HANDMADE BUY OF THE DAY : KNITTED CACTUS

Spotted in this months issue of Real Living (a mag I love) how cute are these knitted cacti! Handmade in Melbourne by the Etsy store Odds & Ends, Im loving the modern take on a 70s favourite, especially in that crisp white ceramic pot. All yours starting from $59AUD

from the May issue of Real Living

I WANT IT NOW : UN-KILLABLE CATUS

This porcelain pretty comes from the shelves of Burleigh Heads based homeware importers Vennucci, who are now celebrating their 10th year trading. This un-killable cactus is perhaps the 21st Century's answer to housewarming gifts for your 20 something bachelor friends... Arizona Porcelain Cactus $22

PHOTOS OF THE DAY : RIGHT ON CUE

Too beautiful to choose just one! These shots come from Cue's Winter Collection catalogue. Adore the hair and makeup and the subtle hints of a windswept location (not that it makes a very big appearance, but it makes a big impact). If anyone has the details let me know...

RUNWAY TOP 6 : YEOJIN BAE 2011

Ok - I officially want to either drink whatever fashion cool-aide Yeojin has been drinking or convince her to let me own every piece she ever designed. I absolutely love her style...this is exactly my aesthetic...refined luxury that goes from day to night, a hint of sexy with prints, colours and cuts that are modern and on trend while still being soaked with classism.

This top 6 (while not exactly runway) is from her new collection and is available online here

love the length and fit of this skirt

love this length too

I WANT IT NOW : YEOJIN BAE SEQUIN LOLA DRESS

I am in fashion love with this dress by (Korean born) Australian designer Yeojin Bae.

Pity I just missed putting it on my Birthday and Valentines day list ( har har) Available online for $1,590....sigh, so sparkly

COVER TO COVER : VOGUE AUSTRALIA MARCH

I fell in love with this months cover of Vogue Australia today while grocery shopping, snapped it up ASAP, and just spent a classic lazy summer afternoon leafing through its pages in front of the fan with iced water on hand! Great use of colour, pattern and the soft yet bold alternating text hues. Shot by Nicole Bentley, it features model Alina Baikova wearing some of this season's most recognisable stripes from Prada. Hope you all got to indulge in a lazy Sunday too!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Happy belated Australia Day! What perfect (maybe a touch too hot) weather we had in Brisbane yesterday, hope all those Aussie inclined folk got out and celebrated our wonderful country. Thought this pick of Natalie Imbruglia mousing around atop the Opera House was fitting...it was shot by Monster Children co-founder Chris Searl early last year for Harpers Bazaar's wonderland series (seen via Natalie's official site)

PHOTO OF THE DAY : QUEENSLAND SPIRIT

Im sure by now everyone in Australia, and a great deal of people from the rest of the world, are talking about the tough week we here in Brisbane and the rest of Queensland have been having...
Thankfully my home escaped, but a great deal of others haven't and my thoughts are with all those families, I cant even begin to imagine...
However, for as many horrible things we hear about on the news thankfully there seems to be two more positive stories to hear that demonstrate the Aussie spirit in full swing. I love this cheeky shot of a 'flood prepared' Wally Lewis outside Suncorp Stadium.
As an apt newsreader reported today; its been heartbreaking and now it will be backbreaking as the cleanup begins. But I like to think that as gumboot clad, broom wielding Brisbanites rally together, things will start resembling normalcy soon and there is no doubt this is still a wonderful place to live! Please take care and stay safe in what is still a dangerous situation, lets look after each other and make sure no one is left to face this alone. Donate or register to volunteer your time through the Queensland Government site http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

BYE BYE NOTEBOOK MAGAZINE

*feet stomping and whiny sounds of denial* I can't believe they are taking Notebook Magazine off the shelves! I really did enjoy this monthly read that fit snugly into a niche that is otherwise lacking. I thought it was a great mix of interiors and gardening, craft, fashion, food and life without the over saturated celebrity tales. It is such a pity News Ltd didn't feel they were making enough profit...sigh, at least I have a pretty good library of past issues, one can only hope a new title will come along soon! In the mean time homelife.com.au has a lot of great content available

The final cover of Notebook, the November 2010 issue out now

I WANT IT NOW : LENS CUP

How clever is this novelty cup from Third Drawer Down? I'm unashamedly fond of quirky finds like this and Thrid Draw Down certainly has no shortage on quirk! Selling from Fitzroy, they are Australia's only trading museum and well worth an online-shop browsing session; especially with Christmas now only weeks away! ( if you happen to take my advice, be sure to take a look at their limited edition textiles, lots to lust after!)

WEDDING BLISS

Here's a little peek at the wonderful weekend I just had celebrating my best friend becoming a Mrs.

Married on a sunny Saturday morning overlooking Noosa's crystal clear water on the Sunshine Coast, the happy couple both looked stunning and put so much effort into creating a personal eco-chic day that was one to remember!

Our lovely Bride thoughtfully choose a perfume for us all to wear, creating a scent to remember...and our Bridesmaid dresses hanging and ready for action on the big morning!

The wedding favours were these sweet beeswax candles and bamboo coasters. The little quote you can see tucked in between was printed on recycled seeded paper that is able to be planted and grown into a Lemon Scented Bottlebrush (an Aussie native)

COVER TO COVER : ADORE HOME MAGAZINE

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday, particularly those of us in Brisbane who have seen blue sky for the first time in a while!

I was browsing over on Layers of Meaning this morning when I came across a link to new Home and Lifestyle Magazine; Adore Home Magazine. And adore I did! Full of inspiring images and peeks into gorgeous homes with interviews from the people who live in them, I lost myself for a while in all the pretty...and the best part of all, not only is it free to view cover to cover online but its Australian!

Founded and created by designer Loni Parker this first 'Spring' Issue is well worth a look, heres some eye candy to get you hooked

COVER TO COVER : EMPORIUM

I picked up a copy of Myer's Emporium Magazine last week which featured an article on Jayson Brunsdon and his stylish apartment. I just thought I would share these pics because I love the framed sketches, and below that in an advertisement for Country Road, Im in lust with the middle outifit.

EYE CANDY : REAL LIVING

For the past 3 months I have picked up an issue of Real Living Magazine and really enjoyed flicking through for home inspiration. I think it will become a regular read for me ; here is some eye candy from the latest August issue. Check out their online store , it seems to have some cool finds

Things to steal from this kitchen : the fridge, the table and chairs, the mat, the vintage print, the Hydrangeas...well ok I just like the whole thing

love all the frames leaning around the fireplace

PHOTO OF THE DAY : Troyt Couburn

More of the coloured hair trend from an Aussie Vogue editorial in May last year. Photographed by Troyt Couburn and featuring Model Valerija Erokhina; more images Via taistoisoisbeau

BRISBANE BUZZ : THE FINDERS KEEPERS BEEN THERE DONE THAT

So Sunday was my maiden voyage into the world of Finders Keepers and boy was it busy! The 2 studios and balcony were a constant throng of curious browsers and eager shoppers all jostling for the best spots in front of the stall tables. I did in fact lose my friends straight away but with so much to look at I didn't mind getting lost for a while! Mondocherry was one of the first sellers I gravitated towards and loved all their 3d paper-art and framed buttons. Almond Tree Frames was another great set-up with paper-art, and if you have a look at their site be sure to check out their Alice in Wonderland range. My first, of only 2 purchases, came from Bespoke Letterpress Boutique. However as it is a gift I can't share it here incase it spoils the surprise! needless to say it is a beautiful example of letterpress. Udessi's sculptures and animal prints next caught my eye before my final buy, a creamy ceramic magnet from paper boat press. Handmade right here in Brisbane it reads "follow your bliss" (buy a similar one here) My last stop was the jewellery at Pigeonhole, where I fell in love with some of the delicate silver pieces and I am looking forward to having a better look around their webstore soon!

Half way through we needed to take some time out for nourishment and the reclaiming of a little personal space. I shared some pizza and a little banana bread cross legged on a grassy patch in front of the band's stage and luckily made it back inside before the rain started. All in all it was a good day with good food, good company and plenty of creative inspiration!

BRISBANE BUZZ : THE FINDERS KEEPERS

Super excited for a Jam-pack weekend coming up! Which amongst many things will include an eagerly awaited trip to the Biannual Finders Keepers Markets in Herston. On this Sat and Sun (26th/27th) it's the place to be if you are even mildly interested in the handmade, shopping, crafts, food or music! Might see you there!

from last years markets in Brisbane

PACKAGING & PRODUCT DESIGN : MOR COSMETICS

Every time I walk though a David Jones I always lose a little time admiring* (*see also: drooling over) the packaging for MOR Cosmetics, I'm a lover of packaging and product design and when it is done well it can be such an art-form. And I don't think I've ever met a MOR product that wasn't absolutely stunning and creative (At the moment my faves are their pieces with wooden accents)...also it doesn't hurt that all their products are deliciously good and from an Australian brand.

images via NOTCOT , mimi&meg and MOR