What's your style? Industrial chic or cosy colonial?

Now I am not and interior designer, nor an expert on architectural styles, but last weekend I was lucky enough to stay in 2 totally different places, and it got me thinking.....
What is my style?

Is it the cool modern interiors of the Harbour Rocks Hotel in the Rocks area of downtown Sydney or the grandmotherly comfort of a guest house in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney?

Here is our room at the former -

and some other images from their website -

image courtesy Harbour Rocks Hotel

 The hotel has been sculpted out of heritage listed buildings that are 150 years old. Built on the site of Sydney's first hospital the buildings have most recently been used as workshops and flats.
Their website has some photos of the buildings before they were renovated - quite a job!

image courtesy Harbour Rocks Hotel

I wasn't sure how to describe this style of decor.....Industrial Chic?
And sure enough when I googled it - up popped these images -

image from apartmenttherapy.com

image from Bonnie's murals and more

image from twistedsifter

What do you think? Your style or no?

And now for something completely different.....
In complete contrast our accommodation the next night was more cosy, colonial country.
Kurrara Guest House in Katoomba is an one hundred and twenty year old custom-built guest house.
Katoomba has long been a tourist destination due to the amazing scenery and temperate climate so it's not surprising that some enterprising business people built these guest houses.

I must say that I'm not a great fan of tizzy, chintzy places but Kurrara has just the right amount of comfort and period style without being too OTT!

Actually Kurrara falls into the Federation period of architecture, which was the start of an individual Australian style. Typified by verandahs, shingles, gable windows and the use of ausralian motifs.
Kurrara is a very sweet example of this style which is being lovingly refurbished by the present owners, the lovely Evelyn and Iain.

So what's your style when you are looking for accommodation?
Or is price and location your only consideration?

Unleashing the beast! - my creative space

 It's been a while....and so I'd forgotten how difficult it could be.
It has deceptively clean simple lines.
It comes in it's own zip-up bag.
But underneath that calm exterior lies a beast with a mind of its own!
....yes, it's the OVERLOCKER!
I wanted take in the side seams of some dresses - in particular the dress that I got for $3 from Vinnies which I'm going to wear to a 50's party on Saturday.
Which meant that I had to unleash the beast!

One hour later - I needed a rest, a cup of tea, calming down....
Then I even went to the lengths of going out to the shops....
I didn't want to admit defeat....but I cold just use a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine....couldn't I?

NO!

Then, for no apparent reason, I had the 4 threads arranged in just the right configuration - and BINGO!

 I had side seams sewn.

Then it was just a snip to run up the side seams of the other 2 dresses.

By now I was in full-blown mending mode.
So I stitched some of Mr planet's trousers that had come adrift and sailed gaily on to adapting son's tshirts.
Master planet does'nt like tightness around his neck (and I swear I never tried to strangle him when he was a terrible-two-year-old!).
I don't know if this will work, but I cut of the neck ribbing and sewed a hem with a sort of zig-zag stitch.

I'm really missing not playing with my beads this week, but life has been much too busy.....maybe next week - until then....

I'm joining in with my creative space on Village Voices - pop on over and see what's going on over there.

Learning something new or finding inspiration

Where do you go when you want to extend yourself or learn a new skill or technique?

Some people take classes.
Others may find the answers to their questions in on-line tutorials.

Me? I subscribe to beading magazines.
This is how I've learned (almost) everything I know about beads, beading and beadwork in the 16 years that I've been playing with beads.

Bead and Button was my first infatuation, and I have copies going back about 1998 I think.
I've kept them all of course but it's almost impossible for me to find anything in the very old copies.

I can't remember when I first discovered Beadwork, but I used to just buy it occasionally from the newsagent until I finally succumbed to a subscription.

Both these mags are bi-monthly and conveniently arrive in my letterbox on different months, so spreading out the beady joy.

They have both also had babies - with an emphasis on quicker stringing design rather intricate beadwork ideas.

And, yes, I found their charms irresistible too!

I love all these for different reasons, and they all have great "how-to" sections as well as general information, trends etc and always check out the advertisers for supplies.
Mostly the projects are submitted by contributors and tested by the magazine's team, so you know they are going to work for you.

Do you buy magazines for your craft?
Do you subscribe as I do?
Where else to you get tutorials and instruction?
Ideas and inspiration?

Summer brights - my creative space

We've had a lovely couple of days warm spring weather, a little windy maybe, but definitely peeling-the-layers-off weather.
So my thoughts have turned to bright summery colours and long necklaces which look so great with summer fashions.

I'm loving these decorated shell beads and I have some bright stone beads to pair with them.

These ceramic beads have been great favorites - so they need to make another appearance.

This is what I came up with - 

I'm joining in with Our Creative Spaces over on Village Voices - pop on over and have a look!

We head for the hills - Wordless Wednesday

Look what just popped up! - Wednesday wishes.

Sometimes the loveliest things pop up in my already saved favorites on etsy!

Today I couldn't resist clicking on this sumptious handmade glass cabouchon by dancingfrogjewels.
Designing in my head all the possibilites for it's use!

And even though we actually have spring here now - the elegant simplicity of this scarf caught my eye - or was it the lovely salmon pink?
I could save it for next winter couldn't I?

And the whimsy of this just tickled my fancy!

Who didn't love those "join the dots" books when they were a kid? - or in fact, can't resist doodling when faced with a dotty design?!
I'm sure the artist mummysam understands all those temptations!

What are you temped by today?

On my reading table

Joining a book club has been so good for my reading!
Apart from the monthly books we chose to read, it has given my reading a big boost.

I am getting through the big pile of books on my reading table (actually I don't have a reading table - the books are piled up net to my bed!)

This is the book we are reading in bookclub this month.
And after only one chapter I'm hooked!
Apparently it's a true story but reads like a novel.
Have you read it? What did you think?
It was also made into a movie with Kevin Spacey and Jack Thompson. I didn't see it, but would be interested in getting the dvd if it's still available.

Last month we read The Sense of an ending by Julian Barnes.
I really enjoyed this - I got drawn into it so that I couldn't put it down as the pages progressed.
It's a slim volume ans some in the bookclub finished it in a couple of hours!
I'm not such a fast reader - in fact I'm a very slow reader.

And while I'm here I'll introduce you to the book we read the month before -

I had already read Past the Shallows, but it was good to read it again as I found I noticed other things about the story and enjoyed the scene setting - the story takes place in the backwaters of Tasmania and it's a very picturesque part of the world.

In between the bookclub reading I managed to fit in one of my own!

I heard Geoff Dyer read a hilarious excerpt from it at the Sydney Writer's Festival earlier this year - about queuing (or not) in India and having just been to India I could really relate to this!
Also I have aspirations to go to Venice next year, where the first part of this book is set.
It's a curious book, split into 2 quite different halves, quite interesting and easy to read......but I'm not sure I totally got the point of the stories.

Anyhoo - off I go, back to the depths of the deep south of the US and the story of the garden of good and evil.

What are you reading at the moment?
Do you have any suggestions for our bookclub?
Do you belong to a bookclub?