I heart Orson and Blake!

Hi all, I have finally finished this years round of photoshoots and tv advertorials that become my life for three or so months around this time of the year and can finally spend some more time enjoying what I love- reading all those amazing blogs and getting back in touch with you all. It has been a whirlwind of a time and I am looking forward to relaxing with close friends in early dec at my island getaway dream house which you can read about here. I am going swim wear shopping for some of those great nautical's I featured here and I am going to get a load of books and never leave the beach! My idea of BLISS!

Anyway over the last couple of months I have become a massive online bargain shopper- which is ironic really as I struggle really hard when I walk into a shop with sales! I never can find anything I want at half price and always fall in love with the most expensive item on the shelf and walk away having spent more then I wanted, never less. Anyway recently I have signed myself up to all those daily emails with specials on meals, clothes and homewares and spend about half an hour every morning running through it and spending way too much money saving myself a little bit. :)

What I did love is finding a Sale on Orson and Blake homewares. I am so in love with their stuff now... I love the rustic fabrics, the gorgeous prints and muted colours. Divine! I splurged a little and am updating my home for summer when they arrive. So excited!

My new loves....

Tea Towels: Linen Elephant & Zebra in Chocolate





Animal Print Cushions



Going tribal with:

Cushion Kuba Shells



Cushion Jute Zig Zag Knot



I love Owls!



Oh and I love this Bone Inlay 4 Drawer Chest but at 4,500 unfortunately it wasn't in my sale.. :(




Anyway I hope is well with everyone? I know a couple of you will be close to having new little bundles of joy soon- so hope all is ok and your enjoying your 'nesting' phase? :) I am going to enjoy reading a few of my favorite blogs today and catching up on all the news! Cam xox

Colour me happy...

After yesterday's post I went on a search to find some colour to put in the house... and have a look at someway of recreating that amazing coastal beach chic...

Reminder of inspiration...



Loving for the dinning room... Anthropologie Mina Tablecloth



With this great plate Paper Pretender also from Anthropologie...



Intermingled with this great plate for colour and texture.... Sliced Persimmon Dinnerware



Loving these glasses! Fleur-De-Lys Tumbler...



I would then put a succulent on the table for a centrepiece...



Then it really feels like it needs this amazing dish to top it off... My pick would definitely be this Snapper and Fennel Tagine!



So to be honest I feel like it is a mix between boho and folk and beach and middle eastern, but isn't that the best way to decorate? :)

Help needed to save my Christmas in July dinner party....

Ok today I promise to not write about more Orange. :)

First thing is first though I need help desperately. I wrote last week about my Christmas in July dinner party and my decorations if you remember. Well over the weekend I went shopping and largely got together my supplies for the craft side of things, however I am missing one vital ingredient- PINE CONES! I am desperately seeking help on where on earth you get pine cones from I have tried Spotlight and 2 Dollar Shops- are these in season at the moment in forests?

If you remember these are going to be the body of my little elf's that will adorn each spot- I have even imagined what each little man will do to represent the person he is made for. I am going to have one on ski's for my friend who was an Olympic Mogul skier, a snowboard for my brother, one gardening for my friend with the green thumb.



Please kindly save my dinner party and help me find pine cones! xox

Living with Orange...

More and more of late I have been obsessed with using orange somewhere in my house... I am thinking for winter I might go and splurge on a new set of cushions and play around with the idea in my living room...

Loving this print by Bucks County Frames. I am definitely thinking this might be a first purchase for the living room...













Love Love Love! Love the runner and adore the stripe!





Hehe cheeky! Bike Love by William Dohman



Images care of Slumber Designs, Unknown and Etsy.

Christmas in July...

I think I might have mentioned before I have a small tendency to go a little OTT when I am excited. So last night I locked in the guests for my Christmas in July dinner party that I have wanted to do for ages now but keep remembering in August.

So last night I turned to my brother and said oh wow I have so many idea's and he goes 'that is what I am afraid of!'. :)

So even though it is 4 weeks off I am going to start planning and buying now. This a) will spread the expense over a couple of pays and b) mean I wont be rushed off my feet on the day since this time it wont be slow cooked which means prep in the morning and give me all day to run around!

So the theme is Candy Cane (as I love red and white as a table setting). First Stop is Martha- for some inspiration and idea's.

Loving the idea of a stripped tablecloth or runner- going to go to Spotlight and see what I can find in a similar fabric!



I love the thick candles above for the table and am thinking I will go find ribbon in spotlight to tie around. Then thinking for my coffee table for nibbles one of these wreaths with a thick candle in the center... what do you think?



Ok for my place holders I am thinking these little guys... I am hoping to have them sit on top of their little take home presents... I figure they can all be in different poses if I get good enough at making them! i.e: Fishing, on one knee proposing style, one reading etc...



Keeping in the theme of candy cane- For their gifts I will make this easy candy cane fudge recipe. This can be sitting at the head of each setting with the little guy on top and a cute handmade lable with their name to act as the place setting.



And key to any Christmas Table is definitely the crackers- one year Mum made these amazing ones with great riddles from the net and personalised gifts- I got a pearl necklace, my brother aftershave etc... (Now you can see where my idea of entertaining comes from). So I am thinking I will do the same in simple white with red ribbon and find riddles and have them printed out nicely with everyone's name to personalise each one and make some funky hats to go in each cracker.



Over the table I am thinking I will hang snowflakes in red and white. I made these last year for work decorations and ended up showing nearly everyone in the office how to make them...they are really easy and look amazing.



So this is my plan for this weekend- I am going to hit spotlight and see what I can find! Then at night over the next couple of weeks I can start putting together the decorations and getting everything ready for the big day! xox

Tag it with love...

I love brown luggage tags- I think my love originated from Paddington Bear as a child and I have never let it go. I have been using them for my own styling for a while now, but I have also been inspired by other blogs use of paper tags in event planning.

Here are some of my favourites...

The following are from the ever amazing Green Wedding Shoes. This is from a wedding in Idaho. I love the pinned in notice board to find your seats and then tied somewhere on the table to know which seat.





From a very cute green wedding... very cute and easily made with a plain tag and cute stamps.



I love these labels from Cori + John’s Sweet Outdoor Wedding... the stationary they used was absolutely divine- so nicely aged and vintage and these unique labels fit perfectly.





Last week Eat Drink Chicposted a lovely D.Y. article on Summer Floral Gift Tags. To check out how to make these amazing tags and T&C's of use please go to Eat Drink Chic to find out more....





They really are cute and make an occasion quite personal. You can pick up some kitsch designs from Kikki K, though really I think they are cute if they are simply made from old brown luggage tags and string- all you then need are cute rubber stamps and you get a great handmade rustic feel. xox

Table success...

How cute are these low budget table centerpiece's made with flowers from Martha Stewart? So many people dismiss flowers that are cheap (as in $5 to $10 a bunch), but look at how sweet they look, plus they are generally available all year round. I love the idea that you can make a bunch of flowers spread further by using bud vases and by using all different types you create a striking table. Though true to my heart my favourite has to be the one with recycled tins...







These images have cheered me up and given me a little summer to this awful cold weather. Hope it does the same for you! xox