Today I love...

This very unusual bookcase at The Crosby Street Hotel in New York...

This sweet teacup by fab artist Esther Coombs...

The paint colour of this house renovated by The Lowther Group - it looks quite English but it's actually situated right here in suburban Melbourne...

(Images: 1 - Crosby Street Hotel; 2 - Esther Coombs; 3, 4 & 5 - The Lowther Group)

Today I love...

These fabulous budgerigar paintings by artist Ben Quilty:

The new towel range from Aura Home - I'm thinking of the spot towels (second image at front) for my own bathroom:

This great book from Mary Randolph Carter (it's on my Christmas wishlist):

[Image: Amazon]

These prints from Southwood Home - green being my favourite colour, I especially love the 'Eat Your Greens' print on the far left:

Speaking of green, I think these green tiles are pretty gorgeous too:

[Image: Hecker Guthrie]

And also this glass and ceramic collection - simple but stunning: 

[Image: Martha Stewart]

And finally, who could go past a great shell collection like this:

[Image: Martha Stewart]

Wishing you a happy weekend.

Today I love...

Today I've been thinking about how much I love a bit of quirkiness in a cafe, for example:

I love these books stacked around the display cabinet at Mr Tulk cafe at the State Library of Victoria (so named in honour of the first chief librarian at the library). Mind you I'd be very tempted to pull out a book or two just to find out what's what.

Or how about these stools made from recycled road signs at Three Bags Full in Abbotsford:

And at The Commoner in Fitzroy... why keep your utensils in the kitchen when you can hang them on the wall!!

And you can forget about the piped in music at Gingerlee cafe in Brunswick East when they've got their own record player (now that's a trip down memory lane!):

Of course, no matter how cute and quirky a cafe is, it has to have good coffee! Do you have any favourite, quirky cafes in your neighbourhood?

[All images from Breakfast Out]

Today I'm loving...

I think these printers block letters would make a quirky engagement or wedding present...Or perhaps a christening present for a baby...

And these 'watermelon' bowls created by ceramicist Samantha Robinson make me feel like Summer is just around the corner...

I love how she has captured the shape and exact colours of the watermelon...

(Images: 1 & 2 - Not on the High Street; 3 & 4 - Samantha Robinson)

Today I love...

My white peony tea (by Larsen & Thompson) that my dear husband drove half way across town to buy for me (three boxes full - I'm in heaven!!)...

Miss Pickering's darling hound with flowers tucked behind his ear...

Camera Obscura's 'French Navy' - this great song is stuck on repeat in my brain (sorry, I have no idea how to embed a video).

These tweed shoes - I'd feel oh so English if I had these on my feet...

The dusty pink camellias hanging over a neighbour's fence and now happily sitting in a vase on my desk...

This great metal industrial style cabinet with lots of little drawers to tuck away your treasures...

(Images: 1 - Larsen & Thompson; 2 - Miss Pickering; 3 - Eloise Grey; 4 - Lucyina Moody; 5 - Rust Online)

Love: Tiled walls

A very recent obsession of mine...tiled walls. Two lovely local examples (click on the pics for a closer look):

Ernest V Cafe @ 432 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick (I had a fabulous middle eastern style winter salad there a couple of weeks ago):

A newish cafe, Pour Kids, in Winter Street, Malvern - my husband was working nearby recently and we popped in for a coffee. The black & white tiled wall looks great with the bright yellow coffee machine:

Do you know of any other lovely examples to share?

[All images from Broadsheet Melbourne]

Today I love...

These bucket bags by Cloth Fabric ...they make me feel like Spring is just around the corner.

This jewellery tree by Elk Accessories...a cute way to display jewellery and whatever else takes your fancy.
This card from Goose Chase Design...

This pretty packaging...which would be too nice to throw away.

(Image: Cote Provence)

Not sure if these are stone or ceramic. Not that it matters. I love the detailed design on them.

(Image: Ashes and Milk)

Today I'm loving...

Catching up on reading some of my favourite blogs and lots of other swoon-worthy sites, I've come across quite a few things that (to me) are quite frankly gorgeous and worth committing to memory...

A mix of these Cool Galah towels would great in the bathroom - I'm thinking a mix of circles & stripes in neutrals:

The marvellous Shannon Fricke knows a thing or two about beautiful interiors - following the link to the fair trade company, The Blue Caravan, that appeared on Shannon's site I happened upon this tea towel that's definitely a frameable piece of kitchen art:

I have this very clock hanging in my living room, but really, how gorgeous do these earthenware pots filled with natives and succulents (by Flowers by Teresa) look sitting in front of it:

Lucy over at The Design Files (one of my fave Melbourne blogs) did a wonderful post today on a fabulous, stylish, delicious rental house at Daylesford - pop on over to see the full tour. It's beautiful. Now if I could just talk my hubby around to a weekend away in Daylesford I could experience this beautiful home first-hand.

And finally, a little bit of organisation goes a long way...I spied these beautiful spice jars over at D Sharp Journal and I think they're just the inspiration I need to sort out the mess of mix-matched, unlabelled spice jars I have sulking away in the bottom drawer because they have been woefully neglected.  I'm taking a work hiatus soon and one of the things on the top of my personal 'to do' list is to clean out the spice drawer and as a  reward cook a beautiful, spicy meal!

Bit of a 'mixed bag' post today, but hey, that's just the way I'm feeling at the moment - I'm leaping from one piece of work to another, one blog or website to another, one phone call to another. Just can't seem to keep my mind trained on one specific thing!

Today I love...

Tripping around the internet this week, these are things that have caught my attention...

This striped twine from Flora and Ceres:

This vibrant rug at Lindewarrah Milawa:

Sibella Court's fab new online store that everyone's talking about:

This kangaroo paw cushion would be perfect for my sofa:

Some Valentine's Day inspiration:

[Last 3 images from Blue Caravan]

Quite a mixed bag isn't it!