perfect pajamas

Finding the perfect pajamas is a like finding the perfect jeans - a difficult and onerous task. On the one hand, I want something that is comfortable and unfussy. But on the other, I want something that is pretty and makes me look cute, because I seem to spend an awful lot of time in my pajamas. Now don't get me wrong, I don't actually get anymore sleep than the average person (I wish this were true), I just seem to spend a lot of my waking time in my pajamas.

For me the period between waking up and changing into 'day-clothes' is sometimes quite extended. I have even been known to shower and then put my pajamas back on. For me, pajamas are my safety blanket, reminding me of when I was a kid and things seemed much simpler. A time when flannelet + milo = bedtime.

Feeling incredibly daggy in my old pajamas, today I went searching for the a new pair. Peter Alexander is always my first stop - I love their playful prints and the visual merchandising is always fun. Here's what I found...

This is what I would like to wear. Cute, girly and playful.
But the reality is that I get cold really easily -
and there is too much exposed skin in this cute ensemble. Sigh.

Another ensemble that is on my wish list
(that's the wish-i-had-the-body-to-wear-it list).
Unfortunately, when I tried this onesy on,
I looked less 'cute' and more 'teletubby'.
Oh well, a girl can dream.

In the end, I decided on the set on the left.
Cute, cosy and comfortable.
The mini-martian print is very cute and quirky and the
flannelet super soft and fluffy. All is all, the perfect pajamas.


Peter Alexander 'Space Cadet' pajama set.


(All pictures are from the Peter Alexander website.
For more information and pictures click here to be taken to the website.)

roses only

I have always had a thing for roses. I love the traditional country-garden image they convey, their sweet floral scent reminding me of my parent's garden. I love the spectacular array of colours roses come in - there is a colour for all occasions and emotional upheavals. I have a particular fondness for the sweet apricot pinks and baby flesh-toned flowers, which paired with the vibrant green of their leaves makes for a striking colour palette.

This afternoon, sick of being cooped up inside working, I took a sneaky trip to my nearby bakery (they do very good Portuguese custard tarts - which are conducive to productive afternoon work). On the way back I took a detour past a little florist, and a sweet posy of roses caught my eye.

The combination of baby-soft pink and leafy green is beautiful.
A perfect natural colour palette.

The layered blossom, each petal working with another to conceal the delicate heart never ceases to delight me.

These lovelies even managed to make my messy kitchen bench look nice!
A little bit of nature to brighten up my concrete jungle.


(photos taken by me!)

in love with India Flint

I was recently given a beautiful book called 'Eco Colour'. Written by India Flint, an amazing Australian textile artist, designer and writer, the book is a detailed exploration and instructional guide to the incredible possibilities of botanical dyes.



With the intention of having a quick flick through, I started reading 'Eco Colour' this afternoon. I did not put it down until several hours later, when I had read it from cover to cover. The delightful combination of beautiful photography, instructional methods and detailed historical and botanical information is enthralling - my copy now has countless post-its stuck to the pages where techniques that I want to experiment are detailed.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the book. I hope they are as inspiring to you as they were to me.

The colours and beautiful clear leaf prints are amazing in this eco-print piece.

I love the delicate, but detailed transfer of the leaf shapes in this
eco-print which was created using a hot-bundling technique.

Who knew oak leaves could be so beautiful?
Cold-bundle eco-print on silk.


(All images used are from India Flint's book 'Eco Colour',
published by Murdoch Books, 2008. ISBN 9781741960792)

macaroon colour fancies

I have a thing for macaroons. I love them.
Mostly, I love the colours. The beautiful pastel, girly colours.
I choose my macaroons not based on flavour, but on what particular shade I fancy that day. Some days it is the pink ones, while on others it is the delicate pistachio green ones that catch my eye. I usually have to buy two or three - not because I need to eat that many, but because I like to create a little colour palette. A small paper bag of beautiful colour to take home with me. It brightens up my day and sometimes that is exactly what I need.

Yesterday, whilst shopping at Coles of all places, I came across this book.
And the cover photo meant I had to buy it.
The Women's Weekly cookbooks have always been a part of my life.
I think the first cake I ever baked was from a Women's Weekly recipe.
Now I am looking forward to making some of these beauties.

How delightful is this image. It is from the July 2009 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.
The colour of the macaroons makes me swoon.
I love Gourmet Traveller magazine, the food styling is always impeccable.

In the Gourmet Traveller article, they mention the renowned Parisian macaroon maker Laduree. Their macaroons are the embodiment of perfection, and the images on their website are enough to send me packing for Paris (as if I needed any encouragement!).

Just in case you wanted a bit of background information to justify your habit!

Yum! I can't get over the beautiful, tonal colour palette. Delightful.
This image and the story of the macaroon are from the Laduree website.

pompoms, puffs and chunky knits

There is nothing I love more than a big chunky knit. Something you can snuggle your neck into and breathe in that comforting smell of wool and warmth. Now that the evenings are starting to get cooler, I think it's bringing out the nostalgia in me. I don't know about you, but right now I can think of nothing better than sitting inside on a rainy day, curled up in a big hand-knitted jumper and knee-high socks. It's my idea of heaven (that and the Lindt cafe's dark hot chocolate!).

As part of my major project for uni this year (a fashion collection), I am dabbling with the idea of making hand-knitted knee-high socks. Presently neither knowing how to knit very well, nor what the possibilities are, I decided to see what other people are doing.

Give me pompoms any day!
How delightful, all playful and bright!
(Photo from here)

This piece is by an amazing Canadian knitwear designer called Heidi Ackerman.
She specializes in beautiful sustainable knitwear pieces made from materials like organic wool, cotton and bamboo. Her aim is to produce pieces that prove that sustainability doesn't necessarily mean a compromise in innovation or fashionability.
A philosophy that is clearly demonstrated through her work.
To look at more of her work, you can check out her blog here.

Another Ackerman creation. Beautiful.

Now on a slightly different tangent, of a more crafty persuasion,
I stumbled upon this photo on a blog called Pickles. It is fantastically cute site by a Norwegian duo, Heidi and Anna, which provides free knitting, crotchet and other craft patterns. The blog has a lovely quirky/cute vibe and is definitely worth a look if you are at all craftily inclined. I will definitely be trying out their pattern for this 'puff daddy knitted stool'. Too cute!

chasing shadows

Today I am chasing shadows.
Pretty shadows.
Shadows that make me smile unexpectedly and sigh with delight.

Here are some I caught earlier.

A sneaky little shadow, she was lurking on the blind,
But my, she was a pretty little find.

A little bit scary, this shadow is definitely a he,
It was playing a trick and snuck up on me!

Like a dancing stick-insect this shadow was leggy and lean,
She twisted and twirled 'til she knew that I'd seen.

Bold zebra stripes, this shadow said boo!
I could not have missed him, he was under my shoe!


(photos taken by me)

tea time

I find myself inspired by all manner of things related to tea - the making of it, the drinking of it, the thinking-whilst-making-it, the thinking-whilst-drinking-it, the smell of it, the look of it, and the history of it. Working in a tea shop, I have access to some truly beautiful teas and tea-making accessories, but what amazes me is that I never get sick of it. Sure I may play favourites with particular blends and teapots, but a cup of tea is still one of my favourite things. Ah, for simple pleasures!

I love that no two cups of tea are the same, no matter how hard you try. This can be frustrating, but also exciting, stumbling on new combinations of flavours and colours.

Brewing up a cup of French Earl Grey in my new favourite tea glass, I stumbled on some beautiful results.

Photography by me. Tea and accessories from T2.