This week’s Friday Fancies is a little break from the norm because this week Miss Amanda from Calico & Co celebrated her blog’s first birthday.  To help celebrate the momentous occasion she asked me to do a guest post on my fave 5 design blogs.  So this week I’m going to be sending you over to one of my favourite blogs Calico & Co and getting you to check out my recommendations.  Just to make sure you want to go over there and check it out here’s a taste of what’s on offer…

a.  Mitchell & Dent b.  Print & Pattern c.  Lotus Haus d.  Cafe Cartolina e.  Style Me Pretty

In one of those wonderful twists of clicking I stumble upon Bonnie‘s blog, Going Home to Roost, one faithful day and spent hours immersed in the wonderful world that Bonnie has created.

I think the best way to describe Going Home to Roost is to let Bonnie tell you in her own words:

Hello lovelies! It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Bonnie and Going Home to Roost is the blog dedicated to everything handmade and anything homegrown. I love to roost, and to me that means nesting in my home and doing the things that I love. I’m always seeking the next creative endeavor, inspiring artists and beautiful material- and my purpose here is to share those with you!

I dream of one day leaving the rat race behind and moving out to the country to live in a house full of animals, growing my own vegetables and creating little crafty projects for the home, so I adore Going Home to Roost it provides me with so much food for thought and helps me to add some depth to my daydreams.

Image source: Old Renewed

As well as collating amazing posts for Going Home to Roost Bonnie also runs THREE Etsy stores; Old Renewed, The Kitchen Roost and Home to Roost.  The stores sell a collection of items that Bonnie has made and items that she has collected. 

Image Source: The Kitchen Roost

I love reading about Bonnie’s chickens, her dog named Toaster (what an awesome name) and learning new recipes.  Bonnie has collated a great range of DIY projects that are so easy anyone can do them.

Image source: Home to Roost

Going Home to Roost is an amazing blog filled to the brim with inspirational and awe inspiring items from around the globe.  It’s a must see blog for anyone that wants to leave a smaller foot print on the planet and enjoy the finer handmade things in life.

I like to daydream about decorating.  I’m weird, I know.  But when I daydream about decorating I like to go and find items that I would include in the room I’m daydreaming about.

A few months back I was daydreaming about what our nursery would look like and so I went hunting for images on Etsy.  I stumbled upon Cabbages & Kings Art and fell in love immediately.

I was over the moon to find out that there was a blog associated with the Etsy store and I rushed over to gobble up all the wonderfulness that is Cabbages & Kings.

Stephanie is the master mind behind this wonderful collection of whimsical images and glimpses into the life of an artist.  Not only does Stephanie share her new designs as she launches them, she also shares from her crafty projects.

One of her latest projects, the scrappy blanket, has inspired me to try and make my own rainbow blanket goodness.  I just love the colour against the white background.  It’s wonderful.

I’ve also been eying off the collection of monster prints that Stephanie recently finished.  I just love them.  They would make a great gift for someone who has children, or as I’m hoping they’ll look wonderful in our nursery.

Stephanie also produces some of my favourite Flickr Faves as part of ArtMind’s Tuesday challenge.  I love seeing how she interrupts the challenge each week.  I’ve especially enjoyed the last few where Stephanie announced her pregnancy.  Yay!

I can’t wait to see more of what Stephanie has to offer, especially as she gets ready for the arrival of her first child.  It’s going to be something amazing to see the evolution over the coming months, not just of her art but of her life.  So get on board now, it’s going to be a wonderful ride!

Last week the amazing Amanda from Calico & Co gave me a wonderful compliment and awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.

As part of the award I have to say 7 things about myself and pass the award on to some of my favorite blogs.  It’s the first time I’ve been awarded a blogging award and I’m really excited to be passing on the love.

I’ve posted ten things to know about me in the past so I’m not going to list another 7 now.  (Mainly because I’ve run out of things to confess!)

Now down to the exciting things.  I’m passing on the love to following wonderful blogs (in no particular order):

• Button Tree Lane – Michelle is a fellow Brown Owl and a most amazing crafty lady.  Michelle is the creative force behind the wonderful Sunnyboy Project Bags and the Box for Socks.  Her blog is a great snapshot in to the life of a creative soul who finds the beauty in the things that surround her.

• A Little Red Ribbon – Gretel has such an eye for vintage it’s a joy every time I alight on her blog to see what she has discovered.  Gretel also sells handmade coin purses on Etsy which have incorporate vintage embroidery.  I would love one!

• Violet LeBeaux – Violet is amazing, seriously amazing.  I have never in my life seen someone take $10 worth of groceries and turn them in to an outfit.  (They couldn’t even do that on Project Runway!)  Violet is the mistress of tutorials.  I love reading Violet’s blog as it’s a glimpse into a life that I would never be able to lead. (I’m hopeless with hair and makeup!)

• Colour Me Katie – I’ve featured Katie before as part of Blog Love.  Katie’s blog is like a rainbow on the internet.  Whenever the winter skies are getting me down I like to head on over to Katie’s blog and get some sunshine in my day.

Image source: Getty

I’m a self confessed reality tv junkie.  I can’t get enough of the stuff.  In fact, in my circle of friends I am the poster child for addicted to television.  So imagine my surprise and joy when I came across Reality Ravings.  It’s a blog dedicated to reality television.  *insert happy dance*

Reality Ravings is run by the wonderful Emma who describes her blog in the following way:

Reality Ravings is an independent, irreverent, and informative blog.

Reality Ravings focuses on Australian Reality TV shows, and the top international reality programs.

The blog provides recaps, reviews, interviews with reality TV stars, gossip, where are they now, and reality TV highlights.

Since Australia at times screens the international reality TV shows after they have been screened in the US I very rarely put up spoilers so you can watch the shows and read the blog without finding out who has won.

To me though she could have just said “it’s a safe house for those taunted by a world that doesn’t understand the awesome that is reality television.”

During my addiction to Masterchef Australia I was spending more time on Reality Ravings then on my own blog.  It was great for nights when I missed the show and for seeing how the other reality television addicts were coping with the ups and downs of the show.

Now I read to see what my two favourite fashion bitches are up to, to find out how life after Masterchef is working out for the contestants and to find other reality television crushes.

It’s a great blog and I find Emma’s love for what she writes about really comes through.  She’s also open to interaction with her readers and fans of reality television which makes for some great debates and exchanges of conspiracy theories, which I love!

I think it’s only a matter of time before they give Emma her own show based on her blog, so get on board now before she’s a mega superstar!

I love me a good sock animal and Claire over at Craft Schmaft makes some of the best there is.

Craft Schmaft is full of happiness and it brims over on the blog.  As evidenced by the below image of Claire.

Image source: Craft Schmaft

Whenever I need a little craft inspiration I head on over to Craft Schmaft.  There’s always a great collection of sock animals and tales of artistry and inspiration. 

Image source: Craft Schmaft

If you want to make your own sock animal you can buy patterns and kits at Craft Schmaft’s Online Store.

Normally I like to spruik blogs that might not be on the radar of a lot of people, but I think they should be.  But today I’m spruiking my love for a blog that lots of people adore, and with good reason.  Meet Me At Mike’s is run by the wonderfully talented and giving Pip Lincolne.

I am in constant awe of how Pip manages her time.  Not only does she run one of the hippest blogs on the internet, she’s a mother to three, a wife to one, a frequent contributor to Frankie Magazine (as well as many other publications), founder of Brown Owls, writes how-to books, creates like a mad woman, runs a successful shop and is an ambassador for blogging.  I get tired just typing all that out, so the mind boggles at how she manages to find the time to do it all.

Image source: Meet Me At Mike’s

If it wasn’t for Pip I would never have learnt how to make a granny square.  I would never have meet the wonderful women of the Canberra Brown Owls, nor would I have found some of the amazing blogs, artists and crafters out there in Australia.

Image source: Meet Me At Mike’s

So while we’re in Melbourne I’m going to make the pilgrimage and go check out The Envelope Project at Meet Me At Mike’s.  I’m also going to be lucky enough to hear Pip speak at the Problogger Event in August.    I just hope she doesn’t think I’m stalking her…

Image source: Meet Me At Mike’s

HUBBY and I are planning a trip to Melbourne in the next week to see Mumford & Sons and Stephen Fry.  We’re both really excited, but I suspect I’m more so then he is because I’m also planning a little blog inspired voyeurism.  You see there’s a few blogs who I love that are located near Melbourne and have stores attached to their blogs.  Or should that be blogs attached to their stores?  Either way there’s shopping involved.

One of the blogs that I’m planning on visiting is The Lark.  The Lark store is located in Daylesford, which HUBBY informs me is a mere hour or so from where we’ll be staying in Melbourne.  I’m so excited at the prospect of being able to wonder through the store and see all the handmade goodness up close and personal.

I love reading The Lark because it provides an insight into living in a small community, what it takes to keep a successful business afloat and how to juggle work with family.  A lot of the time I use The Lark as a starting point for all of the fantasies I have about moving to the country and living a simpler life.

Image source: The Lark

If you’d like a little slice of Australian heaven then check out The Lark. You can even shop online with The Lark Online Shop so if you can’t make it to Daylesford you can bring a little bit of Daylesford to you!

I have been following Suzanne’s blog, an open [sketch]book, for over a year now and every time I visit I’m in awe of the wonderful talent and amazing outlook on life.  Not to mention Suzanne understands the love of a good beagle.

Image source: an open [sketch]book

Suzanne shares her art, which draws (no pun intended) on the everyday items in her world.  She has such a simple aesthetic that belies the inherent skill needed to be an artist.

Image source: an open [sketch]book

I would love one day to be able to purchase some of Suzanne’s art for our house.  I would love to see a greeting card line that featured Suzanne’s work.  It would be wonderful for any occasion!  But until that day I’ll just have to content myself with enjoying her work and life via an open [sketch]book!

Every so often I like to pretend I’m living in a European adventure and to help me do that I love reading petits details. The blog owner provides the following insight into the motivation behind her blog:

I grew up in the United States and now live near Paris with my husband (who is French) and our son. After moving to France nearly ten years ago, I discovered flea markets and antiques stores — discarded objects on Paris sidewalks, too — and have come to love all things vintage, including old fabrics and linens. These, in turn, have inspired me to make things by hand.

The photos on the blog are just stunning and provide a wonderful glimpse of life in France.

Image source: petits details

The brilliance doesn’t just stop at the photos though, there’s an Etsy store!  So now you can buy a little bit of petits details wonderfulness.

Update: Both the blog and the Etsy store are currently on hiatus, but that doesn’t mean you miss out on getting your French fix.  It’s a brilliant time to go back through the archive and build up your anticipation for the return!