CHALK

Here's some random shots of the shop for those of you who can't get in or just haven't been for a while.



And for those of you who look so disappointed when you come to the shop and see I'm working instead of Mick....

Uncle Mick and Ben

Mr Kiely Comes Home

ONLY ONE MORE SLEEP!!!

The kids can't wait and I must say I'm pretty excited myself.

We even get to go to the airport and pick him up.

He rang tonight and told me that work want him to leave again on Monday to work offshore on an oil rig!!!!!

Luckily for his marital health he said no.

Better go and get my beauty sleep or he may just take them up on the offer!

Happy Weekend...

Image via Desire to Inspire blog

Image via Litt Av Meg blog

Have a great weekend. See you next week!!

xo

Anna

Kitchen Love...

I adore this kitchen which I found on Beach Bungalow8's blog - so fresh and crisp, elegant, stylish and timeless!!

Today I Love...

I love this adorable picture which I found on Unruly Things blog from the J. Crew website - so much fun, it makes me wish for Summer!!

Blu Moose

Just wanted to let you know that our Blu Moose slippers are our special item for July.They were $42.00 and Mick has just put them at $27.00! As well as the blue ones in the photo we have the pink Fleur de lis version in stock. They come in 4 sizes - 6-12 mths, 12-18mths, 18-24mths, and 2-3yrs. Come and grab a pair before they disappear for good.

Sunny Sweeney

This always makes me smile - no matter how often I listen to it. The girl can sing but not too sure about her acting talents.... check it out.

Sunny Sweeney- "If I Could"

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Yee Ha!

I've had a very 'Country and Western' type of day today.

I worked in the shop today which means that most of the day Kieth Urban was on the stereo. (I'm using subliminal messaging techniques to convert my customers to the way of KIETH)

Last night I bit the bullet and ordered a pair of cowboy boots from the truly fabulous SHEPLERS in America. I've been thinking about them all day.
They also sell the most astonishing wedding fashion if anyone is about to walk down the aisle!

I also got on ebay and ordered Heartbreakers Hall Of Fame from the superb Sunny Sweeney. I can't wait for it to arrive and I know James is just going to love it!! NOT!
Check out her myspace site and have a listen to 'If I Could'.
If that song does not get stuck in your head then I'll go 'hee'

I also had a visit today from my all time favourite radio DJ - Ms Denise Hylands. Denise has a radio show on RRR called TWANG and if you're in the store on a Saturday arvo that is what you'll be listening to. A plethora of alternative country and roots influenced music.

And lastly can you please feast your eyes on this fetching hat and tell me it doesn't make you want to boot-scoot your way down the aisle immediately.

Jen xo

Witch Of Portobello

Just walked in the door from bookgroup, which luckily for me was just across the road this month.

I have come to realise over the last 6 years that bookgroup has been going that there is not a lot I would rather do of an evening than sit around with a group of interesting, talented, loving women discussing literature and anything else that happens to take our fancy.

I always come home feeling rejuvenated and 'buzzy'. (and this month, rather full of chocolate cake)

This month we read Paulo Coelho's 'The Witch Of Portobello', and next month we are discussing Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road'. If you have any thoughts on either please leave a comment.

4 More Sleeps ('till James comes home!)

Black & Spiro Today

More pictures above of the showroom in progress - I installed our new silk curtains today and I must say in real life they are absolutely beautiful - unfortunately this photo doesn't do them justice!!!

Grease 2 is 25!!

Some of you may not realise that this month we celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest movies of all time .....

What is not to love about this fantastic musical? 1982 saw a 23 year old Michelle Phieffer team up with Maxwell Caulfield and sing and dance her way into our hearts with such classics as - 'We're Gonna Score tonight', 'Cool Rider', and 'Reproduction'.

If any of you can listen to 'Cool Rider' and not want to be the cool Stephanie Zenoni then there is no hope for you.

If you really want to know

What I want in a guy...

Well, I'm lookin' for a dream on a mean machine

With hell in his eyes.

I want a devil in skin tight leather,

And he's gonna be wild as the wind.

And one fine night, I'll be holdin' on tight...

To a coooool rider, a coooool rider.

If he's cool enough,

He can burn me through and through.

Whhoa ohhhh If it takes forever,

Then I'll wait forever.

No ordinary boy,No ordinary boy is gonna do.

I want a rider that's cool.

I found this fabulous fan site so check it out for your Rydell High fix.

Pure Baby In A Rocket Ship

We still have a few of these divine Pure Baby jackets in stock and they are just perfect for this less than warm weather we are having. They are quilted and come in 000, 00, and 0. we also have the hats in blue and pink and the leggings in blue, pink and brown.

One of the newer products we have in the shop are the fabulous rocket and castle cubbys.

These play structures are constructed from recycled high-quality cardboard allowing children to develop their imagination and creativity by painting, drawing, or even applying stickers to the outside surface. When not in use they make a great place to store toys.
Each cubby is easy to assemble and packaged flat in an attractive box with a carry handle.

Black and Spiro Today

The start of our new look appeared in the shop today with new blue and white willow patterned wallpaper behind our front desk which was hung over the weekend (click on the photo to see a closer perspective of the wallpaper). It's so lovely to have a fresh new look and I just can't wait for the rest of our new things to be finished.

Major and Tom

For fantastic old pieces of furniture and bits and pieces Sydney store Major & Tom is a treasure trove for the collector at heart. Used by many Australian stylists the store boasts a beautiful array of rustic pieces only sourced from within Australia. Major & Tom also custom makes beautiful pieces of furniture and is often commissioned by architects and designers to make pieces such as kitchen counters, bookcases, sideboards and tables.

Annechovie @ Etsy

I just love these giclee prints of interior guache paintings by Annechovie available for purchase on Etsy. I would love this talented artist to paint one of my interiors!!! Mmm, maybe I should send her a few photos!!

Vertigo

This is what James is up to ....

They are doing something on a cooling tower at a power station in Qld somewhere. Knowledgeable aren't I.


I usually prefer to hear about the job after he is safely back from it.
Especially when he's doing stuff like this...

Baskus Spirit - Somewhere in Bass Strait

The Birthday

Well I guess it's time to tell you about my birthday.

I was still up chatting to a friend in Sydney when the clock ticked over to my birthday. (Kudos to Ringo for being the first one to wish me a Happy Birthday - at 10 past 12) By one o'clock I was curled up in bed , reading my book and loving being 39. At 1.30am it all went pear shaped!
Emma woke up vomiting and did not stop until 1.00pm!!! Not sure if the poor petal had gastro or food poisoning but I do know that that was the end of any hopes of salvaging the birthday. I had to cancel my morning coffee date and ended up spending the day holding Emma's hair out of the bucket and trying to keep Ben amused cooped up inside all day. Joy.

At 2.00pm we all fell asleep - thank god.

I had visions of coming down with it myself and having to miss the ballet but luckily Em perked up, Mick and Alice arrived and off Alice and I went. I've never been so pleased to see my brother.

We had a gorgeous night as my last post will tell you and the birthday was saved - sort of.

My lovely friends have decided to postpone my birthday and hold the Festival in 2 weeks time.

Sounds good to me.

PS. I did get a pressie in the mail from James and even more exciting ... Kieth Urban sent me an email wishing me a happy birthday!!!


This made it all worth it..

Happy Weekend!!

To cap off a week of Summery beach house images I thought this beautiful image was perfect. I hope you have a great weekend. See you next week.

xo
Anna

Image via Domino Magazine.

New Romantics

Last night I had the good fortune to see the dress rehearsal of 'New Romantics' - the Australian Ballet's latest production. This amazing triplet has ballets by two modern choreographers - Australian Stephen Baynes - 'Constant Variants', and New Yorker Christopher Wheeldon - After The Rain', preceded by the incomparable George Balanchine's Apollo.

What a fabulous evening and we even had the good fortune to see Steven Heathcote in what is to be his last principal role for the Australian Ballet.

In the words of Molly Meldrum...'Do yourself a favour'

Or to bastardise Shakespeare...'Get thee to the ballet'

Today I Love...

These images above are so fresh and pretty. I really love the thought of that fireplace at the moment considering we are having some very cold weather here in Brisbane this week and the bottom image for some reason (I think it's those tropical cushions) reminds me of Hawaii - one of my favourite places in the world!


Images Courtesy of Country Living Magazine.

Birthday festival

I am of the firm belief that a birthday should be celebrated for an entire week, hence the Birthday Festival as it is known in my household. Unfortunately James does not subscribe to this philosophy and rolls his eyes every time June comes around.

This year not only has he scoffed at the Birthday Festival, but he is 2 states away!

I can always rely on my fabulous parents to make a nice big fuss of me....EXCEPT THIS YEAR. Not only is James away but Mum and Dad are frolicking around Europe while their eldest and only daughter celebrates her last birthday in her 30's ON HER OWN!!!

Luckily the friends and in-laws have rallied around and I actually seem to be having a birthday festival after all.

On Tuesday the lovely Ally at 'Gourmet On Gamon' presented me with this when I dropped in for a cuppa...

She is aware of the Festival and heartily approves.

Today my lovely mother-in-law and sis-in law had us over for dinner and produced this....

Tomorrow is the apex of the Festival (my actual birthday). I'm yet to see what treats are in store but it had better include some major sucking up by husband and parents!!

All Hail To The Festival Of Birth

Relaxed Beach Style - Part 3

With such a big response to my relaxed beach style posts this week I decided to do one more. I too am a huge fan of relaxed beach style. There's just something I love about a relaxed beach house with collections of mismatched furniture and things all thrown together - I think it's the feeling of simplicity and comfort and being in a space which hasn't been over decorated.

Images courtesy of Coastal Living.

A Relaxed Beach House - Part 2

Some more beautiful images of relaxed beach house style via Bueller via Coastal Living. I love the mix of colours used in the rooms and the collections of mismatched things and that outdoor shower is on my wish list for Straddie!!

The Crazy Lady With The Cat

Oh My God! I just caught myself talking to my kitchen appliances! And I don't even have very nice kitchen appliances.

James has only been away for four days and already I am chatting to inanimate objects.

Some would say that that isn't very unusual but at least if James is here I can delude myself into believing he is actually listening.

Best I call the cat in because even though talking to a cat is depressingly spinsterish, it is at least a little less weird than asking the kettle what time Brothers and Sisters is on.

Vs.

The Castle Park

I defy anyone to find a better set of play eqipment than this!

It is the most amazing park and has me gazing in awe every time we visit.

The catch is that it will cost you lots of folding stuff for me to tell you where it is. If you all go there will be no room for us ....so it is the first CHALK secret spot.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

A Relaxed Beach House

This is my type of beach house!! New pictures on Nate Berkus' website. This room is my favourite!! I love the old zinc top table and those lamps are to die for!!