Journal

Creative Vignettes & Collections

July 26, 2016Moira Schneider

I have always loved sourcing & collecting lovelies from the beach, the river, the countryside, trips down south of Perth or trips Overseas. Whether I am adding to my collections or remembering what my friends like, there is always an endless source .... I am still surprised that years later I see friends still have the things I have made or put together for then. Creative vignettes allow little things to be moved around & changed, bring a freshness constantly around the home & will touch the Soul. To walk in the front door of your home & smell fresh cooking wafting through to you as it is arranged on the bench top, or fresh flowers, or the gathering in a corner or on an old table of some of your favourite things. Like a little glass box with sea shells & tea light in it so when the glass lid is up the tea light can burn...things change rapidly in decorating & design yet so often have been in vogue & come around again & guess what is hiding in a cupboard that comes out & looks new again.

Magazines & books are often inspirations along with sites like Pinterest, Instagram & Houzz which all connect you with a world wide environment of excitement of much choosing, let alone being around artists, designers, craft artists. One such person is Sibella Court who has written a number of books on putting things together - grouping similar antique objects or themed objects together. Other books have been written to inspire collections of Shabby Chic styled vintage all white/cream objects. We'll add as we go....

Nothing like a little bowl of homegrown fruit..

Homemade bread..smells delicious coming into the kitchen

One of my Collections from my Beach Walks..

Antique Cutlery amidst plants & books my Studio work bench

Breakfast for a Princess (prepared for me by my friend)

Remembering a Kinfolk Dinner......

July 25, 2016Moira Schneider

Being in the middle of winter when it is cold, one can think back to summer whereupon you are reminded of summery/balmy nights when we have shared in a wonderful banquet of beautifully presented food. My last Kinfolk Dinner was one such evening whereupon the Dinner was prepared by the Kent Street Deli & held in what was one of my favourite shops that had not long been open called 'Little Leaf Co'. It had been opened by Tonya who had the most wonderful way with plants and all aspects of Horticultural Delights.....

Well the little shop had not long been opened as I said & had become a hive of activity as Tonya was well connected not only with whom she sourced her products from over time, but suddenly to be hosting a Kinfolk Dinner. The evening was to be a place of community get together whereupon you could connect with a number of people in business, or starting out in business.

The dinner tables were laid, the food prepared & served while conversation flowed all amidst the decor of plants & artefacts inside what was an old warehouse where surfboards had been made.....A wonderful night was had by all, yet it it would inspire you to do something like this with a group of friends to encourage & support each other starting off in business or growing a sideline into a business....

Simple Table Setting with handmade Napkins & Menu

Delicious Seafood Mini Platters to share between 2 People

Quick look up & its like an Alladins Cave..

Running To Keep Up....

July 23, 2016Moira Schneider

In-between organising my studio to deliver lovely things to my friends shop, preparing for my Tony's 60th Dinner, gorgeous grandchildren arriving for their summer holidays during our Winter....I do feel I have been running to keep up with my blogging. I think I need to be very disciplined and write perhaps every second morning after my swimming .......

My friend has a dear little shop in 9/142 South Terrace, (bottom of Wray Ave) East Fremantle that sells Fashion but is listed to sell gifts and accessories. We have decided to build the gifts, homewares and accessories up, to give the shop a newness of life and what better than when one goes to buy a unique dress, pants, knitwear or beautifully designed little bags and wala, their eye catches something to add to making their home more warm. Here you will find a selection of cushions, quilts, books, potted plants in whimsy old containers. These can be refilled when the plants need planting out into your favourite spot in the garden. It is a lovely way of recycling, that you can't do with fresh flowers though they are always such a lovely addition to a little spot at home too. Hopefully we can keep an update of what has started at the shop - called 'Envee'. Photos are coming.....

Another Vintage Frame & more potted Containers are then reflected on the Potting Table..

Another Old Frame juxtaposed amongst pots & plants on my Potting Bench....

Meeting my dear friend Tamara Fogle at The Cloth Shop London

May 14, 2016Moira Schneider

Tamara & I first met several years ago after I read an article about Tamara and her gorgeous hand made bags. She had sourced old Hungarian & German Grain Sack Fabrics, designing & making bags finished with beautiful Italian Leather Handles. I had arranged to meet Tamara at a Homewares Fair where she was exhibiting her bags & selling them on the afternoon that I hit London. Falling in love with these bags, I purchased a number of them with my husband left carrying several white shoppers filled to the brim of these wonderful bags back to where we were staying. We also had made plans to meet Tamara at her flat where upon I was to pick up several more of her bags along with seeing her miniature workshop in the back garden.

We have kept in touch since & encouraged each other along the way with our creativeness. So this trip I was to meet her for coffee & we would cross the road to visit her Aunt who works in 'The Cloth Shop' - again a beautiful little shop filled to the brim with fabrics of every description but many of the rustic textured Linens, Indigo fabrics, Vintage sheets, Hungarian Sack Cloth & Vintage Tea Towels, along with a number of heavy duty trims