The Butterfly Collector

Soul Patterns!

confetti blossom. copyright Shae Reid 2011

Last November I embarked on a new creative journey when I signed up to start Rachael Taylor and Beth Nicholl's new DO WHAT YOU LOVE  online course in Surface Pattern Design. 

In a couple of weeks I start Module 2 of this amazing course with these amazing women and I am completely blown away by what I have learned in such a short time. A whole new world of colour and creativity has opened up to me using my computer and photoshop as tools to turn my drawings and paintings into repeatable patterns and new designs. I just can't wait to learn more!

And to further inspire me and fuel the fire to create even more I had the wonderful surprise of waking up this morning to find a couple of my designs featured (with my amazing fellow very talented students from all over the world)on the most wonderful PRINT AND PATTERN BLOG! Thankyou to Marie and Beth and Rachael for your wonderful support and encouragement!

Blooming in Lilac. Copyright Shae Reid 2011

And life is busy...I have coupled this course with another of Beth's DO WHAT YOU LOVE courses to turn all this creativity into a thriving creative business! This week I have thrown my heart and soul into class with mixed media artist Kelly Rae Roberts and have started HELLO SOUL HELLO BUSINESS! I just can't wait to see what creations, people and life changing AHA moments turn up next! 

Musical Birds In Raspberry. Copyright Shae Reid 2012

Feathering my Nest!

The boys are both having a little nap so I thought I would sneak down here and show you a few things that made me happy today!I wanted to show off my little bird mobile I made when I was pregnant. Remember I posted about all the supplies I'd gathered for it, well its finally hanging up and I am still thinking it needs a few vintage buttons and such for a finishing touch! Its also quite girly, so I've hung it in our home office/half nursery!!! The boys seem to like the birds though and Andrew likes to move it around so the little hanging bells ring!


I've also had a little surprise when I opened my new copy of Real Living magazine today, Anna from Absolutely Beautiful Things is featured along with her beautiful home! Congratulations Anna, your a true celebrity of the design world now!

I also really loved this room from the same magazine...

Also a trip to the shops has resulted in a fresh new BIRDY quilt cover for our bedroom for summer.

The room feels really clean and relaxing now I've had a clean up and put this simple loveliness on the bed! And yes, I know, I could have smoothed it out a bit more, but oh well, time is of the essence when you have a newborn and a two year old!Playing on my blog seems to be my one tiny little break during the day now! ... here's a close up shot of my new aqua addition!

P.S. I spied Christmas DECO's today coming out of boxes in the department stores, here it comes again , best start looking for those elusive perfect gifts once more!!!

Nothing to Wear, Seriously!!!!

I got fashion hungry yesterday whilst viewing all the gorgeous photos from US Vogue over at Anastasia's blog.  Go and look, they are beautiful! I usually only buy home magazines! So I bought a copy of aussie Vogue for myself and found some great pics and loved this one enough that I just had to show you! Who wouldn't want a walk in wardrobe that looks like this! I think it may be serious spring cleaning time in my crammed up closets! And I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR !!!! No, Really, I'm Serious !!! Nothing quite fits still, even though I seemed to have dropped a lot of weight in three weeks already and I am so sick of everything being black! Its time for something new! Now all I need is some kid free time to go shopping! Oh and some new shoes would be great too!

I had to show off this new japanese addition to my dressing table too, it was found recently in the most amazing antique markets close to home, it seems I have a growing collection of Aqua dishes and plates! It would be great to do a wall display with them one day!

Party Mode!

I am really enjoying buying Real Living lately! ...  an aussie magazine which always has fresh ideas for the home! Here's a few of their fun pink party ideas this month. I love the lanterns and those balloons! AND  a gorgeous white home office! God I wish I had that much room and the neatness genes to go with it !!!!

These pics are making me want to celebrate the coming of spring already! I'm just dying to buy a new dress and get out in the sunshine! There's a little bit of winter left to come though and a baby to be born!

I also loved these images from an old copy of Vogue Living, they are from London Ribbons and Trimmings Store V V Rouleaux Atelier and i just love the lush bright colours!They also have a great site I've just discovered too! Happy Sunny Thursday all!

Pretty Stuff in my Mail Box !

Just look what arrived all the way from the USA this week! My Vintage Tea Swap partner, JUST BE YOU sent me this wild and wonderful tea cup that looks like it should belong in a Gypsy Caravan. I also recieved Vanilla Tea, Chai Tea and some gorgeous placemats too! I love it! And its Huge, it probably holds about two cups of tea. If you love teacups I highly recommend checking out all the beautiful ones that were swapped!
Also I was spoiled rotten by another creative genius, NEOVAMP sent me these beautiful handmade Angel Earrings and I sent her a print in return to say thankyou! I think I need to be taken out somewhere special to wear them now, maybe after the Bub is born!Not long now, only three weeks to go!
And to add to the fun fair I also found these pretties whilst exploring the net , a beautiful floral doormat by Anna Chandler, who wouldn't want this to stand on at their front door???, these decadent cushions and tableware by Pierre Frey and yesterday I was so excited to discover Vanessa's Blog and Etsy Shop... A Fanciful Twist and her whimsical , wonderful artworks, stories, fairytales and gallery! I just love them all, but especially this one below !Happy Wednesday all!

Luxury Camping !!! ????

My darling husband had a grand idea last week that we should go camping with some friends at New Years at the beach. The spot sounds and looks beautiful, where the forest meets the sea and he is a very experienced camper and I have been with him many times in the past and had lots of fun, BUT ... ( and I feel like a huge party pooper here ) its is a six and a half hour drive away, there are no show
ers, it will be incredibly hot, we will be taking a two and a half year old ( who can't sit in the car for more than an hour and a half without getting very bored!) and two three month old babies!
Now I don't mind getting back to nature, but I think this is all a bit too much work and a big crazy request for a new breast feeding mum , what do you think???
I'm thinking maybe this is a better holiday for next year and maybe a  little tiny touch of luxury and something a  bit closer to home might  be a bit more inviting at the moment! I'd be happy with a hot shower and the gorgeous tent above! The pic is from one of my fave books .. Boudoir by Hilary Robertson. P.S. the mobile is nearly finished and a new painting to show you in the next couple of days!

Nesting

Ok. It's started, the nesting has begun!, so I thought I might share some pics from around the house today! We've spent the weekend cleaning, tidying, throwing out and re-arranging furniture in anticipation of Bub No.2 's arrival with help from our parents who brought along some yummy food too! My decorating plan has always been to make it beachy, fun, colourful and casual with a bit of french provincial and shabby chic thrown in and I still love to collect frames and interesting things to add to the house.
So I am feeling quite relieved to have all the big things and baby things in place and now I can just start putting little clothes, nappies etc. away and pack the hospital bag! I still have 7 weeks technically to go, but my mind is a bit less un-cluttered knowing that i can relax a bit more now !

Birds, fabric and flowers

Well, I'm back, camera batteries ready this time !!! I intend to start this little mobile tonight and here are some of my supplies! I have realised it could turn out quite a bit girly, but I wanted to create something cute and colourful!I have started threading some vintage buttons and beads together, shown here and found some pretty feathery wool at my fabric store! I have also won three big tins of buttons on Ebay in the last two weeks and intend to put good use to them too! Happy Friday night all, I am hoping to curl up on the couch in my throw rug and watch Pan's Labirynth with my husband!

Birds, Fruit, Trees and Flowers ...

Oh Damn, I just set up the most gorgeous photo of all the pretty things I've bought to make my ( what I hope to be! ) fabulous mobile for above bub's cot. And guess what, the batteries just died on my camera, maybe I can show you later! In the meantime, hear is a fabulous find that has inspired me this week... its the Shadow Light by who else but the infamous Tord B and you can find it at Top3Design!

Baby Stuff Galore!

Wow, what a whirlwind and fun weekend, we've done so much and now it's recovery day! Above is my silly and fun effort playing with Drew's new crayons ( if you haven't drawn with crayon's for a while, I highly recommend it, it will bring out the kid in you! )
I am now 31 weeks along and its crunch time to get this house in order for Bub's arrival! We are moving, painting and building furniture ( we had a trip to Ikea on the weekend too!). And I am sorting out drawers and cupboards, it must be Nesting Time!
  I also bought this great magazine on the weekend ... Shop til you drop ... KIDS! with some fabulous websites featured for kids and baby's things and its so tempting to rush out and buy things now, but I think I will wait and discover if it is a boy or a girl and then decorate accordingly! But how cute are these ...
Gorgeous Spanish Dancer Girls and Bus Bag from Mini Decor! 
Removable stick on candy wall art and this fabulous Owl beanbag from kidostore! and
Little Leona dress by Leona Edminston at Pegis. Cute Stuff!
P.s. Can't wait to show you my new ladybird inspired painting tomorrow!