Tuesday 24 December 2019

Christmas Wishes For 2019

To everyone who reads this blog, comments, shares our posts and encourages me on my small business journey, let me wish you a very blessed Christmas and a joy-filled 2020!
Your support for me has been amazing - here's to more in the new year to come.

Tuesday 29 October 2019

2019 Christmas Shipping Deadlines

 
Want to be sure your order arrives in time for the Christmas gift-giving season?  Then please be sure to place your orders of jewellery and homewares by 10AM (AEDST) on the dates shown below!
Purchases made after these dates will need to go via either Express or Courier Post options to ensure arrival for Christmas; these options can be selected at checkout in both of our stores.

I'M SHIPPING TO AUSTRALIA
Standard shipping - order by 1st December
Express Post shipping - order by 10th December

I'M SHIPPING TO ASIA, EUROPE, OR  NORTH AMERICA
Standard shipping - order by 10th November
Express Post Shipping -  order by  25th November

Tuesday 24 September 2019

You must not be afraid to sparkle a little brighter

Today I am sharing a couple of fun creations I was commissioned to make by a special customer.  Having purchased several of our sparkly beaded and crystal jewellery pieces, she asked me to create matching pieces for several of them so she could rock the matching jewellery look.

swarovski crystal jewellery pendant solitaire necklace earrings two cheeky monkeys jewelry sets

The first piece feature some of my favourite jewellery supplies to work with, Swarovski crystals.  The brief was to make a dainty necklace to match as closely as possible to our crystal navette earrings, and I had a blast finding just the right Swarovski crystal to turn into a solitaire pendant.

vineyard inspired jewellery necklace earrings purple green two cheeky monkeys beaded jewelry sets

The second creation was a pair of matching earrings for our vineyard-inspired necklace, which features one of my favourite colour combinations in nature, purple and green.
So let me ask you: do you love to wear matching jewellery?  Or are you an eclectic type who wears whatever tickles your fancy?

Tuesday 3 September 2019

Bookworm necklaces

This week I have been excitedly adding to our bookworm necklace range, with two gorgeous additions that are close to my heart!  This first one contains one of my most favourite Jane Austen quotes, Captain Wentworth's heartfelt confession to Anne Elliot.

jane austen quote persuasion you pierce my soul i am half agony half hope locket necklace two cheeky monkeys

The second is a favourite for many who loved the 1985 version of Anne of Green Gables - "True friends are always together in spirit".  Which of these two quotes do you love best?  Or do you have another quote you would love to see embodied in a piece of jewellery?  Drop me a line and let me know!

anne of green gables necklace elephant charm true friends are always together in spirit friendship quote two cheeky monkeys

Thursday 29 August 2019

Recent commissioned creations

This past month I've had the privilege of creating some special pieces for customers to give to their friends and loved ones.  As you know, I looove hearing the story behind each special commission, and these pieces were no different.

gemstone earrings two cheeky monkeys jewellery silver amethyst turquoise moonstone

The first was a pair of fun gemstone earrings created to celebrate a special lady's milestone birthday and her love for swishy and bright earrings.  Made from lab-created and naturally occuring gemstone beads, I'm loving this design so much I think I might add similar designs to the store.  What do you think?

cuff links suit accessories sherlock holmes moriarty the great gatsby two cheeky monkeys jewellery

The next commission was not a new design, but a large scale commission by a groom who wanted gifts for his groomsmen and loved ones attending his wedding.  Each set of cuff links featured literary characters that fit with the wedding's theme - I can't wait to see the wedding photos!

mother daughter locket necklaces stepmother stepdaughter two cheeky monkeys jewellery

Finally, we come to two locket necklaces that had my heart melting when my customer made her request.  She loved our mother-daughter locket sets, but wanted something that referenced the precious relationship she and her step-daughter have with each other.  Isn't it just so sweet!
What kind of jewellery designs would you commission for the special people in your life?  Something book-related,  or something featuring gemstones or their birthstones?

Thursday 1 August 2019

Reading is my superpower

Hello my book-loving fans!!!  Now that we're well and truly into the new financial year, I'm excited to launch our new range of quote necklaces perfect for bookworms and lovers of classic literature.

waiting for mr darcy quote necklace pendant jane austen pride and prejudice bookworm gift book lover reader two cheeky monkeys

Our brand new range of pendants is launching with two designs, and will eventually be expanded to include other witty quotes for the discerning book lover.

reading is my superpower quote necklace pendant bookworm gift book lover reader two cheeky monkeys

For the moment, drop me a comment below with which of our new pendants you love best - "Reading is my superpower" or "Waiting for Mr Darcy"!

Tuesday 16 July 2019

“A wise bear always keeps a marmalade sandwich in his hat in case of emergency”

Paddington lovers, it is time to rejoice - I have finally re-stocked our popular range of Paddington Bear buntings in Domum Vindemia!!!
I am so very thankful to all of you for making these fun buntings so popular that I'm always struggling to keep them in stock.

paddington bear bunting nursery decor domum vindemia

Right now, there are only two Paddington Bear buntings in-store, so if you've been waiting for our re-stock, hurry in because it's first in best dressed.
Which one do you love more - the bunting with turquoise binding, or the one with the cream binding?

paddington bear bunting nursery decor domum vindemia

Tuesday 9 July 2019

Pretty up your planners!

Planner fans will remember earlier this year when I launched our new range of planner charms for those who love all things stationery.  And due to the fantastic response to the very first of this range, I have expanded it with two more fun charms!

anne of green gables planner charm accessories kindred spirits quote stationery journal weekly daily domum vindemia

In line with Domum Vindemia's book and vintage-themed ethos, our two new charms feature fun and meaningful quotes: "kindred spirits" which is a reference to Anne of Green Gables, and "soul sisters", a celebration of female friendship.

soul sisters planner charm accessories friendship best friend quote stationery journal weekly daily domum vindemia

The new additions to the planner charm range feature luscious bead charms created with sparkly rhinestones and gorgeous Czech glass beads.  Which charm do you love more?

Tuesday 25 June 2019

Christmas in July

For those of us who live in the southern hemisphere, the traditional northern hemisphere trappings and activities of a wintry Christmas are not something we usually experience.
Which is probably why "Christmas in July" has become such a popular winter time activity for many in Australia and New Zealand (among other countries).
Here are six pointers to help you start planning your Christmas in July festivities - enjoy!

1. Party Invitations
christmas party invitations christmas in july

Get your friends pumped for your festivities with gorgeous invitations that will set the theme for the day. 

2. Ugly Sweater
ugly christmas sweater jumper kitsch pacman space invaders christmas in july

I'm not normally a fan of the ugly Christmas sweater/jumper fad, but it's Christmas in July, so why not go for some kitsch? 

3. Christmas Accessories
christmas accessories christmas in july two cheeky monkeys brooch pin lapel wreath holly berries

And while you're wearing "festive" clothing, don't forget to add a Christmassy touch with your accessories too. 

4. Christmas Cake
christmas cake recipe christmas in july

Wow your guests with a beautiful Christmas cake that you'll actually feel like baking since it's winter time. 

5. Servingware
cake stand cupcake christmas in july reindeer vintage chic domum vindemia

You can't have a Christmas in July celebration without gorgeous, themed servingware for all your treats! 

6. Christmas in July Events
melbourne christmas in july fed square

And if you really aren't up for hosting a Christmas in July function, then head to your city's local events with your family and friends instead. 

Tuesday 11 June 2019

Bohemian Buntings Are Back!

bohemian bunting boho chic home decor vintage doilies rustic shabby chic domum vindemia bridal wedding shower

Lovers of boho chic decor, I'm excited to announce that after a short break, our fan favourite boho doily buntings are now back in-store!  There are currently two mini buntings and one full sized bunting available, as well as our other bohemian favourite, vintage napkin buntins.

bohemian bunting boho chic home decor vintage doilies rustic shabby chic domum vindemia bridal wedding shower

Of course, if you have a specific bunting size or colour scheme you need, feel free to drop me a line to commission a bespoke bunting for your celebration.  What colour would you love to see?

bohemian bunting boho chic home decor vintage doilies rustic shabby chic domum vindemia bridal wedding shower

Wednesday 15 May 2019

Ginger Crisp Biscuits

Every year my family supports Australian Prison Fellowship's work with prisoners in our state by joining their annual biscuit bake at Easter time.
This year we baked ginger crisp biscuits, delightfully crunchy biscuits that taste just like Christmas to me!  These biscuits are so popular that I've decided to share a recipe I adapted from Robyn Martin's "Slices, biscuits & cakes".  Enjoy!

ginger crisps biscuit cookie recipe christmas

Ingredients
- 175g unsalted butter (or reduced salt margerine if you're watching your fats)
- ¼ cup golden syrup
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼ cups plain (all purpose) flour
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ cup extra sugar

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.  Melt butter and golden syrup in a saucepan large enough to mix all the ingredients.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar.

2. Add egg to the golden syrup mixture and beat well with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula.

3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, ginger and mixed spice into the saucepan.  Mix until well combined.

4. Pour extra sugar onto a plate.  Roll tablespoonsful of mixture into balls then roll in the extra sugar.  Place on a greased tray and flatten with a fork, making sure to leave space for the biscuits to spread.

5. Bake the biscuits for 10-15 minutes, or until golden.  Let the biscuits cool for a few minutes on the tray before moving to a cooling rack to fully cool down.

Thursday 9 May 2019

Dr Seuss is in town!!!

 dr seuss bunting fox in socks domum vindemia nursery decor baby shower ideas kids birthday party

Mamas and papas, THANK YOU so much for all the appreciation I received for the first of our Dr Seuss bunting range that I introduced at the start of the year!  I'm so thankful for all the love, as I've finally expanded the range with new additions and a re-stocking of the very first Green Eggs and Ham bunting.

dr seuss bunting the cat in the hat domum vindemia nursery decor baby shower ideas kids birthday party

For the moment, I've added Cat in the Hat, Fox in Socks, and Oh, the Places You'll Go buntings to the range, and am hoping to add The Sneetches and Mr Brown Can Moo to the range too.
And if you've got any favourites you'd love to see adorning your little one's room - drop me a line, I'm always happy to take special commissions!

dr seuss bunting oh the places you'll go domum vindemia nursery decor baby shower ideas kids birthday party

Tuesday 7 May 2019

6 Mother's Day Decor Ideas

With Mother's Day just around the corner in Australia, the US and many other countries around the world, I've put together a gorgeous roundup of decorating ideas for those who are celebrating mothers or other important women in their lives this Sunday.
And for those who are grieving the loss of their mum, or the fact that they can't be biological mums, we're also sending you lots of hugs for this weekend.

mother's day decor ideas decoration inspiration diy floral flowers chandelier pancakes table

1. Use flowers or succulents to DIY gorgeous floral letters.
2. Turn a favourite jug or pitcher into a vase!
3. Top mum's pancakes with a heartfelt sentiment.
4. Can it get any better than edible decorations?
5. This flower chandelier is the perfect decoration for any celebration.
6. Go all out with a full room and table decor makeover for Mother's Day.

Thursday 2 May 2019

Launching our Autumn/Winter 2019 Range With a Giveaway!

Classic hymn fans, I am so excited to be officially launching our brand new Autumn/Winter range for 2019!
The new range features bracelets and necklaces celebrating favourite lines from six classic hymns, and to celebrate our launch AND Mother's Day we're offering one lucky person the chance to WIN YOUR CHOICE of a hymn bracelet or necklace from our new range.

classic hymn jewellery jewelry two cheeky monkeys how great thou art be still my soul skeleton key bracelet necklace pendant

To enter, simply head over to our FACEBOOK PAGE or INSTAGRAM PROFILE and follow the giveaway details on our giveaway posts.  Don't forget to complete each detail carefully for your chance to win one of our new music-themed pieces!

Wednesday 17 April 2019

Happy Easter - The Wonderful Cross

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing Easter spent with your friends or loved ones!


Wednesday 10 April 2019

Anzac Biscuits

As Anzac Day approaches (on April 25th for those of you who aren't in the know) for those in Australia and New Zealand, many start cooking the iconic Anzac biscuits for the various biscuit bakes, school fetes and get togethers that happen at this time of year.
So for those of you on the hunt for the PERFECT Anzac biscuit, I've put together a roundup of recipes for this classic cookie.  Whether you love your biscuits crisp and crunchy, a little chewy, with less or more coconut, or with NO coconut at all, there's something here for all of you - enjoy!

recipe anzac biscuits cookies anzac day Australiana australia

(Clockwise from top left)
2. This recipe has the most coconut I've seen in Anzac biscuits
3. Coconut-less Anzac biscuits
4. Classic crunchy Anzac biscuits

Thursday 28 March 2019

Easter Sweet Treats

Those of you who know me well will know how much I love Easter celebrations because of my Christian faith, and how much I love to indulge in sweet treats.
So this week I'm sharing a roundup of luscious desserts that you could create for yourself or for your loved ones.  But you better get planning - Easter is only three weeks away!

easter cooking baking desserts cake egg rocky road recipe diy chocolate sundae

1. I can't resist multi-layered cakes.
2. This decadent sundae may leave you in a food coma.
3. Ever popular rocky road gets an Easter-themed makeover.
4. Make your own gourmet Easter eggs!

Thursday 21 March 2019

"We're all mad here" and other fun literary quotes

alice in wonderland locket necklace jewellery jewelry we're all mad here cheshire cat two cheeky monkeys

I know it's been a bit quiet on here of late, chalk it up to my busy work, home and social schedule!  But I'm back today to share a peek at some new creations making it into our Autumn/Winter 2019 range of bookish lovelies.

cuff links cheshire cat alice in wonderland quote we're all mad here two cheeky monkeys for him

Over at Two Cheeky Monkeys, our new season range has been inspired by my long love of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, also known as Alice in Wonderland by many.  There's something for both the ladies and the gents, with the Cheshire Cat making a special appearance.

keychain keyring planner charm accessories wuthering heights emily bronte domum vindemia

And over at Domum Vindemia, our Autumn/Winter offerings are all charm-related.  We're expanding the keychain/planner charm range with the addition of beloved quotes that you, our beautiful customers, can't get enough of!

keychain keyring planner charm accessories jane austen obstinate headstrong girl quote pride and prejudice domum vindemia

But as always, if there are any quotes that you particularly love, just drop us a line, and we will very happily create a bespoke item just for you.  Leave me a comment below with some of your literary favourites!

Tuesday 26 February 2019

Environmentally Friendly Confetti

Today I have a question for all the brides-to-be, party planners, and people who just generally love confetti.  As many of you know, we've been stocking eco-friendly confetti and table scatters repurposed from old book pages for some time now; a range which has been fairly popular.

butterfly butterflies eco-friendly confetti environmentally friendly aware table scatters wedding bridal repurposed upcycled domum vindemia

And in the hunt for ever more eco-friendly opportunities to add to Domum Vindemia, I have been playing around with the idea of adding the ultimate environmentally aware confetti - confetti made from dried leaves found in my garden!
So please let me know: are you a fan of the leaf confetti?  Or would you prefer to see a larger range of book page confetti in-store?

Thursday 14 February 2019

Glimmering Swarovski Crystals

image swarovski crystal earrings ruby red two cheeky monkeys bali gold vermeil
 
Long time blog readers will know that I ADORE Swarovski crystals and jump at every opportunity to create with them for my gorgeous customers.

image swarovski crystal earrings ruby red two cheeky monkeys bali gold vermeil

So you can imagine my delight when a recent commission requested bespoke, Swarovski crystal versions of my popular quartz crystal earrings.

image swarovski crystal earrings crystal shimmer two cheeky monkeys sterling silver

Created to resemble faceted ruby and diamond drops, I felt so privileged to make these luscious earrings.  And to make them friendly for those with sensitive ears, the red and gold pair have Bali gold vermeil earhooks, and the crystal shimmer pair include sterling silver earhooks.

image swarovski crystal earrings crystal shimmer two cheeky monkeys sterling silver

So tell me, which pair do you love best?  Or is there another gemstone-inspired crystal you would choose?

Tuesday 12 February 2019

Maisy Maisy Maisy Mouse!

image maisy mouse bunting domum vindemia nursery decor birthday party supplies

Mamas, if your little ones are anything like mine, they probably adore Maisy Mouse and her friends Eddie, Charley, Tallulah and Cyril.  These adorable animals have entertained a generation of preschoolers, so I am very excited to launch my brand new range of Maisy Mouse buntings!

image maisy mouse bunting domum vindemia nursery decor birthday party supplies

Currently available in two designs, I have plans to add more buntings to the range as time allows.  Which Maisy stories would you love to see in bunting form?

Thursday 7 February 2019

A Janeite Delight

Paper planner and stationery lovers, today is all about you!  I am a big fan of stationery and paper diaries myself, so I spent my summer playing around with ideas for adorning our faithful schedule keepers.

image jane austen inspired planner charm diary accessory accessories obstinate headstrong girl pride and prejudice paperclip tassel domum vindemia

In keeping with the popularity of Jane Austen's "Obstinate, headstrong girl!", I am launching our new addition to the planner accessory range with an obstinate girl planner charm!  These darling charms are large enough to securely clip to your planner or diary, but small enough for those who don't want chunky accessories on their planners.

image jane austen inspired planner charm diary accessory accessories obstinate headstrong girl pride and prejudice paperclip tassel domum vindemia

And what's more, these charms come with a sweet little cotton tassel in a choice of five colours.  I am also taking commissions for literary character names and other pithy quotes, as well as the option to add bead charms, so please send me a message to have bespoke charms created for you.

Tuesday 5 February 2019

Happy Chinese New Year: A Roundup of Luscious Recipes

A happy Chinese new year to one and all, regardless of your nationality or birthplace!
In celebration of today, I'm sharing a roundup of some of my favourite Chinese dishes.  They're not necessarily new year treats, but ones that I love with a passion.  Enjoy!

chinese recipes food steamboat hotpot siu mai dumplings custard milk buns banana fritters

1. Chinese steamboat, aka hotpot

Tuesday 29 January 2019

Dr Seuss, Paddington Bear, and more buntings in-store!

It's been months since I've shared about my latest bunting creations, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been working on all new designs for my lovely customers!
I've spent this summer holidays searching for new designs to create, and today I'm showing off two of them for your bookish pleasure.

image paddington bear bunting domum vindemia kids decor homewares eco-friendly

The first is an expansion of our existing Paddington Bear bunting range, a range that has been so popular that I'm struggling to keep them in stock.
As a long time fan of Paddington, I just love that others love Michael Bond's stories about this quirky bear as much as I do!

image dr seuss bunting green eggs and ham domum vindemia kids' decor homewares

This second bunting is one that I have been hoping to make for some time now - a Dr Seuss bunting!
Another of my childhood favourites, I am so thrilled to finally start stocking these whimsical stories in bunting form.
But please, feel free to comment below if you have any other childhood favourites you would love to see in-store!

Tuesday 22 January 2019

Spinach and ricotta rolls

With the summer school holidays just about over, the Cheeky Monkeys and I have been baking up a storm of easy freeze meals they can defrost and throw into their lunchboxes on those days when we've all had enough of sandwiches.
Although my Cheeky Monkeys aren't vegetarians, they do love a good spinach and ricotta pie, so I put together a "sausage roll" version for easy lunchbox storage.
Here's how to make your own delicious lunches for yourself and your little ones.
Makes 12.

spinach and ricotta rolls vegetarian recipe diy tutorial

Ingredients
- 500g frozen, chopped spinach
- 500g ricotta
- 1-2 eggs
- 1 onion
- 3 sheets puff pastry
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- a pinch of sea salt
- 2 tsp dried mint
- olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 180C.  Finely chop the onion and saute in a little olive oil until softened.  Add in the chopped spinach and cook until most of the moisture has cooked off.  Leave to cool for 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, mix one egg with the ricotta, cheddar, pepper, salt and mint.  Add the cooled spinach mix and stir to combine well.

3. Cut each pastry sheet in half.  Place a line of spinach and ricotta filling along the long edge of pastry, leaving about 1 cm gap.  Roll the pastry to enclose the filling fully, overlapping the two long pastry edges to seal in the filling.  Repeat with remaining pastry.

4. Cut each pastry roll in half to create 12 smaller rolls.  Place the pastry rolls onto baking paper-lined trays and brush either with a milk wash or an egg wash made from the remaining egg.

5. Bake the spinach rolls for about 20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and beautifully browned.  Enjoy!

Tuesday 15 January 2019

A little taste of summer all year round

image summer earrings vintage glass stones turquoise blue yellow summery two cheeky monkeys

I've been enjoying creating my vintage crystal and glass earrings range for several years now, and am especially enamoured of this range for its variety of gorgeous colours with which I get to work.
My favourite pieces in the range are those with bright colours that remind me of summer holidays and tropical resort locales, so I was thrilled to be commissioned to create a pair that feature both bright yellow and turquoise blue stones.

image u-shaped bar necklace u vintage glass crystals two cheeky monkeys purple pastel blue floral boho chic

These dainty delights was what I came up with, and in the process I also created a fun, multicoloured necklace for myself.
This u-shaped bar necklace was created solely to highlight the sparkly vintage crystals in the necklaces centrepiece.
And I love the design so much that I'm considering adding a range of them to the store.  Please leave me comments if you would love to see this design in-store, and let me know what colours you love best!