A Trifle Eiffel

New items in MA MAISON at the end of last week and arranged yesterday in the shop ... A lovely collection of Eiffel Tower inspired items..... I took some photographs to show you all....


Singing in the rain! This is one of those umbrellas you can pull right down over your head and 'look out' through the clear part through where the Eiffel Tower is pictured .... Very clever.

Long tubes containing giant sized matches - think these are great - you can light all your tea lights/candles with one match, in one fell swoop!

Eiffel Tower magnets to fix all your 'to-do' lists, photos, notes etc. on the fridge door.

Little photo/note holders for your desk maybe....

A Gallic feel to your dining table ! Eiffel Tower salt and pepper shakers - cute!

And finally another photo of the book ends we had in a few weeks ago - only one pair left now I think!

New Boots (and a date)

I have to say it does seem a little strange at times that all my lovely, fellow bloggers in the Northern Hemisphere are delighting in signs of Spring this week ........
whilst here in the Southern Hemisphere we are about to welcome Autumn - saw some lovely acorns just the other day actually, not quite as advanced as these but nonetheless acorns... (and silly me, I didn't think they had Oak trees here in Australia!) It certainly felt a little chilly here in Melbourne today - very 'boots and tights' weather so I think it is about time that I showed you.....

MY NEW SUEDE BOOTS....

They can be worn with the 'cuffs' down - rather 'Pirate Stylie' as in the photograph above or....

with the 'cuffs' up - a little Dick Whittington, Puss-In-Boots style!! For the purpose of the photograph I did hold my dress a little higher so you could see the boots... (I don't usually go round in quite as short an oufit!) And I am thinking... leggings and a tunic top would be good with them or straight (skinny-ish) jeans too. What do you think?

Also, I have to report that Mr SE has invited me on a 24 hour 'date' !

He texted me this afternoon whilst I was at work at MA MAISON (lots of new goodies in btw, will do a post about them later this week) to say that he has to go to Sydney tomorrow, returning Friday. Did I want to go too... oh, and that he is staying at the 'Four Seasons' hotel?!!

Think this is rather as they say, a 'no-brainer' and so as soon as I have pressed 'Publish Post' here I am going to pack a few things, including the new boots...... Hope it is cool-'ish' in Sydney!!

Thinking of Easter bunnies ....

Yesterday at Ma Maison we were preparing the Easter window display.... Cute 'moss' bunnies all waiting their turn above....

some had to have their little bows put on them and then

hop into the window along with some egg candles.

Another shot taken through the shop window... do think that they all look rather sweet. Will post a full picture of the window when it is completed.

I am off to Sydney later on today for a couple of nights attending a gift fair - am really looking forward to it and will take some photographs (although do not think I will be able to take them inside the fair unfortunately)...

However, we are staying at the most gorgeous place which I think you will like and I will take plenty of photographs there. I'm not sure about Internet connection though so I may be 'off the air' for few days... Normal service will recommence just as soon as possible!

Meanwhile wishing you all a wonderful weekend wherever you may be ........

Mini Eiffels...

I am doing a few extra days this week at MA MAISON and yesterday unpacked a small delivery including these gorgeous sets of book ends... little Eiffel Towers... aren't they just the cutest?

And not long after I opened the shop this morning I sold a pair to a lady who also bought a sweet little make up bag with Eiffel Tower images on it.... We are also expecting Eiffel Tower umbrellas next week - I will keep you posted... And we will need them in Melbourne - had such a downpour this afternoon - see, - it is not all sunshine every day in Australia!

Ma Maison

Yesterday I was working at this lovely shop - Ma Maison Home Couture where I am pleased to say I am going to be helping out on a regular basis, one day a week.... I have written about it before - it is the shop that is located opposite Peony and is owned by the charming and delightful Shelly.... She has a great range of linens, china, glassware, soft furnishing, books, bath products, tableware, stationery, gourmet foods, gifts - in fact a really wonderful selection.

Look at these - gorgeous, generously sized cushions with French images - adore the map one of Paris - in fact this sold not long after I took the photograph!

Here it is in close up....

Great selection of china - look at the nautical / striped theme china (Kate Spade) - very topical at this time and looking so fresh too...

A selection of bed linen and pillows and throws, lovely padded cushiony hangers and at the front wonderfully scented water for helping out with the ironing...

And these are fun! Cupcake print aprons - so pretty. Also note the lovely selection of chocolates and sweeties just behind on the counter.....

Definitely worth a visit if you live in Melbourne.


http://www.ma-maison.com.au/

The Shop on the other side of the road

Opposite Peony is the lovely shop Ma Maison Home Couture http://www.ma-maison.com.au/ which is owned and run by the lovely Shelly - she has some beautiful linens, china, gifts, stationery etc. and she is a charming and warm person too - take a look at her website - so lovely to look out over the road and see the smart, blue striped awning - note - it was warm enough today to have her door open...... Oh, and she also brought me a coffee mid morning too - my turn tomorrow to get them !



Thought I would share a funny story with you - re : travelling to work - I go on the train (great service I think in Melbourne although Melburnians do complain about the service - Connex - they should try British Rail then they would have something to complain about!) Anyway, it is only 3 stops but when I got on this morning a young-ish man was plugged in to his ipod with the sound way too loud and all the rest of the commuters were having to put up with "Ting Ting Ting Ting" and the constant droning of whatever music he was listening to....... I sat there and was reminded of my father who once, when travelling on a train tapped such a person on the shoulder as he was getting off and said to him very loudly "Excuse me but your personal stereo ISN'T personal!!" - wish I had the courage to do that sometimes... (I may add that my father has been likened a bit to Victor Meldrew that well known character in the British TV series 'One Foot in the Grave'...... Anyway, I smiled to myself this morning when thinking of it.



And, talking of parents MR SE'S MOTHER is, as I write or type, winging her way across the skies from UK for a month stay with us - yes the MIL is coming..... So, all this week I have been preparing meals and shoving them in the freezer in the evenings and even excelled and made a cake last night - well, a loaf type thing - Banana, Orange and Date Loaf... Have of course sampled it and actually it is not all that bad at all so I may post recipe here at the weekend! Anyway, watch this space - she is known as being rather outspoken to say the least......

And, to finish off this is what I wore to work - Mr SE collected me today (and took the photo for me in the shop at the end of the day). I am wearing - black panel skirt with cream ribbon bands on it from an Australian shop (can't remember which one - but def. a high street one,) black top underneath from Gap and short cream cropped cardi from 'Primarche' - black wolford tights and the same shoes as yesterday - yes, I know you shouldn't wear same shoes two days running but am running low on flat comfy ones now! And necklace from lovely place where I work when I am back in UK called Indigo - will describe Indigo at a later date....

Friday tomorrow then le weekend - am looking forward to it already......