Author Archives: topbird

1. How to update a room on a budget – the easy way

   May 18, 2015 8:17 pm Leave a Comment

   

   Talk to any interior designer and ask them about the cheapest and easiest way to update a room, and they’ll almost never fail to mention adding cushions. It’s easy to dismiss this advice as tired and cliched, so we decided to test the theory for ourselves in our own homes. Have a look at our ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos and see for yourself.

   Rebecca’s living room makeover

   Our living room has been one of the most neglected spaces in our home, which is a major oversight considering we spend most of our time there. We have big renovation plans for this room, but we’ve already spent our entire budget on fixing up major structural stuff elsewhere in our home. So Lisa stepped in to give me a hand – with a bag load of cushions from Freedom.

   Before

   

   The living room is light and bright, with high raked ceilings and white walls. We chose a charcoal sofa with easy-care, washable covers as we have a four-year old, and we didn’t want to fuss over keeping the sofa in a pristine condition. It’s also a nice contrast to the mostly white room, which I deliberately chose for a light and bright, Scandi-inspired feeling.

   I wanted to use homewares and art to add colour and texture. Before my mini-makeover, the room was still in ‘summer’ mode, and the cushions were a mix of patterns with a lot of white. I was fairly happy with the colour palette, but I wanted to create a cosier look with richer textures for the colder months.

   After

   

   You can see that the cushions have worked to make the room instantly warmer and the colours richer. Lisa achieved this by:
   – using warm textures and minimal pattern in the cushions;
   – selecting a mix of cushions in velvet, chunky knit, and embroidery; and
   – working with a colour palette of rich emerald, teal, grey, soft aqua, charcoal and cream.

   Lisa added a shaggy afghan-style throw to the mix on the sofa, which compliments and accentuates the shaggy rug. It’s interesting that although we used cool colours, the textures reflected in both cushions and the rug make the whole room feel softer and warmer. The colour palette is also in keeping with my art and collection of indoor plants, as well as the bushland setting of the Treehouse.

   Here’s what we used for my mini-makeover:
   – Emerald chunky knit cushion
   – Maze cushion
   – Velvet cushion in Teal
   – Velvet cushion in Tornado
   – Velvet cushion in Jade
   – Grobi Bear throw

   Lisa’s bedroom makeover

   I like my bedroom light and white, with natural coloured pure linen sheets and a plain white linen doona cover all year round. They work together with white walls and dark timber floors to create a strong but neutral base which I can change without too much effort to suit the seasons… or my styling whims.

   Before

   In summer, my bedroom had a minimal palette of soft dirty pink with white and natural linen colour. The addition of the warm copper and rose gold tones in the table lamp, basket and bedside table complements the soft tonal colours, while adding a metallic point of difference.

   Both the summer and winter looks are based on the hues in the art print and the pom pom wall hanging I made. In summer, the wall art works with the lighter colours and tones, while in winter, it accentuates the deeper, richer colour palette.

   

   After

   

   For my mini winter makeover, the addition of just three cushions and a shaggy throw transforms the look and feel of the room by injecting richer, deeper colours and more varied textures.

   I chose a grey shaggy pillow that visually ties in with the cream throw and together, they reflect the textures in my wall hanging. Working with the colours and moody tones in the print above my bed I selected cushions in charcoal, grey and teal blue. The coral cushion is in the same colour range as the dirty pink bed linen, as well as the peachy pink tones in the wall hanging and art print.

   The result? A cosy, warm inviting look that’s rich and lush with much more depth.

   I like to move homewares around in our apartment to change things up – the coral cushion was on the living room sofa in the summer, and the cream shag throw was part of my recent living room makeover. The charcoal cushion is the same one that was on my bed in summer – I just flipped it from the white ombre ‘summer’ side to the charcoal ‘winter’ side. I also added additional texture with a couple of my handmade woven and ceramic vessels on the bedside table in indigo and charcoal.

   Here’s what I used for my mini makeover:
   – Quincey cushion in Cement
   – Velvet cushion in Teal

   Together with items I already owned:
   – Coral cushion from Freedom’s summer range
   – Grobi Bear throw
   – Metro table lamp in Copper

   Tips: How to update a room on a budget

   – Transition a space from summer to winter by updating the cushions.

   – It’s easy to move cushions from room to room in your home. For example, Rebecca moved her ‘summer’ cushions from her living room to her outdoor lounge setting on the balcony. Combine them in different ways to create a new look.

   – Add one or two new cushions to the mix, together with a few new homewares, to update a colour palette and make a seasonal change.

   – Cushions are an easy and budget-conscious way to makeover a room, but always try to work with what you have. You don’t have to shop for new furniture to give your home a new look.

   – Using simple colours as a base (such as a charcoal sofa and white bedding) allows for greater flexibility when using colours. All you need to do is change a few key homewares to create a whole new style.

   As you can see, we’re now convinced by the power of cushions to update a room on a budget. Are you a member of the Cushion Appreciation Club too?

   – See more of Lisa’s apartment here.
   – Take a tour around Rebecca’s home renovation of her ‘Treehouse’ here.

   Tutorial by Lisa Tilse and Rebecca Lowrey Boyd. All photography and styling by Lisa Tilse for We Are Scout.
   This post was originally published on We Are Scout.
   Please note that this is not a sponsored post. We were gifted our choice of cushions from Freedom, but we were under no obligation to post. But we were so impressed with the results, we thought we’d share them with you. We only ever blog about products and brands we genuinely love.

2. People stop me in the street when I wear this lip gloss

   May 16, 2015 7:00 am 1 Comment

   

   I know. I sound stupidly full of myself. But it worked: I got your attention. Most days I feel pretty invisible walking down the street. I haven’t lost the weight I’ve put on since having a baby, and that was four years ago. I really need a haircut. I dress for comfort over style. And I wander around in a constant state of distraction, trying to remember the next thing on my to-do list. So when someone (always another woman) stops me in the street or in a shop to ask for the name of my lipgloss, I take notice. Of the lipgloss.

   

   Introducing L’Oreal Paris Shine Caresse in 200 Princess, an absolute ripper of a lipgloss and my go-to colour for the past two years. It’s a juicy yellow-toned coral, which is incredibly flattering on a variety of skin tones. Coral has been trending for around eight years now, and while we’re seeing nudes coming back in a BIG way for lips, I’ll be wearing my coral gloss for a little while yet.

   

   Clockwise from left, Barbara Palvin; A Brimful of Tasha; Maria from Glam Radar; and Elia Chaba all wear L’Oreal Glam Shine Caresse in 200 Princess.

   It’s also a great option for those who are are bit scared of wearing a full-on red. This packs the same visual punch as a red lip, but the subtle shine and stain of the pigment makes it softer and somehow more wearable. I really love the feel of this gloss on my lips too, which is super-moisturising without being sticky. This is down to the formula comprised of 30% water and 60% oil.

   You can find L’Oreal Paris Shine Caresse in 200 Princess at Priceline and pharmacies for $23.95.

   Tell me: do you have a lipstick or lipgloss that people always notice?

   Please note that this is an honest, independent review about a product I really love. It’s not a paid or sponsored review, and I was not gifted any product. I pay for my lip gloss myself.

   Photography and styling (top two images) by Lisa Tilse for We Are Scout.
   This post was originally published on We Are Scout.
   

3. Tutorials: 5 Creative DIY Wall Hooks

   May 15, 2015 7:00 am 1 Comment

   

   Earlier this week we showed you our pick of the 20 best wall hooks – in the world. From cheap and cheerful plastic dots to reworked antique mirrors, we brought you the best options to suit every style and budget. We also looked at the wall hooks which arguably started the whole trend back in 2007: Muuto The Dots Coat Hangers, and found 10 clever ways to use them in every room of your home.

   Today, we’re getting crafty and looking at ways to make your own knobs, hangers and hooks for your home. I’ve found five clever tutorials for creative DIY wall hooks, using materials as diverse as rounds of birch logs to polymer clay and re-purposing children’s wooden blocks. They’re all easy to make, low on budget, but high on style. Which ones will you be making?

   

   1. Make your own decorative geo wall hooks with polymer clay – via We Are Scout.

   

   2. Make your own version of dot wall hooks using oak drawer pulls – via The Felted Fox.

   

   3. Turn old building blocks into wall hooks with a some screws and paint – via Snug Studio for Das Rote Paket.

   

   4. Create rustic wall hooks with pieces of birch wood – via Inspired by Charm.

   

   5. Make your own fun animal wall knobs using wooden doll heads and paint – via Aileen of At Home In Love for Sugar and Cloth.

   Want more creative ideas for wall hooks? You might like to read my posts from earlier this week, including:
   – Shopping Guide: 20 Best Wall Hooks; and
   – 10 Clever Ways to Use Muuto The Dots Coat Hooks in Your Home.

   Top: Photography, craft and styling by Lisa Tilse for We Are Scout.
   This post was originally published on We Are Scout.
   

4. Recipe for Hot Smoked Salmon, Roasted Garlic & Apple Salad

   May 14, 2015 7:00 am 1 Comment

   

   This is an edited extract from The New Nordic by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant, RRP $AU49.95. We hand-picked this recipe because we want to make it ourselves!
   

   Most of the smoked salmon that you buy in shops – the kind that is usually sold in flat slices – is cold smoked. This means it has been smoked for a long time without any heat source.

   I prefer hot-smoked salmon, which is usually sold as an individual fillet. The smoky flavour in hot-smoked salmon is bolder and it has a similar texture to cooked salmon. Like all smoked fish, hot-smoked salmon makes a great base for a salad because of its fantastic intense flavour and saltiness.

   Here, the roasted garlic yoghurt provides a much-needed savoury note, and the crisp apple provides sweetness and crunch.

   Serves 4

   1 garlic bulb
   250 g (9 oz/1 cup) natural yoghurt
   100 ml (3½ fl oz) full-cream (whole) milk
   Pinch of white pepper
   500 g (1 lb 2 oz) hot-smoked salmon
   ½ red onion, thinly sliced
   ½ telegraph cucumber, halved lengthways and thinly sliced
   ½ bunch radishes, thinly sliced into cold water
   1 granny smith apple, cored and thinly sliced into acidulated water
   150 g (5½ oz) watercress or mâche
   ½ lemon

   Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the garlic on a baking tray and cook for 20–25 minutes, until the edges start to turn dark brown. Squeeze the garlic flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the yoghurt, milk and white pepper and mash together, making sure the garlic is evenly combined. Season, to taste.

   Flake the salmon into a separate bowl and gently combine with the onion, cucumber, drained radish and apple slices and the watercress or mâche. Transfer to a serving platter and drizzle with the yoghurt sauce. Squeeze over the lemon and serve.

   Any leftover yoghurt sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

   

   

   This is an edited extract from The New Nordic by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant, RRP $AU49.95.

   Click here for our other recipe from Simon Bajada’s The New Nordic: Berry skyr popsicles.

5. 10 incredible ways to Decorate with Staghorns and Elkhorns

   May 12, 2015 1:04 pm Leave a Comment

   

   We all know that indoor plants are the new cut flowers, but there’s one particular type of plant which has moved from its traditional home outdoors and taken up residence on some of the most stylish indoor walls around. Say hello to elegant Elkhorns and hipster Staghorns – the new ‘It’ plants.

   

   Staghorn in a vase, via Mudbynest/Instagram.

   

   Elkhorns love the natural humid environment in bathrooms. Via Homelife/ Photography by Dkor Interiors.

   

   Add a touch of greenery to your ceiling with a hanging potted elkhorn. Via Trendland.

   Use elkhorns and staghorns to decorate your walls in the same manner as those cardboard faux deer heads. Just swap your old variegated cardboard staghorns for the living green version.

   We love seeing them hung in clusters for a simple take on the indoor green wall. Groups of three look great, and you can buy them from nurseries and Bunnings where they’ve already been mounted to timber plaques. Just hang them on your wall as living artwork.

   

   Staghorns en masse are the new gallery wall. via Flora Grubb.

   

   Green up your working space with staghorns. via The Fresh Exchange

   

   Position mounted elkhorns and staghorns next to other trailing plants for an easy vertical garden. via staghornhome/Instagram.

   Q: What’s the difference between elkhorns and staghorns?

   Elkhorns have many plants growing together and have smaller fronds. Staghorns, meanwhile, tend to be larger and grow individually. You can use both types of plants indoors.

   

   Go green in the bathroom by combining green tiles with mounted staghorns, via Granada Tile.

   

   Pop an elkhorn above your sideboard to create an eye-catching vignette. Balance the look with a lamp, potted plants, books and objects. Via Apartment Therapy/Instagram.

   

   Use mounted staghorns in your home just an artwork. Lean them against them wall or hang with other art. via staghornhome/Instagram.

   This is an edited extract from our FREE e-mag, Decorating with Plants. Packed with 84 pages of beautiful homes, clever ideas, practical tips and loads of DIY tutorials, we’ll show you exactly how to make your home beautiful with plants.

   Want your copy of Decorating with Plants NOW? Just join up to We Are Scout’s weekly newsletter and your 84-page FREE magazine will be delivered straight to your inbox. Simply enter your email address below and click Sign Up.

   Top photo via Covet Garden/Issuu

6. 10 clever ways to use Muuto The Dots Coat Hooks in your home

   May 11, 2015 12:00 pm Leave a Comment

   

   The current trend for designer-style, multi-functional wall knobs and hooks can be traced back to 2007 when Norwegian designer Lars Tornøe made his iconic ‘The Dots’ wooden coat hooks for Danish design brand Muuto.

   These rounded hooks, made from ash wood and available in three sizes and a variety of colours, could be hung in various graphic patterns on the wall, opening up a world of possibilities for use – from hanging coats, scarves and bags to towels and necklaces. They have also been purposed and personalised as sculptural wall decorations in their own right.

   Like many other iconic pieces of Scandinavian design, Muuto The Dots have been interpreted as a functional piece of beautiful design in multiple rooms and homes around the globe.

   

   Muuto The Dots Coat Hooks, courtesy of Muuto.

    

   I’ve rounded up 10 clever ways to use Muuto’s Dots in every room of your home. (It’s actually 11 if you count the pic at the top of this post – Lisa’s hung one of her amazing woven wall hangings from the Muuto Dots in her living room.) Have a look and be inspired.

   In your entrance hallway

   

   1. Get organised with Muuto Dots in your hallway, via Stadshem.

   

   2. Muuto Dots in white contrast with the natural timber wall in the entrance hallway of Pinja Colada’s home.

   

   3. The Design Chaser demonstrates how to combine The Dots with a stand to create an organisational nook inside the front door.

   On wallpaper

   

   4. Hang your Muuto Dots on ‘trees’ with forest-style wallpaper, via Saakurkistaa.

   In the kitchen

   

   5. Create a mini vertical garden by hanging moss balls from The Dots, via Larritt-Evans. Photography by Eve Wilson

   In the living room

   

   6. Hang on The Dots on a living room wall and creating an interesting vignette, combined with a chair, basket and art, as well as organising your stuff. via Stadshem

   In your work space

   

   7. The black Dot on a white wall ties in with the black + white theme in this workspace to create a clean and minimal look, while keeping headphones within easy reach – and untangled. Via Blog Milk Blog.

   In the bedroom

   

   8. Combined with white bed linen, Only Deco Love has used black Muuto Dots to create a bold and graphic statement in this minimalist bedroom. The Dots are also used to hang and showcase a garment.

   In the bathroom

   

   9. In this bathroom designed by Alter Eco, oak Dots tie in with the timber bathroom cabinet, while providing a nice Scandi-style contrast with the white subway tiles and ceramic sink.

   In the kids’ room

   

   10. In this black and white-themed kids’ bedroom, The Dots in black punctuate the white walls, while creating potential for hanging bags and storing toys. Via Kenzie Poo.

   Use Muuto’s store locator tool to find your nearest stockist of Muuto The Dots Coat Hooks. In Australia, you can find them online and in-store at The Living Edge. Head to Skandium or Twentytwentyone in the UK.

   Did you catch my shopping guide to the 20 best wall hooks in the world? Read it now.

   All photography credited to original source. Top photo by Lisa Tilse for We Are Scout.
   This post was originally published on We Are Scout.

7. Shopping Guide: 20 Best Wall Hooks

   7:00 am 3 Comments

   

   Move over cluttered gallery walls, the current trend for walls at home is to put a knob – or five – on them. It all started back in 2007 when Danish brand Muuto released their iconic The Dots Coat Hooks. Perfectly formed from ash wood, the sculptural pieces were also fantastically practical for hanging, organising and storing everything from hats and scarves to necklaces and bags.

   Fast forward eight years and the trend has trickled down to the high street, where you can pick up a pack of cheap and cheerful plastic wall knobs from IKEA for around a tenner. But if you want to up the style stakes, while keeping an eye on your budget, my money’s on Freedom’s colourful wooden wall hooks ($49.95 for a set of five), Lark’s geo wooden knobs ($39.95 for a set of three), or Country Road’s delightfully Danish-inspired set of Lupe hangers  ($79 for a set of three, also pictured at top of page).

   I really love Swedish company Aveva Design’s WOW Hanger for a textural and colourful point of difference, made from 100 per cent wool and birch wood. They’re available to purchase from UK company Mench Living, and are available in an assortment of colours and sizes.

   

   

   

   Wow hangers/hooks by Aveva Design, available from UK company Mench Living.

   Many wall knobs and hooks can also be used as handles on furniture, and are a great way to give that flat-pack cookie-cutter set of drawers/wardrobe/bedside table a more personal touch.

   From Denmark to Israel; Sydney to Sienna; and Sweden to Tasmania, via London, I’ve shopped online for my pick of the best wall hooks, knobs and hangers in the world, to suit all budgets and styles. Here’s my pick of the best 20 knobs – and they’re all real beauties.

   Applicata Nipples wall hooks
   $50 for single small - Great Dane Furniture
   Other colours available in small only

   Lupe wall hook
   $79.95 for set of 3 - Country Road
   Also available in black

   Tilt handles & hooks by Elevate Design
   from $18 each - Hard to Find
   + Free shipping within Australia
   Assorted colours and sizes available

   Wooden wall hook set
   $49.95 for a set of 4 - Vavoom
   Available in different colours

   Coco Wall hook knob
   £15 each - SketchInc.

   Aveva Design WOW Hanger
   £10 each - Mench Living
   Assorted colours and sizes available

   Geo wood display hooks in yellow by Rare Rabbit
   $89.95 for a set of 3 - Hard to Find
   + Free shipping within Australia

   Dial hanger by Design By Them
   $35 each - Hard to Find
   + Free shipping within Australia
   Assorted colours available

   Dot handles & hooks by Elevate Design
   $72 for a set of 4 - Hard to Find
   + Free shipping within Australia
   Assorted colours and sizes available

   Spejlknage Grå #3
   DKK. 275,00 - Stilleben

   Coloured Wooden Wall Knobs
   $9.95 each for small - Lark
   Available in different colours and sizes

   Wooden wall hooks
   £45 for set of 3 - Chocolate Creative
   Assorted colour combinations available

   Door coloured wooden knobs
   £9 each - Chocolate Creative
   Assorted colours available

   Big O in Blackheart Sassafras
   Price on application from Interia Design
   design@interia.com.au

   Muuto The Dots Coat Hook in Ash
   $30 each for small - Living Edge
   Available in different colours and sizes

   LOSJÖN Hanger
   $9.99 for a set of 5 - IKEA

   Paintbox Wall Hooks
   $49.95 for a set of 5 - Freedom

   Spejlknage Blå #5
   DKK. 415,00 - Stilleben

   Ball coat hooks by Tayo Studio
   US$81 for a set 3 - We Are Scout Store
   + Free shipping worldwide

   Geo Wooden Knobs
   $39.95 for a set of 3 - Lark

   Want more inspiration on how to use modern wall hooks throughout your home? Check back later today for my round-up of most creative ways to hang Muuto’s Dots in every room of your home; as well as the best DIY wall knobs and hooks.

8. New Book: All the Buildings in Sydney

   May 9, 2015 7:00 am Leave a Comment

   

   If the illustrations in All the Buildings in Sydney look a little familiar, you might recall James Gulliver Hancock’s inimitable style from his remarkable first book, All the Buildings in New York. Dedicated to his one-time home, the book was the result of Hancock’s desire to familiarise himself and ‘map’ the streets of New York by drawing it. One building at a time. He subsequently blogged about it, people raved about it, and of course, the book publisher came knocking at his door.

   

   Back then, his name was also familiar to my husband, who remembers Hancock in his classes while studying for a Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication degree at Sydney’s UTS.

   Hancock’s Sydney homecoming and subsequent book is a personal project, starting with his childhood home in Balmain. What follows is a veritable field guide to Sydney’s unique architectural history, from the small and anonymous residential cottages in Sydney’s inner west to art deco buildings in Potts Point and modernist masterpieces like Rose Seidler House. It’s been described as a “love letter to Sydney’, and is a must-have for lovers of architecture and Sydney alike (pssst… Mother’s Day is this weekend).

   

   Naturally, he revisits his former brutalist Alma Mater on Broadway. He said in an interview with Fairfax that “I hated all that brutalism stuff before I started drawing buildings; now I love it. I don’t love interacting with it daily, but as a sculpture, they’re amazing.”

   Happily, Hancock has drawn most of my favourite buildings in Sydney, which I’ve included in this post, including the space-ship house I stare at every time I cross The Spit bridge in Seaforth.

   

   

   

   More of Hancock’s work can be found at jamesgulliverhancock.com and allthebuildingsinnewyork.com, and he’s also running a workshop at Sydney’s Finders Keepers market this weekend. You can follow him on Instagram here.

   This is an edited extract from All the Buildings in Sydney by James Gulliver Hancock, published by Hardie Grant RRP $29.95, available in stores nationally.

9. The New Nordic: Recipe for Berry & Skyr Popsicles

   May 7, 2015 7:00 am Leave a Comment

   

   We hand-picked this Recipe for berry & skyr popsicles just for you from The New Nordic – and because we wanted to make them ourselves! We’ll leave it Simon to tell you all about skyr – but if you can’t find it in a shop near you, just use Greek-style yoghurt.

   (We also love the idea of using twigs as popsicle sticks. We might just borrow that idea the next time we want to give our iced confections some instant Nordic style.)
   

   This is an edited extract from The New Nordic by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant, RRP $AU49.95.

   Berry & skyr popsicles

   While the rest of the world is content with natural and Greek-style yoghurts, the range of fermented and cultured milks in the Nordic region is astounding. But, somehow, Iceland has risen above the others with its slightly sour, velvety skyr, said to have been introduced to them by the Vikings.

   Skyr is now Iceland’s most iconic food product; perhaps not so surprising considering that the world’s appetite for whale meat is not particularly strong. It is now gaining quite a global reputation, exported all across Scandinavia and to the UK, and with manufacturers in New York and California in the US. It freezes particularly well, better than most yoghurts and is perfect for these popsicles.

   Makes about eight depending on the size of your moulds.

   You will need

   – 500 G (1 LB 2 OZ) Icelandic Skyr Or Natural Or Greek-Style Yoghurt
   – 250 G (9 Oz) Mixed Berries (Frozen Are Fine, But Rinse Them Lightly First)
   – 1 Tablespoon Runny Honey
   – 1 Tablespoon Almond Butter

   Method

   Combine all the ingredients well, then spoon into popsicle moulds and freeze
   for at least 3 hours.

   

   This is an edited extract from The New Nordic by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant, RRP $AU49.95.

   This is the first of two recipes from The New Nordic we’re publishing this week on We Are Scout. Stayed tuned for the next one!

10. 20 Best (non-naff and actually nice) Mother’s Day Craft Projects

    May 5, 2015 8:25 am 10 Comments

    

    Time to earn your craft patch, scouts. Mother’s Day is Sunday (in quite a few countries around the world) and a gift made with your own hands will always be treasured and loved. We’ve rounded up the best Mother’s Day craft projects for 2015, where each and every tutorial was put through the rather rigorous We-Are-Scout-Craft-Screening process.

    We assessed each project according to: a) usability; b) aesthetics; c) difficulty and could-be-arsed factor; and d) something-mum-will-actually-wear-or-use-or-treasure-or-put-out-in-her-home. We are pleased to present the 20 amazing craft projects that passed the test. Make these little beauties and you’ve more than earned your craft patch. You’re actually awesome and we salute you.

    Enjoy.

    

    1. How to make marble coasters by Sarah Johnson.

    

    2. Make semi-precious stone soaps by Fall for DIY.

    

    3. Make mini ‘naked’ cakes’ by Minted/Julep.

    

    4. Make botanical wall art with free printables by Poppytalk.

    

    5. Make family photo blocks by We Are Scout.

    

    6. Make a woven pillow by A Beautiful Mess.

    

    7. Make a polymer clay marble and copper necklace by We Are Scout.

    

    8. Make a watercolour mug by Poppytalk.

    

    9. Make a pom-pom wall hanging by We Are Scout

    

    10. Make leaf art by Monster’s Circus.

    

    11. Make a stylish braided bracelet – with hama beads by We Are Scout.

    

    12. Make Mother’s Day flower art with a free printable by Hello Wonderful.

    

    13. Make a polymer clay mini succulent hanging planter by We Are Scout.

    

    14. Make splatter-painted napkins by Oh Happy Day.

    

    15. Make coffee and coconut soap sticks by Fall for DIY.

    

    16. Make a gorgeous gold paper sack planter by We Are Scout.

    

    17. Make wool felt ball coasters by Inspired by Charm.

    

    18. Make homemade herbal bath salts by Minted/Julep.

    

    19. Make herb cards with free printables by The Prudent Garden.

    

    20. Make Mother’s Day miniature matchbox bouquets by Oh Happy Day.

    And here’s a bonus one, purely because it’s too adorable not to include.

    

    Make a mini Mother’s Day trophy by Oh Happy Day.

    Your turn. Tell us: which project do you think you might try?

    You might also like to read our Mother’s Day Gift Guide to Online Charity Shops or browse our craft tutorials archive.

11. Take our quick survey and you could WIN an amazing prize

    May 4, 2015 7:00 am Leave a Comment

    

    We need to learn a little more about you so we can make We Are Scout the best it can be, and that means asking you few questions. Click here to go to the survey.

    To thank you for your time, we’ve compiled a line-up of amazing prizes to give away.

    

    A gorgeous Ink & Spindle floor cushion, valued at $140 (1 floor cushion to be won)

    

    Dr Hauschka Clarifying Face Care Kit, valued at $47 (4 kits to be won)

    

    Snail Mail prize pack, including a copy of Snail Mail; Buttons A5 Journal; Buttons 3 Mini Notebooks; Buttons Boxed Notecards (1 prize pack to be won)

    

    Inbal Designs Gold Geometric Stud Earrings, valued at $34.  (1 pair of earrings to be won)

    

    Set of three Wolfgang and Rose art prints, valued at a total of $120.  (1 set of three prints to be won)

    Love these prizes? All you need to do is complete the online survey and one of these amazing prizes could be yours. We promise we won’t give your email address to anyone else or add it to our own mailing list. We only need it to contact you if you win. Scout’s honour.

    This survey has closed.

12. Dear Lisa Gorman, please make clothes larger than size 14

    May 2, 2015 12:41 pm 7 Comments

    

    So far there hasn’t been a Gorman collaboration we haven’t loved. But their latest winter collaboration with Australian artist Miranda Skoczek is an absolute stand-out.

    Skoszek’s signature abstract prints dance across Gorman’s line-up of frocks, tops, pants, jackets and coats in a riotous celebration of colour and shape. Based around five original artworks painted by Miranda, the designs are anashamedly Australian, with “snakes entangled and spliced against bluebells and proteas in our mad snake print.”

    

    “The garden of Eden story will transport you to a colourful geometric botanical wonderland and further developed in the ritual print, enlarged cut and paste style graphics are joined by more Australian natives on navy and a punchy aqua blue.” says Gorman.

    

    

    It’s all really rather special, and I applaud Gorman’s clever thinking behind working with Australian talent like Miranda Skoczek, whose look and style is pitch-perfect for Gorman’s design-conscious market.

    I’m tempted to run out and snatch up the whole lot.

    My only gripe?

    Gorman’s clothes only go up to a size 14. The average Australian woman is a size 16. This may not be healthy, but it’s the sad truth. If you’re blessed/cursed with a big bosom like me, Gorman’s tops and dresses won’t fit. I can just get into them, but the fabric pulls tightly across my boobs. I know Gorman’s trademark loose tunics and frocks look best worn by lithe, lean and long bodies, but hey, fat ladies like prints too!

    

    I can’t tell you the number of rather cool ladies I’ve talked to lately who lament the fact they can’t wear Gorman. Tall skinny ladies even have a problem with the frock hem lengths, which end up around mid-thigh.

    Take this beautiful Snakes Alive cord dress, for example. This cut and shape is right up my alley – but look at the hemline! When you’re in your ‘40s, it’s not cool to wear your frock up around your arse. And let’s not even talk about trying to get into a pair of Gorman pants. Yikes. I guess that’s why I’ve been sticking to their shoes (always brilliant designs), accessories and homewares.

    

    Are you there Lisa Gorman? It’s me, Birdy.

    Please can you make clothes for fatties and big-bosomed babes, too? I wasn’t always a fattie. But then I had a baby and my boobs haven’t gone back down. (Actually, they’ve gone south, but they just take up a whole lot more room.) I have a pot belly. And as a size 16 design-conscious lady, I’m sad because I can’t wear your awesome clothes. Till then, I’ll indulge in your excellent mod booties.

    Your fan girl forever,
    (Not so wee) Birdy xxx

    p.s. Lisa (Tilse) just asked if you could also make shoes in a size 42. K thx bai!

    All photography courtesy of Gorman.

     

13. Gift Guide: Mother’s Day Picks from Online Charity Shops

    May 1, 2015 4:43 pm Leave a Comment

    

    If you haven’t got your Mother’s Day presents sorted for this year, you might like to consider spending your money with one of the great charities that have an online shop. It’s a great time of the year to support other women in need around the world. I’ve picked three Australian-based online shops to source the best presents for this gift guide: Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia; Oxfam and Australian Red Cross. If you didn’t know that you could buys gifts from these charities’ online shops, you might like to check them out.

    Hamlin Fistula Ethiopa is a particularly relevant charity for Mother’s Day, and their online shop is full of gorgeous African homewares, books, coffee and toys. The charity was founded by Dr Catherine Hamlin to raise funds exclusively for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, as well as associated centres.

    

    Access to proper obstetric services for women in Ethiopia is extremely difficult, and trained midwives and surgeons are few and far between. Fistulas (or holes) develop between the rectum and vagina or betweeen the bladder and vagina after a difficult childbirth where adequate medical care isn’t available.

    Women living in poor areas are forced to walk up to two days’ to get to a hospital. Other women won’t seek help and will stuff their clothes with rags to prevent leakage, and they’re often humiliated and seen as outcasts within their own villages.

    

    Founder of Hamiln Fistula Ethiopia Dr Catherine Hamlin AC. This portrait, painted by artist Sally Ryan, was a finalist in the 2013 Archibald prize.

    Obstetric fistula is not only life-threatening and disables the woman in so many ways, it also affects their families and communities. The work that Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia does not only helps to save the lives of mothers, but it also helps to save whole communities. You can read more about their amazing work here.

    In the meantime, have a look at our top picks from our favourite online charity shops and help support other women in need for Mother’s Day. Just hover over the images below to see product details and click through to buy.

    [ngg_images gallery_ids=”16” display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” template=caption]

    All photography courtesy of individual charity shops. Top image courtesy of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. You can purchase gorgeous handmade crochet blankets from the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia shop.