Natural toothbrush holders.

See more of my natural vessels for JB Est 1979, HERE.

3 Creative ways to actually use that hammock!

Photography: Fiona Galbraith

I love thinking of creative ways to use or re-use objects, especially for the home.  Check out my latest project for JB Est 1979 and find out how you can bring your hammock indoors, HERE.

Take Your Bed Outside!

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

before you head out for the long weekend my friends of the North, check out my post for JB Est 1979 and see more of this beautiful outdoor bed project, HERE. Happy Long Weekend; wish I was there!!!

5 ways to dress up your front doorway!

because this isn't the prettiest of interiors posts, I'm calling it an 'ideas post'. what can you do to jazz up your front doorway when you live in an apartment block? believe me, the first thing I would do is paint my front door if I could (I have already painted the inside half of it a buttercup yellow). I have re-arranged quite a few things in my rental, but I feel that painting the outside door would just be drawing too much attention to the many other changes I've made inside...which so far...no one has said anything about. phew! even if you have a drab coloured door that you have to live with, it doesn't mean you can't do wonderful things around it to make it more welcoming for yourself and your visitors.

seasonal floral crowns.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith All crowns made by: Nicole Valentine Don

four seasons have come and gone since I started my floral crown series; I thought it would be fun to look back at some of my favourites. the top 3 images are winter, then 2 for each season thereafter (even though we technically did more). which one is your favourite?  i think mine are still the cherry blossom antlers, but they wouldn't fit in the grid!  

Egg basket as a light pendant.

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith Production, Project & Styling by: Nicole Valentine Don

a new little project is up for JB Est 1979; find out more about how easy this pendant was to 'make' and install, HERE.

rainy day outtakes.

Photos by: Fiona Galbraith

it's hard to imagine a rainy day like this one, when we shot the maple crown. it has been sunny in Sydney for weeks and weeks now! 

bling-a-ling.

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

what could i be up to over at JB Est 1979 today; click HERE if you want to see the most simple DIY jewel display option ever!

put a crown on it. 14.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

this is the final crown in the seasonal floral crown series as winter has gone and come again to the Southern hemisphere. i chose a bird's nest for autumn and have just realised that this is the first crown i have not actually made myself (a little bird did). lack of planning on my part or perhaps i am naturally evolving into a new conceptual crown series? this beauty just happens to be one of my absolute favourites of the year-long series. please let me know in the comments which is yours - i would LOVE to know! thank you all for following along xo

house beautiful.

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

this empty window which looks out onto nothing (well, a concrete wall) got dressed up 3 different ways for JB Est 1979 and was then chosen as one of the top 5 design posts for this week on the House Beautiful blog. thank you!

3 creative ways to dress up a window.

Photos by: Fiona Galbraith

i might be on a holiday in Europe, but i'm still up to something this week over at JB Est 1979, check it out HERE.

put a crown on it. 13.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

it is autumn in the southern hemisphere and i made this maple crown to round out the seasonal floral crown series. photographer Fiona Galbraith spent a very rainy Sydney afternoon with me and helped capture that little bit of magic that you can feel in the crisp fall air.

DIY: pendant lamp hanging planters

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

howdy all!  click HERE to check out what i've been up to over at JB Est 1979 today.

collect moments.

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

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

so long sweet summer.

i thought it would fun to team up with my little sister, who is a talented digital/motion graphic designer to put a little spin on a couple of photos from my floral crown series. she played with the marigold crown and image, while i added the text. summer is definitely on its way out down under, so here is one version of our mini collaboration to brighten up the day.

'I am in the mood to dissolve into the sky' - Virginia Woolf

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

put a crown on it. outtakes.

there are always a bunch of leftover images from a day's shoot that are still really fun, but just don't make the final cut. i thought i'd share with you some of the outtakes from the most recent daisy crown; the sunshine and crisp blues of the ocean meeting the sky, made this a favourite from the series.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

put a crown on it. 12.

you can't look past the daisy when thinking of summer floral crowns…and neither could i! to re-invent this sunny day staple, instead of a simple crown, i made it into a hat (well, that's what i'm calling it). i used the most picture perfect, crisp, tall, white daisies you have ever seen from garlands in sydney. my bangs were getting quite long around this time, so i parted them down the middle (which i never ever do) for a very 60's flower child do. the dress and sunnies give it a bit of a 90's spin for a fun little drew barrymore inspired moment, maybe? needless to say, i am very happy with how this headpiece turned out for the floral crown series and i love the blue skies that went with it. do you have a favourite yet?

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

put a crown on it. 11.

the sunshiney season is well and truly pouring in down under, so what better time to introduce the next creation in the floral crown series (it has been awhile). i thought i would start with the marigold (french and african varieties by name, but both mexican in origin, who knew?) - a humble flower that seems to fly under the radar. there is nothing quite like the punchiness of their unique orangey, golden hue; the buds shone right through the summer haze, just like i was hoping they would (yay!). *side note: i reallllly wanted to make something with marigolds last november for day of the dead, but you would not believe how difficult they are to come by in Sydney. this crown was actually made up of about 10 different plants, all of which all now potted and thriving in the yard (…except for maybe one, ahem…), but seriously, there is no such thing as a bunch of marigolds in this crazy town. on my search i learned that the Spanish word for marigold is Caléndula and the Aztec word is Cempasúchil or they are simply referred to as Flor de Muertos- Flower of the Dead.

et voilà:

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

a very merry backyard christmas.

being from Canada, but living in Australia, i have experienced a few christmases down under. it is always a bit strange and never quite feels like christmas at all. since i am home in the great white north these holidays, i thought i would embrace what it means to have this traditionally north american holiday in the sunshine. photographer Fiona Galbraith and i wanted to create a sort of daggy backyard christmas and not use too many custom holiday motifs (except tinsel). the result is a colourful, haphazard, outdoor setting amidst the ever-present aussie hills hoist. merry christmas and happy holidays to all, no matter where you are celebrating. enjoy your time with family and friends- that's what it's all about!! the transcontinental affair will be back after a short break. peace and love xoxo

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Styling by: Nicole Valentine Don