Link love...

Image via Etsy

Autumn is here, there's a chill in the air and Henry has decided that 5am is an appropriate time to get up every morning. To say I'm a bit sleep deprived would be an understatement. I'm seriously thinking about just getting up and dressed at 5 and being done with it rather than pleading, begging and coaxing Henry back to sleep (with very little success). Maybe I could use the time to find some more gems like these ones...

• Alexandra Nea's lovely blog The Art Of Afternoon Tea presents fabulous weekly recipes for cakes, biscuits and sweet treats with a twist. The twist is her amazing hand-drawn illustrations of the recipes laid out on her own seemingly limitless collection of china. I love the sound of this Chocolate Garam Masala Cake


• Romance is not dead! Check out this literary proposal.


• Some people are so clever. Check out Debs's gorgeous, hand-knitted couch cover. No pattern, just intuition!


• Wouldn't you love a pair of embroidered stockings like these ones ?


• Love these great 1950s illustrations on wood blocks and this new project at Bricolagelife.

Five Faves

Here are the five things that have me excited this week.

1. News of a breast cancer vaccine. This could actually be my 1, 2, 3, 4 &5! What a fantastic breakthrough. I cried when I heard the news.

Bag via Sarah London via Creative Knitting magazine

2. The vibrant world of Sarah London and her amazing eye for beautiful crochet and knitting.

3. This fabulous scarf on The Royal Sisters blog - perhaps I should make one? I've also been enjoying Michelle's other blog Loving the Vintage.

4. It's Winter exhibition season so I 'm excited about seeing the Titanic exhibition at Melbourne Museum, the ABBA World exhibition at Federation Square and the European Masters from the Stadel Museum show at the NGV.

5. I'm also loving the blog Elegant Sufficiency where journalist Stephanie Wood writes so beautifully (and generously) about food and life.

For more Five Faves inspiration head over to Meet Me At Mikes!

Five Faves

'Charleston' originally uploaded to Flickr on July 29, 2008by UGArdener

Here's what's making me smile this week:

1. Teas from my T2 tasting box especially the Chai and Gunpowder Green. These were a present from my lovely family for Mother's Day and I've got to say they got a lot of bang for their buck because this little box may well hold the secret to mummy having a 'good' day.

2. The lovely Henrietta children's stories by Martine Murray (this link takes you a great blog too). If you like mischeivous little girls with over-active imaginations you will love Henrietta. We have even adopted her code for 'hurry up' which is VQS (Very Quick Sticks).

3. My favourite bookshop Readings has finally opened their new cafe in Hawthorn after many months of renovations. The cafe is called Bread and Jam for Frances and is an outlet of Dench Bakery in Fitzroy. Bombolone and Quince & Almond Tarts - yum!

4. Reading Notebook magazine for the cosy autumn ideas.

5. In response to my post on 'Sunday's Kitchen', Debby (who writes the wonderful blog Cooking Up A Storm In A Teacup) reminded me that it was time to revisit some Bloomsbury loveliness.

Don't forget to check out the other people playing along with Pip at Meet Me At Mikes.

Hope you're having a great week.