Little Glowing Lights

Slack

2012-02-16T19:14:00.006+10:00

I did not mean to take a break, in fact this year I had plans to be a much better blogger! I haven't taken many photographs at all lately and that always holds me back from writing posts, plus I think I hit a bit of a wall earlier this week..... I might need a holiday! But I have one in a few weeks that I am so looking forward too, involves seeing Bon Iver live...woo!

Photographs are from a few weeks ago around my house.

Pins

2012-02-07T20:23:00.004+10:00

Right now I am on a rather boringly tight budget, which has curbed my spending well and truly (not a bad thing at all to be completely honest), but there are a few things in today’s pins that I do rather like from Anthropologie….not that I will be spending a penny!

flowers, measuring cups, plate, bedroom.

Lately...

2012-02-06T17:47:00.003+10:00

hmmm somehow it is the 6th of February already! This year is going rather fast so far….
*my copy of the second Kinfolk magazine arrived and it is seriously so wonderful, amazing photographs!
*it was a weekend of home grown goods – I was lucky enough to be given all these things – fresh basil, newly ripened tomatoes, pom pom dahlia’s, nashi pears and zucchini. Summer is good like that.
*I made truck drivers pasta with the basil and tomatoes for Island Menu…it should be up in a day or so.

Gorman

2012-01-31T16:54:00.006+10:00

The weather has been typically Tasmanian over the past few days, Sunday so hot and still my house was most unbearable (so much so a bottle of beer I had out of the fridge exploded!) and then yesterday a 360 change to the point where I may have needed the electric blanket on low last night…. madness! Anyway I don’t mind because I can now justifiably (well for today!) admire the new Gorman collection….and I love it! So many great colours and patterns.

I also can't stop thinking about the Jodhpur boots by Swedish Hasbeens, and these Marc Jacobs sunglasses- love the colour of the arms.

Friday

2012-01-27T16:21:00.004+10:00

Finally it is friday proper, it feels like I've had two this week after Australia day off yesterday. I didn't do anything in particular but did make some kiss biscuits, they are good there's no denying it. I am looking forward to the weekend, after seeing this post I think I'm going to give fabric printing a try. Will share the results if it works out.

PS I joined on instagram, I still don't know how to use it but I'm game to try. I'm littleglowinglights.

Kiss Biscuits

250g softened butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 egg beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste/essence
1 cup self raising flour
2 cups plain four

Preheat the oven to 190 celcius and line several baking trays with baking paper.
Cream the butter and icing sugar together well, then add beaten egg and again beat well. Work in the fours sifted and vanilla, until it forms a dough. If the dough is really soft just mix in a little bit more flour. Dust the work bench and break off 1/3 of the dough, roll it out until it is about 1cm thick and cut into shapes and place on baking trays, cook for 10-15 minutes until they are pale golden. Repeat the process with all the dough. Once the biscuits are cooled, join together with jam (I usually use raspberry), ice and sprinkle.

Brights

2012-01-25T16:44:00.001+10:00

I seem to be loving the brighter colours right now, even in my clothes, I don't know if it's the fact that it is summer or just a short lived phase but it is nice and cheerful.

Pins

2012-01-23T19:37:00.004+10:00

A few of my favourite pins from the last week or so. I think I might start making this a more regular post perhaps, a selection of the ones I think look good together or just take my particular fancy.

From the Owl
'The Heath'
simply breakfast
bedroom
hallway

Lately...

2012-01-22T17:40:00.003+10:00

....life has been about the Mona Foma festival, hence the silence here, four nights of great music: Girl Talk, the Dresden Dolls, Amiina, a rendition of the Violent Femmes first album, and stunningly PJ Harvey last night.

Oh and the Mona Market yesterday too which I thought was really great (I got some of Michelle's wonderful strawberry and pimm's jam - which was perfect on my blueberry pancakes this morning and a lovely cheery bunch of dahlia's!). So I am a little tired and weary today and have spent it soaking up the sun because it has been a perfect blue sky day. Posting should be better this week...well that is the plan!

Summer

2012-01-17T21:08:00.005+10:00

Today definitely feels like summer, mostly because I have spent what could possibly be Hobart's warmest evening for the year leaning over a hot boiling vat of apricot jam because the fruit needed to be used before it dropped to the ground (oh and in the midst of a thunder storm!). But the positive side is I love apricot jam, and while I am not a bread or toast person at all, I now feel like buttery toast and jam. I also love all the blueberries that are out right now and I'm thinking I might need to make some blueberry cinnamon buns.....I'd also better keep up with the gym I think.

Angus

2012-01-16T18:59:00.003+10:00

It's been a while since I've taken any pictures of my mum's cat Angus and yesterday he was nicely tucked up in the pike position looking very soft and cuddly!

Pins

2012-01-10T17:04:00.002+10:00

There's no particular rhyme or reason to this collection of photo's but I liked the way the colours looked together.

Pics from my pinterest board.

This Weekend

2012-01-09T17:53:00.004+10:00

This weekend was a pretty quiet one which is never a bad thing. I went to Salamanca market for the first time in ages, got some amazing fresh blueberries and some white chrysanthemums and rather unfortunately saw an antique throw from Afghanistan that I can’t stop thinking about.....very bad! It was a silk thread one with some lovely muted pinky/browns and stronger pinks in the design, but it’s sadly not in the budget right now.

End of the Break

2012-01-02T17:08:00.004+10:00

I have realised that I am actually quite bad at having holidays at home, it takes me ages to feel relaxed and know what to do....or more to the point how to just settle into doing not very much at all. I don't think I got to this point until saturday, a whole week into the break and now tomorrow is back to work and I feel a bit duped! It has been nice though, mostly hanging around home, cooked a really good paella, actually enjoyed going to the Taste of Tasmania for the fist time in years, had a great new years eve with friends (I made those primrose bakery cupcakes again - definitely the best recipe!) and had a picnic lunch at the beach today, oh and got to put my calendar from Rifle Designs up, I've wanted one of those for ages!

2011 in pictures

2011-12-31T16:37:00.002+10:00

It would be very foolish not to acknowledge that this year has been a pretty amazing one for me, so much has happened: my house was on the Design Files, I did a class at the Agrarian kitchen, went to Europe and had a fantastic holiday, had a memorable 30th birthday with my friends, started Island Menu with Sam, loved Ozmas, went to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, improved my cooking skills and most definitely had fun and lots of good times, which is what I wanted most of all and what I hope 2012 will be full of. So I hope everyone has a wonderful evening tonight, thank you so much for reading my little blog and have a wonderful new year.

Music 2011

2011-12-30T10:02:00.004+10:00

Every year of blogging I have written a bit of a music review of what I have loved and listened to over the last 12 months. It’s for my own self indulgence as much as anything else and has been an interesting one to go back to.

I have always had the intention of getting one new album every month of the year (same with books to read) and you would think that would be easy…. it’s only 12. But somehow it doesn’t quite work out like that, more concentrated effort definitely required next year because to me there is nothing better than discovering something that takes you somewhere completely different.

So the list for this year, in no particular order…..

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
I resisted buying this album for a little while but then I saw the film clip for Holocene, and thought it was an incredibly beautiful song and that the album could only be good, and it is. I also love the tracks Wash and Perth.

Seabear - We Built a Fire
I bought this album at the Keflavik airport in Reykjavik after hearing a bit of it on the plane getting there. I really love it, it's a nice quiet album in places and a bit more upbeat in others. I think it's nice to go somewhere and pick up new music, that was kinda exciting.

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Another album I bought while in Europe, not that I needed to, I was just so keen to get a copy after waiting so long. I saw them live many many years ago and love their sense of humour and well, they are pretty awesome. My favourite track is Don't Play no Game that I can't Win which features Santigold, also the best film clip....if you like yeti's and assassins, which apparently I do.

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Ok not an album that came out this year but still, friends played it at Ozmas and I loved it and have listened to it heavily since. Power is my song for running to, you know at that bit where you really want to stop but know you should keep going, I put this song on the ipod and get an extra boost. Also Lost in the World.

Kanye West and Jay Z Watch the Throne
Since I liked the Kanye album so much I brought this one when it came out and it has a few gems on there: No Church in the Wild, Lift Off and That's My Bitch.

Bjork - Biophilia Manual Edition Live from Manchester
Well I am Bjork mad, so of course I ordered the Manual Edition, which was definitely worth it, the live from Manchester disc is fantastic and I still really really want to see her live at some point, I don't know how I have missed out. My favourite track from this album is Mutual Core which builds up to this awesome eruption of beats and vocals and she sings "You didn't know I had it in me". Very good. Also very good is Moon and Virus.

Soley - We Sink
Another Icelandic singer (I definitely seem to have a genre) she has a lovely voice and the songs are sweet too.

Radiohead - The King of Limbs
TKOL! I waited so long for for this to come out and seeing Thom Yorke dance to Lotus Flower ...seriously cool! I like how they seem to be using the beats these days in tracks like Bloom and Lotus Flower(check out the Glastonbury version too), and while I didn't love it as much as In Rainbows, it's definitely good, maybe just too short?

Wilco - The Whole Love
I love love the track Art of Almost it got a bit of a bashing on my ipod this year and one of those songs I always listened to walking to work.

More recently I've been listening to: the Black Keys, Real Estate, and Jonsi's soundtrack for We Brought a Zoo
hmm definitely need to branch out a little after seeing that list! Any suggestions??

merry christmas

2011-12-24T13:47:00.006+10:00

Just a quick post to say merry christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful break and a happy time with friends and family! I'm currently waiting for my last cooking job for the day to come out of the oven so I can go enjoy the amazing warm day we are having and possibly have a glass of champagne in the sunshine. Hobart is never this good weather wise at christmas so it's quite exciting!

Self Gifting

2011-12-20T16:39:00.005+10:00

I am one of those terrible people who sees lots of things for myself when I am supposed to be gift buying for everyone else. Mostly it’s just a matter of ‘ooh I like that’ and then forget completely. But I succumbed and ordered these tea towels from the new Gorman & Castle collaboration, I’ve always wanted one of Rachael Castle’s lovely artworks but they sell out so fast, plus I am a bit of a tea towel nut so it’s the perfect combination.

I also love the ‘put the love in the coconut' pillowcases perfect with those dotty sheets……!

Three days of works left, I’m counting down!
Also our Island Menu christmas party from saturday.

Christmas Cheer from Logan Wines

2011-12-19T19:58:00.003+10:00

Some christmas cheer arrived a few days early on my doorstep in the form of a box of a dozen bottles from Logan Wines based in Orange in NSW, a place I haven't been to but am now intrigued to visit. I was absolutely floored to receive such a fantastic gift and it all looks so amazing! I know you shouldn’t judge wine on a label and packaging alone (and I have no doubt the wine is fantastic) but this really is quite wonderful. Everything is done to perfection and I love the photographs in the little booklet.

My poor knowledge of wine is something I’ve been wanting to develop for a little while now, especially with the work we do for Island Menu, and to be given such a wide selection means this is the perfect opportunity! I plan on cooking a few special dinners over the summer months to try them out and I’m thinking of starting with the Hannah rosé and perhaps making some nice light homemade pasta with bloody mary mussels…any other good food/wine combination suggestions I can try? All ideas would be most welcome!

Lately...

2011-12-18T16:25:00.005+10:00

life has been crazy busy mostly with pre-christmas gatherings and cooking which I do enjoy very much. However I'm hoping things will slow down a bit so I can start to relax a little and get ready for the holidays!

This weekend.....

2011-12-12T19:17:00.003+10:00

..a far too quick, but very lovely, road trip to the east coast! Such awesome landscapes and colours up that way.

Little Things

2011-12-07T16:45:00.002+10:00

Earlier today I had this moment where I realised how close to the end of the year it is and how much I still have to do (or mostly cook!)! I’m definitely hanging out for the break, but at the same time excited about things that are planned for the next few weeks, including an Island Menu pre-christmas party with friends. Tonight I’m going to try making my caramels (fingers crossed!) so that I can put them in some home-made crackers, complete with bad jokes and paper hats. It’s definitely the little crafty things I love most about this time of year.

Pics are random from the weekend:
Some seriously bright pink geraniums from my mum’s garden and some baked peaches with cinnamon and brown sugar for my porridge (bad but good, had just been to the gym so I figured I could justify that).

Interior Love: Random

2011-12-02T20:21:00.005+10:00

So a rather random collection of interior shots that I love right now: that pink couch is sublime, I would love a black and white zig zag rug, the Jardan dining chairs are awesome and that blanket in the last shot..!

Other random thoughts this friday:
* Has any one ever made salted caramels before? Are they tricky? I think they could be a good christmas sweet for giving.
* The new Gourmet Traveller is a good read, nice articles about Reykjavik and Portland (Oregon).
* I need to start my christmas shopping but keep getting way laid by seeing things I myself like, oh yes and really don't need!
* I got my first lot of cherries for the season!

1, 2, 3, 4

Catching Up

2011-11-30T16:45:00.003+10:00

My apologies for being a slack blogger lately, it seems that cold/hayfever I had didn’t disappear rather it turned into a sinus infection and I’ve been feeling pretty blah. But I think I’m on the mend and looking forward to catching up on all the new posts and writing back to emails and getting my head back in this space. December tomorrow, can't quite believe that!

Island Menu Christmas Cards

2011-11-23T19:15:00.004+10:00

I am very excited to share a little project Sam and I have been working on for Island Menu over the past few months....christmas recipe cards. Yes thinking about christmas that far in advance was no easy task (for us!) but we got there in the end and I am so proud of the results. I can vouch that each recipe on the cards is worth giving a whurl, but I particularly love the champagne poached salmon...totally decadent and perfect for that time of year, ooh and the cocktail of course! If you are interested you can purchase them here.

This weekend.....

2011-11-20T18:07:00.003+10:00

was a Bruny Island weekend, so nice to get away, and I managed to kick my bad hayfever/cold I had at the end of last week. The boys caught some calamari and now it's sitting in my fridge waiting for me to come up with an idea of how to cook it.

Varpunen

2011-11-16T19:43:00.005+10:00

Really love these graphic pvc storage baskets from Varpunen, that top one in particular! I'm sure I could find a use for it, also loving a few other graphic print things right now like this iphone cover and this one, lisa stickley bag and these castle pillow cases (so awesome!).

Duck egg sponge is now up on Island Menu too!

different but the same

2011-11-13T20:42:00.004+10:00

I have been feeling a bit blerg about my photographs lately and actually deleted a whole heap without keeping any which is quite unusual for me, but this weekend I feel a bit better about things. Sometimes I feel like I always go to the same places and see the same things and just end up taking different -but-the-same pictures in my house. I need to mix it up!

Anyway the weekend has been a really good one, went to the farmers market looking for asparagus but came home with more peonies, visited the Market and saw Sarah's lovely stall, and then came home to work on an Island Menu post that will be up early this week (i think!). All in all rather nice.

the mod collective

2011-11-12T16:09:00.003+10:00

beautiful porcelain pieces from the mod collective, I think I like the orange and pale pink pieces the best, for today anyway, I'm sure another day I could be swayed another way!

Lately...

2011-11-09T21:06:00.005+10:00

I know I’ve been a terrible blogger lately, things have been kinda busy but in a really good way, like doing some exciting things for Island Menu. I’ll let you know when I can! The sun has been out and so are the peonies (pretty sure they might make me sick but I still had to get some!), I've been enjoying watching Simon Hopkinson's The Good Cook - I have so much to learn, and listening to the new Wilco album especially Art of Almost.

This weekend.....

2011-11-06T22:30:00.003+10:00

some seriously good strawberry's at a friends farm Hillwood, not to mention amazing blue sky weather!

Loom

2011-11-02T19:55:00.001+10:00

Every now and again I go and do the stupid thing of looking at the rugs from loom, they are all so beautiful - I particularly like the vintage ones.

Midnight in Paris

2011-11-01T19:38:00.006+10:00

I saw Midnight in Paris tonight, which I have been looking forward to seeing ever since I saw the posters for it while I was actually in Paris earlier this year. It made me want to go back, but really not to the touristy parts, more to just be able to wander and take pictures and eat at small interesting places and imagine what it would be like to live in those building with the beautiful roofs. I liked the film too after the first part, it was nicely quirky, Hemingway and Dali were good, Picasso less convincing. I have to say I didn't realise they were going to be characters in the film, but that was cool.

oh and by the way Sam has updated the Island Menu site and I think it looks great, plus we have a new Gallery section.

Marise Maas

2011-10-27T18:39:00.006+10:00

I am still catching up on blog posts after having a week off, and tonight got to the Design Files. I was so pleased to see an interview with Marise Maas, an artist whose work I have loved and coveted for quite a few years now. Last December she had an exhibition at the Bett Gallery and I was very tempted, such lovely pieces.

images 1, 2,3

This time of year

2011-10-26T19:41:00.002+10:00

I like this time of year so much, when there is time to go to the pub for several hours after work, it's still light and warm and you can walk to the post office to collect the last little bit of an anthropologie order, cook scrambled eggs at home and search for a cd you cannot find - but them stumble across another you have been looking for for years (Junior Kimborough- check out Meet Me In the City)! For some reason the light and little bit of warmer air make such a difference and life feels so much better.I needed that.

Pics are kind of unrelated but I did make some strawberry and rhubarb compote for my porridge.

Lately...

2011-10-23T14:56:00.006+10:00

Sorry for the radio silence, I had the week off work and it seems I needed a week off blogging too. Rather fantastically it has felt longer than just a week and for the first time in ages I actually feel relaxed, quite sure the warm weather has a lot to do with that too!

So for my week off I spent half of it in Sydney which was great. Finally got to visit Pure and General and was not disappointed at all, that place is so beautiful and Linda was very kind and friendly, oh and passed on a great suggestion for lunch (Fratelli Paradiso). Back at home I saw Jeff Martin for the bazillionth time but he was impressive as always oh and did some taste testing for Island Menu (there is some good stuff coming up)!

Interior Love

2011-10-12T21:24:00.003+10:00

Love Jane Cumberbatch's place, such nice light and space. Oh and that kitchen!!
Found via Design Sponge

chocolate cupcakes

2011-10-10T20:02:00.006+10:00

A friend asked if I would mind making some cakes or cupcakes for a fair she was involved in, all for a good cause (social justice no less) so of course I said yes.... then had a mild panic attack at the supermarket on friday night after work not knowing what would be best to make. Brought some dark chocolate and sprinkles with the thought in mind that everyone likes chocolate, and then wonderfully found that my copy of the new Primrose Bakery book had arrived in the mail! I used their recipe and they turned out beautifully (yes I had a wee taste test). I would highly recommend the book, next on my list is the croissants, of course I'd really just rather go back to the store...yep.

oh and if you are interested the tea towel is by lisa rupp via etsy, I have both designs and they are beautiful!

also strawberry flan over on Island Menu

Weekending

2011-10-09T12:50:00.005+10:00

It's been a blink and you miss it kinda weekend, lots (and I mean lots) of cooking, crazy rain, strawberry picking, bored to death episodes, and a good sleep in!

Once again!

2011-10-06T20:15:00.002+10:00

Like a whole lot of people I loved the film Once, love the Frames and the Swell Season too, so I can't wait to see this film. Glen's voice when he goes off....awesome!

Gold

2011-10-05T20:54:00.003+10:00

I'm not a big jewellery person but every now and again find pieces I really like, such as the little frame necklaces from Wsake and the bangle (bracelet?) from Odette via Wiksten. Love love.

Also gold is Mark Ronson and the Business Intl doing somebody to love you on triple j presents (at the enmore - love that venue) that's now up on iview - forgot how much I love that song and yet another gig I wish I'd been to but didn't get to, damn living in Hobart can have some drawbacks : ) But really only a few.

Good Mail Lately...

2011-10-04T21:18:00.003+10:00

It's nice when there's a small packet in your letterbox at the end of the day, particularly when they are lovely and inspiring!

Bread

2011-10-03T20:06:00.005+10:00

So I have baked three loaves of bread in the last three weeks! So good is this recipe that even I, as someone who is not big on bread, have eaten far too much. As you can see they all look a little different and I'm not sure why that is, but the taste is good and it is so simple. I wanted to share the recipe, it is from the Autumn 2010 3191 Quarterly (by the way did you see there will be another year, so great I've already signed up!)

Ingredients
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup whole meal flour (I've been using the callington mill flour)
1/4 teaspoon dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons honey
1 cup tepid water
1/2 cup of beer (I've been using cascade pale ale but was talking to my stepbrother and he suggested coopers could be nicer - I tend to agree)
1 teaspoon white vinegar

for the seed crust:
1 egg beaten
anything you like really but I've been using a mix of poppy, sesame and pumpkin seeds.

Combine the flours, yeast, salt and whisk together in a large bowl. Mix in the water, beer, honey and vinegar until the dough comes together. Cover with cling wrap and leave overnight.

The next day turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth (not too many times). Line a pan with baking paper sprayed with vegetable oil (the same size or as close in size to a cast iron pot- that has a lid). Cover with cling wrap and let sit for another few hours (2 or so).

About half an hour before you are ready to bake turn the oven onto 260 celcius and place your cast iron pot and lid in the oven to warm (not the one with the dough). Brush the top of the dough with the egg mix and sprinkle with seeds and score the dough. Take the cast iron out of the oven remove the lid and carefully move the dough on the baking paper into the hot pot. Place the lid back on and place it back in the oven. Lower the temperature to 220 celcius and cook for 30 minutes, after this time carefully remove the lid and continue to cook for another 20 minutes. Once cooked remove from the pan and allow to cool completely on a rack. The bread should sound hollow when you knock it on the bottom.

that's it, eat with butter or toasted with butter and vegemite!

Big Week

2011-09-26T20:30:00.004+10:00

This week I'm so excited because Sam and I are guest posting over on the Design Files for Island Menu one of my most favourite blogs ever.

I'm also excited cause DJ Shadow is live at the wireless on triple j tonight and he is seriously good, I wish I had made the decision to go to Melbourne to see him rather than dither around about it until it was too late! oh well.

A good monday!

Ranunculus

2011-09-25T17:40:00.003+10:00

In the last two weekends I have been to Bunnings twice, generally I think I might go once a year! The reason for the trips is the $4.95 ranunculus plants, a white one last weekend and a red/orange one this week, slightly cheaper than market flowers and a little different too. And I think the red one looks kinda good stuck in the orla storage jar!

Can't believe the weekend is over already, have a great week!

2011-09-22T22:01:00.002+10:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I had to send my computer to the mac shop for a few days and now it is back home and functioning as it should, such a relief, a new computer was definitely not in the budget!

Also I feel I should clarify my reference to kitchen chaos in my last post because I realise by saying that I sound like a bit of a burke! : ) Perhaps it was more of a feeling I was experiencing, I was cooking on the table because the bench was completely covered in mess I think that is the shot I should have taken instead....probably/definitely not as nice though! Next time.

Cooking

2011-09-19T08:17:00.003+10:00

Lots of cooking going on this weekend: porridge with blueberries and golden syrup, the best bread for home baking (more on that later) and some new things for Island Menu. In the middle above you can see the behind the scenes chaos! I'm not a tidy cook unfortunately : )

Head Fog

2011-09-15T19:59:00.004+10:00

One more day till the weekend, thank goodness! I've have been in a bad sinus head fog all week and it makes me so tired, that and the new neighbours party last night, I feel like such a grandma but really isn't 1am too late for pumping music on a wednesday? Tonight I got home from work and actually took these photographs, that means it is getting much lighter finally, I'm quite excited about that!

This weekend I'm looking forward to maybe baking some bread (I think the one in the 3191Q with pumpkin, sesame and flax seed crust), reading, some shopping and probably a big sleep in (or two) oh and hopefully Submarine. Bring it on I say.

two good things in one

2011-09-14T20:56:00.002+10:00

Beautiful Bon Iver sans vocoder (it always amazes me why people who can sing use those things!) and beautiful Iceland to go with it. oh now I really want to go back.

Mr Kitly

2011-09-12T18:28:00.001+10:00

Seriously nice nice! All from Mr Kitly

Le Sofa

2011-09-11T22:55:00.004+10:00

So after going on and on about it for goodness knows how long, here it finally is! A shot of my new sofa. We are starting to get along a bit better now after the initial shock of 'my goodness it's a french behemoth'. Sure it isn't the sleek stylish scandinavian piece I had in mind but I suspect in summer when the sun streams through that window it will be a prime spot for reading. Perhaps it just needs a few more cheerful cushions....I'm still not 100%...!

By the way please excuse the so so shots, it seems to be quite difficult to photograph. Oh yeah and my beat up architraves!

Random

2011-09-07T21:31:00.008+10:00

A rather random collection of things I have my eye on right now:
art history poster
tote bag
cushion
saltwater sandals
watch

Pie

2011-09-06T21:15:00.001+10:00

The pie recipe is up on Island Menu, if you are interested.

This weekend.....

2011-09-04T21:01:00.004+10:00

crazy grey skies
a celebratory evening on Bruny Island
lemon/passionfruit meringue pie
Skins season 5
not enough sleep

September

2011-09-01T21:17:00.005+10:00

Happy September!

I’m ok with claiming that September 1st means spring! The weather might not have co-operated today but I’m sure it will (staying optimistic!). So here are some seriously beautiful floral arrangements I pinned a while ago from honey of a thousand flowers. When thinking about to write about earlier today the line from the Devil Wears Prada came into my head, you know something along the lines of “florals for spring….how original”. Nothing wrong with florals for spring I say! : )

Beginners

2011-08-31T21:55:00.002+10:00

Last night I went to the State to see the film Beginners with Ewan McGregor, I had seen the preview and thought it might be good but was surprised by how much I really did like it. It was sweet and nicely quirky, and I now would like a little wiry jack Russell called Arthur. I give it two thumbs up.

Oh and couch d-day (delivery day) was yesterday, I’m in two minds about it …like I thought I would be. Let’s just say for my little flat it is a big piece of furniture. I will post some pics after the weekend.

This Weekend

2011-08-28T16:58:00.006+10:00

I don't have many words tonight, I feel tired but haven't done anything to make me feel this way. It's been a weekend of doing things that should have been done already, cleaning up and clearing out. Sometimes I feel I have waaay too much stuff for one person. It can be overwhelming, don't think I actually need a third of it!

Random

2011-08-25T18:22:00.002+10:00

* Apparently supermarket sponges are nice if you fill them with home made raspberry jam and cream and decorate yourself! Good for last minute birthday cakes. It was my mum's, we had take away pad thai, watched Arthur and ate cake. Rather enjoyable.
* Will I get a phone call tomorrow letting me know my couch will be delivered on saturday? Going on the last few weeks experience it is unlikely, but a little part of me is still holding out some hope.
* The weather has been insanely warm (well for Hobart, 22 in winter!), good for blossom, not so much my head. It all cracked up this afternoon anyway, bound not to last.
* I need some new music. Preferably not Gotye, I did like it, then my new neighbour played it on repeat....a lot. Forced listening, not good. Over it now.

Violet

2011-08-22T21:12:00.001+10:00

When I was in London I had the intention of stopping by violet cakes, I think I had read about it in a Jamie mag and it sounded like a must visit place. But because I had so little time never made it there, seeing the photographs on Narumi's blog makes me wish I really had. Serious cupcake love! I think I'd have to have a french apricot...but then salted caramel....!

Weekending

2011-08-21T21:39:00.005+10:00

Still making the most of the poppies around here! Actually I am amazed, the last time I had poppies for only two days before they had to go, I'm usually so allergic to flowers like that.

This weekend has been one of two halves, yesterday I felt a bit sick and bored (that dreaded b word!) and watched a few movies. Then today the sun came out, I went to the farmer's market, the gym, did three loads of washing, and an island menu post. Now I'm enjoying a hot blackcurrant drink made with syrup from the market and listening to led zeppelin (Since I've Been Loving You), perfect sunday night.

Jane Eyre

2011-08-18T21:02:00.006+10:00

I’ve written about three draft posts lately and scrapped them all, guess I’m still feeling a bit unsure of what to write here. Anyway it’s been pretty uneventful this week. But I did get to finally see Jane Eyre (why is Australia so slow at getting films? It’s the same with Midnight in Paris) and despite the fact that it is a much lighter version with big omissions and changes, I actually rather liked it, a lot. Perhaps more than other versions.

I might have mentioned it but Jane Eyre is my all time favourite story, and strangely now every time I go back to it, which is probably once a year, think of Nenah Cherry and Youssou N'Dour's song 7 seconds. I had this song on (very) heavy rotation the first time I ever read the book, I think I was about 13. The two have become intertwined.

Things Lately

2011-08-14T16:44:00.006+10:00

Time seems to be going really fast right now, I want it to slow down, last week was quick but this weekend has been even faster!

- Last thursday the postman dropped off a rather large and exciting box, I splurged at Anthropologie when the dollar hit $1.10 US! Everything is beautiful (you can see a few things above - the bowl with the eton mess, and the notebooks and some pillow cases that are in the bottom shot), I'm so glad I just did it.

- I think it's because spring must be on the way but I've been thinking a lot about growing more plants in pots on my front porch and have now planted some baby carrots (not sure how they will go in a pot), rocket, lemon thyme and icelandic poppies for pretty colour.

- I've been listening to Watch the Throne (not too bad!), watching 24 Hour Party People (very good- and Ian Curtis' death was easier to deal with than in Anton Corbijn's Control), Never Let Me Go (somewhat disturbing) and reading Inheritance

- Apparently I like orange, who knew! I would never have said so but I've noticed it a lot in my things lately.

Hope you all had great weekends!

Kinfolk

2011-08-10T18:55:00.004+10:00

Have you seen Kinfolk Magazine yet? It has been out for a little while now and features some great stories on food and gathering with friends. I can’t wait for my paper copy to arrive (although I’m glad it didn’t turn up the past few days, my postman has a habit of leaving things out in the rain!). The journal is really great too and I was so excited to see a little post about Island Menu! Very kind words.

By the way thank you for all your kind words on my last post too, it seems what I'm writing about is ok, but I might do a little more on Hobart too : )

Your thoughts?

2011-08-08T18:24:00.004+10:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I think I have been at a bit of a loss as to what to actually blog about and photograph. What do you all like seeing/reading here most? I could set up one of those survey thingys but honestly I would just love your thoughts.

I’m sure the winter weather isn’t helping my inspiration much either, it’s just grey grey, with some crazy rain in the mix. I think I need to learn to embrace it....somehow.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

By the way did you catch Sam's great little film over on Island Menu...I think it's so great.

1,2,3,4

2011-08-01T20:38:00.007+10:00

1. baby cauliflowers, how cute are they. I got them from Salamanca market on saturday, I went down while Sam did some filming for an island menu video! So exciting I think it looks great and it will be up in the middle of the week. Oh and a bulmers cider for breakfast at knoppies is not such a bad thing : )
2. chicky chick Lola, she's so lovely
3. a change from my usual tulips
4. coquilles st jacques

also I wish I had been at splendour this weekend! ugh!

on the corner of my street

2011-07-31T21:18:00.004+10:00

blossom!! so exciting, I hope it really is a sign spring is on the way.

Doughnuts

2011-07-28T20:25:00.005+10:00

Last weekend I made doughnuts for Island Menu, I was so pleased with how they turned out!

Pastels

2011-07-25T22:00:00.001+10:00

Going a bit crazy for pastels at the moment, especially a hint of pale pink and yellow. I particularly love the pikku cushion, I'm expecting a new sofa, in the next week or so and I wonder if it would work on that. Finally!! yay! Not the perfect dream sofa, I found that after I had ordered this one, as is the way, but still I think it will be cosy.

left to right, top to bottom:
Rennes pouch
Pikku cushion
Donna Wilson Plate
Green planter
Patterned notebook
Donna Wilson cushion
cross cushion in watermelon
yellow vessels from Perch design

Oatlands

2011-07-24T16:23:00.011+10:00

The sun has been out this weekend and it has been beautiful, crispy cold but still very nice! Yesterday I went for a drive to Oatlands, had a very nice pot pie and hot chocolate for lunch at the Companion Bakery, and a wander around town. It's good to get out of Hobart every now and again. The rest of the weekend has been quiet, I've been a homebody, also a good thing to do every now and again! I hope you had a lovely weekend with some sunshine too!

Pure and General

2011-07-20T20:49:00.006+10:00

Regardless of the fact that it has been featured in every magazine I’ve looked at for the last month and it feels a little hyped up, I still really would like to visit the new store Pure and General in Sydney. Word is it’s like Merci in Paris (and I seriously loved that store!) so even if it is only one tenth as good as Merci then it still must be good. Love the look of the wooden spoons, and white ceramics, oh and pretty much everything!

Market Baskets

2011-07-19T21:26:00.004+10:00

I’ve been eyeing off various market baskets for a while now, I don’t have one of my own (the white kikki.k one in the post below belongs to my mum and I keep nicking it!) but they are so handy. I can’t decide whether to go with the traditional straw one or mix it up a bit.

straw basket with tan handles
kikki.k plastic basket
straw basket with green handles
white straw basket
blonde and brown woven basket
black and white stripe basket

This Weekend

2011-07-18T21:19:00.002+10:00

Thank you for letting me have a whinge last week, and for all your great suggestions! I particularly liked the music one so this has been playing quite a bit lately, some nice pop (who knew Jason Schwartzman was a good singer, not surprising though...I have a soft spot for him). I've been to the gym exactly four times in four days and I think that helps as well. The weekend was a quiet one, I can't stop sneezing, so bizarre, I took some shots for Island Menu but that is about all. I really need to go somewhere different with the camera, a plan for next weekend perhaps. I hope everyone had a lovely one out there!

Winter blah

2011-07-13T22:59:00.004+10:00

Winter kicked up a gear this week and so did my feelings of intense dislike, I find it depressing - the cold, the dark, the wind, the only thing I don’t mind is the occasional bit of rain turning to snow. I felt so low and frustrated on Monday night, I was doing exactly what I hate, sitting on top of the heater watching tv….. SO NOT PRODUCTIVE (or inspiring)! So last night I went to the state cinema and saw The Trip it was entertaining and silly and then came home and did the pile of dishes that had been growing out of control. Now if I can only work out how to motivate myself to go to the gym after work rather than just on weekends I will feel even better. So I am most curious, how do you motivate yourself to do things when you feel low?

On a much brighter note Sam has a brilliant post up on Island Menu, a pea, lamb and mint broth, it looks seriously good!

hellebores

2011-07-09T12:43:00.001+10:00

Seven Things

2011-07-07T21:19:00.004+10:00

Earlier this week small catalogue tagged me, I loved her theme of green and the muppets, two things I’m rather fond of myself! Anyway I’ve done a few tags before so instead here are seven things from this week so far:

1. there have been two songs on the hitlist this week: blue veins by the saboteurs/raconteurs (depending on your part of the world) recently I watched a film called It Might Get Loud and it was so good, and has sparked a new appreciation of Jack White, Jimmy Page is of course a legend. The other song is crystalline by bjork, particularly love the very end of the song where the beats kick in it’s awesome!

2. I’m enjoying the strawberries from queensland, it feels nice to have a hint of summer in this particularly cold icy week of winter

3. I purchased Marion’s cookbook, at first I think this was because the fluro pink was too tempting not to bring home, but then I think there are some great recipes in there that I’m looking forward to trying – custard tarts with Maggie Beer's sour cream pastry, and deep fried poached eggs…yum!

4. I stayed home yesterday with a sinus headache and slept a loooong time, I still feel a bit blah and I’m wondering if I’m coming down with a cold. Yuk.

5. I wish I could spend some time in a Swedish country house like Elisabeth’s from Fine Little Day, it looks so fantastic and relaxing.

6. Thursday night = warm cinnamon teacake and french food safari oooh I want to go back right now

7. I saw the snow on the mountain this afternoon and it looked beautiful and so distant.

This weekend...

2011-07-03T21:01:00.005+10:00

In winter you really do live for the weekends, I'm noticing it more and more lately. This one was a good one, I went out on a boat on the Derwent for the second time this week. Quite unusual, but something that should be done more often. The first time was on thursday night for a work thing, something called the economist challenge, essentially a drinking competition and no I am most definitely not an economist! We saw dolphins, it was kinda cool. Then on saturday we celebrated a friend's 30th birthday and went out to mona. I'm undecided about what to think of it all, but I had been excited to see the Basquiat work and I wasn't disappointed in that. You can read more about our trip to mona on Island Menu tomorrow, but for now I'm going to call it an early night, read and listen to wilco.

Stuck on an Island

2011-06-30T19:13:00.002+10:00

I find the title of this post half amusing and half depressing, because right now it’s true. I’m stuck on an island. I know Tasmania seems to be gaining a bit of a reputation as a great place to visit, and it definitely is, but living here in winter…ugh it’s driving me a bit crazy. I need to break out.

Fiona posted the other day about how she had been thinking about her deserted island must haves and put it out there for us to join in, so I am, please play along to!

food:
starter: green olives, soft cheese and some nice crackers
drink: mojito (made with vodka not rum)
main: a tomato based pasta of some kind either amatriciana, puttanesca or this pasta peperonata is really good too
desert: a cupcake from Primrose Bakery

music:
Only one artist is supremely difficult to choose but then I know it would sigur rós (oh and perhaps cheekily Jonsi’s solo work too). Their music is beautiful and so varied, it can be up and down, heavy or calming, it covers all the bases. I don’t think I would ever get sick of them.

object:
I think it would have to be a camera, I say a camera because preferably it would be a Cannon 5D, which I really really want but currently don't use. I figure for my deserted island i can have what I want : )

hobby:
I could say cooking, because frequently I choose to make things at odd times and find it quite peaceful and relaxing, but then sometimes I really don’t feel like it at all, so I don’t think that would be my deserted island hobby. Perhaps it would be reading both magazines and books like The Flavour Thesaurus, Anthology magazine or the The Hound of the Baskervilles (never read a Sherlock Holmes story yet but I think I would like them!).

Lately...

2011-06-26T20:25:00.005+10:00

I didn't blog much last week I'm afraid, I haven't been taking so many photo's of late and for some reason I don't like blogging without my own picture to share. I think it has something to do with the limited hours of daylight at the moment!

Anyway I have....
- been out for dinner with my Mum to Le Provencal - seriously is there anything better than beautifully cooked eye fillet, masses of Bearnaise sauce and pommes frites, I suspect not.
- been watching the last few episodes of gossip girl from season 4, there's nothing highbrow about it but I do enjoy it!
- reading my anthology magazine, so good, especially when some Australian mags feel a little bit tired and repetitive at the moment
- celebrated Ozmas yesterday with friends, it doesn't matter that it isn't July yet. A car in the front yard with a tree attached, good food, some spicy captain morgans, bingo and kerplunk and some skilled balancing made for an entertaining time.
- been reading On Beauty since I was in Sweden, that is the slowest I've taken to read a book in quite some time, I'm not sure if that's the book or the way my brain has been lately.
- celebrated my Dad's birthday with carrot cake today

2011-06-21T21:22:00.004+10:00

More ceramic/pottery goodness that I have been admiring of late, these pieces are by Katherine Mahoney found via cloth. They are so beautiful. I think you could say I have a growing love for ceramics!

oh by the way thank you for the comments about my slippers, they are from white noise maker on etsy, perfect for the miserable winter we are having! I thoroughly dislike winter!

Weekending

2011-06-19T17:13:00.005+10:00

Friday

2011-06-17T17:56:00.002+10:00

Happy friday! It's been cold here lately (above are some pics from the top of Mt Wellington last week) but luckily today was twice as warm as yesterday so I have high hopes for the weekend and some quiet time planned. I hope you all have a lovely one!

Also a new post on Island Menu!

Agneta Livijn Ceramics

2011-06-16T21:14:00.005+10:00

I saw Agneta Livijn's ceramics in NK in Stockholm and felt so impressed by them they are incredible, especially the simple white pieces, just beautifully made. I didn't want to carry any home for fear they might break and in the hope I might be able to order some on line. I did email Agneta and they would ship to Australia and it is a whole lot of expensive, but maybe it is nice to just admire from afar. It has inspired me to want to take a ceramics class maybe over the summer.

Oh also I joined up on Pinterest, wow it's fantastic I am already addicted!

Garland

2011-06-15T20:57:00.003+10:00

I meant to show my confetti system garland that I used for decorating my birthday dinner, it is seriously so beautiful and I love that it is hand made. I was so tempted to get a pinata but I didn't have anywhere to hang it and the thought of smashing it was too sad. I love this idea here though of hanging it as a decoration...hmmm.

London

2011-06-14T20:24:00.016+10:00

So today is my final post on my holiday, I can’t believe I have already been home now for several weeks ugh! Anyway London was my final stop for a few days before flying back to Australia and at first it seemed a little strange to be back in an English speaking country, I missed being curious and not understanding what people were saying! Not having a lot of time, I saved the Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert (both very high on my list) for my next trip I just didn’t want to rush through them. Instead I did some more general sightseeing and tried to get my bearings just a little.

The food in London was great, I had pizza at neals yard deli, fish and chips and mushy peas with some really nice organic cider for lunch at Canteen in Baker Street, poached eggs and salmon for breakfast at Fortnum and Mason, and a lemon cupcake at the Primrose Hill Bakery in Covent Garden. That shop is so sweet, I loved the rabbit door stop and the people eating a selection of cakes to decide what they wanted for their wedding, the girls working there were nice and chatty and let me take a few shots inside. I also ended up rather randomly going to the Hummingbird Bakery too, I was walking towards the tube station in Kensington and heard a girl say to another ‘oh hummingbird is just around the corner’. Of the two I confess I liked Primrose the best.

I walked around Notting Hill and just loved wandering - taking a few shots and seeing all the flowers everywhere in bloom. I visited Liberty and thought the rug room was so amazing, spent some pennies in Anthropologie (I was impressed that place deserves the kudos it gets) and at Orla Kiely, loved Selfridges and hated the ten minutes I spent in Harrods : )

I felt so sad having to pack my bags and go back home, it’s nice to feel so free and do and see completely new things everyday. I know a lot of it is about your state of mind and if you try to think of the everyday at home in a different light it can help but sometimes, like now in the depth of winter I just want to plan for another trip!

Sunday

2011-06-12T21:31:00.007+10:00

1. Going out - please excuse my poor battered oxfords I wore them around europe and they are dead but I am waiting for these new ones from elk to arrive before I turf them out.
2. Grumpy boy Angus - hates having his picture taken but he's so dreamy and soft and beautiful.
3. My new milk bottle holder in perfect nick, I couldn't not bring it home.
4. Passionfruit icing cupcakes for afternoon tea with my grandmother.

Soooo glad tomorrow is another day off, I hope you are enjoying the long weekend if you are lucky enough to have one too!

Reykjavik and the south coast of Iceland

2011-06-09T20:59:00.015+10:00

Apologies for the light posting this week, it has been cold, wet and miserable here and it has made me feel a bit flat… but never mind tomorrow is Friday and we have a long weekend coming up and that is a good thing! So tonight I thought I would share some photographs from visiting Reykjavik and the south coast of Iceland.

Originally I had planned to spend a full week in Sweden, which would have been ideal, but then I started looking at maps and realising that Iceland was much closer than I originally thought. It seemed crazy not to go! I’ve always loved music from Iceland I grew up mad about Bjork and then later Sigur Rós and most recently Ólöf Arnalds and Seabear, so I felt rather drawn to it.

Coming in on the plane was so beautiful with the stark land, black coast and blue/turquoise water, then the drive to Reykjavik through the lava fields, I’m pretty sure I had a crazy grin on my face the whole time.

I only had a few days to explore, one and a bit for Reykjavik, which is stark but really cool at the same time with the different coloured buildings, and another for a long bus tour along the south coast to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. Going past some beautiful waterfalls, the glaciers, black sand deserts and several of the volcanoes, none of which had any activity going on while I was there! I loved it but found the bus tour rather frustrating with not being able to stop where I wanted to take photographs so I think next time hiring a car would be the best idea.

I also think it would be a wonderful place to go with a group of friends, to go out and have drinks, enjoy the looong daylight hours and just have a laugh, sometimes it's not so easy to do that when you travel alone.

this weekend...

2011-06-06T21:18:00.003+10:00

*I had the most indulgent breakfast on Saturday - pain au chocolat (I seem to have developed a taste for them) and hot chocolate, but I finally broke my gym drought and went for the first time since getting back – it wasn’t as bad as it might have been.
*Made a trip to the Drill Hall in New Norfolk and as always came away with new items on my wish list, this time a beautiful French terracotta bowl, only $185…um maybe not just now.
*Listened to the new Beastie Boys and Seabear interchangeably, they couldn’t be more different and yet I love both
*Prepared another post for Island Menu, Sam has a new post up today from visiting Pedra Branca, which is a looong way south in a not huge boat - I love his film of the birds diving for fish.
*Did not have time to look through my growing magazine pile : (

What did you do?

Stockholm

2011-06-04T16:48:00.016+10:00

After Barcelona I said goodbye to my Mum and flew solo to Stockholm. I LOVE Stockholm it is beautiful and cool and I didn’t heave nearly enough time there! The days I had there were the only cold ones on the whole trip but despite that and the rain I had a great time exploring, such a great city to walk around.

I visited Gamla Stan and the fantastic buildings and the sweet letter boxes (at least I think they are letter boxes) in the shape of houses, the flowers in pots everywhere (Australian’s really don’t use flowers enough), the beautiful food in Östermalms Saluhalll, Ahlens and the homeware section in NK – that I had to walk away from because it was too overwhelmingly good and none of it I could carry home – the Vasa museum, Moderna Museet and Södermalm where I wandered around and followed my google map to Manos Karin Eriksson’s beautiful shop. Karin was so kind and friendly and I would have loved to bring more of her work home but am very happy with the little dish I did get. I also brought home some Camilla Engman printed cards (as she had visited the store only a few days before me).

After visiting Manos I had the biggest hot chocolate (it was a full bowl) and yum-oh blueberry pie at Gilda’s café (on Oscar Lucinda's suggestion, thank you so much I loved it), followed by a lot more walking after such a bit sugar hit!

My time went so fast in Stockholm and I cannot wait to go back it is on the top of my list, I would love to see it in full summer with the leaves on the trees but also in winter I am sure it is magical too.

Wish list: brights

2011-06-01T17:45:00.006+10:00

because it's winter and I need some brights to get me through!

canvas bag
michi fat carpenter pencils
Jonsi, Alex and Kjartan poster (I have ordered one of these and can't wait for it to arrive!)
Detaljer book ( nearly got this in Stockholm but didn't and now I wish I had because you don't seem to be able to purchase it online)
Dior nail varnish in Aloha

Barcelona

2011-05-31T21:16:00.002+10:00

So moving on to the next city of my holiday - Barcelona!
I still don't quite know what I think of it, half the time I was so conscious of what everyone, including the hotel (which I highly recommend), had said about pick pockets etc that I think it might have partially clouded my judgment, but in saying that we (my mum and I) had no problems at all and had a lovely time.

I found it so fantastic seeing the Gaudi building's, particularly the Casa Batlló, very cool and I wish we had gone inside but the line was so long and we had already lined up for the Sagrada Família. The Sagrada was a bit incomprehensible for me, the ceiling inside is beautiful but how does someone's brain come up with that, and the fact that it is still being worked on was interesting too.

We visited the Picasso museum housed in a lovely old building and I saw some of his ceramics for the first time, which has been the start of my new found wish to learn how to do that myself! And we had a wander around the botanical gardens in the rain and I learnt that after following my mother around plant nursery's all my life I'm not too shabby on some latin names.

The other big discovery for us in Barcelona was not the architecture or art but finding the COS store! All I can say is my bank balance was a lot lighter after visiting there, and I am heartbroken that there isn't one in Australia : )

The food that we had was a little hit and miss, I had a fantastic cocktail with vodka, apple and ginger and some lovely tapas but a somewhat disappointing paella.

I'm sure there is so much more to do in Barcelona and we only scratched the surface but it was definitely worth visiting.

2011-05-30T17:32:00.006+10:00

Today is the day I can finally let you know about a project my friend Sam Shelley and I have been working on for a little while now...it’s called Island Menu and it is our food and photography blog!

I am really so excited about it and we hope to use as much Tasmanian produce as we can source or in Sam’s case (being an enthusiastic fisherman) catch, and we will do individual posts as well as working together.

I really hope you will stop by and take a look!

This weekend...

2011-05-29T17:47:00.005+10:00

...disappeared so fast, I feel I need a weekend after the weekend! I had a new hall cupboard delivered on saturday from store & co. I have been looking for a while but this one it fit the bill so perfectly (there's another shot here). Love the green and off white/cream and I can't wait to spend a bit more time putting things away in there.

I also did some work on another project I've been working on with a friend but more about that tomorrow, right now I need to go sit have a hot chocolate and read a book for a while : )

I hope everyone had lovely weekends too.

Paris

2011-05-26T22:24:00.017+10:00

My first destination for my trip was Paris! I spent just over a week there and my mum and step-dad came along too. We rented an apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th with a fantastic roof top balcony that was really great and so convenient, much nicer than staying in a hotel. The weather was beautiful and warm and sunny, we were exceptionally lucky!

We did a lot of sightseeing and walking around the city, the Musée d'Orsay, Versailles, Monet's house and garden at Giverny, lunch at Ladurée, shopping at Le Bon Marché (Prada loafers to be exact, they were a birthday present to myself! eek), Merci (one of the best stores, with the sweetest cat desperate to spend some time inside) and so much more! Anyway I thought rather than write a day by day account of what we did I’d just post some of the things that I liked most:

the amazing buildings! I have a big soft spot for those grey roofs, and they were just everywhere, I still couldn't quite get my head around that and kept imagining how great it would be to have an apartment in one.
the theatre in the garden at the petite trianon and the petite trianon itself – seriously one of the most outrageous things you can imagine and yet quite beautiful

eating the best crème brulee I've ever had (and I’m not one who normally goes for crème brulee) at a restaurant just near our apartment
this may sound crazy but I loved the supermarkets, the Monoprix with it's catchy music and yoghurt in terracotta tubs and La Grand Epicerie with its far too affordable bottles of Moet that I seem to have developed a taste for
looking for the 'sortie' on the metro
the boat tour on the Seine in the sunshine, so good after nearly 24 hours traveling
the fact that the cafe chairs face the streets and not the person you are with
spending a sunday afternoon walking around le Marais, sitting in a lovely little (non-dusty) park and listening to an accordion band play
seeing a Rousseau in the Musée d'Orsay, absolutely beautiful

and for good measure here are a few more photographs:

The Merci car and our morning tea there, some serious pain au chocolat and lovely fresh drinks
View from our apartment and the view from the balcony in the evening

Monet's house and garden at Giverny, the wisteria was out and looked amazing

Birthday roses

2011-05-24T20:56:00.003+10:00

I celebrated my 30th (yikes!) birthday while I was away in Paris, but on saturday night I had a dinner at home with my friends, we had the juciest pan fried stripey trumpeter, swedish potatoes, champagne, lethal cocktails and cake.

Despite the sore head on sunday I had such a good night and have the most amazing and generous friends. One of my gifts was a bunch of roses from Rose, they are from her nanna's plant and are so so beautiful. Her nanna was just like my surrogate grandmother in many ways so they mean a great deal to me.

Home

2011-05-22T16:51:00.005+10:00

Hello!

After over a month off it kinda feels strange to be blogging again, but a good strange. So yes I have returned from my trip, and yes I want to go right back again! It was wonderful, so many things to see and do, the warm sunshine and long hours of daylight, the different languages and landscapes. I'll do a few more specific posts over the next week or so of the different cities I visited but wanted to check in and say hello! I am looking forward to catching up on all your posts and sending out some emails that I have been a bit slack with.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend?

Heading Off

2011-04-19T16:21:00.002+10:00

Eeep! Tomorrow I am heading off to the complete other side of the world, am I ready for this …. umm nope but I am excited! It seems to have crept up so soon, I thought I’d have time for lots of research and know exactly want I wanted to do. Instead it’s going to be a bit more free form and actually that’s a very good thing. My cities of choice are Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Reykjavik and London. Perhaps I might post a little along the way, I’ll see how it goes, but if not see you on the other side!

In the meantime here are a few links:
· I’m sure by now everyone has seen that Lucy over at The Design Files is doing a special week celebrating Tasmania! Very exciting to see our little town on there. I might have got to help out in a small way (thanks so much Lucy!) so please go visit!
· My friend Rose has started a blog Island Highland, she is in the process of doing some serious house renovations but also plans to share some photographs from her travels around our island state too.
· And just because I think her work is amazing and love her use of colour, the Essimar blog, makes me want to order even more Japanese tape!

Bleak

2011-04-12T21:01:00.003+10:00

Today was bleak, to say the least: misty grey and non-stop rain. I got soaked walking to work and am already fully over getting home in the near dark at the end of the day. It is bleak.

On a brighter note my holiday is a week away, and I shared some of my travel essential's over on Clara's blog. If you have any other traveling tips I'd love to hear them?

kitchen wares

2011-04-11T19:54:00.004+10:00

I’ve been working on a new project with friends, which is really quite exciting but I can’t say too much about it just yet. However we did spend Saturday morning doing a bit of a trek around op shops looking for kitchen ware and found some really great bargains. I’ve also got my eye on these homewares/kitchen wares from around the net, but they are going to have to wait until I return from my holiday, either that or I will try and lug things home with me!

1. and 2. marimekko plates and wooden pastry brush from funkis
3. and 5. napkin and plate from toast

4. chopping boards from neest
6. little check tray from fog linen

7. le cruset french oven peter's of kensington

This Weekend

2011-04-10T20:47:00.003+10:00

My mind is on a million things at the moment so I apologise in advance, I think april is going to be a poor month for blogging. This weekend I had a massive to do list that I haven't even dented, and to be honest all I felt like doing was taking some time out and curling up to re-read Jane Eyre for the umpteenth time. It's one of my favourite stories and I can't wait to see the new film (although I think we have to wait until August here). I hope everyone had a lovely weekend out there.

Sofa

2011-04-05T20:20:00.005+10:00

I’ve wishfully been thinking about a new sofa for quite a long time now, a few weeks ago I even nearly purchased a smart cream-ish coloured one from laura Ashley, but then I got the sample fabric home and it had just a little too much silky gold in the weaving for my liking. So now I’m on the hunt again, trust me searching for furniture like this in Hobart is near impossible, likewise looking on the web because of the freight to get it here! Anyway I saw this one on coco republic and rather liked the syle and the colour (I hadn't thought of this colour till I saw this one), here it is with a few other bits I'd love to go with it.

coco republic sofa
coffee table
photographic print from treefox
rachel castle embroidery
lamp
missoni blanket
basket

Lately

2011-04-03T18:48:00.008+10:00

Sorry things have been very quiet around here, life has been rather busy, definitely in a good way but it hasn't left much brain space for blogging. I now have only two full work weeks (and a few days - but I'm not counting them) until my Europe trip, which I am seriously looking forward to, the thought of having a whole month off blows me away a bit, now I know I should have appreciated those three month summer holidays while I was at uni far more than I did!

I hope everyone has a great week!

(By the way you are all impressive guessers, my parcel was from confetti system)