don't you be wasting

... all your money on syrup & honey.

Spend your time on love.

{love}

bobby pins, bread vans & brogues

Thankfully today was much cooler than the weekend, and so I believe Autumn must be on it's way back. Come on!

I'm loving the idea of bundling up in scarves with wild bobby-pinned hair, the smell and taste of freshly baked sourdough baguettes and stepping it out in brogues.

Feel me?

{regular destination}

l'automne est la

Autumn is here. And the weather is undecided here is Brisbane. Rain for days or humidity - or both. I am looking forward to the crisp, fresh mornings, the inviting smell of warm, roasting coffee or a pot of freshly brewed tea. Soft doonahs, Saturdays in layers, blankets by the TV. Scarves and boots and t-shirts in the sunshine... The multitude of colour on the branches of the Plain trees and the crunchy ones fallen beneath your feet. I look forward to Easter at home with family and Love and a mischievous cat.

What warmth does this time of year bring you?

{automne inspired via pinterest}

home made

Monday afternoon finds me at home post job interview & rainy travels, in the kitchen baking accompanied by Birdy's latest album. My goodness.

Sweet serenity. I am in a good place.

Happy Monday,

from a Monday Child fair of face.

{Birdy}

post joyeaux noël

How was your Christmas? Mine involved a stop-over from the parents on their way to Adelaide on the Eve and Christmas Day festivities with the Boyfriend, brother and sister. An easy wake-up and gathering around the tree to wish one another a Merry Christmas and see what the Big Man & loved ones had so kindly left for us. We all did very well and sat around with a feast fit for a gorgeous summer Christmas and a drink or two enjoying one another's good company.
A few phonecalls to and fro with the rellies and the day was made. Whilst we 'tried' to lay off the technology for the day... here are a few happy snaps from my iPhone.

The Newby siblings.

BF & Brosef.

Stunning wee sis, festively clad.

Christmas Day evening view.

Festive Frangipanis - handpicked by the BF.

I do hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas.


I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow - a sweet vacay with that one I... y'know - think is the bees knees. What are your New Year's plans?

thursday

It's Thursday, it's summer - it's warm, but not totally uncomfortable. There is a pleasant little breeze that pops through my kitchen as I'm multi-tasking many a thing.

In light of a recent lay-off from my job in the design world (due to co. financial issues - it's tough out there!) I have resolved to keep my hands busy and my mind creative so as to not lose too much steam and keep one's soul happy.

Yesterday, I made a quirky little 'tongue in cheek' calendar (collaboration with the BF), today I'm trawling the world wide web for the perfect font for a logotype, whilst making shortbread and conjuring up sweet packaging concepts for said products. I'm quite liking my at-home baking experiences of late and pondering the idea of markets in the future. But let's just test run these delicious treats first - it's a little exciting! ;)

Last week's success was my gingerbread men and mango chutney. I cooked up a batch of gingerbread men and took a jar of chutney to the Boyf's house Christmas dinner, and to my surprised delight it was a hit! I've never cooked anything so fancy before and feel this may have ignited a little flame of passionate curiosity for the kitchen. Especially when you see those around you enjoying it.

This year will see a small Christmas at home with the BF, brother and sister. My parents will be in Adelaide, so the success of Christmas lunch and dinner rests with us. We have the turkey and ham (and mango chutney), we will have the gingerbread men and shortbread, but the rest is something I'm looking forward to putting together. Summer salads and seafood perfectly matched with our drinks and refreshments of choice. Let's hope there is a gorgeous breeze to accompany the day!

It's nice to be able to focus a little more on the blog aswell, despite the employment situation is not ideal. I am really looking forward to establishing more freelance opportunities and seeing what else is out there. In the meantime, creative freedom is here. Time to extend one's creative abilities, to collaborate and enjoy the summer season.

Mixing the butter, sugar and flour. 

The Christmas ingredients - cranberries, almonds, pistachios and white chocolate!

Where it all comes together. Cookie cutters galore! 

My festive oven mit ready to take the first batch out of the oven! 

My first batch of Christmas Shortbread is a success. Huzzah!

What are your plans for Christmas? Not many sleeps now!

Happy Thursday.

X

i am grateful

I've thought it's about time to share some of my photos taken for the I am grateful challenge. It's funny (and a little cliche perhaps) how the simplest things really do bring you the most happiness. From the blessing of embarking on a brand new day, to picking veggies of an evening - for these simple pleasures you have to be grateful.

Morning : Waking to a Brand New Day #iamgrateful

Purchase : a box of mystery goodies from The Fancy #iamgrateful

Food : These delicious lo-carb protein bars. The perfect office snack! #iamgrateful

Routine : Picking up the BF, admiring the subtle festivities of Riparian Plaza #iamgrateful

Warmth : amazing phonecalls from my cousin Casey Staar #iamgrateful

Food : Sweet sister time. Priceless. #iamgrateful

Quiet time : Finishing The Book Thief #iamgrateful

Routine : Our first 'big'harvest #iamgrateful

Gift : Sunshine yellow lillies, from the Boyf. #iamgrateful

Weakness : Movember lasted a little longer than expected. Loves it. #iamgrateful

Excitement : Receiving more snail mail from the North Pole. #iamgrateful

Experience : My workspace. Flowers, art & design. #iamgrateful

Counting blessings.

Next instalment to come soon.

Happy Friday

X

amaze

Today, I had one of the most heart warming experiences. A returned phone call to my cousin and I'm greeted with;

"Tell me five words to describe what makes you amazing. Come on." 

A little startled, I proceed with the standard self-conscious; 

"Uh, I don't know... um..."

"Five words, come on!"

So, I began to think what makes me amazing... a little embarassing, self-praising but here's what I went with:

1. Red hair (standard, really)

2. Compassion

3. Love (naff perhaps, but true)

4. Hard working

and Casey prompted me with number 5. Creative, followed by a 

"Don't you feel amazing? You are amazing".

This was honestly one of the most unexpected phone calls, but truly made my day. And so after telling her just that and that she is amazing, I had to go and share the good vibes via sticky note to one of my work mates.

Warmth: Phone calls from my cousin #iamgrateful

I recommend be startled with such questions in the future.

Happy Thursday.

the right time

Good morning.

It has been a while between lengthy posts, but I am up bright-eyed & bushy tailed on this gorgeous Spring morning, sipping on peppermint tea and eating a delicious breakfast - all pre-work. And so while I've got this sweet little space in time, I thought I'd share my latest project with you. Small, but so sweet and significant - and what I think is a lovely project to embark on at this time in my life.

A couple of months ago, my lovely blogger friend Jazzie Fizzle, created an Instagram Photo-A-Day project called "I am grateful". We live in a day and age, all hustle-bustle with less time to sit back and appreciate the little (and big) things in life.So, I thought this would be a lovely way to acknowledge some of things I am truly grateful for and enjoy the creative process all at once.

Have you partaken in the "I am grateful" Photo-A-Day project? If so, I'd love to see what you came up with, creatively and those things that make you smile, breathe easier and just want to be a better person.

Here are my first couple, Happy Thursday!

Person : This big sleepy cat. #iamgrateful

Comfort : A cup of Twinings peppermint tea. #iamgrateful

green thumbs

By twilight, we like to tend to our vegie patch.

We're just a little less craze.

Fun.

{crazy lookin' lady lives here}

dear you,

Dear Blog, Dear Readers, Dear Friends, Dear Family, Dear You;

This is a small thank you, but a thank you that can't express the gratitude that I have for you sharing this little piece of the world wide web with me over the past three years. My 'untitled creative journal' - untitled being that it generally contains everything-  a piece of work here and there, a place to air those inspirational finds and ramble a little longer. I do hope you've enjoyed the journey as much as I. I have some mini projects and revamps up my sleeve for this space in the next few months, so be sure to stick around... there may be a celebration, project, inspiron to two to share.

But other than that - Happy THIRD Birthday blog!

For The Quill And Ink, you hold a special place in ones heart.

Glorious Sunday to You.

{pinned}

treasure trove

You could only imagine what literary treasures one could find here. I must go book thrifting again soon.

{source lost, if found please share}

huddle

Waiting for the cooler weather to roll in. It's been a little warmer here over the last few days, I'm not sure where Autumn has gone. But I am looking forward to the chilly weather and layering up. And these guys are just a little bit cute, all fluffed up, all huddled together.

Perhaps a picnic in the park with cheese, wine & tea? All layered up and huddled in good conversation, of course.

{found via Google+}

today

... Autumn arrived. The wind picked up and it was the perfect afternoon to sit in a café and read a good book. Let's hope it stays this way and the sun doesn't have too much bite from here on in this season. I have many jumpers and jeans, and boots and scarves to layer with loosely curls locks and heady, comforting teas to sip.

I hope you all had a lovely Easter break!

a corner of my home

March 18 : Photo-A-Day

A Corner Of My Home

fotografía friday

When is fotografía friday ever on a Friday, you say? When this lady is organised and not working in the fine industry of hospitality or freelancing around the webosphere... so, without further adieu I give you a catch-up of sorts on the last two scheduled fotografía friday's ::

The Granite Belt at sunset, south of Ballandean.

This first photograph is one of my favourite road trip photos. Taken on a whirlwind 24hour road trip with my sister, driving home to surprise and visit our parents interstate.

I believe this is on the way back to Brisbane, as the sun is setting over the Granite Belt wine region. If you are so inclined, you can peruse my old road trip post here. I do love going home.

Countryside views, via train.

This second photograph was taken on a journey home around June last year, however this trip I took the train and bus ride back to my parents rather than drive myself. The fields were so green and while it was slightly overcast the journey was just what I wanted as I travelled home - big seat to myself and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery. I particularly like the self-reflection caught in the train window as I took this shot.

A little nostalgic today, I am... must plan a road trip and few days in my hometown again soon. Especially as Autumn arrives and it cools down... my favourite time of year. Ahhh.

give me books

Any day of the week.

Without forgetting to live one's own life, sometimes it's a little nicer, a little easier to get lost in the fantasy that the printed word has to offer.

Indulge in another world, pick up a book and perhaps... join us?


{printed on my heart}

estilo sunday

I recently came across the most adorable attire, albeit for our feline friends, I had to share it with you.

From the wonderful CatAtelier, you too can dress up your little and not so little ones in the sensational styles created for the most sophisticated Aristocats. If you don't think your feline friend would tolerate such fashions, you can simply gush over the snaps below.

Darling, aren't they?

colour

January 26 : Photo-A-Day

Colour

A section of my bookshelves.

I like to colour code my bookshelves, and thought that the hues of orange and pinks here was worthy of the Photo-A-Day entry donned Colour. A few fave titles there too.

something i bought

January 18 : Photo-A-Day

Something I bought

My second Pandora bracelet

While in South Australia over New Year's, I bought a new Pandora bracelet to go with the new charms I'd got for Christmas.
The charm shown here is the one I bought for myself. All Heart.