CHUCKNEY & TOMATO SAUCE

all i want for christmas...eggcups!

2011-11-21T10:59:00.001+11:00

clockwise: bison muhs home west elm domayne lem lem

song of the moment

2011-11-15T12:34:00.001+11:00

Listening to this song all the time on triplej. It's a goodie.

our nest

2011-11-15T12:19:00.000+11:00

The moodboard and plan that I did all those months ago when home was all about dreams of the future. This is just me being melancholy, but not everything has turned out the way we planned. Our budget is straining, my husband wants more colour everywhere and leaves his stuff strewn around. Working from home used to be a lovely thought, but now that I'm actually doing it, it's only made me even more aware of my environment and all the things which need to be done to make it actually feel like home.

But I'm still so grateful that we found this place so quickly and that it lies perfectly in between my uni and the city. Now, my aim is to get out more and experience more of beautiful Sydney. That's usually the answer. Something to do with outside-inside and going to the opposite to find what you need.

Skor och solnedgångar

2009-04-04T07:02:00.004+11:00

just found the loveliest pair of (marni) shoes on lulu and your mom. oh the colours. i don't think i'll ever get tired of them.

also, this dress. how very ballerina-y.

sunsets from the window of my new room. never tire of looking at these either. somehow started a peculiar comment war on facebook involving mariah carey in a threesome with 2 guys.

tomorrow will brave the stampede of stockholmers shopping in the city to revisit today's op shop, buy some ribbon to lace up my oxford heels and thread through my lattice belt, and try on the ever-so-slightly out there clothes from american apparel. see-thru shirt. black bodysuit with white front zipper. also a cardigan {not grey}. floral tights. jumpsuit. spring jacket. maybe from h&m or gina tricot or topshop.

then it's off to östermalm for the weekly robinson ritual. cheap drinks. not going out after. will leave passport at home so as not to be enticed whilst giggling from white wine. hopefully will have clean clothes by then too.

Books books books

2009-04-03T06:48:00.007+11:00

wish i could capture the smell of old books in here. that's the best thing about them. but elinor and i stumbled upon a second-hand bookstore in the heart of stockholm last week. i'd been past it before, but hadn't thought anything of it. it was gloriously delightful inside. and the perfect mixture of pocket-sized penguin novels, beautifully illustrated children's books and ancient leather-bound Bibles.

Walking on a dream, how can I explain?

2009-03-26T22:16:00.006+11:00

sunshine today. finally. snow snow snow on the ground. rather long bus journey home after viewing new accommodation. gorgeous scenery utterly made up for it though.

i think i could live here. with the snow. long sunsets. exhilirating air that makes me feel healthy. lovely homemade-tasting bread from the supermarket. pretty pretty houses of yellow and red and white.

Mood board for MTV billboard

2009-03-26T19:54:00.001+11:00

Sunlight

2009-03-26T18:14:00.010+11:00

☀

oh how i ♥ thee.

When I'm Rich..

2009-03-07T07:50:00.007+11:00

flowers

pretty stationery

all different kinds of tea

teapots. teacups. saucers. spoons

cakes. pastries

artwork. prints from etsy

candles

fancy pens

wallpaper

letterpress stuff. or an actual letterpress so i can do my own

vintage glassware. clothes

scandinavian designer furniture

pretty organic shaped jewellery

Mellowing

2009-03-04T21:47:00.012+11:00

tomorrow i wish i could buy pretty paper. write something beautiful on it. send it in a pretty envelope with a pretty stamp. make someone special smile. then drink tea in a fancy tea parlour and read a novel. watch people walking by. tiny dogs in coats bouncing along. or huge furry mountain dogs. but none in between. go for a walk with someone special in the cold cold air. snuggle up to keep warm. kisses and cold noses together. hands in pockets. it's 11:11 so maybe my wish will come true. although not the part about my special someone being here. that will have to remain a wish for now.

and now into dream land with my special someone and my Jesus.

The Beautiful and the Good

2009-03-03T03:16:00.007+11:00

from now on, i'm going to post everything that i find beautiful on here. as well as the development of my own work.

found out today that two of my pieces were published in the Scavenger Project Book! unfortunately it came in the mail just after i left for Stockholm so i can't have a look yet. but my parents have assured me they'll send in a scan of my work in situ.

right now what i find beautiful is the snow. especially through the lense of a Polaroid :)

also, anything to do with love.

Places to visit in Stockholm #1

2009-02-02T11:59:00.006+11:00

I stumbled across Gudrun Sjoden on an English blog. Their website is amazing! You can even explore the designer's desk and see where she gets her inspiration from. Can't wait to check out one of the stores: Stora Nygatan 33
Regeringsgatan 30
Gotgatan 44

Hot air balloons

2009-01-15T22:00:00.004+11:00

Oh what it would be like to be in one of these, quietly floating over the countryside at sunrise.

Also, I just noticed they appear to be the same balloons but I'm sure I got the pics from different sources.

Svedsish stuff

2009-01-03T22:44:00.004+11:00

Now that I'm definitely going to Sweden next year, I've been checking out a few blogs like Niotillfem and Stockholm Streetstyle. Can't wait!

this room

2008-12-13T01:06:00.005+11:00

W.O.W

I love how this is a bit..medieval (the painting & drapes) but has that gorgeous modern pendant light. I can just see it as my secret reading corner...

From Design*Sponge

Pola!

2008-12-09T17:52:00.005+11:00

Still addicted. This is of my lovely parents last year at Dee Why beach.

the raquel allegra/camille/rumi shredded top

2008-12-09T17:00:00.008+11:00

I decided to try out this technique last night. After a false start (ribbed fabric doesn't work...) I made some headway on an old royal blue Supre singlet. I think it looks all right, but my sister's comment was 'ew' when she saw it.

I wanted to have two panels running up the sides, but it was too hard to keep them running straight.

Random Colour Combos #3

2008-12-09T16:46:00.005+11:00

Charcoal, olive and red-orange

Kind of military, sophisticated vibe

Image from Emmanuel Polanco

Random Colour Combo #2

2008-11-28T23:11:00.006+11:00

I almost forgot I'd started this...

Duck-egg blue, off-white, black and sky blue. Perfect for a vintage wedding. I especially love old cars in that pale bluey green colour.

Images from SFGirlByBay and Jason Munn

Like so inspired right now: Part 2 {Wedding Blogs}

2008-11-28T22:58:00.003+11:00

I think if my mom had seen me blogging about my wedding before, she would have been scared. Very scared. But oddly, now that I'm older than she was when she got married (by about 10 days), she seems more open to conversations about weddings. My wedding to be precise. It always seems to start off with "Omg I was reading reading this wedding blog the other day and..."

I especially like looking at all the graphic design details - invites, order of service, menus, place cards. And it's fun dreaming up colour combinations. My favourite wedding blogs:

Like so inspired right now: Part 1 {Polaroids & Typography}

2008-11-28T22:48:00.004+11:00

Image of Tom and me 'polaroided' with this program. My new favourite toy :)

I've been lacking inspiration for a long long time. Who would have thought it would come in the form of typography? If only I'd found these lovely sites before!

I Love Typography

H&FJ

Some font mixing fun

And more fun

I could spend hours here testing my font knowledge, learning about how to start up my own letterpress, looking at old sample books and seeing the latest typographical artwork.

On that list of mine

2008-09-21T13:27:00.005+10:00

Reading back to my list a few months ago, I can proudly say I've crossed of 1, 3 and 6! My inspiration board's looking a little bare though, so I think I'll print a few of the lovely pics I've got in my stash.

I also went for a massage, but seriously need to go again. I have 'Mac shoulder' (well that's what I call it, but to be fair, I had it with my PC before) from spending too much time on my new laptop and not knowing how to sit ergonomically and still be the right distance from the screen for my eyes.

Here's the view from my new room. It's got this gigantic old liquid amber (Mom says it's something else, but anyway) which has just started getting really leafy and beautiful. It looks even better through my new tassel curtains which I picked up for $20 each at the $2 shop.

It's been a while

2008-09-21T13:17:00.005+10:00

Been getting back into the blogging scene this weekend, and my is there lots to inspire me. I'm loving Koi Suwannagate's Spring 09 RTW collection.

Also started dreaming up house ideas for when I finally move out (not that I hate living here. On the contrary. But I need some 'just the 2 of us' time with Lovely Bf) I'm liking the look of this little room.

Will hopefully post more soon. Cheers

My fashion passion

2008-07-24T23:38:00.003+10:00

Watching Project Runway, reading the Sally Jane Vintage blog and not being able to find a single LBD I like has led me to take matters into my own hands again. I think having a sewing project on the go will keep me sane in the first few weeks of semester when we don't do much work (hopefully) but I'm rearing to go. So... after being inspired by a dress from a Royal Doulton ad on the back on my HB mag, and the one-shoulder beauties from my Eve mag (why hadn't I found this English gem before??) I'm taking the plunge...

...with M5269 (but shorter of course). I might try adding a shoulder strappy thing instead of the little sleeves, depending on how it all works out. And I will try again to get the Vogue pattern for which I bought fabric ages ago. Hopefully my perfectly fitting grey high-waisted pencil skirt will be done by the end of this winter.

Lists and plans

2008-06-11T22:19:00.004+10:00

I love writing lists and making plans. I find myself doing it all the time now as my Brisbane trip gets closer (!) The thing is, I hate all the notepaper I write them on. I have these little pads of floral paper and fluoro post-its. Next time I go to kikki.k, Paperchase or other stationery shop, I shall get some pretty paper to make things even more fun!

My list for now:
1. sleep!

2. finish remaining assignments

3. get a massage (I've been needing one since this time last year, and the place is just up the road, but I still haven't gone...)

4. do something nice yet non-interrupting for Tom because he has exams on. I don't want to bug him when he's 'in the zone' studying, but still want him to know how much I love him

5. scrapbook! I haven't gotten around to scrapbooking about SA, and I'm scared that the memories are already starting to fade after 4.5 years. This was the reason I started scrapbooking in the first place...I think I'm noticing a trend here, but then again, I've always had trouble finishing what I start :(

6. get a huge corkboard so I can stick up all my pretty pics and ephemera and not have to worry about pulling them all off the walls when we move house

Three fashionable old ladies

2008-06-11T21:56:00.006+10:00

Working at an aged-care dementia facility you wouldn't think I'd see much in the way of good style. But I noticed three ladies who seem to have a knack with certain items. I could just imagine an outfit with Iris's bottle green felt/mohair hat, Peggy's classic tailored wide leg slacks and finished off with one of Barbara's chic neckties. (I'll forgive her for thinking I'm a "young man")

I have a blog??

2008-06-11T21:55:00.002+10:00

Yes I do. And I've been neglecting it. So now that semester is almost over I get to post more stuff!

Portfolio

2008-05-09T18:32:00.003+10:00

I'm thinking of chasing up an internship with a small studio in Bondi Junction. Only thing is I need to send in my resume and portfolio. Thankfully I did a pretty cool resume last year during my Whitehouse course (if I do say so myself), but I now have the daunting task of choosing some of my work to scan and assemble a digital portfolio. One of my lecturers gave us a good tip today on the very subject...he said to include writings with each image so that potential employers can see your thinking behind each project. That's definitely another one to store up for future reference.
(come to think of it, I should probably write down all those little tips that lecturers casually give out sometimes. They're all such pros at what they do, so they're obviously valuable)

PS: I have no idea why the image turned out orange and red when it's actually blue and purple. And as of tomorrow, it should no longer read 17 (or even 18) but 19 years old! Note to self to update the design a bit too.

Coley Claire fashion

2008-05-09T18:23:00.005+10:00

I saw two pics of ColeyClaire's work on {frolic} and decided to check it out. It's just beautiful how things can look so vintage and mod at the same time. And I'm digging the mod.el's haircut. Wonder if it would work on me...

Can't wait to finish this assignment!

2008-04-18T15:23:00.003+10:00

As part of my graphic design course, I have to design a 6-page book which tells a story from my cultural heritage and includes a symbol of that culture throughout. I chose the Tragic Love Tale of Tristan and Iseult, a Cornish legend (Mom's sure I've got some Cornish in there...mixed with the Dutch, British, French Huguenot, Belgian..) and a Celtic loveknot as my symbol.

Here's a snippet of the watercolour page in progress. It shows Iseult reaching out to Tristan as she finds him washed up on shore after a shipwreck.

Random colour combo #1

2008-04-18T15:14:00.004+10:00

I love the vintage, nautical feel of this pic.
Red bag, navy + white + gold rope Vinnies scarf, $7 canvas shoes.

Sigh

2008-04-12T17:47:00.006+10:00

Would love to get married in the one on the right (Vera Wang)...

As much as I love gorgeous satin wedding dresses, I think I'm more of a 'flowy chiffon' kinda gal.
And I'm thinking an off-white with vintage-looking green will be perfect. Plus it's mine and Tom's favourite colours mixed together :)

Look what arrived today!

2008-04-04T14:18:00.003+11:00

I always get so excited when my new scrapbooking supplies arrive from Scrapboxx. Can't wait to get stuck in this afternoon and finish off some layouts.

Tie dress

2008-04-03T15:42:00.001+11:00

trashion: art, jewelry, fashion and objects for the home from used, thrown-out, found & repurposed elements

I found a link to this amazing dress + tutorials on the stitchlounge blog. So ornate looking, yet made from old ties and a crochet tablecloth! Wish my dad had lots of old ties...

Thursday Creative Challenge

2008-04-03T14:00:00.002+11:00

Seeing as I have Thursdays off college, I'm thinking of using this time to do all those craft projects that are building up in my head.

I was hoping to do catch up on some scrapbooking today, but since my new supplies haven't arrived yet, I thought I'd do a quick trip round the garden and take some photos seeing as it's such a beautiful autumn day. As you can see, we don't have a very big/interesting garden...

Tomatoes that Mom's growing. We had the first of the crop the other day and it was so much sweeter and richer than those from the supermarket

This closeup of a fern leaf makes it look gorgeous, but in truth our tree ferns look scraggly and their spores get everywhere

The gum tree I can hear swishing in the breeze outside the study (filtered with the Photocopy filter from Virtual Photographer)

Camellias?

So I finally decided to create a blog...

2008-04-03T13:07:00.000+11:00

Hi! I'm Meg and I finally decided to create my own blog after seeing so many other great ones out there. It seems like every day lately has started with going into my long list of bookmarked blogs and immersing myself in the images, articles and snippets of daily life.

So I decided I'd have a go at it and try to do at least one new post everyday. This will be a challenge as I'm one of those people who often don't finish what they start, but I'm hoping to break that habit now.

A bit about me...I'm 18 and a first-year graphic design student at Billy Blue College. It's been a lot of work so far, but I'm loving all the challenges they throw at us! I also do casual work 4 days a week as a kitchenhand at an aged care facility. At the moment I live with my parents and younger sister in Sydney, and love going up to Brisbane to visit my lovely boyfriend Tom. Yip, long distance relationship, but it's been 6 months and so far so good :) I love to scrapbook, buy craft supplies and clothes, sew a few recycled fashion pieces, eat great food, read interesting books and go out with the girls!

Feel free to leave comments and links to your own blogs so I can grow my ever-expanding list!

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