Vintage By Kishikaa

Can there really be a perfect shade of green?

My perfectionist self would so love to say yes, but I would be missing out on so much more if I was to listen.

Emerald butterfly

My latest outing ensemble to an engagement party of dear dear friends (who I set up on a blind date)…….I felt as light as a butterfly, yet still a woman……

Silk Kaftan

In honor of one of the loves of my life, I’m painting his portrait…..

Our White Angel

Olive, Emerald, Jade, Turquoise, Electric Lime, Seafoam, Teal, Moss, Chartreuse, Peacock, Pistachio, Avocado, Apple, Pepper & Spear Mint, Bubblegum, once favourite flavoured ice creams….

Bubble gum & Spearmint choc chip

The beginning of the creation stage of the Wonderment A Pair of Chairs – Adventure & Exploration….

Wonderment A Pair of Chairs

Green just makes me feel so good….

Simply breathtaking

It has one soul purpose for me right now, to energise me, but yet in a soothing still way…..ah the joys of green….

Our lounge room

It grabs my attention, but yet captures it subtly too.

Beauty at it's finest

It can excite me, yet calm me……all in the graduations of the hue.

Green colour swatch

It truly is for me a good all rounder, in a soulful way….helping me to mind the gap.

Seafoam macaroons

It is Mother Earth, and her reflection….

Raw Emerald

It’s the colour of the heart, natural & nature green….from the rainforests

Electric lime & Moss green

to the seas….

A most charming green sea turtle

Lastly, I need say nothing at all…..a sigh from an avid shoe lover……(thank you Jodi, I’m addicted!) LOL

A sea of colour at the souls of your feet

mmm just loving green right now, tis the colour of my life in this very present moment….

M xx

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius (thanks Fiona for reminding me with this today)

Since delving down a path of colour in design, I have come to learn that the very acceptance of what inspires me and my intuition guides, ends up manifesting into a creation, that perhaps esthetically would not have been my first choice…..yet turns out so perfect for the souls that share the space.

The colour, form, textures and energies I call Qi support the individuals & group development and soul purpose here in this life.

At the moment I’m creating our home office in our big old home, where my husband & I will share the space, a desk, A Pair of Chairs and no doubt many wonderful conversations.

The existing elements I’m working with are walls painted in a natural earthy yellow (some may define it as a mustard yellow), deep decorative antique cream cornices & ceiling rose with a crystal chandelier and stunning high gloss parquetry floors.

Some of the new pieces being added are a black & white cowhide rug, an old table of ours but given new love with a fresh coat of paint in an ultramarine blue milk paint….I know, WOW that’s going to stand out. This colour has a connection with your mind & helps you to see the truth, the bigger picture & future steps.

Black (30%) & White (70%) cowhide

Ultramarine blue pigment

I will also include my beloved A Pair of Chairs representing Collaboration. Below is a pic in their very beginning re-love state…..still more paint to be added, new fabric and some gold gilding (not quite used for how it was intended).

Collaboration Chair (in it's re-love stage)

Yellow & white chevron pattern ikat window panels and practical industrial metal bookcases (from Ikea) which I may end up giving these beauties a surge of colour too……and the list goes on.

Goldenrod Chevron Silk Ikat

Industrial file shelving

Blue milk hue

So all this teamed with my already wonderful existing pieces…..I’m excited for the finished room (yes pics will come).

Beautiful Uniqueness in it's own natural state

Your home is a reflection of who you are, your wants, needs and desires. It’s a place where you can truly be you to express who you really are….don’t be shy, remember it’s the uniqueness that makes it perfect!

M xx

I always find it so amazing when you are on the beginning of losing faith even in the most simplest things, that the universe finds a way to send you a smile & perhaps a kick up the bum, to keep you going.

Mine came today…..my friend gifted me a gorgeous painting that she had painted herself & like most things that grace my home, it was love at first sight, all over again….I had seen it before.

Thank You Universe!!

Now every time I enter or leave my home, or even walk up or down my internal stairs, it will be hanging with love in my foyer area, reminding me to hold faith and to continue on.

But knowing that possible moment may arise again, where I temporarily forget what I have just learned, and that the universe will still always find me with her smile & a kick up the bum too, is just priceless.

I mean, who couldn’t be more luckier!!

Friends….fill your homes with pieces that you love, pieces that have a story, and not just any old story, your story. The story of who you are, who you want to become and the memoirs of your experiences that have made you, you, and who you are today. And beautiful reminders of your friends and family that touch your heart and grace your life. And any stuff that brings you joy!

Thank you, Universe!!! x

& Thank you Fran xx I love it

Buy, create or build things that make you joyful…….make you smile…….& opens your heart. Then fill your home with these pieces, in every nook & cranny that you feel to fill and decorate.

On a recent trip to Melbourne my husband & I stayed at The Cullen Hotel in the bohemian suburb of Prahran, a very close neighbour to Chapel St. Those not familiar with Chapel St, it’s simply a place to shop for designer and high end fashion. I personally preferred venturing down the side streets of this area for the more unique & quirky, whilst making friends along the way.

Anyway, The Cullen Hotel was created from what I feel, is a new level of consciously aware minds in the hotel industry, by combining art (literally), with colour, form & texture and being environmentally “friendly” too….all whilst creating a new personal experience for the visitor.

Not only is it a cool space to be in, it feels good! It has been designed to showcase many original artworks from the Archibald prize winner Australian artist Adam Cullen.

I have to admit that Adam Cullen triggers & at times tests my senses with his somewhat crude & twisted artworks….yet the beauty that radiates from the colour & combinations can at times shelter what is.

An interesting experience to have with Adam!

So while at The Cullen our room was on the 5th floor, and upon entry/exit of the lifts we were greeted with a print of Adam Cullens work titled Growler, it is a portrait of his beloved dog….& he depicts such happiness in this portrait, that Growler met me daily with so much joy! Sounds completely strange…I know!

A whole love affair took place with Growler & I during the trip…perhaps more on my part than Growlers, but it was sensational none the less and thank goodness my husband isn’t the jealous type ;D LOL

Growler just opened every inch of my heart as soon as I took my first step out of the elevator……

Still a month on and I frequently reminisce about our time in Melbourne together (Growler & I, that is), and so I have now started saving for our very own print for the entry of our home…..I mean seriously, who wouldn’t want to have that experience every day, in the pleasure of your our own home & with everyone else that shares it?

Open hearts radiate, then open others…..bit like a yawn!

So fill your home with pieces, things, colours & textures that you ALL LOVE, that opens all your hearts & minds and that harmoniously collaborate together….the ingredients for a personally soulful happy home.

much love
M xx

I’m sure most people in the world could agree with me that things really are flying by, perhaps faster than the speed of light! And we all have more on our to do list, yet only the same amount of time in which to achieve it all.

I’m exhausted just thinking about it….but at least with a smile on my face.

Sooo in the past month my Beloved & I have moved home into the most gorgeous circa 1870′s home in the history soaked town of Camden N.S.W.

We now reside in the perfect backdrop & new home for A Pair of Chairs by Vintage by Kishikaa.

Four stunning rooms have been allocated upon entry into our home to showcase these beautiful A Pair of Chair artworks, that I hope to present to you within the next few months.

I can report, that fabrics from across assorted areas of the globe have arrived for the Love (Admiration & Adoration) & the Gratitude (Joyful Wisdom) A Pair of Charis & WOW the beauty & detail just blows me away. Check it out below!

World textiles always amaze me. They carry so much culture, emotion and story and are forever exquisitely intriguing!

I await with much excitement to see these A Pair of Chairs completed and I truly look forward to meeting their new owners.

So now it’s onto sourcing the crystals for the unique personalised handmade tassels that will accompany each A Pair of Chairs, lovingly designed and created by me

Till next time, keep safe & see the beauty all around…it’s everywhere!
Mxx

Hello again peeps just wanted to share a little more with you on the Admiration & Adoration chairs and how they are progressing along.

Unfortunately they were a little more battered and broken than first anticipated, but are still so definitely worth the extra, extra mile we will all now put in, to bring them back to their full radiant glory.

And with the fabric purchases today from Uzbekistan (central Asia), they are well and truly on their destined path…..I’m so excited and will await the fabric arrival with more than usual anticipation! I’m such a girl!

So here’s a glimpse of what’s to come and a little history too….enjoy!

Mxx

CHIMILDIK
The most impressing part of Uzbek-Kirghiz handmade embroideries is a Suzani. Since ancient times Suzanis (embroidery) takes a special place in Uzbek traditions and culture. Its surrounded Uzbek people during all their life and has very special value on celebrations.

Silk handmade embroidery – Suzani attracts attention by their mysteriousness and beauty of pattern. Embroidery of suzani was the only accessible way of the fine arts for the woman. In the pattern of embroidery women can express the mood, feeling and fantasy. That is why the pattern of suzanis are full of Emotional saturation.

This item is a Silk handmade embroidery ”Chimildik” from Kirghizstan (in the North-East of Central Aisa). This is a traditional attribute of Kirghiz culture, used on wedding ceremonies as a wall decoration behind the groom and the bride.

A Kazakh bride would bring a tuskiz to her husband’s yurt as a part of her dowry. The quality of the embroidery reflected her skills and consequently her value as a wife.

The embroidery work has Traditional Kirghiz multicolored floral pattern. The pattern is composed of rosettes filled with amazing scrolls. This Silk handmade embroidery presents great workmanship.

IKAT SILK
Hand made IKAT (Silk) fabrics are an interesting part of Uzbek Applied Arts and have become very popular all over the world. Uzbek Ikats differ in a variety of patterns.

Ikats serve as the proof of unsurpassed skill of Uzbek people and reflects true Uzbek traditions and culture.
Color : Black , White
Dyes: Natural & Vegetable
Production: Hand Woven

and a few pics of the beautiful creations that is Uzbekistan……

Well the day finally came, the long anticipated arrival of the newest A Pair of Chairs creation project was over! They’re here!

A Pair of Chairs

And like always, it was love at first sight.

A Pair of Chairs

Just look at the side profile of these gorgeous chairs, they’re exceptionally supporting and will provide their future owners a new sense & awareness of empowerment within. This blended with the hue’s of orange & pink, will form part of the base energy of Adoration & Admiration.

Then adorned with my signature piece tassel and head rest cushion grounding all these powerful energy’s in synergy, together.

A Pair of Chairs

After a much closer inspection they revealed a few fractured bones, albeit nothing too major and certainly all simply mendable with an expert craftsman’s hands.

So now we’re up to the design stage for the latest A Pair of Chairs creation, wohoo this is where the fun stuff begins!……I can already see a gold halo wrapped around these beautiful chairs, can you?……if not, You will soon

Have a wonderful weekend everyone
M xx

The weekend is here folks, YAY, we all love our weekends!

I particularly love Friday evenings, especially because I get to spend it with Hubby. We usually have take out or junk night (whatever we want, a habit from the excessive gym junkie days), but its like a treat for the soul and taste buds too!

Unfortunately he is in the USA, so tonight its just me and Bazil (my cat). So I thought that a glass of red was in order and spend it in front of the computer, researching photography and lighting. I’m keen to try photography myself and wanted to understand the basics, at least.

So I visited our cellar area, which was once a dead spot under the stairs, to take my pick and I find my ‘live’ sign has partly fallen down, again!

A fallen live & a sign to live more.

For some reason this week, I seemed to be propping it back up daily, when I realised perhaps, this was telling me something……live more in the present moment. I’m so rushed with things that I have forgotten lately, to live more!

So live more it is!

And with that, I thought ‘this is my most favorite time of the day, slow down, stop even, and capture it’.

So again, I did! Ministry of Sound Chill out session begun gracing the sound waves throughout my home & with trusty Iphone in hand, I gently strolled the rooms and hallways within, clicking and absorbing! A perfect meditation IMHO!

With no photographic equipment or lighting, I captured, just what is now!

The results were really intriguing, with the outside intensity of the blue sky so deeply visible in the reflections of the mirrors and glossy surfaces.

I’m not sure if I love the effect or not…..but it’s up to You to make up your own mind…..enjoy!

Mxx

Our cellar area...perfect under stair storage!

A perfect candle holder for wine enthusiasts. Created by Vintage by Kishikaa

A pair of Josephine pendant inspired lighting

Ready & waiting for the champagne

Candice Olsen grasscloth & foil wallpaper panels

Wallpaper detail

Kitchen chandelier

A chair that makes my simple hallway beautiful

Baby photographs of my husband & I, in simple timber over sized frames

Anything that glitters & sparkles, I just love!

I will blog some more pictures tomorrow.

Until then stay safe, and I hope you’ve begun planning a Live & be Lighter weekend!

Mxx

Bazil the Persian Cat in A Pair of Chairs

This is my cat Bazil, I know I’m biased, but isn’t he just adorable? He loves laying in our A Pair of Chairs….and I can completely understand why!

So I finally uploaded all my pictures today and was searching through them for today’s blog when I came across this one. I forgot I had taken, so it was a nice surprise!

But what I really wanted to show you was the assorted angles of my A Pair of Chairs, lovingly re-upholstered by David with Linwood Fabrics.

I hope you enjoy!

Mxx

A Pair of Chairs from Vintage by Kishikaa

Diamond button detail

Grandma & Grandpa. Can you see the difference in their sizes?

A Pair of Chairs from Vintage By Kishikaa

A Traditional English Wing Back Chair with a Moroccan twist.

A Pair of Chairs from Vintage by Kishikaa

Well the beauty’s have definitely been picked up today and are in special treatment transit, as we speak. I followed through all who played a role and I can report, everything was smooth sailing. Yay!

In the mean time I spent some time with my upholsterer David, learning the difference between some fabrics, how they behave or not when being used, and of course we discussed the difference between some Chinese fabrics with the European fabrics.

From what I can see the Chinese are getting better, but I feel what they cannot ever replicate, is the uniqueness found not in mass produced!

The conversation was all very interesting indeed and most helpful, so thank you David! I love learning new things!

So now the wait begins for their arrival! Really, really, really looking forward to it!

Speak soon
M xx