Cassandra’s  beautiful old home in New Zealand, as photographed by Matthew Williams.

Perhaps you are like me and are guilty of collecting fabrics upon fabrics which you want to make into a quilt but never find the time? Well, yesterday while I was reading Cassandra Ellis’ (from Haven Workroom)  beautiful blog, I was thrilled to find out that she is now taking orders for quilts made with your own personal collection of fabrics! It’s a wonderful idea, and Cassandra’s style and designs are stunning, she is one of the rare people I would give my pile of precious fabrics to without hesitation.

Read her original post about how she serendipitously came upon the idea here, and click here to find out about pricing (follow the link to ‘our goods’, ‘quilts’, then  ‘download pricelist’).

For those of you who are new to Cassandra’s work, let me introduce her to you. Back in 2002, Cassandra started a business called Haven Workroom in NZ. Then it was a gorgeous little store selling high-quality hand-made homewares (which sounds like my little indigo, but no doubt much, much nicer!). A little while ago, Cassandra packed her bags and moved to London and re-created Haven Workroom into an atelier making bespoke contemporary quilts as well as restoring and up-cycling vintage furniture. Cassandra’s aim is to keep artisan skills alive and relevant. Her quilts are contemporary and one-of-a-kind, made from vintage silks and cottons combining Indian, English, Asian and Eastern European textiles.

Take a look at her quilts right here.

The photos you see above and below are from Cassandra’s home back in New Zealand. I love her eclectic yet cohesive collection of homewares displayed throughout each space. It’s a home filled with soul…

Beautiful, non? Oui! But you know I was going to say that.

I don’t know about you but for me, this week’s posts about talented female artisans and their work spaces has been truly inspiring – first  it was Tracey Deep, then Harriet Goodall and now Cassandra Ellis of Haven Workroom. Be sure to check out all the links attached to each post as there is more inspiration to be had than what I have shown here.

Have a great weekend mes amis. See you on Monday!

xx

PS I am over the jetlag and flu now – yay! Thanks for all your well wishes.

all gorgeous photographs for this story  by chris chen.

Before I hopped on the plane back to Amsterdam, I grabbed the latest issue of country style at sydney airport for two reasons. 1. because I’ve always loved this mag (the photography is perfection, and they often feature the homes of country artists whose style is natural,  real and inspiring) and 2. because a little birdy told me that the feature article would make my heart sing. Indeed it DID make my heart sing because it is all about Harriet Goodall, her home & property in Robertson NSW, and her incredible woven creations…

Harriet’s story about how she came to be weaving baskets is as beautiful as her creations themselves. She says she has always been drawn “to the ephemeral and imperfect beauty of natural materials and have forever collected buckets of shells, driftwood, beautiful leaves, bones, moss and feathers  with no particular purpose in mind.” Sounds delightfully familiar.  She saw a flyer for a basketry course in Mittagong and decided to join up because it fitted perfectly with her love of art made from nature. After another course she was well and truly hooked on the craft. Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, Herman de Vries, and Chris Drury, Harriet says that the wonderful thing about baskets is that “it’s possible to harvest your garden then sit on a patch of ground and, just with your hands alone, make something that’s strong, useful and beautiful – while knowing that women have done this for millenia”…

Harriet and her husband Mat collected all their furniture from the local tip shop and family hand-me-downs. The area where they live is surrounded by national parks, waterfalls, beaches, rainforests, and incredible escarpment and rolling green hills  – all within a 30km radius…

Meet Banjo: Harriet and Mat’s little guy who loves being in nature as much as they do.

It’s a beautiful, inspiring story, and I encourage you to find yourselves a copy of the february issue of country style to learn more about harriet’s home and work…

cover shot by mikkel vang, styled by sibella court.

Thank you for the inspiration Harriet! I hope to come and visit you one day, and see your creations in person.

……………………………………

Harriet’s baskets are available to purchase. They start at around $140.00 AUD. For further enquiries, click here to email Harriet, or you can call her on +61 402 346 106.

A big thank you to Country Style and photographer Chris Chen for the use of the images.

Under palm trees and ferns, through an ancient archway and across a grand lawn is an incredibly inspiring slice of Sydney history called Vaucluse House. I have visited this house many times over the years. Mostly to wander the gardens and imagine the life of all who have nurtured the estate over the years. Because it’s not the opulence of this home that I love, it’s the simplicity in the detail of the way things were…

Of all the bedrooms in the house this is my favourite – it is tucked at the end of an upstairs hall. I can’t remember whose room it belonged to in its day, but it inspires me all the same. The most incredible space in the house though, without a doubt, is the kitchen and adjoining larder and dairy rooms…

The simple, functional furnishings and design are beautiful…

And what house is complete without the ultimate head housemaid’s room a.k.a in more modern times as “the laundry room”…

Isn’t it glorious? One of the first times I ever visited Vaucluse House was for an evening play in the gardens. It was a date with my boyfriend, I was just 18 years old. He had packed a delicious evening picnic and when we arrived we were instructed to find a patch of lawn to call our own.  The audience were scattered across the front grounds, only about 30 people in total. Before the play began we ate our picnic, and watched the sun begin to set in the sky. Before the night fell the performance began. It was Lady Chatterly’s Lover.

Various scenes were played out in various parts of the estate, and the audience were quietly informed at the end of each scene to meet at the stables, or near the well, or by the garden gate.  It was pitch black, the stars shone brightly above and the air was balmy. I was mesmerized – completely enraptured by the romance, and scenery.   It remains to be one of the most wonderful performances (and yes, dates) I have ever encountered…

I’m not sure if they still hold plays in the gardens of Vaucluse House. But a visit to the house and then lunch in the tearooms is just as wonderful.

An Hoang’s oil on canvas, Lavender Light

As part of the Art Walk NY (which is a benefit for the coalition for the homeless), my friend and artist An Hoang has donated one of her beautiful paintings called ‘lavender light’ for the auction. You can view all the works in the auction online (click here) and if you’re interested in bidding but can’t go to the event which is on November 17 in New York City, you can still place absentee bids by contacting the organisers (check details online here).

I love An’s work, and this painting is one of my favourites. Whoever wins Lavender Light at the auction will be one lucky soul, with a discerning eye for fabulous art.

xx

Love those kitchen floorboards.

It’s Monday morning for me here in Amsterdam, I’ve just finished writing another chapter/wander for Amsterdam: Made by Hand and now I’m ready for a tea break. So I thought I’d come and visit the (blog)house, do a little posting, a little commenting, a little sprucing. Today I want to share with you a beautiful country house photographed by new-to-amsterdam-and-aussie-like-me Alan Jensen. I met Al and his partner Cath Conroy the other day – both Al and Cath are photographers too.  I asked Al and Cath if they’d share some of their fabulous work here in the (blog)house and Al – who specialises in lifestyle and interior photography  – sent me these photographs that he took of a home in the stunning hinterland of northern NSW (Cath will be sending some of her work soon). The hinterland is one of my favourite places in the world (I’m hoping to take French Boy there early next year), and Al’s images of this house are gorgeous, highlighting the relaxed, livable, stylish and full of character nature of this style of home…

Beautiful non? Oui. Thanks Al for the Monday morning hit of inspiration, I’ll be daydreaming about this white wooden walled country home nestled in a little village surrounded by rainforest…

Photography by Alan Jensen, styling by Sam Moiler