Best of 2011 & Favourites for 2012

Happy New Year!  I have just had a wonderful afternoon at Goma and feeling very inspired!

Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever currently on display at Goma

I thought for my first post of the year I'd take a look at a few of my favourite things from LCD posts in 2011 and my fave looks for 2012.

Firstly, Lights. I really loved back in May the Cayman light fitting from Beacon as well as the glass chandelier light fittings I've seen around the place.

LCD Blog - Lighting to set the mood

I also can't forget the gorgeous collection of vintage lights from a renovation during the block 2010.

LCD blog Lights, Lights, Lights

This next image just has the perfect balance of grey and white and the mismatched chairs are devine!  It looks perfect for a relaxing morning brunch fit for a royal country getaway!
 

LCD Blog Royal Long Weekend

I adore the driftwood weathered finish of this coffee table and I'm contemplating a mammoth makeover job for a similar teak table I have.

LCD Blog Subtle Colour

so for this year.....

Vanities - there are so many types and finishes to choose from but I spied this one in the January edition of Home Beautiful.

Great storage in this vanity unit featured in January's edition of my favourite mag Home Beautiful!  I'm trying to source the origin but it is most likely a custom made vanity.  I love the natural colour of the timber!

Hanging lights - I'm searching for the perfect collection of lanterns/lighting for my own outdoor area but while I've been looking I spied a great collection in the drawing room at the Matisse exhibition at Goma!

Birdcage Hanging Pendants above the Goma Drawing Room bar/cafe.

Photo by LCD "Drawing Room" at the Matisse Exhibition

For a similar wire fitting take a look at....

5 light wire pendant from Domayne

& that's only a scratch on the surface!  I've been busy sourcing products for many of the mini projects I've got planned so keep checking the blog for more updates.

Merry Christmas - A Turkey Recipe with a twist

Merry Christmas!  Only 7 more sleeps!  I have done some Christmas baking, got the gifts and have them all wrapped.  The tree was decorated a few weeks ago with the kids help and now it’s time to enjoy catching up with friends and family!

I love all the decorations the kids make each year they add a real personal touch to the tree!

There's nothing like yummy home made treats at Christmas, Cranberry and White Chocolate shortbread and Rocky Road! There's never enough chocolate at Christmas!

I am still contemplating the fare for my Christmas dinner but now for the long awaited Turkey loaf recipe.  My apologies, I made it back in July and have lost track to post the recipe.

http://littlecovedesign.blogspot.com/2011/07/wish-list-27-christmas-in-july-dinner.html

So you will need the following Ingredients

Proscuitto slices thinly (enough to cover the size of the loaf you are making)

Loaf

Turkey Mince 500g-1kg

GarlicVegetta 2 teaspoons

StuffingSausage mince 500g1 cup fresh breadcrumbs½ cup slivered almondsLemon rind of one lemon1-2 tablespoons lemon juiceRosemary fresh or dried2 cloves of garlic chopped/gratedOne grated onion

Method
Preheat your oven to 170 degrees
Mix the stuffing ingredients together in a bowl and set aside
Line your loaf tin or casserole dish with greaseproof paper and then line the dish with the prosciutto

Mix the turkey mince garlic and vegetta and any other seasoning you wish.  To add some moisture if required add an egg or a splash of milk to the mixture mix together and spread the mixture over the prosciutto layer save a little for the lid. 

Put the stuffing in the middle and then use the last bit of turkey meat mixture to cover the stuffing and then cover with any prosciutto slices you have hanging over or left.  Cover with aluminium foil or casserole lid and cook for approximately 1.5 hours.  Remove foil and out of cooking dish and turn out onto an oven tray and brown for approx. 10-15 mins.  Serve with your favourite gravy and vegetables.

So enjoy all the Christmas festivities (I've been enjoying lots of window shopping!) and I look forward to a fabulous 2012 filled with lots more projects to share with you!

Saying Thankyou with Flowers

For those who tune into my blog regularly you know I love sharing flowers even if it is in cyberspace.  There is nothing like saying thankyou with flowers.  I ventured off to the flower markets early the other morning in search of my favourite flower the Peony and I wasn't disappointed!

I stepped out of my car and saw the most extraoardinary bunches of Peonies.

Peonies, Peonies, Peonies!

Here's my Thankyou! arrangement of flowers mixed in with white roses and some greenery.

I couldn't resist and treated myself to a similar bunch which I can't help gazing at and the Peonies perfume is just delicious!

Back from my Hiatus! with Chinese Lanterns

Apologies for my absence from my blog!  I've been laying low while trying to recover from my my bad back - a result of too much gardening and chronic tonsilitis!  I'm finally feeling ready to take on the world just in time for my 7 year old's disco party!



An apple on the go as well as strawberries with leaves to come and watermelon minus the seeds!

So I've been fundraising for a charity function and taken on a quiet task while I've been recuperating!  Creating fruit with crochet!  This is a Christmas gift in the making for my 2 year old so I am getting the hang of crochet after not doing any since highschool. Here's the "Fruits" of my labour so far.....

So once I've created the disco cake for the weekend I'll get back into my mini- makeovers - Stay tuned! But here's some party inspiration for you to enjoy-have a fabulous weekend!

These floating lanterns are popular at weddings and festivals image from Wish Lantern

I love these White Paper Chinese lanterns that I photographed at the Paul Kelly Concert back in July such simple, fabulous and effective set decoration! (Meet Me In the Middle of the Air Brisbane Riverstage)

Same Decorative Chinese Lanterns using the same feature but giving a totally differrent look for an airy garden party feel!  Both of these images are from Factory Direct Craft

This brilliant pop of colour reminds me of an Alice in Wonderland Moment - this image and many gorgeous others can be found at hanginglanterns.co.uk

Chinese Lanterns are fairly inexpensive and lanterns of many colours and sizes can be found at your local discount store for as little as $4!  I only hope mine can help transform my garage for the party!

Mini Makeover - Part Two for a dirt patch

There was a little more digging in stage 2 than I anticipated.  I also came across some existing drainage I was unaware of and lots of lumps of concrete to dig up. I made a good start on digging the drainage trench and a big storm on Saturday morning put a stop to any work but did help to soften the ground!

tough digging and an unexpected inground drainage pipe!

I was able to repair the pipe with some agi pipe (slotted pipe) and the drainage line running parallel to the pavers has allowed a great place to connect the trench drain to!

I levelled the ground in the trench and laid the drain on a smooth sand base to a fall so the water will drain into the existing pipe and the trench grate drain is also level with the pavers.  The trench grate drain is a great product that comes in 1m lengths from Bunnings and is able to be clipped together and easily cut to length with a handsaw. (Tip: run water in your grate to ensure that the water flows in the right direction before backfilling)

Ahh finished all that digging!  Now just had to backfill the trench with small aggregate (rocks) and soil and plant the remaining mondo grass and place the river pebbles!

Voile won't be long and the grass will grow up to the grate!

Now I have another tired area to plan in the garden, stay tuned......

Mini Makeover Part One - for a dirt patch!

After many attempts for the grass to grow up to our outdoor paved area, I thought it was time for a quick solution!

Great hardy mondo grass ready for planting!

A few bags of sand, some nice river pebbles and some leftover sandstone pavers from the front path and some greenery in the form of decorative mondo grass and voile!



Tired dusty strip ready for a makeover!

So away with the whispy shoots of dry grass and weeds, a bit of muscle and a shovel to level the area.

I spread the sand and levelled the pavers and used the river pebbles as a feature around the pavers. Then I planted a row of mondo grass between the gaps of the layed pavers.

All the hard work is done, now time to water the new plants and hose off the pavers.

The great colours in the sandstone are able to be seen now that they've been hosed down.

Part 1 complete and Part 2 to follow..... more planting and important drainage and TLC to the remaining lawn!

Not enough hours in the day!

I've been away from my blog for a while - not enough hours in the day!
Busy on some maintenance and spring cleaning projects ........

Find great storage solutions like this mop/broom holder (great space saver and this was one of the best changes to my laundry at the beginning of the year!) at Howard's Storage World

These jobs don't always create a picture perfect opportunity, but have to be done!

I've been doing more work on a design for a beach apartment, will keep you posted on this one.

Maeira Beach image Rentalo I could never get tired of the fabulous colour and warmth in this picture

Getting out in the garden...

Lime tree in flower image treesdirect.co.uk - find great fruit trees at your local nursery or market

Sometimes with gardening you need the patience of a Saint!  I bought a lime tree in the last few weeks and planted it within reach of a lime tree which I had planted nearly seven years ago that had never beared any limes! What do you you know I have many buds and baby limes similar to those pictured on my old and new tree - I can't wait for the bumper crop!

and indulging in a few bike rides on my new wheels!

image by Juan Salmoral

The scenery may not be quite as magical as this Amsterdam scene but I love riding around my local neighbourhood and enjoying the gorgeous Brisvegas weather.

and lastly I've been planning some more mini makeovers to share with you in the coming weeks!

you may remember this one....

http://littlecovedesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/red-geraniums.html