Hey! How ya cookin?
Fancy coming on a little BC Window Shopping Trip with me?
This my lovelies was one of my most fabulous recent trips off the Beaches.
To the Donna Hay store. No less.
I have to tell you I have been here more than once, though both of the previous times it was not open, so I had to make do with peering in the window, like some desperate spy eager for some eye-candy fix…
This trip though I had not only checked it was ready and open, I was armed with my camera, it was my birthday. I was raring to go and dangerous.
Now I had high hopes for this place, coupled with a sense of looming fear that all things Donna Hay would be one of those where everything was so ridiculously over-priced, so ludicrously perfect that I would leave kinda deflated. You know that feeling too?
But this store, ladies, perched on the corner of a most delightful strip of terraces, the quintessential re-birth of the old corner shop, did nothing but delight.
From the window, to the door, to the styling, to the sweet-as assistants…everything was just right.
And you know, if you read regularly here, that I only lament about something if I really think it….if I’m elusive about something, like a quilt, there is normally a reason.
Not so here, from the moment we stepped in we were treated most beautifully by the two young assistants. I asked them if I could have permission to take photos and they very kindly agreed.
These young ladies were more than fabulous to the BC Kiddos, taking time to wrap the little things they bought me, as if they were the most expensive things in the shop and my kids were their most important customers.
That is to me, worth a whole lot.
I have far too often, in stores of this ilk, been prevy to some horrid little sign warning not to touch, some snooty jumped-up shop assistant looking down their nose, or worse read in disbelief the signs written as a poem admonishing that if you break something you will pay…in which case I have normally swiftly about turned and headed out.
None of that was in evdience here.
We really couldn’t have been more welcome.
So if you find yourself in Sydney…make sure you visit and if you’re in Sydney and have been meaning to go then I’d highly recommend it..
.make a morning of it…stroll the lovely streets of Woollahra, grab a coffee, think of me and dive in…
We had a wonderful fun time, just about everything I liked, oohing and ahhing, there was just the right mix of white paired with the signature chocolate and baby blue..the BC Kiddos loved it too…as Masterchef fans they were talking as if they knew Donna themselves..
I left with lots of bags and more than anticipating my next trip back anytime soon….
And just because I had such a lovely time and I know lots of you can’t get your hands on Donna Hay goodies where you are I am giving away a special little package…open WORLDWIDE….the Donna Hay book Seasons, which is so inspiring I even felt the need to mix and stir and baked recently and some of her gorgeous white peony candles…I may just throw in some BC goodies too 
See you soon lovelies…
Comment to win, Tweet or Facebook to double up closes end of play 03/09/10
you can find the Donna Hay shop here
Beautiful pictures!
I’d love to win.
Your shop looks beautiful. If I lived closed you bet I’d be dropping by.
Donna’s cookbook also sounds heavenly, count me in!
Ooooh I love Donna Hay. Would love a copy of her cookbook
What a lovely day!!! I”m not familiear w/ Donna Hay and wondering why not!!
Thank you for your beautiful blog, too!
That little shop looks so adorable. Some day I WILL visit Australia, and I so want that shop to be on the itinerary.
Beautiful stuff, thank you for a great giveaway.
Looks amazing. I would love to win
What a gorgeous shop to work and shop in
It is so sad this shop is so far away! Looks like the best place, the kinda one where you walk in and wish your whole house looked like it…!
I wonder if my brother would be happy to pop by and get me a few bits whilst he’s over your side of the world. What lovely items you have for sale!
i spied some Laundress in the background…so you can just close the contest now.
kasey you are a nut job
Cool shop!All of a sudden I’m hearing about this Donna Hay… must investigate.
I have just been introduced to Donna Hay’s ‘No Time to Cook’ recipe book by a friend. Which I nicked (ok borrowed) for a bit as I wasn’t able to put it down. I love this women’s sense and style and the simplicity to her cooking. Everyone needs one of her recipe books in their kitchen….if only I had my own.
Wow! That looks like a store I could spend hours in. I’d love to win the book!!!
Wow! That store looks truly wonderfull! I want …well… everything! ahahahah
Wow! What an amazing number of comments for your giveaway. As a fellow Australian and lover of all thigns Donna Hay, I already have the book but wanted to say congrats on an awesome blog. While I don’t live in Sydney and haven’t had the chance to shop in store I certainly love all that Donna has put together.
Keep up the great work and enjoying this lucky country that you now call home.
Wishes
Emily
Yes, the writing of the date threw me off as well – I was thinking “oh well, the deadline was in March, I don’t know why I thought it was tomorrow….”
The cake looks delicious!
I think Mr. BC is just jealous that you are now an excellent baker in addition to your other many talents…..
It is a bit intimidating, I must admit…..
Susan, this was sheer luck! baking do not be my thing!
I so wish they had an online store!!
It looks devine!
Thanks for the virtual tour – I have been meaning to get to the Donna Hay store for aaaaages!
And I have also been coveting that book for some time too.Fingers crossed!
Love your blog
lovely store. lovely blog. lovely giveaway!
you are amazing Sarah!
Fantastic lighting installation at Donna Hay store… and those zinc tubs I can see peaking out look great too. I will have to put it on my list of of places to visit next time I am in Sydney. I was actually just taking a cuppa tea break to read your blog today.
I am unpacking boxes into my new kitchen (after three months of living in garage with a family of four) we are finally ready to move in to the real house, wahoo! The plumber came today so we now have running water and a gas stove, so lets get cooking! I was about to make these:
Banana Muffins (sugar free!) recipe from Santos Mullumbimby
5 ripe bananas,
¼ cup organic cold pressed olive,
safflower or sunflower oil,
½ cup honey,
1 teaspoon vanilla essence,
2 ½ cup wholemeal flour
2 teaspoon raising agent (allergy free baking soda),
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg.
Put dry ingredients into a bowl and combine. Stir together mashed bananas, oil, honey, vanilla and nutmeg in another bowl. Combine two bowls together. Put into muffin trays. Bake for about 20min at 350ºF or 200ºC
…. then I saw your Orange Cake and it honestly made my mouth water so I had to duck out and get some oranges and almond meal to bake that cake!
PS. I just remembered, I made Donna Hay’s Rustic Chicken (No Time To Cook) for dinner last night. Her one pot meals have been a saviour whilst camping in the garage over the last few months, … Katie ( from another beach cottage in Northern NSW)
Im so jealous! I love Donna Hay and I share her love of blue with a touch of french. I so wish she was around the corner from me.Oh well, now I have more excuses to go to Woohlara.Fiona
Wow!! I just recently found your blog (via retromummy). I love, and am very jealous of, your house. I dream that I might be capable of creating something like it one day (you will see from pics on my blog that I am a long way off…). Plus, deepest darkest Somerset is not quite so inspiring for the beach cottage theme!!!
The Donna Hay shop looks amazing. I would love to see her book and maybe get a little more inspiration for my daydreams (which are in the process of being very slowly tranformed into reality
Caroline
All right! Let’s give it a 10000th try
I totally loved the spotted mugs, they look just like Green Gate ones I used to be so WILD about. Pls, bring on more store tours, you’re really good at it!
Oh no, looks like I m out. Well, it was still September the 3th in Germany
silly me!
What a charming store…and in such a lovely, lovely place (I wish I lived there).