Blog Feed: Inspiring ideas for the home, creative projects and juggling life and a home business...from 2 sisters and their mum.
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weekend...
Published on 2012-05-25 02:26:00
It has been a cold and rainy day here in Melbourne, with more rain forecast for the weekend. Perfect weather for curling up in bed with a cuppa and a good book. However, we've got lots of work to do so there will be no napping for us... luckily we'll be creating with some bright and cheery colours which will distract us from the dreary weather!Hope your weekend is wonderful :) If you live in Sydney, be sure to pop into the city's biggest community artshow, ViEW Exhibits, at St Ignatius College t [..] > read more
a surprising use for stylish socks...
Published on 2012-05-23 05:42:00
You know you are just a little crazy when you spend an afternoon cutting up brand new socks, which is what we did today! There was method behind our madness though.... You see, we have been big fans of the knitted cups, vases and beakers that have been around the design scene for a while now, but since we can't knit to save our lives we thought we would try a cheats version using socks. It couldn't be easier to simply > read more
fabulous felt...
Published on 2012-05-20 06:19:00
I popped over the road on Friday to visit a lovely friend who has recently had a baby girl. It was so wonderful to have a cuddle of a newborn again - I just love it when babies are so 'freshly cooked' that they are all sniffly and snuffly and nestle into your neck! I thought I would take over a gift for adorable Madeline who is finding out just what it is like to be a new big sister, and so I took a box of some felt food for tea parties, shops or cooking play. I find hand stitching these little [..] > read more
colour makes us happy...
Published on 2012-05-17 02:24:00
We have had such a productive working day in our studio room creating an extra large artwork for our bouquet range. Made from recycled vintage children's books, this piece has been such a pleasure to work with because of the beautiful colours involved. Yellow certainly makes us happy!Some last minute tweaking before framing! > read more
a colourful trip of a lifetime...
Published on 2012-05-16 03:21:00
A few weeks ago we went trekking in Nepal. > read more
with much love...
Published on 2012-05-12 17:00:00
A very Happy Mother's Day to our amazing Mum and wonderful Mother-in-laws. We are so very blessed to have you in our lives, and wish we could be there to give you a big hug and tell you how thankful we are for all you have done for us and how much we love you.Wishing all you Mums a very happy day - we hope you get spoilt rotten! > read more
framing my children's art...
Published on 2012-05-11 21:50:00
I love having my children's art on display and so have recently framed up four special pieces to hang in the playroom. The beautiful colours tie in perfectly with my collection of old Enid Blytons and the bits and pieces from the 'home corner', and they are making me smile every time I walk past. Children's drawings are just so precious and the things they love to draw changes so quickly - it might be super long hair for a few weeks, then massive eyelashes to rival any diva, or hands with big ba [..] > read more
Harvey's Lego party...
Published on 2012-05-09 22:47:00
red and pink is pretty we think...
Published on 2012-05-06 22:12:00
We know that red and pink together are not everyone's cup of tea, but we adore this combination, especially when freshened up with white. The addition of a bit of red seems to toughen up the very girly pink, while the pretty pink softens the very bold red. Obviously this combo is best in smallish doses but when used correctly it is totally stunning.One of our latest artworks inspired by our love for this colour combination. > read more
a busy weekend...
Published on 2012-05-04 02:11:00
Hooray, it's Friday! We have a super busy weekend planned including holding a Lego party for Joy's son, Harvey. > read more
keeping it on show...
Published on 2012-05-02 04:29:00
I love the idea of having everything tucked away in cupboards but know that I am the sort of person who only remembers to use things if they are in sight. I only ever take my multivitamins when I leave them next to the coffee machine, I forget to use my pretty platters if they are hidden away at the time I am frantically plating up dinner, and I only remember to spray on my perfume if it is on my dresser. This need to have things on show in order to use them is especially true of necklaces. When [..] > read more
diy 'dipped' vases...
Published on 2012-04-27 20:19:00
I am loving the dipped look that is being seen in furniture and other homewares at the moment and thought I would give it a go with some plain white vases and scratched bowls that I had lying around. > read more
Niki's house tour - part 2...
Published on 2012-04-26 07:13:00
Time to show you some more from inside Niki's house - this time daughter Kayla's delightful and very personal bedroom. Nothing is too precious to be touched, used or played with, and everything has a wonderful story to tell.Niki found the dollshouse on the side of the road and she and her daughter have had fun decorating it together.Pretty cushions in favourite fabrics make for a comfortable bed.Love the quilt Niki sewed using Liberty of London fabrics combined with vintage linens.Niki's old Cab [..] > read more
mondocherry in vogue living...
Published on 2012-04-23 22:49:00
The photo above is a page from this month's Vogue Living - the two gorgeous girls are Michelle and Jacqui from Frankie and Swiss, the boutique textile company we use for our fabric designs. > read more
ta-da!
Published on 2012-04-18 10:45:00
We are thrilled to announce that we have (finally!) launched our new website with some fresh new products and a brand new look. Our first collection (hedgerow collection) contains our very latest 3d vintage bouquet artwork as well as some co-ordinating favourites such as our Liberty of London button artworks and a 3d blossom heart artwork. All our designs are unified by their fresh white framing enabling them to stand alone or work together. We will be changing our collections regularly so don' [..] > read more
IKEA hack - children's play shop
Published on 2012-04-15 22:35:00
Our old Ikea change table has been gathering dust in our shed since my kids grew out of nappies and I have had the idea for quite some time of turning it into a play shop/ marketstall. On Sunday afternoon we finally got around to completing this little project which only took a couple of hours to create. My husband sawed off the legs of the changetable to ensure it was a suitable height and then whipped up a little frame for the canopy I had sewn. My two children were super excited and quickly [..] > read more
Ruby Olive...
Published on 2012-04-12 06:05:00
There is nothing like a new piece of jewellery to brighten up an outfit that you have worn to death, and we love Skye Anderton's pieces for her label Ruby Olive. Inspired by a love of colour and texture, and by the beauty found outside her window (sounds just like us at mondocherry!), the Ruby Olive collections are named after fabulous destinations around the world. There's the riviera collection full of striking black, white and red pieces, the sicilian seaside collection with milk whites, blue [..] > read more
our Easter...
Published on 2012-04-08 05:57:00
We've had such a lovely Easter day - early morning egg hunt with the kids, off to Church, and then a long lunch with the family (although we missed you Mum and Dad) with plenty of delicious salads to offset all that chocolate!Clare's kids helped set the table using Easter decorations as napkin holders and Scrabble letters for place tags...There are lots of A names in our family - luckily we have lots of extra Scrabble letters! What initial pops up the most in your family?Feather wreaths Clare ma [..] > read more
Niki's house tour (part 1) - a home to inpsire...
Published on 2012-04-03 20:01:00
Just recently I have met a wonderfully creative lady, Niki, who has a real flair for styling and decorating. What makes Niki's home extra special is that everything has a story: cherished items passed down from family, gorgeous handmade clothes, toys and artwork made by Niki, keepsakes from her travels, and furniture she has rescued from the roadside and added her special touch to. But don't think for a moment that it is like an old dusty museum or junk shop - far from it! Niki's home is fresh a [..] > read more
vintage crate shelving...
Published on 2012-04-02 01:53:00
A few weeks ago I made an impulse purchase on Ebay - 50 vintage fruit crates! I had been searching for something to fill the very large cream wall at the back of the living room. This wall would be the perfect spot to build in gorgeous cabinetry and bookshelves, but beacuse we are renting this just isn't an option. Instead I have stacked up my purchased crates in a fairly random pattern and although they are sometimes a little wonky they add a lot of character and a whole lot of storage. Unpacki [..] > read more
hungry caterpillar party...
Published on 2012-03-28 22:48:00
Finally getting round to showing you some photos of the Hungry Caterpillar party (based on the well loved book by Eric Carle) that was featured in Mathilda's Magazine. We had heaps of fun creating all the decorations, food and take home baskets - it was so colourful and bright - perfect for a 4 year-old's birthday party. Place settings consisted of a painted cardboard leaf, a white paper plate with petals cut out and a red plastic plate for the food... The happy sun was cut from cardstock pai [..] > read more
10 green bottles...
Published on 2012-03-28 01:45:00
Well, actually only 5 green bottles so far... but I am loving my little collection, picked up at the Camberwell Markets,and dating back to 1890. They are all quite small - the littlest is only a couple of centimeters high - but they are just the perfect size for a few blossoming sprigs picked from the garden. > read more
hessian and flowers in Richmond...
Published on 2012-03-26 01:00:00
On the weekend, we finally managed to get over to Richmond for a spot of shopping along Bridge Rd, a lazy brunch (or as lazy as brunch can be with two kids in tow!) and a trip over to the old Channel Nine television studios where a series of pop-up events and installations has been running for the month of March, all with a seriously funky design vibe. Commissioned by Lend Lease, (the firm in charge of redeveloping the site into apartments and townhouses while retaining the heritage feel), The R [..] > read more
confetti present wrapping...
Published on 2012-03-23 05:01:00
Sometimes it is nice to do something different when wrapping a present and confetti is an easy and colourful way to jazz up a gift. We simply made our own coloured dots using a hole punch and some scrap paper and card (a great job for the kids!) and stuck them on using double sided tape (best for the stripes) and glue (for the heart). The confetti does have a tendency to stick up at funny angles, so you have to tap it down well and fill the odd hole. It is also a good idea to go over the dots wi [..] > read more
all sewn up...
Published on 2012-03-19 18:54:00
I have been totally inspired by this gorgeous book called "all sewn up" by Chloe Owens that I stumbled across in a book shop recently. Chloe is an incredibly talented textile artist who has a wonderful way with fabric, applique and embroidery. I particularly love her designs which have been "drawn" upon using delicate machine stitching and black thread. Chloe says in her book "This way of working came much more naturally to me than using pencils and paints". There are 35 exquisite projects in [..] > read more
a colourful market...
Published on 2012-03-16 23:50:00
Off to the Boutique Markets at Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne tomorrow with lots of our most colourful artworks, cushions and paper goods. The doors are open from 9am to 1pm so there is plenty of time to browse through all the stalls selling a wonderful assortment of clothing, accessories, home wares and toys - all unique, stylish and not available on the high street. Come and say hello and receive a little gift from us! > read more
a tidy desk...
Published on 2012-03-14 05:29:00
I have been working at home today (on a red blossom heart order) as Clare has not been feeling well. We usually work around at Clare's house as she has a studio room and a lot more space, however I keep some mondocherry supplies here at my place so I can work some evenings when the kids are in bed.I find it pretty hard to keep this little area tidy and my desk is usually covered in fabric samples and lots of paper snippings. Today I did a little tidying up and it feels great! I am always so much [..] > read more
new bedside tables...
Published on 2012-03-13 06:08:00
After years of frustration with my very small bedside tables, and months of looking for new ones, I finally purchased two chests of drawers to go either side of my bed. I'm really enjoying the extra space for display as well as all that extra storage room. My birthday lamps look more in proportion too. Perfect! > read more
an old lace dress..
Published on 2012-03-08 16:43:00
Before I moved down to Melbourne from Brisbane, my wonderful friend Chris and I took a morning to browse the shops along Latrobe Tce, Paddington. We saw lots of lovely items but I was quite content to look and not buy until we popped into the Paddington Antique Centre which had three beautiful lace dresses hanging on an old armoire in the foyer. One, in particular, caught my eye, and I wanted it badly! The lace was just so fine and the details was exquisite. I knew it was most definitely a 'wan [..] > read more
currently working on...
Published on 2012-03-04 08:40:00
...and we are loving it! Hope you are having a fabulous day too. > read more
our vintage map artwork in Rowan's room...
Published on 2012-02-29 18:19:00
It is always lovely to see where our products end up and so we were thrilled to see photos of one of our "Round the World" map artworks (created from an original vintage atlas) in 1 year-old Rowan's special room at his Nan Roberta's house. Roberta (from the gorgeous vintage-inspired children's wear label Rowantree designs) told us that our map artwork was the first thing she bought for Rowan's room way back before he was born! The inspiration she had was for Rowan to grow in a world that is vas [..] > read more
raining and pouring...
Published on 2012-02-27 03:32:00
Melbourne had a very grey and wet day - a bit of a shock after the very hot temperatures of the weekend. My rain mobiles seemed particularly appropriate hanging in the window! Luckily, there is always plenty of colour inside my house to brighten up even the greyest of days. Doing the school drop off in pouring rain did remind me that I need to start my search for a pretty pair of rain boots though...seen any gorgeous ones on your travels? > read more
mondocherry vintage postcards...
Published on 2012-02-22 03:00:00
Piles of our stitched vintage postcards ready for market on Sunday. Each gorgeous picture rescued from a damaged vintage book and therefore totally unique. Make someone's day by sending one in the post or peg up on a pinboard or pop in a frame... > read more
framing day...
Published on 2012-02-20 04:40:00
We have been very busy today, framing up some work - a special gift, a few orders and also a number of new artworks to take to the Mathilda's Markets, Melbourne, this Sunday morning. We get a real buzz from seeing a finished artwork in a smart new frame, although polishing all that glass is not high up on our list of favourite jobs!We made this pretty gentle-coloured butterfly artwork, created from a 1960's botanical book, for Joy's lovely Mother-in-law, who is a very keen gardener...Our button [..] > read more
Better Homes and Gardens giveaway...
Published on 2012-02-19 04:42:00
Better Homes and Gardens magazine is an Australian favourite full of delicious recipes, fabulous diy's, craft and decorating advice, invaluable gardening tips, and loads more. But did you know that Better Homes and Gardens LIVE wil be launching in Melbourne this coming weekend, 24th-26th February? Held at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, this 3 day event will host 4 stages, with live demonstrations from all our favourite Better Homes and Gardens TV experts (think Grahma Ross, Tara Dennis, [..] > read more
our Very Hungry Caterpillar party in Mathilda's Magazine...
Published on 2012-02-16 16:39:00
Pop on over to the latest issue of the Mathilda's Magazine (hot off the press!) to see a feature on the Very Hungry Caterpillar party we threw for Joy's daughter, Sienna. We had such a ball planning, painting and running this very colourful party and are thrilled to have it included. We will post few of the diy's over the next week to go along with the free printables included in the magazine.This autumn issue of this fab online magazine is choc-a-bloc full of Easter ideas, recipes all the famil [..] > read more
still a little love...
Published on 2012-02-14 00:42:00
It is not going to be the most romantic Valentine's Day in our homes this year - Sue's husband is overseas, Joy's husband is working late, and Clare's husband is off to a parent/teacher information night. Still, we never knock back a good excuse to decorate a table or a corner of our homes, even if it will be take-away for dinner!We love hanging decorations in large vases...Joy's Bungalow napkins are in use again, showing there versatility after starring at Christmas...A collection of hearts... [..] > read more
simple silver Sunday...
Published on 2012-02-12 04:32:00
I love being surrounded by colour in my home and in my work, but today I have been enjoying the simplicity of this little corner of my living room. The gorgeous silvery-green gum leaves ($5 a bunch from the supermarket) look right at home in my silver embossed jug, don't you think? > read more
heart in a box...
Published on 2012-02-08 19:48:00
A little idea for Valentine's Day - after all, it is the thought that counts! > read more
a little quieter...
Published on 2012-02-07 08:34:00
Our kids are back to school, and after the usual chaos of making lunchboxes, finding lost socks, getting enough breakfast into little tummies, and getting out the door on time, our homes seem very, very quiet. It has been particularly busy this year as Clare's 4 eldest children have all started new schools (because of her move down to Melbourne) and Joy's son is now a big Preppie wearing a uniform for the first time. We are ever so grateful for lovely welcoming teachers who make the transition s [..] > read more
new 3d paper blooms...
Published on 2012-02-03 01:06:00
Inspired by beautiful flowers and the vintage books that we love, we would like to introduce you to our new range of 3d paper artworks. Created from original illustrations found in our collection of damaged children's books from the '50's, '60's and '70's, we have hand cut petals to form these very textural blooms. Each one of the artworks in this series will be complete unique as not only are the vintage papers all one-offs, but the blooms take on a life of their own as we do not use templates [..] > read more
loving my conservatory...
Published on 2012-01-30 04:45:00
One of the main reasons we chose our new rental home here in Melbourne was for the fabulous outside space, particularly the slightly run-down but still very usable, tennis court. The kids have been loving hitting balls over the net, playing games of cricket and chase-y, riding their bikes and scooters around and generally getting lots of exercise. The area works particularly well because of the conservatory that was built as a later addition to the house to link the inside living areas with th [..] > read more
yum...
Published on 2012-01-28 03:30:00
Loving an easy weekend meal of homemade pizzas on Lebanese bread, washed down with a glass of red wine.Mmmm! Hope you are having a wonderfully relaxing weekend too. > read more
diy silhouette with a twist...
Published on 2012-01-24 23:18:00
It is lovely to have photos of family around the house, but if you are looking for something a little more arty, then these diy silhouette pictures might just fill the gap. They are quick, easy and very satisfying to make. The traditional silhouette is of course black on white, but we were after something a little more colourful to suit a child's bedroom.The first step is to take a profile photo of the subject. Print it out and carefully cut around with scissors. Trace around the cut-out with a [..] > read more
typo...
Published on 2012-01-23 15:41:00
I found myself at a Typo shop the other day - a wonderful, well priced place to browse for a stationery lover like me. Here is my little haul for the outing, I particularly love the cotton reel pen holder and patterned cotton tape.If you don't have a Typo store near you they sell online too! > read more
new artwork for the Boutique Markets, Melbourne....
Published on 2011-07-03 20:01:00
I am super excited to be heading off to Melbourne later this week for the launch of the Boutique Markets in that city. Make sure you reserve this Sunday, 10th July to come and see us at the Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood St, from 9am to 1pm, and bro > read more
white and wood...
Published on 2011-07-01 01:38:00
We are very inspired by white and wood at the moment. We love the way the wood 'warms up' the white and emphasises the different textures, making feathers look fluffier, china look finer and doilies look more intricate.What is your inspiration for t > read more
a felt crown for my little princess...
Published on 2011-06-28 07:05:00
My three year old absolutely loves dressing up and is especially fond of crowns and other head-pieces. So, when I had my stash of felt out the other day, I cut out a simple crown shape, added a bit of sparkle with beads and sequins (well quite a lot > read more
macarons by donna hay...
Published on 2011-06-24 02:12:00
I have always been a fan of Donna Hay's cookbooks - the recipes I have tried are uncomplicated, don't use too many ingredients, and turn out as they should. It helps that they are beautifully styled too! So when I saw that my local grocery store had > read more
through the door - welcome home...
Published on 2011-06-21 21:37:00
I love coming home from kindy pick-up on a cold, wintery afternoon, and opening the front door of our house. As it is a rental home, I often get frustrated about the things I would love to change but cannot. But I would leave the hallway just as it i > read more
liberty print buttons...
Published on 2011-06-19 22:48:00
mixed liberty print button artwork largeWe have always loved Liberty of London's beautiful fabrics, but can never pick a favourite. These button artworks are like samplers of different Liberty prints and they are very popular for little (and big!) gi > read more
coloured vases...
Published on 2011-06-14 23:24:00
Just lately I've found a couple of pretty coloured vases at my local op shops, which together with a little green vase from IKEA and another couple I already had, are the start of my new collection. I have this vision of a pretty centrepiece made up > read more
through the door - petals
Published on 2011-06-08 20:45:00
This 'through the door' photo is of the entrance room to my old Queenslander home. This morning I thought my little Tilly was playing nicely, but instead she had been systematically picking the petals off the geranium that grows so beautifully in th > read more
a ruffle decoration..
Published on 2011-06-07 02:43:00
It was a very chilly, rainy day here in Melbourne, perfect for settling down with a cup of tea and browsing my latest time-waster, Pinterest. If you haven't discovered this website of virtual pin-boards, with everything from interiors to hairstyles, > read more
Monday flowers...
Published on 2011-06-06 01:15:00
There was no chance of Monday-itis today with these beautiful flowers brightening up my dining room. I used one of my ceramic candle holders for a vase (with a drinking glass inside) and threaded some ribbon through the holes for a bit more colour. > read more
whites and brights - 3d paper artworks...
Published on 2011-06-03 09:13:00
Here is a couple of new colours in our 3d paper blossom range...bright multi-coloured and white-on-white. Created from hand cut paper hearts, which have been folded and positioned to create blossoms within a larger heart, they are a labour of love. W > read more
a beautiful tutu...
Published on 2011-05-31 22:43:00
My 10 year old daughter, Hannah, just loves ballet. She has been having lessons since she was three and never whinges about going (like I remember doing!), loves it when she her teachers are strict, and is constantly badgering me to do more classes. > read more
through the door...
Published on 2011-05-26 04:36:00
I love seeing glimpses of a room through a door. It invites me in and makes me want to see more of the room beyond. It is also a very forgiving way to view a room. When I see a photo of a entire room my mind focuses on the big things - the windows, t > read more
a felt flower shop...
Published on 2011-05-23 06:29:00
I love it when Joy tells me that she is going to make one of my children their birthday or Christmas present, because I know that it will be something extra special. She sent me through these photos of the gorgeous felt flower shop she has created fo > read more
a classic find...
Published on 2011-05-19 21:16:00
I was very pleased to find this beautiful English cake tin in a spontaneous trip to an Op shop yesterday. I love the classic blue and white pattern (I think it is a bit of Mum coming out in me) and even the way it is slightly battered. It smells lik > read more
more space party details...
Published on 2011-05-17 07:04:00
Here are a few more photos from Harvey's space party we held on the weekend. We had such a wonderful time and I treid to find the time amongst all the activity to reflect on the fact that my little boy is five years old already. Boy, does time fly!C > read more
a space party...
Published on 2011-05-13 21:20:00
I'm rushing around the house doing some last minute party preparation for my Harvey's 5th birthday party this afternoon. Being a Buzz Lightyear fanatic, he requested a space theme which has meant that all this week my house has been taken over by sil > read more
new blossom artwork colours...
Published on 2011-05-11 05:54:00
We are loving the new soft and subtle colours we've just finished in our blossom artwork range. Each one is unique and is created from hand-cut paper hearts, folded for a 3 dimensional effect. Joy will be taking these to the Mathilda's Markets in Mal > read more
orange, markets and mothers...
Published on 2011-05-07 04:16:00
Orange is not a colour I often decorate with, but when I was given these beautiful orange roses as an early Mother's Day present, I thought I would get out a couple of our orange artworks to display with them. I was amazed about how much life the tou > read more
look where my printer's tray has ended up...
Published on 2011-05-04 05:06:00
As Lego has been at the top of my 11 and 12 year old sons' Christmas and birthday lists since they were little, they have built up quite a collection...a lot of which resides in large under-bed drawers. Anyone who has had to search for a particular > read more
Magnolia Square...
Published on 2011-05-01 06:17:00
I have been meaning to get to the much acclaimed Magnolia Square Markets since I moved to Melbourne, but past markets seemed to coincide with weekends away, birthday parties or other events. This weekend I had it penciled in my calender and set asi > read more
my flower-less table setting...
Published on 2011-04-28 07:24:00
Easter lunch for the extended family still in Brisbane is traditionally held at our house and I usually have ideas buzzing around in my head for weeks before as to how I would like to decorate for it. This year I had been ill in the week or so before > read more
Easter french toast...
Published on 2011-04-22 17:24:00
If you have any left over hot cross buns then we recommend you give this recipe a try - hot cross bun french toast. It would make a great dessert, although Joy and Clare both served it for breakfast - Joy cooked it as per the recipe using fruit-fille > read more
carrots for the Easter bunny...
Published on 2011-04-19 07:35:00
This year the lead up to Easter seems to have been even busier than usual and so I am only just starting to think about doing a bit of Easter decorating. These felt carrots I sewed today are actually for the Kinder home corner (a bit healthier than t > read more
nail polish painted eggs...
Published on 2011-04-18 01:00:00
My older girls had such fun painting these eggs with old nail polish that I found hidden away at the back of the bathroom cabinet. The colours are beautifully jewel-like and the brushes were perfect for little fingers to hold. We cut out cups from > read more
autumn leaves...
Published on 2011-04-14 03:13:00
I am loving autumn in Melbourne. This afternoon the kids and I went for a walk in the streets around our house, buckets in hand, collecting beautiful fallen leaves in their amazing array of colours. We then had fun sorting and playing shop with them > read more
Hamptons Home Living...
Published on 2011-04-12 03:51:00
There is a gorgeous new store on Latrobe Terrace, Paddington that is a lovely mix of homewares and cafe. I visited Hamptons Home Living this morning, with my children in tow and we enjoyed our coffee and hot chocolates at a beautiful rustic table lo > read more
a wall of petals...
Published on 2011-04-10 02:25:00
We have been very busy making different colour ways in our vintage petals design and I have been keen to see a selection hung as a group. This spot above the sofa is where I normally hang my six different coloured butterflies, and is the first thing > read more
dear elves...
Published on 2011-04-07 08:59:00
Dear Elves, This morning I was reading the story of how you helped the shoemaker complete his orders and was wondering, if you are not too busy, if you would pop by my house tonight? The last week of term is always chaotic - assignments to > read more
liberty print flowers for the hair...
Published on 2011-04-06 07:28:00
I recently picked up some gorgeous liberty fabric remnants from our local fabric store and today their pretty designs inspired one of my quick-fix creative projects. All three of these floral hair clips were made in less than half an hour and were > read more
what should I do with these?...
Published on 2011-04-05 01:27:00
With the big kids at school and the little ones enjoying themselves at Grandma's, I had a wonderful day browsing through op shops with my great friend, Chris (the one with this gorgeous laundry!) We drove ourselves across the city into an unfamiliar > read more
new chair and expensive hair...
Published on 2011-03-31 07:04:00
Last weekend I decided to be very brave and allow my hair stylist to chop a decent amount off the length of my hair, instead of the trim I usually request. I was also feeling like a change in the colour department - most of my life I have been vario > read more
butterflies and flowers...
Published on 2011-03-29 20:25:00
As well as creating our artworks from damaged vintage children's books and old maps, we have recently launched a new range after we discovered some gorgeous old botanical books that needed a new lease on life. These botanical butterfly artworks are > read more
that's us in the paper...
Published on 2011-03-26 20:57:00
A huge thanks to Sarah Rossiter for featuring mondocherry in her Homemade column in the Sunday Mail. The photo shows me and my 3 year old, Jemima, posing in my workroom. I have been eagerly waiting to see how it turned out as the morning the photogra > read more
everything looks better in glass...
Published on 2011-03-25 05:08:00
When we look around our homes we realise that we use a lot of glass jars, vases and cloches to contain and display everything from mundane necessities to the purely decorative. Glass just seems to make whatever it holds look prettier and more appeali > read more
on a rainy day...
Published on 2011-03-24 03:36:00
It has been a gloomy, wet day here in Melbourne, but it was nothing a few pretty flowers and cosy candles couldn't fix. Is it just me, or does the downpour intensify at school drop off and pick up time?! > read more
my studio space...
Published on 2011-03-21 23:42:00
I've been having a good tidy up in my mondocherry workroom so I thought it was a good time to take some photos. I'm lucky enough to have a great space to spread out in the 'sleepout' (converted verandah) of my Queenslander home. It has a whole wall > read more
ready for the tooth fairy...
Published on 2011-03-16 19:46:00
My gorgeous niece, Chloe (Clare's second eldest daughter) is 6 years old and going through the stage of losing her baby teeth. She hasn't had much luck so far - one of her teeth fell out in the ocean while she was swimming and another rolled out from > read more
making it pretty...
Published on 2011-03-14 21:28:00
I have been feeling pretty tired lately, and I think part of the problem is that I haven't been drinking enough water. Because I know that I am motivated by pretty things, I have set up a little table with a beautiful cross-stitched tablecloth I bou > read more
granny squares...
Published on 2011-03-10 16:22:00
I learnt to crochet when I was young but hadn't picked up a crochet hook for 20 years or so, until last week while Mum was here. She refreshed my memory on how to make a simple granny square.... and now I'm hooked! All you talented crochet-ers out t > read more
hurray for the hydrangeas...
Published on 2011-03-08 04:25:00
I'm having one of those weeks where the days whizz by with hardly any of my to-do list getting crossed off (actually, I'm a tick-er not a cross-er, but that is beside the point!) With my washing pile growing higher by the second, more dirty dishes th > read more
new decorating books...
Published on 2011-03-01 13:04:00
It has been so lovely having Mum (Sue) around for a couple of weeks, over on holiday from Dubai. She has made lots of cups of tea, worked her way through my ironing pile, and has been a huge help with the morning rush of getting the kids off to kinde > read more
"s" should be for sleep...
Published on 2011-02-26 09:19:00
It is just after 1am and I have pre-market insomnia. I'm sure you have experenced it too, maybe in one of it's other guises... you might have an early flight to catch or a super early appointment so you set your alarm clock for 3.30 am or some other > read more
mathilda's market here we come...
Published on 2011-02-24 05:44:00
We have been neglecting our blog for the last week as we have been frantically busy preparing for the upcoming Mathilda's Market in Melbourne. You'll find us there this Sunday, 27th February, and we would love you to pop along and say hello. Mathilda > read more
dressing up...
Published on 2011-02-18 14:57:00
When I was pregnant with my son, I bought a small antique wardrobe for storing his clothes in. Now, 5 years on, we are living in a home with built in cupboards in all of the bedrooms, so it really isn't needed any more. However, besides being very lo > read more
that's us in Shop 4 Kids...
Published on 2011-02-17 07:14:00
It is always exciting to see our mondocherry products in print. In this months Shop 4 Kids we pop up a few times! You can find a couple of our artworks in an article on precious handmade gifts, and one of our vintage tags in a section for party inspi > read more
a very LOVE-ly dinner...
Published on 2011-02-14 02:23:00
Our children love a celebration, so although we don't usually make a big deal out of Valentine's Day, both Joy and I decided to have a special family dinner this year and our kids are counting down the minutes! To make our dinner a bit special, I cut > read more
still need to choose a card?...
Published on 2011-02-12 05:49:00
Still need to find the perfect card for your Valentine? Well, come along to the Boutique Markets tomorrow and you are sure to find something just right. And why not make a morning of it - as well as gorgeous gifts, unique clothing and handmade homewa > read more
shades of green...
Published on 2011-02-10 05:31:00
Loving this little spot of green in my house today. The adorable bunny bookends were a Christmas present from Clare - we had both been coveting them for some time so she knew they would be a popular gift! They look so cute supporting a few vintage bo > read more
rosy cheeked dolls...
Published on 2011-02-07 05:23:00
I love it when Joy calls me and begins our conversation with "This morning I was bored..." because I know from experience it will end with her telling me she either had a massive cull, re-arranged a room, or got super creative ! These gorgeous dolls > read more
we've got the blues...
Published on 2011-01-31 21:39:00
Here are two new artworks in beautiful blues - an extra large vintage butterflies and a large vintage petals. If you are not familiar with our products, we create our artworks from original vintage illustrations from our collection of damaged childre > read more
pretty in pink...
Published on 2011-01-28 15:06:00
It has been a busy last week of school holidays, but today we enjoyed life at a slower pace with a relaxing pottering-about-at-home day. I was greeted quite early (and in my pyjamas!) by a courier who handed me a very exciting parcel from Ada and Dar > read more
a clash of colours...
Published on 2011-01-25 05:25:00
Today we are loving these hot pink roses in an old aqua sundae glass - not a colour combination you can walk by without noticing! Try clashing some colours at your house today and watch the room come alive. > read more
patchwork school books...
Published on 2011-01-23 19:37:00
My 4 biggest kids went back to school this morning after their long summer holiday (although actually it wasn't nearly long enough). We spent the weekend covering their books and labelling what felt like hundreds of pencils. I have an aversion to co > read more
children of the world...
Published on 2011-01-21 00:46:00
We are very excited that we will be taking mondocherry to the Mathilda's market in Melbourne on February 27th and in Brisbane on March 12th. We have been busy making some new artworks, cards, tags and decorations. Here is a quick look at one of our n > read more
there's no place like home...
Published on 2011-01-18 19:52:00
Here is a little display that sits on a mantlepiece and reminds me how blessed I am. The drawing is by my 4 year old son, and while the our hairstyles are not entirely accurate, I love the way he drew us all holding hands!Hope you are having a wonder > read more
the last of the Christmas decorations...
Published on 2011-01-17 03:05:00
I love it when the shops sell off the last of their Christmas decorations. I found these red butterflies marked down to just a few cents each as they had lost their hanging cords. They were just perfect for the mobile I had in mind to brighten up th > read more
waiting for the water...
Published on 2011-01-11 05:59:00
After watching the devastation caused by flooding in many Queensland towns over the last few weeks, it is now Brisbane's turn to wait for the water to come. While our home is thankfully on high ground and in no danger, so many friends live in areas t > read more
a new look for a new year...
Published on 2011-01-10 06:56:00
After three weeks visiting family in Brisbane, I returned home last night to a house still full of Christmas decorations. Our suitcases of clothes that needed washing could wait, but I had to pull down the tree and pack away the decorations the momen > read more
twas the night before Christmas...
Published on 2010-12-24 07:50:00
.. and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.... except for my husband and I who are still up wrapping presents. Next year I will start wrapping in November!Wishing you much love and happiness this Christmas. See you in the New Year. > read more