Yummy Golden Goodness

I will be honest here, I'm not a very good cook, and if there's any possible way of burning something, I'll find it. But today is a fabulous day, because I made Anzac buscuits and they're super yummy! Yay! I know the photo is terrible, (can't find my camera so used the webcam) but you have to admit they look goooood!

Here is the recipe so you too can make some golden goodness...

(Recipe from Tana Ramsay's 'Real Family Food' )

1 Preheat oven to 180 degrees, & grease a baking tray (or whip out some baking paper like I do)

2 Mix in a bowl 100g flour, 100g brown sugar, 100g des. coconut, 150g rolled oats

3 Melt 100g butter with 2 tbspn golden syrup in a saucepan on low heat

4 Dissolve 1/2 tspn bicarb. soda in 2 tbspn boiling water and mix into butter and syrup

5 Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in liquid and mix

6 Pop teaspoon sized mounds onto the tray, pat down a little and bake for around 15 minutes

Wollah! Then eat :)

Up & Coming: Harriett Falvey

While in Auckland in September, my sister and I came across the creative talents of up and coming fashion designer Harriett Falvey, at the Aotea Square markets.

We were like giggling school girls as we looked through the racks and racks of beautiful garments, loving her gorgeous wee bow collared dresses and puff skirts.

If I was a dot, I would have snapped one up then and there, but unfortunately I don't think I have the little frame to carry these styles, so instead I just dream!

Harriett's designs are available from the Auckland City Designers Market, or you can visit her site here for more details on her work.

Ooh La La, Yellow!

For a long time I have had a soft spot for the colour yellow. Yes, that's right, the colour that many of my fellow interior designers screw their noses up at, and say, 'Ooh no, oh no yellow just won't work, eww no...' Frankly, I couldn't care less because though, of course, there are always situations where some colours will work better then others, I feel yellow gets a severely bad rap for just being a bit fun, and a bit cheeky. And jeepers, isn't it nice to break 'the rules' sometimes, (whatever those are) and just use yellow cos' it makes you happy!? So over the next wee while, I'm going to share images of 'yellow' in some form or another, used in an interior sense, to show everyone once and for all that to use yellow doesn't mean you have to slather all your walls in screaming sunflower hues. It can be your friend! So firstly, I want to share some images from Hawkes Bay based textile designer Leanne Culy. The fabrics featured here are designs from her range put out last year. These particular simple designs are printed in beautiful caramelly yellows, onto 100%cotton and hemp basecloths, available in drapery and upholstery weight finishes.

Check out all of the fabrics in this collection plus other work and info on NZ stockists, on her site Home Base Collections. Have a look at the stunning styling and photography used throughout her site too, it's super gorgeous and very effective!

Feel Good Sounds

Mmmmm good song - 'Re: Stacks' sung by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Beautiful beautiful sounds. *Sigh*.

Oh Flash Mobs How I Love Thee

I cannot get enough of watching flash mob improv sessions on YouTube - I am totally hooked! Apparantly these have been around for an age, not too sure which rock I've been under because I've only recently heard of this, but I super love it! One of these vids is an actual flash mob event, the second, I believe, is a tv commercial in a flash mob style - still just as good. There's something neat about such unexpected, spontaneous things bringing people together and giving you a giggle in the process. Just super.

Up & Coming: Cara Hunt

Today I wanted to share some of the work of super talented up and coming textile designer Cara Hunt.

Her graphically styled screen & digital prints are based on various Wellington skylines - look carefully you might recognise some of the scenery!

If you were clever, you may have snapped up some of the cushions she produced as a limited edition run, sold through ES Design last year in Wellys.

The lovely Cara is about to jet her way to America for a wee while, spread her wings and see the world, so all the best to her and I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future!

If you would like any more info about Cara and her work, email me and I can put you in touch.

Campin' & Cavin'

I have had an excellent weekend down the south west coast of Australia - doing the typical touristy things of course; camping, driving, exploring, relaxing... I also conquered a fear of mine by caving and crawling around 100m below the ground, all while wearing a 'sexy' blue helmet and borrowed shoes and socks (ewwww!).

Super scary, super worth it!

My other half Corey will be thrilled to know he features in all three of these photos, sshh don't tell!

My Link Tile

Yayy, super stoked!

Here is my new tile to link to my blog site, thanks to Faerysarah!

As she would maybe say, 'Good As!'

Samm Blake Photography

I love Samm Blake Photography for her gorgeous wedding photographs, but thought this image of hers from her blog is a giggle and a half! See more examples of Samm's stunning talent here.

DIY TradeMe Trawl

I was trawling through the wonderful finds on TradeMe this morning, dreaming of the day I am in a 'settled' situation and I can snap up some of these goodies, and came across this sweet old 'Don' chair - obviously it is in need of a bit of TLC but it gives me goose bumps just thinking how fab it could look! I think a lot of people don't realise how easy it is to sand/scrape back the timber on these chairs, give them a good oil, and how you only need basic sewing skills to re-cover the squabs. If you can find a really cool fabric, you will have an instant 'new' chair. Check the springs first to make sure they aren't broken (you will need to get an upholsterer to replace them if they are), and check the foam to make sure it isn't rotting or disintegrating inside (this can easily be replaced). If all else fails, and it goes in the 'too hard' basket, there is a fantastic place in Wellington, ES Design, who specialise in restoring and re-upholstering old chairs, in particular mid 20th century styles like this! Check them out here, or visit them at 1 Marion St, Wellington.

Doodles 'n' drawings

These are a couple of doodles from the past couple of days - I don't usually draw characters as such, but this little girl sorta, popped onto the page, so I ran with it. I think she looks a bit sad... maybe I'll doodle her a friend!

My Mission

Ok, I have been stewing about this idea all weekend and have decided to post it here as a means of holding myself accountable. My goal is to be self-employed. While I have been hanging out here in Perth, pouring over the newspaper pages for a 9-5er, these feelings of dread have been gnawing away inside my stomach and my head - I want to be ME, and I can't be me anymore working for someone else, lining someone elses pockets. I have so much creative juice right now that I can't bear the thought of it being sucked dry again once I get into 'a steady job'. I know that realistically I can't be totally self employed straight away, I will need another form of income, but I am putting it out there now so that I can't turn back. This is the goal I want to work towards. I will achieve!

Plug for the lovely Jenn Shelton

I wanted to share with you the beautiful, soulful sounds of my friend Jenn Shelton, recently signed to a recording label, you can catch her at various gigs around Wellington, including regular spots at SFBH. Check out her myspace page for sound clips of her original work, as well as details for up and coming events and appearances. I hear she has just signed up to sing at the NZI Rugby Sevens again in Feb, wish I could be there!

Oh The Places You'll Go...

Today is a fantastic day, a parcel from my sister arrived on my doorstep. Yayy, lots of goodies!

One of the things inside was this wee Dr. Seuss book, 'Oh The Places You'll Go'.

Seeing as I'm now living in Perth at the start of my O.E., it is very appropriate! So stoked, you're never too old for a little Dr. Seuss! :)

'...You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go...'

Julia Rothman

I have found myself looking at a lot of work by Julia Rothman lately - I absolutely love that I can flick through her designs and get a real giggle from their very simple, quirky style and subject matter, the fact that the patterns are often so completely random is great, not everything has to make sense, or be all 'grown up' serious. Just love it!

Ruby Poo

Awww this photo is of one of our cats back home - I love that it totally encapsulates her personality. It makes me homesick too! *Sniff*

'Feel Good' music continued

This song 'Falling Slowly' by Glen Hansard, features in the film 'Once' which I saw on the plane from Auckland to Perth a few weeks ago. All of a sudden the memories of the first time I saw this film came flooding back, this song makes my heart stop, it makes me hold my breath just so I don't miss a single note, it's truely beautiful.

My Happy Drawing

My all time happy pass time is drawing. Being able to draw is probably the one thing that keeps me sane every day! These are a couple of drawings I've been chipping away at over the last few weeks.

'Feel Good' TV & Tunes

Just wanted to share my fav 'feel good' music right now, and I'm loving this tune on the So You Think You Can Dance Australia tv ad - 'Everybody's free' by Global Deejays. Plus the video gives me serious dance envy! Why did I ever quit dance lessons when I was 12!? Wow there are some very talented people out there :)

New Pressies

Yayy I'm very excited about my new rings from Perth based jewellery designer Bellymoo!

She also creates gorgeous brooches and pendants - check them out here, or catch her at the next

Perth Upmarket.

Lovin' 'Pushmepullyou Design'

I just love love love the illustrations and print designs from Pushmepullyou Design, so simple, so bold, so clever! You can purchase prints online - the problem is, how do you choose?

See more at http://www.pushmepullyoudesign.com/.

The Very First Pickel!

Hello hello, this is the very first entry in my blog - should be interesting to see how this progresses and morphs! This is going to be an outlet for all the fantastic things that inspire and make me happy every day, I'm glad I have discovered a way to share them. Stay tuned and stay creative!