The 'Circle of Daydreams'

I've started a new website and blog over here!

I can't wait to share a variety of adventures and printables with you.

Please come and visit me at Circle of Daydreams.

I can't wait to see you!

Linda. xox

Since It Is So Likely... Another Gem from C.S. Lewis

One of my favourite authors is C. S. Lewis. I devoured all the Narnia series when I was little, but I've also enjoyed his books for adults such as 'That Hideous Strength'. Some of my most remembered quotes come from this deep thinking man.... not least this one.

Found here

As a teacher of primary children, I've always firmly believed that one of the best ways to teach morals and lessons is to get them engaged in, and enjoying good, classic literature. The stories I immersed myself in as a child for hours on end, shaped and moulded part of the person I am today. I learned many things amongst the pages written by great authors, and continue to do so.

Books helped me grow a backbone and develop my brain!

Linda. xox

PS: The full quote is...

“Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”

C.S. Lewis

Monday Mojo - Finish Each Day....

listen to ‘Finish Each Day’ on Audioboo

This Monday morning, I hope you're ready for a week of great happenings, new ideas, and fresh starts!

May your mojo be with you all week.

Linda. xox

Overlap is GOOD - In Fact, It's Necessary!

Just pondering....

Linda. xox

I'm Having A Mid-Life Decorating Crisis

You know how much I like red - right?

Well.... lately, even though I still LURVE red, I find myself being drawn a lot more to more soothing and earthy colours like greys, greens, and various browns (although still with pops of beautiful, lovely colour!).

Plants too. I suddenly want a lot more plants around me.

Plus, not ever having been a lover of white walls, I seem to be noticing a certain gravitation towards them lately.

And, I've also always been one to cocoon myself in rooms that have lovely curtains to screen the light and make my rooms feel hidden away from the outside world in a sort of secret place of my own. A sort of dimly lit, mellow nest. Which I still adore...

BUT,

I'm slowly but surely developing this feeling of wanting barer windows with more light streaming in during the day.

                                                                Image source - Emma's Blog

This has NEVER been me for as long as I can remember.

Even though I simply love being outside, especially anywhere near beautiful trees and forests, I've not been one for looking through my windows outside. I'm either out there enjoying it, or inside hibernating.

Now I want to throw the windows wide and let the world in!

Hmmmmm.

Interesting.

And so, for whatever reason, I'm changing.

It may be just for now, or it might be a longer term thing. Who knows. Either way.........

COOL. :)

Linda. xox

A Beautiful Place to Retreat In Luxury!

Image from Savvy Home

What a beautiful light filled room! It feels so soothing and centred. Love the mirror behind the bedside table (I assume there's a matching one on the other side).

I'd like to spend a luxurious retreat holiday here. Mmmmmm, I can really see that if I close my eyes and dream!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo - Where Will YOUR Road Take You?...

    Image sources 1 - 2 - 3

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the Road has gone
And I must follow, if I can.
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet,
And whither then? I cannot say.

JRR Tolkien

Listen to ‘The Road Goes Ever On and On’ on Audioboo

This is one of my favourite poems of all time. As a fan of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings', this is the poem I remember most from Tolkien's books.

Mystery, curiosity, dreams, wonder, hope.... it stirs many feelings and ponderings.

I wonder where your road  may take you this week?

Wherever it is, 'May your mojo be with you'.

Linda. xox

 

Delightful Bedrooms!

Images from Savvy Home

Happy weekend Lovelies!

I'm on holidays for 2 whole weeks - yay!

Time for Spring cleaning over here in Aus, so I'll be doing some of that and getting out into the garden as well with any luck.

I also have some de-cluttering to do..... time to simplify even more...... I feel the need to do this often lately.

Less is more.

I love these two bedrooms with their glorious colour! Simple yet happy!!

I hope you have a delightful weekend. :)

Linda. xox

I Just Joined Blog Lovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've been meaning to do this for some time, so I've just joined Bloglovin! Now I'm off to find lots of good blogs to follow and fill out my profile. :)

Linda. xox

Fossicking Around....

I'm fossicking around this weekend.... just puttering about in the garden, cleaning, looking in shops..... avoiding going in to work - ha!

This room looks like a good room to spend some time fossicking in!

Source - Emma's Blog

Happy weekend lovelies. I hope you get to fossick amongst some good stuff and find/enjoy some gems!

The blog I sourced the pic above from would be a good place to start if you have time!

Linda. xox

YES - Every Day Please!

 

Image source

OMG.

Can I please, please, please have a nook like this to relax and unwind in every day?

Linda. xox

It's a Long Path....... But It's The Journey That Counts!

Image source

I'm still muddling along the path...... and I still love trees!

I'll be back with some lovely interior bits and pieces in the not-too-distant future.

Linda. xox

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas! Guest Post re Inexpensive Holiday Decorating...

Today I'm very pleased to welcome Chris Long with a fab article about decorating for the holiday season.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers and bloggy friends a simply wonderful Christmas. I'll be taking a nice vacation to enjoy my holidays!

The Holiday Home: Inexpensive Outdoor Decorating

With Christmas just a week or so away, the tree is decorated, the lights aglow, and the stockings hung by the fire, ready for a visit from friends and family. But for many, there is one last element to welcoming the holidays, and it isn't a grumpy uncle or a bunch of wild nieces. It's the entrance through which we welcome these loved ones to our home.

No matter how close it is to Christmas, it is never too late to address the outside of the home, and additional decorating doesn't have to dip into the money that has been carefully saved for gifts. The spirit of Christmas can make its mark on the outside as much as the inside with a few key ingredients: greenery, decorations, and bows.

Following are simple, inexpensive, and tasteful ways to welcome Santa Claus before he even sees the Christmas tree:

• Repurposed Ornaments: Anyone who celebrates the holidays with a Christmas tree likely has more ornaments than even the most agile evergreen can hold. And a box is no place for a decoration to spend the holidays. Whether adorning the limbs of the front-porch potted plants or hanging out with class and style from the cedars that guard the front door, the spirit of a Christmas tree can easily tie together the interior and exterior of the home. For larger trees that populate the front yard, seek out oversized ornaments from your local holiday store and use them to make a strong statement. Christmas is an oversized holiday, and it doesn't take too much to bring the larger-than-life vibe to the front yard.

• Christmas Greenery: Artificial or natural greenery? The choice is yours. The truth is that holiday greenery will suck the air out of any inflatable lawn decoration with its dignified appearance. The perfect balance of greenery will not only add character to the front door, but it will have the columns, porch railings, and lampposts celebrating.

Artificial greenery is available from most any store with a holiday section, but those looking for something more natural and aromatic can simply check with the local Christmas tree farm to purchase natural garland or a classic wreath. Take a string of twinkling lights – whether white or multi-colored - and wrap it around the greenery to add sparkle to the natural beauty.
Assuming that the Christmas tree has already been purchased, outdoor greenery may be only a chop away. Snip off some of the evergreen branches from the base of the tree, tie them together with an understated bow, and a tasteful welcome awaits the next reveler to knock on the front door.

• Decorative Bows: The aforementioned bow isn't simply an accent for the greenery that adorns the front door or the porch. A festive bow can stand on its own, bringing beauty to the entryway of the house, and even the grand oak that stretches its noble branches across the front yard. Most holiday stores can provide a pre-made, vibrant red bow to meet any decorating needs, but to truly add a unique and personal touch, head to the craft store and find the material that is right for your own home. By choosing the perfect material, the right length, and a welcoming color, the only limitations for this holiday bow are the imagination.

There was a time when holiday decorating meant a well-lit and decorated Christmas tree situated near a window to allow passers-by to view it. These days, the tree is just one component of the celebration, and the outside of the home – from the front door to the lawn – is a winter canvas ready to be adorned. With a classic mix of holiday decorations, from greenery to bows, any home can sing with the Christmas spirit without breaking the bank.

Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago area, where he has been helping customers since 2000. Chris also contributes to Home Depot's Home Decorators.com website. His home-décor interests range from home furniture to patio furniture.

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Thanks for the timely article Chris, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Linda. xox

A Marvellous New Shop To Visit!

WOW! Time flies by when you're super busy and drawn away from the computer! It's been ages, and I've been super slack blog wise.

I may be absent again for a while.... it's finally looking like Summer over here in Aus, my work ends for the year this Friday, and I'm off to a lovely beach holiday over the Christmas/New Year period (I'm super lucky to have a brother who lives in a glorious beach-side town - yay for cheap accommodation!)

So, I'll probably take some time off on an extended blog break to enjoy the great outdoors and life in general.

But, I did want to stop in a couple of times before Christmas.

I just had to make sure I introduced you to a lovely new shop in case you still have some Christmas shopping to do.

My wonderful friend Bobbi, who blogs over at The Lazy Designer, has recently started up her very own Etsy shop.

Bobbi runs the most marvellous boutique store in real life in a beautiful part of Italy. She makes and sews the most amazing objects, clothes and jewellery. I keep telling her she should sell her photography too as it's just divine!

Meet Molly. She's a cat, but she is also a throw pillow. She's cute and soft you'll love to cuddle her. Her front body, cheeks and tummy are made with a wool fabric, her eyes and nose with a black cotton jersey and her back body is in black cotton. Her features such as her eyes, nose, tummy and paws are hand stitched with black cotton.

Don't you just love her!?

You can also find lovely jewellery.... can you guess Bobbi's favourite colour by looking around?                                           

Check out Bobbi's fabulous store here. Anything you buy helps support her large furry family who live with her in a little cottage. The more cats Bobbi can help, the happier she is!

I can't believe how talented some people are.

Linda. xox

Guest Post - Autumn Decorating....

Today I'm very pleased to welcome a guest post by Jessica Phan about decorating during Autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and whilst it's getting close to Summer over here in Australia, it's Autumn for half the world - you lucky things!

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Beyond Blooms: Decorating with Natural Accessories

Autumn is officially here and many people are inspired to decorate their home with the shades of nature. When the leaves start to turn colors, turn to the elements of the season to transform your home into a warm, inviting haven. Here are a few simple ideas to help you customize your décor this fall.

Decorate with Bark:

Create interesting picture frames to hold your favorite family memories with the help of bark. The outer layer of the tree's bark features varying textures and colors that add an interesting touch to old picture frames.

Head to a nearby woodshop or lumber yard and purchase a few sheets of bark. Cut these into squares or rectangles, big enough to be inserted into the frame. Next, trim your picture so that it's smaller than the sheets. Stick the picture in the middle and you have a unique nature-inspired border.

If you want to add color, you can paint a thin layer over the sheet. Pick autumn colors like red, yellow, and orange to emphasize the texture of the bark.

Wooden Tables:

Store-bought wooden tables can be expensive, especially if they're professionally carved and varnished. Instead of buying a new one, keep a look out for tree stumps that you can customize to fit your home. When you find one, paint a layer of varnish over it to keep it looking fresh and termite-free.

You can also use tree stumps as side tables to prop up other design elements in your home.

For something more unique, use several pieces of large driftwood as a base for your table. Glue and nail them together, ensuring both the top and bottom are aligned. If there are odd pieces sticking out, cut and file them out, as you want a sturdy base for the table top glass. Once the glass is in place, you now have a homemade table perfect for the living room or the entertainment area.

Autumn Tree-branch Arrangement:

Since autumn is known for bare branches and the crunch of fallen leaves, bring those elements into your home using materials culled from your own backyard. If you don't have access to a garden, the park is a great place to look for these materials.

Collect dried branches and leaves in varying shades and lengths. Some trees have multi-colored leaves that are perfect for adding life to decor. You can also look for pebbles or rocks to serve as a base for the branches.

Once you have everything, get a tall, clear vase and fill it with pebbles or rocks. Stick the branches in any order and finish it off with a sprinkle of autumn leaves. This vase arrangement is a great way to bring the scenery of autumn into your home.

Wall Decor:

Who says you can only hang art work on your wall?

Wood weavings, wood chips, and old birds' nests that have been flattened and dried make for great wall décor.

Juxtapose the beauty of the outdoors with the home's interiors by framing them or sticking them right on the walls.

Wood chips, for example, add texture to painted walls and create great conversation starters when you have guests over.

Decorate old birds' nests with pine cones and other knick-knacks and hang these as wall décor over the mantel or on doors.

Incorporating nature into your home décor is easy. Just remember to keep yourself inspired by enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Take a stroll around the local park or your own backyard to look for new elements that can turn any home into a warm, inviting place for friends and families to gather.

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Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com, a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

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Thanks Jessica!

Linda. :)

Happy Weekend - A Lovely Living Room In Spain

Happy weekend lovelies!

I've been super busy with the Tiny Tidy Challenge, so I must apologise for my lack of posting over here.

Hopefully I'll be more organised next week!

Image from Elmueble

I love the lightness of this living and dining room. It belongs to a gorgeous home in Spain.... I really do think the light has a special quality over there. I'm determined to get over there and check it out one day!

I hope the weather is good for you wherever you are this weekend. We're finally going to get a nice day here, although I think it's back to dreary weather next week. Already nearly a month of Spring gone and I feel like I'm still in Winter.

The blossom on the trees is starting to come out though, so that's good!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo - And Let The Tiny Tidy Challenge Begin!

Linda. xox

If Only I Were A Child Again....

I'd want to be here.

 

Images from Nicety

 

I LOVE the fact that there's superb display shelves for books in this children's play area. Every child should have access to beautiful stories and books - don't you think?

Great storage too.

What an amazing space for a child to be in.

In fact, if it were in my home, I'd be in there all day - who cares how old I am!!

Linda. xox

PS. There's quite a few more videos over on the Tiny Tidy Challenge private blog for those of you who've joined. If you look and listen hard, you may even get to hear me sing (which may not be a good thing - lol).

If you haven't joined the Tiny Tidy Challenge yet, there's 53 of us registered, and you can join us by clicking here and following the prompts on the page. :)

And So The Feeling Continues.....

A little while back I wrote again of my craving for a pared down feel to my rooms.... I seem to have morphed into a phase of needing more earthy, textural, natural elements and less 'in your face' colour than I'm usually attracted by. (This is BIG.)

And, I've been going about the process of doing it slowly... a little here, a little there. I sat with it for quite a while just to make sure it wasn't a fleeting impulse before I spent any money on anything (which I haven't done much of).

I sent 6 themed boxes of various bits and pieces to the auctions the other day and got back $100, so that was a little extra for me, and I know the people who got them will give them a good home and have fun decorating.

Win/win!

This house really got my attention whilst browsing last night. I can see myself here. I can feel myself here. I kinda feel like I'm shedding one skin to grow into another.

All images from Dust Jacket Attic.

I would seriously like to go and disappear here for at least a week by myself and just soak up the amazing vibes of this home and drink in the serenity of it all.

Then I'd invite some friends around (I know how you love a good swim Bobbi!) to utilise that pool and simply hang out and relax.

I just know I'd sleep well in this home.

There's even more pics of this beautiful home here.

Bliss.

Linda. xox

PS. Nearly 40 people have registered for the Tiny Tidy Challenge now!! I hope everyone ends up diving in and getting down to the nitty gritty of taking part and having some fun.

I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you on the private blog!!
 

This Bedroom Is So Beautiful... and A Big Thank You

Ok, perhaps Bobbi was right in a comment she said a while back on one of my posts.

Maybe her current craving for more neutral and soothing colours is contagious and I've caught it.... because I have to say this bedroom is absolutely making my heart melt.

Not my usual style.

But I just adore it.

Image from Alvhem

The hint of red via the rooftop glimpsed through the window is probably tipping it over into the sublime for me... it gives that pop of bright red I usually crave in spades while the bedroom itself is so calm and soothing.

Maybe my obsession for red is having a mid-life crisis.

Maybe I'm moving into a new phase (which would be an absolute shock because I've been in heart stopping love with red for so long), maybe I'm starting to shed my current 'skin' and evolve into something else.

Who knows! Either way, it's all good and it'll be fun to see what happens.

I feel an experimental redecoration of my place coming on.

Linda. xox

PS. I'd like to thank the 30 or so people who've registered their interest in the Tiny Tidy Challenge!

Woohoooo! (Your invite to the private site is coming out tomorrow)

Go to this page now if you'd like to join with us and participate in a fast, easy, simple way to get some clutter out of your home.

Here's to a happy and healthy home, and a happy and healthy you!