Blog Love + DIY - Tamara Maynes and her DIY cardboard quilt pendant light shade

Another late night session of scouring google images for DIY ideas came across this creative lady and her template for her Quilt Light - a geometric pendant light shade that can be made out of cardboard and individualised by the maker to suit your own style. Not only do I think this is super cool, but Tamara's blog is a hub of great design ideas, DIY, modern craft and inspiration and definitely one to follow.

All pictures have been used with permission of Tamara Maynes

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

DIY Refurbished Shabby Wooden Mirror - Before & After

I found this old wooden mirror at the tip shop for $5. It was a hideous shade of pink but had a beautiful shape, solid wooden frame and that romantic patina on the mirror you only get with age. As my mum says "it had good bones" and so it came home with me for a chance at a second life.

Several coats of paint later and with the help of my trusty little electric sander it looks like this - 

What do you think?

Yummy Healthy Maca Cinnamon and Cacao Hot Chocolate Drink

Here’s a little creation of mine that has been perfect for the colder weather when your energy lags a little or if you, like me, have a child that does not like to sleep at night and you want an alternative to coffee for a warm pick me up.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is the ground root of an Andean plant that acts as an adaptagen on the body – that is, it adapts your body to stress, increases your energy, oh, and did I mention its been known as the Andean Viagra? It increases libido and improves sperm quality and therefore is great for fertility. Maca powder has a nutty, slightly bitter taste, which is quite pleasant.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is what they make chocolate from, in its least processed form and without the sugar. Another South American goody, it also increases energy as it is packed full of zinc, iron, protein and calcium. Cacao is quite bitter and more palatable when sweetened with a little honey, agave syrup or stevia.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) warms the body, regulates blood sugar levels and has stong antioxidant properties. Besides that it is just damn yummy.

Raw cacao and maca powders can be bought at health foods stores and are quite cheap if you have one nearby that does bulk, help yourself products. The cocoa you buy from the supermarket is usually of quite a low quality so best to get a good cacao.

So, I heat up my milk (I use cows milk but try almond, soy or goats if you prefer), add about 2 tsps of maca, 2 tsp cacao, 1 tsp cinnamon and honey to taste. Warm, delicious, energising and good for you! Truly!

Chamomile & Peppermint Folded Book Sculpture Giveaway!

We are giving away a handmade folded book sculpture to one lucky reader!

These old books have been given new life in the form of art - each lovingly folded to make a beautiful statement in your space. This book sculpture resembles a diamond and is crafted out of a 288 page hardcover titled "Loves Apprentice" by Tom Hopkinson, published in 1953. The pages have that delightful hue and smell of old paper.

Open, this sculpture measures 28cm x 20cm x 12cm high.

You can find more of my folded book sculptures here - https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChamomilePeppermint.

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment below
2. Like us on Facebook
3. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page

You must complete all three above to be in the running.

Giveaway starts Monday 3rd June 2013 and ends midnight (EST) Monday 17th June 2013.
The winner will be drawn on  Wednesday 19th of June 2013 and notified by email.

Sorry, giveaway is open to Australian residents only.

Blog Love - HOMEMADE MODERN and their DIY neon concrete furniture

I'm loving the industrial rawness of concrete as a material at the moment, with it trending big time in polished floors, bench tops and hard fittings. I however, I am renting and even if I was not, I do not have the cash that these high end pieces require, and so I spent last night cruising google images for some ideas for smaller scale concrete DIYs.

I came across HomeMade Modern - a site that creators Ben Uyeda and Alice Yang conceived with ideals of creating inexpensive, durable, sustainable and modern furnishings, not for their own profit, but to share with the world in a series of really simple yet really cool DIY tutorials. These sort of concepts awake in me my little anti-consumerism rebel (please ignore the ads on the side of this page so I can have my moment) and with a "f@#k yeah!" I'm off to my local large chain Australian hardware store to get me some concrete, a bucket and some dowel - I will keep you posted on the results.

Here is some of their amazingness -

The $5 Bucket Stool Tutorial

Concrete Pendant Lamp Tutorial

Wood + Iron Pipe Leg Table Tutorial

Concrete Planter Tutorial

Wine bottle desk top planter tutorial

(Pictures used with permission of Ben Uyeda)

Autumn / Winter Fashion 2013

One of my fave online clothing stores is Surfstitch - they offer free postage on all orders and stock some pretty great stuff. Heres my picks for the colder weather that has just shown up on my doorstep...

Finders Keepers 'Final Cut' Pants - Lake Tahoe $159.95

Stylestalker 'Parallel Universe' Black and White Floral Dress $139

Henleys 'Bambi' Top $69.95

Kustom 'Tex Heel Boot' - Vintage Tan $99.99

Free People 'Penny Lane' Dress $147.99

Rhythm 'The Packet' Hat  $39.95

The Home - $2 postage over the weekend

The Home have $2 postage on everything starting today and ending Monday. These guys offer great deals on homewares with different sales every week. Here are a few of my faves from their current selection of sales -

METRO STYLE DECO
Pricilla Neon Pink Wall Clock
Was $59.95 - now $34.95

A LA MODE BOTANICALS
Beautiful Shells Nouveau Canvas Wall Hanging
was $149 NOW $53

METRO STYLE DECO
Marrakesh Jar 30cm
Was $29.95 NOW $14.95

FORMES MODERNES
Rhea Cushionwas
$40.50 NOW $24.30

ROMANTIC REVIVAL
Sea Foam Studio Lamp With Clear Glass Base
was $249 NOW $149

IOZOLA
Feathers Shower Cutain
Was $49.95 NOW $31.50