Wire and Paper bouquets
For a home decoration that is personal, lasting and environmentally friendly, try a Wire and Paper bouquet. Artist, Cheryl Brown, creates these delicate origami flowers from a variety of coloured, patterned and textured papers. She can even make the bouquet from something special that you provide, such as an old book or photo. My favourite decorations are the double stemmed flowers with petals made from the leaves of 1950s books.
For something different, try a kusudama – a spherical decoration incorporating hundreds of petals set to the size you desire. These have been used to decorate weddings and shop fronts but will look equally delightful hanging in your window.
For a look at what Brown offers, visit wireandpaper.wordpress.com or head to the Oxford Street Market in Leederville on Saturday, between 9am and 5pm. But get in quick because Brown’s little secret won’t be a secret for long.
Gator clock by Furni
The Gator clock, by Canadian company Furni, is made of beech wood stained dark brown and looks like something from the Charlie’s Angels movie. It’s sleek, slim lined rectangular shape with a glossy black face is inspired by the late 60s, early 70s era yet is versatile enough for many decorating styles.
Setting the alarm, it is easy to imagine greeting the day with a chirpy ‘Good Morning, Charlie!’ The buttons on the side are simply marked with a T or A and I failed to notice that there was an alarm set button that needed to be switched on. However, once I had bolted out of bed after my sleep in, and shocked my brain awake, it was easy to figure out where I went wrong. The gorgeous design makes the extra effort worth it, too.
Other designs include the Gator in light beech, the Knox, which is square shaped with a black face and the Alba clock, which is square and white. You can find these delicious designs at Pigeonhole.
Wood Wipe
Ok, get your mind out of the gutter, boys. Yes, this oil does rejuvenate wood but not that kind of wood. The Wood Wipe is an environmentally friendly blend of citrus and nut oils for the treatment of wooden bowls, boards and utensils – among other things.
I used it to revitalise an old wooden chair that has been passed down through the family and now sits in a corner of the dining room. It was exceptionally easy to use – just wipe on with a cloth, rub in and leave to dry in a well ventilated position. The oil scent was reminiscent of orange oil and once the chair was removed from the room, did not linger. The effects are instant – like the effect of rubbing moisturiser into dry skin, the wood comes up glossy and nourished.
Wood Wipe is available from Planet Ark, in Fremantle, a store which specialises in environmentally friendly cleaning products in refillable bottles. They also have an excellent range of oils to polish timber floorboards. For more information, visit www.mulchnet.com/planetark.html
Compiled by Jodie Ronan
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