Valentines Day - All you needs is love

Darling friends, I know, I know, Valentines Day has been and gone.....contrary to all appearances, I am not caught in some kind of time machine....... blunt truth of it is, I have been just too busy to have posted this on the day itself, or even around the time.....and it's not even still February.......but let me tell you what I did on Valentines Day just the same.....

On Valentines Day this year, as I am deviod of any type of personal love interest of my own, I decided within myself that Valentines Day is simply NOT just for lovers. Look at the world and tell me that it does not require lashings of love spread around everywhere, to all people, every day of the year! So, I decided that I would invite my adorable next door neighbours, Max and Denise, over for a Valentines day afternoon tea - to tell them how much I appreciate and love having them for my neighbours, and to also show my 3 little bundles of energy that it is vital to show care and love to those around us. I did attempt to also teach them the value of table manners and having a dignified afternoon tea, but I think that was expecting just a little too much !!!!

We started by baking a lovely heart shaped chocolate sponge (recipe below), filling it with cream and jam, icing it with choccy icing and crumbled up cherry ripe. It may never have graced the TV program Choccy Woccy Do Dah, but it sure looked good to us none the less ! We got out the 'good china' (which should be used all the time !!!), table cloth and a vase of red geraniums from the pots outside the window, and made a pot of tea....then, when everyone arrived we sat down and devoured it all....It was busy. It was hectic. It was yummy. It was a celebration.

The more I work in the placemaking field, the more I believe that it is celebration that gives life it's zing and magic. We need to make time, make room, make the effort to celebrate - people, moments, good times and honour even the bad times being over. It is celebration that will colour our life with memories to be treasured, that will fill our lives with people who are special. It doesnt matter that Valentines Day is over commercialised, celebrate it and use it as a vehicle to create something special in your life - a memory, a moment, the treasuring of people you love - we can never have too much of such things in our lives.

Chocolate Sponge Cake

4 eggs seperated

3/4 cup cornflour

1 tsp cream of tartar

3/4 cup castor sugar

1 tbsp custard powder

1/2 tsp bicarb soda

3 tbsp cocoa powder

Beat egg whites with a dash of salt.

Add sugar slowly as you go.

Add egg yolks one at a time.

Sift dry ingredients then fold in with a wooden spoon.

Bake in moderate oven (180degrees) for 20-25 minutes.

Decorate and fill as desired.

Close your eyes and dream momentarily - What inspires you?

Sitting in an enchanting little cafe in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy today (and what a captivating place that part of town is) I was inspired to start a little campaign to find out what inspires my readers....and in doing so, I hope it inspires many others in turn !! I want to ask people three questions, because I believe, especially at the beginning of a year, it is important to reflect on where we are at, who we are and where we are heading....sooo......

What Inspires You?

It could be anything from beaded fabrics to man landing on the moon !

What Is Your Dream?

It could be anything from performing with elephants to cooking through Julia Childs cook book in a year !

What Do You Want from Your Life?

It could be anything from making a difference in the lives of unloved children to becoming the next editor of Vogue

Please feel free to share all your dreams and aspirations, no matter how crazy or wild (the wilder the better if you ask me !!) - because we all know that 'putting it out there', and speaking our dreams, even just realising what our dreams are, can begin to set the wheels in motion to manifest these things in our lives.

And as for me......

What inspires me?

a) the richness of the seasons unfolding around me

b) People who overcome great adversity

c) Miraculous occurrences in the everyday

d) People who do not judge others and live great lives of compassion and unbridled love

What is my dream?

a) To have a beautiful, gracious, warm hearted family who are all wrapped up in love for one another.

b) To look back at my life one day and see it as rich, full, victorious, and lived with great beauty, delight, enchantment and wonder.

What do I want from my life?

a) An inspiring occupation that brings much good to society.

b) Kindred spirit friends and family surrounding me.

c) A pretty home of my own, brimming with creativity and joy, in a pretty place, with a wonderful community and the capacity to be somewhat self sufficient.

Ha ! It is just so hard to limit such imaginative ramblings to a couple of lines isnt it !!! My mind could go on and on with all the wonderful things I aspire to !!!

May you do the same!

May you be inspired as you do so !

May your inspirations be the fuel for others too !!!

 

 

Rockin Christmas Songs......

I was spoilt rotten recently by a pressie arriving in the mail from my darling sister - a copy of Michael Buble's Christms Album, which I have played and played and played already. The kids and I just love it !!! My out and out favourite is his version of Blue Christmas with a very dixie land jazz vibe.....and it all got me thinking about the plethora of great (and not so great) Christmas Songs out there....people really love this time of year dont they? They really get into the celebration and festivity and party spirit...I think that is just wonderful, it is what community is all about really - celebration together, creating memorable moments, generosity and warmth. Yes, it is truly a precious gift in itself to be able to get into the spirit of this gratful celebratory season.

So, to help you (and me) get into the party spirit, I have traweled the net for some of the lesser known but still awsome Christmas songs ....there is no Elvis, Brenda Lee or Bing Crosby in this list (although I do love their christmas music), I hope that I bring you something you have never heard before that can get your feet dancing up a storm this festive season - all with  mid century style of course! Celebrate Christmas with me, with all the gratitude in our hearts - for the freedom and life we have thanks to what happened at this time in a quiet little Israeli country town oh so long ago. Cheers everyone !!!

Blue Christmas - Michael Buble

Christmas on TV - Chris Isaak

Senor Santa Clause

Christmas Bell Rock

Merry Twistmas

Hey Santa Claus

I want a rock n roll guitar

Rockin around the Christmas tree - Bill Haley

Run Run Rudolf

They shined up Rudolfs nose

Reindeer Boogie

Dig that crazy Santa Clause

Twistin Bells

Doo Wop Christmas

Merry Christmas

Good old Country Christmas

Sleigh ride

I'd like you for Christmas

Renovate your wardrobe, your house, your self this summer !

Just in time for Christmas - and summer fun if you live in Australia - here are some wonderful websites for some truly great vintage stuff that I just had to share. If you are looking to renovate your wardrobe, your inner self, your house or your vintage pattern collection this summer break, then these site are a must see !!! Click on the images to be taken to these terrific sites !!

For some seriously smooth vintage styled bathers, check out these...I am am a sucker for gingham checks, Hawaiian and nautical things !!! But there are many more fabo styles as well........

If you are thinking of getting stuck into your reno's this summer holidays, then you must check out this WONDERFUL retro reno site. Choc full of inspiration, information and retrovation, you are just gonna LOVE this site..........








I just adore this wonderful site - all about 'getting naked'. About baring your soul, searching your heart, discovering self, revamping the inner you and nourishing the things that are most important in life - relationships. With self, with partners, with others. This is a gem of a site, and very worth checking out......


If you have dreamed of having boxes and boxes brimming with fashion inspiration in the form of sewing patterns, but cant seem to source them any longer (mid century patterns are getting rarer and more expensive), then never fear Vintage Pattern Wiki is here. All you will need is an abundance of time to while away the hours scrolling through this incredible online collection of practically every pattern produced.... looking forward to seeing all the wonderful fashion creations that emerge because of this amazing site.





And dont forget to check out the 'amusing pattern illustration' section for a bit of a laugh too !!!!



Happy summer fun everyone !!!

What is your density....I mean, your destiny.......

24 years ago I watched Back to the Future for the first time at a grade 5 sleep over party, and my life hasnt been the same since. I mean, Dad had/has the BEST 50's record collection to grow up listening too (and great taste in music too I must add), and I LOVED Happy Days and classic matinees as a very young girl. And lets not forget I adored my Grandmothers....but....... nothing catapulted me into 50's love like Back to the Future.....I could go on and on with how it influenced me, but I wont bore you to your eyeballs with all the gory details.

However, I DO want to share with you how much BTTF helped me appreciate and adore the whole semi geek look, as classically portrayed by Crispen Glover, aka George McFly. I recently posted on Facebook how much I love George McFly, but I dont think anyone really got it (insert smilie face here). Think about it gals, shy, talented, misunderstood guy overcomes his fears, braves his 'arch nemisis' and 'lays him out' to help a gal in trouble....now, what is not to love about that ???????? What a legend !!! Doesn't every gal like to think she is worth fighting for????? Yes George McFly, you are a hero in my books, and therefor I am a humble adorer of the whole semi-cool-geeky look thanks to you. Nowdays 50s/60's glasses make me go weak at the knees, because long before George McFly wore them, Buddy Holly sported them first.......

So, crazy as it may seem to some, I would take a guy with 50's style glasses over some man power, Jamie Durie style bloke any day of the week thankyou very much. And George, I am happy for you to be my density or destiny anyday !!!

And here are some more, what some might call, preppy-geek-glasses look guys for anyone like me with a 'thing' for this !!!  If you want to share more of this look here....please-oh-please be my guest !!!