a mosaic for momma.

my very first DIY post is up on JB Est. 1979!! it has something to do with this photo, affectionately known to me as the prettiest picture on my instagram feed. check out the full story: HERE.

collect moments.

my last ojo de dios tree in a crazy, yet cosy corner of my kitchen last week; captured by: Fiona Galbraith.

more from the Rozelle markets.

there was just so much to see!

for the love of Rozelle.

the Rozelle markets have long been my favourite weekend haunt. the items in my house that get the most 'where'd you get that?'s are usually from Rozelle, same goes for my wardrobe. even when i was a poor uni student, i'd still find the odd saturday or sunday and a bit of cash to go treasure hunting here. it's on the must do list for my thrifty family visitors too. the selection of goodies is vast and very vintage; most of the sellers don't mind if you drive a hard bargain either. beyond the treasures, i just love the vibe…there is live music and yummy fresh juices and food. i love getting a corn on the cob and just taking my sweet time. i went this week for the first time in what feels like more than a year and i didn't come home with any of these below pictured treats (i only went for storage items), but looking can be just as fun! 

*it reminded me a bit of this favourite.

still, so long, sweet summer.

in light of this beautiful day, i thought i would share another fun collaboration with my little sister. she embellished this crown for me and i added the text. stay tuned for the autumn (southern hemisphere that is) crowns coming up just around the corner…

check out the rest of the seasonal series, here.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Digital Design: Madelaine Rumball Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

BIG NEWS!

i am so over the moon to announce that i will now be a WEEKLY contributor over at my favourite blog - Justina Blakeney Est. 1979. i have been such a long-time fan and loyal follower of Justina's- i love her bright, bold aesthetic and her go-getter, chin up vibe. she has been so generous in sharing my work over the years (exhibit A, B, C, D…) and this new collaboration is the most exciting thing to hit the transcontinental affair shores, ever! i will be sharing interiors inspiration and styling/DIY stories alternating every week- please be sure to check it out. my first ever post as a contributor is up HERE- yippee! i have found some incredible images in my research, so stay tuned!

Justina Blakeney

sharing is caring.

i have been SO busy this Easter long weekend (working on a new international project, soon to be revealed…!) that i never got a chance to share with you this lovely post that the even lovelier Briar put on her blog last week. we met in person a couple of months ago now; i was so smitten that i then made her a couple of arrows (soon to be available in my shop) and painted them according to this reference image she gave me for colour. i was very overwhelmed by her kind and generous words. see more here. thank you sweet sunday collector, i hope our paths cross again very soon!

wabi-sabi.

i am a bit of a japanophile and once i get started on the subject, it seems i tirelessly find more about japan that fascinates me. wabi-sabi is an embracing of the flawed or imperfect. a similar philosophy- Kintsukuroi is the art of repairing damaged pottery with gold; in essence actually highlighting the flaws. there have been a few times recently that some favourite ceramics have ended up in the garbage because i thought them to be beyond repair, oh how i am wishing now that i had kitsugied them into a new perfection.

for goodness' sakura!

this is now the third year in a row that i have enjoyed cherry blossom (sakura) season in japan via instagram and it is so beautiful, it kind of hurts. this time of year is always bittersweet, because as much as i am in total awe of the spectacular blooms i see vicariously through others' lenses, i wish to be in tokyo so badly. i'm a firm believer in 'if you want something, you should be doing it' (though i know too well, this is often easier said than done)…yet, another end of march has passed and i did not spend it in japan. i vow right now that this time next year (unless there is some unforeseen circumstance, like i am giving birth or something…?!) i WILL be in tokyo for a sakura spring. yes!

all images via here

Little Nicki does Easter for Freedom!!

here is my final Easter inspired table setting for Freedom Australia- this one has the most DIY aspects to it and was SO much fun to be a part of. please let me know what you think or if you have a favourite (??). and here is the last supper, if you will:

easter inspiration.

you might be getting tired of seeing me in bunny ears, but here are some table settings i did for Freedom Australia. are you as eggcited as i am for Easter??!

all images by: Latessa Photography

making connections: game of thrones.

i just love making little discoveries with images on the internet or with photos i may have taken and somewhere down the track connecting them to memories i've had or noticing that i was subconsciously inspired by something i had seen earlier. this latest unearthing is oh so exciting and one of the best examples of the small thrill of happenstance in my recent history. ready?! when we were in Morocco in late 2012, we went on a trip into the Sahara desert and one of our first stops was to the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah (castle). there was a set being built in front of it at the time and i've only just realised after watching the last episode of Game of Thrones series 3 two days ago (just in time for the first instalment of season 4) that they were building the gate that all of Khaleesi's freed slaves walk through in the final epic moments of that last episode. ahhh!  i was so excited to have figured this out!

*i remember arriving here and my eyes welling up a bit. i felt so overwhelmed about how far away from home we'ed come (that everything is new, safe/unsafe feeling) and looking onto this gigantic real life sand castle, that didn't seem real at all. and there were freakin' camels in the distance and donkeys inside the kasbah. it was a very raw, very special moment.

 

the inside was filled with room upon room of discarded objects that were left in the castle by previous owners, all covered in desert dust.

getting my Khaleesi on; checking out the view.