The North Melbourne studio of artist Esther Stewart. Photo – Lucy Feagins.

The North Melbourne studio of artist Esther Stewart – featuring scale model of ‘Foldout’ installation for QV!   Photo – Lucy Feagins.

Details from Esther’s studio. Photo – Lucy Feagins.

Previous work by Esther Stewart from the ‘Portable Compactable’ series

Esther Stewart in her North Melbourne studio. Photo – Lucy Feagins.

I have an inkling that Melbourne based artist Esther Stewart is going to be big. You heard it here first, people. She is only young but she has such an intense seriousness and drive about her – within an instant of meeting her it’s clear this lass is going places.  She’s super smart and very hardworking and just kind of basically no-nonsense.

Esther completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at VCA in 2010, majoring in Sculpture and Spatial Practice.  That same year she was included in Fresh 2010 at Craft Victoria – an award exhibition that explored the best in new contemporary craft and design.  She’s now making art full time and exhibiting in various group shows at artist run venues, all whilst completing her Master of Arts and Cultural Management at The University of Melbourne.

Esther is also part of new art collective  GroupWork which recently had an amazing show at Mr Kitly!   It was quite rad – some pics here.

Esther’s latest project is a site specific large-scale installation at QV in the CBD – just completed yesterday!  Entitled ‘Foldout‘, the piece consists of a large scale geometric wall mural painted directly onto concrete walls within the QV complex, and custom painted foldout seats, bolted directly into the walls… so you can sit in the artwork. Brilliant!

We asked Esther a couple of questions about this latest project -

As part of Next Wave 2012 you are installing an interactive mural in QV called Foldout. How did the concept behindFoldout transpire and what exactly will it involve?

Foldout stemmed from a previous body of work termed Portable Compactable where I explored the space between the functional and the aesthetic. My concept with this new work was to activate an unused space in the QV building. The challenge has been to transform, on a limited budget, an aesthetically hostile area into an visually exciting and hopefully engaging space.

Creating even the smallest work of art takes time and patience. Is it safe to say you need both of these things times infinity when producing large scale art in the public domain? What kind of processes and challenges have you faced with the QV installation?

It has been an incredibly extensive process. I have been working on Foldout for well over a year now. This project is part of a larger public group exhibition called New Babylon for Next Wave 2012, where the group’s curators Jess O’Brien and Pip Wallis invited six artists to complete a major work in Melbourne’s CBD.

Fortunately being part of New Babylon has meant that I have had the unwavering support of group curators Jess  and Pip, who originally approached me with the idea of making a public work. In the interim we have discovered, albeit at times a little painfully, exactly what this process entails.

We have spent hours and hours writing and rewriting applications and submissions, looking over safety plans, and liaising with the site spokesperson and engineers. Aspects such as engaging contractors, adhering to the safety requisites in the making of and installation of public works, and the challenges of large scale painting techniques have been just a few of the issues that have required managing. Then of course I have learned a lot more than I ever wanted to know about the structural integrity of unused concrete walls and the cavities behind them! In hindsight I would undertake this project very differently, but that in itself has ultimately made it so worthwhile.

Looks amazing – pics below!

The piece is sponsored by Haymes, who generously supplied paints and other materials to Esther’s specifications.

Foldout – site specific installation by Esther Stewart
QV Building
Corner of Swanston Street and Londsdale Street
Officially opening this Friday May 19th.

Foldout is part of New Babylon for Next Wave 2012.

Foldout - site specific installation by Esther Stewart. Photo – Sean Fennessy

Foldout - site specific installation by Esther Stewart. Photo - Sean Fennessy

The Kyneton home of photographer Tara Pearce and family.  All photos – Lucy Feagins, styling assistant – Marni Kornhauser

Tara’s workspace

Details from Tara’s workspace / master bedroom

Dramatic dining room!   Photos – Lucy Feagins, styling assistant – Marni Kornhauser

For a teeny tiny country town, I have to say, Kyneton is totally punching above it’s weight in the interior design departament.  Today we have another beautiful home to share, again belonging to a clever local creative who made the decision to move to Victoria’s Macedon Ranges region in search of a tree change, a slightly more relaxed way of life, and a proper family-sized home for her family!

Tara Pearce moved to Kyneton from Yarraville in Melbourne four years ago with husband Taras, and kids Yorke (daughter – now 11 yrs) and Mak (son, now 6 yrs).   They’re now joined by crazy pups Buzz and Boris (because really, you can’t be living in the country without some animals running about).

After moving in, Tara says the first addition to their new home was the construction of a half pipe skate ramp in the backyard.  Nice to know they’ve got their priorities sorted!  I think this fact alone says so much about Tara and Taras – their busy family home is super stylish but relaxed and unfussy, and it’s clear this is a space created for family and for fun first and foremost!  In addition to the all important skate ramp(!!), Tara says there was also a lot of painting to be done inside and out, and they also installed bi-fold doors and a timber deck at the rear of the home to link the loungeroom to their generous new backgarden.

Favourite aspects of the home for Tara include the indoor / outdoor living space, and the fireplace – ‘in winter it is the centre of our home’ she says.  She also loves the amazing views of the beautiful trees surrounding the property, and of course the half pipe in the yard – ‘hours of entertainment for the kids and Taras!’

Tara also has lots of reasons to love her newfound hometown. ‘We have some of the top places to eat, great coffee, creative local folk and most importantly it’s a much slower pace – it’s a peaceful lifestyle’.

The move here has also kicked off a new career opportunity for Tara – after quitting her desk job, Tara was inspired to pursue her love of photography, and she now works on a variety of photographic projects both in town and in the country. She is particularly awesome at photographing kids and weddings!  Do take a moment to check out her website and peruse her beautiful shots!  (For weddings Tara shoots with her pal Erin Neale under the name Erin + Tara).

Massive thanks to Tara and family for sharing their beautiful home with us today..!   If you love Tara and Taras’ style I am thinking you will love their side project – The Vintage Yard Sale.  Previously the pair ran a sweet retail shop in Kyneton, but the shop nows lives exclusively online, and is full of beautiful vintage / industrial finds…!  Well worth a visit!

Dining room – LOVE those dramatic deep inky blue-almost-black walls, and mismatched chairs.  The 50′s industrial factory fan is a favourite find for Tara – ‘very handy in Kyneton’s extreme summer’ she says!  The 1879 Victorian Board Room dining table was a steal for $100(!!) – saved from a local farmers bonfire pile!

Dining room

Dining room details

Kitchen details

Kitchen looking through to loungeroom

Breakfast bench

Loungeroom opening out to rear deck. ‘&’ cushion by Aunty Cookie!

YELLOW details in the loungeroom… wall decoration made by Tara – it’s just pieces of butchers paper, woven through a circle of chicken wire, spraypainted yellow!  Do not ask me how.  Amazing.

Loungeroom.  Sweet two-legged leaning side table designed and handcrafted in Kyneton by Tara and Chris Roberts.  Blue screenprint top right by Tara, based on vintage signage.

Master bedroom. Bedside lamp Taras made from a log found in the countryside. Simple beautiful perfect.

Taras’ extensive shirt collection!

Another view of loungeroom - ’&’ cushion by Aunty Cookie

View from living room / deck across garden to cubby house

I think basically having a half pipe in your backyard is the best ever advertisement for moving to regional Victoria – these guys really should be in those commercials.

View back to house

Kitiya Palaskas + mobile + papery crafty cuteness

More random crafty cuteness from Kit Palaskas!

Kit (or Kitiya) Palaskas is a professional crafter.  I say this because aside from making her own cheerful crafty creations for styling, selling, workshopping and exhibiting, Kit also works in the craft department at Family Circle Magazine (previously she also worked in a similar role at Better Homes and Gardens magazine).  Can you BELIEVE this kind of dream job actually exists?  Kit also moonlights as a creative workshop tutor, and Etsy Sydney team captain!  See? Professional.  And dedicated.

We’re gonna go out on a limb here and say Kit is basically a younger, cooler, Sydney version of craft mogul Martha Stewart.  Just check out her super cute blog if you don’t believe me.  I would not be surprised if she ends up on TV actually. She’s got that winning combination of cute + likeable meets crafty + clever.  She’d make a great improvement to The Block at any rate.

Ms Palaskas has recently been taking some sweet mobile making classes for kids at The School in Sydney, and she has another one coming up this Sunday May 20th!  Kit says ‘Kids who attend my class can expect to be assaulted with a kaleidoscope of coloured card and lashings of metallic paper’!  SIGN ME UP!  (Doh, class is for under 12′s only, pfft they get all the fun).  All details over here for those keen to check it out!

We figured since she is surely destined for crafty / DIY TV show stardom (or at least a book deal!?) we should ask Kit a few questions before she gets too famous.  Here goes!  -

Tell us a little bit about your background – What did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I had a very creative upbringing. I started making things from an early age and still have one of my first ever creations – a sparkly styrofoam Christmas ornament covered in a ridiculous amount of sequins. It goes on the tree every year! I was always making little paper things too, such as detective kits and elaborate pop-up books. My brother and I had a ‘shop’ and we would coerce my parents into purchasing our handmade wares for exorbitant prices like 5 cents (an absolute fortune for pick-n-mix!).

I lived in a lot of different countries growing up, including the United Arab Emirates during high school. You couldn’t buy any good clothes over there at the time so I just started making my own, but I couldn’t sew, so I just hot-glued and stapled myself into everything. Eventually I picked up some sewing skills and it just went from there. I went to Canberra School of Art and studied Printmaking and Drawing, incorporating textiles and sculpture into a lot of my work. After uni I moved to Sydney and had my own little fashion label and eventually turned to more craft-related design.

You work in the craft department of Family Circle magazine, ‘moonlight’ as a creative workshop tutor and are an Etsy team captain. Basically you’re a younger, cooler, Sydney version of craft mogul Martha Stewart? How did you get your start and create your craft enterprise, and do you think it’s important to have a niche/point of difference in this industry in order to succeed?

Um, that is a HUGE compliment, thank you! In the early days I used to assist this amazing stylist Georgia Ashdown, and one day she commissioned me to make some bespoke handmade trinkets for a magazine shoot. That was my first professional job as a craft-based designer. I worked at it from there and forged a career path for myself. The workshops I teach stemmed from craft clubs I used to host for my friends. I love teaching and the concept of sharing and passing on creative knowledge from person to person.

In terms of this industry, I feel like it is so important to place high value in your own work. Even if you can’t see a place for it in the industry, just keep working hard and making things you love and you’ll carve your own niche. You don’t necessarily need to have a point of difference to succeed, I think it’s more important to be confident in what you make and to be true to your own style.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

I wake up, always a bit zombie-like, and head into the office where I work on magazine stuff at Family Circle all day. I ride my bike home, usually carrying a ridiculous amount of craft supplies in various bags on my back which must look really silly! I then work solidly for the next six or seven hours on a variety of my own projects including freelance jobs, work for the Sydney Etsy Team (of which I am Captain), blogging, personal craft projects, and preparing for upcoming workshops.

Highlights lately have included my work for Megan Morton’s The School, a special project for Lego, and being part of the team that is planning the Etsy Success Sydney event as part of Vivid Sydney 2012. I usually collapse into bed around 3 or 4am sometimes, only to wake up early the next day to shoot the things I made the night before in my little home photo studio setup. Yes, I am a complete workaholic, but I relish every second of it and it never feels like work when you’re doing what you love.

Which Australian designers, artists or creative people are you loving right now?

I can’t get enough of the girls from Peaches + Keen. I read their blog constantly. They make such great things and their lives look so fun! I just hosted a craft workshop at Fabric-a-brac, run by the very talented Kaila Perusco. It’s a market just for pre-loved fabric and notions aka, the place where dreams are made. There is this creative catering duo in Melbourne called Babes on Grill. They have these awesome block parties and BBQs, and cook up scrumptious treats while wearing cute outfits and flawless nail polish. Also out of Melbourne is Bernadette Alice Francis. I am in awe of her work! She makes the most gorgeous and exciting wearable art and we seem to share a love of gemstones and metallics, which is fantastic.

You’re running a mobile making workshop at our pal Megan Morton’s The School this coming Sunday. How did this professional partnership with MM develop and what can attendees of your class expect?

Megan! What an incredibly amazing individual. Our meeting was rather fateful and chance-like, as all great meetings are. She invited me to teach a class on mobile-making at The School and we have since made many exciting plans for future collaborations. Kids who attend my class can expect to be assaulted with a kaleidoscope of coloured card and lashings of metallic paper. We’ll talk about the origins of mobiles, how they are made and how the simple placement of shapes and colours together can form the most stunning, vivid and kinetic creations. Most importantly we’ll learn the importance of embracing your own personal style and how that in itself can create something truly unique and wonderful. It will be a jolly good time!

To keep in touch with all Kit’s crafty projects do check out her website and blog!

Craft party madness by Kit Palaskas and friends!

Artwork by collage artist Pia Blair

Artwork by Pia Blair. Photo by Armelle Habib, Styling Julia Green and Lucy Fenton, shot on location at the very beautiful Fenton & Fenton!

Various artworks by Pia Blair

Melbourne stylist / creative agent Julia Green is always feeding me excellent new finds, and these fabulous artworks by Pia Blair are another of her discoveries! (Thanks for the tip off Julia!).

Pia Blair is a Melbourne girl, but has been living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for three years.  She creates these original screenprinted and collaged works on paper with unexpected imagery and kooky little sayings to make you chuckle!  She loves nothing more than riding around her colourful city on her motorbike, fossicking for vintage papery goodness from days gone by.  If Pia comes across anything kitsch, especially images of miniature dogs, men wrestling in 1970′s footy shorts, ladies strutting in 1950′s get up, catalogues of modernist domestic furniture and appliances, or an image of Queen Lizzie, she simply must have it!

Originally from country Victoria, Pia spent a great deal of time trawling through her Grandmothers pile of sewing patterns, admiring 50’s style wall paper, and eating ‘snags’ in bread at the local footy club.  These childhood experiences, combined with her recent years in Vietnam, have defined the quirky, nostalgic aesthetic of her work.  By combining treasured vintage ephemera with hand screen printing, spray painted stencils, stickers and Japanese washi tape, Pia gives each work it’s own unique narrative.

Pia creates these works under the name Little Land of Pia.  She’s currently working on creating a range of soft furnishings under the same label – watch this space! And do check out Pia’s blog and facebook page for more images of her work and updates on her homewares range!

Pia’s artworks are currently stocked at Fenton & Fenton, Husk and Hut 13 in Melbourne, Mood and Green Tangerine in Queensland, and a number of other boutiques listed here (nothing in Sydney yet it seems?).

Potential stockists and buyers can also get in touch with Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors, who is handling Pia’s Australian sales and distribution.

TODAY you guys have the rather amazing opportunity to win an original Pia Blair work on paper! The lucky winner will have the opportunity to collaborate with Pia via email, and select their own theme / colour palette for a unique new collage, created especially for them.  AMAZING!

To be in the running, simply leave your comment on today’s post, before 10.00pm today, Monday May 14th Melbourne time.  One winner will be selected at random and contacted by email tomorrow.

Massive thanks to both Pia and Julia for this lovely giveaway!

Artwork above bed by Pia Blair. Photo by Armelle Habib, Styling Julia Green and Lucy Fenton, shot on location at Fenton & Fenton

Artwork by Pia Blair. Photo by Armelle Habib, Styling Julia Green and Lucy Fenton.

This week fashion editor and stylist Kate Gaskin joins us for a round-up from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Kate Gaskin is a fashion stylist and PROPER fashion editor at The Age Melbourne Magazine, so it’s pretty freaking amazing that we have her joining us on the Guest Blog all this week!  I know, awesome, right!?

Like all the best fashionistas, Kate attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Sydney just over a week ago, and she has rounded up her highlights from the week especially for us!  We’ll see new season picks from all Kate’s favourite local labels, including Romance was Born, Ellery, Zimmerman and Alice McCall, a smattering of street style snaps, PLUS on Friday Kate will pass on her top 5 fashion trend predictions, as spied on the catwalks!

Aside from knowing Australian fashion like the back of her hand, Ms Gaskin is also one of those effortlessly gorgeous gals who seems to have the whole casual-chic look totally sorted – I mean just check out her sweet behind the scenes pic below! :)  I am seriously hoping some of this glowing stylishness miraculously rubs off on me this week… STAY tuned on that.

Do pop by the Guest Blog each day this week for a hefty dose of eyecandy and fashiony goodness!  It’s all prints, peplums and parties!  I, for one, will be taking notes.

Kate Gaskin (right) and pal Geraldine have a well earned rest between shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Beneath The Sun ‘Girl in Flowers’ cushion

Beneath The Sun ‘shapes’ cushions and ‘The Sun Shines On’ tea towel

Pillowcases by Beneath The Sun.  Cannot decide my favourite!  Maybe the ‘My Only Song’ ones!?  Tough call!

Leah Bartholomew is a quiet achiever.  After five years working in Melbourne as Beci Orpin‘s right hand woman, last year Leah decided it was time to move back to her childhood home – the tiny town of Bilambil.. half an hour north of Byron Bay in Northern NSW.  She craved the warmer weather, and the idea of getting back to nature.  It was also an opportunity to stop, reflect on her achievements so far and lessons learnt working with Beci (now one of Leah’s closest pals), and take time out to plan the launch of her very own label.  Before long, Beneath The Sun was born!

There’s something so totally cheerful and uplifting about Leah’s work – her fabulous range of soft furnishings, homewares, stationery and art prints really do seem to capture some of that Queensland sunshine!  They just make you smile.  I love the combo of soft, watercoloury graphics with much bolder, hard-edged shapes, and Leah’s playfulness with type.  It all points to such a free, intuitive design process… and somehow the work does seem to convey Leah’s joy at being able to create her own work, under her own label for the very first time!

In addition to her range of sweet homewares, stationery and prints, Leah continues to work as a graphic designer, consulting to various likeminded brands – I love the simple but fabulous instore display she created last year for Arabella Ramsey (pictured below).

In a random twist, Leah is also an excellent potter!  Is there anything this lady can’t do!?  Check out her blog for some pics of recent ceramic creations – I want one!

Massive thanks to dear Leah for turning this interview around at a difficult time.  She had a somewhat spontaneous pop-up last week in Melbourne, but annoyingly I couldn’t cover it because we were on the whole Newcastle vibe last week. ANYWAY, you can buy beautiful Beneath the Sun wares online, and Leah’s on the hunt for stockists in Melbourne and Sydney – retailers, pounce now!

Leah Bartholomew of Beneath The Sun – photo by Lucy Feagins

Tell us a little about your background – what path led you to illustration and design originally, and then on to launching your own label?

It started with a degree in Fine Arts from Brisbane College of Arts and Southern Cross Uni Lismore. Obsessed with painting and screen printing, I then moved to Melbourne to get amongst the incredible arts and design scene happening there. Upon arriving in Melbourne I discovered the work of PAM, Beci Orpin and Josh Petherick, and knew instantly that I wanted to pursue something along the lines of what they were doing.

I was a student for years and I loved it. First the degree, then diplomas in Screen Printing and Graphic Arts at RMIT. While still studying, my friend Amanda Maxwell was working with PAM and told me that Beci was looking for a right-hand person. I sent my folio to her thinking I would just be more than happy for her just to see it. Surprisingly she called me straight away and said we needed to meet. The day I was told I had the job is clearly etched in my mind as a VERY happy one. After five amazing years with Beci in the studio, I then made the full circle route back to my childhood home of Tweed Heads to start my homewards label Beneath The Sun, and pursue my art and design work.

Illustration created with Beci Orpin for Insight, when Leah worked for Beci

For many years you worked with Beci Orpin before going out on your own – how have you found the transition from working for someone to launching your own range and working for yourself?

I was able to learn so much from Beci about the art of self discipline and using your time wisely, that when it finally came time to set up my own studio the transition was made relatively easy. There are things I definitely miss about Beci’s studio. We bounced off each other so well, and always had new things to show and ways to inspire one another. I always had crazy stories for her being a gateway to life without children. I also miss the clients we worked for, and getting to do textiles for people like Built By Wendy, Gorman, Jethro and Jackson, and loads of other fun design projects.

I really wanted to return to my home town in Northern NSW and get back to nature and warm weather. It all felt very right once I got back, I even managed to find the perfect house in the hills to set up my business. Funnily though, my first freelance project took me on a flight back to Melbourne for a job doing Arabella Ramsay’s shop window. It was upon my return to NSW after this that I started writing my business plan for Beneath The Sun, and began designing and making art nonstop. It’s all gone very fast in the last year and although I had lots of experience beforehand, it’s been a very steep learning curve while simultaneously being a total joy.

Arabella Ramsey window display 2011

Leah installing Arabella Ramsey window display 2011

What have been some favourite recent projects you’ve been working on?

Beneath The Sun has been pretty full-time for me lately. In the last two weeks we have absolutely loved doing The Finders Keepers market in Melbourne and the pop-up shop at Harvest Textiles. Also coming up is Paper Runway magazine’s art show The Paper Trail in Byron Bay, which I have artworks in, that is going to be fun!

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

I wake up really early up here compared to the cold mornings in Melbourne (Beci would be shocked!). Tim and I will then go for a beach walk/swim, pop into mum and dad’s for a tea, before heading back home to write the daily to-do list on the deck. It’s a pretty nice morning ritual really. I’ll always begin with a read of TDF, check emails, ‘research’ blogs, pack orders, and run around to screen printers, fabric wholesalers and makers. If I’m extremely lucky I’ll get to make art and designs all day long.

Textile designs by Leah Bartholomew and Beci Orpin

Textile designs by Leah Bartholomew and Beci Orpin

Can you list for us 5 resources across any media (i.e. specific websites, magazines, blogs or books) you turn to when in need of a bolt of creative inspiration for a new brief or new project?

1. I have obsessed over Graphis books for years, specifically editions from the late sixties and seventies and was lucky enough to find a pile of them in Slovenia a few years ago. These are my go to resource when I need to be reminded of how great design is done.

2. My time gets chewed up easily with my favourite blogs. I read them nearly every night, which is probably why it takes me so long to update my own! A few favourites include Scout Holiday, Marcus Walters, Ensuite, Peaches + Keen, Hélène Georget, Emily Hadden, Color Collective and blog champions Fine Little Day and Hello Sandwich.

3. The area I live in. Northern NSW is so lush and light, full of pastel coloured skies, greenery and the best beaches around.

4. My collection of Eastern European children’s storybooks. I study the techniques used in the drawings. I carted these books around Europe to bring home and they are the first thing I would grab in a fire.

5. Lot’s of magazines (old and new), collected paper, postcards, lolly/food wrappers , basically anything that catches my eye to go into my inspiration box.

Illustration by Leah Bartholomew

Which other local designers or creative people do you admire?

My good friend Jae Copp (incredibly skilled artist), Archer and Archer (garage sale pros), Daydream Lily, Paper Runway magazine, Art Park, Comb Art Space, The Village Market girls and cute local makers The Sentimentalist.

What is the best thing about your job?

Living the dream! Working side-by-side with Tim and our cat Skeds in a timber loft studio that looks onto a view of green hills and the sea.

Pillowcases by Beneath The Sun

What would be your dream creative project?

For a few years now I have been attracted to the idea of working with a design studio based in California, something just keeps drawing me to the relaxed, sunny, surfing vibe, and there are a bunch of designers/artists doing great work there. Someone like Steven Harrington would be a treat to work with!

What are you looking forward to?

Well I just sadly lost an old friend, which throws your perspective on life into another direction, so at the moment I’m appreciating sitting in the sun and absorbing my surroundings.

Illustrations by Leah Bartholomew

Illustration by Leah Bartholomew

Northern NSW Questions

What/where was the last great meal you ate in your local area?

Larb Gai from Thailand Restaurant in West Tweed. Certainly nothing fancy about this place, just great Thai food, and it’s quickly becoming a local favourite.

Which are you favourite local shops/markets or fossicking spots for beautiful homewares and design?

My number one place to find incredible treasures is the Chinderah Bay Antiques and Museum, a shop that specialises in seafaring antiques. I was completely amazed when I discovered this place, it is choc full of maritime and nautical wares and pieces that are used in films and sets. My favourite village for shopping is probably Bangalow, just out of Byron Bay. There is a rug shop there called Milton Cater that stocks the best collection I have seen…anywhere! The rugs must be seen in person, it’s overwhelming how many great ones are available. There are cute shops all the way from Byron Bay to Brunswick Heads, Kingscliff including Raggedy Anne and the Gold Coast is home to another favourite, the very cute Little Love and Happiness in Burleigh Heads.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Cooking up some fresh eggs from the shed up the road, heading to the beach for a swim or surf then fossicking about at local garage sales. This area is a goldmine for retro treasures and antiques, lots of oldies live in Tweed. If it’s not that, then you will find me waking up at a friend’s property from the night before, everyone has to have a spare bed or great lounge around here, it’s too far between places!

Northern NSW’s best kept secret?

Fingal Beach rocks, it’s one of only two places in the world with naturally occurring hexagonal shaped rock columns. This place is a must see! All the waterholes and rock pools in the hinterland, and of course, the beautifully restored art deco Regent Cinema in Murwillumbah.

Stunning blankets and throws made by Jacqueline Fink for her label Little Dandelion – you guessed it, these incredible shots are by Sharyn Cairns, styled by Glen Proebstel.  Too beautiful.

Jacqueline Fink is the designer and maker behind Little Dandelion, a bespoke soft furnishings label in Sydney.  Jacqueline makes the most exquisite chunky throws, blankets and shrugs in pure, soft wool and rustic linen, knitted by hand using enormous needles!

Jacqueline has a varied career background – she’s worked a patchwork of very different jobs which finally landed her here at Little Dandelion.  She’s a lawyer by training, but only practised law for a few years.  ’It wasn’t my cup of tea at all’ she says, ‘studying law is very different from the practise of it – it was very obvious to me that I was not amongst my tribe’.  Stage two of Jacqueline’s career journey was when she joined her husband’s business, running five Hugo Boss stores in Sydney and one multi-brand menswear store called Claude Sebastian.  This time instilled in Jacqueline a deep understanding and passion for high quality retail –  ’I know what it is to walk the floor in retail. Retail is really complex, and it is a shame that not more people consider it as a genuine career option’ she says.

Jacqueline has a sweet blog here.

Handknitted blankets and throws made by Little Dandelion – photos by Sharyn Cairns, styling by Glen Proebstel.

The beautiful Sydney home of Vanessa Steele and Peter Braig.  Sunroom – patchwork kilim from I & B Perryman Oriental Carpets, Woollahra.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room – straw and wool embroidered Moroccan rug, purchased on a recent overseas trip.  Large photographic artwork by Peter Braig.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room – large photographic artwork by Peter Braig.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

We’re back in Sydney again with today’s seriously lovely Australian Home – although I must say, this one could almost pass for a classic LA apartment, with it’s Spanish Mission styling and those amazing arched windows!  That top image of the sunroom  is such a stunner – totally magazine-cover fabulous (nice work Felix!).   It’s incredible how certain architectural details really give a space the feeling of being somehow so very ‘international’!

The lucky residents of this beautiful two bedroom apartment are Vanessa Steele, who runs her own PR company, and Peter Braig, a photographer (plus Macchiato the cat!).  This creative pair moved to Sydney from Melbourne five years ago, but hunted for three years before finding the perfect pad to call home.  ’We were looking for something special – it was worth the wait…’ says Vanessa!

One of just a handful of boutique apartments in a building known as ‘La Granada’ in Sydney’s leafy Bellevue Hill neighbourhood, this apartment really does have a special something going on. Tucked at the back of the block on the ground level, and opening out onto a leafy patio, it’s wonderfully private, and with windows on all sides, it feels more like a house than an apartment.  Vanessa puts that down also to the layout of the rooms and shape of the space.  ’ The square footprint makes it more like a house, and means we use every room’ she says.

Vanessa and Peter have been here just two years.  Since moving in they haven’t needed to do too much – other than polishing the floorboards and painting the walls white throughout. Of course they’ve also pulled together a tight, cohesive edit of furniture, soft furnishings and artworks to enhance the features of the space. I must say they’ve done such a stellar job of styling their home – all the colours and textures are so perfectly balanced, and not a thing out of place!  Vanessa and Peter’s favourite pieces at the moment are their antique Moroccan rugs in the living and dining rooms, found on their most recent overseas trip. Peter is originally from Europe, and the pair love to travel, inevitably collecting things to bring home with every trip!

It’s clear from chatting to Vanessa that she and Peter are still kind of pinching themselves, even two years after securing their beautiful apartment – and after 3 years of looking I would be too!  There is so much to love about the place – Vanessa says favourite elements include the Spanish Mission style of the space, the privacy, and their wonderful leafy outdoor area.  ’The courtyard is such a great space – excellent for parties, it extends into an outdoor room in the warmer months’ says Vanessa.

Massive thanks to Vanessa and Peter for sharing their beautiful home with us today! Aaaaww Sydney.  You’re so pretty.

Dining Room – view to courtyard.  Photos – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room details.  Artwork top left by Vanessa and Peter’s godson Alessio Jaeggi!   Photos – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room – oil pastel artwork by Newell Harry, straw and wool embroidered Moroccan rug.  Photos – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining Room.  Photos – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Details details!  Clockwise from top left – artwork by Anthony Lister, Vitsoe built in shelves, industrial details in the living room and sweet peaches Vanessa kindly fed us during our visit!  Photos – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room details – Mark Tuckey bookshelves.  Artwork by Kitty from Melville Island, and Hideyo paper art ball.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom through to ensuite.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Master bedroom details.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Master bed – wool rug with pom pom fringe from Morocco.  Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Exterior – rear courtyard.  La Granada alright!   Photo – Felix Forest, Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Nook Vintage NEW warehouse in North Fitzroy!  Photos – Lucy Feagins

Nook Vintage Warehouse in North Fitzroy.  Photos – Lucy Feagins

Nook Vintage Warehouse details.  Photos – Lucy Feagins

OK so Melbourne clearly has no shortage of options if you’re in the market for vintage / industrial furniture and homewares, there is just SO much goodness on offer if you know where to look!  But I must say this recent find, opened just last month, is a bit of a hidden gem – well worth a visit before the masses catch on!

Rachel and Gary Lewarne, the lovely couple behind Nook Vintage in Fitzroy (I covered their cute little store way back here) have just opened up a brand new and seriously MASSIVE space in North Fitzroy.  270 metres of vintage / industrial goodness.  Awesome!

Nook Vintage Warehouse is hidden down a little laneway just behind Queens Parade (you know in that cute pocket between North Fitzroy and Clifton Hill).   It’s chock to the rafters with amazing finds – rustic vintage benches, tables, lockers, shelving and drawer units, antique flags and pennants, shop fittings and mannequins, trunks and suitcases, masses of industrial pendant lamps (the real vintage ones!) and much more.  The prices are refreshingly reasonable – and local hospitality peeps will be pleased to find lots of pieces (especially vintage chairs) in multiples!

It must be said that another major drawcard for this local business is the fact that Rachel and Gary are just so genuinely friendly and helpful – they go out of their way to assist, and deliver locally at no extra cost.  And really, you’ve got to love a shop owner who puts their mobile number on their website - now that’s customer service!

Stylists will be pleased to learn that most of the Nook Vintage collection is available to hire, as is this amazing industrial space (a local band shot their album cover here just last week!)

Nook Vintage Warehouse is open weekends or by appointment (and their Fitzroy store in Johnston is still open 7 days). Pop down and say hello – you won’t be disappointed!

Nook Vintage Warehouse
Rear 304 – 308 Queens Parade
North Fitzroy

(Enter via laneway near corner of Michael St and Queens Pde)

Open Saturday and Sunday only, 12.00 – 5.00pm or by appointment

Nook Vintage Warehouse in North Fitzroy.  Photos – Lucy Feagins

Nook Vintage Warehouse suitcases and details.  Photos – Lucy Feagins

Nook Vintage proprietors Rachel and Gary – living their passion!

General recent awesomeness at The School!  Top left – cake and cookie decorating with Hello Naomi!, top right – Holly Hipwell and her Flower Bomb, bottom right – carnations for Flower Bomb making, bottom right – Megan gets styley with the paper straws.

If you are any kind of self respecting Australia-based blog reader I am pretty sure you would be totally across THE SCHOOL by now.  NO it is not the place you take unaccompanied minors between the hours of 8.30am and 4.00pm on a weekday.  It is in FACT an amazing magical land of craft, design and styling,  a unique creative hub, with a diverse calendar of classes and workshops for young and old alike, and of course the whole crazy thing is the creation of Sydney stylist Megan Morton.  DO check out The School timetable and wonderful photo galleries of previous classes… too. much. awesome.

Now, as you also probably know, this coming Sunday May 13th is Mothers Day.  And because Megan Morton is one of the most excellent multi-tasking Mums in the business, she is planning one seriously brilliant Mother’s day extravaganza!  Hold onto your hats, people.

The School Mother’s Day Line-Up includes! :

- White Elephant Stall! – selling Jen Booth‘s sweet leather lockets, and fabulous flowers from Holly Hipwell / The Flower Drum!

- DIY badge-making

- Mother and Daughter tassel garland workshop with Tamara Maynes (this one is a ticketed workshop – book here!)

Of course also beautiful Koskela is right next door for a browse, and Kitchen by Mike will be cooking a Sunday Roast!  Brilliant.  Can you actually imagine in your wildest DREAMS a better way to spend Mother’s Day?  No.  Me neither.

But it does get just a smidgen better. Dearest MM is offering a very special giveaway!  You could win a spot for you and your Mum at Tamara Maynes’ Mother / Daughter Tassel Garland workshop on Mothers Day, AND also, two spots at Holly Hipwell’s wildly popular Flower Bomb class on June 10th!  That’s two of The School’s most popular classes, for you and your Mum (or other much loved person).

To be in the RUNNING simply leave your comment on this post before 10.00pm tonight, Melbourne/Sydney time. A winner will be drawn at random and contacted by email tomorrow!

*UPDATE: Congratulations to Nicole (comment #19)!! Hope you and your mum have a fantastic Mothers Day at The School with Tamara Maynes and also at Holly Hipwell’s Flower Bomb Class. Thanks again to Megan Morton and The School for this amazing giveaway!

Clearly this one is best for Sydney residents, HOWEVER if you are not in Sydney, you’ll be pleased to know that these tickets are transferable to other people (but not to other classes).  Therefore, if you win, and you’re not able to attend, you may pass your fantabulous prize onto your favourite Sydney-based mother / daughter team!

Thanks Megan for this sweet giveaway and the amazing general awesomeness that is THE SCHOOL.  You really are a national treasure.

Jen Booth‘s sweet mini leather lockets will be for sale at The School’s White Elephant Stall this Sunday!

The School Mothers Day happenings – flyer by the very talented Georgia Perry