough time to see everything and properly take in it all, but I managed to snap a couple of pics.

Christmas in a box

I’ve never really been one to put up my Christmas decorations early, but with December around the corner and Christmas a little over three weeks away, it is definitely on my radar and something I hope to get around to this weekend.

Last year I was the lucky winner of ‘Christmas in a box’ – a box of hand crafted Christmas decorations from the gorgeous Belinda Graham from The Happy Home.

I’m just crazy about red and white colour combinations on any given day, but for Christmas I can’t go past red and white for its simplicity and vibrancy, so I was most excited about adding Belinda's decorations to my festive décor.

Image: The Happy Home 

Some of the 'Christmas in a box' decorations displayed in Belinda’s home -  including the Christmas carol garlands, tissue-paper pom pom garland (on the tree), the doily star and the red and white paper fan wheel decoration (both on the wall).

I LOVE this garland! Image: The Happy Home
Belinda’s stunning red and white paper garland which I am now the proud owner of, together with Christmas cards and gift tags on the branches.  Belinda’s instructions for the garland and other Christmas crafts can be found on her blog here. 



A very special brown paper package tied up with string.

 

Unwrapping the package in my bare, yet-to-be styled lounge room. We moved into our house the week Belinda’s package arrived, so looking back now, I’m actually surprised the room wasn’t in complete and utter chaos.

My home: A festive entrance.

We hosted a family dinner at our place on Christmas eve and Belinda's letter garlands were definitely a talking point.  See Belinda's instructions for this project here at Kidspot.com.au

Not the best photo… but shows Belinda’s paper garland perfectly complementing the red and white striped baubles on my stick 'tree'.

I also displayed the rest of the 'Christmas in a box' decorations last year, but with every window in the house temporarily covered with construction plans in lieu of curtains and lots of other last minute mini-renovation jobs and unpacking chaos still going on, I was limited as to where I could put them. The spots I did find weren’t exactly photo-worthy, so I've included some more of Belinda's photos of her crafts below.

I hope to have better pictures to share of my 2011 decorating efforts, and I may even trade in my sticks for an actual tree. Stay tuned!



Paper decorations. Image: The Happy Home  

Belinda’s instructions for making these can be found here on Kidspot.com.au

Doily snowflakes. Image: The Happy Home



Cute as a button. Belinda’s white button wreath. Image: The Happy Home



Florence Broadhurst for Kate Spade

After a few weeks feeling a little under the weather, I’m finally back in blog land.

…and what better item to write about than a partnership which literally made me squeal with excitement when an email from Signature Prints landed in my inbox a few weeks back.

Kate Spade New York is working with Australia’s own Florence Broadhurst Library of decorative design to create its collection for 2012. Twelve of Broadhurst’s bold and colourful designs have been selected to help Kate Spade celebrate their year of pattern in 2012.

Stylist Brad Goreski and Kate Spade Creative Director, Deborah Lloyd,
with the Spring/Summer 2012 collection

Image: Signature Prints

Florence Broadhurst’s gorgeous prints have taken pride of place on numerous walls in my home ever since I picked up some off-cuts of ‘Horses Stampede’ and ‘Spotted Floral’ at an interiors and giftware store back in 2006. I’ve added to my Broadhurst ‘collection’ over the years and have never ceased to be amazed by the story of the eccentric and talented women behind the extraordinary designs.

From the looks of the Spring 2012 launch in New York, the Florence Broadhurst for Kate Spade collection is simply stunning!  And according to Kate Spade Creative Director Deborah Lloyd, they are using the prints on everything—from cocktail dresses to Vespas, stilettos, suitcases, dinnerware and hats.

I was delighted to see my all-time favourite print ‘Spotted Floral’ used as one of the hero prints at the launch. I am still in love with the red and white version of the pattern I have framed at home, but the orange ‘Spotted Floral’ design used in the Kate Spade collection looks absolutely delicious, and as for kitting out a whole Vespa in the design, well …it is too gorgeous for words.

The launch: Vespa in 'Spotted Floral'

Image: Signature Prints

 

My fave.. 'Spotted Floral'

Image: Signature Prints

While the past couple of years in the music world have been all about ‘Florence and the Machine’, I’m seeing big things in the 2012 fashion scene for Florence and the Spade.

Florence Broadhurst for Kate Spade

Image: Signature Prints

The launch

Image: Signature Prints

 Florence Broadhurst for Kate Spade

Image: Signature Prints

what started it all...'Horses Stampede"

Image: Signature Prints

Florence Broadhurst
Image: Signature Prints