cushions.

As you already know, I love my home and making it beautiful. I love stuff and having it in my home. Cushions are one of those things.

I also love to make stuff. My budget for homewares isn't huge but my love for reusing things and creating homewares is huge. More on this another time but today it's about cushions. I can't spend significant amounts of money on cushion covers, so I make them. I love looking for inspiration then creating my take.

This is a cushion which I made two of for our couches. We have two couches: light grey and mustard. These go perfectly. The fabric on the front I bought second hand (and is great quality), I backed it with linen and put in an invisible zip. Easy, great quality and affordable!

This is a cushion my mum created for me. She did buy the grey cushion but she gave it personality by crocheting the front. I love it. It's just what I imagined!

Here are a couple of cushions which have inspired me recently to get sewing again:

Kip & Co Obus Cushion Cover

Bonnie and Neil Watercolour Blue

I am in love with both of these brands and the unique designs they create. I love Australian brands, especially when they create such beautiful things. Please check them out – there is so much to love. {I am especially loving Kip & Co's brand new AW14 All Grown Up velvet collection and Bonnie and Neil's wooden wall tiles.}

I chose these two cushions because they have so much personality not only in the fabric choice but in the trimmings: I love the effect the pom poms have on the Kip & Co cushion and the depth that the edging creates on the Bonnie and Neil cushion. I need to find some amazing fabric and trimmings and start making. Stat.

But before then, I need to make some cushions for my sister. For her birthday, I pledged to make her some new cushion covers. She has quite different taste to me (I can imagine her reaction to the two above) but I am looking forward to creating something simple but amazing!

Now I need the energy to go to the shops and choose some fabric.

easter.

Throughout lent (the 40 days plus Sundays before Easter) I read the book of Matthew. 

Lent is traditionally known for fasting but not many people also practice feasting. The idea is that people fast for six days and on Sundays they feast, as they look forward to the celebration of Easter Sunday. This year, I chose not to fast but instead feast on the Word. This looked like reading Matthew, one chapter at a time and journaling about it. (Starting one week late to allow me to do it with my small group and having one 'catch up' day a week meant I finished a few days before Easter). 

Each day I would read the chapter and ask God to reveal to me one verse (or half a verse, or a couple of verses) which I could journal about and apply to my life. Here I'll share some with you (in some cases it might help to read the whole chapter to fully understand). Please note that these are my personal thoughts from my journal. They're for me (and I hope for you) but if you don't agree with how I've interpreted them (or at all), that's ok, but know that God speaks to and loves each of us individually. 

Let me today, Resurrection Sunday, share with you from the last three chapters of Matthew.

Matthew Twenty-Eight: Six & Seventeen

He is not here; he is risen, just as he said... When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 

"Just as he said." Stuff happens just as Jesus says. He speaks, things happen. What he says, as unbelievable as it may sound, will happen. We have good reason to hold on to his promises and to trust what he says. Not one of his promises has ever failed, he is trustworthy and true, he's fighting for us. We need to trust him and listen to him. What he says, goes. He said he will rise on the third day, so he did. He speaks to us in his word and in our life, this is truth. Hold on to truth! We need to trust, have faith, then worship him when we see him (even in the waiting - we may need to adjust our vision). Some will doubt, but we cannot let them get in the way of our worship. Not all will believe, but it's up to us to believe. Let us lead them to Jesus through our worship, not let them lead us away from him. Jesus has given us a job to do and promises to be with us always. So go, trust, believe, worship and make disciples of Jesus. 

Image from http://untci.org/update-untci-member-covenant-code-of-ethics/

Matthew Twenty-Seven: Forty-Three

He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'

I love and hate Matthew 27. Jesus is so compliant. He doesn't argue. He allows them to do what they want and the law to do what it's allowed to - even though they are all lies and unfair. He doesn't argue back, as much as I'm sure (in his humanity) it pained him, because he knows the bigger plan and picture. I feel sick thinking about this pain. But I love that they realise he trusts in God, and if that's true, that God can save him and do what he wants. I cannot imagine they were expecting what happened. I think allowing God to rescue was a mockery of Jesus, not a statement of faith, but it did allow God to fully show himself and reveal his glory - in a more powerful way than ever expected. God did rescue him, and all of humanity at the same time! 

Image from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/miraclesofjesus_1.shtml

Matthew Twenty-Six: Fifteen, Twenty-Four & Fifty-Three

"What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. ... "It would be better for him if he had not been born." ... "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"

Jesus needs us so much less than we think or often dare to admit. We so often think so much relies on us. So much so that we think 30 pieces of silver is better than him. We are so misguided. Jesus is so much more precious than silver or gold. He doesn't need us but offers himself to us as a gift that we can choose to accept and love and take pleasure in. Jesus has authority over everything - he has angels at his disposal - yet he chooses to use us and reveal himself to us. If only we were more in awe and recognised what he was doing, and were more reliant upon him. I want to follow this King because he does things a different way, and I want to follow in his love. 

Image from http://www.overheardinthesacristy.net/?m=201003

There are many more chapters and many more things which Jesus taught me over this time. I will share these over time. Any thoughts? Any requests on chapters? 

yellow.

In my blog post about Jason Grant’s book, A Place Called Home, I set myself some tasks to do. One was: “create colour mood boards of things I have”.

Here is my first one:

Y E L L O W

generosity.

My family are the most generous people I know (other than Jesus). I try to model my generosity from them (because I see my heart and often I don't feel like I'm very generous). In their individual ways and circumstances, they are open-handed with everything they have: my parents welcome anyone into their homes and love them and treat them as family; my sister and her family constantly give possessions away because someone else may benefit from them; my brother and his family give their time, energy, gifts and skills for others benefit (even when they don't feel like they have the time, energy, gifts and skills); my sister and her husband are constantly looking out for the needs of others – what words can they speak to bring life, where can they buy a gift; my husband is so generous with his love – he doesn't differentiate between who is deserving or not, he just loves. This is just a start of their generosity.

I am trying to be generous. I want to be generous. Generosity is powerful. It is life changing.

A few times recently, I have tried to be generous to strangers.

Yesterday, I was in a shop and a man was looking at some jewellery at the counter. He decided on what he was going to buy but realised it wasn't enough for the $15 EFTPOS limit. He said he'd go to the ATM and after a few minutes I decided to give him the money. It wasn't much (because of a great discount it ended up only being $3) but he refused to take it. He didn't want me pitying him. I didn't pity him, I just wanted to bless him. But he couldn't take it. He left to look for an ATM and I put my $3 back in my wallet.

Late last year, I was in a cafe and as I went to pay my bill I asked the man at the counter if I could pay for two ladies sitting at another table. He asked if I knew them, and I said I didn't, and he refused to take my money. He wouldn't let me pay for a stranger. We had a lot of back and forth (it got a little heated) but he wouldn't accept it. I paid my bill and left.

I was in Woolworths, probably about 12 months ago, and an elderly lady was in front of me at the checkout. She was just short on the cash (old people never seem to use cards) to pay for all of her groceries. I saw the situation and handed her $20. It wasn't a big deal to me. She didn't want to, but finally accepted the cash, but wanted to know how to repay me. I told her that I didn't want to be repaid. She left but only a minute or so later, returned with $20 for me which she had borrowed from a friend she just saw. 

Being generous is harder than I thought. I think, in general, we want to be known as generous people and we want to see generosity around us. We give a lot to the poor, help out those in need, but don't want to receive. We don't want to be seen as the one in need. It's easy to give (especially when we have plenty) but hard to receive.

I want to be one who walks around with open hands and an open heart: ready to give and ready to receive. Who is thankful for what is given and gives in return. A gift is useless unless it is received and used.

Today is Good Friday, and as we reflect on what Jesus has done for us, on his painful, self-sacrificial death to give us life, I want to take the gift he has given and live a life based on his generosity. I want to continue being generous and hope that someone receives what I gave and that changes their life because they see Jesus.

I want to keep thinking of new ways to be generous: with my money, my time, my energy, my skills, my passions, my words, my thoughts. Generosity is a heart thing which reveals itself in actions. I am undergoing heart surgery, I can't wait to see the results.

Image sourced from http://delmelinscott.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/open-handed-god.html.

On the site where I found this image, the writer had written this:

Even though God knows that much of this generosity will be abused by some, neglected by others, and demanded by us, he continues to be open-handed.

I want to be like God. I want to be open-handed towards him and in response to him.

wedding.

I am a girl of many passions, dreams and ideas. This year I am taking time off work, commitments, pretty much everything, to look after my health. It's really difficult cause I just love doing stuff. My mind doesn't turn off (hence I started a blog) but I keep thinking about things to do. 

One idea, which I’ve had for a while, is to plan weddings. My old job (technically, the job I am on leave from) was an event manager, so I like doing that, but I love the beauty of weddings and the individuality of each one. 

Here are some beautiful images from Pinterest that I love and would love to implement into someone else's wedding! Unfortunately I'm not planning on getting married again any time soon… I just love Thearle Boy way too much! 

Feel free to check out and follow my Pinterest boards for a tiny bit of wedding inspiration and lots of other great things! 

  

 Unfortunately, at the time of my wedding, my nieces and nephews were too young to participate in the ceremony (much to my and my sister's sadness). I do love cute little people in weddings though. 

how sweet is this little girl in her tulle and crown!?

Wedding dresses are one of the most expensive, deliberated over, and potentially important pieces in a girls wedding day. Here are a couple that I am drooling over post my own wedding. Don't get me wrong, my dress is something I do not regret, but there are so many beautiful options!

lace is beautiful, ornate and sophisticated. I love this open back. 

this dress is simple, elegant and sexy. I love the effortless detail. 

I love the relaxed style, low back and flow, and it's ability to still be breathtaking.

Flowers are my favourite. They make a wedding. There is something truly beautiful about flowers in your hair. Although it's not true for me, I love the quote:

"I would rather have flowers in my hair than diamonds around my neck."

I really just want both! I do love flowers, but who can go past diamonds!?

Both of these below are simple and elegant - I have seen many floral crowns that look like they are more about having flowers in their hair than them helping to reveal the beauty of the bride.

a soft and elegant style

a more rustic and earthy feel but still amazing!

I used to think there was no such thing as too many flowers – especially at a wedding. That was until I went to a wedding which had too many flowers. I felt like their beauty was spoilt - there is an art to restraint! I do love flowers. One of the most (and many) beautiful things from my wedding, were the flowers. They were so amazing! I haven’t seen anything like them so have just posted this simple bouquet.

this baby's breath is simple but elegant and a little playful

The party is hard - who to invite, cocktail or sit down, round or long tables, how to decorate, what gifts to take home, what band do we want? There are lots of questions. I think simplicity is beautiful, fun is a must, and bringing your own personality is key. I currently love these long tables, soft lights, wooden touches, and natural beauty.

it is a bit casual but I love the mood created with the flowers, candles and fairy lights.

this hanging floral arrangement adds so much without crowding the tables.
I love the mood that is created with the dark table cloths, candles and wooden chairs.

a daytime, casual affair is made amazing with curving tables and inset in a garden. Beautiful.

wooden chairs, flowers, perfect lighting and super long tables all get ticks in my book!

Details are so important! It's so easy for some people to leave them to the last minute or not worry about them at all but they make a big impact (as seen above). At the moment, I'm seriously crushing on gold details. I have to admit, I have never been a gold girl and never thought I would be, but it's just so gorgeous! I love this gold!

not only are these hand painted balloons amazing, but look at her skirt!
can you imagine a room filled with those gold-touch balloons - I'm in love!

garlands and bunting are pretty fashionable, but why not!? This scalloped garland would be
amazing as a backdrop for the ceremony, a photo booth or just strung around the reception.
who doesn't feel like partying when they see that!?

There's a sneak peak of some of my current favourite wedding ideas.

I'll post some photos from my own wedding here another time. There are definitely changes I would make if I were to do it again but I did love it so much! I think you will too. P.S. You should see our album – it’s to die for.

the block.

Last night, while watching The Block (my very favourite show), I saw something I loved. Often when I am watching The Block, especially the room reveals (or house reveal, in the case of last night), I see things I like or ideas for our house, but occasionally I see things that I really love!

This was last night:

This bathroom was designed by my Block couple crush, Kyal and Kara, and the funny boys, Brad and Dale (part of a previous couple crush). I love both of their styles. 

As a whole, this bathroom is great, but the thing I love is the towels. They are quite difficult to see in the shot above but I can't find a still of them (this is a screen shot from the video). They are plush, have a Moroccan tile imprint, and tassels!

Here is the photo of them from The Block Shop but the colour is very different. I'm not sure which is more true to the real towel but I think I prefer the darker colour shown above. 

They are Hermon & Hermon Bedouin Societe Towels in Ventian Sky. Unfortunately for me, a single Bath Sheet is $110 and a Hand Towel is $45 - this isn't really my price range for towels. If it's yours, or you want to gift me, you can buy them at The Block Shop here.

I decided to go through and look at the rooms from this series and show you a few other things I love.

I'll start with this lush one. This is Brad and Dale's master suite. I love the bed linen: the simple quilt with laced edge and blue blanket. Anyone know where they are from?

These candle holders were on Brad and Dale's dining room table. They are simple yet colourful. They dress up the table without being too pretentious. They remind me of (or maybe they are) something I saw in gorman last season but can't find any trace of them now... anyone!?

This is Kyal and Kara's kitchen. I love their use of wood. I specifically love the cut out nook under the bench to add interest by having things out but not in the way all over the kitchen bench.  

Their glass covered brick splashback adds an interesting dimension to the room. I love the tweed pots they chose to put their herbs in (maybe because I have a succulent growing in an orange one). Buy it here from Have You Met Miss Jones (however I can't see them in black).

This is Alisa and Lysandra's living room. I love the leather! Those occasional's look so comfy - like you'd sink into it - but sophisticated, and I can't go past a brown leather couch - if only money grew on trees!

And to finish, this is Kyal and Kara's guest bedroom. I love the muted colours on the bed which bring some life to the simple room, but I especially love the floating wooden shelf and cooper mirror.

There it is. Some faves of mine from The Block! Did you have anything you loved? Do you know where some of these products can be sourced?

a place called home.

I'm having a home alone weekend as Thearle Boy is away on a bucks weekend. I had a fun morning yesterday: I slept in, I made a natural face mask, I played music really loudly and danced to it, I exercised, I read and journaled, I made chicken stock (the house smelt amazing), and I sat down and had a cup of tea and flicked thorough one of my favourite flicking through books. 

Mr Jason Grant, a stylist based in Sydney, has written a book called 'A Place Called Home' (Hardie Grant Books, 2013). I received it after attending a Freedom styling workshop with him. It's a really beautiful book with great, everyday ideas for styling your home and looking for inspiration. When I first read it, I really resonated with it and felt like I could write my own ‘A Place Called Home’ based on similar concepts – I would have different 'My Favourite Things' lists and less pictures of myself (don't follow @mr_jason_grant on Instagram unless you want to see lots of photos of him. I'm going to try to follow again. According to my friend who works in the industry and from my one time meeting him and asking some questions, he doesn't have much time for anyone else. Thankfully I'm not trying to be his friend, just reading his book!) Lots of his ideas and advice are things I already know and do.

I couldn't help myself putting this portrait in!
Photo from mrjasongrant.com/gift-shop/a-place-called-home/

I love reading Australian books, specifically by people from, or living in, Sydney. I love being able to recognise places, visit places they suggest, and naturally seem to trust them more (for some strange reason). Jason's book is full of this: pictures of Manly, Bondi, Koskela, a bathmat my parents own, brands like Qantas and Gorman, Doug Up On Bourke, and Australian homes, streets and flowers from the garden – full of places I've been and things I love.

From his book, I've been inspired to: 

• create my own 'My Favourite Things' lists (and photos). My grandma used to always bring me the magazine out of the Telegraph and I loved the final page which interviewed someone and showed photos of their 10 favourite things. 

also some of my favourite things!

• create colour mood boards of things I have or photos I've taken. I especially love his Earthy Tones one. 

• create paint swatches from the colours in our home on paddle pop sticks and keep them in my bag - I'm usually pretty good at knowing if things will go, but it would be helpful to have them on hand! 

• visit some of the shops and websites he lists at the end of the books. There are many, and some I already know and love! 

Stayed tuned on how I go.