Home, sweet swinging home

Oh how I wish it was possible to get Urban Outfitters furniture sent to Australia. I would come home to my converted warehouse apartment with exposed brick walls and original floor boards, mix myself a martini and sit on my mid-century rocking chair with J D Salinger book. How neat!

When I grow up I want to be...

I'm a bit of a wedding tragic you see (and I'm not the engaged one... go figure) so I'll often wander over to Once Wed and check out the amazing weddings they feature. This one particular wedding caught my eye - Max and Margaux's wedding styled/crafted by Ashley Meaders. It's bright, relaxed and so fun - all the things I think a good wedding should be. The photography by Our Labor of Love is equally amazing. Again, let me lament the fact that all this cool stuff happens... in the northern hemisphere.

All her little details are so sweet - like these teabags with little hearts...

And the swing? Well the swing is to die for.

So in summary, when I grow up I want to be Ashley Meaders! Being able to make such gorgeous things for a job? Yes please!

Source of fun...

Hello there!
I've been a little absent because I took myself overseas to LA, San Francisco and New York for a few weeks. So I'm back feeling refreshed and inspired - nothing like a few weeks of summer warmth to make the remnants of Sydney's winter a little more bearable.

I was a particularly slack traveller and took hardly any photos (save for about 10 of the Kwik-E-Mart in Universal Studios...). My lovely dad was actually in San Fran before me and scouted out this amazing paper shop - Paper Source - for me and was even kind enough to get a quick photo.

How amazing is their window display?! If you look closely they're made up entirely of envelopes - so quirky yet resourseful. The shop was a crafty girls Mecca, I literally thought I was going to implode with inspiration. We left with only a few bits and bobs, including this very fun wreath flower kit mum bought for us to make.

I'm a little frustrated that we don't have anything this exciting in Sydney. Paper Source offers up inventive and original products at reasonable prices which is something we're really lacking here. They even offer classes! I'm green just talking about it. And something else that was really refreshing? The shop I went in was manned by two young and trendy guys. Love it.

In summary - check them out here!

What is a marmot anyway?

Got to love this ridiculously chubby marmot eating a cracker. I wasn't kidding when I said I was bored at work you know.

Amuse me Mr Shark

These new pendants from Made By White are made with layers of perspex and laminate which gives them a 3D effect and means the little little pieces inside move around when you shake them, such as the snow flakes in the forest and the contents of the sharks belly. Distraction and amusement while you're bored at work, like I am now.

Building blocks to my stomach

I'm firmly of the opinion that the world should be made of Lego - I think we'd all be much happier! For instance, if I had my sandwich in this cute pink lunchbox I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be feeling so glum on this miserable winter day.

Animated

I love animation. It's more powerful, for me personally, than live action could ever be. I guess it's the ability to make the impossible possible because you aren't restricted by that little thing called reality. I've spent the last hour trying to describe the feeling I get when I'm watching a really incredible animation and I just can't put it into words. So here are a couple of my favourites and maybe you'll understand. My only request if that if you're watching an animated movie that's not in English... use subtitles! Forget dubbing, it ruins a movie's carefully crafted feel and makes it sound like Claire Daines or Billy Crystal. Yuck.

The Triplets of Belleville - just take my word for it. Amazing.


My Neighbour Totoro - this movie has my heart, forever and ever. I literally feel my heart flutter when I watch it.


Coraline - the right mix of creepy and crafty (plus Dawn French always wins me over)


The Missing Key - Jonathan Nix (still due for release)


Just a note on this one - Jonathan Nix almost made me pack up my life move to Melbourne and study animation. He doesn't know who I am nor that he inspired this in me, but back in 2006 when he spoke in our lecture I was so inspired that I considered changing my entire life based on his work. I don't have a speck of this guy's talent so I didn't follow through but his movie "The Missing Key" looks incredible. He was working on it back in 2006 and it's still not out so you could definitely say this was a labour of love. From what I remember he was drawing/painting every still himself. This movie is due for release in 2010 (I believe production pushed it back from its 2009 release date) and I can't recommend highly enough that you hop to and see it when it's out!

And of course the one where it all began... Sailor Moon.