The Home of Jaimi Brooks

December 6, 2012

You've got to love the Glitter Guide, which provides a healthy dose of glitz and glamour, from fashion to fitness, and lots of chic lifestyle tidbits. That's where I came across this gorgeous home in Palm Springs belonging to Jaimi Brooks. Jaimi is the founder of
Fiore Beauty, an agency that provides regular girls with the same level of beauty service that the celebrities get - makeup artists, hair stylists, nail experts and massage therapists.

Beauty is not just something she deals with at work, her home is a glamorous haven. With a pretty colour palette of creams and golds, and the occasional splash of bright yellow or orange, it has a relaxed yet opulent vibe. My favourite things have to be the gold splattered cowhide under her table, and the upcycled heart light, which I am fiercely in love with!

Pom Poms and Parties

December 5, 2012

Over the weekend my big girl turned 10 - I don't know where those years went! I decided I was going to turn my hand to paper pom pom making for her party. My first attempts weren't so good, but I definitely got better, and even quite enjoyed my last ones.

The photos below were my guide, and you can find the originals here. Or check out the latest Your Home and Garden mag, and their video here.

Start by putting about 10 sheets of tissue paper in a pile. My biggest ones were 50cm x 70cm, but I made some half that size too. Fold the pile in accordion folds (like you're making a fan) roughly 3cm each. When you've finished folding, cut each end into either a round or a 'v'.

Use a piece of florist's wire to fold over the centre of your folded strip, twist and make a hook. Now you can fan each end out, and gently start pulling the pom pom petals out. Try and make it puffy and round (some of mine were a bit squashed looking!).

The Honeycomb balls were fab too. Mine came from the lovely girls at The Pretty Baker.

I hung them on the day with cellotape - luckily it didn't damage our ceiling! But I have since found better solutions, thanks to my awesome Facebook followers. Next time I will use 3M hooks - you can get clear mini hooks that would be perfect. Another suggestion was white thumb tacks, although that would leave tiny holes.

I love how Anna Spiro and her team at Black & Spiro hung their honey comb balls along a length of string, featured in the latest Adore mag. This would just require two hooks on each end - brilliant!

Hazed Issue 2

December 4, 2012

To carry on from yesterday's theme of online magazines, the 2nd issue of Hazed is out now. Hazel Schreiner created this mag which is dedicated to New Zealand's indie design world.

When Hazel asked if I could contribute a 'trend report', I was happy to be on board, especially when she told me the theme for the Summer issue was 'romantic picnic' based around the colours of pink, gold and beige. I love that colour combination...