Recipe Friday – Grain Free Granola (a.k.a Nutola!)

Tags

Breakfast, Coconut oil, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Granola, Healthy Breakfast, Healthy Recipe, Recipe

Grain Free Granola (Nutola)
(Image bt TSL)

Despite the fact that this wee blog has a focus on my personal love affair with design-oriented, creative, haberdashery pursuits; I also spend quite a lot of time reading about, creating and eating good food. It is also true that my recipe posts seem to get more hits than almost any other  – with the exception of my last-minute decision to post about Rupert Grint being Ed Sheeran’s doppelgänger, which subsequently turned into my top rated post of all time! Who knew?

Anyhoo – this post is a recipe post. It is for a seriously yummy, not to mention healthy, grain free granola that I first discovered on The Healthy Home Economist. I have tweaked it the tiniest bit to suit my tastes, but I promise you IT IS SO GOOD!

The other great thing about this recipe is that it is a doddle to make, especially compared to making a proper traditional granola, which has to be cooked and stirred often to ensure perfect golden goodness. I’m considered the tiniest bit of a Granola aficionado in this neck of the woods – I have two friends who expect my Christmas Granola every year. This is very definitely the healthier alternative.

I’m now on my third batch of this ‘Nutola’ and it is fast becoming a staple. To date, my favourite option is to have it with berries and a little coconut milk, but the teenager swears by banana and mango yoghurt with his…

So, here it is Grain Free Granola (Nutola)…

Grain Free Granola (Nutola)
(Image bt TSL)

Recipe makes generous gallon (which is just over 3 1/2 litres for us metric users)

Ingredients

3 cups raw almonds
3 cups raw walnuts
3 cups cashews
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1/Ž4 to 1/Ž2 cup coconut oil 
1/Ž4 cup raw honey
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup shredded coconut 
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/Ž2 tsp Celtic sea salt 

Method

1. Chop nuts and place in a large bowl.  It is easiest to chop the different nuts if they are not mixed together. Much to my Mum’s astonishment, I did this by hand the first time. I have since followed her advice to use the magimix. MUCH faster!

2. Mix nuts. Then, combine coconut oil, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt in saucepan over low heat until fully mixed. Pour this over nuts and mix well.

3. Add dates and shredded coconut. Store in an airtight container and pop into the fridge.

Oh – and just one more thing – because nuts are the primary ingredient, you don’t need a lot to fill you up.

Thanks to Sarah, the Healthy Home Economist!

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Margot Elena From Tokyo Milk – A Bit of an Enigma

Tags

Branding, Candles, Denver, Design, Gifts, Hand Cream, Lotion, Luxuries, Margot Elena, Packaging, Perfume, Shea butter, Shopping, Stationery, Sydney, Tokyo Milk

Kabuki No. 9 Bon Bon Shea Butter Lotion by Tokyo Milk
(Image from Tokyo Milk)

A while back I bought some Kabuki hand cream from one of my all time favourite shops in Sydney, Macleay on Manning. To be honest, it was an impulse buy and it languished on a bathroom shelf for a couple of months. But, that all changed recently when I rediscovered it AND it is my now new favourite hand cream. Seriously. I love it.

Now, those of you who are not ‘hand cream kinda’ people‘ won’t understand the search for the perfect hand cream. The ideal marriage of smell, texture, absorption and – it almost goes without saying – definitely never any greasy residue. Well, Tokyo Milk’s hand cream ticks all the boxes AND it has lovely packaging. Kabuki has a lychee-y, grapefruit-y, jasmine-y, vanilla-y scent and it is yummy. So yummy, in fact, that I wanted to find out more about the woman behind Tokyo Milk by Margot Elena.

I went a-looking. There is little about Margot Elena on the Tokyo Milk website. So, I looked some more. From Your Desks had this to say: “Margot Elena is a multifaceted designer who creates worlds of coordinating beauty, bath and body and home products. In her early twenties, Margot opened her first retail store, a highly successful gift boutique that focused on hand crafted soaps wrapped in custom packaging. Shortly thereafter, Margot launched Bloom, her first nationally distributed bath and body brand.

Archive, a minimalist luxury bathline followed Bloom. Margot’s most recognizable brand, classic Lollila, was created of boudoir accoutrements telling a story of modern romantic luxury. Tokyo Milk, was born out of a vision where nothing is as it seems. Her  latest creation takes a playful twist on the modern feminine with colourful Love&Toast, designed with the eco-conscious woman in mind. A portion of every Love & Toast sale goes directly to Regional Affiliates of Girls Inc. Love & Toast is Margot’s affirmation that good design and doing good go hand-in-hand. Margot lives and works in Denver, Colorado.”

So, I’m getting that Margot Elena is another of these super-creative, design-focused entrepreneurs that I so admire. And, she has a mini empire going on. Tokyo Milk alone is a wee treasure trove of goodies… There are perfumes, cosmetics, body luxuries, candles, stationery and much more.

If I want to extend my, as yet, small Kabuki obsession further, I could go for a candle or some parfum:

Kabuki No. 9 Candle by Tokyo Milk
(Image from Tokyo Milk)

Kabuki No. 9 Parfum by Tokyo Milk
(Image from Tokyo Milk)

The card selection was quirky and made me wish Tokyo Milk shipped to Australia:

(All images from Tokyo Milk)

The Tokyo Milk website is well worth a squizz – especially if you live in North America. You can get to it here. Until Margot Elena reaches world domination, those of us down under will have to make do with sourcing her product elsewhere…

Jonathan Adler Does White Well…

Tags

Christmas Gifts, Gifts, Holiday Gifts, Homewares, Jonathan Adler, Kim Kardashian, Mae West, P.Diddy, Puff Daddy, Shopping

I feel safe in white because deep down inside, I’m an angel. (Puff Daddy)

Sure you are, P.Diddy…

You may recall that way back in April I posted about the fabulously-fun-yet-not-quite-quirky Jonathan Adler (here, if you feel like a refresher). Well, recently I saw a great video at 99U where the highly commercial-yet-irreverent Mr Adler talks about keeping other people’s opinions out of your creative process. I have to say, I do like him and his approach.

Anyhoo, that put Jonathan Adler in my mind, AND I’m in that ‘what do I buy <insert name here> for Christmas?’ space, so I revisited his site and found all sorts of goodies, which just happen to be (mostly) white.

Perhaps some ideas for the silly season?

White is actually one of my favorite colours. I have a white car. I love white. (Kim Kardashian)

Carter Kustera’s Adler Portrait
A winner of numerous awards for art and illustration, New York based Carter Kustera brings his talent for creating custom portraits to Jonathan Adler customers.
All custom portraits are single image, hand painted in opaque watercolour and have a self-written tagline.
All this for inly US$750 (I would still love one of LM!)
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

Giraffe Lamp by Jonathan Adler
I kinda’ like how Mr Giraffe’s head pokes out the top of the lamp…
US$395.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

Orange Piped Towel from a range by Jonathan Adler
You all know how much I love orange!
Prices range from US$8.00 for a wash/face cloth to US$44.00 for a bath towel
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

The Edie Vase by Jonathan Adler
According to the ad’ blurb, ‘Surprising, surreal, sublime’
US$198.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

Dachshund Bookends by Jonathan Adler
It’s a dog. WHat can I say…?
US$150.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

Muse Pitcher by Jonathan Adler
The muse pitcher, inspired by Jonathan’s love affair with Salvador and Misia, is hand-sculpted white porcelain with a sheer glossy glaze.
US$98.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

Utopia Sailor/Captain Mug
For the boaties in your life…
US$26.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. (Mae West)

And, finally – I know it’s not white but can’t you imagine filling one of these with favoured chocolates and giving it as a gift…?

Uppers Canister (Mustard and White) by Jonathan Adler
US$98.00
(Image from Jonathan Adler)

To see more of Jonathan Adler’s most fabulous wares, and maybe even do a spot of online shopping, head here.

Kumi Yamashita’s Deceptive Origami Profiles

Tags

Art, Clever Art, Colour, Kumi Yamashita, Master of Fine Arts, New York, New York City, Origami, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle City Light, Tokyo

Origami Series by Kumi Yamashita
(Image © Kumi Yamashita)

I sculpt shadow with light or sometimes light with shadow, but both function in essentially the same manner. I take objects and carve and place them in relation to a single light source. (Kumi Yamashita)

I am fascinated by the works of Kumi Yamashita – at first glance her Origami installation seems so simple, yet look again. Very clever…

Orange Origami from Origami Series by Kumi Yamashita
(Image © Kumi Yamashita)

Green Origami from Origami Series by Kumi Yamashita
(Image © Kumi Yamashita)

Blue Origami from Origami Series by Kumi Yamashita
(Image © Kumi Yamashita)

In her Origami installation from 2005, Yamashita has pinched and pleated square sheets of aluminium so that they cast shadows of human profiles when they are hung on the wall and lit from the side. Brilliant, yes?

Kumi Yamashita received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Glasgow School of Art. Her solo shows include: the Seattle Art Museum, Boise Art Museum, Yerba Buena Centre, San Francisco, the Esplanade in Singapore, Hillside Gallery in Tokyo and the Kent Gallery in New York, the Sato Museum, Tokyo and the Dillon Gallery, New York.

Her work is in the collections of the New Mexico History Museum, Seattle City Light, Microsoft Collection, Boise Art Museum, the Hamada Art Museum and others. But not in the TSL collection in Sydney, more’s the pity.

If you’d like to learn more about Kumi Yamashita, this is just the tip of the iceberg. You can check out her website here.

You Say Doona, They Say Dyne, I Say Duvet…

Tags

Australia, Bed Linen, Bedding, By Nord, Colloquialisms, Denmark, Design, Duvet, IKEA, Interior design, Kiwi, Language, New Zealand, Russell Crowe, Shopping, Sydney, Tontine Group

To most people around the world, Aussies and Kiwis are pretty similar – not least because of our shared geography. And, in many ways I can see why people might think that. Certainly, I love living in Sydney and there are many things about Australia that I have willingly embraced and in many cases, adopted. I have always preferred Vegemite to Marmite. I have learnt that not everybody knows what jandals* are. Jacarandas flowering in November have replaced Pohutukawas flowering in December for me in the lead up to Christmas. I don’t even give off that involuntary shudder when a well-meaning Australian tells me I “don’t sound like a Kiwi”, anymore.

God bless America. God save the Queen. God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia. (Russell Crowe)

But, there is one thing I just cannot bring myself to embrace. I cannot and will not use the word ‘Doona’. It just sounds wrong.

Australians use the word ‘Doona’ in place of duvet, or even ‘continental quilt’. Now, I’ve done a wee bit of online searching and I have discovered that ‘Doona’ is the brand name created by Kimptons (Northern Feather). For the sake of accuracy, you should know that the Tontine Group acquired the trademark in 1991 when Pacific Dunlop took over the company. Apparently, ‘Doona’ is derived from the equivalent common Scandinavian term dyne and was popularised by retail behemoth IKEA in the 1970s.

All of this becomes perhaps a little more relevant when I tell you that today’s post is about the ever-so-fabulous graphic bed linen and cushions from By Nord, a most lovely Danish home-wares company (where they probably say ‘dyne’ instead of ‘doona’ or duvet…)

Check out these babies…

(Oh – and, I’m starting with the sheep as a further reminder that I’m a Kiwi!)

Sheep Cushion for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

Sheep Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

Feather Cushion for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

Feather Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

Hedgehog Duvet Cover for By Nord
Fun Fact – there are no hedgehogs native to Australia
(Image © By Nord)

Moose Pillowcase for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

Moose Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)

By Nord have some b e a u t i f u l things. You can check out their web-shop here. Alternatively, the closest retailer in Australasia is Design Studio Home, which is not very useful unless you happen to live in Perth, WA.

* Jandals: n. ubiquitous New Zealand rubber sandal.
Equivalent to the Australian Thong, UK/US Flip Flop

Marc Gafen – PhoDOGrapher

Tags

Australia, Dogs, Gifts, Pet Photography, Pets, Photography, Sydney, the Phodographer

(Image © Phodographer)

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.(Anatole France)

In case you haven’t worked it out yet, Bella the poodle is part of our wee family here in Sydney. She is much loved (and she knows it). I’m thinking she deserves a spot of her own on the photo table.

I did some googling and I came across this dude. Marc Gafen, the Phodographer. Whadda’ you reckon? should we see about getting a session?

(Image © Phodographer)

(Image © Phodographer)

(Image © Phodographer)

(Image © Phodographer)

Marc Gafen is apparently a notorious dog lover, an ward-winning photographer and editor of Australia’s professional photography magazine, Capture. He created the Phodographer business in 2008 to combine his love of photography with his love of four-legged friends.

The only question I have is, could he beat this image taken by LM…?  (Quite probably! I’m just a tad biased)

(Image by TSL)

The Phodographer has a studio in Rosebery, Sydney. You can e-mail him at marc@thephodographer.com.au.

The ‘Man Chair’ Saga Continues…

Tags

Chair, Dogs, Furniture, Furniture Design, Great Dane Furniture, Man Chair, mid-century design, Shopping, Wikkelso

You may recall a post I did back in July – yes, that’s 4 1/2 months ago now – on LM and the ‘Man Chair’ Saga. Well, LM’s new ‘Man Chair’ – the ever-so-beautiful Wikkelso V11 Easy Chair and Footstool arrived this afternoon. Minus the footstool. It seems it was too much for them both to be delivered at the same time…

Despite this, I gotta’ say, the chair is GORGEOUS! Bella thinks so, too.

Bella Bear in Papa Bear’s Chair
(Image by TSL)

Who’s been sitting in MY chair…? (Goldilocks and the Three Bears)

Fortunately, LM is away for the week, so hopefully the complete ‘Man Chair’ package will be in situ for him when he arrives home.

One of the last things he said before departing was “When my Man Chair arrives, tell the dog it’s not her chair”. I don’t think she was listening…

Update: Great Dane Furniture have sent the footstool by courier. The ‘Man Chair’ saga is concluded in time for LM’s return…

Happy snap of the Wikkelso V11 Easy Chair AND Footstool
(Image by TSL)

The Selvedge Calendar Countdown and Things Haberdashery…

Tags

Arts and Crafts, Christmas, craft, Designers Guild, Le Grenier, Little Owl, London, New Zealand, Online Shopping, Sarah Strachan, Selvedge, Selvedge Dry Good, Shopping, Terrain, Textiles, Tricia Guild, V and A

So, almost every time I speak to my brother in New Zealand, he asks me how my ‘haberdashery‘ is progressing. To be honest, it has been pretty quiet of late. Not much progression at all. I have been a little remiss. But, yesterday the latest issue of Selvedge magazine arrived. Issue 49. The Evergreen issue.

Issue 49 of Selvedge Magazine

On page 14, there is a countdown to Christmas with lots of good websites to check out. It sort of falls under the ‘haberdashery’ banner and I thought, for the benefit of those of you who don’t subscribe to the fabulous Selvedge mag’, I would give you a few ideas and pass on a few of those sites…

Gemini Grenat Cushion by Christan Lacroix at Designers Guild
(Image from Designers Guild)

If you have been living under a rock and have never heard of Designers Guild, then this bit is for you: Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild, Designers Guild designs and wholesales furnishing fabrics, wall coverings, upholstery and bed and bath collections worldwide. The Designers Guild business philosophy is to combine creativity and innovation with the highest levels of quality: quality of design, product, service and people. As ever, Designers Guild is known for its bold use of colour and pattern.

Rolleiflex T-Shirt, available exclusively at the V and A Shop
(Image from VandA Shop)

The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the world’s greatest museums of art and design has a wonderful online store. Its well worth a visit if you haven’t yet discovered it for yourself.

French Portrait Cushions from Le Grenier
(Image from Le Grenier)

Based in my very own back yard, despite sounding trés French, Le Grenier (‘the attic’ in French) stocks old and new home-wares, antiques and brocante – French, farmhouse, faded, found or just fun.

These cushions were designed and made in France by internationally renowned designer Pascal Palun. A delightfully quirky way to include 18th century French portraiture in a modern interior.

Waterland Plate Decoupage by Little Owl Design for Terrain
(Image from Terrain)

With stores in Glen Mills, PA and Westport, CT, Terrain is a home-wares shop with many goodies on offer. The decoupage series by Little Owl is just one example of their wares – but it may be one of my favourites.

In their Altered Perspectives series, Little Owl Design juxtaposes visions of the past, by affixing vintage Dutch paintings to traditional European tableware. The result is a quirky, one-of-a-kind conversation piece, like this set smooth, red-and-white transfer-ware, printed with an idyllic picture of the English countryside and accented with textured waterscapes.

The Anta Chair for Plumo
(Image from Plumo)

Bit of a teaser, really. The Anta chair from Plumo is a unique upholstered arm-chair finished with the most beautiful hand stitched quilted vintage fabrics, contrasting in colour and pattern. The shape based on a 1950’s design classic. Unfortunately, it is only available for shipping within the UK because of its weight.

Barbara Brown Doll by Sarah Strachan from the Selvedge Drygoods Store
(Image from Selvedge)

Finally, there is the ever-covetable dry goods store at Selvedge itself. It is such a beautiful store – full of high quality crafted good. Do check it out.

Sarah Strachan used to make creatures for film, tv and theatre, often freelancing for Jim Henson’s creature shop in Camden, London. Sarah studied fine art sculpture at St Martins in London and the National School of Art and Design in Dublin. These gorgeous dolls depict various textile designers and are all hand painted and handmade.

Andrea Dezsö Makes Me REALLY Appreciate My Mum…

Tags

Andrea Dezsö, Embroidery, Fiber art, Humour, Mothers, Sayings, Visual Art, Visual Arts

Skimpy Bikini by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

It is most unfair that one artist can be so talented across so many disciplines. Andrea Dezsö is a visual artist who works across a broad range of media which includes drawing, artist’s books, cut paper, embroidery, sculpture, site-specific installation, animation and large-scale public art.

I particularly like her ‘Lessons From My Mother’ series where the Transylvanian-born Dezsö has embroidered dozens of her mother’s superstitious sayings. Each of these small pieces includes neatly stitched diagrams and begins with the statement “My mother claimed that…” followed by such homilies as “my sister was a rubber accident.”

I think I should point out that I have only included the PG rated embroidered pieces in the series – there are some that made me gasp. Some of Dezsö’s Mum’s saying are pretty graphic – and certainly made me appreciate my fabulous Mum’s pragmatism and acceptance even more…

What Kind of Man by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Herpes by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Bread by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Rubber Accident by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Wet Hair by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Smart People by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Cat by Andrea Dezsö
Lessons From My Mother series
cotton and metallic floss embroidery on cotton fabric
(Image © Andrea Dezsö)

Dezsö is represented by the Nancy Margolis Gallery in New York, Frey Norris Contemporary & Modern in San Francisco, and Pucker Gallery in Boston. If you’d like to check out the R rated versions of her ‘Lessons From My Mother ‘, or see some of other work, check out her website here.

Today is ‘Marta Altés Monday’

Tags

Art, Barcelona, Book illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Dr. Seuss, Drawing, England, Graphic Design, Humour, Illustration, London, Marta Altés

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Bullfighter’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! (Dr. Seuss)

Who does this? Who has the imagination and whimsy to come up with the lovely idea of creating images out of discarded pencil savings? Marta Altés – that’s who.

Originally from Barcelona, Marta started her career as a graphic designer before moving to the UK to study children’s book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She now works as an illustrator, and by the looks of things, it was an inspired decision.

Her work puts a smile on my face…

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Wave’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Ole’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Fly’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Hell Yeah!’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Flower’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Swan Lake’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

Playing with Pencil Shavings ‘Grrrr!’ by Marta Altés
(Image © Marta Altés)

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities. (Dr. Seuss)

Marta’s website is just as whimsical as her playing with pencil shavings. Go check it out here.