abcd sydney saturday soirée

Are you a design, art or craft blogger? Have you been to one of our abcd Sydney get togethers yet?

Steph Bond Hutkin of Bondville and I have been busy hatching a plan for a new look event... a Saturday Soirée! We're moving out of the moodily-lit cosy cocoon we usually meet at in the evenings and into a lovely bright airy atrium on a Saturday afternoon. We are hoping to catch a last stray day of summer, or one of those glorious blue sky autumn days that Sydney is so good at, so we can all sparkle and shine and chat and hang.

abcd stands for artists + bloggers + crafters + designers, so if you blog about any of those topics - your creations or other people's - we'd love you to come! We are a friendly group of (usually all) women and it's a relaxed event where you can grab a glass of something sparkly or a nice cuppa and enjoy the company of like minded creatives.

Would you like to join us?

Saturday 14th April
2pm - 5pm
Ruby L'otel
Back bar (Atrium)
68 Victoria Road
Rozelle
Map and details of parking

We have exclusive use of the Atrium area from 2 til 5, but there's nothing stopping us from staying on. There is a great snack menu available all afternoon, plus dinner of course if you'd like to linger longer. As well as the pub's bar there's coffee and tea available... and cocktails. Pat and Stick's Homemade Ice Cream Co. are generously giving us some of their 'world famous' and delicious ice cream sandwiches and Alison of Alison Lawson Cakes is making a delish confection for us.  Steph and I are styling up the venue and Milk and Honey Photography will be snapping us all at our social best. We are hoping we might be able to convince everyone to wear white, pastels or sparkles - or all of them together - to make our Soirée super style-y. What do you think? Are you in?

As always, abcd goodie bags will be part of our Saturday Soirée. The goodie bags are wildly popular and are available to everyone who contributes to them. If you're unfamiliar with our goodie bags your contribution is something for others remember you by. It's more than just a business card... maybe a sample of something you make, or a little something you whipped up especially, a sweet treat... a little memento. Prior to the event we need to know goodie bag numbers so if you'd like to participate let us know when you register.

If you'd like to join us for our abcd Saturday Soirée - come on, it's going to be fun! - we need to know by Monday 9th April so mark your diary now and register by commenting on the post below. You must register in order to attend, and don't forget to tell us if you'll be adding to (and receiving) a goodie bag. We'll email all the goodie baggers on Tuesday 10th so you'll know how many items you'll need to contribute. It's usually around 30.

If you have any questions about anything, or are just feeling a bit shy and need reassurance, please email me! If you do Facebook (and you know I don't) you can find abcd there too, thanks to Steph.

Steph and I are very excited and are already wondering what we can plan next to go one better! We hope you see you on 14th.
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ABCD Saturday Soireé Registration

We are so pleased that you've decided to join us! Just leave a comment below and you'll be registered for the event. Don't forget to let us know if you'd like to participate in the goodie bags.

Get out your white, pastel and sparkly clothes and we'll look forward to catching up with you on 14th.

We are asking for a gold coin donation on the day to help with costs. Thanks!

Lisa and Steph

xx

Confused? This post relates to the one above.


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New Beginnings

Hello! I didn't mean to leave you for so long, but I've been caught up in life and must admit I got out of the blogging habit. So far this year I packed (with the help of a few wonderful friends) and moved everything to storage, we house minded, stayed with generous friends, and finally moved into our new apartment a couple of weeks ago.

And we are so happy! I had been feeling down about the small boxy 1960's apartments that were on the market in my price range, when all the while I was day dreaming about something with white walls and floors, big windows and high ceilings. Like this...

Photo Mark Seelen via Desire to Inspire

Photo Livingetc via SF Girl by Bay

Photo Morten Holtum via Emmas Designblogg

Then very serendipously I came across something really special in a nearby suburb that I fell in love with. (I'll quickly add that it's not nearly as grand as the photos above!)  I knew it was 'the one' from when I first saw a photo. I saw it on a Monday for half an hour, did the usual checks etc on Tuesday, made an offer and exchanged contracts the following day. And despite concerns from friends that I may experience 'buyer's regret' on making such an impulse buy, I haven't felt anything except joy. I just knew it was right. Roxy loves it too, which of course is a huge thing. It's our new beginning.

The apartment is in a lovely old building - built in the 1880's which is pretty old by Australian standards - and we are on the top floor with high ceilings, huge windows and a beautiful verandah. I didn't even imagine I might find a home in Sydney and within my budget that was anything like my daydreams... but I did. The floor plan is very open with the living area opening onto the huge bedroom via big double doors, which in turn opens onto the verandah. Roxy's room isn't so grand, in fact it's tiny, but with the high ceilings she's keen on getting a loft bed.

Before we moved in I had the wallpaper removed and the walls painted white (Lexicon quarter strength), and I took the carpet up in the hope of finding lovely wide floorboards to lime wash. But instead I found only about half the floors had boards. Too many were missing to try and patch them. So I researched lime washed floors that I could have laid. I came up against: too expensive; not being able to find the exact look I was after; and between 6 - 8 weeks waiting time. So, I had bamboo floating floors installed within a week in dark - but not too dark - satin finish. Love. 

Looking from the kitchen through the living area into the bedroom, and the verandah beyond.

The walls had been painted in this shot, but not the doors and wardrobes. 

Are they the widest the skirting boards you've ever seen?

Looking back the other way. 

There are things about the kitchen I'd like to change, but I can live with it for now. My desk and work space are under that big window in my bedroom.

The verandah, which now has lots of plants and comfy seating.

I still have a list of things to be done, like replacing the fake lead light glass in the interior doors, replacing door handles and light fittings, and most importantly, getting built in storage which I desperately need. There are still lots of boxes in various parts of the apartment that I can't unpack because I have nowhere to store the contents.

I'll keep you updated on my progress and share more photos soon. I want to get a few more things in order first.

I'm very busy designing and with some wonderful new opportunities that have presented themselves. Life is great!

Thanks for your comments and emails and my apologies again for being absent for so long. See you soon.

Lisa
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Simplify

I'm a bit late to the party aren't I? Most bloggers are back in the swing of things already. I hope you had a wonderful break and happy new year! Hello twenty twelve... for me the year of living with less.

Since selling our house in early December I've been thinking a lot about simplifying my life by streamlining my belongings. Going from a 3 bedroom house to a (probably small) 2 bedroom apartment will require some downsizing anyway. But more than that I want to get rid of "stuff". A big thing for me is also making a fresh start for Roxy and I, and I want to do that without feeling weighed down by our current furniture.

After much consideration I've decided to sell my two beloved stripy chairs. I adore them, but I need to let go and move on. Would you like to buy them? Sorry, the chairs have been snapped up already! They are Art Deco 1930's/40's chairs which I had professionally restored. The timber has been beautifully restored and looks amazing, and the fabric is gorgeous French cotton canvas from ici et la. If you are interested please email me with STRIPY CHAIRS in the subject line. We are in Lane Cove, Sydney and the chairs would have to be collected by 28th January.

photos by Lucy Feagins, The Design Files

Also up for grabs is a lovely and practical Art Deco sideboard. I'm not sure what the timber is, but it's possibly maple? It really is a great example of deco furniture in original condition, with fantastic original deco handles. There is a mirror-backed display section, and lots of storage. Interested? Sorry, it's sold too. Email me with SIDEBOARD in the subject line. As with the chairs it would have to be collected by 28th January.

I'm hoping to be organised enough to have an online garage sale soon to sell out some of my products at substantially reduced prices, as well as Gocco supplies, design and craft books, and other bits and pieces. There'll probably also be small furniture pieces like mid century stools, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I'm sorting, packing and simplifying.
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See you in January!

I am so looking forward to starting a new year... 2012 is going to be grand! Stay safe, enjoy your holidays and I'll see you in early January.

love, Lisa
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