200th post giveaway

Apologies for the lack of post yesterday. I'm busy, busy, busy finishing up loads of work before I head off for holidays soon and there just wasn't enough time left in the day to get around to posting on my poor, neglected blog.  Anyway, I'm going to make up for that today because it's my 200th post!  Hip, hip, hooray!!! When I first started blogging at the start of the year I didn't think I'd make it to 20 posts let alone 200 posts. And to celebrate this momentous occasion (well, momentous to me anyway), I have a gorgeous book to give away to one of the lovely, lovely people that drop by my blog.

Here in Australia we have a magazine titled Madison - it contains mostly fashion and fluff, but at the back of each edition they have a lifestyle section that features the home of a well-known fashion, business, media or creative person.  The homes are usually quite gorgeous and just recently they put together a book, 'Madison Living', which contains a number of the homes that have featured in the magazine in the past.  Here are a few (rather poor) shots from my crappy old camera, but I do promise you that this glossy book is quite lovely when you actually see it in the light of day. It has some beautiful pictures in it.

So, if you'd like this copy of 'Madison Living', all you have to do is leave a comment on this post before 9.00am Saturday 3rd October (Melbourne time).  Then, after I've had my breakfast, drank copious amounts of green tea and read the papers, I'll randomly draw a comment and make arrangements with the lucky person to send the book to them a.s.a.p.

Thank you all for so much for visiting Glimpse of Style from time to time.  Lee :)

Groups of three

I know it's written somewhere in the 'decor bible' that things look better in groups of odd numbers...I think I might have taken this to heart just a bit too much, as I've noticed lately that I have a lot of things dotted around the house displayed in groups of three. For example, three little glass bottles with hellebores from my garden...

Three cheap and cheerful vases from Ikea sitting on the windowsill...

Three black candlesticks on my dining table...

The sun shining on a set of three ceramic objects on the side table in my living area...

Three sweet patterned bowls on the bookshelves in the living area...

I know I can break this habit if I try very hard!

Have a lovely weekend!

Riding along...

Summer is just around the corner and I think it would be lovely to ride to the shops and down to the local swimming pool on one of these little beauties. They're beautifully crafted handmade bicycles that are made here in Australia by Bakerlite. But of course like most things that are custom made, they come with a hefty price tag. Still, if you had one of these sweet bicycles I think you'd cherish it forever and even pass it down to your children.

But really, if I was riding down to the shops I might actually need this model given my shopping habits...

My favourite is the Princess Classic...

(Images: Bakerlite)

As big as a whale

I've been seeing a lot of whales around the traps lately - is this the next 'big thing' in decor now or have I just missed the boat completely (pardon the very bad pun)? Anyway, just thought I'd share a few whales with you today...

Beautiful soap from Saipua - wish it was available here in Australia...

A lovely book cover as seen on the fabulous Cup of Jo...

And yet another whale seen on a Cup of Jo - this time on a card...

You can get chalkboards in just about any shape or form, so it comes as no surprise that you can get a whale too...

And here's some whale fabric that could look quite cute in a little boy's room...

(Images: 1 - Wisteria; 2 - Saipua via A Cup of Jo; 3 - A Cup of Jo; 4 - Luludee; 5 - Kif and Katast; 6 Rose and Radish)

Monday shop post - My Poppet

I'm working in the city at the moment and I'm catching the tram to work (a real novelty for me, but I'm sure the novelty will wear off before my contract finishes). Anyway, each morning as the tram rattles down Glenhuntly Road in Caulfield it passes by My Poppet, a very enticing childrens store.

Well it so happens that my husband's cousin recently had a baby girl, Emelia, so this was the perfect excuse to get off at the tram stop closest to My Poppet and purchase a 'welcome to the world baby girl' present from this lovely store.

A sweet summer dress that I think would be perfect for a certain little girl I know...

Lots of lovely prints, cushions and toys that are ideal for a little one's room...

And how about these blankets - bright and beautiful and a lovely change from insipid pinks and yellows (I think I'd choose the pink & orange elephant blanket)...

Lots of pink girlie things to delight little girls...

And doesn't this bunting in the window look gorgeous. Obviously the owner is a great window dresser...

All the wares are beautifully displayed in the store...

And I bought one of these lovely dolls for the new baby (along with a woollen romper suit and beanie from another store)...

And last, but not least, I fell in love with gorgeous teddy - so cute & so stylish at the same time!

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of My Poppet - you can check out more of what this lovely store has to offer right here.

(Images: My Poppet)

Kusmi

I would buy Kusmi Tea just because of the beautiful tins and packaging that it comes wrapped up in!  And being a big tea drinker I could soooo easily justify the purchase.  Especially since after I'd finished drinking the tea I'd use these lovely containers for flowers. Problem is, I don't know where/if this tea is stocked in Melbourne.  Does anyone know?  Anyway, here's just a few of the delectable teas I think are nice...

(Images: Kusmi Tea)

Woodend country house

St Ambrose Farm, designed and formerly owned by the renown garden designer Paul Bangay, is currently on the market. It's situated at Woodend, about an hour's drive outside Melbourne.  If I won the lottery and had a few million in the kitty and a full-time gardener to look after the grounds I'd definitely think about snapping it up just so I could wander around the gardens each and every day...

And here's a glimpse of what the interior of the home looks like...

You can find bigger/clearer images here while the link lasts.

(Images: Abercromby's)

A blog is a window

To me a blog is a bit like a window that lots of people look through to see what's inside, but very few tap on the window to let you know they're there so you can say hi.

So I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all those who have 'tapped' on my window (i.e. have left me a comment) recently - I've really enjoyed your comments and making contact with you.

 (Image: WisDoc)

Monday shop post - Kif and Katast

Kif and Katast - yes it's a strange name & I'm not sure of its origins, but no doubt there's a charming story behind it, because it's a charming shopfront for a very talented design practice here in Melbourne.  Kif and Katast is situated in the Hawksburn Village precinct in Malvern Road, Prahran.  It sells a range of goods designed and created by Kif and Katast themselves and also other Australian and international artists/designers...such as...

Jewellery - this lovely sterling silver brooch has been created by artist Ewa Card:

Cushions...like this adorable French bulldog cushion:

These delicate, sculptural cotton pleated jugs:

These beautiful fabric and leather clutch bags by Nancybird (check out their site - the bags are simply gorgeous and they're presented beautifully on their site too):

There's also a range of cards...I like the cards that have been drawn by children - this one's called Samantha Octopus:

There is table linen in store too, from one of my favourite brands, Quince Homewares:

Kif and Katast also create and sell a small range of their own wallpaper and fabric. This is the Red Fennel wallpaper:

And if that's not enough, Kif and Katast also make specifically customised products for clients such as splashbacks and steel screens.  Here's one of their creations close up - the Gingko screen:

If you like what you see here, you can check out more on Kif and Katast's site, or you can visit their shop at 542 Malvern Road, Prahran.

(Images: Kif and Katast)