Merry Merry!

Image: Besimo

Just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas - I hope it's a good one!

See you in the new year...

x

Finders Keepers

COOKBOOK

All of my Christmas presents are wrapped - bar one. You see, originally I bought COOKBOOK for one of my nearest and dearest, but now I'm not so sure I can part with it!

COOKBOOK is a letterpress printed collection of recipes from famed Melbourne chefs including Frank Comorra (MoVida), Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc) and Ben Shewry (Attica). Designed by Shona Stark and Lily Tidhar, COOKBOOK also features original prints from Jon Campbell, Ned Culic and Tin & Ed. And if that isn't enough to whet your appetite, then in the true spirit of Christmas, all profits from this little gem go to The Australian AIDS Fund.

Hmmmm...the odds of this slice of Melbourne style and passion making it under the tree are looking pretty remote. I think this one is a keeper!

Limited Edition of 250

AU$ 48; available online at Leeloo.

Shout out - Thanks Evie for putting me on to COOKBOOK!

Bagged It

Nieves Tote

Look at my recent acquisition! I spotted this Nieves Tote in the window of The Betula Store during a recent city adventure. Initially I kept walking but then had to double back and bring it home. It's got a bit of a library bag vibe going on - but I'm feeling it!

AU$ 45; available from The Betula Store (Shop 1, 237 Flinders Lane, Melbourne - Tel: 03 9663 0065)

Brewing Up a Storm

Image: Broadsheet Melbourne

Sensory Lab

I'm totally captivated by the newly opened Sensory Lab. This coffee concept space has theatre, passion and drama. It is dedicated to making sure the story of the coffee bean is told in the clearest possible manner.

With the St Ali crew at the helm, it sails very close to the wind and manages to stay just the right side of pretentious wank. In fact, it got me hook, line and sinker, and I'm probably the only non-coffee drinker in Melbourne!

Sensory Lab is at David Jones - Melbourne

Enter from 297 Little Collins Street, opposite Howey Place

Sound of Summer

Images: Beci Orpin

Beatbox Kitchen

Surely one of the most recognisable sounds of Summer is the tinkle of a Mr Whippy truck. Well, this summer there's a new soundtrack courtesy of the Beatbox Kitchen. Beci Orpin's husband, Raph Rashid, is the ideas man behind this souped up food van.

After its debut at Meredith last weekend, Beatbox Kitchen will be serving up the likes of Shroom Burgers, Chicken Schnitzel Raps and Ice Cream Sandwiches on the North side of the river. So keep your peepers peeled, all you peeps in Brunswick and Fitzroy!

My Place and Yours

I've done it before, so I thought I'd do it again, and play along with Meet Me at Mikes' My place & Yours. This week's theme is Just Five Minutes Peace.

When I'm in desperate need of a cricuit breaker, there's no better place than a quick retreat to the day bed. Perched up high amongst the tree tops, this spot gets the afternoon sun and makes everything feel right again.

Come on Down

Images: Trendir

The Underground Home

Bet you never thought you'd see the day that Coober Pedy, Badger from The Wind in the Willows and the Swiss Village of Vals had something in common. Well here it is - underground homes! This one is designed by SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects and is simply out of this world. Who would have thought it would be possible to seriously covet a hole in the ground?!

A Lot of Hot Air

Video: You Tube

Tokujin Yoshioka Window Installation

Feeling a little frazzled with all the hullabaloo that this time of year brings? Then this weirdly hypnotic installation by Tokujin Yoshioka at Hermès in Tokyo should do the trick.

All together now...breath in...and out...

Smitten Kitten

Images: Sia Music

Sia

Beguiling. Quirky. Charming. I'm smitten with Sia. How could you not be, when she describes herself as 'a unicorn fart'!

This is my favourite song at the moment. It features vocals by Sia and reminds me of my piggie-in-the-middle brother. Everytime I hear it, something strange happens and I have to dance. Go give on, give it a try - you know you want to!

Mousketeer

Images: Fashion Gone Rouge

Minni Im Wunderland

Not sure what's going on here.

You've got top model, Chanel Iman. She's in the desert. And she's wearing Minnie Mouse ears.

But somehow this editorial from the December issue of Vogue Germany works!

Daydream Believer

Image: Two Ruffians

Dream Cloud Necklace

This necklace from Two Ruffians will sort the cup half-full mob from the cup half-empty posse. You see, some will think it's a sweet ode to floating daydreams whilst others will see it as an omen of dreams going up in smoke! I'll take the former thanks...

Au$ 35; available online at Two Ruffians.

Menu Mind Games

Image: New York Magazine

Excerpt from Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value (and How to Take Advantage of It)

Heading out to dinner tonight? Before you go, take a gander at William Poundstone's fascinating look into the marketing tricks built into menus. Who would have thought that something as simple as typography could have you ordering caviar rather than a bowl of chips!

Meat Lovers

Image: Anton Repponen

Feast your eyes on these prosciutto and salami ties. I wonder if they have a Stras version? Or a scratch 'n' sniff bacon tie?!

Birds on a Wire

Image: Beehive Kitchenware Co.

Bird Measuring Spoons

I just found out that 1 tablespoon is the equivalent to 3 teaspoons. So, I guess you could say, a bird in the hand is worth 4.75 teaspoons in the kitchen!

Made from recycled pewter, this adorable set of measuring spoons comes with a copper rack so they can perch on your wall. Tweet! Tweet!

Au$ 140; available from Douglas & Hope (Shop 14, Block Arcade, Melbourne or 181 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)

Keeping it...

Image: Create / Reject

There's no doubting it, this time of year is busy, busy, busy. So, this week I thought I'd keep it short and sweet and deliver up bite sized distractions to get you closer to the holidays.

Enjoy! x

Blown Away

Launch of A Picture Book First and Foremost

You know how you get that rush of adrenalin - that flutter in your heart, when you see something that just blows you away? Well, I was blindsided by that last night.

I've never been a huge fan of Australian pop artist/artist entrepreneur, David Bromley. So, it took me completely by surprise that the launch of his book, A Picture Book First and Foremost, would be one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life.

Bromley calls it his 'folly', but I say it is one of the most captivating spaces in Melbourne. Each room of this faded Victorian-era beauty is furnished completely different from the next. There is a workshop, salon, studio, dining room and bedroom (even though no one lives there). And each room is filled with eccentric treasures, artwork and oddities that Bromley has fossicked for and collected. It felt a little creepy, a little otherworldly - like the pages of a fairytale had come to life. But at the same time the emotive pull of this space is unlike anything I have ever experienced.

It's funny how you can be so wrong about someone. And how one evening can completely change that.

Image: A Picture Book First and Foremost

A Picture Book First and Foremost is available from 14 December.

Standard Edition: AU$ 170; Limited Edition: AU$ 1,500

Available from A Day on Earth (1223 High Street, Armadale, Victoria)

Ps: Sorry the photos are so grainy - I took them on my phone. Like I said, I wasn't anticipating such a night!