A new blog address

You can now find me over here, at http://www.thevelvetcouture.com. I've moved the posts I mostly couldn't live without and look forward to a new era of laughing, scheming, knitting and musing.

I'd love for you to join me!

Sunset

Beautiful view from the air 

Through the looking glass



Looking out from Old Parliament House, Canberra



Movie date

Happy new year!

There's something magical about the early morning quiet of a new year.

In that stillness—found after the party revellers have gone to bed, just as the birds are stirring and before the sun is filled with heat—the new day brings with it fresh hope and promise for the year ahead. For me, it's the perfect time to remember what's important and to set my intentions and goals for the year ahead.

This year I'm going back to the little things. All those little things that bring so much joy and make life what it is. I have a feeling this year is going to be big and I don't want to miss out on all the wonderful moments that make it so.

Happy new year!

Family football match

Views around the house

What a luxury to slip away from the desk and take in such beautiful views…



10 things to do before Christmas

Christmas Tree Day in my house is aways 1 December. I love it. To me it signifies the start of the joyous Christmas season, and also the start of the seemingly endless to-do lists that dominate the countdown to Christmas day. Here is my top 10 things to tick off this year:

1. Be kind
2. Go nuts buying toys for nieces and nephews
3. Watch nothing but Christmas themed movies
4. Eat fruitcake
5. Compile a Christmas carol mega-mix playlist
6. Send Christmas cards
7. Catch up with friends
8. Wrap presents while watching the carols on the television
9. Make trifle
10. Wake up thankful Christmas morning and enjoy a day of laughter and joy.

Morning espresso

Garden hideaway

I'm with the band

Cakes of Origin

Red Velvet cupcakes

Foodie

Nothing beats a night out with good company and amazing food. 

Berber spices

It doesn't look like much. But this is the secret 'Berber' spice recipe my friend Michelle made for me not long before she tragically passed away, only three years ago.

It's delicious and I save using it for special dinners of chicken in the tajine, each time thinking of her and remembering a time we shared – and missing her terribly.

I'm sad that we won't share anymore stories; her view of the world was colourful and special.

See also, Michelle.

A birthday shawl

A birthday shawl for Grandma Lily's 99th birthday.

Pattern source: The Lonely Tree Shawl – Soft Sweater Knits & Fibres
http://softsweaterfibres.blogspot.com.au

Tea time

Cabled tea cosy

Pattern source: Tea Cozies (book)  

La Chaîne Simpson

Mum and I finally made it to the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia this weekend.

He was such an interesting man and artist­. Of course famous for his colourful posters of the Moulin Rouge, his work had me captivated as it told the story of a theatrical, elegant and bohemian life for people in Paris in the late 1890s.

One of my favourite pieces is the advertising poster, La Chaîne Simpson (1896). Looks great on my wall too! (Well, a copy of it)

Being authentic

“Why is free will wasted on a creature who has infinite choices but pretends there are only one or two?”

Novel—A Fraction of the Whole, Steve Toltz

A new year

Isn't it great facing the first day of new year; being washed clean of everything that didn't come to fruition exactly how you thought it might and looking at nothing but 365 days of new promises and hope.

I try not to make 'new year resolutions', but I'm always tempted. This year feels like not only the start of a new year, but the start of a new era... Meaning that the past few years have been a fabulous and glamourous blur of weddings, engagements, new babies, parties and holidays. I now own more cocktail dresses than workwear, more party shoes than office heals and more clutches then I really know what to do with! Need an emergency outfit to attend a last minute party? Come on over, I'm your girl!

So I plan to start the new year quietly, tending the garden, taking long scenic nature walks, sitting by the lake with Mr Couture and a good book, feeling the sunshine, smelling the flowers, noticing the little things that glide by and loving the simple things in life.

Happy new year!

Carols by the Christmas tree

Clockwise from left: 1. Santa; 2. Musical tree; 3. Disco bauble; 

4. Football at Christmas time; 5. Macaroni angel.

Photo essay: Melbourne

Clockwise from top left: 1. Planning the day; 2. Mysterious terrace house; 3. Piano busker in Bourke Street Mall (it was raining, so he brought his an umbrella––along with his piano!); 4. Capitol Arcade.

Transit

Christmas tree day

This year we had a couple of helpers.

Courage

"Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ” 
― Mary Anne Radmacher

Moments of laughter

"Life isn't measured in minutes, but in moments"

–– Jonathan A. Dublin

Nothing beats the feeling or the sound of a good hearty laugh. I love this photo, taken the day before Bestie Couture's wedding. It's pure happiness. 

The best place to be in the morning...

Wedding poem

For Bestie Couture and her soul mate on their wedding day. 

Wedding poem
The sound of his love is the laughter from his lips

The room is dark until the sparkle of her smile

It is time ticking on, yet so peaceful and still

Their love as today, as they pledge to love everyday

With everything

And the promise of everything more. 

The third anniversary is leather

The traditional gift for a third wedding anniversary is leather. Although traditionally Mr Couture and I don't exchange gifts, choosing instead to share delicious food and spectacular wine under an indulgent ambiance––this time on the Wednesday night that our anniversary fell on.

There's something wonderfully outrageous about getting dressed up to have degustation on a Wednesday night, especially when I imagine everyone else going through their regular Wednesday night routine; doing as I normally would have: finishing work, going to gym, heading home for dinner and chores and finally plonking down in front of the telly for the evening.

Instead we were sipping old world wines, reminiscing and making plans for the future. Plans that involved a new leather lounge––it is the traditional gift after all.

The girl's in love playlist

1. Goreki — Lamb
2. Perfect Day — Lou Reed
3. This Old Love — Lior
4. In your Arms — Kina Grannis
5. Stuck on You — Lionel Ritchie
6. Love You –– Maxwell
7. Heat Wave (love is like a) — Martha and the Vandella's
8. The Sweetest Taboo — Sade
9. Love at First Sight — Kylie Minogue
10. Crazy in Love — Beyonce
11. Feel so Close — Calvin Harris
12. Don’t Look Back — Tommie Sunshine & Disco Fries
13. Walking on a Dream — Empire of the Sun

To celebrate love, life and the promise of a lifetime of happiness. For Bestie Couture's wedding to her beloved and amazing soul mate.

Listen to it on YouTube.

Piano recital

Concert time with little niece