the things i love

What a lovely plate! People in the Netherlands are insane... insanely talented that is. Nina of Ninainvorm is one of these people. Get some of her stunning hand-screen-printed pieces via Etsy.

too good

A super natural power came about when Too Good created this project. Super Natural (project title) emerged from the desire to collect and observe the English country-side. Too Good are a creative consultancy who create magical spaces and breath-taking photographs for a range of clients from Swarovski to H&M. I would love to be immersed in a magical space they create, even if only for as long as the camera shutter clicking from open to closed. It's almost too good for words...

so little time

Could these by any cuter? How very pretty and very ptww! The bunting could fit right atop the header. These bits and pieces are by So Little Time, a small Melbourne operation that has time pieces too. Get some for friends, family and your pretty little self.

in love

I loved the last pair I posted... but not I'm in love with Jeffrey Campbell

love

Love these Cutout Oxford Wedges by Jeffrey Campbell via Urban Outfitters

lumber me up

Fletcher Vaughan is the man I call genius. His Lumber collection is divine and gives us a new way of looking at 'lumber'. I don't know about you, but I always think of lumber jack when i hear lumber... which doesn't sound elegant or sleek. Fletcher Systems has changed this completely. Now when I hear lumber, I will think of the collection of stunning pieces I can only dream about owning. Love you Fletch!

yummy ceramics

Lorena Barrezueta is a genius! I want. Get at Curiosity Shoppe.

instagram

curio & curio

The Wall Sticker Company has a new guest designer... Clair Wayman from Curio & Curio. Each of her designs come in a variety of colours and she has some wallpapers too!

melbourne

Cartographie Wall Plate - Melbourne City

by Creatively Active Minds via Exhibit

What a great gift! Good for someone from overseas, someone who has moved to Melbourne... or even someone who has lived here their whole life! Get a set for some fun fine dining or feature one on the wall of your cosy home.

Submission from Things Organized Neatly

stack stuff

Stack made of metal. Create your own configuration and make your life all kinds of pretty. 

Design by Alessandro Zambelli and found at Seletti

melt in your mouth mittens

Amazingly delicious mittens to keep those fingers warm... and keep them warm you should.

Mittens by Bergslagsgatan (google tells me this means 'street mining'... I'm not sure I trust that)


(pictures via Bergslagsgatan via Fine Little Day)

one is just enough

Cupcakes make my mouth water... i think of all the yummy flavours and the tasty frosting. My personal fav (which i made up myself... although I'm sure others have done before me) is coconut flavored cake with rose-water icing with coconut flakes atop. Jeanette Zeis Ceramics want to make our cupcake (or other sweet treats) a lot sweeter with different colours, patterns and sizes to suite your taste.

mint and more

1 Mint Soup Bowl by Artis & Grove
2 Switchplate by Anthropology
3 Holga 35mm Camera via Urban Outfitters
4 Wallpaper* City Guide Antwerp via Phaidon
5 Geo Phyzz (bath bombs) by Lush
6 Wheeled Linen Dress Form (mint) via Urban Outfitters
7 1460 Womens Boot (mint-qq pearl) by Dr Martens

forever new

I wouldn't have thought it... but my perfect coat was from Forever New. I am seeding them in a new light after finding a camel coat (so this season) which is 95% wool. This is all for under $200... what a bargain! I couldn't find it on their website (they are obviously trying to keep this one a secret, or it would cause shopper mayhem) so I have uploaded another jacket they had in store which looked divine. I challenge you to find something you don't like...

cottage in the woods

I have two pairs of these lovely gloves. They are a lambswool/angora blend which makes them super soft and luxurious. There are heaps of yummy colours that will brighten up any winter wardrobe. These gloves are hand dyed in Melbourne by Penelope Durston which she sells through her store Cottage Industry (via Big Cartel)... she has a number of stockists in melbourne and around Australia. They also come in different sizes which you can see in store.

cats and bunnies

Meow Girl does bunnies so well... so let the cats get to the bunnies and buy yourself some cute.

let's be friends

Have a look at this Friend of Mine. I love the colours they have used for their Autumn/Winter range... if I could, I would throw out all my clothes and acquire these new ones. I need more friends like these... and they are Australian!

felt fish is all you need

Fancy some fish 'n' chips? I fancy these felt bits and pieces by Life's a Stitch... it's all you need for a tasty daily dish. You can also have brekkie, lunch and snacks in delightful colours. Eat up and Enjoy! (& don't worry, they're all fat free) Ps. Grab yourself a green bag at the checkout, it's good for the environment. 


(perfect setting placemats by Cake Vintage)

taking care of you

1 Birds of Australia (Sacred Kingfishers) by Eric Shepherd for Maxwell & Williams
2 Valerie Restarick Bowl (blue) via Mr Kitly
3 Lauren Hot Water Bottle Cover (beige and antique white stripe) by Ella Sanders
4 Miix Spoon Set by Chi-Wing Lee via MoMA Store
5 Hand Towel (black/light beige) via H&M
6 Modern Classics Book 1 by Donna Hay

When someone is sick, most of time they just want someone to watch over them and help them out a bit with the basics, for example the cooking and cleaning. This week my mum became ill and had to remain in bed for days. Being the (now) grown-up daughter that I am, I offered my services and happily waited on hand and foot. Some of the tools required for such an undertaking are shown above.

One of the most important jobs as household chef is yummy, healthy, hearty food. Potato, bacon and leek soup by Donna Hay is my go-to recipe. When I first cooked it a few years ago, I didn't have any leeks, so I substituted with zucchini. Amazing! Even though I am yet to taste the leek version, I would bet the zucchini one is better.

Of course if you're having soup (6), you need a pretty bowl (2) to eat out of with pretty spoons (4) to slurp from. Mum gets a bad back, so she likes to wrap up a water bottle in a pretty stripy cover (3) while drinking her chai tea in a mug (1) with a cold, wet hand towel (5) on her forehead to help the headache. 


As you may have noticed, I've put tiny maps of Australia next to some of todays products. These are Australian made or designed pieces and will help you recognise the amazing things we create in our far away land. Look out for more maps in the future...

it's autumn time

Autumn time with Instagram

simple, pure and complete

just like milk... or so say Milk Design, the creators of these stunning, clever pieces. I have never seen In-flight table-wear like this (I would never thought to call it table-wear until now), it's sleek and sexy while conveying traditional conservatism. Each piece is a unique design solution which repairs old ideas and re-births them into fluid products that we can consume and enjoy on a daily basis (if you check out the site you'll know what I'm talking about). Oh... and milk is good for you.

rats in the woods

Illustration by Rat Labs

bird in the woods

BIRD - idN 100th ISSUE from Ratlabs // Rafael Cazes on Vimeo.
Video to celebrate the 100th issue of IDN Magazine.

Occasionally I type random things into my search engine to see what I find. This ground-breaking technique helped me find my (now) favourite blog. Whilst procrastinating I typed Oh Joy into Google, and low and behold a design blog popped up. This was also how I was introduced to the ever changing world of blogging (at least 4 years ago now). So today I decided to Google 'rat labs' and I was pleasantly surprised. Rat Labs is a design house based in Brasil. They do great Motion and Illustration projects... Bird being one of them, which celebrates the 100th issue of IdN (magazine).

cam.e.o

It may be their first appearance. But it won't be their last. Cameo is a new(ish) Australian label with gorgeous tailored pieces and over-sized basics. Their AW11 collection has yummy colours and sexy/cute cuts and will hit the stores in May/April (now!). If you see something you like, give them a call to find your closest stockist (there are a lot of online stockists listed on their site).

(pictures via Cameo)

nam

NAM is new. NAM is nice. NAM is so amazing I can't even begin to describe their stunning designs and photography. You must see for yourself...

(pictures via NAM)

tread lightly

Tis Knot Ottoman  .  Chrysalis (China Butterflies)

Everyone knows that the environment needs a bit of a helping hand (seeing as we kinda stuffed it in the first place). So tread lightly when you're walking, we've hurt the earth enough. You can do your bit with Lightly, they have created crochet seating to wrap around your old car tyre. Cindy-Lee Davies is to founder of Lightly, which is based in Melbourne and has an array of products from ceramic clocks to acrylic vessels.

(pictures via Lightly)

happy mothers day

1 Amsterdam Pendant (Kohl Gold) by Polli
2 Woven Empire Pendant (Red) by Polli
3 Large Salad Bowl (Hazelnut) by BAMBU
4 Curvy Servers (Spice) by BAMBU
5 Natural Hemp Rug (Marigold) by Armadillo&Co 

A message to all those mum's out there who work super hard every day to keep everyone happy... we love you and hope you have a very happy mother's day! If you are yet to get mum a gift, she would be happy and proud to know she received a 'green' sustainable pressie! The best place to find these 'green' gifts is through State of Green. Online shopping is so much easier when you don't feel so guilty about it... and sustainable design is relatively guilt free! Plus State of Green has heaps of Australian goodies... so get your hands on them while they last.

(pictures via State of Green)

the hounds

Say hello to Suzi Kemp an Illustrator/Artist based in London. Thought I'd share some of her puppy love with you! This award winning artist has many more goodies that you can purchase...

bonnie and neil paint the woods

1 Timber Table-wear Placemats (set of 4 Pineapple in White)
2 Wooden Storage Cube (Cockatoo 1 with Zig Zags)
3 Reclaimed Timber Shadow Box (Large C)
4 Wooden Storage Cube (Floral in Buff with Zig Zags)
5 Timber Table-wear Placemats (set of 4 Zig Zag White on Black)

I can think of a million reasons to buy an amazing wooden storage cube, but one big reason I shouldn't (I'm moving overseas). A relatively new face to the melbourne design scene, bonnie and neil have already made splashes in well respected publications and have stockists throughout the country. Every piece is hand screen-printed and constructed with a unique piece for each buyer. I get little shivers of excitement when I think of one next to my bed with my copy of Wallpaper* and my cup of coffee sitting upon it making my days a little more pretty and my mornings a lot more bearable. Mark my words, one day it will be there. :)

instagram

If you havn't heard of it then listen up! Instagram is a way to share photos with friends and even strangers from the other side of the world. The three photographs from the Heide Museum of Modern Art (in Bulleen, Victoria) were taken by little old me! I then uploaded them onto Instagram via my iPhone. It's free... so all you have to do is search the App Store and she is all yours.

(pictures by paint the woods white)

plant me and watch me grow

1 Wallter Wall Plater (orange) by Wallter via Design Public

2 Sky Planter (small) by Patrick Morris via Droog

3 Penelope the Hippopotamus planter & Succulent

4 April the Giraffe Planter &Succulent (3&4) by Plaid Pigeon

5 Pig Vegetable Planter via Candy Stripe Cloud

6 Surf Bubble Terrarium Kit by Terradctl via Etsy

calling alice mccall

Skip To My Lou dress  .  Birds of a Feather Flock Together dress
Lucy Lockett dress  .  Every Lady in this Land top

One of my close friends has an amazing Alice McCall dress and I have massive dress envy. It prompted me to have a look-see at her website and I was not disappointed. Alice has gorgeous pieces (and some are on sale) and they are completely affordable. I have been looking for some oversized tops to wear as dresses (good ones are hard to find)... I also feel some of her dresses are a great length for me, so I need not stress any longer. She doesn't only do dresses, explore McCall online to see for yourself.

(pictures via Alice McCall)

tarrawarra tapestry

Believe it or not, this large tapestry which is hanging within the walls of Tarrawarra Museum of Art. Each woven masterpiece is based on an artwork created by talented individuals.

New Zealand photographer Yvonne Todd shot Alice Bayke as part of her Sea of Tranquility series. While the photograph is mesmerizing, the tapestry beings new depth and life to the portrait.

There are many more beautiful tapestries that adorn the walls, and the walls themselves are an architectural delight. There is a sneaky wine tasting to be had at the winery across the hall.

(picture via Queensland Art Gallery)