odd sundays...

Mask Love

2012-01-30T13:42:00.000+11:00

Going down the nostalgia lane and was watching Ever After with Drew Barrymore.

Totally sent me back to my high school days. What I love most about the movie is the costume party and Drew's angel costume...

Okay...she wasnt wearing a mask but sigh, it did make me look through the ol' archive files on my computer for mask inspiration.

-charli

How to Spell Love

2012-01-27T01:30:00.000+11:00

Featured: Frock&Roll mag with tutorials

2012-01-25T11:53:00.000+11:00

Rose - Frock&Roll#3

Tutorials - Rope Choker Necklace and Cape

Tutorial - Cord Bracelet

Enjoying some toast for breakie with some online magazine reading. This is new one - it's from Vienna and I really like the look - kinda down to earth casual but totally stylish. It might be a bit young for me, now that I think about it. I'm still in my twenties I guess! Check it out for the awesome tutorials as well. Frock&Roll #3 via Issuu: Link.

Deenie

Delicious Gift Wrapping

2012-01-23T15:49:00.000+11:00

Found at Gift Couture. Awesome idea but the visual effect will probably only work if you're planning to gift wrap books or boxes...cos I know, it's impossible to wrap those stupid cylindrical shaped objects...and then you can't stack them.

Great idea anyway tho.

-charli

Plush food toys

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000+11:00

These just made me go "aaaaw" the minute I saw them. Aren't they adorable?

"so fluffy!!!"

Available here.

kay

Fairy Light Deco

2012-01-16T16:21:00.000+11:00

My favourite part of christmas and new year are the fairy lights. I think I've always wanted a way of using fairy lights without the excuse of the holiday seasons. I think I've found my answer below. Now I just need to spray my mirror frame gold...or get me a 4 post bed...

-charli

Post-Christmas Bauble Love : Pantone!

2012-01-13T15:24:00.000+11:00

I know it's a bit late but I came across this awesome design by Studio Badini.

Pantone Christmas Baubles!

-charli

Olive and rosemary focaccia

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000+11:00

When it comes to our herb garden, we were doing well. And then the frost came and took out our mint basil and chilli plants. And then these little black naughty bugs took out our chives and spring onion. And ALL that survived was the rosemary bush. In fact the more the boy hacks it back the bigger it grows. That just proves that anybody ANYBODY can grow rosemary. And so what better use this thriving herb than freshly baked focaccia.

The recipe is from Taste.com.au and I would suggest added even more rosemary next time or kneading it through the dough after the first proving.

I am in love with the camera on the new iPhone 4S and the foodie lens pak from Hipstamatic. My bread looks even more delicious.

Olive and Rosemary Focaccia

{adapted from here}

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups warm water (zap it for a few seconds in the microwave)

1 7-8g sachet dried instant yeast

2 tsp caster sugar

3 1/2 tbs olive oil

2 cups plain flour

1 cup plain wholemeal flour

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tbs fresh rosemary leaves (add more next time!)

about 20 pitted kalamata olives

Method

1) Preheat the oven to 50-60 degrees centigrade and then turn it off - I use the oven to then prove my dough

2) Mix yeast into warm water with sugar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl. Leave it to go frothy in a warm spot for 5 minutes (if it doesn't the yeast is dead and you must start again).

3) Using a mixer, add 2 cups of flour to the bowl with the sea salt and with the dough hook slowly mix in the yeast mix til combined. Slowly add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time

4) Knead until the dough cleans from the side of the bowl.

5) Oil the inside of another bowl and place the dough into the bowl and turn it to coat with oil. Cover with a tea towel and leave inside the warm oven to prove. It should double in size in 1 hour.

6) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade. I put a pizza stone in the bottom of the oven to cook the focaccia but it's not vital if you don't have one.

7) Oil a baking tray (this makes the base of the focaccia crispy). I used a rectangular tray and the circular base of my 9 inch spring form cake tin (!) to make 2 focaccia. You could also go free form and make rustic shaped focaccia.

8) Punch down the dough and knead on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes. At this point I would have added some chopped rosemary for added flavour. Divide the dough and with your fingers, press the dough into the prepared pans. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to double in size again.

9) Dimple the surface with your thumb. Mix the remaining oil with a little water to make an emulsion and baste the surface with a pastry brush. Sprinkle the surface with chopped rosemary. Cut the olives in half and dot them over the surface of the dough.

10) Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

kay

My favourite meal...

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000+11:00

...is breakfast!

Sometimes though, you do get into a rut about what to eat or don't have time to prepare anything.

Over at Eating Rules! this awesome flowchart was designed to get you out of that mental dilemma and out the door with a full and satisfied tummy. And not to mention a healthier you since we ALL know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

I like the "you like eggs?" "cluck!" or "yuck" options. It's quite a fun read : )

kay

Able and Game "Albion your side"

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000+11:00

Able and Game - Etsy 2012 Melbourne Station calendar

Able and Game - Etsy card

I have seen this awesome card making team at loads of Melbourne markets. There is a lot of competition out there now for the coolest slogan or most eye-catching design. But Able and Game (www.ableandgame.com) is definitely a front-runner for me for awesomeness. Gotta love the Melbourne Station calendar for bringing in the ordinary and making it extraordinary.

Deenie

Cardboard shelves - really

2012-01-04T11:00:00.000+11:00

Leo Kempf - Shelf

Freefold Furniture - Shelf

Over the Xmas/New Year period, I got to thinking about making space in our small house. De-junking, consolidating, and also getting things done that are long overdue.

I started small - attacking the collection/junk areas of the house - cupboards, cabinets, files and bookshelves. I decided that we needed to install a new wall shelf in the bedroom and put in my paperbacks.

Then, a couple of cards that I got some exhibitions that were in a "creative" pile in above collection areas reminded me of cardboard furniture. I wonder if it's a good idea. Anyway, there is shelving out there made from cardboard - its green and it's not Ikea. Check out the links above.

Deenie

Happy 2012 everybody!

2012-01-01T08:48:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to my two lovely ladies - Charli and Deenie! Thank you for a wonderful 2012 and I'm looking forward to another year of whimsy and laughter.

Because we all loooooove Joseph Gordon-Levitt, here is the ultimate form of cuteness - a Youtube recording with the equally cute Zooey Deschanel. Sigh. They recorded this just for fun? How adorable.

And did you know that Joseph has a production company? Very retro and very cool, check out the website here: http://hitrecord.org/

Enjoy ladies!

kay

Holiday reading

2011-12-28T12:00:00.000+11:00

Matchbook Mag 011 - December 2011

NEET Mag 025 - December 2011

If you are keen for some inspiration over the holiday period, here are some online magazines to get stuck into - NEET Magazine and Matchbook Magazine. Why do I read these ones? Mm - I get into ruts sometimes. There's only so many contracts and news you can read. Sometimes it's nice to see what creative types are doing with their day to day... and dream. These mags have some good articles about these creative types. I think the scarf designer/illustrator looks like a Swedish version of Charli!

Deenie

Merry Star Wars Christmas everybody!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000+11:00

We don't have much in the way of Christmas decorations at our place yet. But this is that perfect geeky touch I knew the boy would happily allow to adorn our walls (in this case our fridge).

I know what you're thinking...she has waaaay too much time on her hands!

In my defense, I couldn't resist and when you wake up after trying to sleep between night shifts, this is about the only thing I could find any motivation to do. There are many more designs though these were my favourite.

They are amazing aren't they? {free PDFs via Matters of Grey}

Merry Christmas everybody!

kay

Red Lips ReStyled

2011-12-23T16:38:00.000+11:00

Found this crazy cool ideas for red lips during this festive period.

Two-Tone Lips from the Nanette Lepore.

The trick is to powder some transparent powder on your lips to stop the colours from smudging into each other.

Sparkly Lips from Givenchy.

Use loose glitter, blot, and seal it in with two coats of clear gloss

Ombre Lips from Gucci

After brushing on the dark lipstick to entire lip, dab a bright red lipstick in the center.

Finish with gloss to blend

Found here.

-charli

Jingle bells...

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000+11:00

I thought I'd share some shots from our trek to Nepal including these delightful yak bells (it's only the naughty wild yaks on the side of the hills that don't wear these and then you get surprised by them when you turn a corner because you never heard them coming...but I digress!).

We had amazing weather and clear views of the all the mountain peaks.

Quite the contrast to your trip though hey, Deenie?

kay

[from top: yak bells for sale at Namche Bazaar; views from Gokyo-Ri; Everest from Base Camp; Bobba Fett admires Everest]

DIY Ballet Heels

2011-12-19T17:11:00.000+11:00

Been meaning to write a DIY post I do that was inspired by the Fendi shoe collection last year.

It's really useful for people like me with tiny feet.

1. All you need is a pair of heels

2. Stockings in a similar tone...or not...whatever suits your style!

3. Cut the legs off the stockings

4. Wrap under and around your heels (like the Fendi heels)

Keeps your heels from slipping and pretty as a ballerina.

-charli

V v Gogh faves

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000+11:00

Gogh a go go - Amateur Couture

R really likes Vincent van Gogh. So I was pleased to see this post from one of my favourite blogs, Amateur Couture. From the bottom up: the 'starry night' picture was on a postcard R sent me after he moved to Melbourne; the "sunflowers" - reminds me of Amsterdam; and the "almond blossoms" is R's personal favourite cos of Vincent painted it when he heard about the birth of his brother's baby and was all happy about that. That's what the audio guide said at the Van Goh Museum in Amsterdam anyway.

Deenie

I know it's summer but...

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000+11:00

Yes it's currently 27 degree in town and I have the air con on but when I saw this post on Creature Comforts featuring an amazing video on 25 ways to wear a scarf, I was excited and had to share it. I am getting just a little tired of the 'european one knot' style that I seem stuck with when I wear my scarf. I need to move on! This has such great inspiration. I may have to draw and record some of them though because it can be too hard to find the one I like afterwards.

kay

I want this book!

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000+11:00

I had the delightful pleasure of meeting a very sweet 3 year old at work today. He shared with me his favourite picture book and we read it together. I was completely smitten with the simplicity and ingenuity of this children's book. I was totally enthralled with the story and the boy knew the book so well he didn't even need to look and he knew what to do on each page.

I want this for my kids! Heck, I want this for myself!

Here it is: Press Here by Herve Tullet - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

kay

Two great things...

2011-12-07T10:00:00.000+11:00

...about this editorial (Fashion Gone Rogue):
1. white socks with shiny heels
2. green eyeshadow

So pretty.

Deenie

Vagabond Venice

2011-12-05T12:00:00.000+11:00

I heard somewhere that Venice has this "decaying charm". We walked about wondering about what life is like for the dwindling number of locals here. Where tourists flood the quaint walkways and large squares. Where it's a 1.50 euros to use the public toilet. Where cheap eats are almost nonexistent. Where doors and windows are often closed cos hey, who wants a pesky tourist poking their camera into your house? But I loved seeing a bunch of young schoolboys rush onto our taxi boat during the peak hour. Half of the boys missed the boat and were shouting after the rest of their gang. We next saw them huffing and puffing at the next stop then piling onto the boat, grinning and proud they made it, making a racket. Some things are the same.

Deenie

O holidays, O holidays

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000+11:00

Edinburgh, Scotland

Versailles, France

Paris, France

Berlin, Germany

Europe trip, peoples. R look a bajillion photos and these are some of my faves. (He wanted to edit them or whatever. I'm like, they're fine! Seriously, you spend $ on a camera and then u gotta edit them? It should take good photos from the start I say.)

Anyway we did this loop-de-loop: London -> St Andrews/Edinburgh -> Amsterdam -> Berlin -> Rome -> Venice -> Paris -> London.

TGIF - happy holiday planning.

Deenie

Sweater Crop

2011-11-28T22:58:00.001+11:00

Found these images and thought this would totally be DIY. Grab an oversized jumper and cut the front off and stitch off...I totally am doing this plus with an oversize t-shirt. Oh man, it looks totally comfortable. I also wish I could pull off those leopard pants...

-charli

The Trip: Movie Review

2011-11-24T12:22:00.000+11:00

Watched The Trip over the weekend and totally enjoyed it. Had my winning combo. British Accents, Food, Impressions and Effortless Dialogue.

After reading the premise of the movie, how could I not watch it?

When Steve Coogan is asked by The Observer to tour the country's finest restaurants, he envisions it as the perfect getaway with his beautiful girlfriend. But, when she backs out on him, he has no one to accompany him but his best friend and source of eternal aggravation, Rob Brydon. Together the pair attempt to navigate the winding back roads of rural England, impersonating popular celebrities such as Michael Caine, Woody Allen and Liam Neeson (among many others) and bickering along the way.

Favourite Quote from the Movie...
"Gentlemen to bed! For tomorrow we leave at 9:30...ish"

Kay, when you get back from Nepal, we are totally watching this together!

-charli

When Macaroons Meet Furniture

2011-11-22T12:08:00.001+11:00

Came upon this funky designs by Yannick Prat.

In honour of the nation’s pastries, Gontier head furniture designer, Yannick Prat has preserved macaroons forever in this sweet range of French chairs and armchairs – `Macaron et le Chair Macaron’.

Talk about eye candy! I can totally see these in hotel lobbies or at a dessert patisserie.

I want that little foot stool that looks like a blueberry macaroon!

-charli

storm baby

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000+11:00

With a few friends starting to have babies, I asked my boy what he would call our future baby and lo and behold 'Storm' was what he came up with. What is with guys and names like that? Our friends nicknamed their yet-to-be-born baby 'Mackie' for short because the dad wants to name him McGyver if it's a boy. Enough said.

Humorously while on a recent visit to Hong Kong's Stanley Markets, we found this printed onesie with none other than the name 'Storm'. So now our kid can even have a chinese name.

We didn't buy it...just like good asian tourists, took a photo and I dragged my boy away.

kay

Fro Yo Yo

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000+11:00

When we were in NYC in May, my friend introduced me to the latest craze to hit their streets, frozen yoghurt chains - in particular Pink Berry. Sadly, this delicious frozen delight has not taken off here in Australia (yet?).

When I went to visit my boy in Hong Kong I got lost inside a building (sad I know) because some lifts would only take you from ground to level 10 while other floors were only accessible by escalator. So at one point I was stuck going down 10 flights of escalators to get out of the building and in my frenzied, lost state, I stumbled upon this frozen yoghurt bar Yo Ma-Ma. Phew. What respite for my tired soul!

For those of you familiar with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, I think it's a great name but googling it revealed perhaps a line of stupid jokes that the company may not have been intending. Oh well. What is comes down to is this: delicious green tea flavored frozen yoghurt with your choice of topping - I chose mochi. Yum!

kay

Zumbo Delight

2011-11-10T13:43:00.000+11:00

We finally got to visit Zumbo's new cafe in Star City in Sydney. It was total eye candy and definitely delicious! We basically bought one of everything in the store!

-charli

Taking texta markers to another level

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000+11:00

I am just in awe at these portraits by artist Chan Hwee Chong. In collaboration with Faber-Castell markers, these incredible line drawings were produced with a single line by varying only the thickness of the marker. Speechless.

Faber Castell from eric yeo on Vimeo.

cool huh?

Check out more images here.

{via creature comforts}

kay

Kitsch Redone

2011-11-04T16:30:00.000+11:00

After leaving the TV on late one night, I was flicking channels and stumbled across a documentary on Melbourne artist Penny Byrne. Exhibiting at Sullivan +Strumpf Fine Art in Sydney, the show followed how this ceramic conservator takes kitsch ceramic objects and turns them into political pieces. I fell in love immediately.

'Byrne takes this genteel art form and flings it into the brutality of current affairs and international politics. A practicing conservator, Penny Byrne restores the ceramics and glass of the nation's top museums, but outside this employment she reworks vintage porcelain figurines and statues with pronouncements on politics and popular culture' (Taken from "Upfront", The Art Oracle by Michael Reid)

Diamante Doggie 2010

Gitmo Bay Souvenirs (group) 2010

Hiroshi and his friends are having a whale of a time

Life is a riot for Betty and Phil 2011

-charli

Drops of Pearls

2011-11-02T15:08:00.000+11:00

Saw this crazy (but totally awesome) idea of pearls buttons down your back at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 photo shoot. They look so delicate and pretty...I reckon I could DIY it with eyelash glue and pearl buttons...probably need some help putting them on...and a reason...sigh...

-charli

Wish List

2011-10-31T15:40:00.000+11:00

Here is my wish list for christmas...maybe for life in general

...One's a little more practical than the other.

I would love a boat hammock in the living room to read a good book in. How relaxing does this look?

Next this would be a herb garden in bottles. How handy would that be in the kitchen for cooking?

I could totally DIY this myself...maybe during the christmas break.

-charli

Kao Yao Noi Island

2011-10-27T15:05:00.000+11:00

Finally downloaded a few pics from a belated honeymoon to Kao Yao Noi Island.

Totally awesome weather and perfect for escaping Melbourne's erratic Spring weather.

There were relaxing hammocks everywhere, yummy strawberry mocktails and calm still waters.

...except for the 45minute boat ride from the island thru the choppiest waters I've ever seen (and felt.) due to the monsoon storm hitting the island.

-charli

Women + movies

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000+11:00

This article in the New Yorker by Mindy Kaling (of the Office fame) made me laugh. What do you think? Charli did some studies on the female role in popular movie culture so I would love to hear her opinion on this one.

{via a Cup of Jo}

kay

NYC stylin' on yer bike

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000+11:00

Bike in Heels by Hanneli

On the Street Manhattan The Sartorialist

Nancy Rosenbloom via Citizen Couture

Better than wearing exercise pants y'all. Get out of the lycra and get some NYC bike style.

Deenie

DIY fragment painting

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000+11:00

Part of my dream of decorating the house was producing our own artwork. I can proudly share with you my first painting. Hopefully it will not be our last.

This was the image that served as inspiration. I photographed it out of a home deco magazine with my phone and I can't even reference the artist or the magazine - I've been carrying it around on my phone for that long! Finally I sat down and planned the artwork that would be inspired by it.

We bought 3 large canvas panels to create a big surface to work with. We liked the idea of a broken up image.

I sketched the shapes I wanted on paper first and then used a ruler (aka a long plank of wood I found in the garage!) to mark the lines onto the canvas. Then I used masking tape to trace the shapes and ensure nice straight lines after I painted in the colours. Choosing the colours for the final piece was probably the hardest part.

MAJOR lesson number one. Use good quality tape or paint faster. I learnt the hard way that the cheap tape I bought from Daiso left very very very sticky residue all over the nice clean white parts of the painting. I also did the painting over a few weeks so it was really a weekend project and this also kept the tape on for far too long. It took my mother to look at it and say to me: "you better get that tape off...it might leave marks". Boy does mother know best!

So I ended up painting in all the white parts after my great effort to NOT paint that bit.

It's a little difficult to see in the bottom panel but I used some light cream and white paint to add a pattern to the lightest coloured panels. I wanted there to be some texture to the image.

This is the way the canvases and image was initially painted...

This is the final piece of work displayed on our wall. We liked it better mounted horizontally. Very pleased with the end result.

Kay

Paint Tattoos

2011-10-12T17:10:00.000+11:00

Been really into watching old episodes of LA Ink and Miami Ink and thought I would look into some cool eye candy inspiration for tattoos. Being into art, I fell in love with these amazing tattoos that look like paint on your skin. Most of these tattoos have been done by the artist, Amanda Wachob, who does amazingly colourful abstract and realistic tattoo art.

-charli

a bittersweet surprise...

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000+11:00

My boy has been working overseas for the last couple of months.

Found this note on the coffee beans. Awww...

Sniff sniff...tears in my coffee?

Kay

Casual side sling bag

2011-10-09T17:30:00.000+11:00

Casual side sling bag. Wool outer, linen inner, fabric strap. Great for a trip to the shops, on a bike or walking. Story behind this design - I stalked a girl from the train station (my stop, don't worry!) for a few steps to check out her bag. It was brown too but worn a lot higher, like across the back. I made my strap longer but can knot it higher if need be. Beware, I will admire and will be inspired by your bags.

Deenie

In love with a sharp blazer

2011-10-06T18:00:00.000+11:00

(Jason Wu Resort 2011 via Fashionologie)

(Zara August 2011 via Fashion Gone Rogue)

(Leelee in Adam Kimmel via Harpers Bazaar)

Very much loving jackets and blazers at the moment. Girls with real shoulders, these will look great on you - I know cos I got me a navy blazer last year and always get compliments. These will sharpen up any outfit. Who says you shouldn't take work home with you?

Deenie

Little goodies from the market

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000+11:00

So at the school fete where I went to see my cousin's prize winning bust design (see post), the school had organised a small collection of local artists and crafty folk to set up a market in the back hall.

After a lot of deliberation I got this pair of awesome leggings, screen printed by hand with the world map on them. How could I not get them? My cousins also bought similarly 'crazy' coloured leggings for themselves. Check out the website of www.captainrobbo.com for a look at her other designs.

This is the other purchase I made for our home. A sweetly cinnamon scented candle that reminds me so much of a piece of delicate japanese pottery. It's so lovely.

The day was finished with a slice of home baked apple cake. Yum!

kay

Lemon mini bundt cakes

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000+10:00

Mum bought me these gorgeous little bundt cake tins for my birthday this year. How cute are they? I was really keen to bake a set of these lemon yogurt cakes for my aunt's birthday (a month after mine) and I knew she would love the tangy lemon AND yogurt combo. They came out a real treat and I can boast that the lemons even came from our little Splitzer tree.

The recipe was pretty much as it reads from CookEatShare. Delish!

Oh and I thought the lemon syrup would be too much but it really does taste better with it : )

kay

Confetti satchel

2011-09-25T18:30:00.000+10:00

Front

Inside lining

Back

Made using a Pochee magazine pattern base but added a zip (which was kinda hard) and tabs on the sides and back. Just for travelling - it fits a water bottle and has some internal pockets. Really enjoyed designing and making this bag - probably cos it has my fave nani iro fabric as the flap to remind me of my Japan trip.

Deenie

Warehouse Living

2011-09-22T00:14:00.000+10:00

Since Australian TV shows have gone renovating mad, I took a look at my archive folder of interior designs for some eye candy inspiration.

I've always loved converted warehouses. I love how the architecture works within the constraints of the warehouse and makes the whole place cohesive. Maybe it's also my thing for post-modernism and the mix of old and new. Either way, it's on the top of my dream homes...but i can hear my mum's voice in my head saying, "that home is going to be a pain to heat up."

-charli

Add bicycle add

2011-09-20T19:00:00.000+10:00

Branchline (Design Milk)

Bottle belts (WalnutStudio Etsy)

Totally want the storage rack for my bikes - no more tripping on the bikes in the front room. Not sure about the bottle belt cos I have pannier racks anyway but it's awfully clever and deserves a shout out.

Deenie

Dedicated to My Cousin!

2011-09-16T11:04:00.000+10:00

Found this image on fffound and thought of you, Yaya.

love charli

Wistful colours of happiness

2011-09-13T18:30:00.000+10:00

Aroma Vintage

um casamento absolutamente fantastico

The oddsundays girls are all married off but our friends are getting their hitch on still. These are some of my fave photos from simplesmentebranco. One set of vibrant colours and then some wistfulness.

Deenie

A brown leather clutch

2011-09-11T18:00:00.000+10:00

...made by Deenie.

As mentioned in the post Clutch-spiration a few weeks ago, I did an RMIT short course to learn how to make a leather clutch. Here's the product of my 6 week effort. Pretty chuffed!

Feather Inspiration

2011-09-08T20:09:00.000+10:00

Some stunning feather inspiration from Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture A/W 2011

This could make an appearance at the races this year!

I want to try this one.

-charli

Queenstown Adventure

2011-09-07T18:00:00.000+10:00

A group of us went to Queenstown, New Zealand a few weeks ago. We were fortunate enough to experience the coldest ice snap Queenstown has ever experienced in 40 years. Of course, just getting into Queenstown ended up being a 30 hours trip from Melbourne to Queenstown.

We had a flight to Christchurch and a 6 hr wait til the flight to Queenstown; Got on the flight to Queenstown and as we are able to land, the pilot turns around and heads back to Christchurch. We take the last flight to Invercargill and take an apparent 3 hr bus ride to Queenstown (plus a few missing luggages & snow boarding gear.) We ended up being stuck on a 9 hrs trip with no heating or food on the bus but we made it at midnight!!!

And this is what we woke up the next day to.

Our personal snow globe.

The rest of the week was blue sunny skies and amazing snow.

We even did the Lord of the Rings tour too on our last day as the snow had mostly melted.

-charli

A hairdo for charli?

2011-09-05T07:00:00.005+10:00

Hi Charli...

I saw this post via a Cup of Jo from the Beauty Department and instantly thought of you.

Enjoy.

kay

A caravan of adventure

2011-09-02T10:11:00.000+10:00

(Betty Magazine Issue 02)

For my friend Andrea on her caravan getaway in NZ. It's kinda cold there so here's a spot of sunshine on your journey.

Deenie

The house that could

2011-08-31T23:52:00.000+10:00

(Desire to Inspire - MidMod bungalow UK)

So impressed with this transformation. R and I went back to Perth for the weekend and drove through a few suburbs with wide flat houses - R said they looked like pancakes cos of the flat roofs. Wow, gotta take notes from this inspirational house in the UK.

Deenie

Outerwear for your data

2011-08-29T23:32:00.008+10:00

(Zip Zip lego)

(Paperclip - Nendo)

(Emily Rothschild USB Locket)

Thumb drives have been taken over by designers. Definitely better than grey or black blocks - but hey, then in 5 years time, those old blocks will come back as "retro".

Deenie

Cupcake Anatomy

2011-08-26T07:00:00.000+10:00

A scientific take on your cupcake? Sure. The story went something like this:

Allen and Sarah couldn't make it for their friend's birthday so they made and posted this photo print for her on their aptly titled blog Things...scroll forward in time and this print has now became it's own phenomenon and you can now order it for yourself from the website. See? Who said that a little thing like a blog post couldn't take on bigger proportions?

Kay

retro cool cookies!

2011-08-24T07:00:00.004+10:00

Adorable cookies by Manjar as seen on Black Eiffel.

I guess they must be hand cut? I mean where would you buy cookie cutters in such retro cool shapes?

I have a pair of sunnies that Charli and I "share" in that very red colour!

Which one is your favourite?

kay

BAGELS - yes i made them

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000+10:00

Ever since our trip to the US, I've noticed a real hole in our aussie market for bagels. Why don't we sell them here in our bakeries or cafes? They are the perfect brekkie or snack or lunch. Delish with some cream cheese, freshly toasted but chewy on the inside. Yum!

So it has been quite the challenge but I finally managed to knead, boil and bake my own. It does take a whole day but mostly because you have to wait for the yeast to do it things and prove your dough so you get nice, fat and plump bagels. I was very picky with the recipe too because I didn't want to open a packet of yeast and use a bit of it...Picky aren't i? So this is my perfect recipe!

The first time was a disaster because I didn't push all the air out after the first proof and boy they were hideous! Won't even dare to show you pics of those.

But the second time with a new recipe too was great and I tried 2 ways of making the rings. First by sticking my finger in a round ball of dough and second by making a long rope and sticking the ends together. Conclusion? I preferred the rope method because that way the bagel edges and surface can be rolled smoothly and you get a nice clean bagel where as once you stick your finger into the ball, it's really hard to roll the bagel smooth and it looks a lot uglier. Aesthetics aside...they tasted good.

My bagels never sink when i boil them intially. I don't think my dough is as dense as others claim but that hasn't impacted on the end result either.

Here's the recipe adapted from the Passionate Pair. I haven't quite mastered the photograph as I cook thing yet! So very spartan on the photos I'm afraid. I will get better but if you are in doubt, refer to the links I got the inspiration from in the first place for guidance.

INGREDIENTS

8g of instant dry yeast (1 packet)
1 1/2 T sugar
1 cup warm water (if you can keep your finger in it and it's warm it's good!)
2 1/2 cups unbleached wheat all purpose flour (I substituted 1/2 cup with wholewheat flour)
1 tsp salt
olive oil spray
1.5 tsp brown sugar
optional toppings: egg yolk, sesame seeds, sea salt, poppy seeds, minced garlic or onion
optional mix: raisins, cinnamon, craisins

Step 1:
Put all the dry ingredients except for 1 cup of flour into your mixer and combine.

Step 2:
With the dough hook on, add the water gradually so the dough comes together from the edge. I did this on my kitchenaid mixer at speed 1.

Step 3:
Turn the speed up to 2 and slow add the remaining flour until the dough comes away from the edge of the bowl. Add more flour if needed so the dough is not sticky to touch. It should be a nice ball of dough that you can handle without coating your hands! Experience I'm afraid is the best way to learn what that dough should feel like.

Step 4:
Oil the inside of a clean bowl and place the dough inside, cover with a tea towel and let sit in a warm place for 1 hour or til doubled in size. I turn the oven on to 50 degree before I start then turn it off and put the dough inside to prove. The ideal temperature for the yeast is apparently 30 degree celcius.

Step 5:
When the dough is doubled, put it onto a floured surface and push the air out. If you are adding in cinnamon and dried fruit, you can gently knead these ingredients in now but don't over handle the dough. Just knead until the ingredients are spread through evenly. I made half the dough with savoury toppings using japanese seaweed sprinkles and the other I kneaded through cinnamon and craisins (note: should have added heaps more cinnamon!)

Step 6:
Divide the dough into 6 even balls (notice mine were not even at all! Some people weight each ball). Leave them under the cover of a damp tea towel on your baking tray while you work on each one.

Step 7:
This is my preferred method for making the rings courtesy of sum.ptuo.us. Essentially, press down on the ball of dough with your palm til it's flat. Then fold in the top and bottom thirds towards the middle so that it's long and tube like. Turn this over so the smooth bottom side is face up and roll this out longer (see! nice and smooth). Keep open the little seam on the ends. Pry one open and envelope the other end of the log inside like a mouth swallowing it up! Seal the end and you have a lovely little ring that won't unfurl.

Step 8:
Repeat with all the dough balls and then rest these rings on your greased or baking mat lined tray covered with a tea towel for 30 minutes to prove a 2nd time (they'll puff up some more. you can also just cover these with plastic wrap and keep them overnight to prove)

Step 9:
Preheat fan forced oven to 200 degrees celcius. Prepare a 1.5L pot of boiling water and dissolve the brown sugar to make your malt syrup. Boil 3 bagels at a time and for 30 seconds on each side only. Take them out with a slotted spoon onto a drying rack placed over another tray to catch spills. Blot the bases with paper towel so they don't stick to the tray.

Step 10:
At this point you have options: A) you can sprinkle on topping while the dough is tacky from being boiled. B) You can pat them dry and they brush them with beaten egg yolk and then sprinkle on the topping. This will give them a more shiny surface but I don't think it's worth wasting an egg for and I didn't notice a difference. Another good tip is adding the minced garlic to the egg yolk and brushing that on but you commit all the bagels to garlic that way!

Step 11:
Place the bagels on the lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden and toasted on the surface. You can splash a bit of water on the sides or bottom of the oven and quickly shut the oven door to create an authentic 'humid' cooking environment for your bagels. No idea if this helped or not!

Step 12:
Remove bagels from oven and let cool on rack. But they are so delicious when just fresh from the oven smothered with cream cheese.

They freeze really really well too.

Enjoy!

kay

My Future Bookshelf

2011-08-19T15:09:00.000+10:00

One day when I have too much free time, I'm totally going to colour coordinate my bookshelves to create this awesome effect. The pug is just a plus!

-charli

Skirts to twirl in

2011-08-17T18:21:00.004+10:00

(Lo Bosworth via People)

(Leighton Meester via People)

(Diane Kruger via People)

Last week we had some lovely 'is it almost Spring?' weather in Melbourne. Actual sun and above 20 degrees days. And fittingly a friend asked me for some tips on sewing a simple skirt with an elastic band which somehow made me think of spring-time twirly skirts.

I have actually never made one so I consulted some pro's.

One of my favourite blogs How About Orange listed some great ideas in a "Various Skirt Tutorials" post. Also check out Domestic Bliss for "Striped Elastic Waist Skirt" which has an easy step by step. Hope these are helpful W.

Deenie

Clutch-spiration

2011-08-15T10:00:00.008+10:00

(ASOS envelope clutch)

(L'Wren Scott Lady Laque Lace Pouchette via Barneys)

(Proenza Schouler PS1 leather pouchette via Purse Blog)

I'm taking a leather clutch making course at RMIT after work on Mondays. I'm in week 4 of the 6-week course. It's ok so far - learning how to skive leather, identify different types of leather and pattern making.

We were allowed to customise the standard envelope-style pattern - size, colour and shape of the flap.

These are my inspiration pictures. Some clutches are seriously pricey so you better be getting good leather!

I've decided on sticking to the standard envelope style but a little bit larger so it could fit something A5 sized. Kinda like what the online shops are calling "a portfolio clutch". Some of my co-students are making one to fit their ipad2s. Will show you the finished product when I've finished the course!

Deenie

Guy Version of Frankie Magazine!

2011-08-12T13:18:00.007+10:00

As a big Fan of Frankie Magazines, I was really excited to see the direction they are heading this year with the launch of Smith Journal, a magazine for men. I hope it goes well cos I like to believe that not all guys like their magazines full of half-naked chicks.

Here is the interview with Editor-at-Large Rick Bannister to discuss the prospective Smith reader, the magazine's point of difference and what we can expect from the launch issue.

What prompted you guys to start a men's title? With Louise (Bannister, Frankie co-founder) being my wife, there's always discussions about magazines in our household. But the biggest thing for me - I come from a magazine background as well, I used to work at the same company as Louise and I've sporadically written for Frankie since the first issue - is that there isn't really a men's magazine that I look forward to reading. That was the beginning of it and we just started chatting about what this hypothetical magazine might be.

And moving into a men's market which has seen title after title fail, what is Smith's point of difference? It's funny there are a few people involved but everyone feels the same about our point of difference. It's not exclusive and it's not trying to be cool or be the first with anything. It's about real people doing real things, guys that are making stuff, creative thinkers, adventurers, whatever. But I think the real point of difference is that the title is really inviting, something which makes people feel like they're apart of it.

Does Frankie's aesthetic and voice crossover too? I reckon it does. There are a lot of people who are involved in Frankie who are involved in this. Benjamin Law and Jo Walker are involved and Lara Burke is designing so it definitely has Frankie's fingerprints all over it. I think people will recognize parts of it as far as the voice and perhaps the look. The other interesting point is that Frankie has always been pretty unisex and Smith will definitely be lady-friendly too. I think it'll be similar in the way a lot of guys read Frankie, I think a lot of girls will read Smith. It's appeal isn't really limited by gender.

Who's the Smith reader? It's a guy who's interested in making things and being creative and being hands on. The type of guy who might revive a few traditions whether that be brewing or making furniture or restoring bikes. There's that side to it. Generally speaking, it's a guy who looks beyond the surface of things and is interested in things that last, not things in the moment that come and go. It's a guy who's pretty sure of himself and doesn't really care what other people think or if he's wearing the right jeans. He's on his own trip.

What's the etymology of the title? The Frankie girls came up with that. They were doing a bit of research and they liked the idea of wordsmiths which led into blacksmiths which feeds into the whole hands-on and reviving tradition thing. Smith just means an artisan or craftsmen. Funnily enough, some people are taking it the other way where Smith Journal means the common bloke's journal.

The everyman journal. Yeah, Smith. We didn't think of that when they came up with the title but it's funny that it's already been interpreted like that.

So when is the launch date and what can we expect from the launch issue? Smith launches September 5th. As far as what to expect content-wise we've profiled a few people who make things; a furniture maker from Victoria and a taxidermist from Florida. Some photography features. Tex Perkins shows us his favourite items in his wardrobe. A story about brothers, all different brothers and their experiences together. A story on a couple of guys who rode bikes from the top of Alaska all the way to the bottom of South America. On the thinking man's side there's a story on the history of chess and the history of a few objects...so there's some longer reading in amongst the other bits and pieces.

Smith Journal launches September 5th.

-charli

Red Dresses for the Heart

2011-08-10T13:13:00.000+10:00

Jane Roarty helped style the latest Marie Claire & Heart Foundation campaign to make women more aware of heart diseases. After being given these images, its great to know that there is a part of the fashion world that cares about things beyond the superficial! Great work! Gorgeous Dresses! Look after your heart ladies!

P.S. I love Ruby Rose!

-charli

Proud as punch

2011-08-08T07:00:00.003+10:00

This year our lil cousins entry to the inaugural Girls Bust Out 2011 received the 'Best in Show' prize. I was so impressed with the effort and imagination they demonstrated in their entry. So proud (I feel a small tear welling up). This year the display of busts were so much fun to admire, I wish I was back in school and able to release the creative juices again.

Check out the detailing in my cousins entry! It had built-in blue lighting, three stories filled with dollhouse furnishings and a touching poem to describe how despite feeling emotionally 'blue', she feels "at home" on the inside.

Good work girls!

All proceeds from the day supported the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Kay

Melbourne dessert review

2011-08-05T10:00:00.001+10:00

It is no surprise to anyone that I like desserts. I'm the body mozzies flock to (must be the sweet blood I surmise). I'm the lunch buddy who says - should we share that baked cheesecake instead of "proper" lunch? And I read into the celebrity "cookie" diet just to be sure I wasn't missing out by actually eating vegies sometimes.

This year, I've been lucky enough to try a range of interesting desserts - from a local eatery, a cool mid-range restaurant and a "cha-ching" restaurant.

The "Oreo" cheesecake was complimentary from Sori Cafe, Kensington. It was a rainy Saturday night and we were the only patrons there at 8pm-ish. Oreo biscuit as a base for a thick cheesecake layer - who'd've thought? Rare Birdie doesn't like cheesecake so I ate his.

The rhubarb jam doughnut with yoghurt sorbet was from Huxtable, Collingwood. We sat at the bar area and the dessert station is in front of you so you can watch the whole menu being prepared by the all-female chefs. The dessert chef actually leaned over after we ate the doughnuts and asked for our take on it cos it was new to the menu. Verdict: It's good - you don't feel nearly as bad if it's rhubarb jam.

The soy pannacotta with sago and red bean and chocolate gold foil on top was from Nobu, Southbank. Yes, it was overpriced. But it had gold foil on top and it was so smooth. Lucky Rare Birdie, my dad and I all had one each.

Deenie

Flowers make you happier

2011-08-03T07:00:00.001+10:00

Well it's been miserably cold lately but today the sunshine was streaming through the window! What a happy mood it put me in? It almost took the edge off the household chores that needed doing? (almost I said!)

You know what else lifted my mood? These beautifully fragrant flowers - Just $2.50 a bunch (and I got a big bunch) from the green grocer. I am so pleased with them. I get to use all my little vases.

Sometimes it doesn't take much does it?

Kay

Chocolate Brownie Recipe!

2011-08-01T13:41:00.001+10:00

Here's a great quick brownie recipe I found I had scribbled down and thought I would pull out and make for a little welcome home gift.

Ingredients

185g Butter Chopped

2 Cups Sugar (I put less...)

3 Eggs

125g Chocolate Bits

1 Cup Flour

Walnuts (I didnt have any)

1 ts Vanilla Essence
1.Preheat oven to 180 C Degrees

2. Melt butter and chocolate over boiling water.
3. Add sugar, egg, vanilla and then flour.

4. Pour into a tray (Mine was about 20cm square tin

5. Bake in the oven for about 32mins
6. Let it cool a bit before you cut into squares.
7. Made some little flags with toothpicks, paper and a crimping scissors. taha!

Crispy, gooey, yummy!

-charli

Realistic google circles

2011-07-29T07:00:00.003+10:00

Married to a tech geek, I cannot escape the latest and greatest thing from Apple or Google or whoever is the 'IT' of the IT world, did that pun work?

So lately I have been invited (rather exclusively I was told!) to joing Google+ and I have no idea how it works but I am assured that this will all reveal itself soon enough.

I found this graphic entitled 21 Google circles you can actually use (follow the link) via MissSwiss which illustrates my sentiments exactly. Now I have the option of more circle categories than I could humanely handle! What circle categories are you breaking your contacts into? It's actually a lot of pressure. And what circle are they putting you into? What if an 'acquaintance' puts you into 'friends'! Oh dear!

I actually LOL'd when I saw this. And by the way, the other day, my consultant at work told me she thought 'LOL' meant 'Lots Of Love' so that proves I do know something about this tech stuff though maybe not as much as my boy.

Kay

So true

2011-07-27T07:00:00.005+10:00

This says it all doesn't it?
Deenie, after your trip to Paris later this year, you will know that this website is genius.

Paris vs. New York is an illustrative comparison between NYC and Paris through the eyes of a French artist in NYC. So I'm sure that bias is going to be easy found.

I love the retro style of the design. The images are available as posters and would look fantastic decorating our study...hmmm...tempting!

Kay

Button-ise your beanie

2011-07-25T10:00:00.001+10:00

For my sporty sis, stylish sis and mum respectively.

Accessories on beanies are the greatest.

I made fabric covered buttons with a button making kit and left-over Japanese echino fabric. And the flower is two crochet flowers sew together with a button on the front and a safety pin on the back.

Deenie

Hot bow ties

2011-07-20T09:00:00.011+10:00

(Clara Bow Pin - Collette Patterns)

(Foliage - etsy via Creature Comforts)

(Sartorialist)

Happened across a tutorial for bow tie pins at Collette Patterns (link). Looks pretty straightforward - will definitely give this a go. It might go down well with a shirt for work like this NYC girl.

Deenie

An uplifting blue

2011-07-18T09:00:00.001+10:00

(Rag and Bone via Amateur Couture)

(A Second Life - etsy)

I like shift dresses. And yes, most of all in winter! You can wear a warm top underneath and tights, then the cute pattern of the dress peeks out under the hem of your jacket.

I also heart long necklaces with a statement colour. If ever you want to brighten your outfit (or day), this does the trick.

Deenie

Lemon Sorbet Love

2011-07-15T16:53:00.000+10:00

With our lemon/lime tree finally ripe to harvest and a new ice cream maker, it was destiny to try creating some yummy sorbet. It was really easy and fun...except the washing up cos everything got really sticky...but anyhooz...

1. Dissolve 2 cups of sugar in 2 cups warm water (adjust to your taste) and let cool.

2. Grate about 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. (a lot harder than we imagined- see photo of us attempting to measure and grate at the same time)

3. Squeeze 2 cups of lemon juice.

4. Combine all the ingredients and put it into the ice cream maker until set (approx 25mins) (and no photo as my hands were incredibly sticky at this point)

and ta-da! yummy sorbet...ok...it was a little too sour but I love sour and was scared at the amount of sugar I was putting in. I think I'll definitely add more sugar next time as the eye was beginning to twitch from the sourness.

-charli

Single speed bike envy... and lights

2011-07-13T09:00:00.000+10:00

(Tokyo Bikes)

(Bookman lights)

(The Sartorialist)

My Giant Cypress 07 is a trusty stead for my 5.5km commute to work. But this winter has seen it break down a couple of times - gears, tires. Made me wonder whether to go the single speed for less maintenance (and that cool factor). Be a bit European hey.

And do turn on your lights - getting dark going home these nights.

Deenie

Map cushion covers

2011-07-11T07:00:00.005+10:00

Following on from Deenie's post on her cushion covers, I too just made my first set of cushion covers for the home.

They took a long time having never used my sewing machine until now (a wedding present that took this long to open!) and I had a false alarm that I had made measurement errors and made the cover too small for the 2nd cushion. I unpicked the whole thing and then realised we had purchased one cushion 3cm larger than the others! Frustration! Needless to say I also felt relieved that it wasn't my miscalculation that had led to the error but a 'foreign' pillow arriving in the bins of cushions at Ikea.

I have been planning these cushions even before I received the sewing machine. The front is made from a set of Muji hankerchief with the map of New York, London, Tokyo and Paris on them. I don't know what you would use such a large hankerchief for though! So they have been happily refashioned into cushion covers.

There are lots of online tutorials for sewing cushions like this. I was staunchly opposed to attempting zips on my first sewing project so I sewed envelope pillow cases.

Firstly I lined the backs of the scarves with a coloured fabric so it wasn't as see-through.

Then I cut 2 pieces of fabric the same width as the pillow (no allowances so the case would be nice and snug!) but one 1/2 the height and the other 3/4 of the height to allow overlap of the 2 pieces as a flap on the back of the pillow case. I hemed the ends that would be seen along the flap.

I then placed the pieces with the right sides facing each other and sewed them along the edges to close.

After turning the pillow case the right way up, this is what the envelope opening at the back looks like. Insert your pillow and ta da! Enjoy.

I would really have liked a rotary blade Deenie! I can see how useful it would have been...My cutting was shocking using scissors!

Kay

Marc Jacobs Kiss Glasses

2011-07-07T12:54:00.010+10:00

I've been meaning to get a new pair of glasses, as I have been really slack with getting my eyes tested. I was going to see Saltimbanco, so I thought that was a good excuse to force myself to go get that eye test.

When I went into the store, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted and after trying on dozens of glasses, the receptionist asked if I wanted to try a new pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs that hadn't hit the shelves yet.

And behold, they featured Marc's iconic kiss print on the back of the frames.

I loved them the moment I saw them!

One week later...All mine!

I found they even come with the print on the front. Very chic!

-charli

Beanie loving

2011-07-05T09:00:00.002+10:00

Modified pattern from a japanese knitting book, 'Let's Knit Series - boushi and muffler' (Cap f) (hey, I have a large head ok).

Gave the grey one to friend's daughter, Rose. Then I showed my sisters and mum the one I made for myself via facetime and now they each want one - with their own mods of course. The stylish sister wants pom poms at the end of hers. Mum doesn't want ears and only wants black. The sporty sister wants a supersized beanie - she likes baggy methinks.

Deenie

Eating Non-Stop

2011-07-01T21:05:00.002+10:00

Hello from overseas! It's been an eating-fest all week in malaysia and phuket.

I've been feeling like this chipmunk.

More photos to follow!

-charli

Two toned cushion cover

2011-06-27T09:00:00.001+10:00

Slightly hippie on its own (and also cos its complete mismatched to my couch).

Made to replace my old ikea cushion - ripped out the zip and copied the size of the old cover. Also made to try out my new Ofla rotary cutter - it's friggin' awesome. Bought it from Midnight Crafts on Etsy (yvettelim) and got the straight and pinking blades. As my boss at work predicted, I ended up nicking my thumb (boooo....) so gotta be careful with blades girls and boys.

Deenie

Left Brain Right Brain...

2011-06-24T14:20:00.001+10:00

I love this ad. I think it says it all about my brain vs. my boy's brain. Guess who's who?

Happy Friday!

-charli

Monique Lhuillier 2012 Inspiration

2011-06-22T11:44:00.011+10:00

There are so many weddings this year and finding the appropriate clothing is always wrought with danger. Don't look like the bride. Don't outdo the bride. (Seen that one before..."Who's wedding is it?) Don't look like the bridesmaid (Seen that one before too...Terribly awkward questions ensued with "oh, are you part of the bridal party?" "....no..." awkward silence...) My tip is to try find out what colour the bridesmaids are wearing. It's just safer.

So I looked to Monique Lhuillier Resort 2012 for some eye candy inspiration.

Sweet for the day ceremony. Maybe toned down with a nice cardigan or trench coat.

A couple of elegant evening dresses for the dinner reception.

And below, two perfect glittery glamourous ideas for an outfit change for the bride.

-charli

She does this with a TYPEWRITER?

2011-06-17T07:00:00.001+10:00

Amazing discovery via Design Milk of incredible artist Kiera Rathbone. She actually creates these beautiful images using a vintage typewriter.

It's such a labour of love with each piece of art formed by layers and layers of letters and numbers. Wow.

Kay

Its one or the other - or maybe its both

2011-06-15T09:00:00.000+10:00

(Nadinoo - AW10)

(Jak and Jil - Colour Blocked)

(Jil Sander - SS11 Spring)

Some people I know seem to have some hard choices to make. Are you also asking, Should I stay or should I go? Can you choose a path that has both?

Deenie

NYC - a whirlwind tour!

2011-06-13T07:00:00.001+10:00

I thought I'd share some pics from our trip to NYC!

Our rental apartment was in Midtown - just 2 blocks down from Time Square. Wonderful location. Perfect weather too. People were sitting outside on the steps enjoying the fresh air.

The ubiquitous yellow taxi.

Central Park in the Spring is beautiful.

Locals enjoying the sunshine next to Union Square

Modern art for sale at Christie's NY

BUT i wish i took photos like this guy!

kay

NYC - Purchases on display!

2011-06-10T07:00:00.002+10:00

Part of the fun of returning home from a holiday is seeing some of your purchases on display!

When you read as many US blogs as I do, certain brand names pop up frequently so I was really excited to visit Crate and Barrel in NYC Soho. It was just as I imagined it and filled with so many great homeware items I would have bundled together and taken home with me if luggage space permitted. We did manage to find some small lovely vases that displayed some beautiful blooms on the dining table - ah! so fresh and uplifting. Love love love little vases and fresh flowers!

And having coming home I just jumped onto the website to write this post and YES! they ship to Australia. I'm not sure what I would order yet but stay tuned folks! I just might make a purchase of some Marimekko bedlinen that I regret not buying when we were there!

The second purchase was our token souvenir item for display on the 'pool room' shelves (reference to 'the Castle'!). These cute little wooden NYC cityscape blocks are from Muji.

I wish we had a Muji in Australia!

The blocks are really quite fun! We keep moving them around and re-arranging the cityscape.

kay

Any bag for me

2011-06-08T09:00:00.001+10:00

I got an Ona Bags 'Any Bag' from Photojojo!

I thought, I like making bags and this camera bag is designed to fit into any bag - it's meant to be.

It's actually smaller than I thought it would be. But it's sturdy, the velcro partition thingy is pleasingly sticky and secure, and it fits the tote I made. I'm a happy camper.

Deenie

Cocobutter your look

2011-06-06T08:00:00.001+10:00

Hello if you didn't know this is "Deenie's" face and torso... :)

My little sister Ming has a neat little e-boutique stocking stylish, layered and affordable looks. Above mini-photoshoot shows two of my fave tops from earlier this year. I call the blue one my "paint" top.

You'll love her statement pieces, simple lines and effortless style - so easy to put together. I have about 10 different pieces and they all merged into my wardrobe the minute I unpacked my bags. She'll solve your 'in-between' fashion moments - not too dressy or too casual.

And those black leggings that you liked on Sunday, Kay? Got 'em from Ming @ www.cocobutter.com.au.

Deenie

St Ives Green Tea Cleanser & Scrub

2011-06-03T17:20:00.000+10:00

When I found out the awesome people at St. Ives where giving me their new Green Tea range (cleanser and scrub) of products to trial and review, I was very exciting! I am a big fan of green tea, especially japanese green tea and I know all the great benefits of drinking it...Green tea is a rich source of vitamins C and E, it's known to soothe your skin and have major antioxidant powers

So what a great idea to turn it into a cleanser.

So what does it claim to do?

"Helps clear breakouts and soothes skin. A Blemish-fighting solution with 100% Natural Green Tea
Product Description
This dermatologist-tested scrub can actually help to clear and soothe your skin as well as help reduce redness. An active blemish-fighting ingredient fights the flare-ups, while 100% natural exfoliants encourage healthier, clearer skin."

My Opinion?

PROS: It actually works! Skin felt refreshing and smooth without that over-drying problem. The cleanser was great for removing makeup even and I definitely felt nice and clean afterwards. I loved the scrub - it wasn't too gentle or too harsh. It felt like it was doing it's done and I didn't get any breakouts or redness issues too.

CONS: I thought St. Ives were really all natural ingredients but I really hated the smell of the range. It should not have had such a sickly sweet smell (of what I think is candy watermelon.) It was really disappointing and a unnecessary addition.

OVERALL: Great...pity i couldn't stand the smell...

-charli

Pastel Hair

2011-06-01T19:06:00.000+10:00

I'm really toying with the idea of pastel pink hair.

Not the whole head (though I love the photo below. How soft and milky does it look?)

But these amazing pastel colours are so soft looking, yet punky. Actually, they remind me of playing with My Little Pony as a kid...Is that a whimsical or creepy idea to relive my childhood of combing my pony's pink hair via dying my own hair?

-charli

Markit@Fed Square round up

2011-05-30T08:00:00.001+10:00

(Tu)

(Dick & Dora)

Spent a good 3 hours at the Markit@FedSq (link) market on Sunday 29 May 11. Sounds like a long time huh (specially cos it was cold as...) well, there were a couple of reasons for that.

One: there was lots to see - homewares, jewellery, bags, clothes, handprinted fabric, stationery - a lot of handmade, creative goodness. Tempted to get a cloud-shaped mirror from Lightly, and some fabric from Ink & Spindle. Instead, I kept it simple - I bought earrings and a brooch.

Two: my friend AN had a stall there - Tu ware - and we hung out talking and selling her jewellery range (which were featured in an earlier Lifeinstyle post).

She gave me a mouse purse for helping out. These were made in Vietnam to support a friend of hers who helps disabled women find sewing work. Pretty impressive!

I love markets - wanna make stuff now :)

Deenie

Pithy or just pretty

2011-05-26T08:00:00.001+10:00

(Billy Super)

(Barbara Pala)

(Bumbumbum - Dear blank, Dear black | Letterpress)

I thought these were cute. Ok, the first one is a bit meaningful-like. Well... I like them anyway...

Deenie

the Impossible Project

2011-05-24T07:00:00.004+10:00

Yes it's all true true true! New York is TRULY cool. And the problem is when you say that you know that means you are probably not that cool because the people who are cool don't say that New York is cool do they? They just live in cool places and are cool without trying to be or getting all giddy and excited when they think about how cool a place they live in is!

And how did I manage to miss visiting this place?
The Impossible Project was started with the help of a team of employees from the last remaining Polaroid production factory to save the otherwise now closed and out of production Polaroid film world. They designed and invented new types of film for vintage polaroid cameras. The results are wonderful. Dreamy, glorious images that whisper of forgotten memories and simpler times. Ah!

The website has an online shop and a blog with tutorials. I will be spending too much time browsing there!

The Impossible Project
425 BROADWAY (NEAR CANAL) SOHO

kay

I Heart Kate Spade

2011-05-20T15:05:00.000+10:00

Yay! Kay is back from US ! She also brought me some really awesome bday presents. Besides the really cool red Kate Spade stockings she got me (I can't wait to try them Kay,) is this awesome limited edition cute canvas bag Kate Spade Support Japan Tote bag!

THANKS SO MUCH!! xox

-charli

Autumn print inspiration

2011-05-18T08:00:00.001+10:00

(Dear Pumpernickel - Teardrop print)

(the Fox is back - Stipontwerpt)

(Mina Perhonen - Galileo)

Deenie

Spring Valley Drink Competition Winner

2011-05-16T14:10:00.005+10:00

We forgot to mention the winner of the Morrissey Sunglasses was Robin from 2 months ago!

Sorry about the delay. Hope you're enjoying your funky yellow sunnies...pity its practically winter now.

Thanks Spring Valley again! You even sustained me all morning with your juice on my wedding day!

Fantastic!

-charli

Pantone Mug Love

2011-05-13T08:15:00.000+10:00

Everything tastes better in my new Pantone red mug!

-charli

Dream a Little Daylesford

2011-05-09T12:15:00.001+10:00

We went up to Daylesford for the Easter break and it sure is good to get out of the city. Fresh air (weird spider webs in the air...that part, yuk) and good food was exactly what I needed. We took a walk around daylesford lake and had ice chocolates, whilst our grumpy old dog got to know the cutest sausage dog called Sally. The night ended with parma nite at the local pub.

My favourite moment was finding all these toadstools. I was like "It's just like in Mario!!"

-charli

High Sock Fashion Inspiration

2011-05-06T17:27:00.001+10:00

When we were at school, they banned knee high socks and forced us to wear itchy woolen stockings. Sschool probably didn't want us to be fashionable with our pale urine colour shirts and tartan skirts (which we all tried to shorten by rolling up the top band for easy drop down when a teacher was in sight.)

But luckily for us all, we can keep our pins nice and warm (and fashionable) with knee high socks.

Maybe it's my rebel side from years of school, but I've been living in my over the knee socks since the weather went cold.

-charli

Met Bal 2011 Fashion

2011-05-03T15:46:00.001+10:00

Here are some of my favourite looks at this year's Met Ball, the Costume Institute Benefit Gala. They are

the fashion world's Oscars, where the attendees tend to play it less safe and go all couture.

-charli

Knowbyheart does purses

2011-05-02T07:00:00.003+10:00

As promised in odd sundays...: Marimekko does purses i've given metal frames purses another bash. Thanks to some research in some Japanese craft mags, I've worked out that I needed a 'gap-filler' between the (guterman) glue and the fabric to make sure the fabric really stuck to the frame - my solution was... cotton twine. I've done 'ikea-like' testing (pulling the fabric) and it's stuck! (*happy dance*)

And side note, the top and bottom purses is made from the fabulous fabric I bought in Japan two years ago. Japanese prints are so inspiring.

Will be back with more! - so many shapes to play with.

Deenie