Summer shower luxury

One of my favourite summer products is the Organic Jojoba & honey iKou Body Buff.

You can visit their web site at www.ikou.com.au to check out this luxurious product. I might warn you . . . it is addictive!

IKOU Body Buff - Organic Jojoba and Honey

Happy 2013

This is a year of great change for Spotted Magpie Design Studio. 

We are very busy creating our next collections, working with some clients in Australia and overseas but more importantly we are gearing up for access to our lovely things on-line. We will keep you informed about this.


In January we are offering 10% discount on new fabric orders so if you have something in mind or have ordered from us before feel free to send us an email with your request and we can give you a nicely priced quote.

We have a product launch at the Sydney Antique Centre in Feburary 2013 - Check out the lovely products in Shop #6 for your special Valentine!  Shop located at 531 South Dowling Street Surry Hills 2010
Phone number +612 9361 3244   Hours 10-6 daily   ** plan to spend some time browsing because there are a lot of cool stores to visit in one handy location - free parking around the area for 1-2 hours but don't leave it longer or you might get a ticket **

We are also excited about the new Designers Guild collection coming out at the Paris exhibition and we will be showing you our favourites soon.

Plan your bathroom tiles before you start

Lay each tile out and check your design and colour combination before you start tiling. It is also helpful if you number each piece and make a picture of the design for your plan. This is particularly helpful if someone else is doing the tiling for you. If you need to check how many tiles you need you will also need a tape measure and try working on a grid.

Getting Organised

If you are like me and you love paper, you will love the weekly planner that is available at kikki.k! It is always helpful to make a checklist and schedule in your appointments as they come up. This nice planner includes enough room to write the appointments, make a to do list and create your weekly shopping list. All on the same A4 page.

Get organised this year and you will also have a nice record to look back and see just how much you have accomplished. This won't replace a diary for those of you who are already savvy but if you don't have anything now, try it for a month and you might be surprised how easy it is.

Vintage to Glamor

Look for pieces that have good bones. Even if the cover on a sofa looks worn and tired it might be so comfy that you can have a wonderful piece by making a loose cover or having it reupholstered.

If the sofa is solid and has a nice shape you are part way there. If there are inner springs then you need to consider reupholstery rather than a cover that is only cosmetic. Fix the parts that need fixing. You will be quite surprised how well an old piece can become a new treasure.

Roses, roses, roses

Looking for the perfect rose? How do you choose? By colour. . . by scent . . . by the name . . .
I have to start my own rose garden for sure. I already have four plants and yesterday picked up five new ones. My picks were Aotearoa (NZ - one that I noticed in the botanical garden in Queenstown and was able to find at Swanes), Ebb Tide (a dusky deep purple with intensive fragrance), Sight Saver (A soft pink), Marilyn Monroe (which did not have any blooms yet so this is going to be a surprise), Dolly Parton (A huge fragrant red rose which is no surprise if you think about it). My list of desirables is long. My garden is not huge but I am sure that a redesign is needed and this is a great excuse to dig in.

Rainy day in Queenstown

We woke up this morning to a light pitter patter of rain that looks to be set in for the morning at least. The air is fresh and cool and it is our last day here.

Breaky at the Millinium hotel is very nice indeed. Read a bit of the paper with a hot cup of coffee is very civilised indeed. It is nearly time to pack up to leave Queenstown. 

Our last night here was spent at the Olsen hot pools, Room #1 that some of you might recognise from the bachelor series. I rate this as FAB for the experience. Our driver was an Englishman from Peterborough that has been living here for about 2.5 years. He was fun to talk to since my husband worked in his city for a year or so and they both talk sport, funny about that. The scenery at the Olsen hot pools was really great particularly when you can view it from within the tub and with an open door with the fresh air rather than in an enclosed situation. I loved it! It reminded me of the good times with my brother who had a real timber hot tub out by his back deck. The most fun watching football and sitting in the tub with a brewsky. I forgot just how relaxing this can be . . . Pictures to follow. .