Introducing...

... Magnus! The new line of cushions from Revision Design. In true Revision fashion 90% of the materials used for Magnus are repurposed items. Magnus is made from remnant upholstery fabric and leather and is inspired by the Swedish Dala horse.

Magnus cushion in blue with brown leather

Magnus cushion in gray with white leather

Let me introduce you to...

... Mister - the new line of cushions from Revision Design (on sale sometime soon'ish). Mister is a cheeky representation of traditional mustaches made from repurposed materials such as upholstery fabric and leather. 90% of the materials that goes into making Mister are from salvaged items.
Here's a picture of the bulk remnants that I buy and then make into my revisioned items. I sew everything on this mid-century Singer sewing machine.

*And in the black frame are my hand prints from when I was 5.

Make homemade bread... check

My husband forwarded me an article on how to make homemade bread in five minutes and I've been meaning to try it for a while. So yesterday I did. Honestly I don't understand why it's called the five minute bread recipe because in all the prep and bake time took 4 hours, but the advantage is that you make it in bulk and you can store the dough for up to 2 weeks so you can pull it out of the fridge and bake it up when you want to. Here are some pics from my afternoon tea today, completed with a dollop of lingon berry jam and a cup of green tea with jasmine.

And by the way, our house smells like a bakery... not bad.
get the recipe here.
Here's a teaser photo of tomorrow's post. I'll bet you can't guess what it is :o)

Today's to-do list

I'm working on it...

On my bedside table

Here's a look at what's on my bedside table today. Just noticed there's a blue and green theme going on. I always gravitate toward these colors even though I don't mean to. I think it has something to do with natural colors from sky and ground.
Ingredients: free lamp from a friend, a painting of the 12 Apostles in Australia by my mother-in-law, handmade wood owl from Russia, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain on loan from library, Inside Out magazine, Fossil tin from a watch that I bought years ago, blue recycled Italian leather passport holder, blue Cameo pocket mirror, handmade glass heart earrings from New Zealand, and a half eaten Pink Lady apple

The table I bought on ebay and painted white. Click here to see the story on those

In full bloom

I'm smitten with these larger than life flowers at Emerson made. Check out their blog here and check out their online store here.

Enjoy!

New Zealand here we come

Blogging will be very sparse here in the next week and a half. Today my husband and I are leaving for New Zealand. I am going to Auckland to pick up my residency visa for Australia. We'll be traveling around the north island of New Zealand while we're there. I'll be sure to take oodles of pictures for you to see.

I think I'm going to love New Zealand. To me it seems like a blend of Norway and Hawaii. I might just have to change my visa and stay there in NZ. I'm going to get my 'geek on' and try and visit where they filmed the Lord of the Rings.

image found here

looking for a few good fabrics

I'm still looking for the right material to reupholster our mid-century arm chairs that I got for free. I was recently at IKEA and saw their textile section in person and I still can't get over how much I like their fabrics. Here are some of my favs.

Check out the entire range of IKEA fabrics here.

Neutral + Color = Gorgeous

The three images shown today are on my inspiration board at the moment - I'm loving the neutral backgrounds with all sorts of colors that pop. I'm not the type of person to paint my walls crazy vibrant colors; I'd rather have a neutral pallet and then add color that I can change seasonally.

I'm sorry but I think these images are from Elle Decor magazine. I clipped them out ages ago and I didn't write down where they were from.

Pieces furniture

Belvedere furniture

Goody bags

Made these fun goody bags out of resealable plastic bags (found at $1 Store) and scrap-booking paper. I cut and folded a piece of paper and stapled it to the bag. That's it!

A few days before the party I do a mock-up of the table setting and the containers that I'll use. I make notes and try and set-up as much as I can the day before so I'm not rushing around on the day of the party. Here's a mock-up for centerpiece and candy dish.

It's my birthday!

My first birthday in Australia! Yesterday we had a great time up at Healesville Sanctuary outside of Melbourne. They have a great display of flora and fauna that you can really get up close and personal with. Many of the animals there have been hit by cars or been injured in bush fires - the handlers are amazing and I loved getting a cuddle by one of the kangaroos.

Sorry I have been a little laxed in the blog department as of late - I have been a little distracted lately but I have been working. After the sewing machine went into the shop I've lost my 'umf' and all I've been able to do is cut and prepare my craft projects for the return of the machine.

Just want to leave you with this awesomeness for the weekend. This is me in the purple ski suit with my sister Sally. I was around 5 or 6 and she was... well... older. It's weird because now we act pretty much the same age. Thanks for sending this to me Sally!!