{ Anna Spiro in Vogue Living }

The Aussie blogging success Anna Spiro is featured in this month's Vogue Living.

Over at Absolutley Beautiful Things Anna posted about how she dreamt of being featured in such a magazine as a little girl. I think it's such a great achievement - to have that dream realised, how satisfying, I would be giddy with excitement.

And who doesn't love Anna's house? It is amazing. {I have featured her bathroom before} Next time I am in Brisbane visiting my sister I must go to the Black and Spiro store in New Farm to drool over cushions and fabric and lamps.

Congratulations Anna - I will be keeping a keen eye out on Black and Spiro's new website for the Signature Collection which is 'coming soon'...

{ Cuteness }

Today I took photos of this gorgeous little girl. Cute as a button.

{ Sock Love }

My sister-in-law gave me these cute little house-socks as a little gift for looking after her two girls {my nieces}, Chloe and Charlotte. Unnecessary but a pleasant surprise all the same. I usually wear my ug boots around the house but these are so comfy and not as bulky. Plus they have cool pom poms! 

{photo by me}

{ Happy Friday }

Making domestic chores that little bit more glamorous. I like it.

{via here}

{ Rainbow Love }

As I was driving home last night I saw a rainbow...on our house! So I had to stop and take some photos...

So where is my pot of gold???

I decided that Tessa and Mr M are my 'pot of gold' :)

{ Cow Art }

I would very much like to get some 'cow art'. I know. What the hell am I thinking? But if I find the right piece it will work very well with my modern rustic farmhouse. {Is that what I'm calling it?!}

{via House Beautiful}

This fireplace setting works well with the pale brickwork, woven basket, blonde wood chair and natural carpet. That mantle is a beautiful piece of wood, as is our magnificent mantle in the cottage {that I am yet to post photos of, I know, I know, bad blogger}.

Meanwhile, some livestock images I am quite fond of...

Top to bottom via
Tamara Watson,
Susannah Tucker,
Allison Trentelman

It is proving hard to find something I like which features the black Angus cattle which we run here at Ythanbrae though - a lot of photographers/artists tend to focus on the Friesian or Hereford cows. A lot of the photos or paintings I'm drawn to though are more landscapes rather than portraits? Perhaps I am playing it safe? I do love Sharon Montrose's work though. Now there's a portrait of a sheep, a goat, a goose, a deer...

{via Sharon Montrose}

Okay, so I confess. I may already have some 'cow art'. This piece below {illustration?} came with the cottage, it was hanging on a wall in the empty house when we moved in, so I feel that the cottage sort of 'owns' it, which is nice. I love the frame, but the illustration is just a page out of a magazine I think and is all crinkled. It's not much of a statement piece which is what I would like above the fireplace, but am worried that I am getting too obsessed with images of cows, goats, chooks and geese and my house will look like a crazy menagerie!

{ Little Nooks }

{Left image via Martha Stewart}
{Right image via Desire to Inspire}

Lately I have been drawn to little cosy couches and seats just made for two. I think living in such a small house has made me think smaller in terms of furniture. That said, I would love to have the luxury of dedicated space where a little seat could really shine. But I don't. Stop dreaming Emma, you live in a shoebox!

{via Atelie Gaaya}

The corner couch that we have at the moment we always find ourselves at either end of it with Tess in the middle - how unromantic! These little nooks make me think of stormy nights {like last night!} snuggling under a big blanket with arms and legs poking in each others ribs but still being oh so comfy somehow. Hot chocolates all round!

{via Style Room}

{via Phoebe Howard}

{ Tuesday's Object of Desire }

I absolutley love these napkins from etsy seller betsygrace.

I have been meaning to feature these for awhile now as a Tuesday's Object of Desire, and now I'm afraid they have sold on etsy! And why wouldn't they? Hopefully there will be some more up for grabs soon. I really want to buy some for my sister's birthday {ssshh!} for her to use with her young family. What a great idea for kids.

{ Ruffle Me Up }

{via Sunday Brunch Dress}

{via Atelier Gaaya}

{via Orange Poppy}

{via Flickr - bonbonmom}

{via Atelie Gaaya}

{via Everyday Fairytale}

{via Sweet Monday Photography}

{ Happy Friday }

{via Atelie Gaaya}

This weekend it is Mr M's birthday. Another year older and wiser.

I would like to think we would be having something as pretty as this setting, but Mr M will have none of that - a bbq with mates and a beer is about as glamorous as it will get. But that's okay - it's his party and he'll do as he pleases!

Hope your weekend is pretty and glamorous though xxx

{ Books Books Books }

One day I am going to have the biggest collection of books. One day. At the moment my library is quite modest - but I still take great pride in displaying them, stacking them, flicking through them, arranging them.

How do you display your books?

{via Alkemie}

{via House and Garden}

{via House and Garden}

{via Country Living}

{via Atelie Gaaya}

{via Atelie Gaaya}

{ Pet Inspiration }

I am going to make Tessa a new bed. Yes I am. I promise. No more procrastinating! She has a little pillow/mat that she sits on, in a little nook in between my desk and the fireplace, but she sleeps outside at night. I feel a puppy makeover coming on, it is time for a pouch overhaul! Now if only I could find that perfect fabric for such a project...

In the meantime these pet/home design images are spurring me on:

{via Laura Resen}

{via Martha Stewart}

{These two images source unknown?}

If you know where this comes from please let me know so I can link back.

{ Bulb Love }

As I've mentioned before, I planted a lot of bulbs in Autumn after I went to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show with my mum. I remember catching the train to Melbourne with my mum {who is an AMAZING gardener} to go to MIFGS every year when I was a little girl, and I still like to go with her. She is an open book of knowledge to me and I pester her with so many questions regarding gardening! {And cooking, and sewing, and a multitude of subjects that relate to being a farmers 'wife'...} Next time I am home in Thorpdale I will have to take photos of her immaculate garden to share. In the meantime I have a little cottage garden I am working on...

I can see these little hyacinths popping their pretty heads out from where I sit at my desk. I planted them under our olive tree as a bit of a ground cover and I am loving the pretty pink on a bright day like today - it's like they are just waking up, having a bit of a stretch and a yawn. 

{ Pale and Interesting }

My new favourite - Pale and Interesting...

I'll take some of those vintage inspired floral cushions, that armoire and that distressed leather armchair if you don't mind!

Oh and a glass cloche, silver candlesticks and a stack of books...

{ Tuesday's Object of Desire }

Tuesday already???!

This weeks Object of Desire is a great vintage find from {where else} etsy. Featured on etsy's front page yesterday, it is from seller SmallEarthVintage. I couldn't help imagining packing my little bits and bobs into this gorgeous Samsonite beauty case for a weekend home to visit family in Gippsland.

Living away from family and friends means that a lot of weekends we will be packing our overnight bags and hitting the road. A few weeks ago my trusty beauty case finally died - zip broken, split side, very sad. I was going to ask my mum to buy me a new one for my birthday {in October!} but it is simply too far away!

I love the bright blue, I need a bright pop of colour to cheer me up and drag me out of winter hibernation! Spring here I come. I am trying to get some semblence of a white and blue crisp theme happening in our bathroom and I think this vintage piece sitting on my vanity would fit the bill nicely! Just one question: will it fit my hair straightener....?

{ Rainy Day Sunday }

{Above image via Kiss The Groom}

How was your weekend? Mine was glorious. My mum was at Ythanbrae on Friday night and again on Sunday afternoon, going to and from my brothers house in Wodonga so see the grandkids. So handy us living in Yea, which is the halfway point between my Mum in Gippsland and my brother in Wodonga.

{Above image taken by myself}

On Sunday morning I went to the Yering Station farmers market with my friend Ange and her two gorgeous girls Luella and Saskia {who I've mentioned before}. I have found a new love for farmers markets, it's such a great way to buy food. You get to talk to the people who grew or made the food, and they're the people who are really passionate about it. I didn't bring my camera as it was a wet and miserable day {and would have been just another object to juggle between a bag of apples, a jar of creamed honey and a 5 month old!} Sunday afternoon = staying inside with Mr M as the rain fell. Lovely.