Surf's up

We're a family of beach lovers, and the crew are partial to a spot of surfing. The Mr has just bought himself yet another board to add to his growing collection, and my youngest daughter has apparently found her next birthday present:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVSvBw8zuohHb3c3I1m92QNzEtP_1FBJPC2zrbI-u5jNf8cjRpN_jYX6EM12cWR61RLbewsnuPpL08djxg5B5rbe7pfTjYM-lSF6640SbAxqRimOftAGMSeBtOS4F4TMPhh3h8bUGAuGF/s1600/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVSvBw8zuohHb3c3I1m92QNzEtP_1FBJPC2zrbI-u5jNf8cjRpN_jYX6EM12cWR61RLbewsnuPpL08djxg5B5rbe7pfTjYM-lSF6640SbAxqRimOftAGMSeBtOS4F4TMPhh3h8bUGAuGF/s640/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She can't choose between the black..... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGyqjDGkQBk2-rK6kijlKe_RTT5LyCTtmC1XvSXecRpIvrYxqFJZzNw8RgHtxR_Bqvns-fiJuu3TyHeQYIKfFxphAzhy6hl6dKm8qoiSTymPmR_wkBTG_eaYhuSXA3PftpjR9FFt8i0cg/s1600/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGyqjDGkQBk2-rK6kijlKe_RTT5LyCTtmC1XvSXecRpIvrYxqFJZzNw8RgHtxR_Bqvns-fiJuu3TyHeQYIKfFxphAzhy6hl6dKm8qoiSTymPmR_wkBTG_eaYhuSXA3PftpjR9FFt8i0cg/s640/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">or the aqua......</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_p7giCRgxIMQeEK7fcruxGhIr7GgTkI1wHXUEjSXsqHULbdbZHgs6Nojk8bqMPGC-IzDf458fif8L7_W-mWwmwhkMUBh6jLDaeoofz0rpq9Mlc7X7UL2DQ6ZV-mOB2oaXn7cHeNx-_1MC/s1600/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_p7giCRgxIMQeEK7fcruxGhIr7GgTkI1wHXUEjSXsqHULbdbZHgs6Nojk8bqMPGC-IzDf458fif8L7_W-mWwmwhkMUBh6jLDaeoofz0rpq9Mlc7X7UL2DQ6ZV-mOB2oaXn7cHeNx-_1MC/s640/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV2WkLIOzUiOwiBuvjOnyifNzJbfyNHOesmJf_sF5uTVELk4HbPMjdl4zZrnc6nVCg0RDfifI3bfUrRKlYDfteguxeBwWFeUQkYzLhZq1Dw4rHQlzZa1SzvqM2DCizMPcDeFGagsCIrJJ/s1600/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraftnavajoshortboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV2WkLIOzUiOwiBuvjOnyifNzJbfyNHOesmJf_sF5uTVELk4HbPMjdl4zZrnc6nVCg0RDfifI3bfUrRKlYDfteguxeBwWFeUQkYzLhZq1Dw4rHQlzZa1SzvqM2DCizMPcDeFGagsCIrJJ/s640/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraftnavajoshortboard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2GbnKYI2imqPCj8KsxSHYpoyYu2Bcxu4z-HqC6woo-ralezi1XwKFRyC1Xje1_1znTTGj-d6KJrIDopaRYoHipzWVp1sWtk8qsai_pack-8ZN98diyWXwestOuXYOIEAKryCjbSGRxib/s1600/surfboards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2GbnKYI2imqPCj8KsxSHYpoyYu2Bcxu4z-HqC6woo-ralezi1XwKFRyC1Xje1_1znTTGj-d6KJrIDopaRYoHipzWVp1sWtk8qsai_pack-8ZN98diyWXwestOuXYOIEAKryCjbSGRxib/s640/surfboards.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXA_mEudPHcT1yG2gFALhLK5AT6N9HVWb8e-tprc9a5IXFHjfptEwlEHwZitX2B526QRDVQF0ye5u4NtelUeXIwFeZGpfWs0iBgIJ6zVPyoH6RpcJCrpS9ofIeBkjwN1xf6wGce0TvG6U/s1600/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXA_mEudPHcT1yG2gFALhLK5AT6N9HVWb8e-tprc9a5IXFHjfptEwlEHwZitX2B526QRDVQF0ye5u4NtelUeXIwFeZGpfWs0iBgIJ6zVPyoH6RpcJCrpS9ofIeBkjwN1xf6wGce0TvG6U/s640/paddedimage616378-cocorepublicsurfcraft1f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">...and who can blame her - I'm tempted to buy one just for decoration! Find yours at <a href="http://www.cocorepublic.com.au/product/product-listing/new-arrivals/surfcraft/">Coco Republic</a>.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>

Surf's up

We're a family of beach lovers, and the crew are partial to a spot of surfing. The Mr has just bought himself yet another board to add t...

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Flora and fauna

Flowers are a constant source of inspiration for me. The colours, shapes and perfumes are so many and varied I think it would take a lifetime to paint every one I loved. But I'm working on it. One of my girls works part-time in a florist, and she brings home something gorgeous every week. Bliss. Here's a little look at a few pieces I have on the go:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How about some pretty lisianthus? They go so well with Louis Vuitton, don't you think?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM4_IlvZebzI6xlSgP5NUWR_KqidpohHik-DQKE0r4udTVLgaqa6kEBsz6eLyfILbTjVKpsPjxh_mbao23yt6LoBNOticpB9oGCVxpEo2bz-vhmEXgrwAgWcVsxfMzx0IH_2SFuRpStD8/s1600/louis+sneak+peek+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM4_IlvZebzI6xlSgP5NUWR_KqidpohHik-DQKE0r4udTVLgaqa6kEBsz6eLyfILbTjVKpsPjxh_mbao23yt6LoBNOticpB9oGCVxpEo2bz-vhmEXgrwAgWcVsxfMzx0IH_2SFuRpStD8/s640/louis+sneak+peek+watermarked.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Prints will soon be available in my <a href="http://www.driftwoodinteriors.etsy.com/">Etsy store</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or maybe hot pink orchids are more your style? No problem at all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NDZ4ffc3aCC6qzD7phLdVhtrpbtIRec0pRGP25RQ4bxiKo8vZe3YvD3oZrg1rPPADCq-3lc5406u14SeBrEoRCMdMtuLSQqezItyLzxCZbedU58MV2xGm5ZExry6iC4jPMC_IsE6drKT/s1600/pink+orchid+flowers+watermarked+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NDZ4ffc3aCC6qzD7phLdVhtrpbtIRec0pRGP25RQ4bxiKo8vZe3YvD3oZrg1rPPADCq-3lc5406u14SeBrEoRCMdMtuLSQqezItyLzxCZbedU58MV2xGm5ZExry6iC4jPMC_IsE6drKT/s640/pink+orchid+flowers+watermarked+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And these oriental lilies will soon be the star of a new, larger work on paper:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinckhEgbUlWhWtxhu8K7j-ZAtILUCpkNLpQL2b6326AQacF2al_W1qWSM6-Zym2MjKJn9JcfxjRCERE0lwWF-uhHhOugSQt9iTrUyyJOWUPBDWmvmeiehRRE7F1_P6JmsbXtj70V-O5gvP/s1600/orientals+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinckhEgbUlWhWtxhu8K7j-ZAtILUCpkNLpQL2b6326AQacF2al_W1qWSM6-Zym2MjKJn9JcfxjRCERE0lwWF-uhHhOugSQt9iTrUyyJOWUPBDWmvmeiehRRE7F1_P6JmsbXtj70V-O5gvP/s640/orientals+.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for the fauna? Well, you'll just have to pop in tomorrow for those :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Flora and fauna

Flowers are a constant source of inspiration for me. The colours, shapes and perfumes are so many and varied I think it would take a lifetim...

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Who knew?

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a seminar by celebrity designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Anyone familiar with the programme 'Million Dollar Decorators' will recognise Martyn, so I jumped at the chance to hear him chat about his work and his high-profile clients. He was delightful - warm, witty and funny, and his stories were very entertaining! Think tales of design consultations in Cher's ornate bed (once owned by Natasha Rambova, the lesbian wife of Rudolph Valentino), holidays with Elton John, and dinner with Sharon and Ozzie Osbourne. I was too enthralled to take a single photo, but here are a few I borrowed:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2jUeDBB3Ovhu7JWti1bJWsuYb4TqeFbh3yvxzA5gdUjXE0urWDFP4uEXMJRL4BUwTB2gmguSVFEX-6cLo-jYQsvEtY5zGhjm6je1HkkxUA0a7BqhZ_RvOqRxWco8B5SW2hS9lSarf2S2/s1600/Martyn+Lawrence+Bullard+Pacific+Design+Center+zBDYxAMT0C_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2jUeDBB3Ovhu7JWti1bJWsuYb4TqeFbh3yvxzA5gdUjXE0urWDFP4uEXMJRL4BUwTB2gmguSVFEX-6cLo-jYQsvEtY5zGhjm6je1HkkxUA0a7BqhZ_RvOqRxWco8B5SW2hS9lSarf2S2/s640/Martyn+Lawrence+Bullard+Pacific+Design+Center+zBDYxAMT0C_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the man of the hour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_GZ9xwRQHE?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And look - Decoration and Design have shared a backstage video of Martyn after his seminar. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was familiar with many of Martyn's celebrity clients, but the big surprise was the home of Kid Rock. Who knew a hard-core rocker would choose a pretty plantation-style home like this?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQYPyjIAFPhyq_CwSbqKXAfSfxZT2-3Vd_Je53G3Aey6tPPwgbjUpK1DS3ohbD4DhBSU2bBstlGTwBN5J4dTf-1_uwqRQfnDRFVQNU_tISgbFZ4bGVbHBfvcwSt2o9L6KMaWowwVs8TEM/s1600/C+Magazine,+Kid+Rock+House+Exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQYPyjIAFPhyq_CwSbqKXAfSfxZT2-3Vd_Je53G3Aey6tPPwgbjUpK1DS3ohbD4DhBSU2bBstlGTwBN5J4dTf-1_uwqRQfnDRFVQNU_tISgbFZ4bGVbHBfvcwSt2o9L6KMaWowwVs8TEM/s640/C+Magazine,+Kid+Rock+House+Exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIbJ-iR_4VmHHP6GzxpdG05iB8N_lJESodr-1HK4ZgMEV8DhnO06jP6bGYpt_gJKkVK0hd_MTWaInKMC2UxjQnzSzlM-alQzMMzkNVr-lYvQttOVXbKHDQ_RpV5NPc9D7viUHRiTd7fjM/s1600/C_for_Men_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIbJ-iR_4VmHHP6GzxpdG05iB8N_lJESodr-1HK4ZgMEV8DhnO06jP6bGYpt_gJKkVK0hd_MTWaInKMC2UxjQnzSzlM-alQzMMzkNVr-lYvQttOVXbKHDQ_RpV5NPc9D7viUHRiTd7fjM/s640/C_for_Men_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">photos courtesy Tim Street Porter via <a href="http://www.martynlawrencebullard.com/">Martyn Lawrence Bullard</a></span></div><br /><br />...and here's a pretty corner of Ellen Pompeo's home:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNV5xLM2_p7G_NrbLcioe9kXqU7ZVRL12HVMw4-HQy0h69JO2E334SlfA9F7Sa9Ji0Onk1LsdGG9l0vsZKQPSLlFVD_nzl46jEd5xX7kC4JsrFnwvcwPNWg7K1eaCs7Nnau5KVcb-R6A/s1600/Ellen-Pompeo-dining-room-in-Elle-Decor-611x488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNV5xLM2_p7G_NrbLcioe9kXqU7ZVRL12HVMw4-HQy0h69JO2E334SlfA9F7Sa9Ji0Onk1LsdGG9l0vsZKQPSLlFVD_nzl46jEd5xX7kC4JsrFnwvcwPNWg7K1eaCs7Nnau5KVcb-R6A/s640/Ellen-Pompeo-dining-room-in-Elle-Decor-611x488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">courtesy <a href="http://elledecor.com/">elle decor</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you'd like to see more of Martyn's work, his new book "Live, Love, Decorate' is chock-full of his trademark style. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJdSL1NITOLBJpRp5R2pAfkJwY5yhre2RD_FgKK7cZ5n-Aif3eUbgg9Jp7x8CTIjF-ccbwcp_rlQ9ib9J7dQCDxZpfV-4dnVoL89oWrLasW_uKF7PhqbJV1Ma873ZRG0J7RZze6t50G5u/s1600/martyn-lawrence-bullard-live-love-decorate-book_jpg_scaled500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJdSL1NITOLBJpRp5R2pAfkJwY5yhre2RD_FgKK7cZ5n-Aif3eUbgg9Jp7x8CTIjF-ccbwcp_rlQ9ib9J7dQCDxZpfV-4dnVoL89oWrLasW_uKF7PhqbJV1Ma873ZRG0J7RZze6t50G5u/s640/martyn-lawrence-bullard-live-love-decorate-book_jpg_scaled500.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Martyn also revealed that the second series of Million Dollar Decorators is currently in production. I know - very exciting! Nothing like living vicariously, is there?</div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Who knew?

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a seminar by celebrity designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Anyone familiar with the programme ...

Read more »