Ohau I love to ski!

I just thought I would sneak in a glimpse of what I was up to last weekend. Two days with a crew of friends spent at the amazing, scenic, challenging, friendly, best hotdog making ski field around...Ohau.

Your sofa would appreciate these

Here is a wee selection of just some of the goodies available at aussie online store for Anamiro.
Anamiro is a small two person graphic design team based in Melbourne set up in mid 2007
to create unique high quality retail products. They aim to extend the range to stationery, fabrics and interior products and see what can be dreamt up with original patterns, drawings and photography.

Sexy but useful

I love the slightly off centre, quirkiness of these products by design company Ute Australia.
With the partnership of designer Kain Lucas and Graham Smith only coming together last year, Ute already has a super strong body of work and a solid recognisable style. I am pretty sold on their ethos too:

"The name “Ute” is a simple abbreviation of the word “utilitarian”, and is a uniquely Australian word which captures the spirit, belief, and focus of our company. Our philosophy is to create products that are beautiful in design, while maintaining a focus on simple functionality.

Our motto is “Design that Works”, and our designs, whilst being utilitarian by nature, display a high level of aesthetic refinement and quality."

Depth of character

I just got a whole packed email full of link goodness from my darling friend Claire. She had just got back from a design festival in Melbourne where she was able to top up on inspiration and motivation and lucky for me I am getting all the positive spin off from that!





Welcome to the ceramic joy that Gretchen Hillhouse has to offer! I love the ancient, kind of medieval elements to her jewellery!
This is what Gretchen has to say:

Gretchen says: "I strive to enhance people's lives through the creation of objects of contemplation & beauty. I've always been interested in designing for people of substance & depth of character. These are qualities that take time to develop and I hope my pieces reflect that sensibility & the unique beauty of a fully realised individual."

...just lovely!

Tears in November

O the goodness that is Meadowlark.....

This Spring Meadowlark rolls into town with their latest naughty but nice range "Twilight in November".
Staying true to their previous three collections, Meadowlark sticks with their long running ethos of combining whimsical, feminine imagery with edgy, dark elements.

Inspiration comes from both designers personal perspective on music, art, vintage finds, tattoo art, fashion and symbolism from history. "Twilight in November" plays on motifs from rock'n'roll, biker culture and the punk era juxtaposing them with the sweet fragility of quirky pendants and precious stones. This is another collection of firsts with Meadowlark offering studded bracelets and knuckle dusters and the opportunity for their customers to personalise their own book shaped locket.

the world of House

As this blog is about the talented people of the southern South Pacific...I feel the need to introduce you all my friend Matt. He is a piano playing, TV directing, Triumph driving, wine swilling ( I mean wine tasting) tornado of words. He is great. I guarantee his blog will provide at the very least a smirk ....I mostly laugh out loud. On my own. Like a crazy lady. It is a view of the world via Matthew House and his glasses. Honest, brutal, hilarious.

Basic but intriguing

I thought I would share the youthful, imperfect, fragile ceramic works of Dunedin artist Amanda Shanley. Yes. that would be Dunedin once again (there will be MORE!)

Amanda Shanley is a graduate from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art. Her ceramic art won her the Emergent Artist Award at the Portage Ceramic Awards 2003 and Highly Commended at the Cleveland Art Award 2004. I have come across her work alot but never really flicked out that it was local! She works from her gallery in Port Chalmers on the Dunedin peninsula....definitely worth a visit.

Will Eat You Alive!

Still on my Dunedin = Awesome tangent is this. I was in punky, fluoro, edgy store Slick Willy's and trying my hardest not to disappear into the racks of clothing when I came across some fantastic and truly original jewellery by Wellington label Neon Sleep. (great name)
So I have had a wee browse through their site and have finally deciphered what they are all about!! (it isn't immediately apparent) Neon Sleep is not only about jewellery but also do graphic design AND event photography. I especially love their campaign shots for their latest collection "Will Eat You Alive".

Cards with a conscience...and they look great too!!

While bopping along to my "Dunedin is awesome, Dunedin is cooool" high..I picked up these cards from the Whiteroom with the aim of using them as mini artworks for the next Heart Foundation Lottery House. I without a doubt, totally recognise the work but can't for the life of me name the artist! Followed the website link on the back of the cards and arrived at the simple, not particularly informative website of GrowingNZ. What a great little concept they have going there and fantastic selection of art based cards!
This is what they are all about:

"GrowingNZ is a project dedicated to replanting New Zealand land with native trees. For every pack of cards purchased $8 is donated to a fund that is used to buy, plant and nurture native trees. A living tree absorbs CO2 from the air and stores it as wood. $8 will plant
3 new stems which is enough to offset the average Kiwi's carbon emissions for one year. Please keep New Zealand beautiful and help offset CO2 emissions by supporting our project. Thankyou."

Oh! Summer days....

Do I have your attention....are you lost in your own summer time, sipping Pimms, book in hand, sun drenched daydream??? Coast NZ sent me through these pics of their most recent additions to their fantastic outdoor range of furniture. I am sold. Whats more...they have an online store...so amid your daydream you might find you have spent some money!

Design Dynamo...Kiwi styles

Katie Lockhart is pretty impossible to pigeonhole...and believe me...I tried. I discovered that this creative kiwi used to be design assistant to Karen Walker, pretty major, pretty fashion based. Then I discovered that she has styled photo shoots for design mags all over the world. Well that is understandable...styling...fashion...all kind of works. THEN I found that she had returned home and designed the interior of the Swanndri concept stores and many more! At this point I was actually getting abit intimidated...but wait ..theres more. Then I read about her in Idealog and discovered that she also styled the iconic Karen Walker Jewellery campaign AND has launched (in partnership) a cashmere fashion label called " To Sir with Love". What????????
It seems that everything Katie Lockhart does...she does REALLY well with a creative eye and confidence in her own Lockhart style. I am inspired!

Karen Walker Jewellery Campaign

Styling for "Renovating the right way " shoot -House & Garden

"To Sir With Love"

Dunedin-Creative Mecca of NZ!!!

I have been tearing around the countryside the last couple of days and for some of that tearing time I was in Dunedin. I have only ever visited there once when my sister was a student and while I was only there overnight this time, I did manage to get a fairly overwhelming sense that Dunno's is a secret creative mecca!!! While it is pretty well know in NZ that the southern city breeds and cultivates fashion talent...I have been fairly bowled over by the few artists that I managed to randomly discover!
Sam Foley was one of these. I went into new design store "Whiteroom" and on my feet dragging, tongue out round of it....I spotted a awesome large piece of art. On asking the shop attendant "who did that...its fantastic" , he casually replied ; "Oh that's one of mine". Woah.
Anyway..I am talking bout Sam Foley, his art is above, and he is not at all unknown, in fact his website lists all the masses of exhibitions and press he was received!
If you are in Auckland, duck down to Whitespace Gallery to check out his latest work and for those lucky peeps in Melbourne there is a exhibition planned for October at the Dickerson Gallery.
Check out his website if you are lusting after more!!!

another year has gone by..

Mum and Dad in their youth....pre 27..

Me and Dad cruising the slopes of Round Hill, Tekapo...early 80's

Today I am 27. I have never ever really even cast a thought sideways about my progression in years...right until now. All of a sudden I am older than Mum and Dad when they had me. This feels weird. And I know that times have changed rah rah rah...but...it still feels odd.
In saying allll that..I am well and truly stoked with how my life is shaping up!!!

In my family when you have your birthday, it is your "choosing day". This pretty much means that you are the almighty boss of everything and everyone!!! And considering I live alone...this means that today I am commanding myself to go do something I NEVER do...massage and facial. Was going to go for a ski...but the weather gods have foiled my plans. I think self pampering is a good substitute. Gonna be great.
Sorry about my slack posting and hunting of stuff!!! This week is crazy but I am going to make up for it very soon!!!!!!!! Stay tuned!!!!!!!

Studio Home getting a mention...

oOOooohhh... I am a lucky girl! Thanks so much to Felicity from divine aussie blog All Things Bright and Beautiful for doing a feature on me. Felicity and her blog were recently listed in Domino mag under the Editors picks of the top international blogs. Congrats!

Lovely NZ!

ooohhh ...I just found Lovely NZ. It is a magazine style series of directories covering blogs, food outlets and stores based in Godzone. It is simple and easy to navigate as each topic is listed in its own blog format.
I initially found the site while I was hunting out info on gorgeous, eclectic Auckland store Ruby & Sol. Was interested in finding out more after seeing Ruby and Sol owner ; Sherry Roberts and her brilliant Piha house in the latest Your Home and Garden.

needing abit of inspiration

I have just passed my previous record of unproductivity....it is so bad right now I am not even going to bother to find another word that is easier to say than '"unproductivity". Not good. So sitting here in my studio and home I am spending my non productive hours searching for a little inspiration and get up and go! I am definitely feeling a twitch of creativity when I look at these amazing images from the portfolio of Suzy Hoodless, UK interior extraordinaire. She is great. I am working toward being great eventually. Just need a vaccine for this unproductiveness....non productive...un producing???? HELP ME SUZY!!!!!!!