Visiting: Christchurch

The place where I live.  Shaky ol' Christchurch.

Yes we had another couple of shakes yesterday which crumbled our positive stride and made us remember that they are not over.

BUT we will survive.  Its been one hellava year.

Our christmas eve day was spent helping our friends and fellow cantabrians shoveling liqufaction.  The stuff that just keeps on coming after any major shake - and believe me folks there has been many.

The kids sung "Everyday we're shoveling do do do do do do do"
That pile took 2 hours to make - 7 adults and 5 kids.

This stuff is ruthless - it's sticky, heavy and when it dries it's dusty as an ol' boot.  You can not imagine.

We turned up to people's home where this stuff was knee-deep and it's not the first, second or even third time.  We heard over and over again that they just can't be bothered cleaning it up and I don't blame them.

That's where we come in.  And we did - on mass!  With shovels, spades, wheel barrows and man-power.  We only helped a few people but we hope we made a difference.

There was Al the 81 year old who was house and garden proud.  Again he was out with the shovel and barrow cleaning up his property.  We turned up and he may have had a tear in the eye.  His lovely wife baked scones, biscuits and tea.  

That turned out to be a common occurrence - home-made goodies to help our tiny army shovel and shovel.

I'm knackered but I'm grateful for what we have.  Onwards and upwards please.


Merry Christmas to you and thank you for reading and making this all worth it.

Best Bathroom: Christoph and Lisa (Berlin) from The Selby

HARK - seeing this bathroom made my heralds certainly sing.

Amongst the xmas blogging maddness I found this most audacious bathroom.

Posted by Candelier Creative and from the eponymous Todd Selby from The Selby

Also Christoph Niemann

My tiler already thinks I'm a fruit requesting coloured grout - I think this would send him over the edge.  Time to find another tiler.

Just so frickin right

Bookie Book: SURRUR

New books are like new shoes for me - when I get a new one (a pair) I just can't stop obsessing about it (them).

SURRUR is my latest and best purchase EVER.

It's got it all... A heady mix of Marimekko,  designy norwegians, colour, patterns, craft stuff and funny stories.

The name of the book is an onomatopoeia of the sound a sewing machine makes.  Kooky lot those 'wegians.

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It has over 60 projects to make - from a car cover to hand puppets.  All uber cool.  Example below

The colour is strong with this one... Anya Brighouse

The latest Homestyle mag is yum - new editor Brenda Ward is settling in and doing very nicely I must say!

Highlight was Anya Brighouse's colour home.

"like"

Read the article here or even bets go buy your own copy!

New kid on the block: Foundry

Foundry is the new adventure for Fancy! blogess Alana.

She emanates cool and it shows with the first range.

She's keeping it special with numbered prints and limited editions.

Totes also have been the cool-treatment

"put all of your items in this, then go somewhere"

Look out peeps - she's one to watch!

Something is just not right here: The cushion room

It might be the fact that I've just had my second general Anesthetic for the year but I got some serious 'no-likees' going on for this room.

It is scary and soulless.

It has too many cushions.

Just because you put up silver curtains (ugs), you don't have to use the leftover fabric for more goddamn cushions.

And why is there a mattress and yet another cushion on the floor?

Pet hate #42 is having a TV in the bedroom.

That's all for now you silly room you.

Designer:  Eric Kuster (his catch phrase is Metropolitan Luxury - he's one smooth dutch dude)

Image:  found over at Desire to Inspire - heaps better stuff than above so don't let this image put you off!)

Footnote:  This is my bedroom so you can see why I am what I am (it's also my office for the next couple of days!)  Go bed-rest!

Attending: Handmade 2012

Get out your diary's you saucy crafters you.

The Handmade 2012 programme has just been announced and guess who is taking a masterclass?!

Me you stoopids!

My wee bit is just one tiny bit in a whole weekend of handmade goodness based in Wellington over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

It's all very exciting and I'm already gearing up to give my talk about making "Honest, Happy and Eclectic Interiors"

Should be fun weekend and I would love to catch up with any of you that are around.  WINES!

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