Tiniest post- I have been working on overhauling the site and other exciting things which is why its been a bit quiet! Hoping to start implementing the changes as of next week!!
Melbourne this Friday night and Saturday the Finders Keepers market is back in town. A few of you told me how much you loved it last time- it is so worth checking out and even get your Christmas shopping done?! You can find out what sellers will be there here. Sydney and Brisbane your turn is in November and December.
Filed under Uncategorized
Fictional Objects
No I’m not writing about imaginary things. Fictional Objects is a Melbourne based bed linen company that is less than a year old and already doing amazing things!! My personal style fluctuates between very classic almost vintage styles and soft modern prints, so this range is my perfect go to for the softer modern prints. Yellow, coral, navy and soft blacks feature with small print arrows, triangles and spots to create quite a minimal look yet remaining interesting. And the best part? Their ranges go from cot size through to king.
Small runs of each line mean theres no mass producing which is something I personally love and admire, its such a good feeling having something thats not around everywhere!! The designs are made to mix and match, yet I can also see them fitting with many other combinations- I would personally put the yellow pillow cases with just about anything, even clashing with other prints or florals.
I’m yet to try them out but pretty happy to have discovered this range, as soon as the million layers have come off my bed from winter then it will be time for the change! You can also check them out at the next Finders Keepers Market if you missed seeing them there last time!!
Visit Fictional Objects here. (All pics are from their site.)
Fictional Objects
No I’m not writing about imaginary things. Fictional Objects is a Melbourne based bed linen company that is less than a year old and already doing amazing things!! My personal style fluctuates between very classic almost vintage styles and soft modern prints, so this range is my perfect go to for the softer modern prints. Yellow, coral, navy and soft blacks feature with small print arrows, triangles and spots to create quite a minimal look yet remaining interesting. And the best part? Their ranges go from cot size through to king.
Small runs of each line mean theres no mass producing which is something I personally love and admire, its such a good feeling having something thats not around everywhere!! The designs are made to mix and match, yet I can also see them fitting with many other combinations- I would personally put the yellow pillow cases with just about anything, even clashing with other prints or florals.
I’m yet to try them out but pretty happy to have discovered this range, as soon as the million layers have come off my bed from winter then it will be time for the change! You can also check them out at the next Finders Keepers Market if you missed seeing them there last time!!
Visit Fictional Objects here. (All pics are from their site.)
I earlier in the year I came across this brilliant Australian business and since it is warming up I thought now was the time to share! I LOVE this idea!!
Kini Swimwear-
How many of us do not fit the regular two piece bikinis, tankinis or whatever swimwear sizes are out there? Need a different size top to bottom? Do you know what you like but just can’t find it? Kini Swimwear may be your answer! (sorry that sounds like a tele-sales pitch) This brilliant idea lets you pick from two piece, tankini or one piece and choose the style, cup shape, embellishment and fabric, then colour it in how ever you like! How great is that?!! The combinations are almost endless! It end up being about the same as buying a pair of Seafolly but the best part is you have something that you have chosen in a style and colour that suits you!! I have spent so long playing around with colours, trims, frills and styles! Have a go, its so fun! I have added pics below of a few designs I came up with just to demonstrate a few of the options. There is a full size guide as well which is very helpful!
Let me know what you come up with!
Kini Swimwear found here
I have a thing for pottery and ceramics. In my collection so far I have many beautiful bone or ceramic teacups, a teapot and a beautiful and unique hand painted bowl from France. And one Polish pottery (blue and white) handmade vase from- you guessed it- Poland. I love all these pieces but most of the teacups are antique family sets that I cannot bring myself to use frequently (and tiny!). So I was excited to come across and love these two talented ladies. They tick all the boxes- small business, Australian made, hand made, stylish and completely functional- none of this only-for-special-occasions business!!
I think sometimes we get in our head that ceramics are still going to be all mass produced wheel spun bowls with paintings like the 90’s Italian pasta bowl theme. The styles of these two artists are quite unique from each other and I hope you love them as much as I do! Both ranges make great unique gifts that are a little bit special (birthday hint hint to sister…)!!
Bridget Bodenham
Bridget makes a wide range of pottery but my all time favourite are her teacups. They are natural clay with a gold handle- I love a touch of gold! There is something about handmade pieces that are amazing, each item is unique and there are no set measurements that can be strictly stuck to. To perfect a style in a casual way is tough, but she nails it. Her items are available in Melbourne at Mr Kilty and she does the rounds of art and pottery markets and exhibitions.
Find Bridget’s site here
Kim Wallace Ceramics
Such a different style to Bridget, Kim imprints lace and patterns in her pieces which are mainly white clay and colour is added to highlight the detail. This collection is a bit more structured but such stunning and classic pieces, I absolutely adore!! You can find Kim’s work at the next Finders Keepers market if you missed her there last time!
Find Kim’s site here
Pictures are from respective websites
Bridget Bodenham teacup and saucer
Kim Wallace Ceramics- simple yet elegant!
Firstly, Melbournians, mark the 4 & 5th of October in your diaries and save your pennies- Finders Keepers market is back! Sydney your turn is on the 16 & 17th November and Brissy you’re 6 & 7th December. I had great feedback from the people who went to the last market, it is very much worth the trip! You can visit their page here and see who will be there!
Secondly- I’m about to introduce a concept here you might not have thought of. Kind of might eliminate some of you (sorry) but wondering how many people have discovered shopping for clothing in the kids section? I’m not talking clothes that actually look childish or shopping in Target or anything like that but good quality brands and couture that you can snatch up at a pinch of the price of adults sizes! Size 14 kids roughly translates to about a size 8 women’s and with some smart choices no one would ever know! Of course the pants are made to fit mostly a straight up and down figure (counts me way out) but mostly tops and dresses are fine. I work in a boutique with higher end children’s clothing and it is amazing how some tempting pieces are knowing that I can fit in them! So if you have a smallish frame, why not check out kid’s sizes? It changes the whole ballgame! Here is one example of a label that I love in both the women and children’s range. I own a few pieces from their girls range and am always asked where I got them! I was never going to tell… until now.
Scotch and Soda are an Amsterdam based label that is slowly creeping in over here. They have men’s, women’s, boys and girls- and the girls range goes up to size 14-win! (Next year they are even taking the range up to a 16!!) The women’s- Maison Scotch and the girls- Scotch R’Belle carry some quite similar pieces each season which makes this switcheroo all the more acceptable! The ranges by Scotch are always unique and their attention to detail is amazing. It is one label in which you might have to check out their lookbooks for unique ideas on how to style their pieces, because they are almost genius at pairing pieces together that no one would ever think of- regularly clashing patterns and colours.
Scotch and Soda can be found online here (I can absolutely guarantee that the items pictured look a lot nicer in person than on the internet!!) or at David Jones, which makes it easy to pop into the children’s department to peruse and try on! The girl’s range can also be found online here at Juniorbrands. Make sure you check out the men’s or women’s ranges- there is a store on Collins Street in Melbourne, and other major capital cities have either a concept store or pieces of the collection in smaller stores.
Have you ever shopped in the kid’s section?
Maison Scotch
This is the R’Belle jacket I bought this winter season, it is a cropped blazer that is so fun and looks great on! I get so many compliments on it! No one ever knows its a kids jacket….
Is anyone else realising that the new trend for spring/summer is tropical? And that everyone seems to be going bananas for pineapples? I walked past a Mozi store last week and its pineapples galore! I’m becoming obsessed with British India themed home wares, kind of like a vintage tropical look, so I’m loving a bit of pineapple! Its not hard if you want to jump on the pineapple bandwagon as it is everywhere, but here are a few of my favourites! The vintage print is probably the one I will be definitely buying out of my top 5!
1. Everingham & Watson Navy Pineapple Cushion found here
2. Everingham & Watson Pineapple Blackboard found here
3. Freedom Pineapple Statue found here
4. Strathcona Stockings Pineapple Socks found here
5. Pacifica Island Artwork Vintage Pineapple Print found here
A bit of a slack week this week sorry- I have just come back from some time away in Queensland, everything just happens so much earlier there which equates to loooong days and now a very tired me! I was partly up north to attend a weaving class (Previously written about it here) with Maryanne Moody. It was in the most amazing space at Toby Scott Studios in Brisbane and brilliant fun, I will include a pic below of what I have made so far, still learning but so far not too shabby. I highly recommend classes run by The School (of which this course was run through), although generally based in Sydney they run creative classes in different cities at times during the year.
In Melbourne we have such a huge café culture, food and coffee are a huge deal. I will drive anywhere for a great food and coffee experience. I cant be too specific on the coffee I just know good and not good but most of these places are quite technical with their coffee and known for good quality. There are way too many places to list but here are a few of mine mostly over my side of the city. I’d love to hear of anywhere you love to go as well!!
Green Refectory 115 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Admittedly, the coffee is not great at all but the food is amazing. A small place with a great atmosphere, these guys bake all their own food, and I am yet to have a bad meal there. From brekky to lunch to pies to something sweet- amazing salads and curry- there is no particular style but everything is done well! I recommend the vanilla slice, it is so good! Hard to find as there is no sign but they are smack bang next door to True Blue Shoes- enormous blue shoe store.
Three Bags Full Nicholson Street, Abbortsford (online here)
This little gem is tucked off Victoria street in Abbotsford and does both coffee and food very well. Extensive coffee menu and the specials are always the best choice for brekky- their salads and pulled pork rolls are amazing. The space is amazing and always having fresh flowers is a winner with me too. Three Bags falls in to a category with a few others who I hear are all designed by the same people- aesthetically they are similar so this makes sense, but they are similar in food and coffee too- Proud Mary for example. If you can’t get into Three Bags on a weekend pop the other side of Hoddle Street to Proud Mary for a similar experience (172 Oxford Street, Collingwood).
Little Henri 850 High Street, Thornbury (online here)
I recently went here for a girls breakfast and was pretty impressed considering there were 10 of us and a café full of people, service was fast. A newcomer to High street, Little Henri is a great looking space, coffee was pretty good and food was delish.
Forth Brother 799 Glen Huntly Road, Caulfield (online here)
Ok so this is owned and run by friends of mine but besides from that is just great coffee and food without the huge overrun atmosphere of most cafes. The corn fritters are my favourite, there is some special pepita mix on top which I’m still trying to weasel the recipe out of them its so good!
Jam and Bread For Frances 1/701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn (online here)
This is conveniently placed at the back of Readings bookstore, and I have to say makes the best salted caramel tart ever. Just down the road from my work I have been known to pop in to grab their mini beetroot, mint and feta ciabatta and a salted caramel tart. Coffee is decent too- their iced coffee is my summer favourite!
Three Bags Full
Brekky at Three Bags
The Green Refectory
Bread and Jam for Frances
Forth Brother
Forth Brother’s corn and herb fritters with those amazing pepitas!
And Lastly, my weaving attempt. Sorry its a bit of a small pic. Ready to be hung!
I am well versed in exercise clothing- the features, benefits and fabrics- having worked at Lululemon once upon a time. Lululemon is amazing quality and really great for the sport each garment has been made for. I really believe that even though Lulu is ridiculously expensive, the quality makes it worth it as their clothing lasts forever (I’ve had a pair of their pants for over 7 years and they’re still great!) But right now, I just don’t have the cash to splash on Lulu prices. Lorna Jane seems to be the next option when looking for yoga and exercise gear, but personally I can’t bring myself to buy any of it as I don’t like having branding splashed across clothing and the quality is not quite the same (Lululemon may have spoiled me for quality there…)
So in my hunt for some new threads to make me get off my butt and start running again this winter, I came across Tully Lou. Tully Lou is a small new Australian company who are just about to release their second range of yoga and fitness clothes and I’m slightly obsessed with their navy and lime leggings! I have found them to not only be great colours and design but they function really well and are so comfy to wear. The range is still small but as they are heading into just their second season, the range is sure to grow! I’m excited to see what is coming!
My biggest qualm would be that the website does not describe the items features and design or fabric compositions which is actually quite important. Despite this I have found the clothing to be quite functional. The tops are good for yoga but not supportive enough for anything else eg. running (well for me personally anyway) For now I will just be sticking to their amazing leggings!
So if you’re after something a little bit different and unique that looks great, then I definitely recommend you try out Tully Lou range!
Find Tully Lou here
Ok so this one is not so secret and I feel like I’m giving away a hundred blog post ideas in one but incase you have not ever visited this site here it is!
Hard to Find (HTF) was one of my original one stop online shop for gifts. The business concept is brilliant and they support small businesses which everyone is into these days so the growth of the site is hardly surprising. It is essentially a virtual marketplace where approved sellers present their items. This I suppose is a good quality control measure to ensure the quality of the products presented to the buyer. I remember stumbling upon HTF in it’s humble beginnings when it was only Australian small businesses and there was only about three catagories to choose from. Now the site covers womens, mens and kids everything as well as homewares, travel and more. And the prices range from completely reasonable to ‘oh its a gift so I’ll pay that bit extra’.
My problem with the site is now it has become so big with so many products, it is a little difficult to sort through the 10 pages of scarves etc. I also think that they have let too much plasticy items in, but there are still the unique handmade items if you look! Not bad problems to have, there are definitely some amazing items if you look! ( a suggestion would be to click on ‘collections’- here they have put together the best products under certain themes).
The best part is (besides your fairly unique purchase) that shipping is mostly free and they can wrap it and send it straight to the recipient if it is a gift. Super handy if like me your rellos are all over the country. This could be a game changer for Christmas shopping!
As every post needs pictures, I’ve put some of my recent ‘finds’ below!
Hard to Find here
This chalkboard heart made a great engagement gift!
These circle shelves are on my ‘one day’ list
Anne Black ceramics
The prettiest cupcake holders you ever did see
Stack of bangles- love!
A different take on an essential oil burner…
