So it’s been a very eventful past few weeks. Let’s jump back a few steps and start with who I had the pleasure of meeting up with while in Paris a couple of weeks ago. Two lovely bloggers in fact, both of whom you know I adore so I was keen to meet them in the flesh. First of all, the young lady who creates these divine crocheted garlands…

…joined me for lunch and then accompanied me on one of my shoots. Yes, I’m talking about the lovely Marie from ici et là. Although we only had a short time to meet, it was lovely getting to know her face to face, learning about her adventures in Paris and chatting away in our Aussie accents amongst the Parisiennes. Thanks for joining me Marie, I do hope we get to see more of each other while we are both in Europe!

Another hit of fabulous Aussieness came a few days later when sweet Anna from Absolutely Beautiful Things landed on the continent. I caught her at the beginning of her 3 week vacation through France, and we were able to catch up for a drink and some banter. What a treat!! Anna lives in Brisbane as most of you already know, and I was keen to hear all about her life in this favourite place of mine, and she was keen to hear all about my life in this favourite place of hers! We had a great time, I hope to see her again soon, wherever in the world that may be (okay, secretly I’m hoping its in Brisbane, or at her incredible holiday home on Stradbroke Island).

Lots of other things happened in Paris that you will just have to wait to hear more about soon, but straight after that I was back to le petit bateau in Amsterdam and then on the train to Den Hague for a rather lavish 3 day shoot in a magnificent property (i gasped, gawked, and shrieked with pleasure when I laid eyes on this place. sometimes my job is too good to me). Spending three days in The Hague was pretty special, while I was shopping for props there I managed to snap a few photos for you, I was so eager to show you this beautiful town…

Sure, it was super sunny the whole time I was there, and we all know how much the sun effects me, but it got me thinking, could this little Dutch city be more gorgeous, quaint and laid back than my Amsterdam?

I was in love with this town. Meanwhile, the shoot was an extraordinarily humungous amount of work and while I was expressing my concerns about the huge set I had to create in the coming days while I was on the phone to dear Danielle, next thing I knew she was offering her assistance. I couldnt have been happier – what a wonderful treat to get to spend the whole day with my friend, and have her wonderful helping hands. So on the last day of the shoot, Danielle and I were busy making lavish garden table settings and little vignettes around the place. Danielle made the most beautiful floral arrangements too, and as soon as the production is in print I shall show you all! Thanks again Danielle, I hope we get to work together again soon, i think we make a pretty fab styling team.

So that’s my catch up news, now for sharing something else very much on my mind, plus a few posts and thoughts I’ve been wanting to share with you. A bientot!

okay okay, let’s have one more bit of fun before we officially declare this week started… so this is it, the final soundscape from my last trip to Paris. I hope you’ve enjoyed these ones as much as I have enjoyed recording them. Please press the play button below to be transported to the magnificent carousel at the foot of the hill of the sacre cœur, where we sit and listen to the children playing (and crying as you will hear!), the breeze blowing through the tree tops and edith singing one of her fabulous tunes. It was a rather magical moment that I hope you enjoy too…

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Author’s note: Don’t do what I did… I was sitting on the bench watching the merry-go-round intensely while I snapped photos, observing the action of all the kids going around and around. I turned away after half an hour of watching, looked at French Boy rather pale and said “I don’t feel so well”.

After that we walked to Le Progrès for a drink and it took me a good hour before my nausea subsided.

The End.

Please press the play button below to be whisked away with my for a little sunday afternoon apéritif at Le Progrès, in Montmatre, Paris…

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I’ll go grab us some drinks at the bar, what would you like?

Isn’t this place great? It’s one of my favourites. Have a look at the original ceiling…

Looks like the kitchen isn’t open yet…

Well, I best get back to work. Would you join me here again sometime?

xx

This beautiful girl is so talented, every word she sings is straight from my own heart… how does she do that?! on a side note, i miss listening to triple j on my way home from work in my little white starlet, cruising along the rainforest-lined wakehurst parkway…

There are lots of things I miss in August. More about that soon! For now, it’s bed time for me, and this song is this posts soundtrack. Enjoy. Perhaps I’ll see you in the a.m? Sweet dreams.

xx

I know it’s not what I said I’d post, but I thought you might like to see the bathroom before and after of the paris abode. It wasn’t included in Grace’s post and I just remembered that you hadn’t seen it yet, so here it is!

A bit of a change, n’est-ce pas?

Since the bathroom was so tiny and there was no natural light, I wanted to play with it’s petite-ness and create a space that was intimate, dramatic and sumptuous (without spending a bundle). So first I scrubbed it from top to bottom to bring back the whiteness as much as possible. I bought a tord boontje garland in black for the ceiling light. The flower shapes from the garland created beautiful shadows all over the antique-cream walls, ceiling, and white tiled floors. I bought two simple white shower curtains – the one with the words for the outside of the bath (to cover that hideous hole!), and a cheaper, plain one to fall into the interior of the bath. I chose accessories from Ikea’s Molger range for the towel rack, door hooks and mirrored cabinet. For a little extra storage I bought a wooden tray with stand that tucked neatly in the left hand corner, and found second hand boxes to hide toiletries. Organic white cotton towels completed the look. And the Elle McPherson bra hanging on the door hook was a beautiful gift from my dear friend michi .