Cabin Fever

I was featured on a lovely blog called OTIS & OTTO this week: Here is the post.
It is a very minimalistic and simple design blog and a great blog to visit regularly for a little aesthetic pop in your day.

I have cabin fever this weekend. I'm sick of being cooped up in the house, I'm restless for adventure and longing for some interaction with the outside world. I need to make sure that I see my friends and tell them that they are important to me and that I haven't forgotten them. And I definitely need to go outside and exercise, I think it would help me to focus on my work if I got rid of some excess energy. Do you have a method for time management/ balance?

My cabin fever has induced an intense urge to spend money on things! I think it is that instant gratification feeling when you purchase something. However, I would like to save up for an overseas adventure in the future, so I'm resisting temptation.

Here are my current wish lists for August:

Top (from left): Dakota Silky Aiko printed dress - Urban Outfitters, Kimchi Blue Lace Love Top - Urban Outfitters, Pins and Needles Striped Maxi Dress - Urban Outfitters
Middle: Pique` Full Woven Skirt in French Blue - American Apparel, Chiffon Pleated Skirt in Lagoon - American Apparel,  Printed Rayon Full Length Skirt - American Apparel
Bottom: Lace Cap Sleeve top in Orchid -  American Apparel,  Pinchusion Tank - Gorman, Chloe Triple Strap Flats in Mint Green - Golden Ponies and Pupa Bag with Leather Tassle Golden Ponies



Row 1: My Abuela's table by Daniella Germain, Conversations with Creative Women, Sweetie! 50 Delectable Sweets, by Daniella Germain
Row 2: UV, Neutral Density and Circular Polarizer filters, Nikon Coolpix Waterproof and Shock resistant camera
Row 3: Canon Macro Ring Lite Flash , Nikon FM10 35mm SLR Camera (to play with)
Row 4. Dior Addict The add campaign (extended version here) worked so well on me - isn't  Daphne Groeneveld gorgeous?! and some more water colours from Amazon 

This Pomeranian... is featured in my blog too often.

One of my favourite illustrators Becca Stadtlander has a shop feature and interview on Etsy.
See her Etsy Shop
[Photograph by Becca Stadtlander featured in The Etsy Blog]

Will it blend: Metal Spoon
No, it will not blend. It will explode a hole through the side of your blender causing a lava eruption of strawberry and banana smoothie all over yourself and kitchen.

A gig poster I illustrated for the Shane Hannan Quintet

I would love to reveal some more illustration work to you - but it's all under wraps for the time being!

My kindred spirit sister Erin Ward and I used to live in a disgustingly messy share house together a few years ago and we also shared a market stall together at Suitcase Rummage. We made badges together for the markets and sold prints and original artwork. During this time we drank lots of tea, ate lots of ice cream & cookies together and made art together. I watched Erin paint 10m long dragon lanterns, animate forests in sand, create a paper mache pig, invent cloud necklaces, decorate her room spectacularly, and illustrate beautiful artworks with beautiful curvy women, sea creatures and magical imagery. I'm particularly in love with the amazing line work in Erin's drawings.  Erin does not give herself enough credit for her bottomless talent and I'm so happy to see her being creative again and voicing her strong and determined opinions on her blog. It's just starting out, so keep an eye on this space and watch Erin's process and her artwork evolve.  http://erinmichelleward.blogspot.com.au/

Commence Hibernation

It's winter time! Yes I know I live in Queensland and the coldest it gets is about 10degrees. But I also live in a Queenslander, which is not designed to keep the warmth in. It feels a bit like camping. :)

I hate the cold and I dream of tropical a tropical lifestyle in a tropical destination, doing tropical things.
Tropical things could include: drinking mojitos, eating icecream, laying on the beach, dancing lobsters, wearing a tropical fruit hat, and soaking up the warm sun like a lizard.

Things I do enjoy in "winter":
Scarves, hot chocolate, marshmallow roasting, fires, cider, snuggling, blankets, sleeping, tea, leggings, socks, cuddling, being spooned, fluffy cuddly dogs, being indoors, hibernating, loooong hot showers or baths, lavender body wash, curry, pie, ginger, spices and anything chocolatey.
Winter can only be good if there is snow and central heating.


This is my new favourite recipe website, TasteSpotting, set to my favourite search setting: hot + chocolate


I have amalgamated a few recipes together to create an Emily experimental dairy free hot chocolate:
Cook in a saucepan:
Good heaped taplespoon (or more to taste) of Brown sugar
2 table spoons of good quality cocoa powder
2 cups Almond milk (add a little at a time until the mixture is smooth - and then add the rest of the milk)
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, and if you want it spicier add some chilli powder
Stir and let thicken a little over the heat - but don't let it boil
Drink with or without marshmallows!

As being sampled by my sister - post dancing dress rehearsal

My new favourite favourite photography blog: Mocking Bird 
Has a really great segment called "What's in your kit?"

Alice Gao's Kit via Mocking Bird 

Interviews with photographers and descriptions of the cameras, lenses and tips they use for photographing their work.  It has been very inspiring for me to read and has given me some great ideas for equipment that I would like to buy and techniques that I would like to try.
Here is an interview with Olga Bennet (you might have seen her work in  Frankie Magazine, Smith Journal or Peppermint Magazine).  Olga has created a beautiful book, which I would love to own, called Environments - documenting studio spaces around Melbourne.

Environments book photo via Olga Bennett's website.


Pomeranian Sleepover - my couch in the morning light...
( he was actually sitting in this pose already)

La Boite Theatre - Indie Season bar at The Truth About Kookaburras  and my obsession with photographing glass...


Boy & Bear at The Tivoli
  

My purchases at the LifeLine Bookfest  (Nothing deep here, just cook books and some light reads)


My friends Alex and Rosanna are enjoying a lovely holiday in Annecy for the Annecy Animation Festival at the moment. so jealous.

And lastly - a beautiful new blog to keep your eye on by graphic designer Kimmy Hogan, called white with three

Mother's Day Weekend

I have been a bit pale, sickly and unfit lately... so I made it my mission to get as much sun, fresh air and activity as possible this weekend! I was lucky enough to have amazing sunny, warm weather in Brisbane. I have spent almost the whole weekend outdoors with lots of long walks, fetes, markets and gardening, so here is a photo blog of my weekend:


On Friday night I went to Yard Bird Ale House  for dinner and a beer with Shane. We made the rookie error of ordering a meal each, instead of sharing! We were so ridiculously full. I had sliders (which reminded me of being in New York again) with beef, honey mustard, pickles and bbq sauce and chips. It was GOOD.  Definitely a place I would like to come back for many more beers, sweet potato fries, bbq wings etc, etc...

Saturday morning we went to the Sherwood State School fete for some jam and chutney! I also got 4 herb plants for $11! And my sister rolled around in giant balls with her friends over water... Then we went to the Rocklea Markets and scored big on fruit & veges and a little rest with Okonomiyaki for lunch. I have been enjoying some delicious salads made by Shane this weekend with our market buys!

On Sunday I threw a mothers day breakfast for my mum. We had sour dough with moroccan peach chutney, tomato, mint & avocado salsa and poached eggs. Blueberry, banana & cinnamon muffins. Sourdough with butter and blueberry & pear jam. Then i spent the whole afternoon digging in my garden, weeding, replanting and trying to repair the damage from the possums! I planted some new yellow zucchini, pak choy and lettuce. I also planted out my chamomile, thyme and oregano that I bought at the fete, but am still waiting on a location for the mint! Then I put up possum netting over all of my garden. Fingers crossed that it works!!  I love the combination of the smell of the earth and the way my fingers and arms and legs ache from the hard work.