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MAKE IT | driftwood centrepiece

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It’s true. I love Christmas. Every year the tree is up on the 1st December and I begin preparing around October. But it’s not all love and mistletoe. I love the festivity, the celebration, the gatherering and the chance to decorate and wrapping presents ( Seriously,  put me in a room with paper, ribbon and empty boxes, I will wrap them. And love it. ). But I am not a fan of the frill, red, white and green, the stress and the need for mass consumption. So this year I am getting back to basics, buying purposefully, and trying to strip it back. Beginning with this centrepiece.

Realistically this is something you could use at any point in the year, it’s simple, understated, doesn’t scream HO HO HO and suuuuuper easy to make. Here’s how.

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YOU WILL NEED :

– Driftwood, or any other wood for that matter, as long as it can sit and not roll over

– Drill

– Appropriate sized drill bit, you want this to be ever so slightly larger than the candle you are using.

– Candles, mine were found in a thrift store, but you can pick  similar candles up at your local emporium.

– Pencil and Blutack

METHOD :

Decide where you want your candles, I chose a random pattern, but you can pick whatever you like. Mark with a pencil indent.

Take your drill with the appopriate sized drill bit ( or get a handy someone to help you )

Drill slowly, straight down. The hole should be around an inch, or around 3cm down. Clean out the saw dust.

Put a small ball of blutack on the bottom of your candle and place in the hole, press firmly.

Done! ( told you it was easy )

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Here is to a simple, low cost, low impact Christmas.

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

Blackbird Pop up Shop

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I have something rather exciting to announce!

We are doing an online Pop up Shop!

On our travels to South East Asia I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful things that they use and make. So I walked the streets, bought from the locals and carefully packed up a few of my favourite items to bring home and  share with you.  Amongst the hand made items you will find vintage items as well.  Hand picked by yours truly, the creme of the crop.

The shop will be up next week and run through to Christmas with shipping worldwide. With very limited numbers on each item, make sure you keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram and Facebook for when we go live!

Here is a sneaky peek at a few items up for grabs!

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Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

Kitchen Sneak Peek | Giveaway CLOSED

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Industrial lights from Kiwi Living | Tea Towels from Mavis & Osborn | Cleaners and brush by Ecostore | Ring dish made by yours truly | Coffee machine by Espresso Unplugged | Leather for pulls from Lapco

Renovating on a budget is hard at the best of times, let alone when you are living in it too. But the perks are seeing the finishing touches.  Once again we painted every surface white with Resene, this time opting for Double Alabaster. We also chose to make our own handles again and sourced leather from Lapco. The raw industrial lights came from Kiwi Living, the linen tea towels from beautiful Mavis and Osborn, and I finally got my mits on a a Presso from Espresso Unplugged ( delish and silent, perfect )

 So finally it’s done,  and with a bit of elbow grease (and the help of our friends at Ecostore) the grime, dust, tile adhesive and paint that gets EVERYWHERE in renovations was gone and we were able to cook our first meal in our new kitchen.

Also, we have a giveaway! A set of napkins from the delightful Mavis & Osbourn and a few goodies from our pals at Ecostore!

To Enter comment below what you would like most from Mavis & Osbourn and what your favourite Ecostore product is!

Giveaway CLOSED

 Full reveal in Homestyle magazine in the new year!

Good Luck!

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

YES PLEASE / Summer

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Summer is on our door step, and beside my paralysing fear of getting into bathing suit in the near future ( I salute all you post baby bodies ) I am welcoming the warmth the balmy evening walks and strawberry season.

Here are a few of my top picks for our impending summer.

For drying off or covering up / Ottoloom turkish towel

For effortless wearing / Penny Sage Corinne dress, in both colours.

For under that pretty dress / Lonely Hearts Club Flora bra

For those days you have a little too much sun / Herbivore Botanical Coconut milk bath from Tonic Room

For carrying it all / Saben Obi handbag in rust

For simple, parred back and pretty / Meadowlark Arrow band

For that beach glare / Age Eyewear Agenda Glasses in Milky Tort

For a throw over or wrap up in / Mavis & Osborne Linen House Coat

For everyday wear / Kowtow building block boat neck dress in stripe

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature