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This Sydney Life

Monthly Archives: December 2012

Christmas Haircut Time at Casa TSL…

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Dogs

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Bella, Christmas, Christmas wishes, Dogs, Haircuts, Holidays, New South Wales, New Zealand, Pets, Poodle, Sydney, the poodle

Bella - before(Image by TSL)

Bella – before
(Image by TSL)

When I was a child in New Zealand, I always knew Christmas was only a few sleeps away because my Dad would get his ‘Christmas haircut‘. The Christmas haircut was a super-short, low maintenance number which was more convenient for boating and swimming and other summer pursuits.

Today, Bella received her Christmas haircut. We are heading to the beach for a couple of weeks in January, and Bella is a water-baby. Short is best. In addition to this, it is tick season in a big way on the New South Wales coast over the summer. We don’t want to take any chances with our beloved pooch, so this year, we have gone extra short.

Bella now resembles a rat…

Bella - after(Image by TSL)

Bella – after
(Image by TSL)

I think this will be the last post for a while as we get ready for the summer break down here. A very happy and safe Christmas to everyone.

I look forward to catching up with you all again in late January.

I Have a Crush on Peter Gordon…

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Food, New Zealand

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Book, Cookbook, Cooking, food, Gift, Kiwi, kiwi hospitality, London, Marylebone High Street, michael mcgrath, New Zealand, Peter Gordon, Recipe, restaurants, Shopping

Image of Peter Gordon taken by Jonathon Gregson

Image of Peter Gordon taken by Jonathon Gregson
(Image from here)

When I last lived in London, a million years ago now, I could often be found at The Providores and Tapa Room on Marylebone High Street. I loved it for its laid back Kiwi hospitality. I loved it for its most excellent flat whites. I loved it for its amazing cocktails. And, most of all, I loved it for the seriously great brunch menu.

When LM and I were in London earlier this year, I think we visited the Tapa Room four times for breakfast. It is still as good as I remember. If you are visiting London, a visit to Peter Gordon and Michael McGrath’s institution (it has been around since 2001), is well worth a look-see.

If you have not yet come across the understated and talented Mr Gordon, you should know that he is widely credited as being the ‘godfather’ of fusion cuisine. He is famous for his unique culinary philosophy where he mixes cuisines, flavours and styles of cookery. I think his food is also very clean on the palate. And, of course, the fact that he happens to hail from New Zealand, makes him just a wee bit special.

So, when I was out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping yesterday, I was very pleased to see Peter has come out with a new book. Better still, it is called ‘Everyday’ and is all about how one can create fusion-style food at home. Of course, I bought it (duh!). I have yet to cook from it but after spending a happy hour reading through it, I can tell you there are several recipes I want to try toot sweet…

Peter Gordon 'Everyday'

Peter Gordon ‘Everyday’ (Australasia Edition)

Five Spice Steamed Pork with Noodles and Broccoli, anyone…?

You can pick up a copy of Peter Gordon’s Everyday here. I think he’s fab’…

The Week TSL Went to the Birds…

14 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Design, New Zealand

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Australia, Banksy, Bird, Christmas, Christmas Gift, Essenze, Gifts under $100, Home and Garden, Jo Luping, Kiwiana, Leila Jeffreys, Native Bird, New Zealand, Phil Walters, Sculpture

'Tui' Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design

‘Tui’ Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design
Tui are considered to be very intelligent, much like parrots or at least the smart ones. They also resemble parrots in their ability to clearly imitate human speech, and were reputedly trained by Māori to replicate complex speech Tui are also known for their noisy, unusual calls, different for each individual, that combine bellbird-like notes with clicks, cackles, timber-like creaks and groans.
(Image from Essenze)

There seems to be a recurring theme this week here at TSL. On Monday I gave you Jo Luping’s lovely ceramic bowls, which included images of New Zealand’s tuis and fantails. Then, yesterday we had Leila Jeffreys and her images of the iconic Australian cockatoo. And today, yet more birds as we return to New Zealand for Phil Walters and his whimsical sculptural interpretations of native birds.

I covet one of these and I may just have to visit the Essenze shop in Parnell for a sneaky self-Christmas gift when I am home next week. At just NZ$79 each, I think it would bring me so much pleasure to look out at my Sydney garden with a wee piece of home in one of the trees. Now I just have to work out which one is my favourite…

In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence. (Robert Lynd)

'Fantail (Piwakawaka)' Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design

‘Fantail (Piwakawaka)’ Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design
Known for its friendly ‘cheet cheet’ call and impressive energetic flying antics, the aptly (if a little obviously) named fantail is one of the most common and widely distributed native birds on the New Zealand mainland.
It is easily recognized by its long tail which opens to a fan. It has a small head and bill but large ideas, especially in the field of aerobatics.
(Image from Essenze)

Apparently, the inspiration for the designs first started with Phil’s interest in street art and installation. He had been in Bristol and was an admirer of stencil graffiti artist Bansky. Walters states, “Frankly, I loved the guys swagger, intelligence and most of all his humour. I was in Bristol, Banksy‘s home in 2009 looking at a Banksy exhibition and was pretty impressed with his cunning.

I sat on the plane on the 28 hours back home to Auckland wondering what my version of ‘Banksy’ could be and decided that I’d do something sculptural and in 3 dimensions. The idea of metal birds came from wanting to do something I could covertly hammer into lamp posts, trees and buildings in public spaces that would somehow beautify and add value, or at least not offend.

I ‘placed’ around 40 birds in the field around the North Island over Xmas 2011.

It turns out that not only did they not offend, actually people wanted them both for their gardens and houses and their own ‘public installations’.”

That story just makes me want one of his creations even more…

'Kereru (Wood Pigeon)' Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design

‘Kereru (Wood Pigeon)’ Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design
A metal version of New Zealand’s native pigeon, also known as kererū, kūkū, kūkupa, wood pigeon and most commonly as ‘a woody’. It’s reputedly the only disperser of large fruit seeds we have (ouch!), the disappearance of the kererū would be a disaster for the regeneration of New Zealand’s native forests
(Image from Essenze)

'Huia' Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design

‘Huia’ Metal Bird by Phil Walters for Silo Design
The Huia was a species of wattlebird that was found only in New Zealand’s North Island. Unluckily for the Huia (and for us) it became extinct in the early 20th century due to rampant hunting for mounted specimens (damn those museums and wealthy private collectors). Huia were also hunted to obtain their long, striking tail feathers for locally fashionable hat decorations. So Phil Walters is keen to bring them back, at least in spirit!
(Image from Essenze)

If you are interested in picking up your own piece of native Kiwiana bird life (and one that customs will have no problem with), Essenze ships internationally. You can check out all they have on offer here.

Leila Jeffreys Is No Flaming Galah…

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Art

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Australia, Bird, Birds, Budgie, Christmas, Cockatoo, Galah, Gift, Jonathan Adler, Leila Jeffreys, Photographer, Photography, Shopping, Sydney, Tim Olsen Gallery

Queenie the Galah Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys

‘Queenie’, the Galah Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys
(Image © Leila Jeffreys)

galah

n
1. an Australian cockatoo, Kakatoe roseicapilla, having grey wings, back, and crest and a pink body
2. Austral slang a fool or simpleton

When you first arrive in Sydney (and possibly all of Australia, for that matter) one of the first things you notice are the birds. Both colourful and noisy, Australian birds are hard to ignore. Their cries start as the sun rises and seem to go all day…

Perhaps one of the most noticeable types of bird are the cockatoos. Until I came to Australia, I had only ever seen a cockatoo in the zoo. Here in Sydney, they are everywhere and they have bold and loud personalities.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys
(Image © Leila Jeffreys)

Leila Jeffreys is developing quite the following for her bird photography, and when you see her work, it is easy to see why.

Leila’s love of birds has led her all around Australia and the world. She has photographed and helped scientists study endangered birds on Christmas Island; she has been welcomed into the world of pedigree budgerigar ‘best in show’ bird competitions; and she has photographed migrating birds across Europe.

She recently exhibited her Biloela – Wild Cockatoos body of work at the Tim Olsen Gallery which threw a bright spotlight on Australia’s incredibly beautiful cockatoo.

She says, “Now that I’m an adult, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing than spending a day with some birds, getting to know them, them getting to know me and finding a way to cut through our differences until we’re left with one animal photographing another”

If I had a talent for photography and a passion for birds like yours, Leila, I think I’d feel exactly the same way…

'Seisa', Palm Cockatooby Leila Jeffreys

‘Seisa’, Palm Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys
(Image © Leila Jeffreys) 

'Neville', Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys

‘Neville’, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo by Leila Jeffreys
(Image © Leila Jeffreys)

If you’d like to learn more about Leila Jeffreys and her cockatoo series, or perhaps check out her budgie series (which was good enough for Jonathan Adler), you’ll get access her site here.

Tim Olsen Gallery still has available works of Leila’s for sale, too. What a Christmas present…

The One Where TSL Has a Bad Blogging Hair Day…

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Random Stuff

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Bad Hair Day, Blogging, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Quote, The Don

Donald Trump Shares a Bad Hair Day With TSL...(Image from here)

Donald Trump Shares a Bad Hair Day With TSL…
(Image from here)

Do you mind if I sit back a little? Because your breath is very bad. (Donald Trump)

A wee admission – with all the excitement of parental visits, Christmas fast approaching and ducted air-conditioning units being fitted here at Casa TSL, today’s post has fallen by the wayside.

Like ‘the Don’, I am having a bad blogging hair day.

Normal communications will resume tomorrow!

 

Something For My Dad: Maggie Beer’s Plum Cobbler

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Food

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Christmas, dessert, Drunken Aunties' Plum Trifle, Family, Jared Ingersoll, Maggie Beer, New Zealand, Plums, Recipe, Summer, Trifle

Like many Australians, I’m a little bit in love with Maggie Beer. She’s warm and unpretentious. She’s got a great way about her. And, her recipes work. Even if she is a wee bit too addicted to verjuice!

I like her food philosophy, too: “Seasonal produce, picked at its peak of ripeness, is the basis of everything I do – it’s all about the flavour. Taste and quality are paramount … I hope I can share my love of a good food life with you all.”

Her sultana cake is one of my go-to baking recipes. Seriously good.

Maggie Beer

Maggie Beer
(Image from Maggie Beer.com)

This week I’ve got my Mum and Dad visiting from New Zealand. We’ve been talking all things Christmas and planning the family time that is fast approaching in a week or two. We’ll be spending some time at their beach-house while we’re all together. There’s a big plum-tree in the garden and it is heavy with fruit at this time of year.

Last year, I made Jared Ingersoll‘s Drunken Aunties’ Plum Trifle. It was most yummy, if somewhat labour intensive. This year, I thought we might be a little less ambitious…

Dad, this one’s for you.

Maggie Beer's Plum Cobbler

Maggie Beer’s Plum Cobbler
(Image from MaggieBeer.com)

Maggie Beer’s Plum Cobbler

500g blood plums (cut in half, stone removed)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp verjuice

Topping

1/2 packet ginger snap biscuits (blended to a fine crumb)
2 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup almond flakes (toasted, to serve)
Runny cream (to serve)

Preheat a fan forced oven to 180C.

Place the plums into a baking dish and dot each plum half with the a little butter, sprinkle with two tablespoons of brown sugar and drizzle with two tablespoons of Verjuice. Place the plums into the pre heated oven to cook for 15 minutes.

While the plums are cooking combine the remaining ingredients for the cobbler topping into a mixing bowl and rub through the butter until it looks like coarse bread crumbs.

Once the plums have been in the oven for the 15 minutes remove, top with the cobbler mixture and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with almonds and serve warm with runny cream.

Maggie Beer has a number of cook books (my favourite is Maggie’s Kitchen). If you’d like to learn more about her, check out her website here. She has a recipe for a Dutch Ginger Cake that might just be next on my list to try…

Jo Luping’s Ceramics Make Me Homesick For New Zealand

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Design, New Zealand

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Arts and Crafts, Bird, Ceramics, Clever Bastards, Elijah Wood, Flightless bird, Gifts, Homewares, Illustration, Jo Luping, Jo Luping Design, New Zealand, Peter Jackson

Jo Luping Tui Medium Bowl(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Jo Luping Tui Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Like other regions separated from the rest of the world for a long period, New Zealand has developed a distinct flora. About 75% of the native flora is unique, and it includes some of the world’s oldest plant forms. Apart from seals and two species of bats, did you know New Zealand has no indigenous land mammals?

There is a great diversity of birds (and I miss them!), some 250 species in all, including breeding and migratory species. They are not like the cockatoos and kookaburras of Australia.

Among the flightless birds the most interesting is the kiwi, New Zealand’s national symbol and the only known bird with nostrils at the tip of the bill instead of at the base. Other characteristic birds are the kea, a mountain parrot, and the tui, a beautiful songbird.

There’s a real purity in New Zealand that doesn’t exist in the states. It’s actually not an easy thing to find in our world anymore. It’s a unique place because it is so far away from the rest of the world. There is a sense of isolation and also being protected. (Elijah Wood)

Jo Luping Design produces art pieces such as ceramics, jewellery and prints. I particularly like their ceramics which have a real flavour of New Zealand about them. Jo and her design team draw inspiration from New Zealand’s land and sea.

Jo Luping Fantail Medium Bowl

Jo Luping Fantail Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Jo Luping Kowhai Medium Bowl

Jo Luping Kowhai Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Jo Luping Cabbage Tree Medium Bowl

Jo Luping Cabbage Tree Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Jo Luping Cicada Medium Bowl

Jo Luping Cicada Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

Jo Luping Butterfly Medium Bowl

Jo Luping Butterfly Medium Bowl
(Image © Jo Luping Design)

I think they would make lovely gifts. Clever Bastards stocks a large range of Jo Luping Design ceramics if you are interested…

New Zealand is not a small country but a large village. (Peter Jackson)

If you’d like to learn more about Jo Luping and her designs, check out her website here.

Orla Kiely’s Thumb is Greener Than Mine…

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Design

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Accessories, Candle, Gardening, Home and Garden, Orla Kiely, Outdoor Furniture, Pattern, Print, Shopping, Surface Design, Terrace

Orla Kiely Petal Garden Print(Image from Print and Pattern)

Orla Kiely Petal Garden Print
(Image from here)

When one of my plants dies, I die a little inside, too. (Linda Solegato)

Lisa, I feel the same way, only it is a feeling I am quite used to because I am no gardener…

I am, however, a girl who has just had her deck done. As a result, I’m a happy little Vegemite – we can now sit outside and enjoy the balmy, BBQ weather down here. The only problem, is that with the temperate weather come the mozzies (that’s mosquitos to those of you who don’t speak Australian) AND mozzies love me with a passion. So, I have been hunting me down some appropriately attractive citronella candle vessels. Not quite as easy as one might imagine but I think I may finally have a winner.

And, here’s what I came up with – Orla Kiely’s planter in green:

Orla Kiely's Planter in Green(Image from here)

Orla Kiely’s Planter in Green
(Image from here)

Now, I know what you’re going to say – these beautiful babies are planters not candle receptacles, but work with me. Here’s a wee snap of the Orla Kiely planter with the gorgeous and fragrant (with lavender and citronella) candles in them:

MY Orla Kiely Planters (Snap by TSL)

MY Orla Kiely Planters
(Snap by TSL)

I think they work. Well, too bad if they don’t because they’re now in situ and the parents are visiting from across the ditch, so no time to change…

We bought our Orla Kiely planters from the very stylish Terrace in Woollahra. If you’d like to see more of the very talented Orla Kiely and her world of surface design, you can check out her site here.

Maura Ambrose Makes Me Want to Quilt…

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Design, Haberdashery

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Arts and Crafts, Bedding, Crafts, Fiber art, Folk Fibers, Foraging, Homewares, Maura Grace Ambrose, Natural fiber, Natural Fibers, Quilt, Quilting, Shopping, Terrain, Texas

Miter Stripes Quilt by Maura Ambrose at Folk Fibers

Miter Stripes Quilt by Maura Ambrose at Folk Fibers
One of a kind Terrain exclusive
(Image from Terrain)

Maura Grace Ambrose of Folk Fibers has a goal: to share the craft and folklore around natural dyes and quilting.

Before you imagine a hippie, hemp wearing, flower child – take the time to check out some of her beautiful and amazing quilts. They are gorgeous. Maura uses natural dyes for some of her fabrics and patchworks them with others – both vintage and new. She is committed to using 100% natural fibres because she believes they feel better (totally agree) and she favours solid colours.

I think her work is stunning…

Colorado Quilt by Folk FibersVintage wool, linen, and cotton fabrics arranged in a strip quilt format.  (Image from Folk Fibers)

Colorado Quilt by Folk Fibers
Vintage wool, linen, and cotton fabrics arranged in a strip quilt format.
(Image from Folk Fibers)

Denim Strip Quilt by Folk Fibers(Image from Folk Fibers)

Denim Strip Quilt by Folk Fibers
(Image from Folk Fibers)

Miter Strip Quilt(Imafe from Folk Fibers)

Miter Strip Quilt by Folk Fibers
(Image from Folk Fibers)

California QuiltNew and vintage cottons come together in a bold strip quilt style. The bright modern color palette is softened with subtle accent strips, a select few are naturally dyed with onion skins.  (Image from Folk Fibers)

California Quilt by Folk Fibers
New and vintage cottons come together in a bold strip quilt style. The bright modern color palette is softened with subtle accent strips, a select few are naturally dyed with onion skins.
(Image from Folk Fibers)

Flying Geese Quilt by Folk Fibers(Image from Folk Fibers)

Flying Geese Quilt by Folk Fibers
(Image from Folk Fibers)

Cross Quilt by Folk Fibers(Image from Folk Fibers)

Cross Quilt by Folk Fibers
(Image from Folk Fibers)

All Maura’s quilts are hand-quilted in Texas. They arrive packed in a handmade, screen printed cedar box.

If you’d like to learn more about the fab’ work of Maura at Folk Fibers, check out her website here. As you might expect, her quilts are not cheap, but what an heirloom…!

Lusting After a Castle Cushion…

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Joanna in Design

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Castle, Christmas Gifts, Colour, Cushions, Gifts, Henry David Thoreau, Homewares, Rachel CAstle, Shopping, Velvet

Penny Round Cushions from Castle and Things

Penny Round Cushions from Castle and Things
(Image from Homestyle NZ)

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. (Henry David Thoreau)

Well! If Thoreau had come across the gorgeous velvet offerings from Castle, perhaps he might not have been so willing to sit on a pumpkin…

More Penny Round Cushions from Castle and Things

More Penny Round Cushions from Castle and Things
(Image © Castle and Things)

The lust-worthy Penny Round cushion comes in nine colours. Apparently the hot pink has been so popular it is currently out of stock. No matter – the teal is lovely. But then, so is the charcoal. Or, maybe the green?

Teal Velvet Penny Round Cushion

Teal Velvet Penny Round Cushion
(Image © Castle and Things)

Charcoal Velvet Penny Round Cushion

Charcoal Velvet Penny Round Cushion
(Image © Castle and Things)

Green Velvet Penny Round Cushion

Green Velvet Penny Round Cushion
(Image © Castle and Things)

If you would like your own Penny Round cushion, the cover retails for AUD$49. For the down and feather insert as well, you’re looking at AUD$84.

You can check out the full range of Castle and Things offerings here. Shipping offered worldwide.

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