2011 suited me to a tea

Happy New Year!!! 

What a truly blessed year 2011 has been.

It's been full of wonderful opportunites and celebrations.

April 2nd 2011 - Louise Falzon and Thomas Cotterill got Married

12th March & 9th July Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.
We drank tea, listened to live music and swapped gorgeous clothing and all the
while raised enough funds that is the equivalent of freeing 8 little Cambodian girls from prositution. 

November - Our online shop opened - www.underatree.com.au

A big heart felt Thank you to the gorgeous lovely ladies who helped make
A Pot of Tea Under a Tree vision happen this year.
Anne-Maree, Elizabeth, Marianne, Michelle, Miriam, Ruth & my supportive family and friends.

I'm thrilled to see what 2012 will bring!!!!!

We wish you a.......

... Merry, peaceful, loving and joyious Christmas!!

From All of Us at 

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree.

Queen Street Mall, Brisbane Queensland!

I was so delighted to see this banner of celebration in my home town, 

I just had to capture it! 

It says it all!!

Exciting Anncouncement!!!

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree's Online Shop is NOW open.

I've been so enjoying wearing this summer collection over the last few weeks and now I get to share them with you. 

Each piece of clothing is made to order using only the finest, eco luxe fabrics available. 

Take your time looking through the shop, if you have any questions, please ask by emailing me at info@underatree.com.au Oh and leave your comment down below, I love to hear from you. 

xx Louise

Retro Stripe Dress

Organic Navy basic T with hand crafted organic cotton brooch - Recycled goodness button up shorts 

Organic Cotton - Ballet Blue Singlet with painted flowers wrap skirt

$20 = A fun afternoon of playing dress up.

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree has a new home! 

You can now find us in our secret hiding spot in Visible Ink in Fortitude Valley.

We love this place, it's warm and tucked away on one of the coolest little one way streets in Brisbane, Constance Street. 

Last Thursday we found ourselves all here, hungry for cupcakes and tea and eager to make some fun.

A Pot Under a Tree is all about playing! 

So with $20 in hand we went for a quick stroll down to Brunswick Street to our local Vinnies. 

We found a treasure in a pretty 1980's size 14 spring dress.

Initally we planned to cut it up and make it into something completely different. However, we just loved the pleating way too much. 

The challenge became clear, let's see if this one dress would work on all different body shapes and personalities.

1980's Dress $10 including green sash

leather belt $3 @ Brunswick Street Vinnies

Pretty with feathers, brooch $5 @ the same vinnies

we love this sleeve detail

a fun way to wrap a sash

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange in July

On the 9th of July we held our second Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.

The afternoon was a great success.

Beautiful china rose tea was sipped, lovely conversation was had, ladies swapped beautiful clothing and in the process we raised enough money that is the equivialnt of freeing another 4 little Cambodian girls from prositution.

What a way to spend an afternoon!

A big thank you to Mary-Rose florist for the beautiful flowers that filled our teapots.

A big thank you to Eliza-Jane for serenading us with your so very sweet voice.

The tea was that good! Thanks to Queenies Traditional Tea House for the amazing China Rose tea that smelt like turkish delight.

The rack were full of beautiful clothing. You could literally refresh your wardrobe, from shoes to hats, cute tops to a pretty summer dress. There was something for everybody!

Get a Dress, Save a Life!

This Saturday July 9th is our 2nd Under a Tree Clothing Exchange. 

We've had such a lovely response from people who can't wait to come along and be apart of this afternoon full of tea drinking, clothes swapping and life changing. 

We are passionate about the sweet girls in Cambodia whom are waiting for our help. 

Myself and fellow volunteers pulled together our dresses and did a mini photo shoot of the clothes you can expect to see on Saturday. 

Elizabeth and I met Michelle at her apartment with mannequin and banner in hand and the fun began.

We can't wait to see you on Saturday.

Purchase your tickets at www.underatree.com.au

May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love

I was introduced to this sculpture while visitng my Grandparents at Noosa.
My Mum, Grandma and my gorgeous little cousins and I went for a drive to Cooroy to visit the bakery for afternoon tea and a look at the little boutique next door.
On our way back home my Mum and Grandma wanted to show me this sculpture because they knew I would love it. They were right (as usual) I do,  I love it!

Mission Statement

“I see women and girls connected with their own unique feminine beauty, honour and dignity!

Ladies of all ages, social stages and royal awareness, dressed in fine textures that elevate the environment.

These women are strong powerful females putting on their armour to take on the world.

Every piece of clothing is worn experiencing a feeling of being sacred & promotes a sense of celebration,

to move, to dance, to play, to sing and to confidently take the risk to love.

Everything important needs to be celebrated!

 Women and girls are a powerful force on the earth, mighty warriors clothed with strength and dignity.” 

It's on the pages of your imagination.

James M Barrie (Peter Pan) let his imagination fly. He created worlds of adventure and inspired creative exploration.

This afternoon I made myself a pot of creme brulee tea and curled up to encounter "Finding Neverland", the movie. Every bit of me was delighted in the celebration of play.

The pure innocence of imagination taking flight and making something magical out of thin air, is inspirational.

The power of laughing and playing continues to move me.

I remember playing with my little sister. 

We would make apartments out of the steps on the staircase. Our books were walls of the cities we created for our little ponies. When I was in year 4 at primary school, I created a Fairy Club.

Together, with other little friends, we met on a Saturday morning in our garden, covered with glitter. We pretended to find fairies while filling our tummies with fairy bread. Maybe this is when I fell in love with the idea of tea under a tree? Perhaps it was while pretending to find tiny beautiful ladies who could fly.

James M Barrie was quoted saying "God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December".

I love remembering those times with my sister when we would create pages of imagination.

What's on the pages of your imagination? How did you play as a child?

I would love to read your story in the comments below.

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange Saturday 9th July 2011

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree

is thrilled to invite you to the latest

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.

This is a lovely afternoon filled with gorgeous conversation, sweet music, tea drinking

and clothes swapping while making an impact in the lives of young Cambodian girls.

In March we raised the amount of money that is equivalent

to freeing four girls from prostitution.

Together we can make a difference.

Saturday 9th July

@ New Farm State Primary School

James Street, New Farm

2pm - 5pm

Tickets $30 online.
So we can cater for you.

www.underatree.com.au

A Spoon full of Sugar.

From reading this blog you will see a recurring theme of laughing and playing.

I believe it's our birth right to delight in our life, enjoy it!

As a child I found this an easy task. I wouldn't do anything unless it was a game.

I'm so thankful for my creative mother who would encourage this ideal.

We would clean our room by singing (just like Mary Poppins).

We would walk home from school singing. My sister and I would do swimming training, singing!

It's so lovely to remind myself of those times of delight and why they were so delightful.

We are a singing family! I have friends who tell me they are a dancing family. Others explain they were a sport playing family. Whatever it was that turned ordinary acts into a fun playful experience is something to repeat. I'm about to get married (next week actually) and in the next fews years we hope to start our own family. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of expressions of delight we will create.

But for this time, I've decided to return to song and enjoy everyday.

With every job that must be done there's an element of fun, find the fun & snap. The jobs a game.

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange- 12th March-

What a wonderful afternoon!

 The Under a Tree Clothing Exchange event went so beautifully. 

Wonderful women, Delightful atmosphere, Magic music, Delicious tea and biscuits,...and brilliant swaps!!!

Who would have thought being sustainable in fashion would be so much fun.

To top it off...we raised enough funds that is the equivalent for freeing 4 little girls from brothels in Cambodia!

My favourite photos, with my favourite girls.

These gorgeous photo's were taken and edited by my gorgeous friend and bridemaid Jane from a jane day. Thank you, Jane xx

The joy of playing ladies.

One of the perks of being a woman is having a bridal shower.

Last month my generous sister created an event that I will remember forever.

A big Thank you to my gorgeous friend and bridesmaid, Jane (a jane day) for taking these photos!!

You captured the day beautifully xx

Somaly Mam: helping girls laugh & play, again & again

Me / Somaly Mam

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange chooses to support Project future.

Project Future is a not for profit organisation inspired by the story of former Cambodian sex slave, Somaly Mam.

"Forced to work in a brothel along with other children, Somaly was brutally tortured and raped on a daily basis. One night, she was made to watch as her best friend was viciously murdered. Fearing she would meet that same fate, Somaly heroically escaped her captors and set about building a new life for herself. She vowed never to forget those left behind and has since dedicated her life to saving victims and empowering survivors." 

I was so honoured to sit next to Somaly Mam this month at Project Futures launch. She was shining with beads and grace. I was moved by Somaly's courage to act on her compassion.She was a victim but has made the stand to become the voice to the voiceless. This is something that moves me to tears.

Somaly Mam shared with me what it is we can do to help.

She spoke about giving from the heart. The girls need to know that they are loved and accepted, it gives the girls the possibility to dream, to live again.

Did you know that 1 in 40 girls in Cambodia have been sold into sexual slavery?

Together we can make a difference.

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange

Swap your gorgeous items of clothing that have been lying in your wardrobe

and give them a new life

While making a big impact in the lives of girls.

New Farm State Primary School Hall

James Street, New Farm

Brisbane

Saturday March 12th 2011

2pm - 5pm

Tickets: $30 online $35 @ the door
www.underatree.com.au