DIY: wire cacti garden.

Photos by: Fiona Galbraith

check out my latest DIY project for JB Est 1979 and find out everything you need to know to make your own wire cactus creation, HERE.

weekend project: gift wrapping with ephemera.

i was invited to join this board on pinterest and thought what better what to re-introduce the weekend project post to the blog. i only used what i had around the house, starting with cutting up an old paper bag for the brown paper packaging-so simple. then i gathered bits of ephemera i have collected and had at home. i got these results by 

quiver me timbers!

since the dreamcatchers have whittled down to one, I have added these arrows to the shop. they make for great nostalgic wall decor or put them in a vase; giving them as a gift is always a bull's eye!

dreamcatchers.

i was so excited to share the four dreamcatchers that i (finally) put up in the shop, but overnight 3 of them sold(!). this is the last one left and she is on SALE. stay tuned for new items being added later today.

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.

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.

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

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!

close to home: Lauren Bamford.

i feel lucky enough to have worked with Lauren Bamford just last month (she, Jason Grant and i put our heads together for an upcoming story- stay tuned). since spending the day with her, i have now thoroughly checked out her website and super cute blog - you should too! in addition to taking very cheery, honest photographs, she also makes beautiful ceramics! i am so in love with these below pictured, that they are all i'm adding to this post visually. there is too much beauty to choose from amongst her pretty pictures, you really have to look for yourself and choose your own favourites!

the valen(time) difference.

much like every other holiday i've mentioned on here (birthday, christmas, thanksgiving, etc.), i'm always aware of celebrating it technically the day before i actually feel it. of course i knew it was valentine's day here in australia yesterday, but so many people i want to wish a happy valentine's day to are in north america, so there is a delay for me. it's a tricky one- and this year i'm working on living in the moment- ha!

anyway, i thought this photo of a waning valentine's heart would be appropriate. i love you- you can take that to the banksia (*leaf).

share the love.

i was happy to see that mr. jason grant's bondi pad was featured on another favourite seaside blog today, sfgirlbybay. i spotted a close up of my wire sign and a few other great shots that i hadn't seen before.

home is where your mom is. 3.

moving downstairs and into the backyard…

home is where your mom is. 2.

more from my favourite place to be; let's move on to the second floor, shall we?

little nicki's treasures.

there are two new beautiful items up in the shop! a pair of vintage 1970's Peruvian wall hangings in soft, muted tones. check them out here.

here

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

mi 'casa' es su 'casa'.

after this item featured in Inside Out magazine, the orders have been coming in for custom made ones. here is one i finished today that is heading off to a wall in beautiful melbourne.

little nicki - shop

be merry.

it's time to deck the halls! my living room is looking only a little festive this year. since i won't be here for christmas, i wanted to do my mantle up in a non-traditional way, using colours you wouldn't necessarily associate with this time of year. can you dig the pink and black (and gold, oh my)?!

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

large ojo de dios.

another giant ojo de dios; this one is 40 cm in diameter to give you an idea of scale. a whole lotta' driftwood, neutrals and guinea fowl feathers.

made by: little nicki

dreamcatchers by little nicki.

a small sample of some of the latest dreamcatchers available in the shop. take a lucky dip and get something special for someone these holidays!

Available just in time for christmas, here.