Ta Da!! Introducing our all new blog... 'i do' it yourself. A whole blog devoted to do it yourself wedding ideas. I found it really surprising as I started to plan my wedding next year that there were not more resources out there to do it yourself. So I decided to build a blog that brought it all together in the one place. Keep an eye on it as it grows each week with projects and inspiration from around the world. If you have a project of pics you'd like to share, get in contact, we'd love to hear from you. email


For those of you who don't like patterned wallpaper, look away now, because you're REALLY not going to like this! Ever wondered what to do with all those left over bits of paper? Well you could go a little nuts and try a wallpaper patchwork. You could always start off by blue-tacking them to the wall, just in case not everyone in the house appreciates it as much as you. But I think this idea would work really well in a kids room, I've always like the idea of using vertical stripes of different wallpaper.From top to bottom: DIY wallpaper from the book Flea Market Style, a wall in the home of Dutch artist Ninainvorm, interior of French designer and stylist Fif Mandric via decor8blog.



Friday night we went down to the harbour to check out Fire Water. Part of the Vivid festival of music lights and ideas. The Sydney Opera House was beautifully lit with abstract patterns along with the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and few other light installations. If you can get to Sydney to check it out you'd better hurry, it's only on until Sunday.


Well it's been a horribly traumatic week with no internet access. Stupid Optus. So lets look at something cheerful and fun finally. Sarah Collier is a mixed media artist from North Carolina. Her lovely whimsical collages use old images from 1950s, 60s and 70s advertising campaigns. AND shes having a sale at her etsy shop with some prints only US$10! My favourites are the beach themed ones, wonder if you can still get that pink bathing suit, go down a treat on Bondi Beach?!

Yup. Sometimes my day feels just like this. 'The Little Wish' print by Dazey Chic
I love the idea of marking out on a map all the places we've been. Above you can see a couple of inspiring ideas from Inside Out magazine (new issue just out). You could have lots of fun with the world map wall sticker from Ferm Living. I also like the idea of marking out trips on the cushions with buttons for each major city visited. I'd have to have a cushion just for Europe I think though.
Calling all Aucklanders. If you're looking for something to do next week, pop to Ponsonby and check out the Afterall exhibition. It features the work of my very talented friend, Karen.The exhibition runs for two weeks from the 10 June at Good One Cafe in the Supreme Building, 42 Douglas St, Ponsonby.

It's pouring with rain and freezing cold outside so lets brighten things up with some lovely lilies. - This beautiful fabric bag would brighten up any winter day. US$46 from A Touch of Stardust.
- The latest print from creative monsoon, 'the new lily' $45
- Sleep in style with this gorgeous lily eye mask, on US$12 from BibBon
- This beautiful clutch from IMH Designs will be a great reminder of sunny days, US$72
- Spirited Styles hobo handbag will have you dreaming of tropical holidays even in the most gloomy weather, US$142
- Simple and sweet this lovely little girls skirt by Kate Emerson Designs just looks so cute. US$31
- I love fabric covered buttons. Dwillingham have a whole bunch of fabrics to choose from. And only US$4.50 for two.

I love Sunday nights. It's when I trawl through the net looking for cool and inspiring things. Problem is its taking me longer to get through everything as I find more and more stuff! Like this unbelievably cute cushion from Eggagogo. How sweet is it? Yet another use for that big jar of buttons. Reminds me a little of a cushion I saw the other day over at chocolatecreatives blog. Also very cute, by Su Owen.


I didn't post this the other week when I came across it because the sites links weren't working. But it all seems to be running now. This beautiful work is by US artist Sabrina Ward Harrison. You might have seen some of her books such as 'Messy Thrilling Life, the Art of Figuring out How to Live'. Now she's teamed up with a favourite of mine Papaya to produce some more beautiful work. Cant wait till its available in shops, looks gorgeous.
It was a very productive weekend working on Christmas cards of all things! Bit of a messy process. More new greeting cards coming soon so keep an eye on the shops creative monsoon and my etsy store.
This beautiful artwork was made by cutting a pattern into white textured wallpaper then filling the spaces with colourful handmade paper. A great idea by Box64 Studios. I'm sure this is the textured wallpaper mum used in the bathroom..? Have you got any left mum?

Pic Living Etc
I love combinations of different pattern and texture. Here's a great idea for adding a little colour to your bedroom with a beautiful patchwork headboard.
Something new Ive been working on this week, birthday trees. 130 x 180mm cards made from recycled and scrap paper and printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper. Cant get much more recycled than that!
It's the 120th birthday of the Eiffel tower. So I thought Id take a look at some handmade Eiffel inspired ideas to add a little je ne se qua to your home.- These little plastic Eiffel charms are everywhere and come in a big variety of colours. Try making earrings, necklaces. These two are from Shock Treatment in LA. US$2.25 for two.
- To celebrate the Eiffel Towers birthday, creative monsoon is offering free shipping on one of our most popular prints, 'Love Paris'. Visit our etsy site for more. US$30.
- The keep calm and carry on posters just keep on churning out. Here is another variation, 'Keep calm and visit Paris' good idea, why not! Loads of colours to choose from US$19.50 from Visit Paris.
- A delicate lacy Eiffel Tower is embroidered on this tea towel from The Tattered Towel. Only US$8.50
- Bring Paris into your home with this funky wall vinyl from Dabble Down. US$45

The Eiffel Tower is 120 years old today! Happy Birthday! To celebrate Im offering free postage on my 'Love Paris' fine art print for the rest of the month! You can buy at my etsy store here.



I've been so busy working on some new stuff, inspired to get things done after seeing the great work at the Finders Keepers market on the weekend. Here are a few of my favourite sellers.


Here is an idea for a very different sort of still life painting. Not sure that I would have the patients... no I definitely wouldn't. Two artists from different sides of the world both doing a very similar thing. Top is 'Ghosted: Myrtle Acacia' and 'Ghosted: Christmas Bush' by Austrlian artists Lizzie Buckmaster Dove. The bottom image is by Nienke Sybrandy in the Netherlands.


I would love to have seen this installation at the Eden Project. 'Field of Light' by Bruce Munro ran until the end of March featuring 6,000 glass spheres and 24,000 meters of fibre optic cable! And I cant even sort out one light for the lounge. 
Im really pleased to find that Vincent Fantauzzo's amazing potrait of the young actor Brandon Walters has won the Archibalds People's Choice award. I voted for it. Yeay!
If you're in Sydney tomorrow or Saturday check out the Finders Keepers Market in Eveleigh:
Friday 15th May from 6pm – 10pm
Saturday 16th May from 12pm – 10pm
Saturday 16th May from 12pm – 10pm
The inside foyer at CarriageWorks -245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
I came across some lovely artwork last week at one of my favourite local shops, Papeir D'Amore. They seem to have pressed the birdcage image into some handmade paper and then sewn on the bird. What a great idea. I really need to get my paper making kit out. The work is by two Brisbane sisters Taryn and Elise Eales.
This is my first go at Polyvore. I think it's a great website where you can put together your own mood boards of fashion and photos. The best bit is if you see something you like there is a link to buy it! I thought Id just test it out and it became dreaming of afternoon tea by creative-monsoon featuring Christian Louboutin shoes It is quite a contentious site though, and I can see why - you are using other people work. But they do put links in for every image used, so people can buy it, as long as everything is credited to its original owner I wouldn't mind people using my images. I think it could be a good little marketing tool.
🌈 Love styling ideas and colour inspiration?
Explore prints and decor
Explore prints and decor


I'm not usually a fan of bugs, but in this case I'll make an exception. These great combinations of illustration and real flowers are from US photographer Kari Herer.
Wow it seems ages since I posted about new photography for sale on the creative monsoon site. Been so busy moving into the new house. My brother bought me some beautiful pink lilies as a house warming present and we photographed them today. Ive just finished this print this evening, perfect for brightening up a room. You can buy online at creative-monsoon.com and remember all prints come ready to frame with a white mat.


I cant believe these beautiful daisies are make from plastic bags! So clever! And only US$18 for three. Check out other floral offerings from ffflowers based in the UK. Or maybe you could make your own for mothers day!

I had a go at Bokeh photography this weekend. It didnt really work the way I expected, but its still an interesting effect. Apparently I need to set the aperture to its lowest setting to get the proper effect, so Ill try again.
This is my favourite pic from a Christening shoot last weekend. Little guy got a real dunking :) For more events and portrait photography visit aaron green photography
Visit the creative monsoon etsy shop and get free shipping on all jewelry sales! Hurry offer is for a limited time only!This offer has now ended.
Explore our latest products
Explore our latest products

If you've even wondered how to carve beautiful stamps like these above, Geninne Zlatkis has put together a great video showing how its done. Check it out here.


You might need to look twice at the work of Lionel Bawden. These aren't just any old sculptures, they are made entirely from pencils! His work 'The amorphous ones (the vast colon of our being)' won the Wynne prize for landscape recently.


