States of Nature

Happy New Year

2012-01-19T18:44:00.000+11:00

I love a good wall planner to start off the new year! I guess I have some specific requirements, although not unreasonable I would have thought. I like to see the whole year at a view, so it needs to be at least A2 size. I prefer the weekends to all kind of line up in a row, so that I can see where the clear space is and what is all booked up with activities. And I like the planner to be pretty, and kind of subtle, not all foolscappy and serious. Afterall, I do have to look at it for 12 months.....

So this year I just couldn't find one anywhere that I could even contemplate buying. I looked baby, I looked! Maybe it wasn't out there to be found, or maybe I couldn't get my shopping mojo on (even online? Unheard of!). So I wound up just making one. It's a pdf, it's scalable, and I took it on my USB to get printed out on nice A2 paper for ten bucks.

You can do that too if you like, just click on the link on the left and you can have your own free copy :-) It will be emailed out within 48 hours, so you can plan a trip to Officeworks for the weekend x

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T16:07:00.000+11:00

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to all my lovely States of Nature customers and friends

for your support again in 2011.

It is wonderful to be a part of such a great crafty community,

and each year that passes I am grateful for all the fun events,

hilarious conversation, shared ideas and generosity of spirit

that I encounter through my work.

Now it is beach time! Happy holidays x

I'd like to send a special Christmas wish to all those who are in hospital,

and to all the families of people who are in hospital.

Also a thank you to the staff and support people that help make Christmas

safe and comfortable for people suffering illnesses at this time.

Simone x

Magnolia madness

2011-12-06T13:38:00.001+11:00

Thank you to everyone who came along to visit, it was a busy weekend at Magnolia Square! So much so that I only managed to take some fuzzy photos in a few quiet spots, in between shopping for lovely gifts and catching up with friends. It had a really festive atmosphere and I had the best neighbours, which made it even more fun!

Magnolia Square Malvern

2011-11-28T10:41:00.000+11:00

Oh purleeeeease.... less than a month to Christmas? That can't be right! But lo and behold, a place to get all the gifts sorted in one go, and it starts on Thursday! I will be there (but not with bells on) and OMG there's going to be some serious beauty on display, with the likes of these guys showing their wares.....

Let me just say I plan to drop some serious hints to nearest and dearest... maybe I'll also forward a few web addresses too, just to be on the safe side ; )

Mount Macedon

2011-11-23T16:01:00.001+11:00

On the weekend I spent some time in the Macedon Ranges, and it was so beautiful. I went to a couple of exhibitions and I was really inspired by the bushland and forests. Sometimes if I don't have time to draw, I like to make colour samplers from the photos I take. It's a way for me to consider the element of colour without all the distraction of shape, line and perspective.

While I was there I found out about a couple of workshops that look great. One is in Mount Macedon and one is in the Grampians, and there are lots of textile techniques that I would love to experiment with, the main one being shibori. I love it's simplicity, and the texture and line that is almost reflective of a landscape.

Via here

and here

Melbourne Art and Design Fair

2011-10-31T11:17:00.000+11:00

Ooohhhh it's been a long time between posts! Busy, busy, busy! But come and say hello

next Saturday at the Melbourne Art and Design Fair - it's a pop up market full of cool stuff

from emerging and mid-career designers and artists. I will have lots of new stuff on display and it's going to be in Prahran at 118 High Street (near corner of Chapel St, next to

Swinburne Uni). Hopefully I'll get to start my xmas shopping - I'm really going to try and do

a handmade xmas this year - by buying online and direct from friends and artists x

Eating and drinking in Vietnam

2011-09-17T15:31:00.000+10:00

Tonight I fly back to Australia, after a wonderful, surreal, steamy trip in Vietnam. So today I would like to revisit the best food I have eaten while on my journey. It's all about the food! I leave Saigon late this evening, plenty of time to fit in some of my favourite dishes....

This is a mixed platter of delicious roll-your-own fresh rolls, with sugarcane prawn, mustard leaves, mint and rice paper. Also up the top there is thinly sliced green banana and starfruit, so good when rolled up with all the other ingredients for a hit of freshness and crunch.

This is a steaming bowl of Pho Bo I had in Hoi An on the street one night. Eating on the street is where some of the best food can be found, and this was no exception. My knees were up around my chin, as the tables are very low. It was a really hot night, and I was outside the cloth market. I saw a rat dash across the walkway at a distance. Then a little kitten (hiding under the motorbike above) took off after it. I can't imagine what that kitten did once it caught up, 'cos that rat was big.... I had a vision of Templeton from Charlotte's Web turning around to it and saying with a big grin, "Well what are you going to do NOW then?"

I was invited by my friend Linh for dinner one night. I helped with the preparation of some things, and it was lovely to be invited to share a meal with her whole family in their house. We had morning glory wok-tossed with garlic, home-style spring rolls with prawn and pork, and special chicken with rice. The full moon festival was on, so I took moon cakes for dessert. It was a great story to tell around the dinner table (with lots of hand gesturing) that when I went to the man to buy the mooncakes, I pointed at a beautiful red display box and said that was what I wanted. So we exchanged the money, and I took my mooncakes. Only when I picked up the box, it was empty! He had just sold me the box - not the cakes inside.

This is the view looking out on the street from the Cargo Club cafe in Hoi An. The cafe has a patisserie attached with all kinds of croissants, breads and pastries. They serve fantastic fresh juices like watermelon, pomelo and pineapple as well as my favourite Vietnamese iced coffee. You can get great coffee just about anywhere in Vietnam, and it is lovely and strong. I have to limit myself to two a day, because otherwise there would be no sleep for me. Also the Trung Nguyen coffee houses are great, serving the real deal in Vietnamese coffee and tea.

This lady was outside my hotel one morning, all loaded up for a day of mobile trading. She had lots of varieties of nuts, seeds and snacks, perfectly balanced on her bicycle. As much of life in Vietnam is lived out on the streets, it just makes so much sense that she would go to her customers rather than them coming to her. She would only get a few steps along her way before someone would pop out to see her wares, then she would produce her handy metal scales and weigh up their purchases. I also enjoyed buying fruit from travelling vendors this way, my favourites being rambutans and tiny, sweet bananas.

And lastly, a quick vid taken while zooming through the city streets last night on tour with XO Tours. Great fun, and a chance to get out into some of the many districts of Ho Chi Minh City that are off the beaten tourist track. We visited a local fruit and vegetable night market which was amazing, because most people didn't even get off their scooters to buy food, they simply pulled up to the stall and pointed at what they wanted. It was kind of like a drive-thru market, loud and flat-out, with only the freshest produce. We stopped for Banh Mi and fresh squeezed sugarcane juice halfway through, and zoomed through shopping strips and over the Saigon River to lots of interesting areas. Highly recommended!

Hello from Hoi An

2011-09-12T01:38:00.000+10:00

Today I got to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time.

I did a cooking class at the Red Bridge Restaurant in Hoi An,Vietnam.

After a guided walk through the local market learning about different ingredients,

we went by boat up the river to the Red Bridge Restaurant.

20 minutes later we were walking through the beautiful herb garden,

tasting and smelling all the wonderful herbs and spices they use.

We made some delicious dishes in the open air kitchen, Goi Hai San Trong Thuyen Thom (Seafood salad with Vietnamese Herbs served in half a pineapple), Hoi An Pancake (Banh Xeo) and even our own rice paper (Banh uot), which is made from ground rice batter spread out thinly and steamed on a piece of muslin over a boiling pot of water. And best of all, we had a lovely feast that we had made ourselves. Thank you Red Bridge Restaurant! x

Be Free

2011-09-01T22:22:00.000+10:00

In my travels today on the first day of Spring I came across this cute paste up in Fitzroy.

And I couldn't believe the vibrancy of this beautiful vine on a sunny wall.

It's been very busy in the studio and these were a nice distraction from my hard work today!

All in the name of getting orders out in time for my trip away... Woohoo!

I'm heading to Vietnam on Saturday so happy Springtime and see you in a few weeks x

Living in the 70s

2011-08-28T20:52:00.001+10:00

I went to a beautiful 70s themed dinner party last night to celebrate the birthday of the lovely Shelley Panton. It was a pot luck and here's what I made - blast from the past! Not my past, mum refused to make food which combined meat and fruit, being of Italian origin, she found it a curious combination indeed when arriving in Australia.... but I like apricots, and I like chicken, so...

It's suprisingly delicious - hilarious, easy and delicious! Here's the recipe for you too x

Apricot chicken

2kg (16 pieces) chicken drumsticks, skin off
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
405ml can apricot nectar
825ml can apricots in juice
200g dried apricots, halved

Spices

the recipe books said french onion soup mix (no thanks...)

or curry powder...

But I can recommend :-)

2 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. black mustard seeds
1 tsp dried red chili

Method

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.

Cook drumsticks, in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes each side or until golden.

Transfer to a plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken and oil.

Remove from pot and set aside.

Add garlic and spices to frying pan, on low heat.

Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant.

Stir in apricot nectar and tinned apricots, including the juice.

Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low.

Add drumsticks.

Cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove cover and add apricots, pushing them into the sauce.

Simmer for a further 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serves 6-8

Blogworthy

2011-08-16T13:27:00.000+10:00

When I first started this blog, I used to joke with friends when something really crappy happened in life that it was "SO not blogworthy!" My thinking was, and still is, that there is plenty of crappy stuff out there happening, but this is my little zone filled with beauty, happiness, fun and love. Kind of like a States of Nature photo diary, with all the angst omitted.

Well over the last few months, my little family and I have had some big manouvres to undertake by moving interstate from Newcastle to Melbourne. Great decision, but lots of hard work - SO not blogworthy! Tasks included the inevitable open for inspections every Saturday (read: cleaning the house and studio like it's never been cleaned before) and then keeping the place spotless for those fun little mid-week walk-throughs prospective purchasers like to make....etc...etc....

Then there was the job of finding a new home in Melbourne to go to, and all the organisation of working with a removalist to get the 10-years-worth-mountain of stuff down here in one piece. Some fun things happened along the way - I had the mother of all garage sales in my studio, and did a roaring trade in vintage fabrics, china and collectables. I edited down my collections to just my very favourite things, and it felt like great feng-shui to let the rest go to happy fellow collectors and my local charity shop.

There will be some things I will really miss about living in Newcastle. One of my favourite things was waking up in the morning to the sometimes deafening sound of birds in the yard, and the treetop views I had. The image below is of my old bedroom, and happily the image under that is of the new one.

So I have had my wish come true - still plenty of lovely birds in the trees around me, and below are some gorgeous blooms photographed on walks around the new 'hood. As all the number plates around me now say - Victoria - the place to be! It's been worth the wait x

State of Design Festival

2011-07-20T10:50:00.002+10:00

I am so, so sad that I won't make it down to Melbourne in time for the fabulous Design:Made:Trade this year! But I am consoling myself with the fact that with such a jam-packed program of events, I'm going to get to see and do lots of other great things during the last week of the festival.


The Gertrude Street Projection Festival

Look.Stop.Shop

The Housing Project

Watercolour love

2011-06-26T12:50:00.001+10:00

So much inspiration from these fantastic artists....

Winter Woolies

2011-06-07T12:26:00.000+10:00

I wish I could knit.... *sigh*

designspiration.net

attic24.typepad.com

pinterest.com/statesofnature/

thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

bookshelfporn.com

Paper People Unite!

2011-05-26T10:59:00.000+10:00

It's time for Sydney paper lovers to come out to play as the inaugural A4 Paper Festival comes to town! Organised by the Paper Convention Collective, this week-long festival promises to be lots of inspirational fun with fantastic workshops and interactive displays and talks from contemporary paper artists. The full program is online here, with daily happenings from the 31st May to 5th June. There are special events listed here, with workshops where you can cut, fold and sculpt away with paper too.

Above images copyright A4 Paper Festival 2011

High Tea and TV

2011-05-02T16:40:00.000+10:00

Vintage crockery @ vintagecakestands

Whilst not a royal watcher, I do love any excuse for high tea. So what better way to spend a Friday night than snuggled up in a chic apartment with my sister Em, devouring champagne, tea and cupcakes watching Wills and Kate getting married. Well, it was 10am there so the cupcakes and food we ate was appropriate, and then it was 6pm here so that makes the champagne most suitable indeed. London looked so beautiful on the telly, and had me reminiscing about the last time I visited there.

Liberty of London

Gorgeous cupcakes @ wendy's cupcake corner

Laduree @ cgtravels

Macaron @ simplycolette

New Prints in the Shop

2011-04-08T11:22:00.000+10:00

Some new canvas prints are now available in the shop - varying in size and colour, they are all printed by hand and stretched onto timber frames ready to hang. These are limited edition prints from the new collection of designs and look great as single artworks or in groups.

Wet weather

2011-03-27T17:17:00.000+11:00

Random thoughts from a wonderful relaxing weekend....

Yummy cafe goodness

Browsing studio spaces

New autumn growth

Tubeway armies from Gaye Abandon

A snoring puppy dog

Painting and Reading

2011-03-07T09:37:00.001+11:00

Funny how doing a feature wall can turn into a full-scale painting exercise in a matter of days.... I began innocently enough with a new project I'd been aching to start, one that seemed like fun and that I could see myself doing in a day or two. However, as each new coat went on I saw little things around the house that needed patching up, an old nail here or a small mark there. And now I am almost at the end of completely repainting the downstairs area of my house, and the feature wall looks fab too. So I can happily tick that off the list.

And I received this book as a gift for helping out with a fundraising effort for a local community garden. It is by Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs and what a great read it is! Obviously, the book is full of gorgeous illustrations, typography and photography - that's a given, right? But seriously, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It is full of really pertinent questions and discussions covering sustainability, modern consumption, beauty and function in design.

Hybrid Craft Exhibition

2011-02-02T11:49:00.000+11:00

.....and now I'm going for a swim!

A preview

2011-01-18T18:52:00.000+11:00

Here is a preview of some pieces I'll be exhibiting at my printmaking Masters show on the 5th of February. I have screenprinted loads of 3 metre fabric lengths that will hang from the ceiling, and I have used all natural fibres like cotton, hemp, linen and silk/cotton in a range of background colours like charcoal, oatmeal, black and white. I have also experimented with large format digital printing on pure silk, which is really easy when doing small pieces but a whole new ballgame when doing a length of 3 metres by a metre wide! If it actually works out (fingers crossed) I will be a very lucky lady!

Hello 2011

2011-01-09T14:54:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to you! After lots of rest and relaxation, good food and wine, afternoon naps and time with family and friends it is time to get back into the swing of things once more. For Xmas this year I didn't travel interstate to see my family - they came to me! How fab! I have been loving the summer weather, particularly the evenings, when the scents of plants seem strongest and the salt from the ocean creates a mist as you walk. All these photos are from wandering around my local area - it is a lovely time of year in Newcastle. I am finalising the last prints for my Masters exhibition which opens soon, so that is great fun and plenty of work to keep me occupied. It will open on February 5th at the University Gallery - a great space set amongst big trees. Come along and say hello at the opening - you're most welcome!

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-21T15:11:00.000+11:00


The Strand Arcade, Sydney

Well the orders have all been sent,

the shopping is done

and the gifts are wrapped!

(my favourite part...)

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and fabulous New Year

Love Simone x

Best of Summer

2010-12-13T14:00:00.000+11:00

A lovely new issue of House and Garden is out, and it features our new Leaf table runners just released. Matching napkins are available too in crisp white with different prints on the way.

Pop-up launch

2010-12-01T11:38:00.000+11:00

Lots of lovely people coming and going

Filling up the arcade spaces

States of Nature selections

Anne the talented designer from The Eleventh Hour

Thank you to everyone who came along to the launch party on Thursday night! It was a balmy Sydney evening and great to catch up with friends old and new. The arcade spaces are full of great talent, with the Cubicle collective, the Eleventh Hour and Almond Tree Frames. Our installations are open for the month leading up to Christmas, and just a block down from the southern end of the Queen Victoria Building. You can also pop in for an (excellent) coffee away from the hustle and bustle at the Klink cafe too.

Opening tomorrow night....

2010-11-24T09:54:00.001+11:00

Just a quick reminder for Sydneysiders that opening night for the pop-up shop is tomorrow night from 6 - 8pm, so hope to see you there for a drink!

Gaffa Gallery

281 Clarence Street

Sydney

Pop-up shop in Sydney CBD

2010-11-17T09:26:00.001+11:00

Very exciting news! For one month only, we will have a pop-up shop at Gaffa Gallery in the Sydney CBD. It is in an amazing historic building that is just down the way from QVB, in Clarence Street. The staff at Gaffa Gallery and the Finders Keepers have gotten together to curate the arcade spaces on ground level near the cafe, and States of Nature will be there along with other artists and designers! The Gallery is open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. So come along for a drink on opening night - next Thursday from 6pm.

Magnolia Square

2010-11-15T18:28:00.001+11:00

The leafy entrance to the Oaks Marquee

Sometimes there was a serious crush inside

Doily pendants waiting for their new owners

And porcelain studs too...

The work of my lovely neighbour Sally from Raspberry Ripple

And from the talented Carmel from Feed the Dog on the other side

A quiet moment at my stand

I had heaps of fun on the weekend at Magnolia Square! It was so hot and humid in Sydney but the crowds came in straight from the beach to see us all. There were so many wonderful stands full of gorgeous gifts.... I have well and truly got all the ladies on my Christmas list ticked now and there is still a month to go! I got to catch up with lots of designer friends, and met many more. Is there no end to the talented folk out there? Really, the whole pavilion looked magical and whimsical. Thank you to everyone who came along and to all my lovely customers, it was a beautiful weekend.

Magnolia Square Sydney

2010-10-26T17:36:00.000+11:00

Hooray - States of Nature will be at the gorgeous Magnolia Square in Sydney in November!

It is being held at Randwick Racecourse on

Friday November 11th 10am-9pm

Saturday November 12th 10am-5pm

Sunday November 13th 10am-4pm

Save the date! So many beautiful stalls to wander through....

Printalicious

2010-10-24T15:56:00.001+11:00

Some gorgeous printed dresses to while away the spring days (from top) Chloe, 6pm, Diane Von Furstenberg and Forever 21.

Retro revival

2010-10-08T20:31:00.000+11:00

I've been rummaging through my vintage fabric stash this week - inspiring prints and motifs abound... and as soon as I have the time, I'll sew up some new cushions, or a bag, or even a dress! The colours and textures of these old fabrics is lovely to work with, and I really enjoy having them around me while I work. But what to make from which fabric I wonder? Sometimes it's not easy being a Libra :-)

Red Bird

2010-10-01T11:42:00.000+10:00

Two of my lovely stockists in Melbourne have just been bombarded this week with their new shipments of States of Nature spring scarves and assorted goodies. Red Bird in Keilor Village is full to the brim of wonderful homewares and accessories, and Wilkins and Kent in the CBD and Fitzroy showcases beautiful Australian furniture and design. Lots more to come!

Annan Fabrics

2010-09-27T10:04:00.000+10:00

All images from the exhibition catalogue of Australian Accent

Yesterday I went to the Textile Design Symposium at Mosman Art Gallery. It was great fun and had wonderful speakers from different facets of the textile industry. It was held in conjunction with the exhibition Australian Accent: the designs of Annan Fabrics and Vande Pottery in the 40s and 50s. The beautiful showing runs until the 10th of October and is really worth seeing if you are interested in printing, textiles and design.

Nesting instinct

2010-09-20T09:02:00.003+10:00

Whilst walking along a bush track, I literally stumbled upon this nest. It was at eye level, and the most wonderful little home, tucked away and lined with soft down and tiny feathers. No little eggs inside, but a perfect location amongst blue skies and woodland. I was reminded of the powerful and beautiful exhibition of collected discarded nests that Gay Bilson had at Object gallery a few years ago. She has collected fallen nests for 20 years, not as symbols of maternal warmth and security, but for the values inscribed in the bird's effort: dedication, usefulness, patience and skill.

Art Gallery of NSW

2010-09-14T14:44:00.004+10:00

Historic photo of the AGNSW from State Records of NSW Photographic Collection

There is now a beautiful range of new season States of Nature scarves and brooches available at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney. The shop there is so full of great books, I am always there for way too long and spend way too much money.... it is addictive! This time I picked up these great Charley Harper prints to put up the studio, which is currently undergoing a little restoration and spring clean.

Hello Springtime!

2010-09-06T10:35:00.004+10:00

...and hooray for the sunshine! These apricot blossoms come out every year in bushland near my house. They never get pruned, fed or looked after but they keep on blooming. From day to day they change, new leaves seem to grow overnight, and before long the flowers are gone and it's all new green growth. I'm so happy that this year I caught them at their finest.

Melbourne Fashion Exposed

2010-09-03T12:11:00.009+10:00

States of Nature on the catwalk

Back from a very inspiring trip to Melbourne, where States of Nature was chosen to exhibit at Fashion Exposed Debut. My heart skipped a beat when the announcement was made that
we were shortlisted into the top 3! Not for the reasons that might immediately come to mind though, after the first "Oh wow how exciting" thought came " Oh my God what if I fall over on the way to the stage/ Why did I wear this dress today/ Gee I really should have looked in the mirror at my hair before the show/ Surely I won't have to go up there??!!" It's telling about the female psyche, huh?

Obligatory Melbourne graffiti shot

Laneway cobblestones

Blue skies reflected

Seven Seeds cafe

But I was spared my trauma, and the overall winner was the very deserving and lovely Geoffrey from Francz. His work is fabulous and I think that he will be one of those designers who will be enormous overseas first, his design aesthetic is edgy, experimental, and perfectly suited to the European winter. I also went to talks on sustainability in fashion, sourcing fairtrade fabric, and a seminar through Design Victoria too.
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is still running, and there are plenty of events coming up that look like lots of fun. Highly recommended and a great opportunity to catch up with other designers, craftspeople and artists.

Urban nature

Order in the house

2010-08-25T19:38:00.005+10:00

Finishing lots of porcelain studs, brooches and scarves for orders that need to be shipped this week before Fashion Exposed. It's great to package the work up together for different shops, and see how their combinations of States of Nature stock will look on display once in store. Today's sunny weather just felt like a day for gingham - hence the cute tablecloth complete with hand sewn cross-stitch.

Do The Catwalk

2010-08-20T13:06:00.004+10:00

Great news! States of Nature has made the finals of the Debut accessories section at Fashion Exposed! So that means that not only will we have a stand at the show, and a couple of looks on the catwalk, but we'll also be in the running for some big prizes too. It's all happening in Melbourne at the Exhibition and Convention Centre next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Fingers crossed!

Daylesford

2010-08-06T12:51:00.010+10:00

Gardens at the Convent Gallery

View from the bell tower

Looking out to Vincent Street

Interior of Sweet Decadence

Last week on my trip down to Victoria, I had a divine lunch with my family at Frangos and Frangos after wandering around the shops and galleries. Daylesford is a pretty special place. I love the Convent Gallery and all the surrounding hills and landscapes. It was icy and wet, but the town has lots of warm spaces with open fires and is a great foodie destination - perfect on a cold winter's day. And the hot chocolate at Sweet Decadence is to die for if you are that way inclined :-)

Sleeveface Lovers

2010-07-26T09:26:00.008+10:00

I am a long-time sleeveface fanatic - and here's a brand new video version from the Rannel Theatre Group's show Flhip Flhop... Gotta love this dancing!

Christine Harvison

2010-07-25T13:55:00.006+10:00

Today I finally picked up my three lovely little oil paintings by the artist Christine Harvison. This is an excerpt from the catalogue:

"The landscape of stored observation is recalled and recreated by the artist to retell the felt experience of journeys undertaken. The palette voice echoes a sense of isolation through mnemonic colour references that transport between space and place, here and there, past and present."

I can't wait to get them up on the wall at home, and Christine and I discussed today whether or not they should be behind glass. I love the texture of the brushstrokes to be apparent, and don't want to lose that feel behind glass. Or perhaps they can sit in a wooden box frame, with no glass..... Hmmm.....What do you prefer I wonder?

Plantlife

2010-07-18T17:39:00.007+10:00

Well the dog thought all her Christmases had come at once when the cloud cleared up and we headed out for a photo shoot. I am collecting references for new prints, and today was a great day to do it. I chatted to the lady that owns the wattle tree above, which is in spectacular bloom, and she told me they just fall over sometimes. She thinks it's long past it's use-by date, so I'm glad I got to see it's possible final flowering. I love the pale grey leaves against the bright yellow blossoms - I wonder if I can make it work on fabric?

Winter work

2010-07-07T13:31:00.005+10:00

The days are short, but the hours slip past so quickly....

Clockwise from top left:

Dusting the fireplace
-
Braving the beach for wintry walks
-
Preparing for Fashion Exposed
-
Photographing trees
-
Printing silk scarves
-
Sending butterfly brooches
-
Sketching fallen leaves
-
Researching vintage china patterns
-
Collecting handmade doilies
-

Brisvegas

2010-06-29T18:55:00.006+10:00

I've just spent 3 lovely days in Brisbane, meeting with my stockists, walking along the river, and enjoying yummy food experiences! Also got to catch the Finders Keepers, at the beautiful Old Museum building, which was full of handmade goodness. The weather was perfect for walking around the city, and making little excursions to West End, Southbank, Paddington, New Farm and James Street. Brisbane in winter really rocks!

Masterful

2010-06-22T11:46:00.007+10:00

Sun setting on a weekend walk

I'm finishing up my Printmaking Masters this year. I've been doing it part-time for a loonnnggg time. So things might be a bit quiet on the blog front.....

I am working my way through chapters, and I love it. But it's hard work! Maybe when I'm done I'll write a book. I could call it:

"How not to write a thesis"

Get up, procrastinate over a cup of tea.

Walk dog.

Clean kitchen.

Turn on laptop.

Marvel over how untidy the desktop is and devise new folder system.

File junk on desktop.

Download new goal setting app onto iphone.

Do another mindmap.

Start thinking about food, chocolate, anything.

Pegs tea towel

2010-06-08T09:42:00.011+10:00

A beautiful collection of tea towels features on the pages of House and Garden for July, including States of Nature's Pegs Tea towel in white on natural. I love a gorgeous tea towel, and am happy to say that I have my very own (pristine and unused!) by two other designers featured on this page - Materialistic and Puddinhead. They are screenprinted by hand too, but I just can't seem to use them as they are so lovely....

Wintergarden

2010-06-05T16:49:00.003+10:00

The earth underfoot is sodden. The leaves are decaying, making great compost for the garden beds. It's beautiful to watch the seasons come and go, with all the changes to the trees, leaves and plants in the garden. All the rain we have had makes it great weather to stay indoors printing new fabric, making this soup and ducking out wherever possible for sweet treats.

Tawny frogmouth

2010-05-30T16:48:00.006+10:00

Image by menagerie

Yesterday we found an injured tawny frogmouth who was in a bad way. James wrapped him up in his jumper and took him straight to our vet, who has a policy of assessing and helping injured wildlife. (Some vets won't - we learnt this the hard way and have since switched to a more humane vet).

Image by Mark Crocker

It was a fully mature tawny and he had probably been hit by a car in the early morning, hunting for moths and insects on the side of the road. I was heartbroken, as in recent weeks I have lost a little fledgling bird that had been abandoned in the yard, and a beautiful baby brushtail possum that had been attacked by a cat and that had to be euthenased as her injuries were too severe to treat.

Image by C. Coverdale

But the tawny frogmouth got the all clear from the vet! He was stunned and probably bruised, but had no internal injuries or broken bones.

Image by Grant Fraser

So I am ecstatic to say that he was successfully released back into the bushland where he was found, and will hopefully have a long and happy life back with his little family. It kind of feels like we won tattslotto this weekend :-)

Finders Keepers Sydney

2010-05-10T09:40:00.009+10:00

Thank you to everyone who popped in to say hello at the Finders Keepers over the weekend! It was a fab few days full of crafty conversations, with inspiring people and gorgeous handmade work from all over Australia. There were amazing knitted installations of mushrooms and toadstools from Reef Knot. And I came home with lots of goodies from lovely artists and neighbours including Gaye Abandon, Textile Allsorts, Sharon Muir and Cumbungi.

Good Weekend

2010-05-01T10:35:00.005+10:00

The Age and SMH contain a bumper issue of the Good Weekend magazine today, with our little doily brooch featured in the annual Mother's Day gift guide - yay! There are the usual fab articles and interviews, and a reason to love Myf Warhurst even more (page 17), for her take on the F word - yes, that word full of controversy, confusion and consternation - feminism....

2 weeks to go

2010-04-23T20:30:00.007+10:00

Just 2 weeks now until the Finders Keepers Market in Sydney! There's heaps of great music, art and design in store and a fantastic line up of designers. It's been busy here this week getting new tea-towels and other goodies ready (above), with plenty of experimentation and fun. I wonder if it's because this event is only on twice a year that it is always so fabulous and just getting better?

Bromeliads in bloom

2010-04-06T08:16:00.004+10:00

The garden is giving me lots of inspiration at the moment - our bromeliads are out and attracting so much attention from honeyeaters. What a shame these gorgeous blooms only last for a short time.... It's been very busy in the studio too, but the sunny days and evening rain has made it a pleasure to be working away on new prints.

Autumn Prints

2010-03-12T20:46:00.009+11:00

Organic cotton long sleeve tee with Round Doily print in black on natural

Natural silk/cotton scarf with Round Doily print in red on red

Detail of a-line skirt with Birds on Tree print in grey on denim

Natural silk/cotton scarf with Vine print in coffee on coffee

Natural silk/cotton scarf with Square Doily print in steel on steel

Porcelain Teapot brooch in black on white

Here are some new season prints set to go to stores in the following weeks. The organic cotton long sleeve tees come in natural, grey marle and charcoal, while the a-line skirts are in dark denim and black. The natural silk/cotton scarves are in steel blue, coffee, red and silver. All these lovely new things have been made in Australia, and all have been hand-printed using eco-friendly inks. It's been a busy time, but lots of fun to see all the new prints ready to go to our lovely stockists throughout Australia.

Life InStyle

2010-03-01T22:10:00.014+11:00

The preparation -

bowls by Clay Australia and jewellery by States of Nature going in to the kiln

Crowds beginning to gather at Hordern Pavillion

The new porcelain earrings and brooches, tea towels and scarves on display

A big thank you to everyone who dropped in to say hello at LifeInStyle in Sydney over the last 4 days. The fair was amazing with so much to see, and so many talented designers showing their new collections. I was surrounded by fab neighbours including my studio buddy Kim from clay Australia, Matthew from Mattt, Deborah DeStephanis, Brooke from Trove, Richard from Puddinhead and Sarah Rothe. Needless to say I came home with lots of goodies, and after a nice little rest it is all systems go and back to work in the studio again.

Home Beautiful

2010-02-08T17:39:00.005+11:00

The March issue of Home Beautiful is out today and has featured States of Nature brooches under the heading of pattern maker (cute!). There are lots of great looking design ideas in the mag, and interviews with the creators of Bison ceramics, and Agnes Coy: made by hand. So it will be a lovely read with a cup of tea for me tomorrow I hope....

Give it away now

2010-02-06T08:48:00.008+11:00

Hooray - We have 2 beautiful prize packs to give away! Both contain the very popular flight scarf above, as well as brooches and other surprise goodies, worth over $100 each. Please note: we can only offer this to Australian residents this time round - sorry! Just leave a comment and you will go into the draw - Good luck! We will draw the prize on Friday 12th February xx

*UPDATE*

And the winners are:

Meng and

Lola and Bailey!

Thank you to everyone who entered, congratulations to the two lucky winners - a little package is on it's way :-)

A pinch and a punch

2010-02-01T07:43:00.008+11:00

"This month derives it's name from the word februare, to purify, or from Februa, the Roman festival of expiation, which was celebrated through the latter part of this month."

from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden

I have been reading this beautiful book at night, and enjoying it so much. In it, Edith Holden documents the coming and going of seasons through her observations, drawings and notes about her surroundings. She really notices small changes in nature, such as when buds appear on trees and the first time she hears a particular birdsong for the season. She wrote this diary in 1906, however it was first published in 1977 and became a bestseller to be reprinted many times over.

Time flies...

2010-01-24T20:05:00.006+11:00

...when you're having fun making new stuff.

Printing scarves for stores in Victoria and Queensland

Making up blossom and petal brooches for stores in WA and NSW

Sculpting scotty dogs for the new range

Designfest

2010-01-09T11:00:00.009+11:00

Here is a snippet from the new Vogue Living magazine, which features a cute pic of the stall that Kim from clay australia and I had. We were surrounded by lots of lovely people that day, including Jo from Jo Luping Design, Carmel from Feed the Dog and Lisa from Lox + Savvy.

Inspiring Melbourne

2010-01-08T20:20:00.012+11:00

Happy New Year! After a lovely Xmas with family I enjoyed some time in Melbourne which included great exhibitions, shopping and of course fabulous food. The Clemenger Contemporary Art Award and Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion are both on at Federation Square. Then at NGV St Kilda Road there is Chinoiserie: Asia in Europe and Drape: Classical Mode to Contemporary Dress. I also dropped in at some of my stockists including Nest, Inspirasia, Wilkins and Kent and Origen. And I ate some of the best Vietnamese pho this side of Saigon....

Merry Christmas

2009-12-20T12:30:00.006+11:00

Best wishes for a beautiful Christmas and New Year!

States of Nature will re-open on the 4th January 2010.

Thank you for a fabulous year,

Simone x

10 days to go

2009-12-15T12:01:00.008+11:00

So why not have a Christmas sale! Trade is very brisk in the shop, so much so that we have sold out of some items. So to say a big thank you to our online customers, we'd like to offer a 20% discount on items purchased between now and Monday. Express postage (between $5 and $8) means that the little parcels will arrive in time for the big day.

Xmas wishlists

2009-12-08T20:55:00.010+11:00

Backing cloth paintings from Spacecraft

When it comes to Christmas, I love choosing (and much better still - wrapping!) gifts for my family and friends. I have a detailed list, and I admit I usually start thinking about it in November. But then I get asked the inevitable question "What would you like for Xmas?" and my mind goes blank. So after a year of being surrounded by truly beautiful things from talented designers, all I can think is "Well I really don't need anything at all".... and that is pretty sad, I mean there is such a thing as being too practical for one's own good. So here's a wishlist of random gorgeous goodness:

Sticky notes from Poppies for Grace

Classic bike from Velorbis

Retro radio from Dick Smith

Kitchen Garden Companion from Stephanie Alexander

Chest of drawers from Droog Design

Dwarf papyrus from Urban Exotic

Maria slides from Birkenstock

Japanese blossom brooch

2009-12-01T08:53:00.006+11:00

This new brooch was inspired by my research into antique asian textiles and ceramics. Made from certified Australian plantation timber, it has been screenprinted by hand and then wrapped in delicate silk cord. It will be in my online store soon and is available now from selected retailers including Craft Victoria.

Oh oregano...

2009-11-29T17:23:00.005+11:00

It is so great to be back home and I have been very inspired by all the tropical gardens I saw while away. Summer is a great time for herbs of every variety, and I have been cooking up a storm with chili, mint and lemongrass (inspired by all the amazing meals I had and trying to recreate them). So this weekend I have spruced up my potted herbs with gorgeous ceramic garden markers from Little Jane Street.

Cambodia and Vietnam

2009-11-23T23:09:00.015+11:00

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Temples of Angkor

Lotus pond

Pomelos for sale

Gratuitous hotel shot

Heading to the floating market

Here I am back again from my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. I had a wonderful time with my darling friend Naomi who loved it all just as much as I did and has the excess baggage charges to prove it. We visited the trade fair and met with manufacturers of organic fabrics, ate and drank to our hearts content, and even managed to lay around beside a magnificent pool sipping freshly squeezed tropical juice cocktails. There were so many amazing craftspeople I met, and I was lucky enough to visit a collective of silk and cotton weavers too. I have added some photo sets to my flickr page and there's a little slideshow below.

Beautiful Brisbane

2009-11-02T23:59:00.010+11:00

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Finders Keepers in Brisbane over the weekend. It was a gorgeous event, managed so well by Alischa, Brooke and Sarah. I was too busy to even take one single photo, the whole weekend is a blur. But I met heaps of lovely people and had such a great time in Brisbane. I really loved the Easton Pearson retrospective at the Gallery of Modern Art, it was full of amazing embroidery and fabric embellishment of all descriptions.... but it's over and out from me for 2 weeks now, as I take off to Saigon for an entirely different adventure!

Frankie subscription prize

2009-10-21T11:56:00.006+11:00

The new Frankie magazine is out today, full of special treats and guess what?

If you subscribe to Frankie now, not only do you get your favourite mag posted direct to your front door for no more than you pay each month anyway, but you also go into the draw for one of 50 States of Nature doily brooches worth $35 each. Group hugs all round!

Luke Nguyen's Vietnam

2009-10-16T10:45:00.005+11:00

When I first read the book Secrets of the Red Lantern it combined all of the things that the beautiful cover promised me; gorgeous photography and design, insights into the Vietnamese culture, amazing descriptions and recipes for dishes I had never heard of, and a beautiful and touching family fable.

Now the co-author of the book and co-owner of the Red Lantern restaurant in Sydney has a new show on sbs called Luke Nguyen's Vietnam which started last night. It was so great! And made me very excited to think I will be on those same Saigon streets in only a few weeks.... I have been researching restaurants and cooking schools that we will go to, and have found some cool stuff here and here.

pyd Design Market

2009-10-14T20:34:00.007+11:00

Less than 2 weeks until the pyd Design Market that runs in conjunction with the Danks Street Festival in Surry Hills. There are lots of lovely designers who will be there, and great design including wall stencils from Flatbird Surface Art, jewellery from Lola and Bailey, stationery from Lox + Savvy, letterpress cards from Vince, and lamps and lighting from Departure Lounge.

My red gobstopper lamp from Departure Lounge

and birdcage stencil from Flatbird Surface Art

Organic cotton tees

2009-10-10T11:02:00.010+11:00

We have some new stockists in Melbourne who each have our soft NSW-grown organic cotton tees instore now. They have our hand-printed a-line skirts too. You can find lots of eclectic treasures at Origen stores in South Melbourne, Collins Place and Southgate. Or head east to Inspirasia in Chapel Street and Fitzroy. But if you just can't make it into these gorgeous stores, you can also check online.

Vietnam adventures

2009-10-01T08:15:00.008+10:00

It's only one month to go now until I go to beautiful Vietnam again. I am planning to visit the Garment and Textile Trade Fair in Saigon, to source more organic cottons, silks and linens for States of Nature. I have been looking at my photos from the last trip in preparation, and getting really excited. It's such a gorgeous country, and this time I will also go through the Mekong Delta and into Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat.

Ikeathon

2009-09-25T19:50:00.016+10:00

It's been very busy in States of Natureland over the last few weeks, but a day off yesterday for a daytrip to Ikea with a group of girlfriends was a well deserved diversion and great fun. 4 chicks in a twin-cab ute hurtling down the highway laughing hysterically may not be everyone's idea of a big day out. It was pencils and tape measures out once we got there though, as we each had a mission to accomplish. I had a hard time removing myself from the fabric department as usual. This image features some "Saralisa" series fabric used as a wall hanging to great effect. The cocktails look pretty good, too.

Image from ikeafans.com

Saralisa series fabric

Inger series fabric

Cecilia series fabric

Finders Keepers Brisbane

2009-09-17T08:49:00.005+10:00

I'm so looking forward to the Finders Keepers in Brisbane on October 31st and November 1st. I will be previewing my new range there, with lots of new designs and colourways. The building that it is being held in looks amazing - it is always great to see all that gorgeous indie design against a backdrop of interesting architecture. Can't wait!

Art Gallery of NSW

2009-09-15T18:45:00.003+10:00

Image from the AGNSW exhibition flyer

I went to see the beautiful Silk Ikat exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW over the weekend. The colour and iconography in the weaving is so lovely, and it was great to learn more about the techniques that have been used for so long in Central Asia. I also really enjoyed listening to this podcast with Linda Jackson speaking about the influence of tribal textiles on her work.

Nook Brisbane

2009-09-11T20:17:00.005+10:00

The Finders Keepers have posted a new interview with Michelle, owner of the gorgeous Nook store in Brisbane. There are some lovely insights into how the store came into being, and what kind of things Michelle likes to surround herself with.

A beautiful day to print

2009-09-08T15:05:00.007+10:00

A little helper in the studio

Jelly mould tea towels in pumpkin, blue and black on coffee

The sun has been shining and that makes for glorious days to print away in the studio. Sometimes Candy comes with me to help or just to look pretty on her blanket. The tea towels I did today are fun to do because they are on nice thick fabric, which makes a change from printing on semi-transparent voile for the scarves.

Shopgirl magazine

2009-09-08T07:20:00.004+10:00

This is a new magazine that has just been released - and there's a States of Nature doily brooch inside together with lots of very cute outfits for summer.

Real Living magazine

2009-08-31T10:00:00.004+10:00

The new issue of Real Living magazine is out, and States of Nature is featured on the Editor's letter page. This month's magazine is full of design and decorating ideas, including a sneak peak at designer Vince Frost's apartment project, which is heaven for lovers of typography.

It looks unassuming at first...

2009-08-30T11:42:00.004+10:00

But it's now my new screenprinting studio! My friends Kim and Justin have moved into this fab warehouse and are converting it into a beautiful new home. Kim is a ceramicist and she has invited me to share her studio space there, so we will be working side-by-side on our projects in the future. There's lots of room to collaborate, we'll be experimenting with printing onto clay and producing objects together.

Sydney Design 09

2009-08-22T16:28:00.008+10:00

Guerilla knitting

Youngblood Designers Market

all images courtesy of Laura at Candombe Design

Farewell for another year to the Sydney Design festival. I particularly loved the laneway art and guerilla knitting myself, being unable to do any form of crochet, knitting or tapestry work, much to the horror of my 97 year old nonna Dima who still partakes in craftiness herself. The Director of the Powerhouse has published an apology for the crowded conditions at the market last weekend, so hopefully the next one at Christmas will be more civilised and less squishy for all.

Flight of fancy

2009-08-21T20:48:00.005+10:00

Here are two new scarves ready for spring - Flight pattern in turquoise or black. They are printed on the most floaty cotton/linen voile and are transparent and light, yet still have that lovely cotton feel on the skin. Printed with eco-friendly water-based ink and available here. This print was inspired by the flocks of birds I love to watch in formation - I live on a ridge near the sea and the birds float high above on the warm wind currents.

I love my Keep Cup

2009-08-18T09:18:00.017+10:00

Keep cup

Danielle Rukaby

Moyou

...and also the other cool things I picked up at Youngblood on the weekend. So many people, so many gorgeous stands... It was so busy I was lucky to get to see my neighbours work, but indeed I did and came home with fabulous wares. I also bought intricate cards from Bespoke Letterpress and an Eames chair brooch from Oktoberdee. Thanks to everyone who came along to say hello, it was such a beautiful weekend.

Youngblood Designers Market freebie

2009-08-11T17:45:00.006+10:00

This postcard will enable you and a friend to get into Youngbood Designers Market for less than a latte. Just print it out and come along on Friday from 6 - 9pm or Saturday from 10am - 5pm, and it will only cost $2.50 each. This is the first year there has been an entry charge to Youngblood - good or bad I wonder? But this postcard includes entry to the Powerhouse Museum, so it's a bit of a bargain.

Coveted

2009-08-10T09:36:00.003+10:00

On Saturday my Zipper Scarf was featured in The Age newspaper's Covet section. What a lovely way to start the weekend! Thank you to Nicole Bittar who wrote the piece and included States of Nature in the very interesting A2 issue with the cover theme of "Yours for the making".

City of Style

2009-08-07T10:08:00.008+10:00

What an amazing and inspiring fair it was in Melbourne over the last week. I was surrounded by talented designers and met lots of lovely new people. In the evenings I caught up with family and friends over delicious food and wine, visiting favourite restaurants in Victoria Street, Chinatown and Fitzroy. During the day my gorgeous LifeInStyle neighbours and I chatted over coffee, and watched eachother's stands while we dashed off to indulge in retail therapy and well-deserved massages. Thank you to all my wonderful new and existing stockists who popped in to say hello, and to my lovely next-door neighbours whose work is shown below.

Lola and Bailey

Vince letterpress

Cheryl Maloney

Through a glass onion

LifeInStyle Melbourne

2009-07-21T17:03:00.006+10:00

In a little over a week, I will be exhibiting at the LifeInStyle trade fair in Melbourne. It is at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, the gorgeous nineteenth century landmark that was the first Australian building to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004. There are an amazing array of exhibitors participating, including the lovely Emma from Moe Moe Design. Her works are whimsical and really fun to wear, so it is easy to pick and choose from the pieces I have depending on my mood.

Wattle by Moe Moe Design

Compass by Moe Moe Design

Blossum by Moe Moe Design

Tea towels

2009-07-17T11:12:00.005+10:00

Here's a preview of some new tea-towels going out to stores at the moment, in both the jelly mould and cutlery print. Based on illustrations from long ago, they are designed to withstand punishment in the kitchen and are very absorbent.

Treehouses in Sydney

2009-07-11T12:37:00.006+10:00

There is a new event coming to Sydney which will showcase sustainable and green design treehouses in Hyde Park. The Cool Hunter has invited architects, artists and designers to design modern treehouses created from sustainable and recycled materials. There will also be satellite events, including an eco-theatre, ecotarium and graphic art exhibition. And to get from place to place you just jump on a free bike and cycle your way there.

Peppermint mag and indie.com

2009-07-06T20:43:00.012+10:00

Issue 3 of Peppermint is out now

Photo by Carolyn from indie.com

Peppermint Magazine hits the shelves this week, it is Issue 3 and full of crafty goodness. Lots of beautiful and environmentally aware info and treasures, including a profile on States of Nature on page 76. The profile also appears on the fabulous indie.com, accompanied by photos from the very talented Carolyn, who founded the site.

Everything's coming up magnolias...

2009-07-05T19:32:00.022+10:00

Thank you to everyone who came along to Magnolia Square in Sydney over the weekend. I was so inspired to meet many of my online customers in person (finally!) and to be surrounded by a group of amazing designers and makers of beautiful things. The organisers did a wonderful job, making the whole event a pleasure to be a part of. I was very lucky to bring home goodies galore, and I can say some of my absolutely favourite things (in no particular order!) were from:

Luone

Op Shop heaven

2009-06-30T15:36:00.004+10:00

If I were able to do needlework this is what I would do, but I found this great piece at my favourite op shop yesterday. I'm going to make it into a cushion so that I can just look at it every day.

A good rug is hard to find

2009-06-27T12:34:00.008+10:00

I love redecorating my house for winter, and having floorboards throughout means I can warm up the rooms with rugs. I really like Pappelina from Sweden, whose products are made to rigorous environmental standards. They don't contain any heavy metals or dangerous softeners, and they don't give off any poisonous gas if there is a fire. The website is worth a visit just for the gorgeous opening page, where you decide which language site you wish to enter.

Pretty special

2009-06-22T10:02:00.007+10:00

In two weeks Magnolia Square comes to Sydney at the Teahouse at Royal Randwick. I can't wait to see the treasures from a whole range of designers, including the ones pictured above. There's the Ella Sanders range of knitwear and textiles, Sisken accessories, Me and Amber cards, tees and badges, and Typekey jewellery made from vintage typewriter keys. I think I need to stop typing and start printing, or I will have none of my own work to fill up my own stand.

Sugarlumps

2009-06-18T12:54:00.008+10:00

I was so looking forward to Monday night for my TV highlight of the week (apart from Madmen of course....) and I was not disappointed. The Flight of the Conchords doing what looked like a brilliant song from the SBS promos. And another great song to check out is from Kate Miller Heidke here. There really are too few songs that adequately express the vortex of Facebook, but Kate has certainly bridged the gap.

Klei

2009-06-12T15:17:00.004+10:00

I am so smitten with the jewellery I got from Barbara and Ben at Klei at the Finders Keepers, and have been wearing it ever since. It is hand-formed from porcelain in beautiful muted tones, with details and prints inspired by japanese and moorish patterns. Klei will be at the Rose Street Market tomorrow in Melbourne.

Good Press

2009-06-07T13:09:00.008+10:00

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be featured in The Age newspaper's cool A2 column "I made it myself" and I've posted a copy of the article over to the left there. Funnily enough, I miss The Age since moving north, and my mum sends me a little care package every few months with all the interesting "I made it myself" articles she has cut out for me. So of course I was very flattered to receive a request from the lovely Angela to have States of Nature doily brooches featured.

Olive Tree Market

2009-06-05T09:58:00.003+10:00

The beautiful Olive Tree Market is on tomorrow, full of gorgeous hand-made treasures. It is always a lovely day out, particularly when the weather is sunny. Designers I'll be looking out for include Clair de lune for moulded resin jewellery and Jackie Smallcombe for sterling silver pieces. It is held at the Junction Primary School in Newcastle from 9am til 3pm, so there's plenty of time to browse and chat under the trees.

Village Idiom

2009-05-31T17:32:00.007+10:00

Village Idiom in Yarraville

New skirts, t-shirts, scarves and brooches are all in-store at Village Idiom, which is in the funky village of Yarraville in Melbourne. It is just around the corner from the Sun Theatre, a restored art deco film-lover's paradise. And when the time comes to recuperate, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to Hausfrau for coffee and truly amazing cake.