Cushions...cushions...cushions....

Always busy making cushions.. such a perfect decor prop to add colour and style. And if you can sew, it makes it so easy to change your decor by changing your cushions. I do have a self confessed fabric addiction, and lurveeee upholstery fabrics, especially when made from heavy linen.

My Ebay watch page or should I say pages are filled with upholstery fabrics from around the world which I frequently buy and have shipped to me here in Melbourne...... Some of my favourites are Sanderson, Schummacher, Brunschwig and Fils, GP & J Baker, Covington, Mulberry, Designer Guild,and of course Warwick and Zepel. 

I love sourcing the vintage upholstery ranges from these fabric houses.

William Morris Chrysanthemum and Sanderson Fitzroy Green.

William Morris Chrysanthemum 

Schumacher Empress Cartouche & William Morris Chrysanthemum

Schumacher Empress Cartouche & William Morris Chrysanthemum

Sanderson Chelsea 

Chartreuse Raw Silk, Sanderson Chelsea, Laura Ashley Teal Velvet, & Designers Guild Stothard

Sanderson Chelsea  & Warwick Beachcomber

Sanderson Chelsea & Warwick Beachcomber 

 

Mulberry Flying Ducks

Mulberry Flying Ducks

Oh so pretty.....

Easter 

I do love a good vignette, grouping things, and creating a little displays representative of the time of year. I couldn't resist loading these up. I did have a nest full of gorgeous quail eggs for Easter, which I had painstakingly pricked with a needle each end, blown out the yolk & white, and boiled. They looked gorgeous in the nest. My two kittens Luigi and Yiota also thought they were fabulous, and flicked them out of the nest with their little paws, rolling them across the table, and chasing them all over the floor. For the next week I'd come home to one or two less eggs each day. So much for the quail eggs...;)...Next time I'll glue them down.

How beautiful are these little ranunculus blossoms! The look just gorgeous in my vintage tea cups on the window ledge.

And by candle light.

And these stunning daffodils were given to me by my very thoughtful sister in law Dianne. I've never seen these colours before. Creamy white petals with a peach fluted centre. I thoroughly enjoyed these whilst they lasted.

Xmas Fare

Christmas 2012. Our first Xmas in our own home. I so enjoyed baking all the Christmas fare, and sending off my homemade gifts to friends and relatives. Chocolate Panforte, Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Biscotti, White Chocolate Biscuits... ...mmmmmmm! Damn good even if I say so myself :). 

Homemade Hamper Gifts

Rich Fruit Cake

For home, I gave my gorgeous green milk glass Donna Hay cake stand its first workout, as prime table center piece holding a rich dark fruit cake, topped with icing sugar (using a stencil the top came up beautifully). We munched on home made Chocolate Panforte - perfect with a steaming cup of coffee fresh from our Giotto espresso machine. 

Chocolate Panforte

Fruit cake on my Donna Hay stand

Here is a pic of our beautiful new oak dining table and chairs which we had delivered a few days prior to Xmas.

For Christmas day lunch we feasted on slow roasted Tuscan Pork Belly, baby potatoes, green beans and gravy; with of course a good drop of red wine! It is amazing how slow roasting for 3 hours, creates such a succulent and flavorsome pork belly. This recipe will definitely be repeated. 

Tuscan Pork Belly with Baby Potatoes and Green Beans

My hubby treated me to a Kitchen Aid Ice Cream attachment for Xmas present. It was clear he was looking forward to regularly devouring home made ice-cream. True to form and eager to try out my new present, I made Con's favorite ice-cream Rum & Raisin. There was little remaining after lunch. I do believe he considers it to be the best present he has ever bought me. I was very pleased with my efforts!

 I made my first ever wreath, compliments of the tutorial in the Country Style magazine just prior to Xmas. Here is a pic. It looked so cute hanging in my Xmas display.

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Wreath

Xmas Produce