Out now: Ivy and Piper + Rue magazine! Click to read!

Click to read Ivy and Piper's March/April 2012 issue - "a lookbook of beautiful interiors from around the world to inspire and encourage you to create the home of your dreams". And PS Their "brand new look" was created by none other than (my ex-colleague) Miss Veronica King, aka Veronica Loves Archie!

And click to read RUE magazine's March/April 2012 issue - look out for the RUE shops Melbourne feature, starring Australia's very own Lucy Feagins, aka The Design Files!

My favourite page in RUE? This one (below) for obvious reasons! Moroccan Leather Pouffes are the most versatile piece of furniture you'll own - Truly! We are constantly moving ours around the house (did I mention they look great ANYWHERE?) - a footrest, a laptop table, something for Miss Four to sit on while she buckles her shoes... You get the picture. Click to browse the rainbow-coloured range of Table Tonic Moroccan Leather Pouffes. Descisions, decisions...

Table talk with Louise Bell: "Inside my colourful world"

As you know by now (because I posted about it here), the birthday issue of Ivy and Piper went live a few days back. The I & P girls, Melanie and Elizabeth were kind enough to have me as a contributor this past year, and it's been a mega-blast. So here's this issue's thang: "Inside my Colourful World" (click to read Ivy and Piper, and find me on pages 102-107). That reminds me - There is a lovely quote in the current issue of House Beautiful, along the lines of: "Don't be afraid of colour - You'll be surprised how good it makes you feel". Amen to that!

:: click to read Ivy and Piper 
:: click to shop tabletonic.com.au
 

So what's new? Magazines! Magazines! Magazines!

Holy high ceilings Batman it's raining magazines! When the mail man rode up the driveway yesterday and handed me no less than 3 magazines, I instantly felt my blogging muscle twitch. So lets do this:

(below) House Beautiful October 2011. Heaven. Loving HB right now!

(below) Just look at the gorgeous contents page... positively ooooooozing with eyecandy...

(below) Delicious October 2011 - borrowed from Ma & Pa Tonic. I had lunch at my parent's house last week, and they had made the entire meal from this issue, including the "Sake & Ginger Roasted Salmon" on page 90 and an egg noodle salad with peanut dressing (p78) from Bill Granger's new book, Bills Everyday Asian - which looks diviiine. And which I now need.

(below) House & Garden November 2011 - A fantastic issue. Super thick, super good.

(below) And look! A Table Tonic Grey and White Ikat cushion (p156) in a gorgeous old Queenslander on the Sunshine Coast:

(below) US Vogue's infamous September issue is a whopper - 758 pages! I'm going to need a week in Hawaii to get through this one...

(below) Inside Out magazine's November/December issue is also superb (everything is really great this month!!). So many colourful and eclectic homes... And PS To join the conversation and have any design questions answered, visit their Facebook page.

(below) The Table Tonic Neon Lime Spot Ikat cushion makes an appearance on page 70 (squeal!!). And how fab is that little sofa ($4800 from Edit)?!

(below) This time, I'm pilfering from Mr Tonic - his HOUSES subscription is getting a run for it's money! Issue 82 is out now.

(below) If you like your decor magazines with a side cover of horse, then the October 2011 issue of Verandah is for you!

 

BUT WAIT. THERE'S MORE! (below) American online decor magazine Rue's anniversary issue is live. Happy Anniversary Rue-sters!

(below) And Aussie online decor magazine Ivy & Piper's 1st Birthday Issue is live. Happy birthday Ivy & Piper!

So. What are YOU reading/loving/drooling over right now? Spill!

Day in the life: Bits + bobs from the past few days

The storm :: We had a fantastic lunch at (the newly refurbished) Dunes restaurant at Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend if you're ever in the area and need the perfect spot and superb food. Choose from the restaurant or the kiosk, or just picnic on the grass right next to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Oh, and there's even a magnificent playground. Tick. Tick. Tick. This was the storm that was rolling in as we left:

And if you turned around 180º, you'd be in Summer Bay see this - Palm Beach, aka the strip of sand made famous by Aussie soap Home and Away (and not a cloud in the sky!):

The vice :: Mr Tonic and I are nuts about Chai lattes (Arkadia brand) made with 1/2 Oat Milk and 1/2 full cream milk. Not the healthiest stuff (far from it when you read the ingredients!), but far too good to resist. 

(above) Wedgewood mug from Peters of Kensington (buy it here), Jennifer Zeuner necklace from Eclektica (buy it here), Meadowlark ring (buy it here), Cheap Monday "Cathy" sweater from Shopbop (buy it here).

The renovation update :: So we painted the front door that icy blue colour used on the patio "feature wall", and it was, well, it was "Meh.." on a grand scale. As luck would have it, we had a can of high gloss paint lying around. But what colour you ask? Well. Remember this little stool I painted a year or so back?

Yes! That's now officially our front door colour!

Mr Tonic and I look at it lovingly every time we walk past...

One coat down, two to go!

The magazines :: Real Living's September 2011 issue is in the house (and it's all kinds of fresh n' fruity!). Spring is in the air, Tonic-ettes!

The same could be said for Aussie InStyle, whose September issue looks something like this (below). I thoroughly enjoy Australian InStyle. Katie Holmes should be paying them to be on the cover.

The online magazine :: Ivy and Piper's Style Issue is live. That deserves and exclamation mark!!! (And PS, you'll find my doing my thing on pages 100-105).

 

The dinner :: Quinoa, green beans, sweet potato oven roasted in coconut oil, mint, coriander, onion, shredded coconut, cashew nuts, sesame seeds. AWESOME!

I want to also thank everyone who commented on yesterday's post. I was blown away by all of your journeys, thoughts and recommendations. Wow. Thank you! And Happy Thursday Tonic-ettes!
 

Happy Ivy & Piper Day! The June/July issue is out now!

Happy days, Tonic-ettes! The June/July issue of Ivy and Piper is live, and bursting at the virtual seams with genius tips, tricks and the hottest interior designers (and bloggers)! Click to read!

You'll find my contribution, "Adding a splash of Morocco to your home" on pages 120-125: 

Thanks for having me, Melanie and Elizabeth and congratulations on another glorious issue! Click to read the June/July issue of Ivy and Piper.

A day in the life: 21.04.11

The threads:

bassike dress / karen walker shearling vest / 
hermes cuff / uberkate cuff / havaianas thongs

The new blog:

Introducing "Ivy and Piper: The Blog"!

The new favourite blog:

Erika Brechtel is the Creative Director of a "brand styling studio". She has a killer eye, and a blog to match. Consider Small Shop Studio bookmarked!

The fuel:

Last night's dinner: BBQ chicken and salad

The farewell:

Certain treasures never seem to make it onto the online store, as they're always pre-ordered-out! I'm saying goodbye to this big guy today

The budget beauty buy:

As much as I worship Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream, cooler months call for something heavy duty. For $12.95? I'm loving Macro Natural Vitamin E Cream sick!!

The top secret:

I've just finished packing up a huge order for a very exciting project, but I can't say anything just yet. In a few more weeks, all will be revealed, I promise!

The knit:

Ruby Rose rocks a very cool Union Jack sweater! She's pictured here with Mandy, aka Ms Oracle Fox (via Oracle Fox)

The playdate:

Jasper-Tonic went and saw HOP with bellaMUMMA's boys yesterday. Cute!

The (other) baby:

I have a few pretty little feathered friends, which will soon be joining the Table Tonic online store's other newest additions - Baby Juju Hats! 
(Wouldn't Mum just love one for Mother's Day?)

Have a beautiful day, Tonic-ettes!

Happy Ivy & Piper Day! The Fashion issue is out now!

Happy Ivy & Piper Day, Tonic-ettes! Click here to lose yourself in "The Fashion Issue"!

I was so flattered to be asked by Elizabeth and Melanie to contribute to the fashion issue! Find my article (that's it, below!) on pages 92-101.

(below) Naturally, the girls couldn't resist pointing out that Anoushka's room was completely inspired by the cover of their premiere issue. Thanks for the inspiration, girls!

Are Aussies doing the online decor mag thing brilliantly, or what?! The Ivy & Piper "Fashion Issue" is out now.