For My Brother

Image from here.

Safe travels.

I miss you already.

x

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Dear Santa,

I know it's not in the spirit of the season to be concerned with what I'd like to receive (rather than give), but I was hoping you could stuff my stocking with this 'Mr Owl' dress from Me & Oli. I'm desperate for it. Starring vintage buttons and fabric that has been digitally printed from Lalita Lu's hootalicious collage, this is the ultimate summer frock that I have to have. I think it was made for me and my unhealthy obsession with Tawny Frog Owls.

Image: Me & Oli

I'd also be awfully happy to find this plate under our tree....or anything else from the treasure trove that is Century Finds.

Image: Century Finds

That's all for now.

Love,

Me x

Dress - US$ 165; available online from Etsy.

Plate - US$ 15; available online from Century Finds.

Fine and Dandy

Images: Jocks and Nerds Magazine

The Gentlemen of Bakongo

Andre 3000 is in my top five. I thought he was one of a kind. But he is dime a dozen in...the Congo...of all places!

The Gentlemen of Bakongo - The Importance of Being Elegant is a new book by Italian photographer, Daniele Tamagni. It captures the spirit and flair of Les Sapurs - a clique of extraordinarily dressed dandies who imitate the style of of the French and Belgian colonist who seized control of the Congo in the 1880s. In the midst of war and abject poverty, their sharply tailored suits, silk ties and immaculate footwear are a sign of rebellion.

Dapper never looked so good. Sorry Andre!

Pencil It In

Images: Klimit02 Community

Coloured Pencil Jewellery

Circa 1988 and the highlight of my day was using the electric sharpener that was bolted to our teacher's desk to whittle my HB into a Stuart Little sized pencil. Fast forward twenty years and not much has changed. The highlight of my day is still a pencil stub, but this time around it is Maria Christina Bellucci's coloured pencil broaches and rings that are distracting me. I'd love to see what Maria Christina could do with the only heirloom our family has - my mum's prized set of Derwents!

Got it Covered

Images: plushism

Felt iPhone Buddy Case

After fighting the good fight against all things Gen Y, I've finally caved. In the last two weeks I've got on board the Facebook train, and became the proud owner of a shiny new iPhone. Sheesh.

Was it the 3.5 inch screen or bazillion niffty apps that got me over the line? Believe it or not, it was actually this felt cover from plushism that made me an iPhone convert. I love a bit of irony, and what could be more delicious than some handmade felt love for such a whizz bang piece of technology? Plus it looks much better than a plastic case which reminds me of those couch covers.

And if an iPhone isn't your thing, check out plushism's camera cases. It doesn't get much cuter than this!

From US$ 34.80, available from Etsy.

Hang On Every Word...

Images: We Make Words

We Make Words

What? How long has this been going on for?! I usually fancy myself as a finger-on-the-pulse kind of gal, but am I the last one on the block to discover Amy and Luci's superb project - We Make Words?

This clever duo are from Melbourne. They like words and like arranging objects - and lucky for us, they also like taking photos. So simple. So satisfying. Except for 'Nice' which makes me think of a big mouthful of the worlds least appealing biscuit...wafers!

A few of their photographs are available as prints from here.

Found via In Search of the Real Captain KK.

Pretty Pigeon

Images: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Pigeon Toe Ceramics

I've got a mild case of pigeon toes. When I was younger I would concentrate on walking like an over-exaggerated ballerina in the hope my feet would find some sort of middle ground between a pigeon and prima ballerina.

If I had known then what I know now - that my funny little tootsies had something in common with the makers of stop-in-your-tracks porcelain - I wouldn't have wasted so much energy on such a ridiculous caper!

Portland based, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, take two weeks to create each of their pieces. They hand throw each vessel and then embellish them by hand to create unique and organic shapes. I can just picture them grouped in a lovely little collection on our windowsill...or even in a pigeon pair!

From US$ 5.50; available online here.

Psst! Sign up to Pigeon Toe Ceramics' newsletter and get 15% off your first order.

Sweet Dream or Beautiful Nightmare

Images: H30

Richard Nicoll and Linder Sterling Collaborate for I-D Magazine

The quickest way to lose me in a conversation is to say, 'I had the weirdest dream last night....' I don't care for dream analysis and find listening to someone else recounting their dream nauseating. But for some strange reason I'm bizarrely attracted to this editorial from the Inside/Outside issue of I-D Magazine .

Here, British born/Australian raised designer, Richard Nicoll, has teamed up with famed artist (and former punk musician) Linder Sterling, to create pure magic - even if it does look a little like someone's mind mid-dream.

Who knew collage could be so kinky?!

Happy Hour

Image: The Daily Green

Square One Organic Vodka

It's only 10:30am but I'm already imaging happy hour. Surely that's alright if it's already 33 degrees and I'm picturing a Caprioska with certified organic vodka by Square One. Right?! Well that's what I'm telling myself...

From AU $75; call 0408 411 859 for stockists.

My Place and Yours

Through the Front Door

After spotting this, I thought I'd give Meet Me at Mikes' My place & Yours theme, Through the Front Door, a shot.

In the few seconds it takes me to walk up the front path to our joyful front door, everything falls away and I immediately feel peace.

After moving nine times in the last ten years, this finally feels like home. This is my soft place to fall. The place we became a family. And the place that I hung the coat rack up a few millimetres off centre. Since it's the first thing you see as you come in the front door, it always makes me think of my boy. He has spirit level eyes, and pointed out my botched handy(wo)man attempt within a nanosecond of seeing it for the first time. I still haven't lived it down!

Ah. Home again.

Just the Tonic

Image: Nick Lu

Illustration by Nick Lu

I woke up this morning feeling zapped. Flat as a tack. I'm not sure why.

But this piece by Nick Lu changed everything. Its bright pop of colour and soothing simplicity was just the tonic. And like that I was back on track again.

Big Head

Images: Here and Here

Papercraft Self Portrait

I'm no philosopher, but I have often thought about (and laughed at) the age old question:

Would you rather your head was twice as big or twice as small?!

Until I saw Eric Testroete's Halloween '09 costume I was never really sure which I preferred. Inspired by big-head mode seen in video games, Eric created a papercraft head that is sheer brilliance. Now I'm convinced: bigger is better.