quiet paws.

Have I told you about Birdmotel before? Apologies if I have, but I feel it’s a story well worth repeating…

Clearly I’m not an expert on the winged variety of creatures, but if I try to think of somewhere that would be the perfect home-away-from-home for one such feathered friend, a clear picture soon emerges. I’d imagine they would want to be somewhere that gives them a perfect vantage point from which to choose the brightest and most beautiful delights which catch their eye.

I may not be able to fly, but I am able to spend time in a wondrous place that brings the best of these bright and beautiful selections together in one place, and it’s all thanks to the lovely Jo from Birdmotel. Who needs wings when such pretty things wing their way to me through the mail?

The most recent pretties to find themselves to me in such a way are pictured above – a pair of Andrea & Joen ballet flats (one of the most awesome shoe designers in Australia) and the stunning multi-chain bracelet from another of my most adored brands, House of Baulch. Aside from the gorgeous items featured at Birdmotel, the ever delightful Jo offers consistently exceptional customer service (and it is probably this, more than any other reason which keeps me returning to her virtual nest again and again).

Well now, time has got away from me and I’m pretty sure I hear the sound of wings flapping noisily against the front door…perhaps room service has arrived?

Not that I really needed any more shoes, but it’s impossible to resist the object of your affection once you’ve fallen in love. In any case the pairs that I already own look nothing like these, so surely supporting individuality is enough justification in itself?

Both of my new pairs of shoes are by the awesome Australian label, Minty Meets Munt and purchased from the wonderful Birdmotel online store. Minty Meets Munt pride themselves on quailty and ‘cheap chic’, two philosophies which I will happily support.

The black ‘Loella’ boots on the left are so comfortable and so versatile. Normally I am cautious when it comes to boosting my heel collection, but the platform at the front of these shoes completely balances the height of the heel which may otherwise scare me. While they may look like lace-up boots, the laces are only used to tighten the fit, they are actually zip-up (very sneaky, I know). These boots exude cool and for me somehow channel the spirit of Parisian chic…

The pale ‘Baby Doc’ cream boots on the right are so beautiful. My heart melted and I simply had to have them straight away. They are so cute and are a really different colour of shoe for me to wear. They feature a sweet wooden heel and instantly transport me backstage to a seriously cool 1960s style music after-party…not sure why as I’ve never actually visited one…but the imagination simply takes us on wonderful journeys at times, and all one can do is follow…

I’ve never really been much of a jewellery girl.
I never longed to have my ears pierced so that I could drape them in earrings.
I never dreamed of a day where I would forevermore wear a ring on my finger.
I never wondered when I would be given a ‘little blue box’.

Apart from a completely adorable tabby cat cameo necklace and a plastic koala themed wrist-watch (featuring Belinda, one of the Dreamworld koala mascots) which I wore often as a child (and which I still have tucked away), for me jewellery often seemed like an unimportant addition to an already bewildering decision-making process of what to wear. So in recent years I’ve been making a real effort to focus more attention on all that that glitters and glistens.

Now given that I’m a relative late-comer to the world of jewellery I feel that I’ve had time to reflect on the range of jewellery that is on the market and the variety of brands and manufacturers which are known, and not-so-well-known. Sure there is a certain kind of appeal to be found in the major jewellery houses such as Tiffany, Cartier and Bulgari – but sometimes I find that I crave something more individual and more unique. While I have nothing at all against the larger jewellery brands, I do dislike the wearing of a brand simply for brand sake. And I do love to support local artisans wherever I can…

…enter the classically elegant and eternally stylish world of ‘House of Baulch’.

Sometimes I love a jewellery label so much that I wished I owned every single piece in every single collection, and this pretty much sums up how I feel about the Melbourne born-and-bred House of Baulch. The jewellery collections of this brand range from pretty, delicately feminine pieces to more jaw-droppingly dramatic statement pieces. I love the old-world charm of the brand which at the same time seems to reference modern style. The decorative nod to Art Deco is also much appreciated.

While items can be purchased online direct from House of Baulch, I picked up this beautiful Jumbo Bling Chain bracelet from one of my favourite online stores, Birdmotel. There is also a matching Jumbo Bling Neck Chain available, which I’m yet to buy (so don’t you go and buy them all up before I have a chance to grab one…as that would just make me sad).