Endemic World Giveaway

Beautiful art adds interest and colour to any room, it can bring a space to life and help complete it. What better place to source all your art needs than Endemic World. Elliot, Sam and Jenna are all passionate about their work and are continuously curating a wide selection of art from a diverse and talented range of artists.

From illustration to photography, screen prints to letterpress, everything is available unframed or as a framed print.

We are very happy to offer one of our readers their choice of print(s) to the value of $200. It could be a set of four unframed prints for your baby's nursery, or maybe a single large framed art print for your entranceway - the choice will be yours if you're the lucky winner.

CONGRATULATIONS:

Jessica Sweden

Thanks to everyone who entered. Competition now closed.

Bibby + Brady Easter Sale

Easter is nearly upon us, and at the Bibby + Brady online shop we are having a huge sale with 30% OFF everything in our sale category. Simply enter the code "EASTER30" at checkout. Some of the items are the last of their kind, so get in quick!

If you're not on our mailing list already, and you want to be the first to hear about our sales and special offers, sign up now. You'll find it at the bottom on the shop's home page.

Complete Paints | DIY Copper Top Side Table

I wanted to tell you about a little DIY project I did recently. I had bought a Cage Side Table from Big Save Furniture but decided I wanted to do something with the top, which was a dark stained and varnished wood. So I popped in to see the guys at Complete Paints in Onekawa, Napier and discussed my options with them. I thought about painting it a bright glossy colour, but when Graeme mentioned metallics I was sold. He told me he could put my chosen metallic into a spray can for easy application, so we looked at all the different colours and I chose a rich copper tone.

If you live in Napier you may not realise that Complete Paints (23 Ford Road, Onekawa) is open to the general public. They deal with a lot of trade customers, but also welcome retail customers, they're super knowledgable, and happy to help those of us who aren't as familiar with which products we need. Graeme explained the process and the products I'd need to complete this project, and Brad was on hand to help me with each step.

I'm so happy with the result, the copper top looks fantastic on the white cage base, and it looks right at home in our living room. If you'd like to do a similar project you can find all the instructions on the Complete Paints project page. And, no matter where you live in New Zealand, you can buy all the products on their website, including the gorgeous copper spray paint. For a limited time you'll get 10% OFF if you purchase the complete project package, so head on over and get busy with your own copper painted project.

Cush & Nooks Sale

Have you heard the news that we're about to change the Cush & Nooks online shop into a Bibby + Brady shop? If not, you can read all about it here. As we prepare to add our new stock, I'm clearing the way by having a wee SALE. Any items that won't be re-stocked have been slashed in price. Most of these products have only one left in stock, so if there's anything you want, get in quick!

MagnaPix Fridge Magnets

Your fridge is the perfect canvas for your kids' artwork, postcards from friends, and photos of your loved ones. You often have a medley of magnets holding everything up, but what if your magnets were your favourite photos!... MagnaPix is a New Zealand based business that will turn your digital images into glossy fridge magnets. The magnets are 68mm square and come in a pack of eight.

I recently tried out the process to see how easy it was to create my own magnets, and was pleasantly surprised at how simple it was. Once I had chosen the eight photos I wanted to use I just had to select them and upload.

Once the image has been uploaded you can enlarge or reduce it by clicking on the plus or minus icons, and move it around until you're happy with the position. I chose some pics of my beautiful girls, and doubled up on a few to give to my Mum.

When you've uploaded all eight images and are happy with how they're looking, you're ready to complete your order. Easy peasy!

Within days the little package was delivered to my door.

I used my craft knife to run around each edge and they popped out ready to display.

I'm thrilled with the result, and will definitely use them again. My Mum loved hers too, so they're a great gift idea; and would also be excellent for corporate use - a photo of your product with your logo and/or website, and you have magnets for marketing.

The lovely team at MagnaPix have offered a whopping 30% discount for all Cush & Nooks readers. Enter the code mag30off at the checkout and enjoy the savings on your very own personalised magnets. To see more examples pop over to the MagnaPix Facebook page.

This post was partnered with MagnaPix, all opinions are my own.

Reader Survey 2014

To all you beautiful people who are reading this blog post, I truly appreciate you. It's funny, I sit at my desk (often at a crazy hour) and create something that I am immensely passionate about. Sometimes I just feel like it's me and my keyboard, then I run into someone who tells me that they follow my blog every day, and love what I do, and I realise you are out there. The fact that I get to make a living out of something that I find so fulfilling is magical, but to hear that it inspires others is most definitely the icing on the cake.

via

A handful of you leave comments, which I love. But otherwise it's only when I run into Cush & Nooks readers in the real world that I hear what you really think of the blog. Your feedback is golden to me, so I have put together a short survey, and I would be so appreciative if you would take the time to fill it out. 

I have lots of ideas, but your feedback will help me to know which direction to take the blog in this year. By filling in these 10 simple questions you'll also go into the draw to win a gorgeous green ikat kantha quilt worth $150 - use it as a bedspread for a single or king single bed; a throw for a larger bed or sofa; or even a table cloth.

You have between now and next Wednesday 22 January 2014, 5pm, to take the survey. I will be selecting the winner from those surveys that I find the most helpful, so make sure your answers are good and constructive :) Click here to take the survey, and you will automatically enter the draw. The winner will be announced on my Facebook page Friday 24 January, and contacted by email. Thank you!

Welcome 2014!

Hey everyone, I'm back! I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas and New Year, and a well deserved break. 2013 was a big year for me, with the introduction of my interior business, Bibby + Brady, and my little family getting busier every day. I really needed some R&R, and the beautiful Kuratau, in Taupo, is always the perfect place to relax and unwind.

As sad as it was to leave Kuratau, I love coming home. Home is my sanctuary, and this homecoming, in particular, reinforced to me how important it is to create a beautiful haven for you and your family. I was reading an excerpt from Kelly Hoppen's 'Design Masterclass' in the latest YH&G magazine which really touched me... 

The whole experience of 'coming home' is one we value more and more in a world that is fast, noisy and, at times, threatening. The moment we cross our threshold, we feel the cares slip from our shoulders and we are cocooned in comfort, safety and warmth. Our homes are our greatest asset, not just financially but also for our sense of wellbeing and happiness.

I know you feel the same way, and I'm really excited about the chance to bring you even more interior inspiration this year. I really thrive on your feedback, so I'd love you to think about the features you most like to read on the Cush & Nooks blog, and what you'd like to see more of. I'll be putting together a short survey, and I'd be most appreciative if you could take a few minutes to fill it in. By taking part in the survey you'll go into the draw to win a little something - watch this space!

all photos of my precious family and home

One of the awesome new features on the blog is the MONTHLY SPECIAL, which features on the top right hand panel. For the month of January there is 20% off all artwork in the Cush & Nooks shop. There are only one or two of each piece, so if you have your eye on one, snap it up.

Every month there will be a new special from either Cush & Nooks or one of my other favourite online shops (if you have an online shop and you're interested in taking part, contact me for details). I hope 2014 is off to a cracking start for you. Please bear with me over the next few weeks as I balance work and three lively children.

Mybuckett

Have you discovered Mybuckett yet? It's a fabulous new concept in shopping. Design guru and global adventurer, Peter Reid, has sourced many amazing products from his travels around the world and brought them together in one place for our shopping pleasure. I've always admired Peter's style, from when I first discovered him at his Auckland design store, Republic. He shares my love for unique and eclectic pieces that help make a beautiful statement in your home.

It's not just the pieces that are unique - Mybuckett is the only store in the world designed with generosity in mind. As well as enjoying your newly purchased products, you also get the opportunity to give back to charities and loved ones. Here's how it works... 

Once you make a purchase you receive a 20% giftback. 10% of the value of your product is returned directly to your Buckett to use as discounts on future purchases; or you can choose to donate any portion of that 10% to a selection of New Zealand charities. You then gift the other 10% to your Mybuckett friends, and hopefully they'll return the favour! How great is that?! Retail therapy just got even better! Here are some of my favourite products...

There are two great Christmas specials running at the moment, so it's the perfect time to get that last minute shopping done. Spend $150 or more and receive a FREE 3ft Fluro Christmas Tree. Purchase a one-of-a-kind Spinning Globe and receive a FREE 7ft Fluro Christmas Tree. These are guaranteed to bring joy and vibrancy into your home!