My sister, Tanya, a mum with two young boys under four, has been recharging her creativity for a few hours every Thursday evening at Melanie Sharpham's ceramic course. She has been coming up with some wonderful organic pieces and feeling revived from the experience.
If you live in Perth, Western Australia (and can easily get to the suburb of Kensington) and are keen to participate, email Melanie: msharpha[at]bigpond.net.au
BTW, this is also an excuse to plug my sister's new blog, check out Old Grey House, and show off my adorable little nephew! He looks like he would like to get his hands on those organic bowls!

Labels: bowls, clay, craft, kitchen, Melanie Sharpham, My sister Tanya, Old Grey House, perth, sculpture

I just wanted to share a little detail from my new place. I plan to do a full photographic survey when I have my new blinds and have painted etc, but here is a sneak peak for now.
A green vase and amber jug from eBay on my kitchen window shelf. I picked this native Australian flower (unsure of the name, got any ideas?) from my friends garden.
I had not thought to put these two pieces together until moving here and I think their shapes complement each other perfectly.

Labels: amber, decor, ebay, flower, Glass, green, kitchen, my new apartment, retro, vase, vintage

As a perpetual forgetter, this is something that I could really use and way less annoying than having a real piece of ribbon tied around my finger.
Ben Floeter's Don't Forget Chalkboard found at The Curiosity Shoppe and at his Etsy shop, is such a friendly wall feature. It would be perfect at my friend door which is also near my kitchen, it would even double as a pointer, guiding guests into the living room.
Now to find out how much postage to Australia will be...
Check out the Don't Forget Chalkboard.

Labels: art, Ben Floeter, black, black and white, decor, Etsy, kitchen, red, The Curiosity Shoppe

On Saturday, after picking my copy of Mayk, I wandered further up the street only to discover an amazing store called William Topp. A collection of local and international art and craft meet refound objects in a delightful array (including more tea towls from Third Drawer Down!).
Lots to explore, I could easily have walked away with more but all I picked up (this time) was a little orange Catherineholm teapot to add to my collection. I plan to put it away, saving it for after I move house next month. It will be a lovely little house warming present to myself and my new place.

Labels: cathrineholm, decor, kitchen, orange, tea, teapot, William Topp

Melanie Sharpham is a talented local potter who makes fine porcelain slip clay pots. Her work has a wonderful hand-done quality and the way she finishes them is quite ethereal.
Each year she holds a 'studio open' to allow members of the public to come in to her studio and check out her latest work. She is based in the suburb of Kensington in Perth, Western Australia.
I have blured out the address in the invitation below, however if you are keen to check out Melanie's studio open, please email her: msharpha[at]bigpond.net.au

Labels: clay, craft, kitchen, Melanie Sharpham, perth, sculpture

I've been looking at a lot of apartments with the intention of buying my first one in the past few months. I have mainly been looking at places built in the 60s and 70s in 'original condition'. Of course this usually means terrible kitchens that have suffered from neglect or been replaced in the early 90s with cheap peach and floral tiles. No thanks.
So, consequentially, even though I have not found the prefect original condition apartment to make my mark on, I have been looking for kitchen inspiration where ever I can find it.
And I think I have found the hottest dream kitchen ever. I stumbled onto it through Contemporist, it's a kitchen by an Austrian (sadly not Australian) company called Ewe who are a little too far away to be useful... But it's a start and certainly inspirational. It's the deep, rich, glossy red with clean white and dark wood floors, what a great combination.
Check out more kitchen Ewe.

Labels: decor, interior, kitchen, modern, red

It's early Sunday afternoon, I recently got up and I was thinking about trying something different instead of my usual strong cup of (bad) instant coffee. I stumbled across Mighty Leaf and thought the photography of the various tea combinations looked so great, it was deserving of a design//blog entry.
Whether you want to try something with a hippy peace-love bent like Verbena Mint Chrysanthemum or stick to the more traditional, wholesome blends like Organic English Breakfast the images of them are wonderful. In square, white frames (such as Ikea's Nyttja), or maybe even the real thing in little square, glass topped containers, they would look great in any kitchen.
Go check out Mighty Leaf for more, and if you live in Perth, Western Australia (like me) the stores are located here.

Labels: kitchen, Mighty Leaf, photography, tea

Form is an amazing space on Murray St in Perth (near the very swish King street) and has some amazing arts and crafts in it from Australia and around the world.
One thing I saw and loved were these tea towels! They are made by Third Drawer Down and artist have contributed their work. The only thing is, I don't think I could bring myself to wipe my dishes on them, they would look great stretched and framed.
Check out Third Drawer Down for their tea towels and other domestic art works.

Labels: art, craft, decor, form, kitchen, perth, tea towel

Artist Re Jin Lee does some lovely pen and ink work featuring flowing lines and heavy areas of black and white, mainly inspired by nature.
She has taken her artwork a step further from just pen on paper though, and produced a series of cups, mugs, saucers and bowls with her simple line work cleverly integrated into the object.
I would love to wake up on a Sunday morning and sit with the winter sun streaming in my window as I sip my morning coffee contemplating a lazy, relaxing day from one of these wonderful creations.
Check out Re Jin Lee's website for more of her artwork or her Etsy page for products available for purchase.

Labels: art, birds, decor, Etsy, illustration, kitchen, print, Re Jin Lee