For any of you that live in Sydney, thought I'd let you know about the "Celebrating Motherhood" exhibition organised by Amelia McFarlane (friend of my sister). It's a collaboration of creative works by 22 artists to help raise money for Breast Cancer Research and Amelia's mother, Judi McFarlane's treatment.

CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD EXHIBITION

FROM OCTOBER 19TH 2010

102 Burton St, Darlinghurst Sydney

Artists include: Marnie Wark, Amy Prior, Kirsty Shadiac, Megan Morton, Rebecca Cool (event photo), James Gordon, Lisa Cooper, Tory Bauer, Minnie Taylor, Sam Barrett, Jodie Fried, Greig Fraser, Imogen Wiseman, Amikka May, Kara Loan, Sophie DuBois, Lauren Horton, Amanda McLaughlin, Janet McLearie, Krew Boylan, Carly Schwerdt, Rebecca Trevitt, & Amelia McFarlane.

Among this list of artists is my sister and ME!!!! This is the first time I've been asked to exhibit, so a little nervous, but it's for such a good cause, it was very easy to say 'yes', but secretly thinking 'SHIT SHIT, OMG, people will actually be looking at my painting!!!!! I hope they like it!!! Well, here it is, I've named her 'NATIVE MOTHER', charcoal and oils on a linen fabric canvas. (click on image to see larger) My sister's beautiful piece is a tapestry of our mother's face, I don't have a photo, but I can tell you my sister is a wiz with her hands, always making, beading, painting or finding things on the side of the road and turning them into master pieces!!!!!



So, if you are looking for something to do, go have a look at these pieces of art inspired by motherhood, then when you get home go ring your MUM and have a chat!!!!!! Because, 'We' mums are very precious!!!!! X X

This is a great example why WHITE works!!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!! click HERE to see all photos!!

This home was shot by Todd Selby. If you haven't checked out The Selby (click on link) you must, this is a great site. Todd set this site up in 2008 originally just of his friends' homes, within months he received up to 35,000 visitors a day. His site became so popular, people started contacting him, wanting their homes to be featured on the site (celebs, artists, interior designers, fashion designers, writers, people's homes that are over flowing with culture and art!). But, what I enjoy the most is reading his quirky hand written interview at the end of each spread of photos! He has also released a book called The Selby in Your Place, available atAmazon (click link)

Viewing these homes certainly makes you realise it's all the odds and ends, people collect over time that gives a place something special, hardly any of these places are unique buildings or newly renovated. Anyway, just an interesting thought! X

I thought I'd do a quick post on another boutique hotel in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, called the EMPORIUM, (click link) this hotel made my jaw drop when we entered the foyer!!!!

A collection of filigree screens and mirrors line the walls of the lobby, inspired by the canopy of frangipani trees, that are abundant in this area. Then you approach what looks like a boat made of brass, when in fact it's actually the reception desk. The colour RED dominates the feel of the room! I have to say red certainly isn't my first choice as a feature colour, it's a strong colour, but with so many mirrors, chandeliers, zebra prints, contrasting fabrics and textures, it all just seems to work, giving you that WOW factor!!!!

The Cocktail bar is definitely worth wondering down to for a G&T! A conference/dining table surrounded by a glass wall show casing wine, greets you when you walk in. Then behind the bar is the most magnificent 19th Century Chandelier, she's the big MUM MA of the bar, no matter where you are sitting she's in view!!!! STUNNING!!!

The rooms are quite the opposite to all the colour down stairs. They're dark and cosy (our room a touch small), but the bathroom makes up for the lack of light/white in the bedroom, it's totally tiled in carrara marble, AHHHHHHH..... I love a marble bathroom!!!

This is an amazing hotel, right at the heart of some great shopping, it's literally out the front. From memory they had very expensive toiletries (shampoo, soap,etc) which of course ended up in our bags!!!! I would definitely recommend staying here, if not, just sneaking in to check out the lobby and cocktail bar is worth it!! X

So this post is all about two interesting boutique hotels we stayed at in Brisbane recently. The first is called LIMES HOTEL(click link). This was our first stop before we left the reality of life, and entered those HUGE DOORS of our retreat, our week of ridiculous health at The Golden Door !!! (click link)

Well, it all started with our taxi driving around a corner towards Limes Hotel at about 7pm, I could hear a "DOOF DOOF DOOF" sound, we arrive out front, I looked up to the roof of LIMES and there on the rooftop was a night club, music going, fires, lights, people entering and leaving the hotel. We waited in line to enter while the group in front were asked to show their 'ID"!!!! This was the start of our relaxing ZEN, quiet week, I'd come from screaming children to this, I'M THINKING, YOU ARE KIDDING, THIS ISN'T RIGHT, SURELY WE HAVE THE WRONG PLACE???!!!!! Our first question at check in, "ummm, what time does the nightclub finish?", we're taken to our room in the lift with about eight 20 year olds (girls in towering heels and me in my chic little ballet flats, are you picturing the image???) Anyway, the interiors are quiet interesting, the rooms are long and narrow, but cleverly laid out. We didn't ever adventure up to the rooftop, but as you can see from these photos it does look quite impressive, great views of city and I have to admit, with a group of friends the atmosphere would be great. Next time I'll have to remember to pack my heels and dancing gear????? OR we'll just stay in the middle of the week, when they're all at Uni!!!!!











So after our week at the health retreat we spent another night in BRIS-VEGAS!!! This time at a cute Hotel called CHESTERS. As I'm writing this now it's made me realise the contrasting differences between these two boutique hotels. As we arrived at Chesters there was relaxing music played throughout the warehouse like hotel, artwork everywhere, fresh flowers, art books piled high on tables, open kitchen with gorgeous marble (where the owners make coffee and breakie for you), a stunning bar/bench the couples son made, a table made of concrete which is attached to the wall (also a creation by their son), an old leather arm chair in a corner, which looks like a family heirloom, an entrance wall totally painted in graffiti art....... the interiors have a slight oriental feel, not quite my cup of tea, but the place just ooooozes comfort!!!!!!! During the week they roll up the roller door of the warehouse to reveal a coffee stand (run by their daughter), regulars call by on their way to work for a caffeine fix. Chesters has a rooftop bar as well, not as decked out as Limes and the bar runs on an honour tab, but the views are just as good!! It is a family-owned and operated hotel and we thought the service was fantastic! And I certainly felt right at home with my chic little ballet flats!!!!!!! X

P.S. sorry about some of these photos, I think my body had a reaction to the coffee I rushed to have when we were released from the retreat, I couldn't stop SHAKING!!!!!!!

P.S.S. Also, both these hotels are in Fortitude Valley, and both are walking distance to some great furniture shops and art galleries like (click on for links)
COCO REPUBLIC
SPACE FURNITURE,
GREAT DANE FURNITURE,
CORPORATE CULTURE
INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART,
ECO OUTDOOR FURNITURE
JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS
PHILIP BACON GALLERIES
JAN MURPHY GALLERY
HEISER GALLERY