web love: Wildehouse Paper

Stationery boxes – who would have thunk it? Two very clever designers – that’s who.

Wildehouse Paper create stunning paper goods stationery boxes delivered to your door each month – the perfect gift for a fellow stationery nerd or yourself!

Kitchen mood board

I’m a visual person – I find creating mood boards, whether it be for a new graphic design client, a project or decorating – a mood board helps to me to “see the bigger picture” particularly when you’re focusing on minor details (like which blue to paint the cabinets – that’s a whole other post…!). So I created this for my kitchen, as it stands, as I felt I was losing my way! I had to shift my recent kitchen renovation from a total gut job, to a ‘pretty up’ due to a fairly average harvest we had. However, I love a challenge (aiming to keep it below $1,000), and this has been quite ‘enjoyable’ to work and rework budgets and find alternative, affordable solutions. Some of my results include:

Get organised

Its usually this time in the New Year when people proclaim “This is the year I will be super organised” or pin a hundred images about great DIY organisation solutions! I have said this a few times already this year – starting with my coffee table above, inundated with magazines, toys, remotes etc – I used an office tray to keep things together. Not ideal, but a quick solution.

If you type “calendar 2016” into Pinterest, you’ll see some amazing, and sometimes free, printable calendars – here’s one that i’ve downloaded (for free) – thanks This Little Street check out her blog as well for some other great ideas…

Good luck getting organised – would love to hear what other simple ideas you are introducing in 2016

Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas

Well, its mid January and I’m feeling more inspired again – so hello! I saw this saying the other day and I thought – wow, that’s exactly how I feel. Sometimes my ideas are not quite ‘resolved’ and so I let them pass – hence why my blog has been a little vacant recently. I’ve really been enjoying Instagram, and if you’ve been following you will have seen that we’re under taking a budget kitchen reno #kitchenbudgetreno #kitchenrenounderagrand

DIY Concrete pendant lamp

How amazing is this DIY tutorial to create your own concrete lamp, from Brit & CO. On my hunt for original and unique pieces for our homestead renovation, I’ve come across some gorgeous (cue expensive) lamps – but this might just be the ticket! Concrete seems to be all the rage at the moment, but I’m loving the individuality and tactile (and of course the grey palette).

The Tabletop project by Mark Tuckey

Have you seen the #Tabletopproject yet by Mark Tuckey? A gorgeous collaboration of Australian stylists and Mark Tuckey products to help inspire you for this year’s Christmas table settings (and also provide you will some drool-worthy products too!) in a beautiful short film.

Stylists included Louella Tuckey, Jason Grant, They all hate us, Nikki Yazxhi from Bellamumma, Rachel Castle, Holly Hipwell from The Flowerdrum and Nadine Bush Creative Director Jamie Durie.

Of all of the gorgeous styling and products, one of their newest products jumped (excuse the pun) out at me – the Cavaletti table! For those who didn’t grow up around horses, a Cavaletti pole are training poles used as small jumps for riding. I just LOVE this pop of colour in such a creative use and would love, love, love to have this in my home.

Hand-painted Christmas wrapping

Every year I seem to decide upon a ‘theme’ for my presents. For this year’s Christmas wrapping, I decided to hand paint some kraft paper and create some little swing tags. Laying a large roll of kraft paper on the dining room table, I started to paint (using just an acrylic paint, diluted with a little water) and see what patterns I came up with. I was hoping for an abstract ‘pattern’ that would be cropped nicely when wrapped around each present.

To finish off each present, I’ve cut a strip of bleached calico and a kraft card. Have you created your own wrapping this year?

Blackboard lettering

Here are some petite blackboard signs I hand-lettered for Ruby Maine Espresso Bar. It was great to practice my handlettering. After trialling a few ‘chalk’ pens, I finally found the perfect one.

Monochrome

I’ve always been a monochrome kinda person – maybe because I deal with colour all day in my design work , a simple palette ‘Relaxes’ me.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE colour. I love kaleidoscopes of colour and pattern but just don’t wear it that often. Slowly I’ve been introducing pops of colour – and as you can, neon pink is my choice (also wearing neon pink lippy too!).

Are you a monochrome devotee too?

Handlettering on pallets

I’m on our local (horse) race committee and I’m in charge of all things non-racing – fashions on the field, corporate areas, theming, advertising, website and social media.

This year I’ve come up with the theme “the garden party” for the corporate area. We have a beautiful and picturesque garden setting, and being spring time is thought I’d play on that too. I’ve started handlettering on some old pallets we had in the shed (of course I would have loved a custom timber laser cut sign, but no budget). So this will do.

Some inspiration below also, which I thought I could fill the tops of the pallets with bright pansies.

Have you re-purposed pallets before?

Morning sunlight

Sometimes it’s the simple things that warms your heart. I love greeting this view each morning. Happy weekend 🙂

Printable invitations by Emmy & Mouse

I’ve launched a few printable invitations, under Emmy & Mouse and hope you like! I’m still not 100% sure where I will be selling them – #Etsy or via my Emma Barrett Creative Website – but here are some examples.

They’re currently over on my Facbook page and I’m taking orders now.

Simply email me your details and I’ll email you back a customised PDF which you can take to the printers or print at home.

All in the details

Sometimes its all in the details. This Bondi Apartment of Megan Burns and Christopher Glanville of Sydney based design firm C+M Studio – is a prime example of how simple design is taken to the next level by the thoughtful details.

I love this idea  of leather pulls for windows

Simple beaded board with finger holes instead of handles – genius! From a distance, they even look like handles (and they’re free!).

A true classic – subway tiles and dark grout, simple white bowl and a touch of greenery to personalise the space.

5 ways to improve your blog photography

One of the main reasons that attracted me to blogging – was the beautiful photography – I would be lost for hours scrolling page after page. If you, like me, are still learning and improving your photography, THIS post is invaluable. Melissa from Design Eat Repeat (a fabulous blog) talks about cameras, backdrops, editing software and more. Finally a post that jumps behind the scenes and talks about the nitty gritties – I have now put in an order for a tripod!

Plan and get organised!

Its time to get organised, with my new weekly planner. After a couple of days with a sick little boy, and feeling like I’ve achieved very little, I needed to plan next week – enter my new planner. And I’m giving it to you for free!

Simply click on button below, download and print on your home printer or at a commercial printer.

A modern country escape – Grey Gardens

Sometimes there are just images that resonate with you. On purchasing the lastest Country Style, last October’s issue was also included and I quickly remembered one of my favourite features. Grey Gardens, located in Chewton in Victoria’s goldfields is a lovely mix of vintage finds, modern design in a relaxed country charm.

The fabulous vintage lights in the kitchen, are old tennis court lights – sourced from Queensland – which surprisingly have a family connection to his grandmother “The court was in Kangaroo Point in Brisbane and was attached to her property back in the 1960s!”.

Its a white out – instagram picks

This week has been incredibly cold – winter is well and truly here. Above, I shot I took of our second serious frost for the winter (crunchy grass and all!). So with it bitterly cold outside, here are my ‘white-out’ picks from Instagram this week:

Local is Lovely – Orange NSW (just an hr and a bit down the road)

This gorgeous throw from Yarning Made

From one of my favourite artists, Lisa Madigan

This clever lady Stephanie Somebody is on Design Files today

Lemons from my friend Lucy, on $3 marble platter I picked up from vinnies!

Click go the shears

I can remember many a winter school holidays spent in the woolshed during shearing time. There is such a buzz about the shed and the smell of lanolin, sheep poo and the crisp winter’s air brings all of those memories flooding back. Today we were shearing at our farm, and Teddy and I popped up to see the action (with freshly backed cookies for the guys). Not that he will remember this, but hopefully there will be many more times for him enjoy – in the mean time, here are a few photos I took (with Teddy in hand).

Giveaway – custom name art print

I’ve been working on a few of these prints for some friends (and Teddy) and thought I would share the love! I’ll be giving away a customised print (with your child’s name, or a friends) in your preferred colour via my Facebook page.

Simply like Emmy & Mouse Facebook page (if you haven’t already) and comment on the colour you prefer, with the initial and name of the person you would like the print for (for example, E for Edward). And that’s it!

Fill your walls with Minted art

There’s something about a beautiful wall of artwork – whether they be originals or prints, masterpieces or op-shop finds. However, curating an entire wall can take time and expense. Enter Minted – a glorious website showcasing limited edition artwork created by independent artists. And its affordable. Each print is printed on quality archival stock and come in a vast range of sizes – perfect for any space. This is only part of the website – you can also customise gorgeous wedding collateral, baby & kids decor, party decor, seasonal invites and decor, giftware and any kinds of announcement you need!

Here are just some of my picks for an (adult) gallery wall

(top row left to right) Peonies in a bottle // The humble egg // Domino
(second row left to right) Its all in the details // love // rapids
(bottom row left to right) The touch of my skin // Watercolour hexagon

And something for a child’s playroom or bedroom

(top row left to right) Scribble rhino //  Cycling sausage // Heirloom apple(second row) Globetrotters // All aboard
(bottom row left to right) Mr Bear // I love you // Zebra