Spring...

par courrier

Oh Spring, how I have missed you!

Today was the first day of Spring here, and it was glorious.

I heard birds I haven't heard all Winter, smelt flowers in the air and felt the warm sun biting my skin.

Tricia Foley

The thing I enjoyed the most, was the fact I got to hang out a full line of washing to dry in the sunshine.

There is nothing like fresh washing that has been dried in the sun!

Pine Cone Hill

...especially linens!!

Par Courrier
It is very satisfying to know that our life of outdoor living is about to begin. This means bar-b-q's, backyard Cricket, water pistols and Al fresco dining. Yay!

Pic by Me

All of these flowers sum up how I am feeling right now, and this one of our dining table which I took last Spring, remind me that I must cut some of the blossom branches that are blooming to bring inside.

Welcome Spring. I hope you stay a while =0)

Ness xx

Life As A Bird...

despite the horrendous weather on Saturday morning, the days cleared enough for me to pack mason in the car and head to the Niche markets which were held in Launceston for three days. The markets showcase up and coming designers and give shop owners a great opportunity to get their hands on locally made products to sell in their stores...I just go for the shopping!

This particular stall above and belongs to the gorgeous Emma of 'Life As A Bird' Florist. Emma supplied the flowers for the last Wedding I done and her work is just stunning.

These white Peonies were just beautiful.

Emma's Florist business is located in The Vintage Rose, which as you know is my favourite store in Launceston...hands down! Emma has also started a blog which shows some of Em's work and her antics! She is such a sweetie, so head to her blog and tell her I said Hi!

Another amazing talent is Sophie from 'That Vintage'. Her wooden pendant necklaces are my absolute fave and I have just bought some Christmas presents from her this weekend. Sophie's work is in the latest issue of Peppermint Magazine and she is a regular at many markets around town as well as having her designs in nearly every shop I seem to enter these days as well as all over the country and now in NZ too!
You can visit Sophie's online store to view her great jewelry HERE
Some of the other great designers at the market were-
Red Bamboo
Hello Kitty...the best cookies EVER!
Rebecca Roth (my kind of chunky rings!)
Dick & Dora
and many more!
Ness xx

A Lighting Snippet, Appology and a Mention!!

Image - Brooke Giannetti

Firstly I will start with the mention. The lovely Brooke from Velvet & Linen has recently done an interview over at Ivan Meade's Blog...and mentioned Marley & Lockyer as one of her inspirations along with blogs like Cote De Texas!!! I am so humbled that Brooke would place me up with the likes of Joni Webb!!
Lighting - Buyster Lighting
Next up...here is the lighting sample that the lovely Maree (who is really, really fast on getting back to you!) is sending me for review to put in our living room. You may remember that I have been after a light to put in that space for some time. My love of chandeliers had been a little worn because I have seen them everywhere...this one is a happy medium - drum shade and chandelier. Best of both worlds.
As soon as this lovely turns up I will show you it in situ...stay tuned.
image - via Mary Ruffle
And finally, an apology. I am sorry I didn't post yesterday but something was up with Blogger...for me anyway. Every Blogspot address I tried to view, it came up with some crazy number sequence. I am just happy to see my blog didn't get swallowed into cyber space!
So, have a wonderful weekend and thank you to Brooke for your kind mention and Ivan for recognising a brilliant talent in Brooke.
Check out the interview HERE.
Ness xx

An arrival and some new friends...

Loving these little berries that have burst through on a bush we have out the back. They make a little change to my usual display of flowers or greenery.
I am planing to add some to our guest room in preparation for my Mums arrival tomorrow night.

Wallace Cotton
I have to go in there and try and get some things done, little unfinished pieces and change the bed around. It won't look any where near as pretty as this bedroom in the recent Wallace Cotton catalogue, but it will be comfy for my Mum.
Oh, I have been meaning to show you this picture of some Echidnas (native Australian wildlife) I took the boys to see recently. They are SO cute and you sit on the floor and they just walk all around you. One even climbed over Mason!! I don't have a photo of that as I was trying to stop him from touching them=))

I should have a few things to show you next week too.

have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday,

Ness xx

The New Botanics...

Mia Tarney - White Hydrangea

Are these the new Botanics? Recently I have been on the hunt for some Botanical prints with something a little different to the normal parchment type paper backing and real pressed plant specimen. Don't get me wrong, I think the originals are gorgeous - I just love to take it a step further. The next few images are all fine art images with some of my favourite flowers in them....The 'new' Botanical prints.

This one above would have to be my favourite. Not only is it my favourite flower - its also my favourite coloured one. Mia Tarney is a master at taking a plant and putting it onto canvas so it looks life like. My sort of art.

Michele Mattei - Leuconoe Leuconoe (5893)

This is a photograph which has some gorgeous detailing to it. The series all feature a Butterfly resting on a beautiful flower head. They are just superb!
Kelly Higgs - Grey Heron
This one (sorry it is so small, don't know what happened here) looks to me like an old Botanical...with a twist! I love the fact that the Artist has added beautiful birds to the pots to create an extra dimension to the botanical aspect of the piece. These would look great clustered together on a beaded white wall.

Trisha De Borchgrave - Lavender II
Looks like the real thing..but painted! And not the usual front and centre placement of most botanical prints.
Sophie Coryndon - Tulips
I really like this one as much as the first and it reminds me of the beautiful Tulips my friend gave me a little while ago. This is what they looked like when they started to really open up. Isn't it amazing what nature can produce. She hasn't come up with a shonky colour combo yet!
So, what do you think...'New Botanics' or will we stick with calling them floral paintings?
You can see some more gorgeous art work here.
Ness xx
The reasoning behind this floral inspired post...the sun is actually shining after 36 days of rain!!!

Loving..a bunch of flowers

house beautiful

Flowers have always been a huge part of my life. My Mum is an avid gardener and she has always surrounded us with beautiful blooms. They can really just finish off a room, even just to add some colour or brighten your day.
These gorgeous cherry blossom branches may not be a bunch of flowers, but I love branches in vases too. These ones were on my dining room table while I was playing around with settings and flowers types for the Spring wedding I am styling.

coastal living
Nothing says happy to me more than a beautiful bunch of Hydrangeas. If you took these pretties from this setting, it really would look life plain. It is wonderful what a full vase, jug, bowl etc of flowers can do to an all white scheme.

bountiful home
Even outside, a door way looks gorgeous covered with trailing roses.
These pretty Spring flowers were given to me by a dear friend and they are sitting next to my phone, right by the back door. What a lovely sight to come inside to while we are still having quite cold days.

This Tulip bunch, given to me by another dear friend recently sat in my office and brightened the whole space for about a week before gravity started to take hold.

So, you can see why today, and always, I am loving a bunch of flowers.

I hope you all have a bright, happy day.

Ness xx

Spring Reminders

unknown
Gorgeous Hydrangeas to cheer up this drab Spring day here in Tassie. The rain has been relentless and some colour was in order.

atlanta bartlett

Lately I have been filling the house with flowers and greenery and this image reminds me of the beautiful pink Cherry blossom branches I had in the kitchen a few days ago.
Ness Lockyer
...and these Magnolia branches that are on our dining room table.

bountiful home
I just can't wait to be able to take it all outside with us into the warm Spring air.

Ness xx

For all of you...

source
source
These flowers are for all of you who, like me, are trying to get through a renovation...and a few words to keep you all going. Sorry for my short posts of late and my lack of comments on your blogs, but I have been extremely busy.
Ness xx

...and you and no other

little bird studio

A friend of mine has ask me with some help for her up coming wedding, and I got thinking about what I would have done if I were getting hitched now instead of 11yrs ago. I know for sure I would have Hydrangeas instead of roses for our flowers. White for the Bridesmaids and the faded muted green, blue for mine, in a posy like this with a big wide ivory ribbon to trail from it.
invited ink
Invitations in an old style letterpress would be lovely to herald the occasion

eden invitations

maybe with a Hydrangea print on it somewhere to pick up the theme.

grainsack
Along the tables would be faded, vintage ticking for runners...

hannah nunn
...along with little tea lights and hurricane lanterns for ambiance...

sweet petula

...gifts for the guest would include something like these sweet little candles in lovely glass packaging. The flowers here are getting closer to the bouquet colour.

lh calligraphy
for the men, something like these compasses would be great. These are actually place cards as well!


bride to be

Organza or white linen chair covers with little pockets and single Hydrangea balls sticking out would be stunning, especially with an old style tag for the place setting.


riviera maison

Loads of lanterns to light the room up, also the entry way and the grass aisle (we were Married in a secret stone garden on a beautiful estate in Jamberoo NSW).

Anna Blackman Photography

Other than the flowers and a few small details, I wouldn't change a thing about the day. I think Mic feels the same way....anyway back to the real planning!!!

Ness xx

Just Wonderful...

A Bartlett

I am sorry for my lack of post on Friday, I was elbow deep in paint, trying to get the living room/ Kitchen /dining and hall done before picking up my Mum from the airport. I also was out that night for dinner with friends and by the time it was all done I had no time to do the post..sorry!

I did how ever have a lovely weekend. The weather was lovely. I bought an old Chaise Longue and a gilt mirror at the markets (from the same seller that my office table came from) for a song. I planted out the start of our HUGE garden project, finished the painting...and got the cold!!!

Emma Lynne

I did stumble across these lovely old, nostalgic looking photos which I am thinking about for our living room wall. My Vicki photos aren't working, which I am a bit sad about, so I thought these lovelies would do well in our old home.

Emma Lynne
This photo of washing is beautiful. I do love to see our white sheets on the line when the grass is all mowed and the sun shines through them...it is simple things like this that make me so happy to be where I am right now.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I will post some photos of the paint, mirror and Chaise as soon as I get started on them.....the list grows!!!
Ness xx

Curb Appeal (inside) Part 2...

Here it is, part 2 of what to do to get your house sold. Earlier this week I focused on the outside, now we shall enter inside and go room by room. First up is the Living...

via Oliveaux
As this is usually the first place you see it should set the tone for the rest of the house. Pack up all of your personal photos of Nana and the kids and pics of the dog and cat (unless they are artfully arranged on a wall in black and white in matching frames). This will allow buyers to visualise their pictures in your room, and just think you will be packing them up soon anyway! Do this along with any other cluttering pieces and dust collectors. It will save you time when the Real Estate Agent calls you with 30mins to spare before bringing buyers through.
This area should be spotless (as with the whole house), rugs and carpet vacuumed, cushions fluffed....

also home
...and fresh flowers around. They don't have to be from a florist from your garden is fine. A great choice is Lillys. They smell and look divine, last quite a while and if you cut off the stamens (the little bits with the pollen on them), you will avoid offending allergic people and getting impossible stamen stains on their white silk shirt!

my dream space
Your kitchen and dining area will be looked at closely. Pay attention to your bench tops, oven and cupboards (yep they will look inside). Try and make everything as neat and tidy as you can, like you do this everyday and it is normal. It shows you care about this home and it has been loved and looked after. No one wants a home that has been the maternity hospital to a community of rats and bugs, so if you have some...get rid of them.

Also, pack away as much unnecessary clutter as you can.

country home
Your bathroom is another spot that will be looked at very closely. Clean and disinfect this space well. Make sure it is well ventilated. If you have any mildew a few drops of Oil Of Cloves in water is the only thing that kills the mould spore...bleach just hides it. If you have any stains left, you'll need to repaint to freshen it up. Tiles should sparkle as well as your mirrors.

Put out some fluffy towels a little vase of flowers and get rid of all your shampoos and kids toys from the tub.

new england living
Your bedroom will need a de-clutter. Make up your bed everyday. Clear off your reading glasses and books from the side tables. Get anything off the top of your wardrobes and pack it all away. Turn on your bedside lamps when you have a buyer coming through...you will be surprised what a difference it makes. Do this in all of your rooms unless you have wonderful natural light.

Martha Stewart
If you have a home office it should be well organised. All paper work packed up (it will give you an excuse to catch up and file it), books in neat stacks, pens and paraphernalia in drawers and if you can some matching boxes to make it look like there is ample space for them to put their office gear in...even though you will take them to your next home. You are just creating a visual for the buyer so they can see what a fab home this one is. Add flowers.
me&mo
In all of your rooms, turn on side lamps, light candles in fireplaces if it is not winter and open windows. This not only shows buyers everything works and you have nothing to hide, but it gives a sense of warmth, atmosphere and fresh air to tempt them even more.

Now if all this seems a little daunting to you, start a room at a time. Start at the ceiling and work your way down. Cobwebs, clean curtains, dust, de-clutter, vacuum and mop. Don't forget the Garage as this is important to Men...give that job to your significant other.

If you can do all of this you will save yourself time and effort when you have to pack up, your home will sell in no time and it will look so great, you will have buyers fighting with each other.

This is what we did and we sold our home in 3 days and Mic's parents went up at the same time and theirs sold in 2! Good Luck.
Ness xx