Elegant Lighting

I had some new shades that I ordered arrive this week which I have added to my loungeroom. I was lucky enough to get the chandy shades from Peta who has asked for a pic so I thought I would post it here just for her!

This is such a cute little lamp shade, I bought it from the U.S. a while ago. When it arrived here I was so upset as it was very dirty looking but I decided to give it a good wash and take my chances with it. It ended up coming up really well and goes nicely with the other decor in the lounge.

Here is the lamp during the day so you can see the true colour.

I bought these two sets of wall sconces from an antique centre the other day as I am concentrating on redecorating my kitchen and living area at the moment so I hope to get them up on the wall soon just need to add all the crystals and candle sleaves to them first. I'm sure they will look lovely once I am finished dressing them up! My antique sideboard will be arriving on Monday as well so it is all on the go here. Can not wait so I can post some photos!

Pyjama Jake & Little Rocky

We all had a big sleep in today as yesterday was our 8th Wedding Anniversary and 14th Anniversary all up as we were married on our original date we got together if that makes sence? We went for dinner at Piccolo Mondo on Lygon Street and it was just beautiful. Since we got home pretty late Jake was lucky enough to stay home for the day and I got a nice sleep in! When I woke up at 10am my boys were outside playing with Rocky and Jake was still in his pyjamas!!! lol. Oh well, as long as they were having fun, that is the main thing.

I snapped this quick shot of Jake after I asked him to go and get his clothes on...he was happy to stay in pjs all day if I let him so I told him if he did not get in and put his clothes on I would post this photo on my blog for all to see. Well, i'm sure you all know now that he did not get dressed when I asked him too! lol.

And here is our little Rocky who is growing leaps and bounds. He is such a good puppy...so full of energy when it comes to Jake and then with Cane and I all he wants to do is sit next to us and sleep. The perfect pet!

Poor little thing is teething at the moment so I have to be careful what goes out in the backyard as I am sure it will get ripped into pieces!

Mr. Magician

This week Jake has bookweek which is always such a big hit at school. He decided he wanted to go as his favourite character Mr Magician from one of his favourite books at the moment. Sorry I did not get the whole costume in as he ripped them off so very fast once he got home but I managed to get him to put some of it back on for a few photos. Such a cheeky monkey!

Mum's Heart is a Garden of Love

We have had such lovely weather today that I thought I would get out and enjoy the garden a little while I can...you never know what the weather will be like with Melboune...4 seasons in one day at times! My Camellias seem to be all out at the moment...these ones would have to be my all time favourite! They are so very huge at full size and even larger than the old fashion roses. I like to float these in my crystal bowls when the tree is over flowing with them.

I planted these cute little pansies a few weeks ago now and put them in my court yard in my vintage plant stands. I have two of these one either side of my antique outdoor setting.

I could not make my mind up what colour pansies I wanted so decided to put pink, purple and white which seem to go so very lovely together. I love the little verses that I have sitting amongst them. One reads 'Mum's heart is a garden of love' and the other 'A mothers love is always in bloom.' So very true!

My Wild Hogs!

I LOVE this movie!!! It sort of reminds me of my dear Dad in so many ways you will never know!!! lol. When I saw this movie I laughed so much I nearly wet myself...if you have not seen it you simply must! Trust me!!!

We have a weekend wild hog in our family and it is my Dad...yes, my Dad! During the week he is a hard working business man but after hours he turns into this!!! I still laugh every time I see him on his Harley and find it had to belive it is my Dad. I think he looks very mean and scary! lol.

A little while ago we let me Dad take Jake (my son) to my in laws on the back of the bike...he was so scared but once he arrived at my in laws he wanted to go again!!! Gee, he got over that pretty fast, lol. Anyway, I thought I would share some photos of the two wild hogs of the family...my Dad and my son Jake.

My son is so very proud of my dad and wants to take him and his Harley for show and tell at school...how funny is that! I just could not see the teachers going for that one??? lol.

Now Jake has his own little 4 wheel motorbike which my Dad bought him for Chrstimas...he has such a ball with it! Look at the big hugs Pop recieved after going for his first ride! I wish we lived on a large block like my Dad does so Jake could run around on his bike all day long with little Rocky following. Dad lives in Riddells Creek and it is such a pretty and quiet place...well...that is when the wild hogs are not out lol! Next time I am up visiting I will have to take some pics of their rose garden...they have the most wonderful wrought iron garden arbour! I can not wait for all the David Austin roses to flower.

Now I have myself all worked up over this movie again so you can guess what I will be doing tonight with my family...WATCHING IT AGAIN! xoxo

Loving My Vintage Chandy Shades!

I am so very excited...I had a parcel arrive from the U.S. today as I bought 8 vintage chandelier shades and could not wait to add them to my pair of table lamps. They are so very cute and feature lace, soft little pleats with rosettes on top and old gold braiding.

I consider myself very lucky to have found 8 of these shades in mint condition that fit oh so perfectly with my table lamps which I picked up on the weekend. I love when I find beautiful things like this! Treaure hunting is so very fun as you never know what you are going to find next time!

I can not wait till next week when I recieve my chandy shades for my wall sconces in my lounge. Thanks to Peta now they can be finally finished!

My Lounge Room

Here is some pics of my lounge! We recently had my dream lounge suit made in the ever so classic chesterfied. We had to wait about 5mths to get the leather imported but in the end it was totally worth the wait. I like to cover the main 3 seater so my son Jake does not damage it while jumping all over it...we all know how kids can be!!!

I have two china cabinets in my lounge which displays some of my favourite pieces of china from all over the world. The cabinet above it one that has been handed down from my great grandmother on my fathers side which always seems to mean so much more having family history behind it.

Anyone who knows me would know that my favourite pattern from Royal Albert would have to be 'Enchantment' I just love it!!! I started collecting this design a few years ago and am so very lucky to have bought my teapot when I did as they seem to be worth an arm and a leg now!!! Lucky me picked it up from an an eBay seller in the U.S. with two trios and two entree plates for about $70US plus postage!!! What a deal!!!

This is one of my pride and joys! My Austria Vienna Rose Bowl was purchased from the U.S. also. it is all hand painted, hand signed and dated Oct 22 1907. Pretty old and in superb condition! In the summer I like to handcut fresh roses from my garden and pop them into my rose bowl..it looks so pretty!

This is my second china cabinet FULL of lots of pretty china that is mostly Europen from - Austrian, German, French and a little English. I do not have any more room in my cabinets for more china but I have convinced my husband that I need another one in my spare room so I am now on the hunt for the perfect one.

These three pieces sit on top of my second china cabinet and were all found at a flea market...the mirror tray handles feature beautiful roses and is so very sweet and I love the little french display dish!!! I found the blue lamp shade seperatly to the lamp base but I think the blues and pinks go really well together.

I am currently on the hunt for some vintage chandelier shades for my wall scones but they seem to be so very hard to find...i'm sure they will turn up but when??? My husband has just changed the chandelier to another one but it is very similar to this one, just a little more ornate.

Italian Capodimonte at it's best!

I went to a friends house on the weekend and this beautiful Italian Capodimonte piece was sitting on a shelf in the garage. I nearly fell over when I saw it and asked what he was going to do with it and if he did not want it I would be happy to buy it. I was lucky enough that he did not have any room for it and I now have it displayed in my home...and...NO...I am not selling it, lol.

I love the colours featured on this piece...pinks, blues, purples, lemons, greens and golds!

I can not belive that there is no chips or cracks to the whole piece...just so very perfect!

Love it, love it, love it!

I have not found the perfect place for it yet in my home but I am sure I will soon.

Siobhan xo

My Bedroom

Hello, I have been wanting to add some pics of my home for a while but we have been renovating and it seems things have been all over the place. So today I am starting with my bedroom which I finally finished as of yesterday when I picked up my beautiful pair of chandelier table lamps which I just adore.

The beautiful painting hanging over my bed was one of my presents from my dear husband for my 30th birthday this year. My lovely friend Gail McCormack painted my very own Austria Vienna Rose Bowl which is one of my pride and joys of my china collection and sits in our lounge on top of my great gandmothers china cabinet. I love having my own china painted and displayed on my walls as well as my china cabinets so my hat comes off to Gail for creating such amazing paintings for my home. I am forever changing where I hang my lovely paintings as it seems by doing this the rooms look different and that way they feel like fresh new rooms. Seems a good thing to do rather than change my whole decor at times and does not cost as much as a whole makeover! lol.

My friend Donna has made me some beautiful high quality raggy quilts for my home which I love displaying over the end of my bed adding contrasting colours to the room. At the moment I have one of Rachel Ashwell's new bedding range on my bed which is a beautiful pale pinky-peach comforter set featuring soft washed out roses and tiny blue forget me knots.

Well, that is it for me...have a wonderful day and come back soon!

A Camellia for Mum

My son Jake went back to school today after having nearly a whole week off school last week due to being ill and I missed him so very much! Come 3.30pm my son came running out his classroom door screaming, "Wait there Mum, wait there!" so of corse I did. Jake came back with the most wonderful camellia and handed it to me and gave me a big kiss and a hug while saying, "I love you Mum!"

It is the simple things in life like this that makes my day so very special and I consider myself so very lucky to have the family I do today. I was so touched but Jake's actions today and wanted to share my photos of my beautiful camellia with you all.

New Chandelier

Today I had my chandelier removed in my bedroom and a new one installed thanks to my wonderful husband who HATES putting chandeliers up. Thankyou Cane!!! My husband is an Electrical Engineer by trade and when he first started out as an apprentice they used to remove old chandeliers from big and beautiful homes around Melbourne and put them out on the side of the road for the rubbish man to collect...can you belive that? If only he knew he were to marry a woman who loves them hanging from her ceilings he could have kept them, lol. I consider myself very lucky with my hubby being an Electrician as I can have him remove and fit new chandeliers when I am lucky enough to find them at Flea Markets, but I am sure he would not be happy to hear that and will not be changing my bedroom chandelier again...well...I don't think so anyway!

I used to have a Maria Teresa Chandelier in my bedroom as you can see a few posts ago but now have this beautiful big crystal basket hanging above my bed which I love. My son was very upset that we took the other one down and asked us to keep it for him when he gets his own house...well I think that is far, far away considering he is only 7yo! lol.

This is another favourite in our study room which was put up a little while ago. I will be listing one just like this but larger on eBay in the next week or so. It seems I am addicted to the basket style chandeliers in my home as I also have another in my loungeroom which is fairly similar to this one above as well. I think they are very elegant and charming.

The beautiful paintings featured on my walls are from my lovely friend GAIL MCCORMACK.