Standard Issue

©Kara Rosenlund

I was out and about sourcing yesterday for a shoot when to my pure joy I came across these...

Original 1968 Swags from the Vietnam War - never used!

I was squealing about all over the place when I saw them; I bought a few as I think they have many different uses. The fabric is a beautiful heavy cotton and there is foam in the middle for support, plus the slip is removable for washing and ironing - could this get any better!

I have mine on the front daybed at the moment, though I think they would work if you wanted to take them to the park too, or of course 'glamping' (thats glamorous camping Mum, I didn't spell it wrong) and I think it would work as a chic baby play mat. What do you think?

They will be available at the next Travelling Wares market, though if you are anything like me and can't wait til then you can always email me!

K xx

P.S The last image is of our hyacinths out the front, see, I told you they would be appearing soon... ( Between you and me I was actually a bit worried that they would not appear at all). Here is when I planted them.

Hiya Hyacinths

© Kara Rosenlund

One thing I love about autumn is planting bulbs. Come spring your garden or garden pots will be blooming with gorgeous flowers. Over the weekend I decided to plant some hyacinths bulbs in the large pots out the front under the gardenias... super easy; hyacinths have a delicious fragrance which smells a lot like bubble gum and they come in many different colours, purple, pink, blue and white.

Make a series of holes 15cm in depth and 20cm apart and pop your treasures in, cover with dirt and water; come spring you will be laughing.. and smelling like bubble gum!

x

Happy Hydrangeas

© Kara Rosenlund

I bought these pretty hydrangeas Saturday morning at our local produce markets. A girlfriend and I headed in bright and early for a delightful morning of gourmet hunting and gathering.

I absolutely adore hydrangeas, I know I say that about a lot of things here, however these bulging beauties are high up on the list. I have attempted to grow hydrangeas countless times, however they always end up with the same dreadful fate - a crunchy dried shrivelled mess. Cut blooms suits my gardening repertoire far better. Each day fill the vase with icy water and spray with an atomiser - ta dah!

vR x

nB - let me know if you have any tips for growing happy hydrangeas!

I had to share...

I just came across this rather lovely image bursting with floral prettiness, that I just had to share. I can feel spring in my finger tips; I am getting so excited about my new front garden! Having your very own piece of earth to garden is such a privilege. After renting in London for so long to now having my very own garden is almost overwhelming! Expect more garden posts.

vR x

Tree Love

© Patrick Cline

Happy Weekend all.

Im looking forward to a weekend of gardening and hedging!

vR gets crafty in the garden - watch out!

vR x

Beautiful Bogan...

Bougainvilleas. Love them or hate them? Would you believe I have actually crossed over to the other side. I am crazy in love with them at the moment. The relationship hasn't always been this way. The Bogan and I have never been friends; I always thought she was far too common for me and way too loud when it came to her flowers - raging magenta, electric fushia; not in my garden thanks! However, recently I have had a change of heart or rather Bougainvillea's vibrancy has ignited my heart! All these years of being misunderstood, sorry Bougainvillea, I love your flowering flamboyance!

vR x

The Basics

© Christopher Baker

I can feel spring coming in the air as I feel the yearning to eat and entertain outdoors once again; here is one of the simplest additions to elevate any entertaining occasion in any season - a basic vinaigrette from Skye Gyngell's 'A Year in my Kitchen'.

Enjoy

vR x

Ingredients

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp sherry vinegar

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

200ml extra virgin olive oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

Put the mustard and sherry vinegar into a bowl and add a generous pinch of sea salt and pepper. Stand the bowl on a cloth to keep it steady, then gradually whisk in the extra virgin olive oil to emulsify. Lastly, squeeze in the lemon juice and whisk to combine. Check the seasoning and set aside until ready.

Efficient Home is a Happy Home

©Lonny Magazine

©Sharyn Cairns

© Sharyn Cairns

Like the rest of the population who are aware of the changing world around us, I have become increasingly concerned with the unquenchable thirst for energy we have and the dirty appetite we have to consume.

Here are a couple of really simple and easy solutions I have adopted to help make my home more efficient! If I can do it you can too!

Compost! You will be surprised and slightly shocked by the volume of food scraps that are wasted. The best way to manage this is to have a little enamel bowl handy to pop all your food scraps in and then a compost spot in the back of your garden to throw them all into. Beware, composting is addictive! Here are some tips to get started.

GYO! The most fun thing you can do is Grow- Your-Own! Much of the commercial produce grown and sold travels hundreds of kilometres from the farm to the supermarkets. Why not grow it yourself in your own back yard, window sill or verandah. It won't take more than an afternoon to set up!

Reduce your heating! I recently sold our heater on eBay. We live in Queensland, it really isn't necessary. Limit your heating, bring out your beautiful blankets and throws, utilize curtains and rugs, wear socks and slippers, revel in the season!

Meat Free Monday! Farm animals produce a lot of poo, which in turn releases methane - a greenhouse gas. When you total up the energy used for feed and transportation, plus the methane released, livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the worlds greenhouse gases. Utilise the richness of our culinary diversity by omitting meat from at least one meal a week. You often find the worlds best chefs don't see lines or distinctions between vegetarian or meat filled meals, why should we!

Happy Weekend! Get Composting!

vR x