The QH production team is making final touches to our 2011 Outdoor Living Annual magazine - our editors are currently heads down, coffee in hand, quietly proofing the pages  while the rest of us are chatting away, picking out our favourite images and features in the mag even though it’s not yet finished!

How we all love the moment a new magazine arrives on our desks fresh off the printing press, smelling and looking shiny and new - we can’t wait to devour it page by page!! Being slightly obsessed with magazines must be a prerequisite for working for a magazine publisher!

This magazine is clearly the topic of the day here at the QH headquarters -  so we couldn’t resist giving our readers a little sneak peek online + post some of our fave pics! Makes you want to be outside doesn’t it?

This issue will be available in stores from the 27th July so If you have aspirations to create your dream outdoor space … don’t miss this annual issue, pre order your copy online here > https://graphicpublishing.com.au/magazines/outdoorLiving.htm

Here are some words just written by Margaret McGuire for the editor’s letter -

When I wrote this letter last year we were still in the iron grip of a long running drought … not anymore though! With the devastating floods at the beginning of the year, the damage to lives and homes was extensively examined - but gardens also suffered, buried under layers of stinking mud, waiting patiently to be resurrected when time could be spared.

So I’m hoping that if you were one of those affected by the floods, our articles this issue will give you inspiration to rejuvenate your garden … and if you were lucky enough to escape unscathed, that you’ll find inspiration anew for your outdoor areas

Oh and if you purchase this issue, ensure you grab the secret code to WIN our fabulous competition - the prize is stock items from The Woodworkers Company to the value of $4000 so get the mag online to get your entries in!

Grab the issue here
Visit our website here

- Joanne QH online

Lunch is pretty sociable here at QH but occasionally we find ourselves alone at the table, flicking through past issues and that’s when I thought we should revisit this gorgeous home from our Autumn issue.

We just couldn’t help but love the Sunshine Coast hinterland home of Jenny and Alister,which graced our Autumn 2011 Queensland Homes cover (which, by way is one of my all-time favourites!)  Written by Kim Woods Rabbidge + beautifully photographed by Anastasia Kariofyllidis.

If you enjoyed the story in the magazine - you might enjoy our post highlighting some of our favourite rooms in this unique and evocative home PLUS we have included some of the extra interior shoots that didn’t make it into the mag!

“Instead of internal doors, elegant swathes of raw cream linen frame doorways and provide privacy.”

You can purchase back copies of the magazine - simply call QH headquarters on 07 3217 4654 (back issues are at a discounted rate too!) you can purchase the current Winter issue here - FREE AUS DELIVERY!

Oh, and have you seen our Facebook page? Visit us > https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandHomes
If interested … follow us on Twitter too! > http://twitter.com/

Joanne - QH online.

Winter 2011 issue sneak peek! We just adore the plum + green tones on our new cover (check out that gorgeous warm chocolate brown feature wall)!

This issue hits the stands on June 1st. Here are some of our upcoming features:

page 33 Chill Out – make winter wonderful
page  43 Creative Interiors – the how and why of interior design
page 49 Dark Night – bedlinen for a moody winter look
page 61 Interior Design Showcase – 36 pages of projects
page  170 Tread Lightly – flooring options … + so much more!

You can pre-order your copy now online with FREE postage in Australia > ORDER HERE! The QH web dept particularly love the Global Style, Austalian Style + Home pictorials (regular features) in the magazine - we suggest visiting our website, you can browse previous issue features online! Visit >  Global Style online, Australian Style Online + Home Pictorials online … can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this Winter issue!

Don’t forget to ‘like’ us here on facebook here …  the web girls find and post all things inspirational for the home! We also post heaps of special offers and QH latest news! Check out our Twitter account  >>> follow us here!

Thanks for stopping by! Drop us an email if you have any feedback on the magazine, we love to hear from you! web@queenslandhomes.com.au

JT - Online Dept.

Conjure the home office of your dreams with the latest desks, chairs, computers and accessories.

Get the creative juices flowing with an inspirational workspace, perfect for paperwork, web surfing, or writing thank you notes!

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Desks

From warm timber to high-gloss, anything goes for the home office centrepiece.

(Black Ice Titanium writing desk, $4695, Coco Republic - 07 3136 9855, Zanotta Real desk from $6980 in oak finish, Space Furniture - 07 3253 6000,  ‘La Boheme’ desk with three drawers, red leather inset top with gold tooled edges. Black lacquer finish: Ralph Lauren available from Robertsons - 1300 789 659, Vika Glasholm/Vika Lindved table combination, $199 from IKEA.)

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Chairs

Back-friendly options for everyday, plus smart looks in visitor seating.

(Spitfire Studio chair, $2895 from Coco Republic - 07 3136 9855,  Replica Eames/Saarinen Organic Visitors Chair in Blue, $495 from Matt Blatt - 1300 628 825, Giorgetti Spring Chair, $4830 from Space Furniture - 07 3253 6000)

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Finishing Touches

Spice up your workspace with chic storage and accessories.

(Storage boxes in Brighton Blue, from $29.95 each from Laura Ashley - 1800 033 453, Bulldog Clips (3pk) in Cirkus, $4.95 from kikki-k, Amalfi Book Club bookends in white, $29.95, albi.com.au - 03 9474 1300, Mega Bulb pendant by Sofie Refer, $395, Great Dane Furniture - 07 3254 0527)

Now you can customise your new laptop to your home office decor, or personality, with Dell’s Design Studio.

Choose from original artworks such as London! By David Bushell; Electric Sky by AJ Dimarucot; and Blooming by TJ Zhang, all part of the Threadless Collection.

LOVE the Blooming artwork featuring the reindeer as shown above!

Dell Studio 15 laptops from $1199, plus $79.20 for customised art. All available from dell.com.au

We love the latest range of hand loomed and Ikat weaved upholstery fabrics from No Chintz!

Envisioned by the creative minds of Chrissie Jeffery and Lisa Llavero from No Chintz, and produced in collazboration with traditional artisans in India.

Just look at those stunning colours and patterns, just made for mixing. Check out their website for more beaturiful and bright textiles! www.nochintz.com.

View our Australian Style galleries online here for more Australian style home inspiration!

If you don’t know already, Queensland Homes Collectors Annual Gold Edition 2011 is out now! The 2011 issue is an eclectic collection of inspirational homes, we love this issue! You can grab online or at your nearest newsagency.

Read ‘from the editor’ note here!

Purchase magazine online here!

Become a Enews subscriber here!

Getting children involved in food and its preparation has paid dividends for the families involved in Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Gardens Foundation. Why not inspire your own children or grandchildren by enrolling them in Mia Cucina’s classes for children.

Gourmet foodies Mia Cucina have kicked off a series of cooking classes at their Noosaville kitchen with a kids program called ‘Mini Master Chefs’.

Mia Cucina’s culinary queen Sandy Bradley says the response to the classes has been really encouraging.  “It’s been a delight to see kids getting creative in the kitchen,” she says. “Our classes in the recent school holidays saw budding young chefs whip up a range of sweet treats”, Sandy says. “They had a ball decorating funny face cupcakes, making wicked chocolate brownies and choc-chip cookies.”

“They also made an eggplant parmigiana, which they then took home for dinner that night – giving their mums and dads a night off from cooking!”

The next Mini Master Chef class dates are as follows:

Saturday 7 November from 9am – 11am

BAMBINO ITALIANO – with beef cannelloni and yummy Italian biscuits on the men

Saturday 5 December from 9am – 11am

PIZZA PERFECTO – sweet and savoury pizzas, with kids even learning how to make their own dough!

Tuesday 15 December and Thursday 17 December from 9am – 11am

CHRISTMAS GIFTS – make tasty Christmas treats that will be guaranteed to impress your family and friends. We’ll even wrap them up on the day!

The cost of the Mini Master Chef classes is $30, with kids taking home their foodie creations. “Mums and dads are welcome to stay and enjoy a coffee and cake while the kids get creative in the kitchen,” says Sandy. “We’ll also be introducing a number of cooking classes for grown-ups in the months ahead, commencing with ROCK THE KASBAH – Moroccan cuisine, on Thursday 19 November from 9.30am – 2.30pm,” says Sandy. The cooking class costs $99 and spaces are limited. Participants will enjoy a sit-down lunch to feast on their Moroccan delights.

For bookings and more information about the Mia Cucina cooking classes, please contact Sandy Bradley on 5440 5677.

- Guest Blogger Melissa Reynolds

Jennifer Jones comes from a long and illustrious background in fashion, having worked in the UK and Australia for iconic brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Diesel.

But it’s her work as designer behind the lifestyle company Have You Met Miss Jones that cements her place on the cool radar for us. Originally specialising in bone china, her range of homewares has expanded to include clay pottery, capiz shell, metal and woodwork.

First on our wish list is one of her gorgeous bone china animals and lamp bases … now to choose between the wise old Horn Owl, and the cheeky Sitting Rabbit!

Buy online and see the whole range at www.haveyoumetmissjones.com.au.

- Guest Blogger Natalie Bannister

Mathilda’s Market has shaped up as THE place in Brisbane to find the hippest, most divine baby and kids clothes, toys, accessories and homewares – all either handmade (mainly by local designers and crafters from Brisbane), or from a limited production run.

Held on average every few months, Mathilda’s Market brings together some really exciting creatives and like minded shoppers in a community atmosphere.

For more information on up coming market dates, check out www.mathildasmarket.com.au.
Mathilda’s Market can be found at the Brisbane Racing Club, Eagle Farm (Markets to be held in the St Leger Stand and The Tote) at 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot.

- Guest Blogger Natalie Bannister