Taking stock

I think we are getting somewhere lately...

Somewhat at a two lolly-pop steps forward and one step back, kinda pace!

Keen eyes would have spotted in yesterday's post that underfloor heating has been installed in the two upstairs bathrooms. If I can get a crane here to lift the palettes of travertine off the driveway then I can order sand. Those floors can then be screed-ed and prepped for tiling! Yay!

Of course nothing much has gone to plan though. Our crane guy keeps cancelling. 

One of the recently installed dining room lights is 'crooked' and needs to be replaced. 

The dining room table saga continues; it was eventually delivered but with the wrong legs. 

David finds the new mattress too hot so we need to address that issue.

 I finally ordered my dream, bone-inlay chest of drawers but it's out-of-stock. 

The fabric for an upholstered bed I wanted has been discontinued.  

Ahhh. Life!

You may have also spotted in yesterday's pics some repair work to the upstairs hall area too. Unfortunately the dark colour we painted in this area showed up imperfect plastering joins. David is quite the perfectionist so sanded the area and re-skim coated the wall. Re-sealed, re-undercoated and re-painted too. One more coat to go... Whew!

I am soooo itching to get decorating and start living in this house!

Anywho, in amongst this I decided to unpack all the art work I have and take stock. This is as a result of being quite aghast that a key piece I'd anticipated in the hall, looks less than impressive in it's spot. No dusting is going to make this light box look better. Wenge + Grey =   #$@*%!!!

I really thought I could 'visualise' well. Obviously, I'm mistaken! 

So before we finish painting I need to ensure the pieces I have, have a correct 'home'. 

Some need framing so that's going to be my next project!  

Then to work out what's going where!

The items in the above images (with the exception of the OFFS tea-towel) all require framing.

 'Art History' silk scarf by Vuk Vidor. More info HERE

'Constellation - Explorer; Compass to The Southern Sky' Municipal Prints Company. Deets HERE

A new purchase: Archival Print 'Moby Dick' by Lisel Ashlock via Etsy

'Union Jack' wallpaper by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company. Info HERE

As do two David Bromley Quilts / Throws and a cheap Bali knock-off of some lass!

Not sure if I'll hang any of my own paintings. The colours are wrong and the big monochromatic piece has stagnated. Like wise, some favourite prints from previous properties are too 'beige' to work here.

Am unsure about the Marimekko fabric pieces as art...they'll be OK as 'fillers' if needed but I'm aiming higher now. The middle image below is a Rude Rider's Scarf which I'm considering framing for J's bedroom. ?

And I still need to find a location for my 3D pieces; skulls and Bamileke Headdress.

 And Mirrors! Don't forget that collection! Eeek!

 Glad it's a big house with lotsa walls!!!!

x KL 

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Bits 'n Bobs

 We are in the middle of the first week of school holidays here. Holidays = Sleep-ins = Bliss. 

J's been busy with 'sleepovers' which seem to be the 11-year-old thing-to-do. I miss him.

 David and I took J and a mate to Singleton to visit the Australian Army Infantry Museum (David taking a day off work to do so) on the recommendation of a fave blogger. Might've been a good idea to check their opening times....closed on Tuesdays nearly caused bloody WW3!

Anywho...the four hour drive included a lovely lunch at the Potters Hotel Brewery. Open fire, great food, a game of pool, choc tops...no more needs to be said, really.

 The steel base for my 'wish-list', family room coffee table is complete! (planned way back HERE). Now I need to get it powder coated and the timber top made. (Might not be pressing Davey for this ATM....LOL!)

The Main Bathroom mirrors are in; there's NO hiding! (1) but I'm yet to clean and style...

Still sorting through Ray's belongings and preparing a worthy Memorial Service (2 & 3)

(4) Hello George! Considering these tiles for a feature wall in Mum's bathroom. ?

Skeletal baby bird. (5) Thanks David, but I like my taxidermy free of 50 years of cobwebs!

My heart melted when my son gave me these after a play day at a mates. 11 years old and 'man' enough to give these to me in front of them. Mwaaah! (6)

(7) How can THIS baby be one?

Over joyed when Davey offered to cook....(8) but W.T.F has he done to my oven?!

(9) A local riding a 'static wave' as Avoca Lake burst through it's bank into the sea. Amazing!

Boys. Mud. Mates. (10) Evidence!

x KL

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

Hit and Miss; some help required!

 J is off to Canberra for three days / nights (I'll be a basket case!) in five weeks and he has a school project to complete before heading off; he needs to take his own knitted scarf! 

His female peers (7 : 1 girl to boy ratio) have taken up this challenge with great enthusiasm. I can crochet and offered to help but David's nonchalant "I could knit at your age" statement made him the preferred teacher. TIP: Be careful what you brag about....LOL!

After consulting his good friend Mr. Google, David cast on and 45 minutes later (I kid you not) he had taught J every building site cuss that ever existed. And then some!

 Pic 1. Row two attempted in bed this morning (is it pearl, is it plain...W.G.A.F.!) and J's first hands-on knitting experience. I dodged the flying skeins and needles and it was proven that J is a very good listener! It's going to be a short scarf!

Pic 2. Have you heard of Temple and Webster? I signed up and was excited to make my first purchase; this gorgeous map. After waiting yonks (and they had my moolah!) unfortunately they couldn't supply. SO disappointed!

Pic 3. LOVE this smoking skull image and I'm positive I've seen it as a cushion on Etsy but need help locating the seller!!!

Pic 4.  I snapped these horns at the January Decoration + Design Fair held in Sydney and if my memory is correct, this wholesaler also stocked Zebra hide rugs. Can anyone help with the supplier's name?

Ooooh...and its a definite 'Hit' for this wee bloggie. I won a generous Blog makeover from Katrina at Katrina from the Block! Bloggy botox coming my way soon!!!!

Stay tuned......

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

W. T. F. ?

How long have I patiently waited for my darling Bindi to be hung? 

Waaaay too long!

So I pestered David over the weekend and this was his effort. W.T.?

Not only does the wire and fixings show (a definite no-no!!!) but they are the same ones that held up the painting that was there before and are too high. If I'd wanted a shoddy job, I'd have done it myself!

 My excitement (shared with you HERE) at finding and purchasing our external lights was short lived. The globes that fit into them are discontinued. W.T.?

Hello...why sell a fitting that no-one can use!!!??? Grrrrrr......

Likewise, my much anticipated eBay bargain I bragged about HERE is a dud. 

A Kate Spade Ice Queen neck piece is NOT wearable if it has three missing diamante! W.T?

Brand New? Pffffttt.

Remember THIS online purchase waaay back in 2011? 

J's entire new bedroom was designed around this 'hero' piece. Why wait to use it in the new room I thought and so unwrapped it. W.T.? Queen size? More a single bed throw. And the pattern is pieced differently too; in large and small font stripes. Ewwh. I do not want to even recall how much I invested in this item.

Sooo...I'm still on the diet. And, I've lost 3 kilos. I am really struggling with it though.

Be kind with your comments....LOL!

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Loving these

 I've bought a few things from Etsy before but the range and quality of the offerings seems to be getting better every time I visit! These are my new favourites!

We're enjoying beautiful weather here at the start of a school break. My Internet seems to be on holidays too...it's so slow! Might take a breather from this bloggy thing till it gets back up to speed!

Hope you're enjoying gorgeous Spring sunshine too!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

the weekend that blew away.....

Howling winds, freezing temperatures and horizontal rain on Friday night scared us off from attending the Rabbitohs V's Manly NRL game. J was inconsolable. I hate throwing money away (we had pre- purchased Reserve tickets) but I'm sure we made the right decision.

J's final Saturday Soccer match for the season was cancelled too. Nice one.

The 1st Nest Fliers were to come home Saturday for a finishing room clean-up but the bad weather delayed them. At least we had a nice catch-up Saturday night!

Today was miserable too. Soooo windy! Thank God we has a miraculous break in the horrid conditions to attend a birthday party at Treetops Adventure Park. J went to a party here last year (info HERE) but this year the children qualified in height and age to do the first of the higher, adults course.  J was quite challenged by it but still completed two of the three sections. Woo Hoo! 

(I was stressing just at the harness instruction stage! LOL!) 

I'm off to deliver the skull I sold on eBay tomorrow to an address in Lindfield. Thank goodness for google maps and directions! I'm feeling a bit sad passing 'her' on to someone else. Best to do so before she's named, like our Bali skull. Bindi.

I hate driving the freeway in wet conditions so am praying for a fine morning.

How was your weekend? Washed away like ours?

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Exciting New Arrivals!

  

Some goodies I ordered at the Reid Gift Fair in May are starting to arrive. Yay!

Alas, Poor Yorick! (A wonderful Bali souvenir) sits atop these two Mother of Pearl inlaid boxes. L.O.V.E.! 

Just wish I could've had the funds to order the bedside tables available, as pictured below.

 *Sigh!*

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Full of joy here....

I've had a hankering for a neon sign for several years now but knew I wouldn't convince hubby that they have any merit in interior residential decorating until I found these images from Penny Farthing Design House. (A picture tells a thousand words) 

I often have to 'show' a concrete picture of an idea to get him to him to 'see' it. 

These pictures? Luv. Luv. Luv.

It took eight years to sway him with my skull idea though, so I'm not holding my breath!

The 'kiss me' is my fav!

The miserable and wet long weekend here saw lots of mooching about, snuggling in bed and movie watching. We were quite mesmerised by 'Hugo'....

We also found a permanent home for 'Bindi' (yes; he / she has been named), our Balinese Buffalo Skull.

Pictures to follow!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Exciting Arrivals!

I had an exciting delivery on Friday afternoon. Two items that I had purchased online arrived.

A rose gold Michael Kors watch from Nordstrom in the US and an Alexander McQueen skull scarf from NET-A-PORTER.

I've bought very few new clothes this winter. Nothing has really been drool worthy enough to buy and all the leggings / jeans I already own are the same as what's on offer in the shops. Updating my wardrobe with a few nice accessories makes more sense to me. And I'm still loving purchasing from the US. The Aussie dollar may have dipped but I still saved about $150 AUD on this watch by buying it this way. Always love a bargain!

 Is it wet and miserable where you are? 

It's perfect weather for snuggling on the lounge here!

Happy Sunday...Happy long weekend!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Still Stalking Skulls!

 As anyone who has been regularly reading my blog would know, I've had an obsession with a particular carved skull, first seen in 2004. (Pictured top LHS) When I finally tried to obtain one, I found they were no longer being imported and I was devastated.

On attending the Decoration + Design fair in January of this year I discovered that the original wholesaler was re-importing and I ordered one. (Picture top RHS). The problem with wholesale buying is that you often cannot 'pick' an individual piece from stock as you do in a retail store. My ordered skull is a far cry from the beauty of the 2004 model and I've been a bit disappointed about this big decor statement.

 I was pretty excited then to see the picture above on Peepmystyle blog. Claudia has just returned from her Honeymoon to Bali and snapped this on her travels. The carving is detailed and the horns stunning. She saw allot of them over there. Yee Ha!!!!

 Why didn't I think to google 'carved skulls' before? Duh!

A treasure trove of images, mostly from Bali were to be found....

Check these out...

I've contacted Customs and have the green light there, but Australian Quarantine will have to check it over and I may have to pay for it to be fumigated...but I'm thinking one of these is coming home - somehow,  in hand luggage real soon!

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Happy holidays!

What are you planning on doing over the Easter break? I've got a few new books and mags to peruse and plan on visiting a pregnant girlfriend to deliver a group gift of practical baby goodies.

On Thursday afternoon I received some items from the gift fairs I attended earlier in the year.

The bone inlay cross is divine and I'm so happy with the cowrie shell neck piece too. This later piece reminds me of the many ones I saw in Papua New Guinea (where I was born). Unfortunately, I'll need to package them back up until I have the right spot to display them.

 The carved skull arrived too. I unpacked it last because after such a long wait, (I first saw it in 2004!) I was terrified that it wouldn't meet my expectations. In the end, David unwrapped it. It is quite different from the original skull I posted about HERE in many respects, most notably the carving design. I prefer the original but this one is OK. The quality of the carving however is most disheartening, it is rough and lacks the finesse of other pieces I saw and ordered from. The size of the horns are small in comparison to the skull too. I am very disappointed to say the least and as I purchased it wholesale, don't think I have any return options. I also would rather keep this than not have one at all. Sigh!

 The weather here has finally turned warm and summery, perfect for everyone to enjoy a little R & R.

David and I are thinking of booking 10 days away (with J of course!) but are so unsure of where to go that the planning is starting to feel like a chore rather than being exciting. We can't go anywhere for at least 3-4 weeks as I've needed to get passports for J and David. Bali has been considered largely due to offering such good value for money but the travel advisers are still touting it as an area of high risk. Anyone have any suggestions for us?

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Fairs, fabulous freebies and frustrations!

 I visited the Reid Gift Fair on Monday (a gift and home wares industry event). I haven't been for a few years and I invited a non - industry girlfriend along for company. It was fun to re-visit with 'fresh' eyes and although it took longer to navigate, we had a ball.

After getting my knuckles seriously wrapped for taking 'unapproved' i-phone snaps on one exhibitor's stand (so embarrassing), I was reluctant to take any others (approved or not). So 

i have little to share visually. In defence though, I was so excited to see something new and appropriate for a current client that I whipped out my phone, clicked and forwarded before gaining permission (which I'm sure would have been granted had I shown some simple courtesy). Eeeek. So not me...

Anyhoo....I ordered a few things from some favourite suppliers (coral art pieces mostly) and added again to my order placed at the Decoration & Design Fair with a tribal cowrie shell neck piece. I fell in love with it on first sight but as David was with me then, I didn't want to 'push' the limit after he had generously agreed to THE skull purchase.  Last Sunday (the day before the Reid Gift Fair) J, David & I caught the ferry to Palm Beach for lunch at Barrenjoey House. Inside I found this display....

Ahhh... THAT neck piece again! Displayed with skulls and shells and coral....it was like someone had stolen my thoughts and displayed them physically for me! Absolutely serendipitous!!!

I find I'm not posting as often now as I am busy with The Terrigal Project. As mentioned before, I am not an Interior Designer and am now convinced this is not a career path for me to pursue. It is  becoming increasingly obvious that I lack the patience and tact required as I struggle with frequent brief changes from this client. How anyone does this for a living is beyond me.

An update on that project though is shown below:

The roof is off.... and it's pouring! Yes, everyone on the east coast of Australia can blame us. Happens every time!

So the boys are looking for 'inside' work which means it's Gun-ho with two of the three bathrooms. 

As for progress at La Hacienda, we have the nearly free, pool W.C, nearly finished. Toilet roll holder and hooks were found in the garage detritus from ?

The tiles on floor, wall and feature wall were all tiny quantity left overs from previous jobs.

The vanity was another 'freebie'. Incorrectly made for a project and rescued from the rubbish skip. After modifying to suit this area, David decreed it would've been cheaper to have one custom built. (I still need to get customised two-pack doors made) Mmmm, some times you win, other times.... you suck it up and learn a lesson! I got the bowl on sale two years ago for $220.

We couldn't use the quartz / marble top but luckily our stone supplier cut some 'off cuts' of ceasarstone for me and polished the edges for free! Yay!

The W.C (our only big purchase) will be fitted next week and the mirror has been ordered too.

Baby steps, but exciting nonetheless!

It's pouring here, cold and miserable. My lounge for the playroom is being delivered tomorrow. Might be time I told hubby about that one! He He!

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!