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UGUiSU

27 May 2011

Hello, would you like to visit a great online shop with me? UGUiSU is chock full of lovely Japanese goodies and I'm trying to resist a shopping spree there (they ship worldwide).

Love, love, loving these beautiful pleated and crumpled Eco-Bags. Stylish. Tick. Functional. Tick. And green. Tick.


I just have to have some of these lovely paper napkins.


Naturally UGUiSU stocks a big range of Japanese masking tape: wide and thin, patterned and plain, in packs and single rolls. And if you use your tape for gift wrapping you can also get some stunning wrapping and origami paper to compliment it.


There's lots to love at UGUiSU

All images from UGUiSU

How beautiful and simple is the apple and pear card?

With the Aussie dollar so strong now it's hard to resist shopping online.... but I must. I just bought a pair of boots and a pair of shoes! Ooops.

Enjoy your weekend. I hope you get to do something you really want to, whether it's having a big night out or a quiet night in, being surrounded by lots of family and friends or chillaxin' on your own. Whatever it is, enjoy! See you Monday.

x
Lisa

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Elkhorn

26 May 2011

I've been meaning to blog about Elkhorn since I bought one of their gorgeous tangerine feather cushions last year. I know, the number of cushions I have is an ongoing joke amongst my friends... they realise that I'm a bit obsessed with them.

Too many cushions?! In my defence, this is a very cheap affordable lounge and it's not that comfortable, so I tell myself the cushions are a necessity.
Image Source: Elkhorn
I love the extra detail of the white feathers on the back of the cushion. It's the little things...
Image Source: Elkhorn. Photos: Jillian Leiboff
Aren't the colours in the scarf delicious!

Elkhorn silk screened homewares are the work of Monique who lives on the NSW Central Coast. Monique's diverse past working life includes graphic design, horticulture and fashion retail... which all seem to have had an influence on what she is creating for Elkhorn. Her products feature beautiful colour palettes and natural fibres which are allowed to take centre stage with Monique's pared back aesthetic.

I'm disappointed that I missed Finders Keepers last weekend (we were suffering from bad colds and just couldn't drag ourselves out) because I would have loved to see all the Elkhorn goodies. You can find them in the Elkhorn Etsy shop and see more of Elkhorn on their blog.
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Truer words...

23 May 2011

Found via Pintrest
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seen and loved

Hello, did you have a lovely weekend? We're down with colds and flu here at the moment, but sitting in the lovely autumn sun makes me feel a whole lot better. I wanted to share a a mixed bag things that I've seen and loved lately.

Anthropologie rug.

Design your own shower curtain. From Poketo.

Love this tranquil interior. Found via Bliss.

Gorgeous. Find them at Paulova.

Awesome new brooches from Jam Fancy.

The sweet vintage style Lark House is available to rent.

Your Big Tea Mug. Each mug features a one-off hand drawn illustration.
Separated at Birth series on sfgirlbybay. So fabulous!
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Masterclass with Tetsuya

20 May 2011

On Wednesday night I was lucky enough to be a guest at a masterclass with Tetsuya Wakuda at his world-renowned eponymous Sydney restaurant.

It was a really lovely night which started with a tour of Tetsuya's MasterKitchen which is a design triumph of Carerra marble, Electrolux
technology and beautiful art. Tetsuya then cooked 5 delicious dishes for us which he made look so easy and achievable - ah the techniques of a master! They were the 5 courses we ate before our 11 course dinner.


Image Source: Electrolux
The MasterKitchen: a meeting of aesthetics and functionality, designed by Tetsuya in collaboration with Electrolux.  The painting by Julie Harris is one of many works of art in the restaurant.  It's scale and colours worked perfectly in the MasterKitchen.
Tetsuya is an avid collector of art and he apparently owns thousands of pieces.

All of the dishes Tetsuya demonstrated for us were made in one or two saucepans. He is big on dinner parties being about socialising and spending as little time as possible in the kitchen.

I am going to try Tetsuya's chicken tagine next time I have friends over for dinner. You don't need a tagine to cook it in, it's a one saucepan dish that he made for us and it's so good. Here's the lowdown:

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You can see more of Tetsuya's cooking demo videos here, including his signature dish of Confit of Petuna Ocean trout with Fennel Salad.

Tetsuya is such a lovely and funny man who's passion for cooking is undeniable. He's also passionate about his Electrolux kitchen, particularly the induction cooktop. And now I want one too! I could almost get by without the expanse of beautiful marble, the tap-less sink (you press a pad with your knee to turn on the water), and the fancy ebony fridge... but seeing how awesome, efficient and responsive that cooktop is... it's just moved to the top of my maybe-one-day wish list.

My view of the working kitchen
After the masterclass we sat down to our degustation dinner. Our table was close to the open working kitchen and we got to watch the staff (about 6 to 8 of them) skillfully and efficiently preparing the food which is a fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine. I have eaten at Tetsuya's before, so I knew what to expect: it's a truly amazing experience. Each of the 11 courses had wine to compliment it and I seriously struggled to finish. But as the last 3 courses were desert how could I refuse?

Image Source: Tetsuya's
As I ran out the door on Wednesday night I grabbed my DSLR and realised the battery was flat.
Unfortunately my little camera was hopeless at capturing the food.
So apologies for the lack of yummy food shots.

I sat with lovely interior designers Jo, Camilla and Jennifer and when we weren't boring the guys from Electrolux with blog talk I learnt some interesting things. I was interested to hear about the design process of Electrolux products and the trends in Europe verses Asia Pacific. I also discovered that they manufacture their ovens in Adelaide and fridges in Orange, NSW. And there's good coffee to be had in Orange! Who would have thought that an energy efficient fridge consumes the same amount of energy as a 40 watt light bulb?

I had a great night and staggered (from too much food... I was moderate with the alcohol!) out of Tetsuya's at close to midnight with a full stomach, a copy of Tetsuya's cookbook and a lust for an induction cooktop.
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Dinner last night

19 May 2011

Take a look at this menu... can you guess what I chose?



Nothing. It was an 11 course degustation menu. I didn't have to choose, I had it all! And 5 courses prior to this. And gorgeous wines to accompany each course. I was truly spoilt and I'm still recovering from too much of a good thing! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
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Styling Session with Megan Morton

18 May 2011

Freedom are hosting a styling session with author and super stylist Megan Morton. Would you like to come?

This sofa is the lush Nigella from Freedom,
which was a popular choice in the recent giveaway.

Megan will be talking about styling your home and sharing design advice at the Freedom Moore Park (Sydney) store on Saturday 4th June. She'll share 5 lessons to learn and will pull together a room during the session. You can even bring a photo of an area of your home you're finding challenging to decorate and she'll workshop it for you.

This event is free, but spaces are limited. You can read more and RSVP here on Facebook. Maybe I'll see you there?


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Reading

16 May 2011

Isn't this autumnal weather just perfect for reading? Our weather seems to have changed dramatically in the last couple of weeks. It doesn't feel like we've had a gradual build up to the cold this year. The nights are chilly and perfect for snuggling under the doona consumed by a good book, and the days are just glorious for relaxing in the sun. Our Sydney skies are clear and vibrant blue with not a cloud to be seen. It's lovely to sit in our back living area soaking up the warmth from the sun with a cup of green tea and a magazine or newspaper. Usually this only happens at breakfast time, or weekday lunch breaks when the house is quiet. I've been catching up on the last issue of frankie, and devouring the latest Uppercase, which arrived in the mail last week.


Following your suggestions the other week, I bought and borrowed a few books and this is my latest pile:



I read Room in 2 sittings because I just couldn't put it down. It's written in the voice of a child and because of this the subject matter, which is pretty disturbing, is given a different perspective. I found it compelling, sad, and wonderful all at the same time. A fantastic book.

Like Being a Wife is a collection of short stories by Australian author Catherine Harris. I have been dipping in and out of this book and sometimes laughing out loud as I do so. It's an engaging and entertaining read.

I enjoyed The Elegance of the Hedgehog, but didn't really get into it until a fair way in. I became more engrossed the further I got into the book and ended up really enjoying it.

The Help is a bestseller and I can see why - it was another book that I found hard to put down right from chapter one. Loved it.

I borrowed Cloud Atlas from the library (hence the plastic cover!), and I have found it hard going in the early stages. I have put it aside for now, but want to pick it up again.

Currently by my bedside is The Master Butcher's Singing Club (also from the library, and not pictured), which I am thoroughly enjoying.

These two lovelies are my latest purchases:



I have never bought an interior decorating book before... I am inspired enough by the magazines and blogs I read. But I just had to get Decorate, as I have been a long time reader of decor8 the blog, and Modern Vintage Style was calling my name. To be honest I've only flicked through both of these books as yet... and at first glance they are both gorgeous! I have also pre-ordered Design Sponge at Home, so my collection of interiors books will soon total 3.

What are you enjoying reading at the moment?
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The IOU Project

12 May 2011

The IOU Project is a creative and innovative new venture that produces handmade clothing, with brand values of social and environmental responsibility, community, uniqueness, transparency and authenticity.  This unique e-commerce venture is based around community and social networking and brings together the end consumer with the artisans, craftspeople and designers who weave the fabric and make the garments.







In their own words...

The IOU Project is a study in the creation of a Prosperity Chain; an experiment to rethink how goods are produced and sold in a way that benefits everyone and protects the environment.

Sounds awesome to me. Take a look at The IOU Project's Website, which launched today. And find them on facebook and twitter.
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Amy Butler's Home

10 May 2011

Did you see the tour of Amy and David Butler's home on Apartment Therapy? Their style really appeals to me. I love their mid century modern furnishings combined with other eclectic finds, and those tall ceilings and big windows create big, light open spaces that work so well with pops of colour.

Image Source: Apartment Therapy

Check out the full house tour on Apartment Therapy... wait until you see their rambling lush garden. Gorgeous!
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Quilt Update

06 May 2011

Following my post and your lovely comments last week about my attempt to quilt I was inspired to forge ahead. Last weekend I managed to make 3 more blocks (after putting aside less important things like cleaning the house and gardening). So excited! And I found yet another use for my huge stash of Japanese tape.


Roxy had some special requests for particular animals to be included - you might be able to see them in the images above. I'm not thrilled with the yellow heart - all my yellow fabrics were a bit too same-y in colour and scale.

I'm going to draw up some options now on exactly how I want the quilt to look. I initially thought that I would butt the blocks up to each other, but I think they look better with white separating them. Then I wondered how it might look with only 5 or 6 of these big heart blocks combined with smaller blocks in varying sizes and designs so the quilt design is a bit crazy and less ordered. I'll keep you in the loop as my thoughts develop. If you have any ideas I'd love some links for inspiration.

There's a bit of camera distortion here. My blocks are a bit wonky, but not quite as bad as they appear in this shot!

Have a lovely weekend and happy Mothers Day to all you mums! Roxy wants a 'Mama and Roxy day', that we will share with nobody else. Just us. We haven't made any plans yet and will see what the weather is like when we wake up on Sunday morning. I hope your day is delightful too.

If, like me you can't share Mothers Day with your Mum I hope you are surrounded by loved ones and are able to share your memories of her. I miss my darling Mum every day, but even more so in the lead up to significant days like this Sunday.

x
Lisa
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Inspiration :: children's fashion photography

05 May 2011


Image Source: small magazine
Photographer: Stephen Visneau
Image Source: Babekins
Photographer: Nina W Melton
Image Source: Babekins
Photographer: Kelly Roper

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Sweetie Beans now available

At last, I have the Sweetie Bean fabric panels available again in my online shop.

The Sweetie Beans are a super easy and quick gift to make and kids love cuddling them. You might remember that I was undecided about the name, but I have settled on Sweetie Beans because I have something else in the works that is much more suited to "Cuddle Bundles".


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a short story

04 May 2011

Notice the year scribbled out? When Roxy asked me what year it is I said '2010'... oh dear!

Below is the illustration of the tooth and ants enlarged.

Edit: I forgot to add - this is a true story. Pesky Ants!
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eclectic and colourful

Image Source: Light Locations


Large light white rooms with eclectic decoration and colourful splashes. Perfect.
I love the feeling that all the bits and pieces in this house have been salvaged and given new life. The whole look is brought together beautifully by the blank canvas created by the white floors and walls.
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