Rowantree Design: December 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........"

Christmas...it is just one sleep away and I could not be more excited. Last Saturday my daughter and I went to Eveleigh Street Market at Redfern the most fantastic market for fresh produce, organic meats, olive oils, breads I could go on and on, and of course lots of very yummy treats. And who could complain if Kylie Kwong cooked you a most delicious vietnamese omelette for breakfast. I love her restaurant and her cookbooks make Asian cooking a breeze.

Kylie cooking up a storm

I love to use The Little General Olive Oil for special occasssions so a tin of that, thank you very much. A basket full of the freshest produce and now for something sweet. Can't resist 'Sweetness The Patisserie'.
If you love marshmallows stop right here they are melt in your mouth irressistable. Flavours such as berry, lime, passionfruit and chocolate OOh La la! Mince tarts, nut praline and my fave nougart!

Nougart, marshmallows and chocolate nut praline hmmm...

Delicious mince pies

During the week I then start to add the Christmas touch to the house.

The front door adorned with my home made jingle jangle. Some old wire and plaster shapes I made with cookie cutters, don't you love the piece of string the piece do resisstance! It's cute

I purchased these decorations in Bali they look so beautiful above the table

Candle and holly

My grandson Rowan arrives on the 10th January, 2011 and I design a romper for the occassion. These handsome rompers will be available on the Rowantree website early January.

Three wise rompers......

Christmas Eve...early rise. Sydney Fish Markets 6.00am. Everybody thinks your mad, you think your mad, you tell other people your mad..but if you are a Sydney sider it's what you do, or what somebody in the family has to do. My husband Patrick is a Kiwi and he just loves it. Loves the crowd and every year comments on the abundance of seafood. Wouldn't be Christmas Day in Sydney without it!

The Lobsters

Thousands and thousand of Kilos of Prawns..Queensland tigers, perfect firm and sweet.

Don't forget the Moreton Bay Bugs

And of course, Christmas buskers..thank you boys, but the two at the back need to get focused!

Back at home, seafood carefully stored away, and I am off to share Christmas Eve with my staff. Merry Christmas to Sim, Casey, Helene, Lucy, Marie, Linda, Belinda and Steph. A huge hug and a goodbye to Belinda who is leaving Sydney to live in her new house in Melbourne with her man Liam.

Thank you Casey..but that cake is far too cute to eat

Merry Christmas from Louis and Hugo

Well, I guess you are wondering where the Christmas tree is ...

It goes like this.

Spend many days looking for the perfect real tree

Find it..over the other side of town...

Tie it to the roof of may car..

SNEEZE

Haul it off when I get home and drag it inside..

SNEEZE

Put it in huge bucket of sand...

SNEEZE

Spend all afternoon carefully decorating it and adorning it with twinkling lights...

SNEEZE

Eyes water, head aches

SNEEZE

Can't wait for everybody to come and see the tree...

SNEEZE

Allergic to tree

Patrick takes the tree with decorations and lights outside to the footpath.

FREE

GOOD

HOME

MERRY CHRISTMAS

BE SAFE

HAPPY NEW YEAR

ROBERTA XXX

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Bali, Lauren and me

Baby Shower a roaring success and the house renovations, although manic seem to be under some sort of control, I decided to take myself and middle daughter, Lauren on a fun girls trip to Bali. One to chill out and have some one on one with her and two to source fabrics of course! Well really two should be one (any excuse to check out places to source fabulous fabrics).

Only a hop skip and a jump and we were there in the Anantara Resort on Seminyak Beach. Seminyak is up market with mostly luxury accommodation and fashionable high-end restaurants and bars. The atmosphere is more sophisticated and laid-back than the popular Kuta Beach and the expanse of grey sand stretching in both directions as far as the eye can see is very special. The boutique shopping is fantastic, we love bargains, we love to shop and we love to buy unique little bits and pieces, especially our very own, locally grown Australian designers putting their stamp on fashion in Bali.

Seminyak Beach

The waves are up .... rent a board

Favourite Bar and Restaurant...Ku De Ta Enjoy a delicious meal for less than 15AUD then retire to the day beds overlooking the beach for some pretty amazing cocktails.

Favourite wave beach hangout.... Echo Beach House...for a surf and the freshest cooked on the spot local lobsters, prawns and fish...

Candlelight at Echo Beach House

Lauren and I had an excellent time. We met many great people and had a lot of fun. We ate, we shopped, we drank, we shopped, we shopped, we swam, we shopped. You've got to love it, you can still be shopping at 10 at night and still have time for one more drink and a swim back at the hotel.

Blue pots on the street...turn an ordinary pot into something rather special by painting it blue and how architectual does this oleander plant look

If you love beads......there are strings and strings of beads in many stores. Think outside the square. I picked up many different sets. Can't wait to let them loose and work my magic on them.

A quaint lane.....

Pithe Can Thropus...A fabulous boutique situated in Kuta and also in Ubud, specializing in beautiful voille fabrics made into sari's and other fashion pieces.

Clutches and wallets

Hand woven toys...Love these bought a selection for Rowan

More of these funny little fellows...

Love this little dress...

Found this very colorful boutique shop, 'Requests' in Kuta opposite the Memorial. Bright, and happy sundresses, shorts and shirts...very bali, but hey it's summer. Lauren and I bought a seclection for all the pretty girls we know..Lara, Ashley, Dakota, Liyla and Willow.

And a mobile for Rowan!

We had a great day in Ubud further up in the hills stopping to look at art galleries, silver shops and of course the very famous Monkey Forest Road market and boutique strip. A little more expensive then Kuta or Legion but you might find something very special here like we did!

Beautfully crafted and designed, recycled paper products....and what a cute shop! So retro inspired.

Perfect! Christmas cards, I'm set and my friends will love these...so special!

After a day on the beat with our arms loaded up with gifts we are very thirsty and I know just the place to relax and enjoy a cool drink...'Poppy's'. 'Poppy's' has been in Kuta for as long as anyone can remember a lush little oasis down a lane way in Kuta. You don't need directions, you'll just find it. the food is very, very good and you'll meet some fellow Australians there who always love a good chat over a Bintang or two.

The Garden at Poppy's

And here we are. I am wearing the beautiful sari I purchased at Pithe Can Thropus.

The last night..it is always a bit sad but I know I will come back soon to visit this very beautiful relaxed holiday destination and it's time to go home and get ready for Christmas and for the long awaited arrival of Baby Rowan.

Me poolside waiting for the fabulous sunset

And here it is, Wow! This is a sunset. All you need is a glass of wine and the one you love.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Off to Bali

Hi everyone, I am so excited I am off to Bali very early in the morning with my middle daughter Lauren. It's been go, go, go in my studio getting my collection ready for Mathilda's Market on Sunday at Lane Cove. It's going to be a great success. Lot's of wonderful unique and gorgeous things to buy for Christmas. Check! My daughters' Peta and Alexandra will be there to help you select some fabulous fashion buys from Rowantree Designs for Christmas.

Must have Nautical Looks

Belle Nautical