Apologies for being a terrible bad blogger lately. I haven’t written a post for a while. I have a big project on at the moment that is taking many hours each evening (i’ll share it with you when it’s all done). It’s hard to find time for little piece of pie at the minute, but I will be back much more frequently in a couple of weeks.
All posts in a little SHOPPING
shedwallah
E is for Embrace
A good thing about having kids is that I have a really good excuse to buy super nice artwork that I wouldn’t normally be justified in purchasing. Like this incredible ABC book illustrated by Paul Thurlby. It’s just gone onto my birthday list for the boys.
Is it bad that I buy them things that I really like? Even though they’d probably prefer an all-singing all-dancing dvd of in the night garden or some other inane thing? Sorry kids, until you are old enough to complain about it, I’m decorating your room how I like it!
happy countdown to Christmas everyone…
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev’ry store
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.
How nice are the coloured felt balls, I bought them from Happy as Larry Designs.
etsy finds: birds
I’ve fallen in love with these little birdies on Etsy…
1. felt and linen bird cushion by Sukan
2. bird and branch necklace by melody
3. wooden mobile by snug.songbirds
4. bird and bird track rubber stamp set by Nora Jane
5. bird and branch vinyl wall decal by yitingsticker
retail love: cornerstore
Some stores you go into and look around and think, oh wow, it’s like they picked everything in here just for me. I feel that way when I go into cornerstore in Fremantle, I posted earlier in the year about my little birthday shopping trip there.
I was delighted this week to accidentally discover that they have opened a new, much, much larger store in South Freo, and quite conveniently my bus route stops right outside their door. They still have the original little cornerstore in town. This new one stocks all the cute things like paper straws, retro lunchboxes, felt garlands and porcelain rabbits, plus French inspired swoon worthy furniture. If only I could afford it all…
Retail Love: Ruck Rover General Store
There is a new blog in town called “We Love Perth” which shares lots of wonderful tidbits about our quaint city each day. If you live here or ever want to visit make sure you read up on all the best bits here. When you live in a city that is as small and isolated as this one it’s easy to be negative and complain about all the things lacking. It’s refreshing that someone is celebrating the good bits.
I was lucky enough to win a gift voucher for my answer to the question, why do you love Perth? I wrote; “When I first moved to Perth (Fremantle), I was a bit dubious about living in the most isolated city the world. I came to realise that for its size Perth has the most amazing pool of creative talent. You don’t have to look far to find inspiring, creative folk doing fabulous things with music, fashion, arts and design. I mentioned this creative vibe that I couldn’t really explain to someone not long after I moved here. They told me that there are some unique meridian lines that intersect over Perth and it causes an intense creative energy. I don’t know if I believe that story, but that’s what I love about living here, being amongst so many creative people.” It’s a true story, if a little corny. I can’t remember who is was who told me about these magical and intriguing meridian lines. It has stuck in my mind all this time and so far I haven’t heard a better explanation for the mysterious creative vibe in Fremantle.
I happily ventured out of Freo over to Mt Lawley to the Ruck Rover General Store to use my voucher. It was a tough choice and after deliberating for more than little Baby D should have tolerated, I decided on a cute wooden caravan brooch. I can’t go past anything with a retro feel and the caravan reminds me of my wayward folks. (They sold up their house a few years ago to become grey nomads). It was really nice to go into the store and chat to the owner. She was so sweet and sincere, I would go back to the store just for the genuine, wonderful customer service. If you can’t make it in person you can peruse online. Unfortunately the fairyfloss blue typewriter was not for sale and will have to remain on my wish list.
retail love: mr sparrow
As I have said a few times before, I don’t venture out of Fremantle much, it takes a lot of incentive to get me north of the river. I know there are lots of good things to be found outside of my postcode, but there is enough fabulous stuff that keeps me local. Sometimes though, I hear about an enticing place and I have to go check it out. Mr Sparrow is one such gem. I first heard of it in Frankie magazine and I thought I must check it out, then it was featured this week in the We Love Perth blog. I couldn’t resist and I went to see the cute little shop in Subiaco with the bath tub fish pond and the indoor Seventies style plants and foliage. It is a good mix of vintage finds and quirky new designer tidbits. I particularly adored the bellevue boards and the Hello notecard set. If you happen to be in the neighbourhood it’s worth a visit.
paper goodness
Mister E and I went on a little excursion yesterday, mostly we spend our time in Freo but there are just a couple of things I covet that can’t be found here. One of those things is fine paper. So I had the urge to visit Annie P. Paperie in Claremont. It’s a cute little store stocked with gorgeous things of the paper kind, wrapping & envelopes, cards & stationery, plus stamps, wax seals, ribbons, feathers and mt tape. I discovered mt tape last year and absolutely love it. It’s Japanese masking tape that comes in a myriad of beautiful colours and patterns. I use it to adorn cards that I make and special presents that I wrap, I also keep a journal that I draw and collage in that features a lot of mt tape. I also noticed they are selling stamp sets by yellow owl workshop. They really have good taste buyers stocking their store! I love that whenever you buy something they always pop a large cut-out paper heart card in the bag with your purchase. All I bought today was a couple of cherry red envelopes that seal with string and some natural kraft paper. I don’t even know what i’ll do with them, but when I do I’ll show you!
Previously I bought a piece of the cavallini and co vintage alphabet wrapping paper and framed it for Mister E’s bedroom. It was only $8 for the paper and the frame was a cheap one from Ikea. It looks lovely on the wall in his room and was so inexpensive to do.
mt tape ready to be bought, a love affair waiting to happen
cavellini and co goodies
lovely and inexpensive picture for Mister E's room
a smile
We found ourselves in our old neighbourhood this morning, having breakkie in South Fremantle. After our yummy breakkie (at Ootong & Lincoln again) we were just leaving and we spotted Abhi’s bakery across the road. Little man is getting savvy about where we go for certain things. He recognised the store and said ‘smiley bikkie’! I was so impressed that he could recall that he’d a bikkie there before I couldn’t resist getting him one. So we trundled into the bakery and Mister E requested a red/yellow smiley bikkie and promptly devoured it. If you are around Freo and haven’t been to Abhi’s you should check it out. Beautiful, fresh organic bread made with love.
Sunday arvo at the bookstore
sofa so inviting
By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around yesterday I was feeling so incredibly knackered. We didn’t do anything particularly energetic, just keeping up with housework, gardening, cooking and chasing after Mister E. I had quite a few moments on the weekend were I felt like I was overwhelmed. I just have to look down at my ever-growing belly to be reminded that it’s only going to get more tiring. Mister E was fighting me on Sunday and refusing to have his afternoon nap. So I bundled him into the car and went into Freo. A ride in the pram over the bumpy paths always lulls him off to dreamland. It only took ten minutes and he was fast asleep. While he was in the pram with me I spent a quiet afternoon in my favourite bookshop, New Editions, on High Street. It’s so welcoming and inviting, they have a couple of beautiful sofas that you can snuggle into and peruse books at a leisurely pace. While I was flicking through a book I found this poem by Kate Llewellyn. It was a timely reminder for me to enjoy the precious moments with my boy, because as hard as it is, he’ll only be little for such a short time.
You used to lean
on that cot rail
and wait
with the vigour of a flame
to leap into my arms
two feet tall and two years old
a sagging nappy
archless feet soft as cats’ tongues
and trodden underneath
a thick and clammy waterproof
warm from sleep
the sheet ruched at the end
toys heaped and confused
neglected as the dead
a duck stuck in the corner
I could see the basket of your ribs
your hands were opened
and all your bones and life
leapt up to mine.