Let the sun shine in

Our home is fairly dark in some areas, one being the dining room. Partly because outside the window is a large cupboard storing some of my supplies :)

We've been having a few wind storms lately - (not the red dust poor Sydney has been getting, just gale force winds). And two of these storms ripped off panels of the fibreglass roofing we had outside the dining room. Talk about turning on the lights!

I'd walk in there, and it was like someone had turned on the lights! Fantastic! This only lasted until we had the panels replaced with new polycarbonate stuff, but while it lasted, I took the opportunity to photograph my china dresser to share it with you.

I've been collecting lots of mis-matched china pieces for a long time now - it's bursting with them! I only collect the really special ones now... (like those sweet Victorian souvenir cups "Forget me not" etc)

Most of my teacup sets are trios. I always thought it was interesting that sellers on ebay in the US would sell duo sets and not trios? Penny commented once how she liked that I had the dish too, but this is actually normal for us here. If we don't get the dish, it's like it's missing something. I'm thinking it's the same in the UK, am I right? We tend to do a lot of what the British do, since we're a penal colony and all (LOL!)

I keep all sorts of things mixed and matched there, but I love it all. And I use it all!

No point in saving it for something special - what could be more special than having a cup of tea, any day of your life? Every day is special. Plus, tea tastes better in china. It does!

I love Fenton too.... like that ruffled vase... oh gosh I love it!

And Limoges china - like the cute little demitasse cup and saucer above... and Austrian, Bavarian and English china.... And Japanese too - like the bolder pink one above on the left!

Hope you enjoyed the peek at my dresser - I'll have to share my fave china pieces with you one day.

See you next time,

Natasha xo

Bugs and Butterflies

This past week, and next week, it's school holiday time between terms 3 & 4. I'm not kidding when I say we've had things on EVERY single day.

• Monday - two different play dates and out for dinner
• Tuesday - Royal Melbourne Show with friends
• Wednesday - Melbourne Museum
• Thursday - Puffing Billy Train
• Friday - Royal Melbourne Show again with Daddy coming along

At the end of each day, I've been dog tired, that's for sure!

I wanted to share with you the amazing Bugs and Butterflies exhibit at the Melbourne Museum. I was like a kid in a candy store getting all excited about the butterfly and bug display!

I'll let the pictures do the talking. These are real butterflies and bugs, and the colours are simply amazing!

Could you imagine being the person who has to put a pin through these tiny bugs, making sure not to crush them?

Check out the chip off the ole block above! He had a ball!

I'm heading away for a few days, with the little guy. Might schedule a blog post if I get to create it in time. Catch you when I get back!

Natasha xo

Bloggers in my lounge room

A friend was looking around my lounge room and front entrance the other day, asking if I made this or that or this ~ and it made me realise I have a lounge room full of talented bloggers! Come along on a tour with me now :)

That lampshade was made as a birthday gift for me two years ago by my friend Heather of Pretty Petals, and it's my favourite lampshade to this day

Gorgeous altered mason jar was a birthday gift last year from my sweet friend Jenn of Sweet Eye Candy Creations

Lovely ballerina box that I had to have, and ordered from Holly of Holly Doodle Designs a couple of years ago

Two of the three birdie spoons I own from Laurie of Charming Designs

Vintage corsage made by Beth of Beth's Bagz (I attached it to a fabric frame with a pic of my hubby as a boy)

This lovely Faerie Go Round was by Lori of My Faerie Window. I added the chandelier, bird and fan because I ran out of spaces to put them - then decided they looked cute there anyway, so left them!

Another collage by Lori (with a little trinket parcel from Ginny on the same hook!)

I seem to mix and match a fair bit - I can't leave a hook empty! This collage above is also by Lori, and on the hook rests a doll head brooch from Jenn, another sweet a birthday gift

Her name is Gigi :)

And a closer shot of Lori's collage :)

This is the table you'd see in my front entrance if you walked in. It's full of bloggy goodness!

Like the Two Friends collage given to me by Tiffany when she came to stay with me, and the lovely nest that Holly gave me.

On the top tier of the cake stand we have an embellished bird from Stephenie, an old dolly from Kitty, and a sweet feltie made by Lori - all gifts given to me when I was in Pittsburgh last year

The Betsy doll I got from Sadie at Sadie Lou Who's vendor table at Silver Bella last year, same as the candy decoration from Analise of Sugar Sugar

The pin cushion above was made by my friend up north, Kathy of Shabby Roses Boutique. Her quilts and cushions and bags are all over my home!

Another beauty from Lori, this time a paper clay creation

Embellished bird from Heather

Star ornament from Andrea of Velvet Strawberries/Everyday Beauty that she gave me at Silver Bella last year

Blue cones above (top) from Kari of Artsymama and (bottom) Holly of Holly Doodle Designs

Above and below, some cushions and quilts from Kathy of Shabby Roses Boutique

And on the coffee table - this fabulous new book from my NY tour guide, Barbara Jacksier!

Phew - that's just the lounge room!!! Gosh you bloggers out there are talented!

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I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Heather - she has created a fabulous online workshop "A Beautiful Life"

Lots of people have been so great and are joining in with the It's All About Me party/swap/challenge - and some are not sure what they will create - wouldn't one of Heather's workshop journals be the PERFECT thing you could create for you?!!!

It's not too late to join Heather's workshop -I can't do it at the same time as Heather is teaching, I'm going to do mine when school holidays finish. I can tell you though, I've logged in to check it out and there are fantastic detailed instructions, tips, links and some fab downloads, and I can't wait to make mine!

See you next time ~

Natasha xo

PS. Please excuse me if I have been MIA in the blogging world or you are waiting on an email from me - it's school holiday time and we are doing fun crazy things EVERY single day. I'm pooped already. It's 9.30pm and I am ready for bed!!!