Jikana Damaru

A bright Christmas

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you a bright coloured palette with these gorgeous Christmas pics. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

The adorable coloured Vintage Tree Ornaments by acreativemint
The wonderfully bright Jingle Bells. by shutterberry
The beautifully packaged Glittery Glass Ornament Soaps by soapylovedeb
The gorgeous Garland on snowflake pail by papierdreams

Have a great day!

Markets Galore!!

So its the perfect time of year for a little shopping .... If your into high quality, unique, made with love and thought type of gift like I am then boy do I have a jam packed weekend for you (if your in melbourne - that is) sorry if your not :)

Today I popped into the awesome Magnolia Square Event at the Brighton Town Hall and once again was not disappointed. I loved looking through the books at We heart books - its filled with the most precious stories and many classics from the past. Lou's grandmother couldn't resist this one - lots of fond memories of reading this when we were young.

There were so many lovely children's clothes and not to mention the amazing artwork by sweet william but what really took my fancy this time was the Bride & Wolfe stand - these wooden wall hangings are truly amazing and I want at least one in every room :)

Magnolia Square is on for the rest of the weekend so be sure to check it out.

Tomorrow I am going to try and head out to this - the brand new Blackbird Market. Its has music, art and awesome shopping with lots of my crafty made it friends there, such as Little Wise Owl, Narelle and Michvanetta.

So if your in the area (or not) be sure not to miss this one.

Now, if your not all marketted (is that a word??) out don't forget to come and visit ME at the Dingley Craft and Produce Market on Sunday!

Have a lovely weekend what ever you do!!

It's here (already)

December that is... which means that Christmas is less than a month away.

I have found it quite difficult for a while now to get excited over this time of year. For both my hubbies family and my own, it just seems to be a reminder of who is not here to celebrate it with us - again. We go through the motions, do the decorating, buy the presents, prepare the food and try to have a good time but I suppose that's what happens when you lose people you love - you never stop thinking about them.

This year is a little different though - Louise is two - she is the 1st child in both our families since my brother was born 21 years ago.

(I'm so sad I can't call him my baby anymore)

She doesn't really get it but, I see it in her eyes - they just light up at the sight of Christmas. The coloured decorations, the trees, the strange person in red and especially the tinsel. Everywhere we go I hear "Its pretty mummy, so pretty". There is this happiness and excitement that just can't be contained and her smiles are so special.

So now, this year and for the next fifteen years (at least), i hope our family will begin to remember how much fun and how lovely Christmas can really be. It will never be the same but I look forward to making new happy memories for Lou (and her siblings and cousins - when they come).

Note: This is NOT my tree (it will never look that good, no matter how hard I try) We will put ours up sometime next week. I got this photo from here

Pretty Kitchen

Pretty kitchen storage by Living etc (March 2005).

Fluted mini pie dish in pink by John Lewis

Fluted mini pie dish in pink for £5.75 from John Lewis.

Fluted rectangular baking dish in blue by John Lewis

Fluted rectangular baking dish in blue for £11.50 from John Lewis.

Pink hearts mixing bowl from Cargo Home Shop

Mason Cash large pink hearts mixing bowl for £12.99 from Cargo.

Zyliss colourful ice cream scoop for £10.00 from Cargo.

Miniamo pastels 23cm silicone covered rolling pin in pink for £3.99 from Pots and Pans.

Large food storage cabinet from Ella's Kitchen Company

Large food storage cabinet in Norwegian blue for £439.00 from Ella's Kitchen Company.

Pastel enamelware from £15.95 at Lytton & Lily.

Tiered pastel cake stand from Great Little Trading Company

Tiered pastel cake stand for £25.00 from Great Little Trading Company.

Pink cake tin for £7.75 from Pod.

I adore that first image! I have had it in my interiors file for many years now and have now been able to use it as inspiration for my first gift guide. I have been looking around for gifts to buy my loved ones and I wanted to share with you some of my pretty finds!

Click on any of the blue lettering to be linked straight through to that item.

Have a sweet day!

~ Christmas Cupcake ~

How cute is this Christmas Cupcake and how nice would this be as dessert on Christmas Day!

Mix in the white

This is the beautiful home of Martin and Thérèse Cederblad. Their painters thought they were mad when they painted the entire house white! But I think it works wonderfully as a backdrop to all their beautiful treasures.

Found on Skona Hem.

Have a sweet day!

~ The Start of Christmas ~

We had a big day here in The Cove today - our tree went up and we went to visit Santa.

The Christmas Festivities have begun and the kids are so excited.

Our first Christmas in our new home will be wonderful and we are having all of Mr A's family here to celebrate for Christmas lunch.

Here is our Santa photo - it was terribly hard to get a good one of all 3 smiling so this was the best we could do - not that great of Indi but it is so lovely to have my first Santa photo with all my girls.

As I had them in photo mood and all dressed up I took the opportunity to take a few more of the three of them.

And one of the cheeky Sofia after the tree when up but before we decorated it.

December is such a lovely time here in Australia - the beautiful warm weather (except for today in Sydney when it turned rather cold and nasty to start off summer). It is a wonderful time for pool parties, drinks with friends and relaxing with the kids.