SPRING IN MY BACKYARD

It has been an amazing start to Spring over the weekend. I think Mother Nature heard my whinging and complaining throughout Winter, all the "when will it ends" and "why do we have to have Winters" cries, and saved her very best until I would appreciate it the most. Well, appreciate it I do! Saturday we enjoyed a sunny day in the low 20's, Sunday a little warmer and even more sunnier, and today the Spring breeze is like heaven! What's even more exciting than enjoying the sun, is how much our house comes alive in this weather. Since we moved in at the end of March this year, we missed Spring and Summer, and so all these experiences are new to us. The morning sun in our kitchen, the afternoon sun on our side decking, the warm winds that flow straight through one door and out the other. It all makes me love our house more and more...

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

This post is dedicated to my customers, as I am asking them all to do me a huge favour and spend a few minutes completing my new Feedback Form.
As a one-woman-show at Rammikin Creative, it's really important for me to gain the thoughts and feedback of my customers so I can continue to grow and improve the business. Too often I complete a project and never speak to the customer again, not because they are unhappy (I hope not) but because they've come to me for a reason and when I have finished helping them, they are on their way to the next busy project in their lives. I understand it's nothing personal, but I am trying to take my business to the next professional level of getting to know what these clients are thinking. And of course, whether they were happy with the end result.
I know personally if I have recieved goods that I'm not entirely happy about, I don't always tell the maker. Life is just so busy these days I think if I discuss this with them, they might have to fix it or start again, and that could be another week or month of time on it. So I let it slide, and I will probably never buy anything from them again. When really, I should be giving them the opportunity to try and improve the product until I am happy.

So if you are a past Rammikin Creative client, then firstly THANK YOU so much for taking the time to visit my site and complete the feedback form. To show you how much I appreciate your help, I want to offer you all a little "deal" for your next Rammikin project - as I do hope to see you again in the future...

To claim your 25% off, simply note that you completed the Feedback Form when you are booking your next project in with Rammikin Creative.

Finally, here is the Feedback Form (click on the link to open a new browser):

"Rammikin Creative Customer Feedback Form"

GOING LOCO

Friends of mine are currently on their way to Mexico, and I'm going LOCO thinking about it. I'm jealous as anything. Just to spend a day in the colourful culture of the enchilada world capital, enjoying the sandy beaches, the handmade market goodies, the spanish architecture, and don't forget TEQUILA (da dada dada dum dum). Of course I'm not naive, and realise a trip to Mexico is a trip outside of the developed world - with more crowds, noise and poverty than I'm probably used to. But that's the excitement of travelling, experiencing something new.

While I sit in my westernised office, in my westernised home, in my westernised town of my westernised country, I'll be daydreaming of Mexico....

CHEVRON, RON RON

One of the hottest patterns this season is Chevron (well I love it). On paper, skirts, cushions, furniture, earrings, mugs, bedspreads, clipboards, walls, rugs, and more... The pattern is taking over! It's a simple design but so effective, especially in neutral or bright colours (my favourite colours are orange, sand, or grey). Here are some of my favourite examples of Chevron (ron ron!), enjoy xx

SUNDAYS

It's days like today I'm grateful for Adelaide winters. After our usual Sunday sleep-in, we woke up to the sun shining and a beautiful sea breeze. We had been talking about cruising to the Adelaide Hills for lunch, but decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity of a sunny day down Semaphore Road. For the next few hours we munched on tapas and sipped sangria at El Toro, wondered down the foreshore, and discussed a possible mini-golf game but decided to postpone till an even sunnier day. Another amazing afternoon in our piece of paradise...

GREEN THUMB

We have been in our new home for four months now, although it feels like longer, and I finally feel like we've settled on where our furniture goes, the decor for each room, the bits and bobs you can never find a place for but eventually do, etc. The only thing missing now is some greenery. We are lucky enough to already have a landscaped garden - (and a gardener who comes once a month, spoilt much?!) - but there is nothing that really finishes off the house like a good pot plant or herb garden. Disclaimer - I attempted to start a herb garden in May but apparently pots needs drainage holes - what the! RIP Coriander, Mint/Basil (yes it was a mint and basil combo herb!) and Parsley, you will be missed.

Now that we are one month away from Spring, I figure there is no better time to start planning the greenery. We are looking to have indoor plants for the living area and sunroom/dining, and then some small pot-plants for the two side decks that come off the west and east side of our home. Plus a statement plant for the front door deck, something that makes the daily joggers and dog-walker stop and go "ooooooh nice plant!".

I almost forgot the vege garden. This will also be going in over the next few weeks. We are doing a raised garden with iron beds, however thankfully this is Simon's department, that way I don't feel guilty when I've killed the food for our table!

I have spent the whole week searching for inspiration on the web (anyone who has internet access can be a landscaper/interior designer!), and today I venture out to purchase my goodies. Time will tell if I can achieve anything as good as my fellow green thumbs:

1. feature plants in old crates (A Beautiful Mess):

2. not too over-the-top, but creates a statement. (Old Brand New)

Eclectic Bedroom design by Los Angeles Media And Blogs Dabito

3. assorted coloured pots brings some colour to the space (M.J. Lanphier)

Contemporary Patio design by Los Angeles Interior Designer MJ Lanphier

4. uniform pots, but various plants, could work better with coloured plants (Aloe Designs)

Contemporary Landscape design by Vancouver Lighting Designer Aloe Designs

5. self watering plants - my favourite kind!

6. a killer indoor Fiddle Tree - it certainly is statement worthy!

7. we actually have an empty hook in our kitchen, & I always think "hanging plant!!!" every time I look at it! (Design Sponge)

8. we have the shelving already, but i'm curious as to how the herbs are watered? upside-down? sounds messy (Dornob)

9. i love the simplicity of this, and also incorporating vintage furniture into the design (Oh, Albatross)

10. gotta have some lavender (Buckets of Burlap)