tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275970220491415802024-03-14T07:53:07.798+11:00Cinderella at BrindabellaEmmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.comBlogger551125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-24633425655568052752012-03-23T10:14:00.001+11:002012-03-23T10:14:21.759+11:00Style Cinderella Pretty<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh hello there...remember me?</div>
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I once used to write this pretty little blog and lived in a little ramshackle farmhouse with my high-school sweetheart, baking, sewing and gardening my way to be a good little farmer's wife.</div>
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We completed our fairy tale and were married on our farm last year. Remember all that planning? I shouldn't say completed, for really it was only the beginning! Since then we've hit the road for an outback adventure honeymoon - working and travelling our way around Australia, discovering our country, ourselves and where our home really lies. We're still not sure. I'll keep you posted. </div>
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I bet you are busting to see some wedding photos, no? Apologies for the silence but I have been waiting for a very special place on the internet to feature our very special day. </div>
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Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow our little rural soiree, our simple ceremony in a little country chapel and marquee reception with hay bales in the rolling green Gippsland hills will be featured on <a href="http://stylemepretty.com/">Style Me Pretty</a>.</div>
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My baby, our wedding, is all grown up. From humble beginnings of lists and sketches in the middle of the night, to sourcing fabric overseas, finding the perfect florals, the props, the kraft paper invites...</div>
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You can see it <i>all</i> tomorrow, my friends. For now here is a sneak peek from the lens of the amazingly fantastic best-photographer-in-the-world, the lovely <a href="http://sunnyandscout.com/">Louise Buma</a>.</div>
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Until we meet again xxx</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i82vor76lwo/T2uwQa9cHAI/AAAAAAAAEAo/QhfWRTLPrxk/s1600/EmmaMatt+web-826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i82vor76lwo/T2uwQa9cHAI/AAAAAAAAEAo/QhfWRTLPrxk/s640/EmmaMatt+web-826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-73156417816162874852012-01-13T17:31:00.000+11:002012-01-13T17:31:12.362+11:00three bags full + a wedding snippet<div style="text-align: justify;">I couldn't resist, two things actually. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One...sharing a snippet of our wedding day joy, made all the more joyful by <a href="http://sunnyandscout.com/">our fabulous photographer Lou</a>. Honestly, she is the bees knees. People gush about their wedding photographer and I think it's a bit ridiculous to be honest. But she nailed it. Thank you, amazing Lou. Thank you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xyVP0JhH9M/Tw_PZAlXYOI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/stv0A1ATqGk/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-13+at+5.27.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xyVP0JhH9M/Tw_PZAlXYOI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/stv0A1ATqGk/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-13+at+5.27.10+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Louise Buma / sunny + scout photography</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Secondly, I am already experiencing withdrawal from being a homebody. I love to nest. It's my thing. I bake, and sew, and ok I don't clean too well...but I <i>love</i> having a <i><u>home</u></i>. Now we don't. And it is slowly driving my creative mind mushy. I don't like creative mushy mind, so I decided to do something about it. Enter <a href="http://threebagsfullblog.com/">Three Bags Full</a>. A new blog to release some of that creative energy, pent up and frustrated. Three Bags Full won't be a blog like Cinderella at Brindabella has been. There will be minimal, to none at all, photos taken by myself. It is about what inspires me, things I like, catches my eye. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can hear you from here though: "We've seen it all before." You'd be right too. There a million blogs out there sprouting about products they want to buy, 'wish lists' and Pinterest finds. All a bit self-indulgent and consumer-gone-mad isn't it? Well I truly am hoping <a href="http://threebagsfullblog.com/">Three Bags Full</a> won't become one of those blogs. Also, I might not even have the time/energy/internet service to blog on Three Bags Full as well as <a href="http://newlywedhappycampers.blogspot.com/">The Happy Campers</a>. We'll see.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you'd like to, pop over to see what I'm up to over there. If not, that's fine also.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6avtQfk6TC0/Tw_PWrNF1iI/AAAAAAAAEAI/G2Z-AAfmEAU/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-13+at+5.25.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6avtQfk6TC0/Tw_PWrNF1iI/AAAAAAAAEAI/G2Z-AAfmEAU/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-13+at+5.25.46+PM.png" /></a></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-72534896113877077232011-12-30T12:01:00.000+11:002011-12-30T12:01:33.563+11:00farewell brindabella<div style="text-align: justify;">Let's cut to the chase here - moving <i>sucks</i>. <b>Enormously</b>. I have moved too many times to count. Ok maybe that's exaggerating - three times when I was at uni in Melbourne (all on scorching February days), then home to Thorpdale, then to Glenburn, within two weeks, when I moved in with Mr M and followed him to 'the bush', again to <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/cottage.html">the cottage at Ythanbrae</a> (also known as paradise/our other happy place) and then to Brindabella. Where we said we would be for a long time. <i>Never again</i>, we said to moving. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well things don't always turn out the way you plan. And that's ok. It's all a part of my new mantra: change is inevitable, fluidity is fine and progression essential. <i>Onwards and upwards.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">After <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/12/little-mrs-emma.html">our wedding</a>, we spent three nights and four days at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. It was blissful, as a honeymoon should be. A beautiful hotel room with a balcony overlooking the ocean, lazy evenings drinking champagne and eating leftover wedding cake, bike rides around Point Nepean, perusing the pretty shops and galleries in the afternoons and lovely dinners by the sea with my <i>husband</i>. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3sRgkIQbAWM/Tv0DHpI4vyI/AAAAAAAAD24/ZfKAfN83ESY/s1600/IMG_1415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3sRgkIQbAWM/Tv0DHpI4vyI/AAAAAAAAD24/ZfKAfN83ESY/s400/IMG_1415.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2afKHsZNjSM/Tv0DNvSA_WI/AAAAAAAAD3A/tVJlg-Icn2s/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2afKHsZNjSM/Tv0DNvSA_WI/AAAAAAAAD3A/tVJlg-Icn2s/s400/IMG_1419.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsM_BCZMJFU/Tv0H5j-0f0I/AAAAAAAAD4s/uDdVwBR3RgQ/s1600/IMG_1450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsM_BCZMJFU/Tv0H5j-0f0I/AAAAAAAAD4s/uDdVwBR3RgQ/s400/IMG_1450.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SENexB1Endw/Tv0HK8h5jvI/AAAAAAAAD4g/rbNzFby8h9k/s1600/IMG_1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SENexB1Endw/Tv0HK8h5jvI/AAAAAAAAD4g/rbNzFby8h9k/s400/IMG_1449.jpg" width="298" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sSIE97kHZc/Tv0DhBXk4wI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/zQrt8g0D0j0/s1600/IMG_1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sSIE97kHZc/Tv0DhBXk4wI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/zQrt8g0D0j0/s400/IMG_1506.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pO42VMDO5iE/Tv0DmxLwa6I/AAAAAAAAD3g/fI-SnTx28go/s1600/IMG_1510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pO42VMDO5iE/Tv0DmxLwa6I/AAAAAAAAD3g/fI-SnTx28go/s400/IMG_1510.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">We came home to Brindabella and began to pack. And pack. <i>And pack</i>. It seemed neverending. The <i>stuff</i>. It spewed from our little ramshackle farmhouse. From my sewing room. From Mr M's shed. From everywhere. With the help of Mr M's hard working parents we managed to get everything sorted. The problem was some things were going into storage, some things were going into the new house at Inverloch, some things were being stored at my mum's for easy access (like paperwork and clothes and art pieces we didn't want in storage) and some things we were taking away with us. So. Much. Sorting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYKdyyL7VxE/Tv0JLNxdKuI/AAAAAAAAD5E/vXMNCmT5zzs/s1600/IMG_1550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYKdyyL7VxE/Tv0JLNxdKuI/AAAAAAAAD5E/vXMNCmT5zzs/s640/IMG_1550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ust6tD9omBw/Tv0K6QK4tyI/AAAAAAAAD5w/tKXfvxnNJI0/s1600/IMG_1555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ust6tD9omBw/Tv0K6QK4tyI/AAAAAAAAD5w/tKXfvxnNJI0/s400/IMG_1555.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrUp_EJTn6g/Tv0KguU4OeI/AAAAAAAAD5o/PNZXMGZQw5Q/s1600/IMG_1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrUp_EJTn6g/Tv0KguU4OeI/AAAAAAAAD5o/PNZXMGZQw5Q/s400/IMG_1553.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We planned to be on the road to Boort, where we were headed to help friends with their grain harvest, on the Sunday after the wedding. We didn't end up leaving Brindabella until the wee hours of <i>Wednesday morning after that</i> (12.17am to be precise), we fell into bed at my mum's, got up a few hours later and hauled out headed for the Mallee dust and heat at 4.50am Wednesday 21st December. The next four days were spent helping finish off harvest before Christmas, then turning around and heading the almost 5 hours back to Gippsland for Christmas. Madness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're now back in Boort and the holiday/honeymoon/reality really starts now. All we have is packed in our camper. We really have no fixed address anymore, no more clothes other than what I packed (<i>very</i> minimal). Is it liberating? Amazingly so. Scary? Not at all, which surprised me. Exciting? Yes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FoIyKQIivww/Tv0MKA9yuRI/AAAAAAAAD58/epMRZ4MB9to/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FoIyKQIivww/Tv0MKA9yuRI/AAAAAAAAD58/epMRZ4MB9to/s640/IMG_1601.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxAjja8IEas/Tv0MeQoDJqI/AAAAAAAAD6M/rHaQetwZqoQ/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxAjja8IEas/Tv0MeQoDJqI/AAAAAAAAD6M/rHaQetwZqoQ/s640/IMG_1612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGbAVIz6oNk/Tv0MqeNe52I/AAAAAAAAD6U/iPw5PMF-uwM/s1600/IMG_1613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGbAVIz6oNk/Tv0MqeNe52I/AAAAAAAAD6U/iPw5PMF-uwM/s640/IMG_1613.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Was I upset leaving Brindabella? Not at all. Yes, we worked our tails off there in the past year. But it was not home. We were not happy there.<i> At all</i>. I didn't blog about the trials of the past year (who wants to hear about that, <i>really</i>?!) but we honestly had a pretty crappy 2011 - minus our beautiful wedding day, quite simply the best day of my life for the fact that I married my best friend. But take that away, and I'd really rather forget 2011 ever happened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, all good things must come to an end. This blog is one of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am no longer Cinderella at Brindabella. I am, however, still a keen blogger. Mr M and I plan to blog our way around Australia, where we can. I'm not going to blog about pretty homewares or gardening or renovating anymore. I'm not going to blog to get readers or hits, not that I ever really did, but I think I do write consciously for the readers of this blog. No, from now on <strike>I</strike> <i>we </i>are going to blog for ourselves, for our friends and family who want to track our travels and share our adventures. You can most certainly come along for the ride also, but if it's Etsy purchases, baking recipes or things I've blogged about before you are after, perhaps that chapter in my blogging career has closed for the moment. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://newlywedhappycampers.blogspot.com/">Our new blog, The Happy Campers, can be found here.</a> It's a work in progress so stay tuned for active links, photos of the camper and oh yeah...some actual posts! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cinderella at Brindabella will remain open to read the previous two + years of posts. I will also post on here some wedding photos and a re-cap of the day and details <i>when I can</i>. And you know that as soon as I can I will :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank-you to my lovely and loyal readers, some of you I have come to really know like 'real life' friends, all of you I have appreciated. The blogging community is a beautiful place in the world wide web because of the people and the connections we create. I hope you continue to follow my blogging journey, but if not, thank you and farewell...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Steendam for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-849699646118901542011-12-30T09:35:00.000+11:002011-12-30T09:35:00.731+11:00a nomad's christmas<div style="text-align: justify;">What's that you hear? Deafening silence? Sorry about that...been a bit busy! You know how it is - getting married, having a mini-honeymoon, packing up a life, sorting through a life of where it is to be stored (note: all over the countryside?!) and somewhere in there shoving my face full of turkey, ham and pudding. Ah the joys...<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We spent Christmas at home in Gippsland - our last hurrah before heading off into the sunset on our around Australia honeymoon adventure. Christmas Eve was spent at my Dad's new house having a pool party with all five of my nieces, my two sisters, my brother-in-law, my brother and my sister-in-law. Oysters and champagne were called for, as well as copious amounts of prawns, crayfish fresh from Flinders Island my Dad flew down to get a few days before and loads of watersliding antics. All followed by traditional Christmas Eve mass at our local parish where we all grew up, and my niece is now going to school.<br />
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Christmas morning at my Mum's was met with squeals of delight when Scarlett and Ava found Santa's beer had been half drunk (who choose the dodgy beer?!) and the carrots nibbled by the reindeer, leaving a big mess on Grandi's box hedge!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJPGV1JPa58/TvzhuZ2mR8I/AAAAAAAAD0A/D_KmLLbN-M0/s1600/Christmas03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJPGV1JPa58/TvzhuZ2mR8I/AAAAAAAAD0A/D_KmLLbN-M0/s1600/Christmas03.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Cousins arrived from next door to more squeals. So much squealing with five little girls! Santa was generous, as was Mum/Grandi with the traditional Christmas lunch spread. Roast turkey, roast chicken, a leg of baked ham and a buffet roast turkey. Followed by plum pudding with the most brandy-infused sauce we've ever had - woooo!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--JmHyWFr8ew/Tvzi4ZbwgkI/AAAAAAAAD0M/P91_Q2F8RUs/s1600/_MG_9639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--JmHyWFr8ew/Tvzi4ZbwgkI/AAAAAAAAD0M/P91_Q2F8RUs/s400/_MG_9639.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZD3BK-oBUU/TvzjELCD99I/AAAAAAAAD0U/gVls-bywHUE/s1600/_MG_9640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZD3BK-oBUU/TvzjELCD99I/AAAAAAAAD0U/gVls-bywHUE/s400/_MG_9640.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lra3gQdKrG0/TvzjS8sIDII/AAAAAAAAD0c/vFo1VJPtBGs/s1600/_MG_9666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lra3gQdKrG0/TvzjS8sIDII/AAAAAAAAD0c/vFo1VJPtBGs/s640/_MG_9666.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYfpUWk1TGo/TvzjgyLj5II/AAAAAAAAD0k/kqx84DuCwio/s1600/_MG_9668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYfpUWk1TGo/TvzjgyLj5II/AAAAAAAAD0k/kqx84DuCwio/s400/_MG_9668.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1u8sp4DpQc/Tvzjra8xa4I/AAAAAAAAD0s/bskxuHB4qaM/s1600/_MG_9670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1u8sp4DpQc/Tvzjra8xa4I/AAAAAAAAD0s/bskxuHB4qaM/s400/_MG_9670.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZvTar5k8Ik/Tvzj7Ywgn5I/AAAAAAAAD00/JinUvg-8PDA/s1600/_MG_9692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZvTar5k8Ik/Tvzj7Ywgn5I/AAAAAAAAD00/JinUvg-8PDA/s640/_MG_9692.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5Q6G86w-q0/TvzkMETYlcI/AAAAAAAAD08/j2E1nds1ieo/s1600/_MG_9703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5Q6G86w-q0/TvzkMETYlcI/AAAAAAAAD08/j2E1nds1ieo/s640/_MG_9703.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdweuMxZWrM/Tvzkgzr7TlI/AAAAAAAAD1E/BKP8gLiJDRg/s1600/_MG_9714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdweuMxZWrM/Tvzkgzr7TlI/AAAAAAAAD1E/BKP8gLiJDRg/s640/_MG_9714.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s36F4PQz4So/Tvzk5SN29PI/AAAAAAAAD1M/AzJzY9dChKM/s1600/_MG_9736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s36F4PQz4So/Tvzk5SN29PI/AAAAAAAAD1M/AzJzY9dChKM/s640/_MG_9736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jspwYxthJ4M/TvzlFtr_vuI/AAAAAAAAD1U/eL1e4ODFcJ0/s1600/_MG_9741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jspwYxthJ4M/TvzlFtr_vuI/AAAAAAAAD1U/eL1e4ODFcJ0/s400/_MG_9741.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyZnKzRnndk/TvzlRMuH9eI/AAAAAAAAD1c/Bxf4egNgLSY/s1600/_MG_9746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyZnKzRnndk/TvzlRMuH9eI/AAAAAAAAD1c/Bxf4egNgLSY/s400/_MG_9746.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KaB8Prg7Lw/TvzlfI4v_FI/AAAAAAAAD1k/I5OeOqiiGWw/s1600/_MG_9762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KaB8Prg7Lw/TvzlfI4v_FI/AAAAAAAAD1k/I5OeOqiiGWw/s640/_MG_9762.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weDkqa0mPHE/Tvzm9RndZ5I/AAAAAAAAD14/TOJQZken9tk/s1600/_MG_9719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weDkqa0mPHE/Tvzm9RndZ5I/AAAAAAAAD14/TOJQZken9tk/s400/_MG_9719.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vztS918PC20/TvzluF8W2nI/AAAAAAAAD1s/56gLVCj9EmU/s1600/_MG_9784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vztS918PC20/TvzluF8W2nI/AAAAAAAAD1s/56gLVCj9EmU/s400/_MG_9784.jpg" width="266" /></a> </div><br />
In the afternoon we headed down to Mr M's family by the sea to spend our first Christmas in the new and improved 'Shirwell' - a home that has been in his family for generations and has just undergone a serious renovation and extension. Floors had just been sanded and there isn't any furniture in yet but we enjoyed a (somewhat soggy) Christmas dinner on the new deck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjTnQ38y6rs/Tvzokyt4RqI/AAAAAAAAD2E/crm-59VIjgk/s1600/_MG_9803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjTnQ38y6rs/Tvzokyt4RqI/AAAAAAAAD2E/crm-59VIjgk/s640/_MG_9803.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5hjYzC45oI/Tvzo344lJbI/AAAAAAAAD2M/aKwW92VicWo/s1600/_MG_9822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5hjYzC45oI/Tvzo344lJbI/AAAAAAAAD2M/aKwW92VicWo/s640/_MG_9822.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFckUY6_MfY/TvzpLNxH7YI/AAAAAAAAD2U/1P29VIrjiCg/s1600/_MG_9829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFckUY6_MfY/TvzpLNxH7YI/AAAAAAAAD2U/1P29VIrjiCg/s640/_MG_9829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2e87WWwyO1Y/TvzpbkuLgHI/AAAAAAAAD2c/oEKyth52g2k/s1600/_MG_9843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2e87WWwyO1Y/TvzpbkuLgHI/AAAAAAAAD2c/oEKyth52g2k/s640/_MG_9843.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vKgyb2AAc/Tvzpy_D6DlI/AAAAAAAAD2k/ayAuWNOaz9k/s1600/_MG_9855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vKgyb2AAc/Tvzpy_D6DlI/AAAAAAAAD2k/ayAuWNOaz9k/s640/_MG_9855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We set up our camper (our new home!) next door at Mr M's mum's cousin's house (confused yet?!), the beautifully restored 'Charnwood' - quite possibly the oldest house in Inverloch. This is our happy place. Mr M's parents are building a new house just in front of 'Shirwell' which will be our new family home. All this will happen this year whilst we're gallavanting about the country, which makes Mr M a tad sad that he'll be missing out on the action. But we're so looking forward to returning and having so many more beautiful meals with beautiful people on the deck at 'Shirwell' and the new house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NH18sAt77TQ/Tvzp1nW1RUI/AAAAAAAAD2s/Mzws-qHB-Gs/s1600/Christmas02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NH18sAt77TQ/Tvzp1nW1RUI/AAAAAAAAD2s/Mzws-qHB-Gs/s1600/Christmas02.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I know most of you are all busting to see wedding photos, hear about our movements, how we left Brindabella, where we are now, what our plans are...but that will have to wait for another day. Right now I just wanted to share some love from the past week :)<br />
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We're off to Mildura to ring in the new year with friends and waterski to our hearts content. Until then...<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Steendam for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-27716531918411711232011-12-25T09:22:00.000+11:002011-12-25T09:22:21.966+11:00christmas blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6fhAXfmhIc/TvZP4eN4fZI/AAAAAAAADvY/T6JZDs1XdbI/s1600/ChristmasCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6fhAXfmhIc/TvZP4eN4fZI/AAAAAAAADvY/T6JZDs1XdbI/s640/ChristmasCard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hug your little ones closer, eat far too much pudding, believe in the magic of Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Most importantly, remember the reason for the season. Give. Laugh. Love. Count your blessings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">xxx</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-46222433092801075742011-12-15T15:32:00.000+11:002011-12-15T15:32:37.214+11:00little mrs emma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNSyY7ZJQwM/Tul4NzmWqeI/AAAAAAAADvM/CJh_U8y1Uko/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNSyY7ZJQwM/Tul4NzmWqeI/AAAAAAAADvM/CJh_U8y1Uko/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We did it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We're married.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happily.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Exhausted.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We are packing up Brindabella as I type, in an empty study, just my computer left. Surrounded by boxes and packing tape and newspaper and bubble-wrap. The moving truck comes tomorrow. And then we hit the road on the weekend. Just each other. The husband and the wife, chasing the sun and our dreams and our unknown future.</div><br />
I will check back in soon, promise xxx<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image by Louise Buma for <a href="http://sunnyandscout.com/">sunny + scout photography</a></span></i>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-7655120967619372992011-11-24T08:22:00.000+11:002011-11-24T08:22:09.573+11:00signing off<div style="text-align: justify;">Ok so I thought I could keep blogging in the lead up to the wedding. Turns out I am an insane person who has bitten off <i>far</i> more than she can chew.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This week I have been...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">taking people to hospital</div><div style="text-align: justify;">sourcing antique jewelry</div><div style="text-align: justify;">organising church visits for nervous kids</div><div style="text-align: justify;">editing a <i>huge</i> photography job</div><div style="text-align: justify;">shooting another photography job this morning</div><div style="text-align: justify;">selling my car</div><div style="text-align: justify;">selling our kelpie bitch</div><div style="text-align: justify;">printing ceremony programs</div><div style="text-align: justify;">picking up suits</div><div style="text-align: justify;">returning shirts</div><div style="text-align: justify;">finding new shirts</div><div style="text-align: justify;">writing speech</div><div style="text-align: justify;">delivering decking boards</div><div style="text-align: justify;">picking up trailer from decking boards mission</div><div style="text-align: justify;">giving pony rides</div><div style="text-align: justify;">dropping off 100 + jars to my florist</div><div style="text-align: justify;">inspecting the progress on the camper at the welders workshop</div><div style="text-align: justify;">constant delivery to op shop</div><div style="text-align: justify;">listing 'stuff' on ebay</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Christmas shopping, wrapping and storing gifts</div><div style="text-align: justify;">cutting and posting fabric sold on Craftumi</div><div style="text-align: justify;">packing</div><div style="text-align: justify;">packing</div><div style="text-align: justify;">packing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3kwaQoTeYY/Ts1jGrc6khI/AAAAAAAADvE/FKhmzcZ1u8s/s1600/Preview9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3kwaQoTeYY/Ts1jGrc6khI/AAAAAAAADvE/FKhmzcZ1u8s/s640/Preview9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So...I have decided I must sign off from the blogosphere until after the wedding day (10.12.11)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank-you all so much for your words of encouragement in the planning and lead up to our big day. I will 'see' you all on the other side, when I am Mrs Emma!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image by Emma Durkin Photographics at Walkerville beach last week</span></i></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-27037307119342449322011-11-16T13:59:00.000+11:002011-11-16T13:59:25.601+11:00christmas dresses 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">As I slowly but surely pack away all our worldly belongings, (moving day has been finalised the week after the wedding - eeeek!) I am coming to terms with the fact that for the next year I will be living out of a bag. Or a camper. Whatever. Point is that we are trying to narrow down <i>exactly</i> what it is we will take on our big trip. Nitty gritty's like which shoes, books, electronic chargers, first aid supplies, and clothes. Clothes. Hmmm...can I do the next 12 months with 3 pairs of jeans, 2 jumpers, 5 tops, 3 shorts and 2 skirts? Because that's basically all I'm taking. Because that's basically all we can fit. Hmph.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So as I start to think and look towards Christmas day I'm getting a bit sad that I won't have a pretty dress with me as usual to wear on the jolly holiday. We are planning on coming home for Christmas from where we will be in December (Boort in north west Victoria), but by then all our clothes will be in storage. No matter, here are some that I would like to be wearing, a little bit of sparkle or a little bit of Mrs Clause...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7ITav0scG0/TsMkdki2l6I/AAAAAAAADu8/Zjk3n77ZfdQ/s1600/Christmasdresses" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7ITav0scG0/TsMkdki2l6I/AAAAAAAADu8/Zjk3n77ZfdQ/s1600/Christmasdresses" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/striking-gold-dress">1</a> / <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/polite-and-day-dress">2</a> / <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=3268213&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208523&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=20&refinements=Colour{1}~[cream]&noOfRefinements=1">3</a> / <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/red-y-to-dance-dress">4</a> / <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/holiday-sneak-peek-sparkle-and-span-dress">5</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you wear something special on Christmas day? Or do you go more for board shorts and thongs and a hit of cricket on the beach? I like to wear something special as I think it's a special day!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-26260611982091785852011-11-11T11:06:00.000+11:002011-11-11T11:06:13.060+11:00one monthIt is now officially less than one month until <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/our-wedding.html">The Wedding</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>Less than one month.</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">As you can imagine, things are all go here at the moment. Grass is growing on <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/09/site-for-sore-eyes.html">the marquee site</a> and being mown every five days religiously, running sheets of how the day will run are being written, RSVP's are coming in thick and fast, hens and bucks parties are being organised, wedding night accommodation is booked, ceremony booklets finalised, dresses fitted and hair and make-up bookings and trials confirmed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/08/four-months.html">previous monthly countdowns</a> I've shared with you my latest wedding inspirations from around the wedding blog scene - this month, as we get to the pointy end of it all, I'll share some snippets of <i>real</i> wedding 'stuff'. <i>Actual</i> wedding paraphernalia, which seems to be taking over and consuming our house/garden/shed. Snippets, of course, in a very controlled manner. Less is more, after all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sTr4ZQMDto/TrxmV1wtzmI/AAAAAAAADus/KG11E8QhqYI/s1600/Snippet6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sTr4ZQMDto/TrxmV1wtzmI/AAAAAAAADus/KG11E8QhqYI/s1600/Snippet6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKB2QejyxAA/TrxmLWFcy8I/AAAAAAAADuE/NWhKrmHW0s4/s1600/Snippet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKB2QejyxAA/TrxmLWFcy8I/AAAAAAAADuE/NWhKrmHW0s4/s1600/Snippet1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7jXxXsTE3o/TrxmUvtEsRI/AAAAAAAADuk/kOPZDYWtUD8/s1600/Snippet5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7jXxXsTE3o/TrxmUvtEsRI/AAAAAAAADuk/kOPZDYWtUD8/s1600/Snippet5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnTv44j4hLU/TrxmXTDjoNI/AAAAAAAADu0/y5loCtiNm-o/s1600/Snippet7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnTv44j4hLU/TrxmXTDjoNI/AAAAAAAADu0/y5loCtiNm-o/s1600/Snippet7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCj2oRaq6d8/TrxmRXEyZXI/AAAAAAAADuU/_0jH5_5FCTg/s1600/Snippet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCj2oRaq6d8/TrxmRXEyZXI/AAAAAAAADuU/_0jH5_5FCTg/s1600/Snippet3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjdWDMSQmJY/TrxmSu813MI/AAAAAAAADuc/kpJTH0XlIC0/s1600/Snippet4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjdWDMSQmJY/TrxmSu813MI/AAAAAAAADuc/kpJTH0XlIC0/s1600/Snippet4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lXY1eBeUZLY/TrxmPhhw_iI/AAAAAAAADuM/RqyKAUOMVTU/s1600/Snippet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lXY1eBeUZLY/TrxmPhhw_iI/AAAAAAAADuM/RqyKAUOMVTU/s1600/Snippet2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">29 more sleeps...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-24179698863069678882011-11-09T14:48:00.002+11:002011-11-09T14:55:07.948+11:00brindabella: one year on<div style="text-align: justify;">Twelve months and two weeks ago we moved from <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/cottage.html">our cosy little cottage at Ythanbrae</a> to the ramshackle farmhouse here at Brindabella.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7etdGtNyT1E/TrnK8ClLueI/AAAAAAAADjo/7U6ukIErFP4/s1600/back+porch+after+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7etdGtNyT1E/TrnK8ClLueI/AAAAAAAADjo/7U6ukIErFP4/s640/back+porch+after+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We have worked our tails off every weekend, after work, every spare moment we had between busy full time jobs and wedding planning, to make this little abode a home.<br />
<br />
I thought I would share some before, during and after photos with you all. Get ready for an onslaught of images...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DB7KYZ0vKo/TrnLYoQWsaI/AAAAAAAADj4/siTkzgtgdmE/s1600/back+porch+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DB7KYZ0vKo/TrnLYoQWsaI/AAAAAAAADj4/siTkzgtgdmE/s640/back+porch+before+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The back porch (excuse dodgy photo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czVcS7Q5fD4/TrnLL4VuR2I/AAAAAAAADjw/gwqBjprE8Zk/s1600/back+porch+after+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czVcS7Q5fD4/TrnLL4VuR2I/AAAAAAAADjw/gwqBjprE8Zk/s640/back+porch+after+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The back porch today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1zHEaErPCM/TrnMJpSAFoI/AAAAAAAADkQ/8dc-T7gFnfc/s1600/backview+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1zHEaErPCM/TrnMJpSAFoI/AAAAAAAADkQ/8dc-T7gFnfc/s640/backview+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The backyard, looking from the shed to the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kP5WCfdyCJQ/TrnL6ozmtrI/AAAAAAAADkI/g7S39GXjsmU/s1600/back+view+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kP5WCfdyCJQ/TrnL6ozmtrI/AAAAAAAADkI/g7S39GXjsmU/s640/back+view+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The backyard, looking from the shed to the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfraobmRLQo/TrnPI5IGS2I/AAAAAAAADlo/5agtNO1dPio/s1600/backyard+before+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfraobmRLQo/TrnPI5IGS2I/AAAAAAAADlo/5agtNO1dPio/s640/backyard+before+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The backyard, down the path</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhXVGZeOWZs/TrnNY6ypONI/AAAAAAAADkw/rdP6ojX6ve4/s1600/backyard+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhXVGZeOWZs/TrnNY6ypONI/AAAAAAAADkw/rdP6ojX6ve4/s640/backyard+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The backyard, down the path</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pv1CK8sP4Hs/TrnN70M1uII/AAAAAAAADlA/PT8ilQ-pJcc/s1600/backyard+before+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pv1CK8sP4Hs/TrnN70M1uII/AAAAAAAADlA/PT8ilQ-pJcc/s640/backyard+before+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The backyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T37yfineSLs/TrnMzM4VvxI/AAAAAAAADkg/nBdUYiZs_gs/s1600/backyard+after+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T37yfineSLs/TrnMzM4VvxI/AAAAAAAADkg/nBdUYiZs_gs/s640/backyard+after+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The backyard<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZZDIc4UEQg/TrnNsTGnQeI/AAAAAAAADk4/HRciOUT_sqs/s1600/backyard+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZZDIc4UEQg/TrnNsTGnQeI/AAAAAAAADk4/HRciOUT_sqs/s640/backyard+before+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The backyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XuV5zmEigJk/TrnMc217OVI/AAAAAAAADkY/B3xUvFaXBHQ/s1600/backyard+after+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XuV5zmEigJk/TrnMc217OVI/AAAAAAAADkY/B3xUvFaXBHQ/s640/backyard+after+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The backyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRRd5UVsMOE/TrnOrqZJzfI/AAAAAAAADlY/K0hiSJY7CV8/s1600/backyard+before+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRRd5UVsMOE/TrnOrqZJzfI/AAAAAAAADlY/K0hiSJY7CV8/s640/backyard+before+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The backyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x07YUFbjGps/TrnNGzyo-gI/AAAAAAAADko/w3hFJGo7bRg/s1600/backyard+after+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x07YUFbjGps/TrnNGzyo-gI/AAAAAAAADko/w3hFJGo7bRg/s640/backyard+after+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The backyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yGafzUAvScM/TrnRKiTyBqI/AAAAAAAADmo/Om1XTccIGBU/s1600/front+drive+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yGafzUAvScM/TrnRKiTyBqI/AAAAAAAADmo/Om1XTccIGBU/s640/front+drive+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The front driveway</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNGsPIBwCdo/TrnQ9CAy2YI/AAAAAAAADmg/GZMRqVs-16c/s1600/front+drive+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNGsPIBwCdo/TrnQ9CAy2YI/AAAAAAAADmg/GZMRqVs-16c/s640/front+drive+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The front driveway</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiOKXp3E880/TrnUXyDTcII/AAAAAAAADno/Xqg9o22ko6c/s1600/front+house+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiOKXp3E880/TrnUXyDTcII/AAAAAAAADno/Xqg9o22ko6c/s640/front+house+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The front of the farmhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pH3wy_CkMA/TrnTH1s782I/AAAAAAAADnY/HfIii8Wc-sA/s1600/front+house+after+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pH3wy_CkMA/TrnTH1s782I/AAAAAAAADnY/HfIii8Wc-sA/s640/front+house+after+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The front of the farmhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atCFbnf7fUk/TrnWf-hxeTI/AAAAAAAADoo/QTN7syRhPy8/s1600/western+side+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atCFbnf7fUk/TrnWf-hxeTI/AAAAAAAADoo/QTN7syRhPy8/s640/western+side+before+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The western side of the house, paddock</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdRa24suYL0/TrnWuvu9zQI/AAAAAAAADow/dI4VHAACwPU/s1600/western+side+house+after+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdRa24suYL0/TrnWuvu9zQI/AAAAAAAADow/dI4VHAACwPU/s640/western+side+house+after+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The western side of the house, now yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl97Jg6Xj4A/TrnYmjxvlDI/AAAAAAAADpQ/WW3fGl6Pd5g/s1600/western+wing+before+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl97Jg6Xj4A/TrnYmjxvlDI/AAAAAAAADpQ/WW3fGl6Pd5g/s640/western+wing+before+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: Western side of house, cypress trees, rubbish, rubble and paddock</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZakX-FHcJ4/TrnW8sd0GEI/AAAAAAAADo4/BrSzmGe66Ms/s1600/western+wing+after+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZakX-FHcJ4/TrnW8sd0GEI/AAAAAAAADo4/BrSzmGe66Ms/s640/western+wing+after+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: Western side of the house, trees removed, all rocks, sticks, roots picked up, ground levelled, ripped x 3, more rocks, sticks roots, sown and mown</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And finally just some 'in progress' shots...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjxn4jv3bIw/TrnaDq4_A3I/AAAAAAAADqA/9xv5GUlgieM/s1600/western+wing+during+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjxn4jv3bIw/TrnaDq4_A3I/AAAAAAAADqA/9xv5GUlgieM/s640/western+wing+during+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nft7CiFVc8/Trnac_5-uAI/AAAAAAAADqI/Gsayx47Jd3w/s1600/western+wing+during+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nft7CiFVc8/Trnac_5-uAI/AAAAAAAADqI/Gsayx47Jd3w/s640/western+wing+during+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veoWfI-Iy68/Trna2Zc5IVI/AAAAAAAADqY/0FUgk31Kh-E/s1600/western+wing+during+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veoWfI-Iy68/Trna2Zc5IVI/AAAAAAAADqY/0FUgk31Kh-E/s640/western+wing+during+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NUWgdJSB3U/TrnZif7LHdI/AAAAAAAADpw/i71WKa1Y9T4/s1600/western+wing+during+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NUWgdJSB3U/TrnZif7LHdI/AAAAAAAADpw/i71WKa1Y9T4/s640/western+wing+during+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVMo6U67-M/TrnbGa9rvaI/AAAAAAAADqg/_dzKBKURNzo/s1600/western+wing+during+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVMo6U67-M/TrnbGa9rvaI/AAAAAAAADqg/_dzKBKURNzo/s640/western+wing+during+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdP5LAP36rI/TrnJr5UX-rI/AAAAAAAADjA/mXWmNtKZiV0/s1600/_MG_6222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdP5LAP36rI/TrnJr5UX-rI/AAAAAAAADjA/mXWmNtKZiV0/s640/_MG_6222.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCnf1jSXc4M/TrnJgYjj7jI/AAAAAAAADi4/WqWU--P0ZkE/s1600/_MG_6187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCnf1jSXc4M/TrnJgYjj7jI/AAAAAAAADi4/WqWU--P0ZkE/s640/_MG_6187.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Although we've only been here for 12 months, looking through these photos it has made me think it has been a lot more! But then on the other hand, we do not have a great sense of 'home' here, which I think is <i>so</i> important. So many hours of blood, sweat and tears have gone into transforming Brindabella, and yes we will be walking away from all our hard work when we leave here after our wedding. I am so, so very proud of what we have achieved here though - if nothing else it has been relationship strengthening stuff! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One day when we do have a place of our own we will look back and laugh at our funny old ramshackle farmhouse we lived in before we were married...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/09/questions-answered.html">new adventure</a> awaits.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></i></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-64443907274581450052011-11-09T09:34:00.000+11:002011-11-09T09:34:43.664+11:00great changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wS_mLWmoWbg/TrmszeMqVnI/AAAAAAAADio/ATC2m2u0_Bw/s1600/great+changes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wS_mLWmoWbg/TrmszeMqVnI/AAAAAAAADio/ATC2m2u0_Bw/s320/great+changes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes. I need to remember this in the coming weeks. I feel it is the calm before the storm. Head down, bum up...</div><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image found via <a href="http://pinterest.com/ellaatbella/">my pins</a></span></i>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-58040628977174007722011-11-08T12:17:00.000+11:002011-11-08T12:17:42.729+11:00the big sell<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, well, well, well...we meet again boxes and packing tape! Yep, I've started packing up the house, little by little sorting and storing our lives into boxes. Sigh! And along with sorting and organising comes de-cluttering, already I have done two runs to the local charity shop <i>laden</i> with bags and boxes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-81Pbx_Q7sOM/TriBJ_T7IxI/AAAAAAAADh4/-o2a2xuwOFw/s1600/craftumi-banner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-81Pbx_Q7sOM/TriBJ_T7IxI/AAAAAAAADh4/-o2a2xuwOFw/s640/craftumi-banner2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/04/welcome-to-my-sewing-room-my-happy.html">My sewing room</a> usually looks like a bomb has hit it, but I've tidied it up enough to realise I have <b>way. too. much. <i>fabric!</i></b> So to Craftumi I went and listed some bits and bobs, if you are interested <a href="http://www.craftumi.com.au/search.asp?searchtxt=littlemissemma&searchtype=2">pop over to check it out</a>. I have my minky for sale (in hot pink, lime green, red and black) which I have <i>loads</i> of yards of on bolts. This minky I buy from a U.S. wholesaler and isn't available in Australia (Spotlight and Lincraft have started selling minky dot in pastel colours, not these colours though). </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2wyds1AmrU/TriBRwNMmyI/AAAAAAAADiI/511J7w5jrnI/s1600/dandydamask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2wyds1AmrU/TriBRwNMmyI/AAAAAAAADiI/511J7w5jrnI/s200/dandydamask.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fVST8FFLnrI/TriBSyPY0pI/AAAAAAAADiQ/N-0Wmz42J4E/s1600/digit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fVST8FFLnrI/TriBSyPY0pI/AAAAAAAADiQ/N-0Wmz42J4E/s200/digit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3R13GgQGYA/TriBTuJ9n7I/AAAAAAAADiY/zevx6rDMJN8/s1600/minkylime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3R13GgQGYA/TriBTuJ9n7I/AAAAAAAADiY/zevx6rDMJN8/s200/minkylime.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qdHT-dwN-os/TriBUCsWHLI/AAAAAAAADig/QJoMhy_9frY/s1600/minkypink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qdHT-dwN-os/TriBUCsWHLI/AAAAAAAADig/QJoMhy_9frY/s200/minkypink.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I am also <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/durks86/m.html?item=260888554368&sspagename=STRK%3AMESCX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1554.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562">over on eBay</a> selling <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">soul</span> our stuff. Go there for a bargain too ;) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am slowly but surely adding items as I find things in random cupboards and under beds. Stay tuned on both my Craftumi and eBay accounts as I still have lots of crafty items like flowers, buttons, beads, more fabric to list, as well as some things Mr M wants to sell on eBay (LED camping lights anyone? UHF radios?) and I have an (expensive!) Big by Fiona Scanlon girls tutu skirt bought from David Jones and missing a receipt to return! To eBay it shall go.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Right, back to the packing tape and newspaper...Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-43356426330000426462011-11-07T08:13:00.000+11:002011-11-07T08:13:54.894+11:00point + shoot: the pretty house<div style="text-align: justify;">I have been stalking a pretty house - in real life driving past and on the Facebook page checking out photos of the interior. It is a display called 'The Laila' for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/smarthomesvic">Smart Homes Victoria</a> and is literally 200m from my best friend's house in Drouin. So of course I snooped around with iPhone in hand to share some photos with you all. </div><br />
See, isn't she pretty? There's Elisha heading inside...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-th1D0HZg1P0/Trb2m7AdLCI/AAAAAAAADho/qwu9mPS-5iQ/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-th1D0HZg1P0/Trb2m7AdLCI/AAAAAAAADho/qwu9mPS-5iQ/s640/IMG_1275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So whilst the boys got building a deck, we got shopping for a new house. Of course we weren't legitimate potential buyers...<a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/07/darwin-wedding.html">Elisha and her husband</a> have just built in the same estate and Mr M and I at this rate will never be building our own home as we will most likely always be managing other peoples land and living in other people's homes on farm. Sigh. But it's nice to look at things if we <i>did</i> ever have the chance to build.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lhm7JOjnGY/Trb2fKdAg6I/AAAAAAAADhY/LK8C-ZuX_lg/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lhm7JOjnGY/Trb2fKdAg6I/AAAAAAAADhY/LK8C-ZuX_lg/s640/IMG_1273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Laila design has a central wide hallway which I loved, with a master bedroom at the front with a walk through wardrobe to ensuite (which I also loved). Across the hall is a little lounge room which we were thinking would either be a great parents retreat sitting room with no TV or a kids playroom to throw all the toys! There's a study with French doors into the hallway, a functional laundry, a family bathroom with white subway tiles and a claw foot slipper bath (yes!), two good sized bedrooms further down the hall and then eventually opens out onto the open plan kitchen/living/dining. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NelcLwOaes/Trb2a3R63RI/AAAAAAAADhQ/AzPfVkH-Aso/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NelcLwOaes/Trb2a3R63RI/AAAAAAAADhQ/AzPfVkH-Aso/s640/IMG_1272.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lgecm7KTB74/Trb2WuxnUbI/AAAAAAAADhI/QGahUNbeJCo/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lgecm7KTB74/Trb2WuxnUbI/AAAAAAAADhI/QGahUNbeJCo/s640/IMG_1271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5JjGOrMt0g/Trb2jXdk2oI/AAAAAAAADhg/c9ds_HDxbJ4/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5JjGOrMt0g/Trb2jXdk2oI/AAAAAAAADhg/c9ds_HDxbJ4/s640/IMG_1274.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main living area is a great space, I was thinking it was going to look much smaller in real life but in reality we decided we could <i>definitely</i> move straight in with no complaints! The big farmhouse kitchen sink had me, as did the big gas stove and traditional surround. I also loved the soft muted dove grey paint colour throughout the house. Not unlike what Josh and Jenna used on The Block.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hpc0Siv2c6o/Trb2J0NvJvI/AAAAAAAADgw/W75uW-Uggcw/s1600/IMG_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hpc0Siv2c6o/Trb2J0NvJvI/AAAAAAAADgw/W75uW-Uggcw/s640/IMG_1268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJQgsBj-QXQ/Trb2SahvUwI/AAAAAAAADhA/pzq22NWvEpE/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJQgsBj-QXQ/Trb2SahvUwI/AAAAAAAADhA/pzq22NWvEpE/s640/IMG_1270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, there were lots of things we thought we would change - "I would've moved the shower over three inches for easier cleaning" or "I'm not sold on a kitchen sink in the island bench". That sort of thing. But if it were your own home build I'm sure you would figure all those things out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vX5jW028t3Q/Trb2N0zBH3I/AAAAAAAADg4/oU9cE6DAfbo/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vX5jW028t3Q/Trb2N0zBH3I/AAAAAAAADg4/oU9cE6DAfbo/s640/IMG_1269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Plod4mprs00/Trb2rNS56fI/AAAAAAAADhw/EuGgn80IkAM/s1600/IMG_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Plod4mprs00/Trb2rNS56fI/AAAAAAAADhw/EuGgn80IkAM/s640/IMG_1277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The way Laila is designed I think she would make a beautiful and functional family home. As we were leaving (and checking out the gorgeous wrap around veranda, dry creek bed front garden and cute garage) I looked back and noticed the little windows in the roofline which I liked so much - but where in the house are they? We went back in and realised they weren't windows into the house anywhere, they must just be into the roof space - which had my head filled with ideas of an attic sewing room...one day?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Playing along with <a href="http://sunnybuma.blogspot.com/">Lou over at sunny + scout</a> to share photos of your weekend :)</span></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-38908018587114769252011-11-03T12:51:00.000+11:002011-11-03T12:51:52.643+11:00burlap bunting tutorial<div style="text-align: justify;">Hello there - apologies for the lack of blogging, as you can imagine I have <i>lots</i> going on in the lead up to <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/our-wedding.html">the big day</a>, not to mention all the things we have to tick off our list before <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/search/label/our%20honeymoon">we pack up our house and hit the road. </a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you would like a little dose of Cinderella at Brindabella country style I am a guest blogger over on Polka Dot Made today with an easy tutorial to make some cute wedding decor bunting. Speaking of which I need to go and heed my own advice and make some more...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6284636264_fcafc40cb7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6284636264_fcafc40cb7_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.polkadotbride.com/2011/11/mr-mrs-hessian-chair-bunting-tutorial/">Head over here</a> if you'd like to make some yourself :)<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-7618809141339646692011-11-02T13:18:00.000+11:002011-11-02T13:18:43.142+11:00wordless wednesday: at the bottom of my mum's garden...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDUa85_nNi0/TrCoQ1b4EAI/AAAAAAAADaQ/ri3HpzWiWBk/s1600/WordlessWednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDUa85_nNi0/TrCoQ1b4EAI/AAAAAAAADaQ/ri3HpzWiWBk/s640/WordlessWednesday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Playing along with <a href="http://faithhopeandawholelottalove.blogspot.com/">Faith, Hope and a whole lotta Love</a>.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-45692278184876518782011-10-31T18:11:00.000+11:002011-10-31T18:11:09.427+11:00it's beginning to look a lot like...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">!</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jknbV02zgIM/Tq5I7PdomGI/AAAAAAAADWY/8NKIxbdRWUo/s1600/Making+Spirits+Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jknbV02zgIM/Tq5I7PdomGI/AAAAAAAADWY/8NKIxbdRWUo/s640/Making+Spirits+Bright.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
As you may or may not know, I am a <i>lover</i> of all things Christmas. Give me some baubles, some ribbon to wrap up gifts and some carols to sway along to and I am one happy little elf.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrRA6_ARhfQ/Tq5JGV59r9I/AAAAAAAADWw/Oaj5BxfiRHA/s1600/Peace+On+Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrRA6_ARhfQ/Tq5JGV59r9I/AAAAAAAADWw/Oaj5BxfiRHA/s400/Peace+On+Earth.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-ahBJ2zNjI/Tq5JDLKz1GI/AAAAAAAADWo/RInXFvhrXiI/s1600/Merry+Wishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-ahBJ2zNjI/Tq5JDLKz1GI/AAAAAAAADWo/RInXFvhrXiI/s400/Merry+Wishes.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year I am putting my graphic design and photography skills to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">test</span> forefront with a series of custom Christmas cards available to order with your own images and supplied as a digital file. This way you can print as many as you like as a 6 x 4 inch (standard size) photo and send them all off with sprinklings of merriment and good cheer to your loved ones this Chrissy! A custom digital Christmas card to do with as you please (print it, email it, homing pigeon?) will set you back $26.00.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUEcNiMDsyY/Tq5I-ZxC-JI/AAAAAAAADWg/A8e8hVOCipw/s1600/Merry+and+Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUEcNiMDsyY/Tq5I-ZxC-JI/AAAAAAAADWg/A8e8hVOCipw/s640/Merry+and+Bright.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rm3ugLTd1pI/Tq5I3ru1uaI/AAAAAAAADWQ/4IUxvSe-VXQ/s1600/Ho+Ho+Ho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rm3ugLTd1pI/Tq5I3ru1uaI/AAAAAAAADWQ/4IUxvSe-VXQ/s640/Ho+Ho+Ho.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you don't have any recent photos you think perfectly fitting for Christmas cards, that's ok too. I am offering a Christmas special portraiture shoot fee of $240, which includes a CD chock-a-block full of high resolution images and your personalised custom Christmas card to boot. (Usually my portraiture sitting fee with a full CD is $300). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can head over to <a href="http://www.emmadurkinphotographics.com.au/?p=164">my photography website</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emmadurkinphotographics">my facebook page</a> to find out more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>So what are you waiting for - which one's your favourite? I'd love to hear...</b></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-26519651006944538702011-10-24T09:02:00.000+11:002011-10-24T09:02:13.053+11:00point + shoot: return to ythanbrae<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGt3MsjjD54/TqSMGUQLRNI/AAAAAAAADVQ/ncud8obfC9k/s1600/Miss+Youngs+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGt3MsjjD54/TqSMGUQLRNI/AAAAAAAADVQ/ncud8obfC9k/s1600/Miss+Youngs+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This past weekend we travelled back to our old stomping ground in the beautiful Murrindindi valley. It was oh so bittersweet - I actually got excited going to the crappy overpriced little supermarket I used to loathe and Mr M thought I was a total freak (not unjustified). But here in overpopulated Gippsland I <i>never</i> run into anyone I know in the supermarket, I used to spend at least three times longer than needed as I'd run into old Mrs whats-her-name in aisle five in Yea and chinwag about last week's cattle prices. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We stayed with dear friends in their amazing home, who I used to nanny for and Mr M bred some (pretty awesome if I do say so myself) embryo transfer calves for. The weekend was full of great friends, great local wine, great memories, great organic meals, great house which I secretly want to move in to. A new pony for the boys, who had both grown a foot! Some silage bale jumping in the sunshine, admiring new art purchases and some <i>beautiful</i> looking heifers at Ythanbrae.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enough words...as always pictures say more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfA9VCeRVjw/TqSMMRMr7dI/AAAAAAAADV4/3TwYBszkROg/s1600/Miss+Youngs+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfA9VCeRVjw/TqSMMRMr7dI/AAAAAAAADV4/3TwYBszkROg/s1600/Miss+Youngs+7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoPSinFuaak/TqSMFGUMCEI/AAAAAAAADVI/gFPmCwbu7ok/s1600/Miss+Youngs+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoPSinFuaak/TqSMFGUMCEI/AAAAAAAADVI/gFPmCwbu7ok/s1600/Miss+Youngs+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyFbp54c60U/TqSMKTdfXGI/AAAAAAAADVo/oOiuedIIvSo/s1600/Miss+Youngs+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyFbp54c60U/TqSMKTdfXGI/AAAAAAAADVo/oOiuedIIvSo/s1600/Miss+Youngs+5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuuhrHlf_JM/TqSMLQLFohI/AAAAAAAADVw/zPVllnkcYNs/s1600/Miss+Youngs+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuuhrHlf_JM/TqSMLQLFohI/AAAAAAAADVw/zPVllnkcYNs/s1600/Miss+Youngs+6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N42sNWBMyH8/TqSMHZCMMQI/AAAAAAAADVY/qEgcctqbCSQ/s1600/Miss+Youngs+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N42sNWBMyH8/TqSMHZCMMQI/AAAAAAAADVY/qEgcctqbCSQ/s1600/Miss+Youngs+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxBlxe1bkU4/TqSMIsmpKYI/AAAAAAAADVg/7uelqzTsUDY/s1600/Miss+Youngs+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxBlxe1bkU4/TqSMIsmpKYI/AAAAAAAADVg/7uelqzTsUDY/s1600/Miss+Youngs+4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hvQ9COhmEeA/TqSMNpm0RoI/AAAAAAAADWA/6-2-YCFUYOo/s1600/Miss+Youngs+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hvQ9COhmEeA/TqSMNpm0RoI/AAAAAAAADWA/6-2-YCFUYOo/s1600/Miss+Youngs+8.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">How was your weekend? Playing along with <a href="http://sunnybuma.blogspot.com/">Lou's point + shoot</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-11057334657021117872011-10-21T10:14:00.000+11:002011-10-21T10:14:05.785+11:00on flowers<div style="text-align: justify;">Last week I travelled down the highway, closer to Melbourne, to visit my florist. Yeah I have a florist. Well, for our wedding anyway. My rad mum has taken up her lifelong goal of doing floristry courses - and I mean some serious floristry, she started with one class and now is totally obsessed and comes home with this amazing creations. It all happens at a little country dairy, converted by the lovely Georgie into her floristry workshop where she holds classes. Georgie doesn't advertise to do weddings anymore, she used to be a big shot florist in the big smoke, but now just prefers to run her classes and do an occasional wedding for friends or through word of mouth. <a href="http://www.stylemepretty.com/australia-weddings/2011/08/24/euroa-butter-factory-wedding-by-melanie-linklater-photography/">Here is a wedding she did recently featured on Style Me Pretty</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and psssst she's doing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giaan_Rooney">Giann Rooney's</a> wedding at the beautiful Euroa Butter Factory around the same time as our wedding!)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was no question in who would 'do my florals' for our wedding - Georgie was totally my go-to woman. She lives in this cute federation cottage with daisy bushes and red brick paths, has two adorable fluffy Border Collies and surrounds herself in flowers, beautiful flowers, all day. And her workshop blew my mind, I wish I had taken my camera but I was super silly and didn't. Fail! But it is a barn conversion type configuration, she has gutted the old stone building other than the original beams which have been polished and rubbed. There's a giant big worktable where students sit around and make their arrangements, when I was there it was laden with Christmas goodies like lush green wreaths, glittered cherries and pears and branches of holly. It's <i>gorgeous - </i>nirvana for the diehard cottage country style like myself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I digress...Georgie and I talked all things flowers. I'm not going to divulge too much (I am still working on that balancing act of sharing our wedding planning journey on my blog and revealing too much to actual guests!) But here is a snippet of what we brainstormed...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Id8cvF5oU2o/TqCnexCid-I/AAAAAAAADU8/HMwKM128srs/s1600/Flowers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Id8cvF5oU2o/TqCnexCid-I/AAAAAAAADU8/HMwKM128srs/s1600/Flowers2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's probably no surprises...but I'll let you know there are some examples in there that I actually <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">don't</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">like at all</span></i> and have just thrown in there to throw you all off the scent ;) Yeah, I'm crazy like that. Others are <i>exactly</i> what I asked Georgie to replicate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Can you guess which ones are which?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANwfVkZ2C3k/TqCneOltsdI/AAAAAAAADU4/f9FKhdUfhPs/s1600/Flowers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANwfVkZ2C3k/TqCneOltsdI/AAAAAAAADU4/f9FKhdUfhPs/s1600/Flowers1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Basically, I wasn't all bridezilla on poor Georgie - I totally trust her, she <i>gets</i> me and what our vision is for our wedding. We've left a lot of room for movement and I have given Georgie fairly free reign to create what she thinks works. That was a big step for control freak bride!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think I enjoyed the flower selecting and brainstorming ideas as much as <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/10/our-wedding-invitations.html">the stationery</a>...almost.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image boards made by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella from </span></i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ellaatbella"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">my pins</span></span></i></a></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-23679203817503468132011-10-19T15:56:00.000+11:002011-10-19T15:56:29.437+11:00our beautiful tree<div style="text-align: justify;">I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the big old horse chestnut tree in our backyard <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">makes</span></i> our house. Absolutely. When we first moved in 12 months ago we had no idea what it was - some sort of oak? A liquid amber? The family who used to farm Brindabella came to the rescue by informing us it was a horse chestnut tree. I'd never even heard of them, on my grandparents farm Ballina Park there are two enormous 80+ year old plain old chestnut trees, but horse chestnuts were...well a different chestnut altogether. My sister recently told me that in London the parks are full of these trees, but the Brits think that these are the real deal chestnuts and the 'regular' chestnut trees are quite the novelty? I don't know...all I know is that they are both beautiful trees. Big, beautiful, strong, shady in summer, crunchy in autumn - just the way I like my trees.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bb15wE88afM/Tp5WfkaBKgI/AAAAAAAADUQ/3-Xa_6qiNM8/s1600/Tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bb15wE88afM/Tp5WfkaBKgI/AAAAAAAADUQ/3-Xa_6qiNM8/s1600/Tree+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This beauty is estimated to be about 60-70 years old, the elderly gentleman who built the ramshackle farmhouse in 1938 told us he remembers planting it <i>'O</i><i>h sometime in the 40's, love!' </i>It's towering limbs are bare all through the cold Thorpdale winters and spring into blossom come September. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDqssdnXZj4/Tp5Xl9dCjBI/AAAAAAAADUg/H21ru8Ffy-w/s1600/Tree+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDqssdnXZj4/Tp5Xl9dCjBI/AAAAAAAADUg/H21ru8Ffy-w/s1600/Tree+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday I got a phone call from <a href="http://sunnybuma.blogspot.com/">lovely Lou</a> - she lives an hour further away from Melbourne than me and was on her journey home from the big smoke, would I mind popping on the kettle for a quick cuppa and battery re-charge? Of course not! We had tea out by our beautiful tree, chatted about all things weddings and her own beauties - her girls Sunny and Scout - explored my garden and became professional egg collectors. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lou arrived bearing a sweet birthday surprise - these lovely roses. I am <i>such</i> a roses girl, and promptly put them in a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">vase</span> jug to admire and ooh and ahh over (and have been doing ever since)...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNGOF24PLog/Tp5XaCaDOzI/AAAAAAAADUY/AEqTvG7WcT4/s1600/Tree+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNGOF24PLog/Tp5XaCaDOzI/AAAAAAAADUY/AEqTvG7WcT4/s1600/Tree+4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">But back to the tree...next to the tree stands our 'wishing well'. When we moved here it was covered in goodness knows what (moss, mildew, creepy vines and dead plants in it). We debated whether to push it over entirely but decided to keep it. We then discovered (from the lovely elderly couple who's home this used to be, a wealth of knowledge!) that the 'well' was in fact built to be a kiln. The former lady of the house at Brindabella was a keen ceramicist and would fire her pottery in the 'well' - there is even a vent on the side which made oh so much more sense when we found out it was a kiln! We considered making a water feature out of the well/kiln but ended up filling it with soil and planting it out with petunias earlier in the year, and now strawberries from <a href="http://lifewithsoul.blogspot.com/">my generous friend Amy</a>. Alas I think the well/kiln is somewhat lacking in the drainage department and the strawberries are not thriving. We'll see...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za-pxvIkJnQ/Tp5X835xTDI/AAAAAAAADUo/YN8I1zOU_LQ/s1600/Tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za-pxvIkJnQ/Tp5X835xTDI/AAAAAAAADUo/YN8I1zOU_LQ/s1600/Tree+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The beautiful tree has shades us for spring and summer barbeques under it's branches and produces lovely crunchy leaves through Autumn. I gaze at it from the kitchen sink, play with Tessa beneath it and look upon it as somewhat of a guardian of the ramshackle farmhouse. I especially love the initials carved into it's big knotted trunk - I wonder the stories this tree would tell if it could talk?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lv6ceo2sFjQ/Tp5YSsQ_CzI/AAAAAAAADUw/7mtMQEPT-0g/s1600/Tree+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lv6ceo2sFjQ/Tp5YSsQ_CzI/AAAAAAAADUw/7mtMQEPT-0g/s1600/Tree+5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Love you long time our beauty, we will miss you terribly also. So many things to miss, but so many things to look forward to.</div><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-18338415188763782822011-10-18T21:13:00.000+11:002011-10-18T21:13:57.408+11:00power up png<div style="text-align: justify;">You might remember that last year Mr M and I travelled to Papua New Guinea to visit friends who had just moved there with their two girls (and now new addition third girl). </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We got to explore PNG a bit and live in the community with the lovely locals of Gusap, in between Lae and Madang. We loved every minute (and <i>really</i> want to go back asap!) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently though it was brought to my attention that the local hospital at Gusap no longer has power. <i>What?</i> I hear you say. A hospital with no power? I <i>know</i>. The Gusap Health Centre services roughly about 20,000 people in the Ramu Valley, most have moved to the area to gain employment in agriculture (sugar, palm and beef). The hospital this year couldn't afford to pay their power bill...and so subsequently their electricity was cut off. As you can imagine a hospital without electricity is quite the problem. <b>And this was in February. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since then they have been 'making do' - moving beds into rooms with more light. There is a delivery room for women to have their babies but it has no windows, so now this is where the babies are being born...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDEUyf2zTJI/Tp1QR4QS-HI/AAAAAAAADUI/T7gXvNUZAg0/s1600/Gusap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDEUyf2zTJI/Tp1QR4QS-HI/AAAAAAAADUI/T7gXvNUZAg0/s1600/Gusap.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If a baby comes at night, they simply deliver it my the light of their mobile phones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My friend, Ange, who lives at Gusap discovered the hospital's crisis and set about finding out what she could do. The power company agreed that if $5000 were raised they would turn the power back on. So this is our goal. I swiftly offered to set up a facebook page with information, how to donate and we are in the midst of trying to organise a fundraising auction night to be held on Sunday 30th October. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Head to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Power-Up-PNG-Hospital/282953175059633">Power Up PNG Hospital facebook page</a> for more information - and if you would like to donate any goods it would be greatly appreciated, simply email me at ellaatbella@gmail.com. Little Miss Emma has got some things up on the auction, we will be updating the album as we receive donations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stay tuned, I will keep you all posted on our fundraising efforts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-79514787078327748092011-10-17T10:36:00.000+11:002011-10-17T10:36:35.242+11:00ten things<div style="text-align: justify;">The lovely Hannah over at Dali Cottage has thrown my name in the ring to find out ten things people might not know about me, so despite <i>really</i> racking my brains for things, here goes... (please forgive me if they are oh so boring, I'm not feeling very creative!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Despite my best efforts at appearing to be the perfect almost-wife - it is Mr M who does the majority of our housework...he stacks the dishwasher to perfection, he does <i>all</i> our washing, he tidies up the kitchen after dinner, he is constantly picking up after me like a three year old, he folds all our clothes, he mops and sorts and scrubs and sweeps. He is the neat freak, I am the cook. It works. He does not, however, do dishes! Anything not in the dishwasher I am on my own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. I have <i>really</i> long fingers. And toes. I think they are normal length, Mr M and other friends find them either intriguing or freakish. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Despite actually going to live in our camper for an indefinite amount of time next year, I actually only went on my first camping trip 6 years ago. Mr M took me to Dargo (in the Victorian high country) just with a swag on the back of the ute - no chairs, no cooking utensils, nothing. I think we ate a lot of bad cheap sausages and beer. I was 18 and hated it. Then I realised well if this is going to be a regular thing we better do it properly...and since then have slowly been adding to my 'camping repertoire', resulting in the purchase of our camper and lots of mod-cons to take on the road. Not too much though - keep it simple! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. I hate driving. Well long distances anyway. I don't think I have <i>ever </i>driven in a car with Mr M longer than ten minutes - he <i>always</i> drives, regardless of tiredness. This might be his control freak coming out or my laziness. This might have to change on our travels next year...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Once upon a time I wanted to be in the airforce. I know. What the hell was I thinking? Watched Top Gun one too many times me thinks...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. I think I have about 48 first cousins on my mum's side...maybe more, maybe I haven't even met some? Mum is one of 11 children. Irish. Catholic. No TV. Say no more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. I'm already being asked when we are having babies and it's making my palms sweaty. Can we just get married first people?! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. There is a farm for sale in Thorpdale that I want to buy...when I win tattslotto. Seven or eight mil anyone? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. I've lived in eight houses throughout my life. Two growing up (one for only a few months when I was a baby, the other for my entire childhood/adolescence), three over three years at uni in Melbourne (including a dark flat in Richmond, a hundred year old terrace in North Melbourne with a serious rat problem, washing our clothes in the bath and the lounge room wall partially fell on us one night, and a great flat in Kew too close to KFC), then the dreaded bull unit house in Yea (no shower, frostbite on my toes, dirt floor bedroom, fun) then the beautiful cottage at Ythanbrae and now the ramshackle farmhouse at Brindabella. Where to next?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. After I had a bad fall off my horse at Ythanbrae (bolted down a cliff, I came off, got dragged, hooves in helmet, terrible concussion and headaches, swelling on brain, multiple cat scans later, stitches, dead tooth and a root canal) I have not been back on a horse. I know - I KNOW! Terrible. Dad always told me to get back on that bloody horse! Easier said than done. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now wasn't that entertaining? Probably not! You decide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-89013162765758658422011-10-14T09:32:00.000+11:002011-10-14T09:32:09.403+11:00a quarter<div style="text-align: justify;">A quarter of a century old I turn today. Just a regular day at Brindabella, maybe some wedding invites to finish, some photos to edit, some muffins to bake, some little people clothes to sew, some dogs to walk...that sort of thing. <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/01/nannas-hydrangeas.html">My nan</a> is coming over for afternoon tea (I'm going to bust out the good china!) <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2009/07/they-all-come-home-to-roost.html">M</a><a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2009/07/they-all-come-home-to-roost.html">y sister</a> is coming for a roast (we're going to bust out the beers!) </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">When I was a little girl I had 'a plan' - I would marry at 22, have a baby at 24, I would be an author and then a 'homemaker'. I thought this was terribly sensible...and conservative - 24 was ancient, after all, to be having a baby. If you were 18 you were a grown up. Yes yes, I was <i>quite</i> the radical.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It hasn't panned out exactly that way, but perhaps not far off...although I am not marrying that little boy up the road who used to throw rocks at me (he got married this year too in case you were wondering - ha!) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is my sister and I playing dress-ups circa 1993 - me as a bride. Naturally.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-Om12bdYU/TpYRT3STi4I/AAAAAAAADSQ/1OoRz8LZI_c/s1600/Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-Om12bdYU/TpYRT3STi4I/AAAAAAAADSQ/1OoRz8LZI_c/s1600/Birthday.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes. I was <i>that</i> little girl.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Image probably taken by my mum :)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-73406305636014041192011-10-13T12:15:00.002+11:002011-10-13T13:06:34.252+11:00our wedding invitations<div style="text-align: justify;">I am a self-confessed <i>super</i> stationery and graphic design geek. I love nothing more than designing beautiful notes, prints, cards and what not. Hours of entertainment can be had by me in photoshop and some creative juices flowing. Some brides-to-be are most excited about the dress, some about the flowers. Me? For me it was the stationery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One night about a year ago, just after <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2010/09/little-mrs-emma.html">becoming engaged</a>, I had a severe case of insomnia. I was tossing and turning in bed in the cottage staring out the glass doors across the dam (oh how I miss you <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/cottage.html">sweet little cottage</a>). Ideas of vintage illustrations, cursive fonts and different paper weights swirled in my mind. I got up, padded softly through the cottage to my computer, careful not to wake a restful Mr M and a snoozing Tessa in her little kennel on the back porch. I switched on my mac and got designing what would become our wedding stationery, I sat there for hours just by the light of my screen until dawn broke.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So without further adieu, I give you our invitation suite...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJgSwxUdqvg/TpY47luDWpI/AAAAAAAADSY/I3xa65dbamg/s1600/Invites1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJgSwxUdqvg/TpY47luDWpI/AAAAAAAADSY/I3xa65dbamg/s640/Invites1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0596PFAYOp8/TpY4-PQ7JsI/AAAAAAAADSg/Z03Vg2lc554/s1600/Invites2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0596PFAYOp8/TpY4-PQ7JsI/AAAAAAAADSg/Z03Vg2lc554/s640/Invites2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you will know, our wedding is a celebration of all things rural, natural, agriculture, nature, livestock, country charm and rustic elegance = <i>us</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFQysNFxBQI/TpY5By89RoI/AAAAAAAADSw/iUSueWeOiUE/s1600/Invites4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="517" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFQysNFxBQI/TpY5By89RoI/AAAAAAAADSw/iUSueWeOiUE/s640/Invites4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfKZW0_Pbcs/TpY5ADYWwfI/AAAAAAAADSo/cv-iy2_F6lU/s1600/Invites3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfKZW0_Pbcs/TpY5ADYWwfI/AAAAAAAADSo/cv-iy2_F6lU/s640/Invites3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We knew we would have to be including a few cards in with our invites - things like a map, a reply card for our guests to easily RSVP, some information about a brunch we wanted to hold the following morning and accommodation details, as well as a gift registry card. A pocketfold seemed the logical choice, but after searching high and low I could not find for the life of me a kraft card A5 version (although I did find very similar but they were more of just a beige/tan paper, not my much coveted recycled kraft card!) After ruling out using an ivory one <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/08/get-your-craft-on-6-diy-invitation.html">I took it upon myself to make them</a>. Why yes I am quite bananas - I made all 75 of them (plus extra ones and <i>more</i> extras for ones that I stuffed up). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWG6caeRMxA/TpY5Qu4u5NI/AAAAAAAADTQ/F4ZgYtzYwdU/s1600/Invites8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWG6caeRMxA/TpY5Qu4u5NI/AAAAAAAADTQ/F4ZgYtzYwdU/s640/Invites8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DI5uO5zrUEY/TpY5PAlhzZI/AAAAAAAADTI/BZwUtoVARSw/s1600/Invites7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DI5uO5zrUEY/TpY5PAlhzZI/AAAAAAAADTI/BZwUtoVARSw/s640/Invites7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wanted a thick, luxurious, yummy ivory card for the invites and inserts. I headed straight to my favourite paper shop in Melbourne, Paper Point on Church Street in Richmond. Once upon a time I frequented here when I lived in the city and designed lots of pretty little things for pretty little people. Armed with a few samples Mr M and I trialled lots of different settings on my trusty home printer until we were confident that we had the right weight and stipple of card. These photos, on my monitor at least, read a bit more white than they are in real life, they're really creeeammmy!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENCzSRu26Hc/TpY5D2sZCqI/AAAAAAAADS4/xwMJsioVzmY/s1600/Invites5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENCzSRu26Hc/TpY5D2sZCqI/AAAAAAAADS4/xwMJsioVzmY/s640/Invites5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikz8uwJ_c_I/TpY5NU1U5WI/AAAAAAAADTA/D6RtYVHS1Qc/s1600/Invites6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikz8uwJ_c_I/TpY5NU1U5WI/AAAAAAAADTA/D6RtYVHS1Qc/s640/Invites6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The illustrations were purchased from various sources, mostly istock.com though and mostly were black and white - I tweaked them all in photoshop to give a sepia feel to match our coffee coloured lettering. I made the little chapel and marquee illustrations used on our map myself. After a giant search for the <i>perfect</i> tree we found the old knotted oak with feathery leaves and fell in love. Our map sports a Hereford, our information card some stalks of wheat, our gift registry card a cute pig and our reply card a beautiful Border Collie just like <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/2011/10/spring-with-lily.html">my Lily</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXvrZvNZT6U/TpY5SPjFPpI/AAAAAAAADTY/2ZJGGP5LM54/s1600/Invites9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXvrZvNZT6U/TpY5SPjFPpI/AAAAAAAADTY/2ZJGGP5LM54/s640/Invites9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40MUHGcna4E/TpY5TRbo8EI/AAAAAAAADTg/HvL0VD4O6Lc/s1600/Invites10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40MUHGcna4E/TpY5TRbo8EI/AAAAAAAADTg/HvL0VD4O6Lc/s640/Invites10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIQKUWzyJ8k/TpY5X9EznmI/AAAAAAAADTo/kQDM8bgCQis/s1600/Invites11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIQKUWzyJ8k/TpY5X9EznmI/AAAAAAAADTo/kQDM8bgCQis/s640/Invites11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daA85yRtXzA/TpY5ZbEukrI/AAAAAAAADTw/L64qcCZC7bI/s1600/Invites12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daA85yRtXzA/TpY5ZbEukrI/AAAAAAAADTw/L64qcCZC7bI/s640/Invites12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fonts chosen were Centaur for the majority of text, in all capitals and widely spaced, with Kunstler Script for our names, our guests names and 'Brindabella'. The perfect mix of classic and easy to read with elegant calligraphy. I thought if you don't use a calligraphy font for a wedding, when will you? :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4rny4Ie8QE/TpY5bRbCSTI/AAAAAAAADT4/0c1YePnLPlI/s1600/Invites13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4rny4Ie8QE/TpY5bRbCSTI/AAAAAAAADT4/0c1YePnLPlI/s640/Invites13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVAlvji6cXM/TpY5cu0mowI/AAAAAAAADUA/eZGeuaSOQRc/s1600/Invites14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVAlvji6cXM/TpY5cu0mowI/AAAAAAAADUA/eZGeuaSOQRc/s640/Invites14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our pocketfolds are wrapped in stretch lace bands to close them, which slide off. I then tied all with twine in a little bow. I wanted to create a layered ivory on kraft on ivory on kraft look. The pretty lace a rough twine were the perfect mix of rustic and elegant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* For privacy reasons I have blurred a lot of the information on the actual invitations and inserts, I hope you get the sense and feel for them though.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">A3 kraft card used for pocketfolds: <a href="http://www.papermarc.com.au/">Papermarc</a>, Burwood Road in Hawthorn</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Invites and inserts thick card: Rives Design in cream, <a href="http://shop.paperpoint.com.au/">Paper Point</a>, Church Street in Richmond</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Stretch ivory lace: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryNotMartha">Mary not Martha on Etsy</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Twine: local bargain store</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-17891581984728390822011-10-11T13:21:00.001+11:002011-10-11T21:02:37.295+11:00a pretty little violet<div style="text-align: justify;">This morning my family welcomed another little beauty into our world - baby Violet <s>Creina</s> Gabby <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(late name change!)</span> joined us with a mop of dark hair and alert clear eyes. A third daughter for my sister and her husband.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emrtoT4RY5g/TpOnYfho6uI/AAAAAAAADR4/gJXbe6-aVR8/s1600/BabyViolet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emrtoT4RY5g/TpOnYfho6uI/AAAAAAAADR4/gJXbe6-aVR8/s1600/BabyViolet2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENNXDMtvvN4/TpOnZL3QKII/AAAAAAAADSA/T1JaAvRlOR4/s1600/BabyViolet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENNXDMtvvN4/TpOnZL3QKII/AAAAAAAADSA/T1JaAvRlOR4/s1600/BabyViolet3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iMyYdpOjs4/TpOnaJ0OyLI/AAAAAAAADSI/ByngOrUI2-A/s1600/BabyViolet4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iMyYdpOjs4/TpOnaJ0OyLI/AAAAAAAADSI/ByngOrUI2-A/s1600/BabyViolet4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Last week, before my mum headed up to Brisbane to look after big sisters Scarlett and Ava, I made this unisex blanket for the impending bambino. Red minky was called for, along with a grey and white polka dot print. I wrapped it up pretty and sent it off with one excited Grandma-to-be-(again).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjWldUAEzEo/TpOnXbiHW3I/AAAAAAAADRw/SYJBzywsPUY/s1600/BabyViolet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjWldUAEzEo/TpOnXbiHW3I/AAAAAAAADRw/SYJBzywsPUY/s1600/BabyViolet1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Welcome sweet Violet - we just know that you're going to be totally rad, just like your Mum and Dad xxx</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Love you, Aunty Em + Uncle Matt </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227597022049141580.post-24319074640375885632011-10-10T17:02:00.001+11:002011-10-10T17:06:51.025+11:00point + shoot: two months<div style="text-align: justify;">When I decided to DIY lots of little (and big!) details for <a href="http://www.ellaatbella.com/p/our-wedding.html">our wedding</a> I don't think I realised I was literally giving up <i>all</i> of my weekends, which are now devoted to spray painting chairs...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4fZvaqvKUE/TpKIojbNybI/AAAAAAAADRc/HbfcMAvknyU/s1600/WeddingPrep4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4fZvaqvKUE/TpKIojbNybI/AAAAAAAADRc/HbfcMAvknyU/s1600/WeddingPrep4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...folding, folding, scoring, slicing, folding, folding, gluing...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y67Foe4YUo0/TpKIsD3-RtI/AAAAAAAADRk/ID3DWQjPrC0/s1600/WeddingPrep6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y67Foe4YUo0/TpKIsD3-RtI/AAAAAAAADRk/ID3DWQjPrC0/s1600/WeddingPrep6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...wrangling rusty ringlock into light fixtures, inspired my <a href="http://www.katrinaleechambers.com/">Katrina</a> and Amie's...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-goktXzqgwdI/TpKImB6NKmI/AAAAAAAADRY/bepLHIvQZ8U/s1600/WeddingPrep3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-goktXzqgwdI/TpKImB6NKmI/AAAAAAAADRY/bepLHIvQZ8U/s1600/WeddingPrep3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...hand stitching little ruffles...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uj10veGgD7c/TpKIju0i8sI/AAAAAAAADRQ/xON-P5_SpUE/s1600/WeddingPrep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uj10veGgD7c/TpKIju0i8sI/AAAAAAAADRQ/xON-P5_SpUE/s1600/WeddingPrep1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...designing and printing...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvQkm9O9DvA/TpKIkiPhyQI/AAAAAAAADRU/60JEThnY2rA/s1600/WeddingPrep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvQkm9O9DvA/TpKIkiPhyQI/AAAAAAAADRU/60JEThnY2rA/s1600/WeddingPrep2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...so. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">many</span>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">jars!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5pwahyWB7Sk/TpKIp92L4mI/AAAAAAAADRg/VlX825YILeg/s1600/WeddingPrep5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5pwahyWB7Sk/TpKIp92L4mI/AAAAAAAADRg/VlX825YILeg/s1600/WeddingPrep5.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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...as well as co-ordinating little outfits and becoming a professional hot-glue-gun-wielder.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZlTljnruSA/TpKItAUyyVI/AAAAAAAADRo/3QtUJaG2dyI/s1600/WeddingPrep7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZlTljnruSA/TpKItAUyyVI/AAAAAAAADRo/3QtUJaG2dyI/s1600/WeddingPrep7" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Not to mention The Scrapbook #1 and #2 which are in constant evolution and varying states of disarray...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BWBkXyiY5zU/TpKJuUiEqrI/AAAAAAAADRs/rpqeIj1-emg/s1600/WeddingPrep8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BWBkXyiY5zU/TpKJuUiEqrI/AAAAAAAADRs/rpqeIj1-emg/s1600/WeddingPrep8.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Two months to go today...<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Head over to Lou's place to </span><a href="http://sunnybuma.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">play point + shoot</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> just like me.</span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504601706240499234noreply@blogger.com5