I just thought I'd share a couple of things I picked up on a little opshop journey my friend Sara and I took this week to look for bits and bobs for her move. She's moving into a very, very retro little apartment this week and I've been helping to move stuff and hunt down furniture. The place is all browns and oranges and every room is tiled - it is such a fun little place. And best of all, it has a view of the entire city. We can spot my tiny little house not too far off in the distance and have discussed setting up some kind of semaphore or tin-can-phone system. She'll be all moved in by the end of the week and the "nesting" period will begin. I love nesting. I want to move just so I can re-nest. I am going to vicariously nest through Sara.

I saw these odd little big eyed children prints at the Mission shop and almost didn't get pick them up. They're by the painter Ozz Franca and after doing a little hunting, I found that Rachele from the Nearsighted Owl found a print a little while back too. There are a whole lot more big eyed children prints to find - I'm pretty sure I need more. They're kind of delightfully creepy.





I also picked up a Cath Kidson-esque doona cover for our bed (C see appears to have no qualms with things pink or floral) and some retro looking dinner plates (only three sadly).



Had any notable thrifts lately?

+ (via The Nifty Fifties)

+ Katie was indecisive about what colour to paint her walls, so she painted each panel a different colour.
+ I'm coveting these sweater clips by Flapper Doodle. Adorable.
+ I'm really keen on this 14x9 project which aims to connect people via postcards. It's a kind of penpal service - you sign up, pick someone from the list of addresses and send them a postcard, when you receive a postcard, photograph and submit it.
+ One Sheepish Girl just baked an Earl Grey Chocolate Cake (I keep seeing Earl Grey everything lately - need to try).
+ I've been listening to this cute beachy mix by the Modcloth Stylists on 8tracks.
+ I tried this sock bun tutorial on Hello Giggles and it ruled (currently wearing one now).

(I wish my camera didn't hate taking photos at night)

This week I chose the idea: describe your favourite room in detail.

My lounge room:
+ worn out green couch with thrifted crochet blanket and mismatched cushions (often covered with a blanket of cat fur).
+ colourful, miscellaneous thrifted artworks on the mantle piece and walls.
+ c's comfy old man armchair.
+ worn out floorboards.
+ long wooden coffee table with floral tablecloth (where we eat our dinner).
+ door to the hallway covered in C's soccer scarf collection.
+ big glass double doors leading out to the deck and backyard.
+ thrifted record player sitting on a chair with Carole King's Tapestry record.
+ clock on the mantlepiece 10 minutes fast.
+ air con.
+ dim lighting.
+ little tv, wii, dvd/video player, Foxtel, old sound system.
+ vases of dried flowers.
+ giant map of the world leaning against wall.
+ doorways to kitchen, office and hallway - the middle of the house.
+ colourful, warm and welcoming.

In the past I've made these kind of lists and they've been pretty unrealistic and unachievable. I don't know why I do that to myself - it's like self sabotage. I think the things on these lists should be challenging, but not impossible. So, this is my realistic list for the following year. I feel excited about the things on this list.

1. wear red lipstick every day.
2. make a photo album - well, i started one!
3. keep an art journal and fill it with good things - pregnancy journal.
4. record a song (and share it online).
5. go back home to Newcastle, see old friends, spend quality time with family, get hitched! enjoy every moment.  had a lovely, fun time & got to go back to Newcastle twice.
6. go roller skating.
7. put plans in place to leave the country (#1 get my passport, #2 pick a destination, #3 start saving).
8. make another zine and/or get some postcards printed.
9. finish my second full year of university (with at least a credit average).
10. learn to use Illustrator/better my design skills.
11. buy some really good records to play on my record player -

• Young Americans - David Bowie
• The Cars - The Cars.
• The Beach Boys - Greatest Hits

12. bake a pie from scratch and/or attempt a multi-layered cake.
13. take at least 3 rolls of film.
14. play music in front of people again.
15. cook a new recipe every month. - no evidence of this, but i'm sure i managed it.
16. try out the gym i ride past every day/have a regular fitness regimen. - gym joined!
17. plant some vegetables in our garden (and hopefully eat some of them too)
18. borrow a car for a day and take C for a drive to the Great Western Tiers or to the beach
19. learn a new craft. - woodcut prints!
20. open a new Etsy shop (and make fun things for it).
21. travel to Melbourne.
22. see a band I like play live (nothing ever comes to Tasmania). - they might be giants




I was inspired by the lists of Elizabeth, Kaelah, Elsie & Andrea.
Do you have a birthday list too? Care to share?