My latest garden love...

Various plants had progressively 'survived' and then died here.  Something drastic had to be done.  So with inspiration from some public spaces, I have grassed this area (instant green) and installed a modern, clean look of steel edging, left to rust to same colour as the garden.

{today in the rain}

But my, my, ... aren't I a fickle creature?!  I have spent weeks bemoaning the hot dry conditions that we have had, and having to water my new grass daily to ensure it survives.

And now we have had rain in Brisbane for days, and already I am craving sunlight!  Today a weather alert has been issued for a deluge - which by the way only makes me wonder 'how much they are expecting to actually issue an alert?'!  Must be a lot!

A day of firsts and lasts....

Unlike the jacaranda's purple swathe across this city in September, autumn and winter here are quieter seasons.  They don't herald their coming with triumphant shows of autumnal colour, or melancholy skies and bleak trees of winter as there is in other climates.  

But amongst the green there are always changes, something new to be seen to show the seasons are rolling on, a change is coming.

The first autumn leaf on the Liquidamber Tree...

Secret Spaces

Street Art and International Women's Day: Together in Paris

I love how there's always something new and changing in Paris - whatever time of year you are there.  And the street art that abounds is just one example of this:

Paris mayoral candidate Nathalie Koscisuko-Morizet, or as she is often referred to - NKM, commissioned pioneer artist Joseph Mendy to create wonderful pieces of 'reverse graffiti' street art for March 8 'International Women's Day',  to honour the 53% of Paris population who are women.  

À toutes les femmes de Paris, héroïnes du quotidien. NKM.

 (To all the women of Paris, everyday heroines.)

{image Carla Coulson photography}

Top tips for 'How To Get Those Treasures Home'

I am often asked ‘just how hard is it to actually get your treasures home?’  For those planning to travel on my Brocante Tour this year, this is very useful information in the planning phase!

The short answer is that it's really not that hard!  All it takes is a bit of preparation.   

Firstly, what you or I think of as 'treasures' can be quite different sizes, shapes and degrees of shipping difficulty!  One woman's french linens is another woman's armoire!

Is Autumn here ....

Gorgeous morning here. There's a slight nip in the air; autumns on the prowl but hasn't settled in yet.  Birds' morning cacophony louder than usual, .... feels like we're just on the cusp of the season's change.

Jennifer x