Sweet Design

I just found this awesome to the power of fully sick calendar design over at one of my favouritest blogs Ladies & Gentlemen.

An ink calendar designed by Oscar Diaz. How pretty is that?

I Got A Little Dog

So he's not real, but I think he's cute. Right? He's ceramic. No need for walks. No picking up poopies. No brushing required. He's hanging in our bedroom and I think Matt is a little scared of him. Sorry Matt. Having a dog is a lifelong commitment.

Day Trippers: Solid Gold in Nundle

plenty of room for little boys to run and ask birds their name. no, seriously, he did.

We headed out to Nundle (after my early-ish op shopping hoorah - to which I bought a couple of things that I will photograph tomorrow, and certainly not the vintage sequinned cocktail dress I had been dreaming of) this morning.

For those that don't know or have never heard of Nundle, it's a small gold-mining town.

Population: 289

It's a 45 minute drive from Tamworth (where I grew up) on a well-sealed road.

You can read more about Nundle here.

Nundle, over the past ten or so years, has enjoyed a wonderful renaissance. It's a quaint little town with a few quirks. Endearing of course.

They have a corner pub - The Peel Inn (pivotal to any small, super-small town). In one room hangs the freakish double-headed calf. Savoury. The pub has recently undergone a restoration and serves lunch (word-of-mouth says it's not bad).

Next stop is a small shop that sells grocery items but not diggers. Much to the disgust of my small fry.

And just next door is The Powder Room run by Sarah Atkinson, a boutique of bright, bold and stylish women's fashion. It's here that my Mum found a graphic kaftan and I bought some banana yellow drop earrings. You know how I love yellow. Lots of fantastic jewellery, and beautiful leather bags at very reasonable prices.

A little further up is Jenkins Guest House set in an old bank. This is where I celebrated my 21st birthday with my family. It's going through a bit of a transition as they've just lost their long-time chef Nick Cummins who was stellar (Nick was a one-hatted chef with SMH - he's just moved to Hobart, lucky Hobart - because damn fool, he's good).

The Nundle Woollen Mill is a very short walk up the road. They make beautiful wool on vintage machinery here. Some days you can see the work in progress, from the gallery above. As well, they sell locally knitted goodies - such as the cutest beanies, jumpers, socks and sell Australian made fashion (Jac+Jack, MapleBrown etc) from Merino wool. Though on a day like today (around 30 degrees) it wasn't entirely conducive to trying on or buying warm woollies. But it was nice to look at all those colours and textures.

Just nearby are the Nundle Country Traders set in a shed-like building. There are a few vintage bits and pieces to be found in here, but today, there was not a lot going on. Except for that cool sign.

Then onto Odgers & McLelland Exchange Stores, one of my all time favourites. Walking in here is like walking into Little House on the Prairie. Kind of. There are boiled lollies sitting on the counter in over-sized jars alongside old-style wind-up tin toys in an old glass cabinet on the counter, millet brooms, dustpans and gardening goods hanging from the rafters at the front of the store, then there's their own range of teas, plus enamelware, all types of old-school shaving paraphernalia, wonderful wicker washing baskets, fat slices of soaps sitting with bath salts in calico bags. Oh it's a delight all right. Plus it's run by a couple who moved from the big smoke ten years ago - and have never looked back. Imagine the chill of excitement that runs through my bones when I hear that deliciousness. Almost a delicious overload!

There's a crazy-full antique store where you're almost too afraid to turn around in case your ponytail knocks something off. Difficult to navigate with a three and a bit year old and a baby in a sling. I didn't stay for long, but if you can linger - there are some good finds (though a little pricey).

And in an old church hall is a second-hand store. I found one thing in here. I'm not even sure what it is, but it's cool fabric. Everything else - pilled jersey.. Ergh... I get goosebumps, and not in a good way.

If you were to visit Nundle in May, you might be lucky enough to be a spectator at the renowned Great Nundle Dog Race.

Otherwise, all year round you can:

- go gold-panning.

- visit Mount Misery Gold Mine Museum (just don't eat there, the food is totally ordinary)

- swap gold (coins) like the miners and settlers of 1891 at the Exchange Store

- learn how fingerlings grow into trout, throw a line to catch dinner or buy the award-winning trout at Arc-en-ciel Trout farm

Nundle is good. It's set in green rolling hills. Perfectly romantic. There's the imagery of bushrangers, bearded gold-panners, miners and the like, wondering what the hey-day of this small-town would have been like. Nundle is a stone's throw from Hanging Rock where it is sometimes known to be sprinkled with snow (in Winter, not this time of year). And for such a small town, is rich in goodness. This is something I could get used to.

Saturday Special

Today I got to slip off by myself to Material Obsession for a quick hurrah, before heading off to yet another house inspection. Yes. The Universe has been less than forthcoming with houses these days, and since our good news on Thursday - my little man got into the pre-school I was hoping and praying for - we're sticking to this area - so that narrows our search somewhat..

Anyway - back to my solo mission. I was going to pick up some fabric I had had put away, but of course I kind of got a little distracted and wound up with just a few slithers of new fabrics... But I was pretty well behaved. I showed Matt my new pieces - let me tell you, he has an art (beyond his painting) that's very opinionated without saying a word.

Spots - he likes. Yes, very nice.

Big fat yellow roses - no comment.

Kaffe Fassett - yes, nice.

Green floral (AMH again??) - no comment.

Ah to be married to an artist with an opinion. Apparently the latter green floral is 'too acidic'. HMPH! Well I like it. Reminds me of lime in vodka tonic. A lime caprioska. Green grass in summer. You get me don't you??

Anyway, on other fronts, I've been doing my inspiration board. You might be wondering what I'm getting inspired to do, and so am I. But it's starting to look pretty nonetheless (and look that bling bling doily is getting another workout). Something I've been meaning to do for ages, it's just been sitting there in all its white glory for yonks. Now it's got six whole pieces of 'stuff' stuck to it. Aren't you proud of me? Mmm. Of course you are.

PS - Italics AND bold in one post? Yes, just another Blogger special, courtesy of Blogger of course, and an involuntary part of today's post. GRRRR!

An Update

My husband has been chastising me, though I know he'd vigorously deny it if you asked. Lucky he's a little lax when it comes to reading my blog, otherwise I'd be in big trouble for telling you.

You see apparently here at PottyMouthMama HQ I've neglected to update the status of his painting, and have left you, dear reader, hanging. You're probably sitting at home, drumming your fingers on the table, comfort eating, -re-watching re-runs of The Golden Girls and calling people you don't really want to talk to, all because you've been wondering, what ever happened to...

So here it is. The finished painting. I love it. It hangs beside my bed and I love waking up to see my first newborn - swaddled up, jaundiced, puffy head from two hours of pushing, ah yes, that's exactly as I remember my little love bug.

Have I mentioned my husband is an artist, first and foremost, but currently he's masquerading as some sort of crazed office worker at an insurance company..? Oh the things you do to bring home the bacon.

He's been hung in the Dobell at the Art Gallery of NSW, has had a number of exhibitions, and he's hopefully working towards a new show soon.. Watch this space (because apparently I am doing his PR too).

Which brings me to tell you that the Dobell is currently on at AGNSW. For anyone that doesn't know, it's Australia's most prestigious drawing prize, and usually amasses a number of wonderful works. If you're in the city and want something to do, check it out.

Pottering About

I'm trying to tie up a few loose ends these days. Stuff I've been putting off for eons. Like tidying and organising kids rooms. It's a never-ending task really. Well a baby room is not so bad, they can't mess things up too much. But a three year old? A three year old has the capacity to discover a pile of 'new' old things and spread them out and then some.

So today I did part of my little man's room. Guiltily I must admit I did it when he wanted to play trains, and I was avoiding those clickety-clack tracks like the plague. So what did I do, I threw myself into another activity I abhor, and tidied.

Here's proof.

I know it's nothing ground-breaking, but at least I am finally being accountable.

Ages ago I vowed I was going to get rid of one bag of stuff per day. That was probably a month ago, so roughly thirty bags of stuff and things. Have you seen one of those bags? No... I was also going to resume my yo-yo project. How is that going you might ask? (or maybe you won't). Well, I haven't done a darn stitch.

So this is me being accountable.

I've also been listing things on Ebay again. Some Rykiel pants. Some vintage bits and pieces. I'll be slowly adding to my listings over the next few weeks. Since we might be moving soon (you hear me Universe??), I thought it was as good at time as ever to resume culling.

Thrift This!

Another piece of family history that my mother-in-law kindly bestowed upon me.. These great curtains! They were formerly the kitchen curtains, and now their destiny is my little girl's room..! I love the upbeat print, it's got panache, it's got punch. Big, fat flowers. Or should I say PHAT? Who's a lucky girl then?

Me!

PS - I'm sorry I am so slow to respond to comments these last couple of weeks. I do love you, it's just that I've had more work than anticipated, so I have less blog time, more nose to the grindstone time. It's boring, I know, but someone's got to bring home the bacon.

Beautiful Things

In my mind, there's no better score than something that's been pre-loved that you know you're going to love too. The love just continues to grow and grow.

Look at these lovelies I scored today. What a lucky girl I am.

A bevy of beautiful hangers (hey, there's a lot of nylon going on there, but they're cute nonetheless), I can't wait to swap over my hangers for these ladylike delights.

Plus some old towels. I'm not normally into old towels. But these are pretty well new old towels that have most probably never been used.

I've scored some other fantastic things, but I'll share those later. I'm in the midst of a cleaning frenzy and can't swap vaccuum for camera.. But soon dear reader, soon.

Welcome into my life pretty old things.

PS - Don't forget to enter my competition. It's not too late!

A Really Big Crush

I've been looking for a mobile for over six months. Six months is a long time to be looking at mobiles. It's been like the summer of discontent as I searched high and low for 'the one'. Everything I've come across seems a bit twee. There are some beautiful ones out there, but none of them felt 'right'. There was no long-term commitment from me, so I'd flirt online, and then just dump them as quickly.

Until now. I do believe I've found 'the one' I can commit to.

Called 'Blossom' it's made by Nina Still of Puka Puka Design. Nina has trained as an architect and a jeweller (hence those gorgeous lines), she's Australian based too which is even better.

Drawing on inspiration from her journeys around the South-eastern coast of Australia, she's influenced by the landscape (check out

her blog - some great shots of her travels), collecting found objects and making sketches to put together the initial prototype. They're such beautiful creations that remind me a bit of Alexander Calder - beautiful.

You can visit Nina's website here, her inspiring blog here or her Etsy shop here!

Oh - and puka-puka means 'an object gently floating in space’. Sigh. I think my search is now over.