You only live once… live beautifully!

Marley & Lockyer featured on Country Style Magazines Webpage with a Video!

May 19, 2013

For those of you that have followed the journey of my homewares brand, Marley & Lockyer will be aware of my long love of one of Australia’s premier home style publications, Country Style….

In June last year, I was lucky enough to be featured in the June edition with the lead story….

and was blessed to have had my ceramic tree decorations cover the Killiecrankie Christmas Tree Farm tree on the Christmas 2011 issue, which won “Cover Of The Year”.

The Christmas cover, which was styled by the ever talented Indiana Foord was photographed by the just as talented Sharyn Cairns…who also shot the feature story on me and M&L….

Sharyn caught the essence of our “Old Lady” beautifully and the fireplace shot you see here of our old Kitchen mantel also won the Fireplace comp on Country Styles site, which I was most chuffed about. You can see the images from the magazine spread here on Country Styles site

I have been so blessed to have had such a wonderful relations hip with this magazine and since that June issue came out have had loads of Women contact me about their own creative journey, some of which I have helped them get on their way which has been a privileged.

This time around, Country Style have been gracious enough to have me write a blog post for their website, which you can see here, and also shot a video of my story and journey, which was done by the also talented, Annette Cohen.

You can see the video HERE

I would love for you to stop by the Country Style page and check out the video too…I’d love to hear what you think! A huge thank you goes out to the group of talented Women who helped put my story out there, particularly, Victoria Carey- Editor extraordinaire, who believed it was worth sharing…thank you lovely lady! xxxx

Ness xx

I’m In A Book & A Win In The ‘Top 25 Home decor Blogs’

May 16, 2013

So, I have lot’s of you to thank you…but first up I wanted to let you know about this-

I have been featured, along with lot’s of entrepreneurial Women, in Jennifer Forest’s new book

Work Women Want- Work At Home Or Go Part-Time

There is about 5 pages dedicated to my business journey with Marley & Lockyer and the choice (pros and cons) of working from home. This book has all sorts of information about creating a business and covers all sorts of ways to sell, as well as heaps of tips on marketing, resources and links to help you on your journey…the back section has charts and tables to help you ask some serious questions about your business idea too. It’s brilliant. You can pick up Jennifer’s book here and at most great bookstores. Thank you Jennifer for thinking Marley & Lockyer and I were worthy enough for your book. I am more than privileged.

And, finally a HUGE thank you to all of you who voted for Marley & Lockyer in the Skinny Scoop,

Top 25 Home Decor Blogs…..I am so wrapped to tell you I WON!

Over joyed at both of these recent developments after all of the hard work I have put into Marley & Lockyer, and none of it would have happened unless I had the support of each and everyone of you! All of you who have followed me from the beginning to everyone who has just started to follow – I can not thank you enough. I hope you will stick around to see what the future holds…..Mwah! xx

Ness xx

Shop Update & A New Brooch Name….

May 13, 2013

It is shop update time, and I have just added some new pieces too

Click this link to go there, or on the ‘shop’ tab at the top of the page.

Earlier last week, I needed some help choosing a name for this brooch. I wanted to say a huge thank you to all for your suggestions, there were so many great ones to pick from, and I had a really tough time choosing, but the winning name is

….WINTER ROSE….

It was chosen by Jan Renwick. Thank you Jan and congratulations, you have won this brooch and the pod earrings seen here!

Thank you again to all of your help. You are the best!!

Ness xx

Perfect Mother’s Day Weekend…With A Surprise Win & Fossil Vintage pieces!

May 12, 2013

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! This weekend has been brilliant…here’s why…

While I was changing about our kitchen fireplace mantel, I kept thinking about the French sieve from Jim at Fossil Vintage and a few of the pieces I had on my ‘wish list’ which is very long at the moment

the French bread board I got from Fossil Vintage is divine and even though it is supposed to be going in here once we makeover the kitchen, I had to have it out now. Anyway, while I was at the post office the other day, our postie, who rides a pushbike to deliver the mail, told me I had a big package waiting for me…what was it?

I found myself at the counter, squealing, when I realized it was from Jim at Fossil Vintage….eeeep.

Inside the box was this amazing French Sieve….

and this gorgeous old wooden rolling pin, and a huge old grain sack, which must be about 2.5 meters long!

YAY! Perfect Mothers Day come a little early! I had to put them out straight away. This is not where they will stay, as I have something else in mind for this wall when we re-do in here soon. The weekend got even better when I found out my blog won the TOP 25 HOME DECOR BLOGS award!!!! More on that soon, but thank you a million times over for voting for me and my interior ramblings xxxxx

Saturday night we had a lovely Autumn day and headed out for the evening for birthday drinks

which went loooong into the night. Needless to say….

getting out of bed this morning was hard, but sweetened by the Mother’s Day gift’s our little boy’s made for me….the best kind of present.

We spent today at the most picturesque farm

watching my fearless Brother-in-law hurtling about a Motorcross track.

When we returned home, I realized our little parsley plants have thickened up…and haven’t been eaten by our puppy yet! She has eaten a bunch of carrots, spring onions, rosemary and mint!!

Such a wonderful, busy and relaxing weekend was had. I got to speak to my dear Mum in N.S.W and also spend time with Mic’s Mum too which was lovely also.

our ‘Old Lady’ is full of these little flowers

washing is up to date…

…and I am about to crawl into here for an early night…

so for now – bye, and hope you have had a fantastic weekend. N xx

{these new Flagtags are now available in store now}

The New Village Range For Marley & Lockyer…

May 10, 2013

Here it is! The ‘Village Range’

Think honest country living, organic farming with your gumboots, argyle socks by the fire with a baked Sunday dinner in the oven, sheep baa-ing in the next paddock and the faint smell of wood fire on a crisp, clear day

The range has been made totally by hand. Each plate and bowl, hand cut, hand finished, brush glazed by hand and loved by my own hands. Each piece has it’s own, organic shape and they are all food and oven safe too.

The basic ‘Organic’s’ collection has two designs- the linen texture, which is Marley & Lockyer’s signature…

…and the snow texture. A dimpled texture that has been totally done by hand. It reminds me of new snowfall in a country paddock.

I have been putting some of my other collections in with it and they all work so well together. This little bowl on top is one of my other patterns.

Part 2 to the range…the ‘Argyle’. I adore this. When I opened the kiln the other day, I may have done a little happy dance beside the kiln! It worked – and I am stoked it did. A perfect cable knit pattern that is also useable- oven and food safe. Imagine Sunday dinner by the fire with these on the table?

I’m so happy with how the texture picked up.

I hope you like this range. I have been working on it for the past few months in preparation for the Sydney Finders Keepers Market, which is on Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st June. This is when the collection will officially be released, after that, they will be available in the Store.

Ness xx