After seeing this post about an electric tea maker for the US, I had a look around down-under and found a version for our 240v outlets.  If you are not a coffee drinker like myself, but love a regular cup of tea, then this is just the thing.  It brews, filters and serves cup after cup of perfect tea. You just add your favourite tea leaves or herbal mix.  It even turns itself off when your tea is at the right temperature.  Get it here for AU$59.95.  

Don’t these make you want to go and find some stones and just see what happens when you try painting something.  It does to me, although finding anything that flat would mean a trip to the garden store for decorative stone.  On the Maya Made blog is also a little about the history of stone dolls that’s worth reading.   Go and find yourself a rock or stone and let your imagination run wild!

image [Maya Made]

This had me smiling when I saw the pretty fabric.  Ellen over at The Long Thread made them for her daughters as treat bags for trick-or-treating, though they are pretty enough to have just as a handbag. Take a look at her tutorial for great instructions and pictures.  It may even be a fun project for yourself and your own daughter/s.

via [Ohdeedoh]

I spied these over at Modish and had to show you.   The husband and wife team find pieces of glass and make them into beautiful jewellery.  Who knew you could find glass so perfectly formed, smooth and in such lovely soft-hues.  So take a look at Shoreline Sea Glass on Etsy and you will fall head-over-heels for something pretty at a really good price.

images [Shorline Sea Glass]

For most New Zealanders, a renovation is something we all get stuck into and mostly enjoy, so here is a mid-century reno for those with 50’s homes just awaiting a little (or large) overhaul.  For a few more images click here.

via [Desire To Inspire]

The entry hall – first impressions are created here, and you want them to be positive.  Not just a scary recollection of a disorganised, cluttered, dumping ground.  Here are a couple of ideas I have found to help deliver a serene entry hall.  Mostly I love the dark wood veneer bench from chiasso that gives you a place to sit, and storage within the seat for all the hats and dog leads and soccer balls and outdoor shoes.  Shut the drawers and presto – mess gone!   But they don’t deliver downunder, so here’s another closer to home, pop into your local Ikea and this and this will do the job almost as well.

It’s great to be able to welcome World of Good by Ebay.  It convenes loads of Eco Positive sellers and products all in one place.  Many products are fair trade certified, and have a positive social impact on people who create them and our environment.  Items are made all over the world, even by small farmer co-ops and artisans in third world countries.  So go take a look and you may just find something special for yourself or a friend.  

These two items I had to share with you today as I love my ‘charm’ necklace and have an obsession about pretty teatowels.   When we lived in Houston, it was a monthly ritual to pop into Urban Outfitters and go through each area, noting down in my phone ‘what I wanted’ and ‘what I must come back for’. They don’t ship way down here so now it’s an occasional browse online without a list.  US$24.00 for the Nesting Doll Charm Necklace (with a little doll inside) and US$8.00 for the Birdie Tea Towel.

I was browsing through Habitat’s online catalogue and oohhed and aahhed over these colourful candle holders.  Ever since we had our son, I stopped using candles for his safety and haven’t got back to it. These inspire me to have all four, collected in the centre of our table with different coloured candles burning in them.  They come in several heights, starting at £9.00 and £15.00 for the blue fluted holder. You can’t get them here in NZ much to my disappointment – (at the store that stocks some Habitat stuff) – but of course for you lucky ones in the United Kingdom, just pop into your nearest store and these will be on your dinner table before the evening meal.  Aren’t they stunning!

Here is a great tutorial that both young and old can do, by the talented Arounna Khounnoraj for Bloesem Kids.  The pretty water colour and crayon resists each other and makes for a colourful piece of art to frame or just peg on your childs wall.

What you will need:
*watercolour paper or heavy stock paper 8 x 10 in. 
*crayon (white is nice – I used grey) 
*watercolour paints and brushes 
*cup for water 

Step one: 
..Take the crayon and do a drawing on the paper 
Step two: 
..Cover the entire paper with just water (this is a wet on wet method) 
Step three:
..Take the watercolour and paint over the entire surface – the crayon will resist the paint and stand out nicely showing the drawing.

Let stand to dry.

Stumbling through the web again, I saw a range of wallpaper and had to know more.  Porters’ Paints are Australian, based in Sydney and are known for their range of paints from lime washes and milk paints to distempers and traditional paint finishes to premium quality acrylic paints.  They also have a great range of wallpaper – take a look via products at the wallpaper gallery.  Porter’s have stores and distributors through Asia and America.  My favourite is the Sparrows and Blossoms.

I can’t seem to get enough of new looking helmets for cycling or snowboarding etc, so this was exciting when cruising the London Cycle Chic blog.  The Bern head protection range is cool – my favourite is definitely the mens Watts in white.  They are unisex, can be used for multiple activities, range in price from US$39.00 to US$120.00 and come in a large selection of styles and colours.  Take a look at their site and hunt one down for your extreme outdoor activity, or just for that leisurely bike ride.  

images [London Cycle Chic; Bern]

Don’t you hate those nights when you are looking for a friends house in the dark and cannot see the number on the fence, mailbox or house – well, this idea will fix that.  The Solar Powered house number charges the LED’s that light up at dusk and turn off at dusk.  There are a lot of different kinds out there if you google it – even a selection on ebay, but some are just too ugly for words – however, I thought this one was not bad looking.  Give it to your friends as a ‘Sunday night at your house roast dinner gift’ instead of bringing the wine!

This TK 01 mailbox from Semigood is rather mod and swanky.  It is made from teak and measures 16″ x 21″ x 6 3/4″ making it a great size to have packages delivered.  However it says it is not for direct exposure – umm, that would be about 90% of people who couldn’t use it, including us.  Anyway when I saw the price I choked on my biscuit, at US$985 it’s way too expensive – so for you clever wood workers out there, make it a weekend DIY project with some cheaper wood and some that can withstand the weather.  Dad, how’s your diary looking for a bit of DIY, our mailbox leaks!

via [Apartment Therapy]

Isn’t this a great idea.  Not only do you have every utensil for a three course meal, but it’s all together on a tray that just snaps apart when you need bits, and all fancy looking.  I would love these for our picnics at the beach and the park.  I never seem to take enough utensils and it’s all rather mixed up.  Take a look at the designer Demelza Hill’s website for more info. 

images [Demelza Hill]

via [Cool Hunting]

My adventures this month lead me to all things letterpress.  Looking at so many design blogs I always come across the most beautiful looking cards, invitations, tags etc that are all done on a letterpress – it really makes me want to get one but the size of the machines are unbelievably large, so instead I will keep clicking through the many pretty, edgy and colourful……for more info on the images above; left to right:

Lucky Bee Press – Flat Note Card Set of Two $7.50

12fifteen – Coaster Set of Eight $12.00

DingBat Press – Recipe Cards Set of Fifteen $22.00

Sycamore Street Press – Alphabet Poster $30.00

Messenger Bird Press – Mini Notebook $11.00

Letterpress Delicacies - Ahoy Card $4.00

Porridge Papers – Wine Tag $2.25

Sweet Beets – Gift Tags Set of 8 $6.00

Pistachio Press – Eyelet Card Set of Five $12.00

Satsuma Lynn – Bird and Foliage Love Card $5.00

Lizard Press – Notes to Grow On Set of Seven $25.00

Staza – Custom Wedding Invitations $105.00

This is a great idea as cut up apples and pears aren’t so appetizing after a few hours in a lunchbox or you forget eating your fruit at all, as it’s left on the bottom of your bag.  It has been designed to hold fruit while protecting it from bruising or overheating and there’s even a colour changing thermo-spot on the underside to tell you if the food has overheated.  It comes with two plastic pots for holding your apple or orange, cut fruit, grapes, nuts etc and is dishwasher safe.  It is part of a range designed for schools by the UK company Concentrate.  Once again you can’t buy them down under but the online store will ship to Australia.  It’s £10 (about AU$21) and £3 for shipping.  That’s about the same price as this popular lunchbox which I find great, but this ‘Food For Thought’ fruit friendly design is very clever.

I am one of those bad Mums.  There.  I said it.  Yes, around come the children’s birthdays and I groan at the thought of ‘The Party’.  You might as well call it ‘The Torture’.  That’s how I behave under the seige of a dear little daughter about to mark the milestone of another birthday, happily wondering aloud about the details of her party.  Then I found this blog  and now do I feel bad!  Check out the most gorgeous story that the best party Mum has written….now I think I could almost tackle a party.  Somehow, the joy and enthusiam that radiated from that post has made me feel almost confident that  I could do one too! Thankyou, Andrea – I’m off to get loaded up at the Chinese Store……

images [Hula Seventy]

post by Kathryn

First you’ll be wondering what on earth ‘Sanga’ means – it’s Aussie slang for ’sandwich’.  Moving on….as a frequent lunchbox packer I thought these would be a great surprise.  Yes, I did recently blog about this and told you I don’t do fancy, but I think I could manage these.  It’s as easy as rolling out the bread with a rolling pin; putting on your favourite spread (peanut butter and jam for Master Four at present); rolling it up with the sushi mat (glad wrap or baking paper on the sushi mat), then slice into sushi size pieces.  This link gives you slightly more detailed instruction, photos and they even talk about adding fruit – yuck – definitely not adding fruit to my sandwich thanks!  How about avocado and shredded chicken, or egg and mayo, or even chutney and schnitzel.  Let me know how you get on with your versions.   

images [The Kitchn]

Not long ago I posted about her rugs and bags, and now she has designed a range for our dining room and kitchen.  Very cool mugs, coasters and placemats printed with an Australian plant or bird make these a great gift for someone living away from home, or just to add some colour to your exisiting collection of white mugs.  Starting at just AU$14.95 for a set of six coasters, take a look here to buy and see the range.  My favourite is the Banksia Mug with the kingfisher inside.

images [Nicola Cerini]