Happy Birthday Mummy B x

That's 'mother' and I in matching tracksuits...... as you do - Happy Birthday Mum! Out for dinner and then back to my place for dessert (because I now have table and chairs!).

Love you lots mum xox

Getting Inspired

via the steward via the design files

Kelley Moore's work space (via an online mag, anyone remember? - eeks)

very much a 'before' shot... "BBT HQ"

The little SFC is coming together..... slowly. The kitchen is almost done - just need to hang the rest of the artwork and 'bedazzle' it a bit before I share, but so far so good.

Brown Button Trading's new HQ is very much in its infancy, as the shot above indicates. But I'm excited - look at how big that pinup board is! stay tuned for an inspiration board. If it could look even half as good as couple I have posted above I will be one happy camper.

I just have to work out how to make things like rolls of fragile tape, bubble wrap, big boxes of stock and piles of paperwork look super chic. Simple?!

Something for the weekend...

Whatever you are doing, have a lovely time xox

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I said what??

I have some distant, vague memory that I stated on this blog not that long ago that I had some hair brain idea to take the decorating of the SFC slowly, that I wouldn't be in a hurry so i could ensure that it was just right, and I didn't make any 'disastrous decorating decisions' - Well, poop to that. I want it all done NOW. My lounge room currently consists of an ironing board, TV and a stack of mags...... I'd like to click my fingers and have it looking like Sophia Coppola's apartment that is now on the market (I blame you Sarah, flashing gorgeous pics of their house on your blog, not fair!!! Kidding hun xx)

Isn't it stunning? Arrggggh! - But I'll stop my whinging, because my sofa arrives tomorrow. A four seater stunner - similar style to Sophia's actually - but not in such stunning fabric. From Freedom, and I will eventually recover it - pics to come.

And the wallpaper is up and I'm a little bit excited about it (yep, definitely worked that well - new wallpaper installed but nothing to sit on or at!). I now have kitchen chairs as well, replica bertoias in fact, similar to those in the kitchen above, but with black seat pads, and they aren't stools. I'll share some pics once I have the table in as well. So I'll keep going, slowly slowly (apparently money doesn't grow on trees either, so I don't have a choice!) xox

images as seen over at My First Little Place

Have you heard?....

Alaina and Danielle launch The Everygirl on February 22nd. Subscribe now. If their gorgeous blogs are anything to go by, you don't want to miss out xox

Travelling back in time

Time traveler's wife is still my favourite book - was disappointed by the movie when I first saw it - but I'm sitting here tonight watching it on TV and I'm loving it so much more (ok, i'm a blubbering mess actually) - i didn't remember how fabulous the wedding reception and 'first wedding dance' scene was. Perfect reception set up, not sure I could risk it when you can't guarantee the weather though...

And their house?? perfect.

Fabulous rustic kitchen.

So, time to 'fess up - what are you favourite movie weddings and homes? - there are the stock standards, you know - Father of the bride wedding, Somethings gotta give house. Any others?

$19.99 and under absolute goodness

I love myself a bit of costume jewellery - but because of its very nature you don't want to spend much on it, right? One of my favourite things to do while I was in the Philippines was to head to Forever 21. Forget any of their clothes actually fitting me... I went straight to the accessories department - Neon, bling goodness. HELLO Forever 21 - even if you aren't going to open a shop here, ship to us... please! Thank goodness for Diva. These pretties above are all from Diva, $19.99 or under. I'm in Sydney all of this week for work. And don't get me wrong. I love what I do, I'm an accountant. I love order, and symmetry and knowing when you get things right - but I refuse to dress like an accountant! I bought myself some pretties at Diva on the weekend to wear with my all black ensembles while I'm in Sydney. Bring on the neon lovelies!!!

Today

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Times, they are a changing...

I was lucky enough to have my dearest friend Megs look after the crazy shop that is Brown Button Trading while I was overseas for six months last year for my 'day job'. When I returned it only seemed a natural progression that we 'join forces' and Brown Button Trading became a company and it is now as much Megs as it is mine. So, get excited for some big changes on the BBT front this year - two heads are always better than one they say... so true! First up, some super pretty pewter products. And for some reason the pic above makes me think of this fabulous tray below. We have only ordered a few, there is a chance at this rate we will be keeping them all for ourselves!

Nickel Rectangular Tray - Nice. No?

An absolute staple. This pretty pewter clock featured as part of the first stock we had when BBT first launched in 2009.... and its back.

Round pewter tray - no idea where to use it, too many options. Kitchen, bathroom or bedroom? its practical but its super pretty. Love it.

1st image - unknown source, sorry!!!

Fabulous Fete

Jane's Birthday Party - page 52-63

Swapping out the globes.... why didn't I think of that??

First issue of Fete is out for 2012 - so pretty. Read it here.

Fav bits? - Jane shared her birthday party. MY KIND of birthday party - gin and tonic? yes please. I have a bottle of hendricks we must share Miss Jane. They are so clever - I've been looking for big clear globe string lights forever.... um, just replace the coloured ones (see image 2 above).... durrrr Kimbo. Beautiful photography, gorgeous styling and the floral arrangements in this issue - to die for. Ok, enough of me. Go and enjoy xx

i scream you scream we all scream for ice cream

Seeing these delicious morsels plastered all over the wheel and barrow windows at the moment made me think of two things. 1) my grandma's AH-mazing homemade strawberry ice cream (must get her recipe, and if you are good, I may even share it with you) and 2) the attempt Pip and I once made to make our own ice cream sandwiches. I say attempt, because we were too impatient and had to eat them 'toot sweet' (as Kath and Kim would say), didn't have enough to time to set etc properly. Genius invention they were, and I must give Pip the credit. Super easy too. Ginger Nut biscuits and Maggie Beer burnt fig, honeycomb and caramel ice cream. You can even get those contraption thingys now that would 'cut' out perfect ice cream discs for you to go between the biscuits. Super Yum. Ok, that's all I've got. Catch you soon! (oh oh, got some new BBT shop goodies to share... soon I promise)

Holy Flip!

LOVE THIS. White. Colour. Sophistication. Fun. A day off and I've cleaned the house, sorted out my internet issues (well, not completely, but enough to allow me to sit here and 'pin' to my hearts content while catching up on season 4 and 5 of Gossip Girl), gathered quotes to install my wallpaper and I'm going to order my dining chairs as well. Happy Day! x

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day! I don't think Aussies are known for being all that patriotic, not as patriotic as other nations - I think that it is because we don't tend to take ourselves too seriously. I'm not saying that we aren't proud to be Australian - its just that we probably don't show it as often and loud as we should.

I lived abroad for six months last year and I think that has definitely made me more loud and proud about the country I call home. My time away has definitely made me appreciate and take notice of what I have, and what a gorgeous country we live in.

I finally watched "Australia" while I was overseas (ironic i know) and I cried through the whole movie.... the countryside was breathtaking (and I'm always a sucker for a baz luhrmann flick - bring on the great gatsby I say!)

I'm spending the hot summer's day out on the high seas with friends on their boat, with lamb cutlets and lamingtons on the menu - Loving everything this great country has on offer.

And who knows Miss Heidi fingers and toes crossed, you may even be celebrating this day on Australian soil this time next year..... xx

image styled by jane roarty

what do you want.... when do you want it.... now!

BBT is so getting its 'sale' on right now. Get on board here. Trinket boxes.... love. Now $50 (were $70)

mmmmmm.... macaron cookbook. Now $15 (was $24.95)

love these long time - blackboard piggy banks. $25 (were $39.95)

Shake your bon-bon. Zoe Bon-Bon delicious resin bracelets, now $40 (were $70)

pair of white doves now $10 (were $24.95) - super chic my friends,

A-M has a pair! (love you A-M x)

Heaps of other stuff as well. all palas jewellery is 50% off?! - making way for some new pretties, just still yet to decide what they will be. All help deciding is much appreciated! (what do you want my friends??)

Hajek at Home

I love me some selby in my inbox, especially the past week - Olaf Hajek's Berlin home is fabulous. Who said blackboard walls were 'so yesterday'?? - he uses it so well in his kitchen. He is an artist after all. Fun yet sophisticated, I'm hoping that is where the decorating of the 'SFC' is heading. This is certainly inspiring.I'm thinking there is a small space in my new kitchen that needs a lick of blackboard paint (i'm no artist but i'll be getting some artistic pals over to decorate it.. Emma??...Pippa?? swap a stir fry for some artistic flair in my new kitchen??....)

Thanks to the selby for the images, see more here, and see Olaf's website here.

WANT.

These Peter Lang Pretties..... and apparently so does everyone else. Sold out. boo.

It's like riding a bike....

It feels like forever since I posted, and it kind of has been. But its a good thing. I've realised I spend too much time planning and plotting on how good things could be, when there is no way that any of it is going to happen if i spend so much time blogging and talking about it, I need to DO it. Actually, this isn't a new realisation, but this is the first time I've started taking action. So, I'm not sure how often I will post, but I know when I do, it is because I have something fabulous to share, not because I feel I have to. And surely that is a win/win for everyone! Stay tuned..... image seen over at my first little place (gorgeous, fabulous blog btw, go and catch up with Sarah if you don't already x)

Here we go again!

Welcome 2012, endless possibilities, a clean slate and all of that. Looking forward to enjoying everything this year throws at me. Well, that's the plan anyway, start off positive! I have big plans for 2012 and I'll be sharing it all here (lucky you?!). Let the fun begin....

Best wishes xox

I really can't believe it is Christmas time. Every year I promise myself I will seriously get in to the spirit and enjoy it - but each year seems to get busier and busier. Thank you so much for your support of this here little blog and the shop throughout the year, its been a big year both personally and for Brown Button Trading.

I'm looking forward to some time off between Christmas and New Year to try and get this new little house of mine in order. As I type the wardrobes are going in, and I finally get a bed today (sleeping on the swag on the floor squatter style had kind of lost its shine after three weeks....)

Wishing you and your families a special and safe time together celebrating Christmas, the end of a year and the start of a new one - I'll catch you in 2012 xox

image spotted over at Maurice and King

All wrapped up

Well, are you gifts wrapped and ready to go? - I'm still purchasing the gifts... (i love leaving things to the last minute, that's how I roll...) - but I've had the paper and tags sorted for a while now! Bespoke Letterpress have a gorgeous range of gift tags and paper available. The paper is great - double sided so useful for non Christmas gifts too. I always get excited about wrapping (probably why i have that and not the gifts organised yet, oops) - Briar has organised some ridiculously cool wrapping for her gifts this year, and she made it herself - too clever and crafty that girl!

images from bespoke letterpress boutique