Showing posts with label bling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bling. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Buttons Ribbons and Bling Hong Kong Style



The last morning of our stay in Hong Kong was spent totally engrossed in the delights of Sham Shui Po a retail area situated on the Kowloon Peninsula.
Electronic goods and tools are sold as well as fabrics, buttons and crafts.
Mr redroses sauntered off to the electrical end of town while my daughter and I hit the crafty end to source bits and bobs for her jewellery creations. I cannot begin to describe the wonder that engulfed our every turn. 
Let me tell you, in Australia we are starved of variety! Next visit we are spending a whole day in this Aladdin's cave. My home town seems to be devoid of descent buttons and I had been trying to source four large black textured buttons for a knitted coat. Well I finally got lucky in Sham Shui Po. 
The reels of ribbons were a sight to behold. Truly. 
Shop after shop selling beautiful buttons, ribbon, crafts and embellishments for jewellery and artworks.





    Bling as far as the eye can see


                      Bustling busy and happy shoppers


    Take a deep breath Annie. No you can't bring every reel home


    The phone camera quality is not great but you get the idea


    Imagine this business holding a 'guess how many buttons are in the store' competition!


 
Just thought I would throw this pic in for dramatic effect. Yes that's right it is a snake in a cage. On the footpath.

You can understand why my daughter and I enjoyed this area immensely. A small suitcase will accompany us next time so we can literally fill our boots!
Have you visited this dynamic area of Hong Kong? Better still...is there anyone out there who actually resides in Hong Kong and shops at Sham Shui Po?

Annie xx

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The price of milk and bread....


Okay so I'm feeling deliciously naughty today. 

Look what came home with the milk and bread




 I just don't know what came over me.

A bit like an out of body experience.

On the night I wear this fabulicious beauty I may strike a photographic pose and even flash some leg for a blog post...

Maybe...

xx

Friday, September 9, 2011

Round and Round we go...



Today has been somewhat industrious with the electrician installing ceiling fans in anticipation of hot summer days and nights ahead. For aesthetics we choose fans which hopefully blend into the surrounds rather than look like an eyesore, well that's the theory. A wall mounted air-conditioner is placed in the kitchen/family area but as we're not lovers of air-con, fans are in all rooms and the a/c super burst of chill will only be used on ridiculously hot days.


The formal living area has a massively high ceiling and installing this fan was difficult for our electrician but he rose to occasion and there she is...can you see it? I think it blends very well and because it's a large model it packs a punch but is very quite at the same time. My nerves were on edge with two extension ladders being moved around the light fittings!
See the ripple effect on the ceiling? This delightful scene is cast from the crystal baskets. Took this pic this afternoon in dim light so you can imagine the shadows at night! Another aahhh moment upon entering this space.



I apologise now if you see this photo continuously throughout the blog because I am in love with these crystal basket beauties.




Photo quality not great here but you get the idea. A stainless steel finish for the family area to tie in with the black/white/silver kitchen and furnishings. On first installation the pole was the same length as the light fittings so it was shortened to unobstruct the line of glass dome lights. My pedantic ways have come to play in this house and there have been certain things I've insisted on!






Another little insistence was the light switch covers. Adhering to a certain colour scheme involves renewing jaded white with silver. Yes there's a few to replace!


Today's activities necessitated another long discussion about the formal living area. This space, for several reasons since we recently moved in, has not gelled. More ideas thrown about today and I'm excited because we've finally determined (hopefully) how this area should work for our family.
The new idea necessitates the removal and selling of furniture that holds sentimental value to yours truly ( how many dining tables does one actually need?) I'm happy with this decision as I've struggled over parting with these pieces.
Have you discovered in life that holding onto something because of sentimentality is not conducive to your wellbeing? Even if it's only furniture?
Now I must confess Mr redroses eyes did glaze over but he realises this room has to evolve and be utilised efficiently. All he could mutter was 'will it involve flat-pack furniture'? Bless him.



Sooo I busied myself and moved some pieces around to 'feel' this space. Have I told you I love moving furniture? Drives the family nuts.
Stay tuned, just need to twist Mr redroses arm a little more to activate the final touches, although a large built-in is in the pipeline so might be a little bit before this room is finally revealed.







Gave the old farmhouse table a nice polish today during my industrious mood. This beauty I can never part with. Purchased in 1986 during a trip to Melbourne, then set about having it trucked up to Sydney where we lived at the time. Many a happy family celebration has been enjoyed around her plus I designed the kitchen specifically to suit the inclusion of this table. There were a few anxious moments on moving day in anticipation of 'will it work'. Yes it does.


And in breaking news.....here is my first red rose, picked this week! Two pink buds are also ready to pop. Very exciting!



May everyone enjoy a pleasant weekend and take care
xx

Monday, August 22, 2011

Entertaining



A spot of entertaining was in order over the weekend and of course roses featured. This rose garden I am planning is actually a plot of weeds at the moment so I must activate my deeply buried gardening gene and get it sorted. Or I run the risk of going broke from purchasing cut flowers.
You know I actually enjoy gardening once I'm outside but fear that after battling drought conditions living on acreage for many years it was hard and a little soul destroying trying to cultivate lush foliage only to watch it curl up and wither. After three years my visions of a cottage garden evaporated and only the hardy drought tolerant Aussie natives survived.




Do you gain pleasure from setting out a table for guests? I learnt so much from my mother who was a superb hostess and while I'm far from being superb at this art I have fun displaying little bits of bling, a candle or two, a lovely tablecloth and pretty crockery. My parents vintage Noritake dinner set is a must along with some jazz music playing softly in the background. Funny how our musical tastes change over the years because I've never been a fan of jazz but nowadays it soothes my soul.




Not for the faint hearted this crockery...it is non-dishwasher proof. I figured I should start using my finer pieces because quite frankly how can I enjoy them if they are stuck in a cupboard.










Now that my children are grown and we are done with renovating houses I really wish to embrace the finer things in life and enjoy the beautiful bits and pieces I own. It will be a little tribute to my Mum and her generation who went above and beyond when it came to entertaining. Plus guests get a kick out of the effort involved which makes it all worthwhile.

Do tell....What tactics do you use for entertaining?
xx