in hibernation

Sweet friends, I am feeling all a little under the weather this week and am going into hibernation for a few days. Back into bed I go with a fluffy blanket, a cold drink for my sore throat and a good design magazine to keep me company.

See you all again in a few days. xox

In the studio today

In the studio today we are choosing colours and developing concepts for a gorgeous local couple who are having a Noosa tropical wedding complete with bamboo, masses of orchids and a steel drumming band. Such a fun couple - I am loving their bold use of colour, its just so happy don't you think?

the bespoke collection part 2

My lovelies, thankyou for all your beautiful words of support about our new Bespoke range. As promised above is the rest of our collection of handcreams, tealight candles and small and large glass candles. Oh so divine, they are made in the most lush collection of flavours - Beach, Coast, Fig, Frangipani, Ginger Lily, Lemongrass, Magnolia, Mandarin, Orchid, Rose, Tuberose, Vanilla, Grapefruit & Coconut, Linen and Silk. Ahh, we love them all.

We are so excited, its all just so pretty and such a joy to be working with such amazing products. It is so wonderful to have found such a wonderful supplier to work with. It really was destiny, the most beautiful things unfold when you least expect it...

Have a beautiful weekend my friends.
xox

the bespoke collection part 1

Over the next coming days we are most excited to introduce our new range of couture wedding gifts, favours and place settings. Available exclusively for weddings through Bespoke this range includes 100% Australian handmade and packaged soaps, candles and hand creams in a range of gorgeous flavours. We style these gifts to perfectly match our wedding stationery with custom designed wrappers and letterpressed tags and labels. Above are our packaged soaps and bamboo pouches which contain soaps and/or other lovely gifts for your guests.

These are simply the most divine gifts, which smell amazing and create an amazing fragrant touch to a reception venue. We are so excited about this new range... our studio has smelt incredible ever since they arrived!

a little adventure

Today I have a few more images from our little trip away for you. We did a day trip from Hobart to Port Arthur stopping along the way in all the little old gorgeous towns. A 90 minute drive took us 4 hours as we stopped at every little stop, old building and antique shop along the way. Somehow I think we must like old things...

First was the gorgeous historic town of Richmond, where we visited the ducks and teased them with the promise of bread which we forgot to bring! We then popped into Sorell Fruit Farm to pick our own big fat lush strawberries which were simply the best tasting strawberries ever!

We admired the coastal views of the stunning Tasmanian beaches - its almost so mean that such beautiful beaches are found where its so cold! Finally we reached our destination and spent the afternoon at Port Arthur learning about the convict era. I did find a convict who was at Port Artur under my maiden name... I do have to wonder if its a long lost relative...

And then finally after such a long day we headed back into Hobart and were greeted with the most gorgeous sunset. Such a lovely day, and a must do if your ever in old Hobart town!

Cleburne Homestead

My lovelies, I hope that you had a most lovely weekend. We headed away for a little trip - part business, part holiday. The business part of our trip was supposed to send us to Wellington New Zealand, but a late night phone call the day before our departure saw some quick speedy changes and we headed down to Hobart in Tasmania instead.

Having never ventured this far south in Australia before I was excited to experience some real Tasmanian history so we stayed at the gorgeous 1820's Cleburne Homestead. We stayed in The Bakehouse which is a magnificent old stone barn building which features the original baker’s fireplace and oven in which the bread for the whole estate was made. With the most stunning exposed stonework, original artworks by Irene Barberis, and big deep two person bath and fabulous breakfast - it was simply the most lovely little trip and we highly recommend Cleburne should you ever be down chilly Hobart way!

a little trip away

sweet blogging friends, we are closing the doors on the studio and heading on a little mini break... see you again next week!

saipua love

I must tell you I am in love... there is no denying it... I totally and utterly smitten by the work of the beautiful team at Saipua.

Oh my I get heart flutters when I view their work, there are no words to say how divine their flowers are. It takes my breathe away... it is just, without a doubt, just perfect.

And to my other love should we ever happen to find ourselves living in NYC, I must tell you, there is simply no question, no ifs or buts, no matter what the cost or occasion there is simply no excuse, there is no more perfect gift I could ever imagine...

Oh my... I really must stop dreaming now...

In the studio today

Our production line is back in full swing here in the studio today, cutting, scoring, folding and assembling place settings and tags for two of our lovely wedding couples who are both having their wedding Saturday week. The first are sweet little personalised placesettings for 130 guests and the second are 125 swing tags with space for the guests names to be written which will be tied with ribbon around the sweetest little wedding favours. Such lovely little jobs to start the week! Hope your having a lovely day as well. xox

annie & julian save the date cards

This week we have printed save the date cards for the most gorgeous Annie & her fiance Julian. They are having a gorgeous spring wedding in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, NSW. Inspired by their vintage vineyard romance theme we illustrated a custom design illustration based upon wrought iron gates and country homestead details. There is simply nothing more stunning then beautiful rolling acres of vineyards and their rustic details! Such a lovely theme to work with... we cant wait to start designing their wedding stationery too!

Have a most lovely weekend my possums.
xox

What style are you?

According to the Sproost style engine my style is 50% Rustic Revival, 50% French Eclectic.

"You can take kid out of the country but you can't take the country out of the kid... or is your theme "you can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid?".

Either way you play it, you are one of the unique individuals who loves a mix of modern and country. The clean lines of the modern softened by rustic/vintage elements is the perfect mix in your mind. And can we blame you? You've taken the best aspects of two popular designs and mixed them in a manner that appeals to young and old alike. A subtle background of white or light colors provides a nice canvas for all the wonderful flea market, eBay, or garage sale finds as well as the classic modern pieces that you love."

Oh that is so me to a tee. Now I can tell my husband that all the old furniture I find and MUST buy off ebay isn't really abnormal... Its simply my style!

a little sneak peak

how is your week travelling? ours is super busy but I wanted to give you a little sneak peak of our new limited edition prints... more coming soon!

Kristie & Ken Save the Date Cards

How was your weekend my friends? We worked all weekend, but did manage to squeeze in a little beach walk with Ruby on Sunday. Such a great way to start the day! We also have almost finished painting the studio. Oh joy, its so beautiful and white!

We also printed quite a few projects over the weekend but did have the loveliest time printing save the date cards for the gorgeous Kristie and her hubbie to be Ken. I had illustrated these Phalaenopsis Orchids several weeks ago, and its such a beautiful moment to pull the first impression out of the press and to see just how lovely it looks once printed.

We also printed envelopes and got a little creative with how we applied the illustration. It sits on the back flap and then continues partially over the front of the envelope too. It looks quite lovely and it will be such a special envelope to receive in the mail!

the cat is out of the bag...

...and finally I can let you know about the wonderfully lovely project I have been working on of recent times.

Late last year I saw a feature on the gorgeous Kylie Johnson from Paper Boat Press in Real living magazine and I dropped her an email to let her know how simply beautiful her work was and to congratulate her on her gorgeous business. Up sparked a lovely friendship and together we have worked of late to produce limited edition prints of two of her poems and illustrations. A beautiful collaboration of pressing words into paper, as she pressed words into clay. Its been simply delightful.

Kylie's prints will soon be available through her online store and her stockists, and we promise to let you know when they are available.

in the almost white studio today

Its been a very much white sort of day today.

Our white undercoat went on our new studio walls - I could kiss it, its all so lovely and bright. Two more coats, and it will be a white printers paradise.

We also printed white on good old Charlie today - We are working on a gorgeously fabulous project with the most inspiring local Brisbane artist, its so very exciting, we cant wait to share it with you soon.

Meanwhile amongst all the white excitement, Ruby Tuesday found the gorgeously retro painters drop sheet, got herself splotched in white paint and then managed to spend a lazy day asleep in the bright white room. Its a tough life being a studio dog!