Family Time at Casa TSL

07 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by Joanna in New Zealand, Random Stuff

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Blogging Break, Carol Saline, Family, Holidays, New Zealand, Sisters

Me (R) with my little sister (L) a million years ago in New Zealand
(Image by TSL’s Dad)

Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other. (Carol Saline)

Me (R) with my little sister (L) late last year in Sydney!
(Image by LM)

My sister and I have family visiting from New Zealand this week, so I’ll be a little scarce. See you on the other side!

Christmas

20 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Joanna in Australia

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Christmas, Holidays

(Image from here)

Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. (Edna Ferber)

The silly season is upon me in a big way, so this is my last post for the 2013. A huge ‘Cheers!’ to you for continuing to check in with me here at TSL HQ on such a regular basis.

Wishing you a fab’ Chrissie…

See you in the new year!

Third Drawer Down – For Those ‘Hard to Buy For’ People in Your Life

16 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Joanna in Random Stuff, Retail

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Ai Weiwei, Art museum, Christmas, Gift, Gifts, Gifts for hard to buy for people, Holidays, Irreverent gifts, Museum, Shopping, third drawer down

Colouring Book For Grown Ups
Materials needed: colouring utensils, scissors. Optional: Emotional Maturity, Financial Independence, Quality of Life, A paralysing sense of complete and total failure.
Available for $15 from Third Drawer Down
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing. (Vernon McLellan)

The silly season is nearly here. It’s fast approaching that time of the year when shopping for multitudes of gifts is upon us. Unless, of course, you are one of those ridiculously organised peeps who manages to shop throughout the year and finish your list in August. If so, this post is not for you (unless you want to bookmark it for next year!)

I quite like shopping for gifts. Actually, I get into it in a big way. I may have mentioned that I even theme my Christmas wrapping – which I freely admit may have OCD overtones.

But, there are times when it is not fun to shop for gifts. There are times when you have to buy for someone who is particularly hard to buy for. In times like these, there are a trusted few online stores that may help you out of your pickle.

And, top of my list is Third Drawer Down. I first discovered this wonderful trove of treasures after spotting one of their artist-designed tea towels years ago. And, the tea towel selection remains a winner for me, to this day. I even loved one of my purchases so much, I had it framed.

And, I don’t think the Third Drawer Down peeps will mind if I lift their description straight from the website – it explains what they are so much better than I ever could:

Third Drawer Down and the Museum of Art Souvenirs Store is a storefront museum and place of trade in Fitzroy, Australia. Assembling a curated array of art and designer products, the store functions as a museum and retail space with objects either hand-picked from various popular cultural contexts or made by Third Drawer Down Studio for leading cultural clients around the world.

The Museum of Art Souvenirs Store is nestled behind a graffiti tagged garage door and is Australia’s only trading museum. It’s like visiting all the best museum stores in one spot, and shipped everywhere (even to the moon). Our eccentric and witty taste of products by artists/designers and niche brands and publishers that question the mainstream conditions under which art and culture are bought and sold. (Third Drawer Down)

I have put together a few of my favourite bits’ n’ bobs from their current catalogue…

Altered Ceramic Plate – Bearded Woman
Available for $74 from Third Drawer Down (currently out of stock)
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

Bedtime Story Pillowcases by David Shrigley
Available for $65 from Third Drawer Down (currently out of stock)
(Images from Third Drawer Down)

‘Lab’ Animal Clothes Hanger
Available for $19 from Third Drawer Down
I know JUST the man for this gift…
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

Famos Vegetable Peeler
Available for $15 from Third Drawer Down
According to Remodelista, this is the best vegetable peeler to own. AND, it looks so sexy, too…
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

Easy Frame by Puebco
Available for $26 in a range of colours from Third Drawer Down
(Images from Third Drawer Down)

Ai Weiwei Study of Perspective Silk Scarf
A MOST covetable piece, I think!
Available for $140 from Third Drawer Down
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

Now, I know there are some of you asking why I’m talking gift buying IN OCTOBER!? But, consider this – Third Drawer Down ships all over the world – it just may take a little longer to arrive if you live in Timbuktu…

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)

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)

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.

TSL est de retour de vacances!

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Joanna in Food, Random Stuff

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Big Ben, Borough Market, England, Holidays, James Weldon Johnson, London, Rodney Dangerfield, Sydney, Travel

I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle. (James Weldon Johnson)

Hello to all you loyal TSL readers who have hung in there during my hiatus from blog-world! Thanks for sticking around and I do hope you are all well! I’m looking forward to catching up…

LM and I have returned from the northern hemisphere. As one might expect, we over indulged and had four weeks of excess. It was wonderful!

Back to reality in Sydney, and also the start of summer (Mango season has started – yay!) We tootled off to the farmers market yesterday. Great to be back but perhaps not quite as extensive as Borough Market in London…