a fabric necklace...

After a fabulous holiday at the beach, I got back home keen to get back to my sewing machine and do a little project (avoid my piles of washing had almost nothing to do with it!) My little Sisi absolutely loves jewellery, and so to stop her wearing all of mine I thought I would make her a fabric tube necklace. It is a project I have wanted to try for ages and it couldn't have been easier or cheaper.

The worst part was turning the long strip of fabric inside out once I had sewn up the side. I stuffed it with some plastic beads (it doesn't matter what you use, of course, as you don't see them) and tied bits of ribbon in between. Sienna is very pleased with her spotty necklace and hasn't taken it off! I will have to experiment with a more grown up version for me now.

a beach in a box...

We are off to the beach tomorrow for a much anticipated holiday... all three of us mondo girls, plus our respective husbands, plus our combined 8 kids under 12, plus one brother and a fiancee. A huge family holiday with lots of swimming, bike riding, sandcastle building, big buffet breakfasts and the odd embarrassing talent show! Perfect.

Looking forward to catching up when we get back!

pinks and greens...

Pretty pinks and greens are popping up around my house this week. Paired with fresh whites, I think they make an unbeatable springtime colour combination When I look at my beautiful tulips I can almost imagine the sun is shining outside... will I ever get used to the Melbourne weather?!

babyology...

Many thanks to the team at Babyology for the lovely write-up on our range of vintage artworks which you can read here. With daily posts on unique and fabulous children's products from all around the world, Babyology is a must read for pregnant mums and those with young kids. There are even articles for those without children in their lives - have a look at the gadgets page which is full of things you never knew you needed until now!

With our slight obsession with decorative trees, we think this great storage system combines practicality with chic perfectly.

And have a look at this article on a Mum who uses her baby's nap time to take the most imaginative photos. We were always too exhausted to be that creative!

this is where we will be this morning...

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Brisbane - perfect for browsing around the markets. Come and visit us here from 8am to 1pm.

a colourful day...

While I was busy finishing off this beaded fabric artwork, in one of our favourite designs, for a special order, Joy was getting a little distracted from the mondocherry chores she was meant to be doing! She just happened to be near The Works and stopped in and purchased these pretty Cath Kidston mugs and delightful nesting Matryoshka glasses.

Then, at a visit to an op shop, she found this vibrant scarf for a couple of dollars and thought it would make a great floor cushion. I think it would too, but.... get back to work, Joy!

Hope you have had a colourful day too.

yellows...

As today is the first day of spring, we thought we would show you some of the sunny touches of yellow that are dotted around our homes. An accent of yellow seems to freshen up any colour scheme and always looks friendly and welcoming. Whether you are a lover of yellow or not, it is hard to deny the impact it can have on a room and for your mood!