creative friends

Since moving up to the country I have met some beautiful new friends, all of them creative in their own ways. I've managed to talk a few of them into letting me take photos of them and their homes so I can write about them on my blog. They are a bit embarassed but thank you girls for humouring me!!

The first I want to introduce to you is Cindy (short for Cynthia). Cindy moved up to the foothills of Mt Buller about 6 years ago to live with her partner Paul, who already lived here. They were expecting their first baby and , with the help of some friends, turned what was, apparently, a daggy little ski shack into this gorgeous, compact and innovative home.  Paul runs his own solar electrical business called 'solarphase' and so has included many energy saving measures into their home. The combination of both Cindy's and Paul's creative and practical talents mean that there are so many photo worthy corners in their home - and I've tried to capture some of them here.

Despite having a small yard, Cindy, who is a keen gardener, has made the most of the space and the garden at the front of the house greets you with a mass of different colours and textures, as well as special secret corners for kids to play in. Cindy is also an excellent seamstress and made the skirt she is wearing. In our Thursday Timbertop group she is our mentor, usually having superior sewing knowledge to the rest of us, which has been passed on to her by her grandmother and mother.



After entering the house through the very cool red front door, this view of the kitchen and eating area is the first thing you see. It's so colourful and full of light.

These kitchen shelves are a definite highlight, which Cindy says always surprises her, as they really just happened without a lot of planning...

In this room Paul has installed a fantastic wood fire that not only heats the whole house, but also Cindy and Paul's water supply. Cindy is in the process of collecting and reupholstering some old chairs to go around the kitchen table.

Heading upstairs leads you to the living room, bedrooms and verandah with some pretty stunning views.

The Japanese style cushions, Cindy made from old kimonos purchased while living in Japan.

Cindy reupholstered this old chair herself many years ago (although she wants to change the fabric now, you can see it still totally works in the space) and made the floor cushions too.

The black cockatoos were purchased at the previously mentioned fantastic homewares store in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, called Wilkins and Kent.

Right along the north side of the house is a verandah that lets in tonnes of light as well as providing a great place to sit and look at the views of the mountains that are just so close...

This is the view from the picture window in the lounge room at the front of the house...

The view of Mt Buller from the front of the house...

One thing that I really admire about Cindy is that as well as taking care of her two little boys, Willow and Max, and running her business making lambswool products (www.lambcare.com.au), she still makes time to be creative, whether it be in the garden, sewing homewares and clothes, or building things from timber. In fact, as well as all that, Cindy just won a prize in the "Writes of Spring" short story competition. "Writes of Spring" was a short story competition open to all ages. Entrants were invited to collect a Writes of Spring postcard entry-form from their local public library and write, draw or paste a story (inspired by Belinda Suzette's vibrant illustration) directly onto the postcard. Over 2,400 creative, surprising and intriguing entries were submitted. Winning entries will be published in a book that will become part of the collection of every public library in Victoria. Winners will receive a $50 book voucher, a copy of the book and a place in Victoria's literary history. Isn't she clever!!





As you can see Cindy's unique style, together with partner Paul's, has created a beautiful home for her family.