Fossicker, Baker, Photograph Taker.

Summer Hayes

2012-01-20T13:39:00.000+11:00

Another pregnant friend, another family portrait. This time I was rewarded with a long awaited catch up, beautiful old chair and fish & chips and wine on the beach.*

*Please note: Just so you know, I dont demand food and pretty things as payment from my friends but they are always welcomed!

Picnic with The Kennedys

2012-01-17T15:12:00.000+11:00

A friend of ours asked me to take a family shot for them before No.2 comes along in a few weeks time. Naturally, I jumped at the oppurtunity & we turned it into a whole day affair of food, wine and photos. I love being able to do this for my friends and they rewarded me (& Charlotte) with the most delicious Mini Lemon Rasberry Cheesecakes.

Happy New Year

2012-01-11T13:39:00.001+11:00

Wedding Invite

2011-09-20T15:27:00.002+10:00

I thought Id be completely self indulgent today and share with you the stop motion invite we sent to family and friends. We wanted to make an invite that was completely 'Us' and that involved a photo or two. OTT? Maybe. Behold -994 images that took a day to shoot and many many many hours in front of the computer.

Enjoy x

Not just weddings!

2011-07-01T16:40:00.005+10:00

My life this year has seemed to revolve around weddings. Mine, friends, family members, friends of friends, clients. And for the first half of the year I felt like thats all I shot. Although I loved every minute of it (yes, its easy now to forget those painful never ending 1am editing moments), I was glad to see a time where I can flex the creative muscle and work with some great people on other projects so you can see I dont just shoot weddings!

It was such a pleasure to work on this with the lovely Claire Collins (Chadwick model), Kate Fletcher (H&M) and Olivia Craig (Stylist). Enjoy xx

Fresh

2011-05-20T16:17:00.003+10:00

A little snippet of what I got up to at work this week. The new Campaign for The Fresh Brand at HS.

Kasia & Christian

2011-05-14T15:01:00.003+10:00

Russell & Mel

2011-05-02T19:33:00.002+10:00

Little Shoes

2011-04-30T07:59:00.000+10:00

I have had lots of people ask me about these little shoes. After following this very clever lady's blog I found the pattern here. Maybe one day I will get my derriere into gear and sell a few on etsy or the like- along with a few other little projects I have in mind. Until then, feel free to email me as Im happy to do custom little shoes- with your fabrics or mine.

Kristy & Johnny

2011-04-28T18:42:00.003+10:00

Little Things

2011-04-26T13:28:00.003+10:00

Sewing little things; because I tire of projects quickly if they require hours upon hours of crafting time, because I'm too tight to buy large amounts of fabric, but mainly because I find them so much prettier to look at.

These little shoes are probably my favourite thing to make. Made from vintage fabric off-cuts. The outer of the shoes is made entirely from the beautiful old linen napkin pictured below.

Campfire

2011-04-24T09:08:00.002+10:00

Some of my favourite childhood memories were formed on camping trips. Newly made friends, long walks, long days, constantly getting dirty. Not much has changed, except the friends are now holding beers and the walks a little shorter. Who doesn't love a place where phone reception is minimal, where food falling on the ground doesn't matter anymore and where the only real focus for the day is keeping your campfire going. Some of the best laid plans (big/small or just plain ridiculous) are made by a campfire, everyday friends become philosophers and every meal is made with so much more love. Even if it is for just one night.

Lex & Brett- March 2011

2011-04-20T20:53:00.003+10:00

The night we played with Sparklers on the front lawn.

2011-02-07T14:58:00.004+11:00

Saturday 29th.
A perfect 28'c evening. Friends, family, sparklers, lanterns. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Until the hangover.

All (minus the hangover) captured by the very talented Leo Farrell. Check out the full post on his blog here.

Love.

2011-01-23T08:22:00.004+11:00

Happy New Year. Im back! Albeit probably sporadically, but Im back none the less!

The first weeks of this wonderful new year has been full of love thus far. Firstly, the engagement shoot of my little brother Eamon and his beautiful fiancee Mel. Feel the love!

Pause

2010-11-23T09:17:00.003+11:00

Sorry friends, I have had to hit pause on a few things (one being the blog), after some pretty shocking news in our family this week. Back very soon xxx

Photo taken on my iPhone using Hipstamatic

Im Engaged!

2010-10-20T15:57:00.002+11:00

Gimme a Home Among the Gumtrees..

2010-09-27T08:13:00.003+10:00

At last! We got the keys to our new abode over the weekend- and got straight into making it our own. Its just the beginning!

"When every corner speaks of possibility, I know that I am home."

Hump Day Inspiration

2010-09-08T09:53:00.004+10:00

Scott Frances

Roger Davies - Elle Decor

Mosaic via A Thing For...
(i think! Its been on my desktop for a while now, feel free to correct me!)

Mari Eriksson via Brabourne Farm

Fellows St.

2010-08-28T10:11:00.004+10:00

We bought a house (Which im sure will find its way in to many a post to come). But I cant help but be little sad to be leaving this leafy little street and pretty ol' house behind.

A few of my favourite corners.

The Bedroom. (the non-haunted one)

Whitey

2010-08-28T09:21:00.005+10:00

I wasn't a cat person. That was until i met Whitey and Tubs. 3 weeks old (or so we guessed) crying on a naturestrip on a scorching 40'c February morning. Im not gonna lie, it wasn't love at first sight, but we bonded every 2 hours over an eye dropper filled with kitten milk. I couldn't go to another room without them, they couldn't fall asleep unless some part of their paw/head/fat bloated-kitten-tummy was touching either me or each other. And now I couldn't imagine a Saturday morning without Whitey. Aww. Poor 'lil Tubs is still MIA after, I think, someone else took a liking to him on an evening in June last year.

Now

Saturday Morning.

Then

February 2009.

Postcards

2010-08-21T13:37:00.004+10:00

While sorting and packing, I came across my postcards that I had collected while traveling. Carefully selected, budget friendly mini artworks. As I bought them I pictured being able to one day hang them on a wall to remind me of the little nooks of the world that my adventure took me. Im so excited that I finally can! Here are my favourites...

Houses of Savannah, USA.

Bought from The Savannah College of Art and Design store.

By Tim Degner

Anne Franks House

Amsterdam

Virginia Countryside, USA.

Bought from a little Antique store in Nitro, Virginia

Belly

2010-08-21T09:42:00.003+10:00

Portraits of a friend. We laughed, and laughed... so pregnant, so pretty!

Never work with Children or Animals...

2010-08-01T18:43:00.003+10:00

...is the general rule. But i love it. Working with either adds to the challenge (and the reward) of getting "the" shot.

Hunting House

2010-07-24T08:40:00.004+10:00

Oh boy. There have been changes. Good ones, big ones. I have left one job and started another- i have left behind my unpredictable freelancing days (for now) and have started full time at a Studio. Full time Job= salary= homeloan= househunting! Finally! So to distract me from the stress of a never ending workload, we've started house hunting. What fun, what heartache!

In the hours of trawling the internet for, A: dilapidated houses in my area for sale, and B: inspiration on how to transform such houses, I found this little gem of a bittersweet story. A little Victorian Hunting Cottage in the woods.

love.

2010-06-15T20:28:00.003+10:00

Two near and dear friends got married this weekend. This is the polaroid I took to give them.

Spence

2010-06-01T16:27:00.002+10:00

These are a few out-takes from a recent shoot a did for my pregnant best friend. My oddson Spence makes me laugh and forget my troubles for a day. Ill share the rest of the shoot soon. x

Paper

2010-05-28T13:14:00.003+10:00

A sucker for all things stationery, here are my latest paper inspirations.

These beautiful collage cards by Tabitha Emma, via Daydream Lily.

And this divine custom-made stationery by MaeMaePaperie.

Im off to cut and paste. Have a good weekend xx

Fog

2010-05-26T08:18:00.003+10:00

More magical than photographing a sunrise, i love waking up to white blanketing everything. While taking these photos this morning, I realised i was doing this exact thing 2 years ago, almost to the day- on the otherside of the world.

Mitcham, Victoria

7.10am

May 26th

Forecast: 16'C

Charlottesville, Virginia

7.30am

June 1st

Forecast: 45'C

I know where I'd rather be right now.

Weddings... Tracey and Simon

2010-05-22T07:16:00.002+10:00

Weddings... Mike and Hayley

2010-05-15T07:53:00.003+10:00

Finally I've had a minute to get together my favourite shots from this years weddings. This is the first. Enjoy x

One

2010-05-04T22:09:00.003+10:00

Today my blog turns One!

This time last year...
I seemed to have all the time in the world- working only a couple of days a week.
I had a lot less "stuff".
I was hanging out with two needy kittens.
I had grand plans for the year ahead, some plans were realised, alot were not.

Thanks for sharing my first year, heres to another!

Anzacs

2010-04-25T16:35:00.005+10:00

One of my favourite recipes of Dads were his Anzacs. Crunchy enough on the outside that you didn't crack your teeth, with the perfect amount of chew so not to loose one either. Just the smell of the melting butter and syrup is enough to take me back there, peering over dads shoulder anticipating that first bite of a warm chewy bikkie. Ah. Lest We Forget.

Eyes Wide Open

2010-04-19T13:02:00.000+10:00

Ive realised how much more aware of my surroundings I am when I have a camera in my hand. This is a lovely thing. (Like when i noticed this on the way back to my car from a shoot.) And I would never travel any other way.

However Ive also realised that when I have a camera in my hand I go into this must-get-the-perfect-shot-even-if-it-takes-me-all-day-crazed-work-mode. Thats not so lovely.

Link Love

2010-04-08T21:05:00.004+10:00

No I dont have a little person in my life yet, however when I do, they are going to wear clothes like this.

Or this.

A friend sent me a link to some beautiful Wedding photography. Maybe I could fly her over to shoot mine. (No, Im not getting married.)

I really want a Dachshund (see above.) In the meantime I have settled for this lamp. A real one would be way cooler.

Happy Weekend!!
XX

(wow Ive just realised there are far too many references to babies and/or weddings in this post for a girl who has neither in her immediate future.)

Dacshund via http://dreamsandbones.tumblr.com/

Chocolate, Cheese, Bread, Wine

2010-04-05T06:49:00.007+10:00

Just a few of my favourite things. Hang on, actually Id be pretty happy to be stranded on an Island with those 4 things alone. Seriously. A spontaneous Easter Sunday was spent on the lawns of DeBortoli Winery with friends. So this is the life I've been missing out on? Ahh. Happy Easter!

Feeling Inspired

2010-03-19T22:15:00.003+11:00

I just came home from the opening of Christopher Tovos 3rd Exhibition, here in Melbourne at C.I. Studios. It was the result of two months travelling with a camera around his neck- something i can relate to, shots i can aspire to. Not often do i walk away from an exhibition so inspired and so willing to part with money to buy every single piece.

Autumn

2010-03-13T18:58:00.003+11:00

Today was a stunning Autumn Day in Melbourne. I made this Pumpkin Pecan Praline Pie (try saying that 10 times fast) for my friend Helen for her birthday tomorrow. (Plus a smaller one to taste test myself of course) Very Autumn I think. I love the colours! I got the recipe from here.

The Polaroids

2010-03-10T16:01:00.014+11:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a friends wedding. A beautiful vintage affair, in keeping with the theme, these are the polaroids I took. Please excuse me while I busily finish of this and two other weddings! x

Sacrifice/Savings

2010-03-04T00:22:00.009+11:00

In and everlasting attempt to save for a house deposit, I find myself continually sacrificing the little things I take pleasure in. The latest victim; the fresh flowers around the house. I miss them. Ill just have to settle for photos.

New Friend

2010-02-14T20:54:00.004+11:00

Dear Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs,

Where have you been all my adult-blotchy-legged-life? Actually I know exactly where you were; I have noticed you there for a while- I just was too much of a tight-wad to purchase you. But I am so glad I have you now. Just thought you should know.

Love Your New Friend,
Anitra

(Image is from the latest wedding that I attended and had the pleasure of photographing. I am working around the clock on a bevy of beautiful brides from recent weddings, cant wait to share soon!)

Australia Day

2010-01-28T09:28:00.003+11:00

Like most other aussies, my Australia Day was spent with friends, some sort of BBQ'd delight in hand and a pool not too far away. This was my contribution. Mini Pavs, with all the trimmings.

Big Year, Small Things

2010-01-13T22:26:00.004+11:00

Its like starting a diet on a Monday, I always feel great in the New Year. As cliched as it may be, its a clean slate, a chance to start again, to be a better version of you, to close the door on any negativity that the past year brought.

I have only ever made one new years resolution, and it remains the same every year. Dont let fear get in the way of an opportunity. '08-'09, I was true to my resolution, really I was. So i feel its time to move on from this mantra. 2009 was not a great year for me, lets be honest. And not for one big earth shattering reason either. I just wasn't happy, dont ask me why, I have plenty to be thankful for. But it was while i was reading this that it clicked. And because I cant say it any better than she did, here it is;

"what i realized is that a lot of things i always assumed make me unhappy, actually make me happy. i avoid cleaning and organizing like it is the plague and yet, it makes me happy when i do it. i have always assumed that it is much more pleasurable to fall asleep with my makeup on and then show up for work the next day with that day old eyeliner and some fresh lip gloss (not cute), but as it turns out spending 10 extra minutes before bed and the same in the morning makes me feel better"

I cant tell you how good i felt reading this. Why didnt I think of that? Thank-you Jen. Its all the little things that have gone by the wayside in my depressed state, which, in turn, have sent me into a state of despair. Exercise, cleaning, cooking, organizing, throwing out- all things i avoid, yet all things that make me feel good. How did i miss this? So here it is, the start of a list of the small things that make me happy (minus the obvious ones like chocolate and wine with friends, holidays).... (I also stole the first one from Jen because i never would have thought of this, but its so very true)

Being able to walk barefoot on the floor without getting cat hair, my hair, misc. shrapnel, etc on my feet
Replying to Emails/Messages straight away.
Getting up early
Going for a walk in the morning
Actually making that toy/dress/card/quilt/thing that I have only ever talked about.
Staying up that little bit longer to get organised for the morning.
Afternoon sunlight
Cooking
Not buying lunch even if it means being super resourceful in the pantry that morning.
Going through a day without spending money
Clean Sheets
Exercising
Posting on my blog

The list will continue to grow im sure.. but for now, thats enough to remind me how to stay on track. Speaking of which, its 11.15pm, and I just finished baking Blackberry pies for an upcoming post, cleaned the kitchen, hung out some washing and am about to head to bed with a clean face. Lets see how long this lasts kids, but tell you what, Im happy!

Christmas Wrap Up- The Gifts, The Food.

2009-12-30T16:14:00.002+11:00

I set myself a challenge each year, wrap purely in recycled or very very cheap ways, but still make the present look priceless. This year i revisited my childhood and made paper snowflakes by folding and trimming paper. Very addictive. I also used some of the afore mentioned decorations i made by using an inked stamp and stamping it into a rolled out piece of "air dry" white clay. Paired with super cheap kraft paper, string and paper doilies from the $2 shop, i think the combination worked well.

Oh and fruit mince tarts aplenty, yum. I shared mine with Spence, my adorable oddson.

Christmas Wrap Up- The Tree

2009-12-29T17:30:00.009+11:00

The hunt for the perfect tree. Symmetrical, full and delightfully lush. My american friends laugh at our Australian version of the christmas tree. It remains probably my favourite (and most time consuming) christmas tradition. The divine smell of christmas fills the house. It usually takes me a day or two to complete and after months of decorating fake trees for work, I enjoy the decorating challenge a real tree presents.

Every year a few more are added and the theme differs slightly year to year. This year after trawling stores only to be disappointed with variety as well as price, I decided to have a go at making some of my own.

Ply Decorations; snowflakes from David Jones $2.99

Big Baubles from $2 Shop, Small Laser baubles from Prague.

Glass Decorations; Acorn $3.99 from The Works, Antique

Silver Bauble from The Works.

Ceramic and Lace Decorations; snowflakes from The Works,

Ceramic Bauble from Adairs, Glass Text Bauble- handmade by me,

Stamped and cutout circles- handmade by me, doily bauble-handmade by me.

Crocheted Bell Decoration- $1.00 ADRA Op-Shop, Mitcham.

The finished product.....

Christmas Wrap Up- The Lights

2009-12-27T17:58:00.004+11:00

Its about this time each year that i get a little sad, its all over for another year. People who know me, know that I am a christmas nerd. Apart from the usual good food, friends, family and gifts, for me its a holiday all about styling; Styling the tree, styling the house (inside and out), styling the food, styling the gift wrap, styling myself. Christmas for me starts in October with the styling of many a christmas tree for upcoming catalogues.

Christmas for me is a time for tradition; the first of which is putting up the lights on the first weekend of December. I used to do this with Dad every year since I was very little. We started with a humble set of party lightbulbs and added a new set every year... I used to walk the boulevard on a balmy evening with the family; dreaming that I lived in a street lit up like that. Fast-forward 20 years and I am. If only he could see my house now.

Inspirations

2009-12-03T16:15:00.004+11:00

Papier Mache

Open House

Ok, I have two new online "time waster" addictions that i thought i would share with you.

1.Papier Mache- a online childrens mag with cute articals, great links and loads of inspiration- photographic, crafty and otherwise.

2.Open House- and it literally is. Like your favourite homewares mag but in blog form. Love.

Enjoy xx

A Country Weekend

2009-11-24T14:00:00.004+11:00

Maldon, Canon 5d

This weekend I was lucky enough to get away for a night to the gorgeous little town of Maldon, Vic for my godsons Christening and 2nd Birthday. T'was a weekend of good food, great company and lots of laughs....

...oh and a visit to one of my favourite Maldon stores, Lavender and Lace. Full of divine linens and yes, Lace.

Lavender and Lace, Maldon, Canon 5d.

On the way home, I just couldn't help myself and stopped into Daylesford to fuel my love affair with all things Bromley with a visit to his Day On Earth shed store, as mentioned in the last post. Is there anything this man does that I don't love? Fairytale come to life.

A Day On Earth, Daylesford, iPhone.

A Day On Earth

2009-11-19T08:05:00.004+11:00

Artist David Bromley's fairytale-come-to-life store now has a website, Daylesford anyone? Love.

Images Clockwise from top left; Jeremy Blincoe, Graham Baring, Jeremy Blincoe, Earl Carter.

Morning

2009-11-18T09:29:00.002+11:00

hanging out washing....

local handmade chocolate croissant for breakfast....

playing with Whitey in the backyard (working off the croissant)....

heading into another day....

Found

2009-11-16T08:58:00.004+11:00

some childrens stuff I've been accumulating....

FOUND

From Top to Bottom;

Plywood 'A'- $5 Empire Vintage
Little Red Riding Hood Picture- Part of a Picture Block Puzzle- $11 Ebay
Knitted Booties- £13 Mamas and Papas UK
Wool Baby Blanket- $2.99 Savers
Vintage SIngle Sheet- $2.00 ADRA Op Shop Mitcham
Timber Crate (used as shelf)- Side of the road
Number Train (part of a set)- $3.99 Savers
Swedish Wooden Pull Along Truck- $10 Camberwell Market
Picture Blocks (in tray of truck)- As Before, $11 Ebay
Chest of Drawers (partly stripped back)- $12.99 Savers
Wooden Hanger- a hand me down
Cotton Overalls- $2.99 Savers

Found

2009-11-14T13:24:00.007+11:00

I realised having surgery this week was potentially professional suicide. Irrationally dramatic? Well, um, yes....I suppose. I don't do sick well; never have and, quite possibly, never will. My dear friend dragged me from my cocoon-o-misery Thursday night for a trip to Savers. Physically it may have been a little premature, but mentally it was exactly what i needed. It inspired this little series I'm working on. Heres the first of hopefully many. x A.

FOUND

Clockwise from top;

Kleen English ceramic mixing bowl- $6.99 Savers
Gold Gilded Glass- .20c Veterans Op-Shop Boronia
Gold Stripe Egg Cup- .20c Veterans Op-Shop Boronia
Cream Ceramic Comport- $2.99 Savers
Gold Gilded Snowflake Sugar Bowl- $1 Veterans Op-Shop Boronia
String Bag- $1.99 Savers
Timber Fold Down Stepping Stool- $5 ADRA Op Shop Mitcham (steps painted with a coat of Taubmans mustard interior paint, bought as a mis-tint -$5 for 1 litre Bunnings)

me again....

2009-11-11T22:44:00.001+11:00

Where have I been? Basically, along with a hard years work, my confidence and enjoyment found in technology was quashed in the "big hard-drive-wipe of 2009". But I'm back, rebuilding and reshooting. And am using the time I have to recover from a small surgical procedure to re-focus (no pun intended). Along with back to back episodes of "The City", the hours spent flat on the couch have allowed me to create endless lists, something i do often. Lists of shoot ideas, things to make, things to buy, christmas lists, to do lists. And you, my dear blog, are on the top of my list. And with your help, i endeavor to find my inspiration again.

So, heres one visual list; a little list of things I'm longing for.

From L-R

1. More time for the simple things

(Flickr pic, Dankse http://www.flickr.com/photos/danske/)

2. Long lazy summer days

(Flickr pic, Dankse http://www.flickr.com/photos/danske/)

3. This adorable squirrel lamp $114 from haveyoumetmissjones.com.au

4. Soft, beautiful linen. I have been trawling the internet for cheap linen that i can print on for a project i have in mind!

5. These beautiful Ply Santa Lucia Snowflake Ornaments from Roost Homewares. Available from Anthropologie.com

6. More polaroid film and knowhow so i can take shots like this.

(Flickr pic, Dankse http://www.flickr.com/photos/danske/)

7. This beautiful acorn fine bone china container from haveyoumetmissjones.com.au

8. A cumquat tree!!

(Flickr pic, Dankse http://www.flickr.com/photos/danske/)

9. Time to make these. Veneer and ribbon ornaments

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/three-dimensional-doily?backto=true

Little Shoes

2009-08-28T08:44:00.003+10:00

A little while ago I made these little shoes for a friend. They are made from an old embroidered table cloth i found at an op-shop. Collecting such tablecloths has become a small addiction and I can see many more shoes being made...

I found the pattern here

New Beginnings

2009-08-22T17:10:00.004+10:00

Two dead computers, a huge workload and a few tears and grey hairs later... I'm back.

Ill share with you the reason Ive been up till 1am every night this week- a wedding I shot earlier in the month. Enjoy x

To Do List

2009-07-28T19:21:00.003+10:00

I have so many bananas, so will make this

72 hrs to make choc chip cookies? They must be good, so I'll make these.

Continue to look at this mans work for inspiration for a wedding I am shooting this weekend.

Just bought this!

...and I'll share it all when my computer/scanner is back in action!

**As my afore mentioned scanner/computer combo is sick I have used the above image from here (He and She photography) because i think its pretty and I wish i took it.

Bargain Brazilian

2009-07-22T12:20:00.002+10:00

After promising to make up for my lack of posting, I have gone and done it again. As if I needed more bad luck, my computer has now up and died, hence the inability to scan and share some lovely polaroids I took over the weekend. Hopefully it is just a temporary thing, all can be retrieved and everything will be right in my world again.

Until then, I have a purchase to boast about... these Brazilian Leather beauties were a lunchtime op-shop find yesterday! $30! I was a little wrapped and am hoping this is the start of the universe evening out the bad run I have had, keep it coming, you have a way to go universe....

this time last year...

2009-07-11T16:43:00.004+10:00

Firstly an apology for the lack of posts; it has been a roller-coaster of a fortnight. My emotions have taken a bashing and it resulted in a neglect of all things creative. But Im feeling a little more myself this week and and ready to make it up to you! One thing that lifted my spirits this week was the birth of the adorable Charlotte Lily, the first daughter to two close friends of mine and the first baby to grace our group of friends. She inspired me to start sewing this week- photos of which i will share in an upcoming post.

But for now, as i sit and stare at the bleak weather that is Melbourne today, i think back to this time last year. I was sporting a great tan, was filled with love, hope, ideas, confidence and bacon and egg bagels. I was strolling the streets of New York, alone. Bliss.

1. Photo Booth- Coney Island, NY.

2. Brooklyn Bridge

3. Subway, NY.

A Week Of Loss

2009-06-27T08:01:00.004+10:00

It started when my beloved little kitten, Tubs(above), ran away (not very likely) or was stolen (more likely) from our front yard. He has left behind a lonely distressed little sister and a frantic Mother (me). I hand reared these two when I found them on the front nature-strip back in Feb. I tried to find homes for them before i got too attached but, alas, I fell in love. The irony now is tearing me apart.

Then yesterday I lost my beautiful Grandpa. It is a huge loss to my family and he will be sorely missed. Professionally, alot of credit for my photography can go to him; whether you credit genetics, or that first photography lesson he gave me in the driveway of his unit 10 years ago, or his generous loan of his beloved Pentax 1000, so i could "have a decent camera" to shoot my assignments on. He left behind some of the most beautiful family photos a girl could ever inherit. Above is one of my favourites, taken of my mother. In it, I can see the similarities in our shooting style, even though this photo was taken more than 50 years ago.

In the company of Farrah and MJ, he chose a good day to be lining up at those pearly gates.

Love to the two Gentlemen I lost this week. xx

A little house in Charlottesville

2009-06-20T08:20:00.003+10:00

While in was living in the afore mentioned Charlottesville, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely dutch couple with a penchant for owl figurines (not unlike myself). They let me take photos of their stunning house that was filled with beautiful pieces that they had brought over with them. With a trip to Europe to take place in the months after this trip, my mouth literally watered at the thought of all the wonderful things i might find there for my own home. Enjoy. x

this time last year...

2009-06-17T10:43:00.005+10:00

.. i was living in Charlottesville, Virginia.

100% humidity, 100'F+ every day.

Driving around in the Pinz,

having "cider time" here,

eating pancakes from here,

and watching this....

Mountain "Getaway"

2009-06-10T22:18:00.004+10:00

To love your job is one thing, but to want to move into where you work is another. This week we were shooting at a Mountain weekender in Mt Macedon in Victoria for Provincial Home Living and I could have easily stayed. The house was amazing, the team was fun and I felt miles away from daily life- yet i was working. Ahh, if only i had a spare Million or 5. I took my Sx70 along for the ride, including the new close up lenses i found on eBay. The shots show the beautifully pruned "picture perfect" holly bushes scattered around the property and one of the many beautifully decorated mantles.

Here are some more...

Lulki

2009-06-03T20:17:00.003+10:00

Crazy busy again this week (which I am loving) but i thought id share with you the exciting launch of the Lulki website and accompanying blog which I was lucky enough to shoot. Here is a little taste of what we did.

The Week That Was

2009-05-29T17:41:00.004+10:00

T'was a busy week! Thought I would share a couple of my favourite shots from a shoot I did for Tinlids Modelling Agency. A very tiring, yet very rewarding shoot to do.

From left to right:

Jake, Ethan, Jake.

Toy car found at Camberwell Market.

House Bound

2009-05-23T18:14:00.005+10:00

Sunny afternoons.

Chilly mornings tucked up in bed.

Enjoying the simple things.

If only i didnt have to work all weekend.

this time last year...

2009-05-16T21:23:00.004+10:00

... I was on a road-trip through America. Sigh.

Loveless Cafe- Nashville, TN.

Red Door- Savannah, GA.

That 'ol Chestnut

2009-05-14T12:24:00.004+10:00

So here it is, the chestnut-y delight I promised.

Roast Pumpkin, Sage, Chestnut and Bacon Risotto
1 batch of basic Risotto
I butternut Pumkin chopped
5 rashers of Middle Bacon, or Prosciutto.
Handful of fresh Sage leaves
100g Chestnuts (you could use almonds also)
2 Chillies, dried or flakes preferable
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

Chop up the pumkin and spread into a roasting tray. Put the chillies, a little salt and pepper and olive oil into a mortar and pestle and bash up well. Pour this over the pumkin and toss around the tray until its well coated. Put in a preheated oven and roast until soft.
Make the Risotto as normal. Towards the end of cooking the risotto, lay your bacon rashers over the roasting pumpkin then sprinkle the chestnuts and sage leaves over this and roast for another 15 or so mins (until slightly crispy and browned).
Just before you add your butter and parmesan to the risotto, take the bacon, chestnuts and sage off the pumpkin, put aside and add the pumpkin to the risotto. Add your butter and parmesan as normal to you risotto and mix. Let sit.
Top with the bacon, sage and chestnuts!

Enjoy x

Brush with Bromley

2009-05-06T16:49:00.007+10:00

Monday was a happy day for me. It started with breakfast (my favourite meal) at my favourite cafe on Chapel St, then a visit to "A Day on Earth" (the "fairytale come-to-life" store of Artist David Bromley) where I had a chance meeting, through a dear friend, with the man himself. Those of you that are asking "who is David Bromley" check out this article. I adore his work and struggle to walk out of his store empty handed! He is a huge inspiration and i must pay him credit for the skipping girl image used in my header. His work also inspired me to buy these blocks. X.

revisiting my childhood

2009-05-04T18:24:00.009+10:00

Its something I like to do often. And it was the inspiration behind this weekends visit to the Chestnut Festival in the Victorian Dandenongs. The smell of the Chestnuts roasting on a crisp autumn day. Fun was had, lucky jars were bought, lucky jars were bought again, polaroids were taken, polaroids were covered in fairy floss. A wintery Chestnut-ty delight will follow.

It was also the perfect time to start a project I have had in mind for a while now. Inspired by so many of the great blogs out there I felt it was time to contribute a little myself; to share what I love and what I learn, what I find and what I make (and to provide justification to the money spent on my costly op-shopping/marketing/polaroid obsession). So this is it, lets see how long its lasts. Enjoy x