YOUR Project: Inspiration Central

First of all, I can't thank you all enough for your gorgeous comments on my post about Noah's wee woes. I nearly fell off the sofa when I saw them all there waiting for me! You all really have put my mind at ease with your own stories and made me realise that my child perhaps isn't such a goose after all, but actually quite normal. Those mums over at that other page I was reading will probably all wake up with longer noses for all their boasting and (I'm sure) exaggerations... Stickers was a good one - we did that with Hugh and it was the thing that made the difference. Noah isn't motivated by stickers, though I know he is by chocolate. While I didn't want to reward him with sugar it might be the key... I'll definitely keep you posted.

But tonight, I wanted to talk about being inspired. At the moment I am feeling so totally inspired by everything I see - it's crazy and it's wonderful. It puts me in a better mood and I've been noticing how much more patient and "silly" I am with the boys because of it. It's actually quite fantastic. I'm absolutely bursting with ideas of things to make and do and if I could just learn to be a little more organised (which I'm working on), I'll find more time in my days to make them all a reality and then share them with you!

I spent last weekend up to my armpits in concrete making something very special for an upcoming Weekend Decorator and tonight I've been playing with a rope project. Can't wait to show you those!

But for now, I just want you to take a deep breath next time you leave the house. No matter how late you are (assuming you're anything like me you WILL be late for something), just breathe for a moment and take in your surroundings. Be it the weather, the sky, the texture of the tree trunk or even the light-play on your car. If you do this just one time each day, I guarantee within a week you'll feel brighter and more inspired to make and do. It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of living in a city and we sometimes forget to "stop and smell the roses". Everything these days moves so fast we just need to make a conscious effort to slow down a little - after all, how are our wee ones going to keep up if we're in such a hurry al the time? You know what I mean.... Try it. I'd love to hear what you discover.

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6 x dreamy eclectic kids rooms

Nobody with any real design sense ever said that everything must match. It's often the rooms that don't conform strictly to any one look that have the most personality and work the best!

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More ideas than there are raindrops...

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I'm assuming by now that most of you have discovered Pinterest. It is after all, the best thing to happen since the slicing of bread... Well, I have a secret to tell you - I'm kind of addicted. I find myself on there far too often and it's all because it's just so damn fantastic. Click the link if you want to check out some of the things I've "pinned" or to Follow me!

Embroidery goes all mod-cultish...

I think we've all been touched by embroidery at some stage in our lives - be it the initialed hankie at primary school or the obsessed grandmother who had a hoop on the go at all times... Well, this is one old school handicraft that's come a long way baby!

From typographic birds... 

and mini moustached men...

Penguin Books even got on board with a limited edition set of classics with embroidered covers...

There are personalised pieces on Etsy to be had... 

Even paper is getting the treatment... 

As with any craft, there's always an over-acheiver raising the barr... 

But you don't have to be Picasso to get on the bandwagon... 

Just use your imagination!

Get inspired...

And apply it anything you please! This one is a cake would you believe? That's got to test your patience!

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Travel inspiration for the boys rooms

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2 x too beautiful

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 I love this mix of vintage and modern. The pastel colours all really pop off that white.

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That bank of drawers is TOO. DIE. FOR.!!! I love all the other bits too.... Just too too pretty!

6 super-inspirational work areas for kids

1. A clear space makes way for a clear mind. And this room is clear. Maybe a little too clinical for my taste. Though I do love all that natural light, the ergo chairs and Eames coat hooks on the wall for pops of colour.

Play & Display. This combined study/play space is both functional and fun. I really like the way this family has chosen different fonts for each of the boys names - it gives their zone a subtle individual detail, and the built in storage system allows for plenty of display, and clever ideas like the extendable pull out desk/drawer keeps laptops tidily tucked away and safe from harm when the room is serving it's other purpose - for play. Great chair choice too!

Teaching good habits. It's never too early to get little ones into the routine of having a place to work. For pre-schoolers that work might just be colouring in or learning to write their name, but it's a good idea to encourage them to do these activities in a designated spot. After all, we teach our kids from an early age that eating happens at a table don't we? So the same should apply to good study/work habits. By creating a place for the kiddos to create now, you're setting them up to settle more easily into good study habits later - it'll be second nature to them....

Collaborative creativity. An open environment such as this is great for older kids close in age. The space created here is perfect for working together and I'm loving the idea of extending into the alcove behind the floor to ceiling storage. 

Creature comforts. This space is a great design for older kids and it puts me in mind of a contemporary library space. The natural, earthy tones make for a warm, inviting place to relax and study, and the oversized cushions on the floor create an area for friends to get together for group work or simply socialise.

Double duo. I love this idea - a double creative space for each child. Not only does it allow kidlets to spread themselves out when they're working, it also creates enough space for friends to join in the fun too! Be careful executing high storage in kids spaces though - high drawers and shelves above chairs and tables might be seen as an invitation for climbing...

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Shark bites

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What a fabulous party idea! Do you think the kiddos would be too scared to put their hand in for a piece?

Peek inside: Melbourne home

Here's a nice one to look at over a lazy weekend...

 

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Creative crush: Photographer Anna Kern

Check out these stunning images I found today. 

They are the work of swedish photographer Anna Kern...

Those lambswool rugs on the chairs look positively delicious. 

The dinner party guests would never want to leave!

And isn't there just something special about the natural light in europe? ahhhh...

Just divine. And there's loads more on her site. Skip on over and have a look...

Covet her closet

Have you ever wondered what the wardrobes of film directors, fashion stylists, jewellery designers and screenwriters contained? We often get to see celebs styled up at red carpet events, but I'm talking about a real grass roots level, honest to goodness prowl through the cupboards and drawers.... Take a look.

Kathryn Bently, Jewellry Designer

Melissa Coker, Screenwriter.

Stella Berkofsky, Model, Photographer

And that's just for starters. Check it out at Closet Visit

There's loads of wardrobes to peek at and loads more style ideas to be pilfered. 

Anything is possible

Proof people! Proof! Anything is possible! This is not a still from the movie Up, but an actual house weighing 2000lbs launched into the air by National Geographic. It took 300 helium balloons (must have been some big kahuna balloons), and it lifted to a grand height of 10 000 feet! Colour me impressed!

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