Whiteport Giveaway!!

How are we all today?

Good I hope. If not, I have a little something that will cheer you up!

A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Brought to you by the beautiful Whiteport.

I have long been an admirer of Whiteport and the founder, Jennifer McCabe.

Not only is the store beautiful, but her home is too.

Here is Jennifer's bathroom, which is just what I would like in our own.

Vintage, and white =0)

Here is the lovely and generous Jeniffer in her kitchen at home.

I see this shot and wished we had our white floorboards in all of the rooms in our house.

It is nice to know that Jennifer lives with the Whiteport philosophy

~ All things white =0)

Jennifer has been lovely enough to offer one of you the chance to win your choice of either...

The Florence Urn

OR

The Brewster Jam Carry!

How lovely is that?

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and let us know what else would you have in your home from Whiteport

...that's it!

Thanks Jennifer.

The winner will be drawn on Sunday evening at about 9pm Tassie time (Australia) and announced then.

Good luck =0)

Paper Liason...and an update.

This post is a mixed one...

I wanted to let you all know that my very talented friend, Joelee has opened an online store, which you can visit HERE. You might remember these...

gorgeous roses I posted about a while ago that Joelee made from paper.
Here are some other offerings she makes...

These beautiful roses have been made for a baby boy and I did see a package that Joelee had wrapped with all things baby blue to send off to a new arrival...and it was so sweet. I love that the top layer is clear.Please stop by Joelee's store. She is forever adding new pieces to the store and I know you will love the pressed tin hearts, especially the white ones. They look like old tin sheets - gorgeous. Oh, and if the colour is not there that you seek, Joelee can do it for you!

I couldn't help but photograph this pressed tin one with one of Joelee's little organza roses and one of my Love You tags...this one is for all of you.

I have been getting emails from you very sweet people asking how I am feeling after my recent health scare, so...

here I am!

This was taken about 4 days ago (and at about 10:30pm after a very tiring day, so excuse the hagged hair etc it was nearly bedtime) and I can tell you that we have recently joined a gym (I know I am the Trainer, but we all need extra work don't we?). My migraines have eased quite a bit (yay) and I feel back on track and enjoying the slower..ahem...pace I have been keeping.

..and I do thank you all for your patience with me while I adjust to all of this.
You are all so sweet to check up on me..mwah to you all!

Ness xx

Shop Hunting...barn style!

Today I went to view this barn with a friend who is looking at the property as a whole. She asked me to come along for styling/ design advice as she has other plans for the property and knows how much I yearn for a little store of my own.

I think this barn is amazing. This is the back entrance, which is beautiful in its own right. Inside it is a barn like any other...but I can imagine the space filled already. I know, with my luck finding a shop has been near impossible - but I can dream...right!!?

Something like Tricia's would be perfect for me.

This is the outside of Tricia's beautiful barn and the image that really sent me over the edge!
For those of your that might not know what I mean...let me explain.
This is where it all started, back in early 2008. My Sister and I were looking to rent this Victorian building, she was going to run the Cafe/ restaurant and I was going to open my store in this little shop you see...it was perfect. Great street frontage, not overly big to start with and I had imagined this shop as mine for about 4 years...need less to say, it is still not ready to go and I gave up! I should have been in there a year this month!!
Then there was this one, virtually half a minute from our home and with main road frontage.

Inside was even better than the first shop, yeah it would take more to fill, but I had quite a bit of vintage furniture to fill it with. Anyway...now it is a movie hire store.
Maison Reve, a store I adore in the States is what I had visions of for the above shop. I have had this in my shop file for a while and every time I look at it, it just makes me want it even more.

Images like this shop are basically teasing me to go ahead and do it, open my little dream shop and stop worrying about how much foot traffic, global credit blunders and woes the world has.

Even if I didn't have a permanent shop, a pop-up store keeps springing to mind and images like this...
..and this call to the bargain hunter in me to go gather old wares, re purpose and give them new life and sell as an seasonal thing.

..but the idea of that permanent shop is something I can do my consulting, styling and sewing ventures in. A home away from home, filled by all things that I love and hopefully others who visited would too. Windows like this don't help!
After walking around this property today and through the gorgeous gardens that envelope the barn and home, my friend and I spent a full day working out details for her plans for the property/house...

..and my plans for this barn.

As the story goes, nothing may come of this, but it would be nice to have this little barn all dressed in white and full of candles, soft furnishings, old furniture, little topiary box plants, lots of linen and my own products - and just a few kilometers from home.

If anyone out there has gone through anything like this, I would love to hear about it...it might make me feel better.

Ness xx

Is this it???

...the store I have longed for all this time?

Let me explain.

The ever inspirational and uber talented Tricia Foley who has long been one of my all time favourite designers turned this lovely barn from a dark, damp outbuilding into...
...her gorgeous studio.
Now, I loved this project and admired Tricia's use of the space. A multi tasking area that could be turned into a wonderful entertaining area (complete with projector screen for those Summer popcorn movie nights) or spare guest quarters at a whim, then back to her work space.

Recently, Tricia re-invented the barn into a seasonal store she called The New General Store. A mainly Summer and Fall extravaganza of local produce, natural home remedies and lots of style.

How does this apply to me? Well, we so happen to have a outbuilding which we use as an entertaining space in the warmer months (it needs a little work) and I have often thought how great it would be if I could use it somehow as my Interiors/Home wares store.

Some of you will know that I was meant to open my little shop last year and because of things out of my hands...it never happened. I was not happy. It hasn't stopped me wondering "How do I get this thing going"?

I have been sketching non-stop since the shop was first on the drawing board. Things like what it would look like, how it would be laid out, even to the packaging had been designed.

Simple ideas like hand written signs, like these from Tricia's store.
I have often thought it would be lovely to have local plants and products to sell and seeing we are in a tourist country town and our little shed is in a prime stopping spot, and I can work my own hours (even seasonally), no rent, baby sitters/child care etc...it just makes more sense.
Now, Tricia's store is a market of sorts and others can sell their bounty on her property. I don't have that in mind...too much red tape. I am loving the idea of Summer tables of produce and home wares based around a very simple and natural colour palette of white (of course), wood, wicker and fresh greenery...like this shot. The colours that will sit with any decor, no matter how funky or classic.
You know from my recent project post that I am a fan of the blackboard and the fact that I love calligraphy just seem to go hand in hand for shop signs don't you think?
We actually have a little wood fired bread shop here in town. It would be lovely to have them wrapped in brown paper and natural twine, sold from big chunky fisherman's baskets!


Here is the inside of Tricia's barn.

My type of interior for a shop. White painted shelves, lots of texture, hemp and burlap, vintage items, wicker, flowers, iron stone, glassware...you get the drift.

So there it is. I have just shared my longest dream with you - to have a store of my own.

Good night,

Ness xx
all images - Tricia Foley

Deep Breath...Haven & Space!

We are back! Had a lovely time and beautiful weather. The trip was full of shopping and right from the plane we headed to Ikea were I picked up a few things I will show you all in a later post along with all the other things I found...but this is what I was really looking forward to - Haven & Space. I would class this shop as a 'Decorators Delight'. This store has something for everyone and their prices are truly amazing.
If I only was able to take more on the plane 2 of these trunks would have been coming home for sure. The Gentleman in the stripe shirt is one of the owners and the store was absolutely flat out so I didn't get to chat to him. Just near his jumper were some gorgeous black ginger jars. I just didn't have the room!
Right from the moment you walk into this store you are greeted by beautiful things, cushions, cast iron decorator pieces, prints, glassware, ceramics, out door pieces...basically everything you could want to furnish your home is here, and cheap too!

I loves this display of pillows in the far back corner of the store, and by this stage had a few things to tuck into my suitcase...which I will show you in a later post too. If you are ever in Berry N.S.W, you must stop by this gorgeous shop it is my absolute favourite. You will not leave empty handed...I never do!

Ness xx
images - Ness Lockyer

M&L at Tuliptree & Saga!!

I am pleased to let you all know that Marley & Lockyer's clay tags can be found nestled in amongst all of the beautiful items at Tuliptree & Saga.
This Canadian delight is owned by the very lovely Rita, who fills the store with all manner of French and Scandinavian treasures in stunning colour ways and link all the gorgeous things together.

If you aren't very good at this sort of thing...don't worry, they will sort this out for you with a one of there wonderful gift baskets, customised to the recipients taste...easy!!

Tuliptree & Saga sell everything beautiful for your home...

and garden. To see more eye candy at this delicious store, CLICK HERE,

and have a great day!

Ness xx

The Wrapped Rose!!!

I am wrapped to be posting this. The lovely Amanda from my fave Tassie store, The Vintage Rose, has started her own blog. Click HERE to see my last post on this divine store. I thought I would give you a little peek at whats over there. This above is her stunning 100yr old+ barn, which her Daughter will be living in soon...SO jealous!!!

This is the front of her home she built with her Husband. It looks like it has been here for hundreds of years. I could so picture little girls in full skirts, running around with hoops and sticks while their little brothers played with frogs, pies on the window sill and Mum out beating the dust from her rugs over an old line...can't you?

The inside is delicious! Amanda has showed me photos of her home and it is just so welcoming. I could live here.

The dining space is beautiful. I love the floor, which looks like flagstone and the drawers in the corner have been on my wish list for years.

I will take one of everything please =)

Now this is The Vintage Rose. As I have said in my last post, you can see why I rarely leave empty handed!!! Amanda has a knack for finding vintage and I get so inspired coming here. To see more from this talented lady, visit her blog HERE.
Ness xx

Fantastic Frugal...

Today I found this wonderful site White Flower Farmhouse via Layla at The Lettered Cottage and fell in love. Straight away I was there. It is just stunning and run by two very chic ladies, Megan and Lori.
Lori has just returned from Brimfield with a bounty of treasures for the shop and I am loving the white ironstone,
old wire baskets, vintage lights and the old pine cupboard she picked up. Not only did I spend some time looking at the shop, but I was directed to Frugal Farmhouse, which is the blog of Lori and then over to Megans blog....both are filled with my sort of thing - bargain ideas!!!

Not only does Lori find wonderful items for the store, she is a great thrifty designer too! This space was designed by her Sister for $315.00!!!!
I am buying some of the marquee letters =)
Love it! Ness xx