Pear shaped

Things went well and truly pear-shaped over the last week with regard to my computer! First I had three very nasty viruses on my computer so the hard drive had to be lugged off to Computer Guy to have them erased and some new anti-virus protection installed, and then I have had soooooo much trouble with my internet connection. Today is the first day that I'm really back online. So sorry, there won't be any shop post this week (I promise I'll make up for it next week). I'm looking forward to reading some of the posts from my favourite blogs that I have missed over the past week.

Anyway, my post today is inspired by the wonderful pottery piece I saw over at Toxteth last week...

She's very clever isn't she! I just love pears as an ornamental feature and I have couple of them in my home (excuse the crappy photos). A piece of art hanging in the kitchen area (and some real pears directly beneath - just waiting to go into a pear & raspberry cake)...
And two gorgeous marble pears on my bathroom vanity...

Here are some lovely ways that pears have been used as ornamental features...They make sweet little vases...

The pears make a nice contrast to the fireplace and letter 'A' in this pic...

How bright does this yellow pear look in this dark, dramatic kitchen...

I'd love to add this marble pear to my collection...

I have just the perfect spot for this in my back garden, but unfortunately I don't have the perfect budget which would allow me to purchase this very large pear sculpture...
Images: 1 - Toxteth; 2 & 3 - mine; 4 - Viva Terra; 5 - Stick and Stone; 6 - Design Sponge; 7 - Catherine Gratwicke; 8 - Wee Willie Sculpture

Shades of grey

I think I'm becoming increasingly besotted with ceramics! The latest...the very earthy Flinders range of ceramics from This...Design and Living would be a lovely addition to a kitchen...

(Images: This...Design and Living)

Flowers from my mother-in-law

While I was out lunching with some girlfriends on Sunday my dear husband visited his mother to install a new clothes line for her...later that afternoon he arrived home clutching in his hands a large bunch of protea and a small posy of lavender from my mother-in-law's garden. I was so chuffed that she had thought to pick these from her garden so that I can enjoy them in my home. The protea are now residing on a small table in the living area...

And the lavender is happily sitting in a vase atop of my old filing cabinet near the front door - it's such a sweet smell when you walk in and out the front door...

Each time I look at the flowers I realise how lucky I am to have such a thoughtful mother-in-law.

Monday morning shop post - Forme

One day last week I opened my morning newspaper and to my delight I saw an ad for Forme - they were having a 2 day sale on the weekend. Excellent I thought, I'm going to go along see whether I can snaffle one of these twiggy lights for my dining room area (hopefully at a much reduced rate)... Alas, I get to the showroom and they don't even have any as floorstock yet, let alone have them on sale!!! And as much as I love the twiggy light, with the 'R' word (i.e. recession) being bandied about so much there was no way that my hubby was going to agree to parting with close to $1000 for a light for our dining area. Guess what...I left empty handed!

But here's a taste of what Forme looks like and the goodies that they have in store....

Forme has two shops - one in Cecil Street, South Melbourne, and the other in Chapel Street, South Yarra.

P.S. You may have noticed that this post is in green font...the reason being that it's in support of the people in Iran and their right to a free and transparent election process. This is a very simple gesture, as proposed by Lisa @ Coastal Nest, but it is one that helps raise awareness. For more information read Lisa's post.

(Images: Forme)

B&W tea canisters

These brass trim black & white tea canisters from Francalia are on my wish list...

Garden inspiration

Once again it's been a busy, busy week and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I have my book club lunch today, a family dinner tonight and a lunch with friends tomorrow. In between it all I'm hoping to spend a little bit of time in my very neglected garden, and so I'm using the pictures of this lovely garden at the B&B Black Springs Bakery as my inspiration to weed, mulch, prune & plant...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned.

(Images: Black Springs Bakery)

John Derian on the wall

One of my favourite bloggers, the lovely Leigh over at Brabourne Farm , has done a wonderful post on John Derian paperweights and trays - she's posted some gorgeous images. So in keeping with your post Leigh, I thought you might like this collection of John Derian trays that I spotted a while back over at Desire to Inspire...If you were putting together a collection of John Derian trays for your wall, which ones would you choose? Maybe I'd take the lazy way out and choose one of the multi-piece wall hangings like this...

(Image: John Derian)

Another workspace

I've been spending far too much time chained to my desk over the past couple of weeks. It's driving me crazy and I need a change of scenery. I think any of these gorgeous and different work spaces would do it for me.

A wall of art to gaze upon...

Bright and breezy...

Creatively organised...

Uncluttered and efficient...

Light, airy and spacious...

Small and beautifully self-contained...

And my workspace...well here's a picture taken a while back - as you can see, pretty plain & boring...

(Images: 1 - Daniel Farmer represented by Sarah Kaye; 2 - Design Sponge; 3 - Rachel Whiting; 4 - Loft Life; 5 & 6 - Homes & Gardens)

Zaishu tables/stools

I saw these little tables/stools at the Melbourne Design Market last weekend. They're made from plywood and hoop pine and are available from Zaishu. I love the combination of patterns, designs and colours - one of these little beauties would brighten up any space.


And here's how they're used...

Isn't the the little mini stool/table just perfect for children...

(Images: Zaishu)

Monday morning shop post - Galerie Montmartre

Galerie Montmartre sells nothing but vintage French posters and it has an amazing variety of posters that suit a range of different types of decor. Now this is the very first Monday Morning Shop Post that I've done where I haven't actually visited the shop, but rest assured that I'll be making my way there very soon as I'm currently thinking about the renovation we're planning for our son's room. I think I'd like to frame and hang one of the following three posters in his room (I'll let him make the final choice of course). They're available from Galerie Montmartre...

My son is mad for tennis, so I thought he might like this one for his room. And my personal favourite (not for my son's room, but for the home in general) is...

Galerie Montmarte is situated at the rear of 197B Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, but don't worry if you don't live in Melbourne, Galerie Montmartre have a wonderful online shop and service. Check out the huge range of posters on their site.

(Images: Galerie Montmartre)

Sunday stroll & graffiti art

Headed off the the Melbourne Design Market at Federation Square in the city this morning with my sister Jacky and her mother-in-law Norma, excited to see what inspirational goodies we'd find. Well inspiration hit us before we even got to Fed Square...walking from the carpark to the market we strolled down a short non-descript laneway that had its walls covered in the most amazing graffiti art. All this in one little laneway...

Can you believe that this is made out of take-away coffee cups!