Jo's place

What a week! Never again will I take on the job of painting my 2 bedroom apartment. I wanted to call this post "Paint, prints and problems". 1) I had forgotten how physically hard painting is. 2) It took three coats to cover the walls to my exacting (fussy) standard. 3) It is so humid here after a week of heavy rains that the removable adhesive hooks I bought won't stay on the wall. The wall plugs and hooks to hang the heavy artwork and frames won't grip the drywall properly (thanks Mr Hardware man for the recommendation) and I'm left with a lot of artwork still to hang. 4) I still have to put all the furniture back and clean up! At least I managed to paint up some new prints for my etsy store! Thank god I'm back to work tomorrow.

So what colour did I paint those walls? White. That's a close up in the centre (although looking at it you'd think it was grey bad photographer that I am). Renting in Australia is fraught with design dilemmas. Landlords must give you permission to paint and then it's a 99.99999999% chance that they will say only white. I wonder if they'll change the ugly carpet for me? Better get back to figuring out where all the paintings are going to go. Those colourful ones above are in the entrance hallway. One up several dozen to go. Wish me luck.

Prepared to share your secret source?

Michelle Young

Calling all Australian readers. Are you prepared to give up your favourite/secret vintage shops? Stylist, photographer, author and blogger Pia Bijkerk emailed me with an interesting request.

".... one of my stories will be featured in home beautiful soon and i am writing up a list of antique and vintage stores for them that i can recommend to readers - i have all my faves from sydney in there but i have NO contacts for Queensland (well, nor melbourne or the rest of oz!) - would you be able to recommend at least one or two from there so in the hope they will mention it in the article? i REALLY want to promote cool vintage places across the country. in the story i am saying something like this 'instead of heading to the mall on a saturday, go and check out your local antique or flea market etc bla bla'.... do you reckon if you posted about it people might write in from around oz with some shops to recommend?? or markets?"

So oz antique and vintage lovers spill the beans on the hottest and the most fabulous stores in your city. But we're on a deadline. Pia is completing the story brief this weekend so we need your tips by Monday Australian time. Never mind if you miss the deadline still leave all your fav spots in the comments below. Then we can let everyone in on the fun.

P.S. Pia sent us this lovely dog on a bed photo as a thank you in anticipation! Read more about this cute pic and Michelle Young's work on Pia's blog
P.P.S. Stay tuned for more cute pet photos again this week.

WINKS

jade c

I'm back and it's time for WINKS - weekend links! Here we list what has come in during the week, things we've found and things we think you'll want to see. If you'd like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we'll link you. So what's come in over the past week or two?

• Lisa emailed to introduce her new blog Canberra's Got Style. Australian readers will know that Lisa has chosen a tough niche as Canberra is our nation's capital and not known for the stylish and the funky. That's about to change as Lisa is finding fabulous places, people and products to feature on her blog. And that room above that seems familiar? Lisa is NinaRibena finalist in the AT Fall Colors Contest. Good luck Lisa! You're off to a great start.




• Pam at RetroRenovation sent in a link to her post on retro vinyl sheeting or lino as we call it here. Look at that kitchen!! Read more here.




• Louise, another Australian and coincidentally also from Canberra has a new letterpress blog Poppy Letterpress. Louise is a graphic designer who has given up her job and is pursuing her passion for presses and print. An invaluable resource and sounding board for aussies who share a similar hankering.


• We received an introduction to a new webstore - Brastilo Brazilian inspiration in a line of furniture and homewares. Check it out! Thanks Celio.




• Moderndose wants to start out the year by announcing their resolution formula to the world... 2008 = Redecor8+Don8. Estela Lugo emailed that will be donating 8% of all sales this year to the St. Jude Children's Hospital. More info on their website. Check out their room of the month while you're there!


• Jill Barton & Paris Gerrard are mother and daughter artists who live and paint in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their beautiful work is available as originals, mixed media originals and giclée prints. Take a look at their portfolios. Thanks ladies!




• Finally if you're looking for a calendar to keep track of your year, one that has an edgy urban prairie feel then go straight to Chris Brown's Urban Prairie Blogshop to grab one of his Crack Heads 08 calendars. Twelve months showcasing Chris Brown’s collection of cracked and faded doll heads. Spiral bound, printed on heavy, matte recycled stock. Pages measure 6"x7.5". Includes inspirational ideas on how to display these oddities in a modern setting & blank notes/photo pages for use throughout the year. EXTRA BONUS: A CD of twelve desktop calendar images for your computer so you’ll never be without a little Urban Prairie style, no matter where you are.Too cool Chris!!

British beauties

I am totally smitten with how eclectic British interiors can be. There seem to be so many very old homes with lots of stone and mill work, which lends such a beautiful backdrop to any furnishings. The following photos are from a UK film locations site.

Debi Treloar

Debi Treloar is a food and interiors photographer from Zimbabwe. She only shoots in natural light, which results in photographs that are absolutely spectacular. So dynamic, lively and personal. The spaces just come to life.