LOVING :: Giant Banana Split

How fantastic is this?! A giant banana split. Kids' (and adults?) heaven! I saw this on Oh Happy Day and had to spread the sunshine on this drizzly grey winters day. Go to Oh Happy Day for a full how to.

Look at those cuties tucking in.

Read more...

LOVING :: Hello Naomi

Lovely Naomi of Hello Naomi teaches the children's cupcake and cookie decorating class at Megan Morton's The School. As I mentioned in my previous post, Roxy announced that the class was the best day of the whole of the last school holidays. (The next class is scheduled for July 5th) Naomi is such a sweet person and so incredibly talented.

Naomi left a career as a robot programming compeer engineer (!) to follow her passion of creating these incredible confections. She has since taught classes as far afield as London and she told me that she will be opening a Hello Naomi shop in Newcastle in the near future. Lucky Novocastrians!

Visit the Hello Naomi website to see more, and pop along to Naomi's gorgeous blog too.
.

Read more...

Classes and Courses

There was a time, before I was a parent, that I was always taking one course or another. Sadly they are few and far between for me now. Do you take courses, either online or IRL? Do you have any that you've done and would recommend? Please share them with links in the comments.

Here are a few that look kinda fab.

Get Your Paint on : Beyond the Basics
with artists Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough
This is an online painting course, commencing July 9th for 5 weeks.
I am still seriously considering signing up for this one (I just need to allow myself to take some time out for it), it sounds great and is aimed at all levels including beginners.
All the info is on the Get Your Paint On website.
Feedback: Yay! As a newbie I was so worried that I was going to be out of my depth, but the two of you & everyone else made this space so relaxed and easy to take risks and the support and encouragement made me want to paint more and more and more. I have loved every moment and will be looking out for the next class. Thank you!

Unravelling
with Susannah Conway
Another online course, starting September 3rd for 8 weeks.
Using photography and journalling the course aims to unlock how we see ourselves and the world we live in.
Find out all the info on the Unravelling website.
Feedback: When I began Unravelling, I wasn’t sure where I wanted the course to take me; I simply wanted to know a little bit more about myself. Very quickly, though, the adventure of the assignments, and the personal insights from Susannah, raised questions that demanded answers. From there, the process of self-discovery really seemed to take on a life of its own. The photography assignments were wonderful in the way they were able to bring out the individual in everyone, and the journaling exercises took me — an avid journaler my whole life — to new depths in my writing. 

Master Classes with Megan Morton
Super stylist, designer, self-described "house whisperer" and all round lovely person Megan Morton is running a series of master classes from The School in Sydney. The classes are: Finding Your Own Style, Prepare a Property for Sale, and Science of Styling and they look like they are going to be fantastic. The first Science of Styling class in July is booked out, but there are more scheduled for the coming months.
Find out more and see the timetable on The School website.
As these are new classes there is no feedback from past students, but here is something from Megan:
I am a sharer. I can't help it. For years now I have wanted to formulate what I have learnt in all my time styling and making beautiful. A last! I am ready. Please come and let's share, your house will thank you for it. As you know I have long-believed in the power of house whispering. I know you know that it works. But behind this there is a visual science to everything that a stylist does.


If you visit the Temple & Webster blog and comment on their post before midnight on Monday 25th (that's only a couple of days away) you could WIN a Master Class with Megan. Woohoo! Get on over!

Megan has also released her school holiday timetable for children's classes. Roxy did the cookie and cupcake decorating class last holidays and declared it the best day of the whole holidays... a big call!

Don't forget to comment with any classes or courses you've done and would recommend!


.

Read more...

LOVING :: Emily Winfield Martin

I'm a long time fan of Emily Winfield Martin's and I'm totally smitten with her new series of portraits. They are, in Emily's words:
Flower portraits, meaning portraits of girls/ladies with flowers, but also loose personifications of the flower itself (or what I imagine my favorite flowers might be as a human girl.) These are inspired mostly by my own flower garden and my mother's garden, pretty girls, WPA/1930's & 40's oil portraits I admire, and though the execution is different, the idea surely has something to do with C.M. Barker's Flower Fairies, which I've loved all my life.

Images: Emily Winfield Martin

You can see Emily's works in progress on her blog, The Black Apple, and purchase her previous work from her Etsy shop.

Read more...

Exploring Tokyo :: Ebisu

These photos were taken around Ebisu on my trip last month. There are some lovely little streets to wander around in and sweet little shops to be found. A word of warning though if you're heading to Tokyo armed with shopping directions from blogs: make sure they are current, or be prepared for the possibility that shops have closed or moved. I spent hours walking around with various maps and directions (in other parts of Tokyo too) and didn't find a single one of the shops I'd hoped to visit... not because I'm directionally challenged, but because they weren't there! Once I got over my frustration I did enjoy Ebisu though!

.

Read more...

ART :: Andrew McNeile Jones

Beautiful contemporary still life paintings by British artist Andrew McNeile Jones.
.

Read more...

My Home :: Doors - Before & After

When I bought my apartment the lovely old double doors that divide the living area from the bedroom had reproduction stained glass panels. If you're unfamiliar with this sort of glass, it's basically glass with a design printed on the back - made to look like stained glass, but actually fooling no one.

I looked into replacing it with a translucent glass with a simple beveled edge, but it was ridiculously expensive. So instead I had more budget friendly glass installed (less than half the price) and covered it with Emma Jeffs' beautiful Otto window film. And I think that the result looks so much better than the plain/expensive glass would have. The white walls and doors also make a big difference - previously the walls were pale blue and the doors were cream.

I'm so happy with how it worked out. The window film was really easy to install and it's added a contemporary look with a nod to tradition. It looks different day and night and still lets light through while maintaining privacy. Emma Jeffs window film is available in a variety of designs and you can purchase it directly from her online shop, from Ella and Sofia in Australia, and 2Jane in the US (they will ship to Aus too).

 I highly recommend it!
.

Read more...

If I had a staircase...

I would want it to look something like this:

Image: Patrick Cline for Lonny magazine

Love the multiple monochromatic patterns stencilled on the rises. The rest of the decor totally suits the locale, but in my house the wall up the stairs would be empty and the railing white.

This lovely staircase is part of the Peacock Pavilions in Marrakech. The May issue of Lonny has lots more images of this absolutely stunning guest house as well as some gorgeous images of Marrakech (somewhere I'd love to go), shopping tips and Moroccan recipes.

.

Read more...

An Eight and a Half Party

Roxy's birthday is right in the Christmas / New Year period and parties are always tricky. People are away on holidays, kids are already a bit ratty from late nights, and Roxy gets Christmas and her birthday right on top of one another and then has to wait a whole year for them to come around again.

So this year we had a little 8 and a half celebration with a few of her school friends. Although it meant Roxy had to wait 18 months since her last party she thought it was worth the wait because nobody else she knows gets to have a 'half' birthday party.

The cake is so embarrassing! It's hardly a beautifully styled blog-worthy creation! Roxy's not into cake and it's the one thing that I never have any success baking, so we were both happy with a store bought mud cake. I planned to redecorate it, but Roxy insisted on leaving the existing decoration in place. So I just added the numbers in the centre and some mini bunting.

We made Frog in a Pond, which is an old favourite. I made them in individual cups this time (I usually do them in small shallow paper bowls), and the size was perfect - the frogs just had their heads above water. We pushed the frogs in when the jelly was set so it looked like there were water ripples around them. I added little umbrellas and they were a hit with the girls.

And I found yet another use for wash tape... I removed the labels from water bottles and made little washi tape flags which Roxy wrote her guests' names on.

I used to go all out with parties when Roxy was little... I think that was as much for me as it was for her! As they get older it's more about having fun together than fancy themes and coordinating everything. All the girls are into music, singing, dancing and games, so I did a lot of filming and they did a lot of performing! I hung balloons and streamers from the light, and put out some platters of simple food and some sweets. It was a stress-free party for me, and was declared 'the most awesome party ever in the universe' by one of the guests. So success all round!

Have you found as your children get older that parties are less fussy? Do you or anyone you know have a Christmas or New year birthday - and have you ever been to a 'half' birthday party? I can't take credit for the idea... a lady I met once told me that her birthday was on new year's eve and her mum always threw a 'half' birthday party for her in June. Brilliant idea.

.

Read more...

Exploring Tokyo :: Kichijoji

In three trips to Tokyo I'd never made it to Kichijoji before, but this time I did, and I loved it there. There is a maze of tiny streets behind the "Shopping Street" (theres a big sign that stretches across the street, saying just that) where you'll find a lot of fascinating little shops selling all sorts of wares from stationery to furniture, zakka, and clothing. The park with the swan paddle boats is a lovely haven on the other side of the station.

If you're heading to Tokyo for fabric and craft shopping the well known Yazawaya store has moved from it's previous home adjacent to the train station. Thanks to Amy for the heads up on the move, I was able to find it easily by heading out the Park (Koen) exit of the station and heading down the lane way in front of the exit. Yazawaya is in the OIOI department store which you'll see directly ahead of you as you walk down the lane way. There are two floors of fantastic craft supplies, stationery and fabric.

Read more...

Art Inspiration :: Elizabeth Delfs

Australian artist Elizabeth Delfs creates these incredibly breathtaking pieces. I have no words...

All images via Elizabeth Delfs.
Images with model are from a collaboration with Nick Fitzpatrick for Colosoul magazine.

Elizabeth currently lives and works in Germany, and you can read about and see her current works and exhibition on her blog.

A sense of the beautiful fluid and ethereal quality of Elizabeth's creations can be gained from this video.

What a lovely way to end the week! I hope you have a great weekend.
.

Read more...

LOVING :: Mano Jars

I am loving these gorgeous Mano ceramic jars with their bamboo lids by Danish designer Jeanette List Amstrup. The organic shapes, the pale gelato colour palette and the contrasting materials are perfect.

Image: Jeanette List Amstrap
All other images via Horne

 The beautifully shaped milk jugs (above) form part of the Mano range which also includes bowls and plates. They are available in the US from Horne and can be shipped internationally. But for now I'll just admire them from afar.
.

Read more...

A Happy Home

There's nothing like a blank white canvas with splashes of vivid colour to create a sunny, bright and happy looking home. And nobody seems to do it quite so well as the Scandinavians.

All images: Bjarni B Jacobsen for Bolig Pluss 

Whenever I feel like looking at beautiful interiors I check out the Scandi mags... I know that there will always be something to inspire me. It's just what I needed to brighten things up on this grey, rainy autumnal Sydney day.

.

Read more...