please Santa...

Diane von Furstenberg
Harper Bon Bon calf hair shoulder bag

 

Maje
Ketchup leopard-print calf hair and leather tote

 

Valentino
VaVaVoom calf hair shoulder bag

Any or all - your choice Santa...

I'm happy about...

 My skirt from Witchery and white shirt from Country Road.

Convolvulus

Calistomen

The Elephant by Valentina - here.  Her images are available framed or as stretched canvases. I likee.

 The Kaz cushions on order from cottonbox. I can't wait for them to arrive.

 Busy sewers made their hoodies in time for their last snow trip for the year.

the Nespresso juggernaut

Coffee purists should probably look away now... but then again you might have to get off your high horse.
I succumbed to the marketing madness that is the Nespresso coffee making method.  I bought the Pixie machine that comes with an aeroccino3. IMHO the coffee it produces is as good or better than most coffee shops.

I dropped in to the Nespresso boutique at Chadstone and they certainly have created a retail "experience". That's George at the tasting counter having a sample.

The shop is decked out with superior lighting ( I love a good light fitting) and the pods are displayed on the wall in their jewel colours in a most festive manner. I had fun selecting my pods to take home.
You can try a number of different blends and then order at the counter the "sleeves" of ten that you want. They have a limited edition variety just to add to the "must have now" hype. There is online ordering as well but then you don't get George.

If the resulting cup of coffee wasn't so good I'd slam the whole process but it is wonderful. George is right.
I am working my way through a few different blends and getting thoroughly coffeed out. 
The Decaffeinato Intenso is full flavoured and a great alternative when you want the taste but not the caffeine - I know - why bother - but sometimes you have to.

beautiful Australian Story - Under Her Spell

 My sister encouraged me to see this episode of Australian Story and her description of it really hooked me in - well done M - I loved it.
This ep is about former stunt woman Zelie Bullen, turned world renowned animal trainer. Her story is one of profound loss experienced through the deaths of many people in her life but also of her beautiful connection with animals and her new-found confidence in love and relationships that she now has with her husband and young son.
Her most recent work with horses will be seen in Steven Spielberg's new movie "War Horse".
Her attachment to the horse "Abraham" and the continuing story is worth a look.
You can see the ep online - here

I'm happy about...

Spotlight has 30% off all fur fabric at the moment and I snapped a few shots for inspiration while my students were choosing their fabrics. As passionate as I am about animal prints at the moment I couldn't see myself wearing the wild faux fur look with Summer approaching. But there are plenty of chilly evenings ahead so I bought enough Bengal Lynx to make a throw rug.

 This pink fur is completely OTT but I love it.

 

 My choice was the Bengal Lynx - 1.6m and the same length of polar fleece for the lining.
I stitched the two pieces together on three sides and then turned it through. Then I folded in the edges on the remaining side and stitched close to the fold. I top-stitched five cm from the edge all around.

 Cosy!

leopard love

I have a leopard problem. Scarves, shirts, those faded leopard jeans that skinny young things can wear - and shoes. I love seeing a bit of leopard peeking out of just about any outfit.

 

 These boots have the faded leopard look inspired by the jeans seen on the streets of Stockholm.

Nice legs.

words of wisdom

"Our purpose in this life is to help others, and if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

                                                              THE DALAI LAMA

looking at Samantha Wills

I love an Aussie success story. Samantha Wills has gone from strength to strength with her jewellery line. 
The rings caught my eye............. Just looking, not buying.....yet.