ever so lovable

It's either over-flowing creativity and inspiration, or I'm bordering on delirium... but I have a few wonderful things I'd love to to share with you.

They're too lovely to keep to oneself.

These divine Seville oxfords from Minnie Cooper...

-this inspiring and wonderfully coloured workspace

- the portfolio inspiration I get when I look at this gorgeous design book... great goosebumps!

- this beautiful, bright print by Argentinian artist, Mara Caffarone

- THESE scrumptious looking cupcakes... with oodles of icing. Just how I like it! 

- this beautiful Moon Diamond print from Jason Dean... 

And lastly, the way this photograph from the latest online issue of frankie magazine makes me feel... I can almost smell the wheat crop and feel the gentle warmth of the sun on back.

But, most importantly -

can you feel the love?

{some are found in the space of my heart}

those things

I'm sitting at my desk here at work this Australia Day Eve and have the urge to share with you something simple... plainly, the things that I love. Things that have recently made me smile, lit that creative fire, soothed my soul and ultimately made my world go 'round that little bit easier.

Things like...

>  my Beatrix Potter mug nestled amongst days work. The warmth of the sweet tea and those illustrations that evoke childhood memories add a pleasant nostalgia to my Tuesday morning.

{image via google images}

> listening to Adele's second album, 21. With music that captures your heart within the first few bars, leaving an impression that lingers long after. At the moment I've been taken away by her cover of Brandi Carlile's 'Hiding My Heart' - a song that takes me back to one of the hardest, yet most important times in my life in 2009. I was at my parent's in Inverell.

Home is such a good place to be. I can't wait for Easter. Inverell is such a beautiful place as the season turns, the liquid amber leaves start to illuminate and autumn colours your immediate world.

> I'm getting a few more hip shots in {the ol' point & shoot}, in my recent adventures. This one I love. My sister thinks I'm strange, but I love this shopping centre billboard. There's something whimsical, hippy, yet chic, contradicting and ever so artistic about it.

> I attended a festival with my little sister {our first together}, Amy over the weekend - the 2010 Gold Coast Big Day Out. This was taken as the afternoon sun gave us a little reprieve and the always amazing, show-stopping John Butler Trio took to the Orange Stage.

> My gorgeous cousin and mama-to-be, Casey, sends me pictures of the delicious sponge cakes she's baking on her days off while I'm at work. All amongst a myriad of tweets and emails of course! I told you - it's all about what makes your day that little bit brighter, and yummier!

> speaking of the said festival, I got to witness a band I have been hanging out to see for quite some time.

{image found on my heart}
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
I had to leave the JBT set to catch their gig, by myself, but I was surely not disappointed. A little self-conscious to begin with... then the inhibitions were let loose and I grooved, bumped, jumped and skipped around to the ecclectic sounds and entertaining antics of Mr Sharpe and his entourage.

> and before I blog about the next thing that pulls on my heart strings, in my lunch break I read two of Emma Magenta's gorgeous little books, and on the final page of A Gorgeous Sense Of Hope I came across the sweetest moment...

Perhaps this is where I'm at right now.

Let's see if you're mapped in.

one of those days

It's one of those days. Nothing in particular is special - but you're here, where ever you are, and it only takes something as simple as a sweet cup of tea so make you sigh a little softer. Smile a little easier.

It's been raining on and off, and unlike any other day - it doesn't really bother you (even though you have a spray tan appointment this evening).

You come across whimsical typographic artworks like the one below here, and are thankful for all the creative souls you've encountered, personally or virtually.

That's what today is like.

As I sit here at my work desk, listening to a myriad of my favourite artists (inparticular k.d. lang's rendition of 'Halleljuah' as I blog this), working on a map for the Oxford University Press' Atlas of Malawi, I am sailing along. A complaint would be out of sorts on an afternoon such as this.

What's so good about it? Nothing in particular. But then nothing is bad either.

I finished my fourth book for the year, Coming Up For Air by George Orwell, over lunch and am silently planning an evening that satisfies my mind just so. The company of my sister, delicious dinner, a glass of wine or two and a movie I dare say are on the cards. Saving one's pennies as the Big Day Out festival we are to attend on Sunday has surely been seen on the not so distant horizon.

It's funny - feelings like this I mean. They're wonderful, for no particular pin-point reason and you wouldn't change it for a thing.

Happy Friday.

en-joy-ing

What a day this has been -- I love tucking into creative work and researching the day away. Thus, has been today.

Now - to go home and carry on!

Hope you've enjoyed a productive Thursday too. X

wwwwhhhhaaaaat?

Four hours sleep after a freelance job last night, and this nightowl if functioning surprisingly well. A spritely wake-up call from the lil sis (door flung open and blinding light switched on), and my day began.

Checked tights, a funky black dress, grey cardi, Burberry scarf, red nails, red patent ballet flats, a slick of mascara, rouge and Lady Danger (see fabulous lipstick below) - and I was dressed and ready to take on this rainy Brisbane day.

 Bummed that I couldn't wear my brand new Oxfords from Down The Rabbit Hole (sale on now!), due to the weather - I resorted to admired them all pristine in their box... and sourced this photo to ease the pain.

No, really. Marina and her Diamonds also helped vamp up my morning soundtrack with The Family Jewels, nibbling ever so nicely on my earphones. Doesn't make sense? See for yourself --

Pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase come to Brisbane!

Loving the fact that she was rocking my morning, I had wander through marinaandthediamonds.com and stumbled across this awesome image. I'm not sure who it's by, but I like it so much I wish to frame it in a polaroid-esque fashion and stick it on my fridge. A reminder worth putting some pep into your every day.

So apart from my faffing about - I have had a rather productive day, travelling the world via my 20" screen. But I have to admit - my mind has been elsewhere (apart from twitter).

Tomorrow night Boyfriend & I are going to a friends birthday dinner (Hip, Hip! Hooray!) at the Himalayan Cafe in New Farm... and the nights attire and necessary decisions have been plaguing me. WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR??

I'm obviously thinking of Lady Danger... perhaps the Oxfords, and channelling the style of these two ladies -- Marina & Gwen.

 

 

Perhaps a bit of sexy messiness, with a daring edge? Oh, how I need new clothes!

I'm hoping to get some 120mm film for my DianaF+ to capture the evenings escapades, however depending on spare time tomorrow I may have to rely on my trusty (or not so) digital camera. Either way, I hope to have some great pics to share with you after the event.

And so I shall leave you with a giggle - this deadline's pushing.

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Friday!!

X

p.s. here's a quote for the weekend, thanks to David Castro of DMTintheCity:

I ride a guitar wave

called Desire.

It takes me where it wants

 to go and leaves me

  asking

  where I've been...

Find something you're really passiionate about this weekend, and go at it like hell for leather.

mini mapper

Working as a designer/cartographer, I couldn't help but include this gorgeous map I stumbled across while perusing the purl bee this afternoon. Perhaps one day I can use this to find my way there. 

:)