Back again...with love

Hello again, I'm back but with good reason why I haven't been blogging.
That naughty weekend away to Waiwera has given us a gift. I'm now coming up to 6 months pregnant. Wow Wee!!! What a shock!
I had been quite ill with morning sickness, had the flu, visitor's staying, home stay changes, great niece looking after, organising new carpet and flooring, knowing more visitor's are to come and working on a new garden courtyard landscape all the while upping my days of work but doing shorter stints.
I have been checking into my favourite bloggers and keeping up with news but to sit and find interesting things about myself - well I'm just the vessel now, tired and un-inspired. Sorry.
Anyway I'm interested again and will endeavour to capture my blogger instincts (even if for myself). Until we meet again...

Thrifty

This afternoon I went down to my local thrift shop (Hospice) and you'll never guess. Another Swan that cost only $3-. Amazing and looks absolutely fab next to my trinkets.I finally get to keep one without feeling guilty. I also picked up this 1970's metal deer plaque for $4- which has found a home at the front door entrance. How cool was that, so satisfied. Until we meet again.

Swan

Recently I'm having an obsession with the 'Crown Lynn Swan'. A very important piece of kiwiana from the 1950's. My grandmother has a huge collection of Swan ornaments and I know hidden somewhere will be a Crown Lynn. Apart from this I happened to be the local Hospice shop last month and found a small one for only $2-. I felt so bad after my purchase that I had to give it away, they are reaching $50- to $100- on Trade Me. The first image from 'Kiwiana' is for sale. Below are from 'Your Home and Garden' shows how a collection of swans and Crown Lynn Vases can really off-set a beautiful arrangement and focal point for any area of the home. Also showing another home image where old can become new again. The last image is from artauction. A Rudolf Buelee screen print showing the elegance of the swan from a 1950's retro form yet through strong contradiction of colours has represented a modern perspective. Hope you enjoy, until we meet again...

Johnnies Joint!

Neighbours that are friends make your living environment, outside the house, something of a pleasurable life. I look forward to catching them, chatting, venting and of course 'gossip'. Besides that-it's fun, sociable and safe. Being lucky enough to have 'Johhny' as neighbour however is a rare find. Truly the most giving 'man-friend' that I know and allows us to enjoy his railway cottage in Rangataua, Ohakune, Mt Ruapehu. Built in the early 1900's, a rustic getaway with pure heritage luxury (the cottage was also used in the New Zealand iconic movie - 'Smash Palace' released in 1981).





Johhny brought the joint in 2004 in a crumbling state and with his own hands (and devoted friends helping) restored the building to it's current glory. Most of the furniture is from his sisters business - 'In House Furniture', however historic and vintage pieces are used to give atmosphere and experience. Above the fireplace is found objects from the grounds while digging. A lead toy race car, a vintage rosebud dresser handle, tins, horse shoes and rusted iron railway nails to name a few.

My Place!

You can't say my place isn't colourful.
Surrounded by a sea of blue with off sitting primary colours is the abode that I reside in. Rob Roy yellow, deep chillie reds and victor blues. Hints of fresh green give it life.
I love my home, it's always warm and never unhappy.
I've still got the accents of the ball droplets from Christmas hanging in the lounge. An added interest that visitors always comment on.
One of my pieces of artwork, 'The Red Rose' (shown above) took me around 5 days to complete. Acrylic on canvas but with many layers to almost take on the texture of oil painting with a glass, transparent element. However I don't take art seriously, it's an outlet for me and I only do it when I have the urge. I go through patches of not doing any and then all of a sudden I see a space, get inspired and go hard out. No pre-drawing or research, just 'do it'.
I'll post more artwork as I get the hang of this blog so until we meet again....

Maximize This!!!

The above window displays, which are my own works, where done in 2005.
They emphasis the new padded bra from 'Triumph International' the 'Maximizer' and the band new, first time ever, released in NZ before any other country - 'Trelise Cooper Lingerie'. Please keep in mind that these creations are purely from me, no creative help or input is given by the manufactures or suppliers.
Trelise Cooper is a very well known New Zealand Designer who has very successfully tapped into the international market. Through this she has expanded into different areas of the fashion world markets including children's designer wear and of course - as you can see - lingerie.
I felt that we all want to maximize what we have, what we want, maximize the opportunity to get what want and what we know. Knowledge therefore manipulation is the key.
That's why I set the scene of not only promotional prompts but also with text books, encylopedias and a Liberian/School scholar to show off this range for Triumph. Trelise Cooper is very rich, warm, expensive and something I don't 'need' but want for the boudoir. At-least I can pretend.
Sparkle and shine - enjoy, until we meet again...