An Open Letter to Bryce Longton at KTCHN13…

Tags

Australia, Bryce Longton, Christmas, Design, food, Food Stylng, Food52, Foodie Gifts, Homewares, Kitchen Letters, KTCHN13, Personal Gifts, Provisions, Recipes

Jenny’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
A Longton family recipe immortalised in print by KTCHN13
(Original image from here)

Dear Bryce,

I know you’re probably very busy being the Shop Editor & Stylist at Provisions for the very fabulous Food 52. It’s a seriously beautiful site – so please know your styling is much appreciated!

And, I know Provisions only launched in July.

Salt Plate from Provisions
(Image from here)

And, I also know your wonderful Kitchen Letters – where recipients receive letters in the mail from chefs only really kicked off in May of this year.

I think this is just the best idea. I have a number of foodie friends who would just love a gift like this. How ever did you think of it?

Kitchen Letters at KTCHN13
(Original image from here)

And, now your Custom Recipe Print concept has popped up in my in-box. How wonderful are they?

Just the thought of taking a favourite recipe and having it designed, printed, and shipped to a friend’s door, so they can hang it in their kitchen makes me smile. It’s such a personal gift.

Perfect Guacamole by KTCHN13
(Original image from here)

There’s just one teensy-weensy catch. I live in Australia. And, you don’t ship outside the United States. And, nor does Provisions, for that matter. (sniff). So, that means I can’t acquire any of your fab’ offerings this Christmas.

Do you realise the potential market you are missing out on down here?

And, I know you are obsessed with all things food, travel, and style, and living a great life (because you told me so on your website). Did you know we have some seriously cool and cosmopolitan chefs down here. I’d be happy to write you a list of say, my top 10… Or, even my top 20 – if only you would start shipping down under. Please?

In much anticipation,

TSL xx

Boskke Does it Again…

Tags

Boskke, Ceramics, Christmas gift ideas, Design, Flowerpot, Gardening, Great Design, Interior design, Lewis Black, Morris and James, New Zealand, Patrick Morris, Sky Planter, Sustainable Design

The Boskke Sky Planter in Brooklyn
(Image from here)

If the people of New Zealand want to be part of our world, I believe they should hop off their islands, and push ’em closer. (Lewis Black)

Lewis, you’re a very funny guy, but I don’t think I agree with you on this matter. There are some people from New Zealand who seem to be taking the world by storm without pushing the islands any closer…

I mean, everyone knows about the Boskke* Sky Planter, don’t they? It seems to pop up all over the place. And, it is a great concept. And, it’s designed by a Kiwi.

An inverted pot for flowers, herbs, and other leafy companions, the Sky Planter was designed to save space, conserve water, purify your air, improve your health and transform your view of nature. The boys at Boskke left out ‘provide great design’ in their product spiel.

Because no matter how pure my air becomes or how my view of nature is transformed, I’m not interested in a hanging planter if it is ugly. Call me shallow.

Boskke Sky Planter Kitchen Garden
(Image from here)

What I did not know is that Boskke founders – Patrick Morris, and his brother, Jake – happen to be the progeny of founders of the world-famous-in-New-Zealand ceramics producer that is Morris & James. Sustainable design is kind of in their blood.

But, now they’ve gone and done it again. The Sky Planter wasn’t enough. Now they’re launching the Boskke Cube…

Boskke Cube with Orchid
(Image from here)

I think it looks fab’.

Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication. (Leonardo da Vinci)

Apparently, the “Boskke Cube reassembles the humble plant pot, putting the organic process of growth on display, rather than hiding it away.

The clear body of the Boskke Cube is also a water reservoir, supplying up to four weeks of moisture through the same Slo-Flo watering system that the best-selling Sky Planters use.”

And again – great design.

Boskke Cube 3 – with herbs
(Image from here)

Boskke have a number of distributors around the globe. In Sydney, my favourite is Terrace at 47 Queen st, Woollahra, NSW 2025

*The name ‘Boskke’ is derived from the old English word ‘bosky’ which means ‘a small forest’ and that’s exactly what the team from Boskke want us to create with each of their clever eco-sensitive designs.

Support the Cloth Fabric Bush Fire Appeal…

Tags

Australia, Banksia, Blue Mountains, Bushfires in Australia, Cloth Fabric, Company Manifesto, Design, Echidna, Fabric Design, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, Homewares, Interior design, Julie Paterson, New South Wales, Surface Design, Tea Towels

(Image from here)

One of the coolest things about living in Australia is the abundance of native plants and wildlife. It is so different from the flora and fauna of New Zealand. And, it is not uncommon to see koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats and echidnas in the wild here. I promise I’m not exaggerating. That makes Australia pretty special.

One of the worst things about living in Australia is the bush-fires. And, after a particularly mild winter, followed by one of the hottest and driest Octobers on record here in New South Wales, we have had a hugely destructive start to the summer bush fire season.

Julie Paterson is a bit of an iconic native Australian, too. As the founder of Cloth Fabric, she has developed a wonderful (not to mention very successful) outlet for her creative talent.

She’s also an ambassador to The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. And, as a way of generating support for the devastation caused by the recent bush fires, has designed the first two tea towels, in a series of three, to raise money for the foundation. $20 from each tea towel sold will go towards local organisations helping Australia’s native wildlife in bushfire affected areas.

What a great cause…

Echidna Tea Towel by Julie Paterson at Cloth
(Image from here)

Julie has a property at Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. Fortunately, her house was spared by the recent bush fires in the region.

She chose an echidna for the second of her tea towel designs because they are slow and vulnerable. They can’t run fast. In times of stress, they curl up into a ball. The words on the tea towel tell you what to do if you come across and echidna needing your help.

When it’s hard to paint the clouds we draw the mountains. (Part of the Cloth Fabric ‘Imperfect Manifesto‘)

The first tea towel in the series is of a Banksia – a plant that needs the help of the smoke of a bush fire to germinate. Julie is still working on the third…

The tea towels are AU$38 each. Postage is free if you live in Australia, but they can be shipped internationally. You can learn more about the project and order the tea towels here.

And, while you’re having a look-see around the Cloth Fabric website, do check out their imperfect manifesto. I think it rocks.

Page Thirty Three Emergency Candle – Every Home Should Have One!

Tags

Arts, Australia, Candle, Design, Eleanor Roosevelt, Essential oil, Gifts, Page Thirty Three, Practical Gifts, Shopping, Sydney

Page Thirty Three Emergency Candle
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I first discovered the clever design duo that is Page Thirty Three. It’s true. Time does fly. And, Page Thirty Three continues to marry great design with a hefty dose of pragmatism.

They also still, “draw reference and inspiration from trees, flowers, weeds, art, history, design, and the street. They love simple rituals, comfortable spaces, and natural themes. With a clear focus on Australian design & Australian manufacture, many of Page Thirty Three’s objects are hand crafted at their Sydney studio using renewable materials, ecologically friendly packaging, and a positive frame of mind.” 

So, not much has changed by way of their design ethos, but their range has expanded. Gotta’ say, my personal favourite (after the seriously beautiful essential oil burner which I still covet) is the Emergency Candle.

The Emergency Candle is made from 100% Organic Beeswax and sealed inside an airtight and waterproof tin can. In case of emergency, lift ring, pull lid, strike match & light. Safety matches enclosed.

Groovy, don’t you think? ! reckon’ every home needs one (especially mine!)

Page Thirty Three Emergency Candle
(Images from Page Thirty Three)

If you would like to get your hands on an Emergency Candle from Page Thirty Three, you can check out their Australia and New Zealand stockists here, or Page Thirty Three can send you one direct from their online store for AU$34.95 + $10 shipping (in Australia).

 

Julian Wolkenstein Horses Around…

Tags

Animal Photography, Art, Design, Horses, Interior design, Julian Wolkenstein, Megan Morton, Pets, Photography, Rachel CAstle, The School

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Florence’
(Image from here)

A horse is a thing of beauty… none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendour. (Xenophon)

Sometimes, I’m a little behind the eight ball. Sometimes, it takes me a while to catch on. Clearly. This is one of those times…

I was having a mooch around the School*, that most fabulous site that is the brainchild of the lovely Megan Morton. To be honest, I was looking for Rachel Castle’s next screen printing class (It’s on 15 March, 2014, if you’re interested!) and then I found these splendiferous wee horsey pics by the talented Julian Wolkenstein. I kind of love them.

That is to say, I kind of love them, despite the fact I don’t fall into that ‘I love horses‘ camp that some girls belong to. They make me smile.

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Misty’
(Image from here)

Apparently, Mr Wolkenstein had the idea of experimenting with horses’ manes after a conversation with another advertising mate.

With a background in advertising photography and used to working with a very specific client brief, Julian also thinks, “It is important to do personal projects just for fun, not to sell anything, but just to remind you why you make images, but mostly, and simply, to make you smile.”

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Harmony’
(Image from here)

Apparently, each horse took around four hours to groom, with hair extensions being added by hair-stylist Acacio da Silva. Wow!

You can order prints of Julian’s horses from The School. They come in 3 sizes: 

The small print is 20cm x 26cm and retails for $125

The medium print is 42cm x 52cm and retails for $580

The large print is 72cm x 102cm and retails for $1,250.00

*If you live in Sydney (or Melbourne or Auckland! – there are road shows!) and consider yourself the teeniest bit creative, it’s illegal not to know about the School. If you don’t happen to live in the region, it’s still worth a look-see. I’d quite like to be like Megan Morton when I grow up…

M.Pup – Designing for You AND Your Four-legged Companion

Tags

Design, Dog Bed, Dogs, Interiors, Korea, Korean Designer, M.Pup, Pet, Rita Rudner, RSPCA

Dog Sofa by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

I just love dogs, and there really is no better companion than an animal. (Rita Rudner)

I know this blog is called This Sydney Life. And, I know I said I would be focusing on Australasian stuff. But, I saw this wonderful couch by Korean design-house M.Pup and I just loved it. It made me smile. And, Korea is kind of in the region. And, I had dogs on my mind because the lovely curator of the Australian Garden Show left a message on my NOT the Australian Garden Show post saying he was going to think about how to better cater for our four-legged friends in next year’s show. (Yay! One wee voice can make a difference) And, just because, really…

So, here’s to M.Pup who design “for you and your companion”. And, by companion, they definitely mean the four-legged variety.

Dog Sofa by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

Dog Sofa by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

Dog Sofa by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

From what I can gather, the dog sofa is the brainchild of Seungji Mun, design director of M.Pup. Their design ethos was born out of the continued growth in nuclear families, and with animals increasingly co-existing with people. For M.Pup, pets are companions for everyday life. For me, too!

Here in Australia, we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. According to the RSPCA, a whopping 38% of Australian households have a dog. Perhaps I should tell M.Pup…? From what i can see, they don’t yet distribute their very cool dog sofa down under.

Dogs have boundless enthusiasm but no sense of shame. I should have a dog as a life coach. (Moby)

And. M.Pup don’t just design dog sofas…

Pet Bed by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

Dog House by M.Pup
(Image from M.Pup)

You can check out M.Pup’s website here. I think their designs are seriously groovy. What do you reckon?

I’d Love Bright Beads of My Very Own…

Tags

Australia, Bespoke Lighting Design, Bright Beads, Cat Deeley, Coco Reynolds, Design, Forest Stewardship Council, Lighting, Marz Designs, Sydney, Wood

I find great lighting and a squint of the eyes makes anyone look better. (Cat Deeley)

Just how gorgeous are the Bright Beads pendant lights from Marz Designs, huh?

Established by Coco Reynolds in 2010, Marz Designs is a young Sydney-based design company. Its aim is to create timeless and innovative designs, with both functionality and quality. Inspired to push the boundaries of many mediums and functions Marz has a quirky and unique style. It works for me!

The clearly talented Coco is currently learning the craftsmanship of woodwork at the STURT school of wood. Her goal is to promote craft practice in collaboration with industry.

The Bright Beads lighting project was developed in conjunction with How We Create  to demonstrate the relationship between designer and manufacturer. These lights have been beautifully handcrafted from FSC certified timbers and can be custom-made to meet specific requirements, at any length and in any configuration to suit. (sigh). I think they are gorgeous!

Marz Bright Beads Lighting
(Images from here)

If you’d like to learn more about either Bright Beads or Marz Designs, check out the website here.

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…

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

Page Thirty Three – Too Cool for School…

Tags

Australia, Christmas Gifts, Colour, Design, Designer, Lighting, Magda Sayeg, Page Thirty Three, Product Design, Shopping, Sydney, Yoga

Knitted Yoga Ball from Page Thirty Three
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

I think it was the latest Top3 By Design catalogue that first put me on to the wonderfully cheerful yoga balls by Page Thirty Three. I think they’re gorgeous!

So, of course I had to learn more about the seriously cool duo behind the brand. Bianca Riggio and Ryan Hanrahan are the talent behind Page Thirty Three, a creative design company which creates objects and artworks. They draw reference and inspiration from trees, flowers, weeds, art, music, history, design, and the street. They have a clear focus on Australian design & Australian manufacture. Many of their objects are hand crafted at their Sydney studio, using renewable materials, ecologically friendly packaging, and a positive frame of mind.  They evolve household objects into functional art pieces for those intrigued by the cross-pollination of genres.

All sounds pretty good, right? Wait til’ you see some of their creations…

Knitted Yoga Ball from Page Thirty Three
The Knitted Yoga Ball has been created with renowned Texas artist Magda Sayeg (Knitta). With a functional yoga ball core and a knitted sleeve made by upcycling used rugs and throws, the Knitted Yoga Ball leaves a profound visual mark on any space it inhabits. The Yoga ball can be used as a sculpture, chair and for basic yoga/stretch routines. It is a positive and happy design aimed at encouraging health, fitness and well-being.
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

Essential Oil Burner from Page Thirty Three
The Essential Oil burner, draws reference to a classic yet refined science theme. The dark heaviness of the metal components and clamp create a beautiful contrast with the Tasmanian Oak hardwood base, and glass flask.
Each Essential Oil burner comes with a 5ml tester bottle of Australian grown lavender Oil, and an Australian made beeswax candle.
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

Cinematic Lightbox from Page Thirty Three
Drawing reference to classic cinema typography and display The Cinematic Light Box features interchangeable letters, so the owner can personalize their lighting and display. The black-coated plywood can be rested on a shelf, or hung from a wall as a feature lamp, making the perfect lighting addition to any Studio, Cafe or Home. Easy construction Flat Pack design. Includes 103 various letters and symbols. All you need is 1 x Phillips head Screwdriver. Designed and Made in Australia.
(Image from here)

Bath Tonic from Page Thirty Three
Giant tea bags for your bath. The Lavender milk bath, with goats milk and cacao butter, has been designed to stimulate all of the senses.
Packed in Australia using local and organic ingredients wherever possible.
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

LifeSucks Drinking Straw from Page Thirty Three
Type and functionality collide with dark irony, to form the Page Thirty three Life Sucks
Drinking Straw. Measuring a gigantic 56 cm in length, take a deep breath and watch with joy as your drink works it’s way along a liquid roller coaster to your mouth.
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

Alchemist Kit from Page Thirty Three
The ‘Alchemy Kit for the Modern Naturalist’ includes a range of organic elements & oils which you can mix together using simple recipes provided, to create personalised health and beauty treatments. Face masks, body scrubs, bath A, massage oil treatments for the face and body can be created with this kit.
(Image from Page Thirty Three)

There’s more… If you’d like to investigate Page Thirty Three and their offering further, check out the website (and online shop) here.