EASTER STYLING & A CHANGE OF SEASON

soooo... i know it has been a while but i am back! and hopefully a little more regularly now! today is my first day of working for myself (really excited and totally freaking out). i am hoping this new change will really give me some decent chunks of time to work on my designs and work through the best method for printing and making. so as of today, wednesday's are 'owl & bridge' work days. hooray!! i will be adding new things up on my blog as they develop as i will be too excited not to share.

anyway, enough of that...on the weekend west elm, pottery barn, pottery barn kids and williams sonoma in sydney had an easter styling event where four different stylists spent half an hour styling an easter table for one of the stores. some of my favourites (sibella court, megan morton) were there, along with a couple of people i hadn't seen the work of before (cameron kimber, marco meneguzzi). here are a couple of iphone snaps i took on the day.

SIBELLA COURT FOR WEST ELM

i really like sibella's mismatch style that is brought together by colour a consistency in colour. also the different textures of timber, ceramic, glass, enamel create an dynamic tablescape and keeps you interested after the first glance. Sibella and her team dyed the eggs themselves using a martha stewart 'how to', but her brief to the team was 'to keep all the ones martha would have rejected'! Also as a must, greenery! Books were a clever trick to change up the heights which can create a flow to the table. she did put a rug on the table as a tablecloth which looked good, but i don't think i would be that game.

Sibella's encouragement was to use the things already in your house. walk around and find a whole lot of things and then pick and edit from that to create your tablescape. you will always have left overs but that is how styling works - you always gather more than you need so you can pick and choose and edit.

MARCO MENEGUZZI FOR POTTERY BARN

i hadn't come across marco's work before, but what i did like about this tablescape was that it wasn't overly spring. so many things around easter are to do with spring, which is totally understandable given that it is spring in the northern hemisphere at this time but we are in the southern hemisphere! i like that this one suits more the autumn climate at the easter time of year - it looks like an autumn table because of the colours without taking away the eggs and chickens etc. which symbolise new life. it is also very american and county in style which is not traditionally my thing, but it works here and is effective in grasping both the climate and the celebration.

A NOSTALGIC CANDY SHOPPE

image: sweet paul via inside & out

image: sweet paul via inside & out

image: sweet paul via inside & out

image: sweet paul via inside & out

image: sweet paul via inside & out

i've been watching 'the paradise' lately and when reading 'inside & out' i came across these images that reminded me of the store in the show. doesn't this store look amazing?! so many candy delights! and such intricate detailing for the store fitout! the franklin fountain opened in 2004 and is committed to the old ways of sweets. they use all the old tools and methods and just look at it! i could spend hours looking through the shelves and picking out sweet delights.

SHOPS I LOVE: MARKETS

Who doesn't love a good vintage market find? Or a handmade special something? Something preloved or something that can be transformed into something else.

The markets in Sydney that I have spent time at include:

The Finders Keepers

Held twice a year, these art and design markets are lovely... so many beautiful hand crafted goodies. All sellers are independent designers and creators who make all of their own products. Pretty much without fail i will buy several brooches, a print etc. whenever i go. Markets also occur biannually in Melbourne and Brisbane.

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/sydney_markets.php 

Paddington Markets
Every Saturday from 10am at 395 Oxford Street. A bit more upmarket (ha! a funny!), these markets contain handmade arts, crafts, clothes, jewellery etc. there are some seriously nice things here, but it is more pricey as you are paying for something unique and handmade. A feature piece maybe?
http://www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au/

Rozelle Markets
These markets happen every Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 4pm at Rozelle Public School. Bric a brac, collectables and second hand. There are some jewels among the large volumes of stuff. Like most markets of this nature, sometimes you win, sometimes not so much. Vintage suitcases, old doilies, silverware, letterpress letters, clothes etc.
http://www.rozellemarkets.com.au/

Etsy, Made It and &Able
Online markets. I know, its not the same as a leisurely walk through stores of hand made goodies, but there is soooo much lovely stuff. Etsy is a worldwide option with tonnes of beautifully handcrafted and vintage things, while Made It is like an Australian version of Etsy. &Able is similar again, but it also helps to fund micro loans for people in need.
http://www.etsy.com/
http://www.madeit.com.au/
http://www.andable.com/

SHOPS I LOVE: AFFORDABLE

I am all about mixing it up. There are not many who can afford a home full of expensive designer furniture and homewares, and you can still have a lovely home without breaking the bank 1,000 times over. I find that these stores are great for picking up things that might complement a feature piece. I have purchased from all of these stores and am happy with how they work together with my handmade pieces and the few splurge items I have picked up along the way!

Ikea
Who knew how many looks you could get from an Ikea catalogue! They have so much in so many different styles that there will be something that goes with what you already have! And really, all these products are kind of designer still (it's all designed in Sweden), just without the price tag. Ikea work hard to ensure that they make nice pieces that are affordable.
Unfortunately you can't purchase online, but check out the web to see if there is a store close by.
www.ikea.com

West Elm
A recent discovery with the help of one of my friends from the states. Well made, contemporary, funky and fun furniture and homewares that don't cost a gazillion dollars. If you are lucky enough to live in Sydney, they have just opened a store with Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma (also great stores but a little more pricey) in Bondi. If you are not in Sydney, they ship anywhere in Australia. They don't have all the products you can get in the states, but they are continually expanding the range to include more of what you can get overseas.
www.westelm.com.au or, if you aren't in Australia, www.westelm.com

Target
An unlikely candidate I know, but sometimes you can pick up that something that you are looking for. I bought a nice tall silver lantern from there for $30 or something and you would never know. Try it out from time to time and you might just get lucky! You can now shop online, but there should also be a store near you!
http://www.target.com.au/html/homepage/home_fw.htm

Typo
Trendy paper goods and home decor items, Typo is a goodie! Lots of cute little accent items that can be worked into your setup! i particularly like the strings of 10 lanterns, some of which are patterned. the patters change from time to time. Maybe just also keep in mind to check the quality of the item you are buying prior to purchasing. I've had mostly good things but the occasional item that doesn't last long.
http://shop.cottonon.com/shop/typo/

SHOPS I LOVE: ANTIQUES

My style of antique is more rustic and vintage and the stores below have it in bucket loads! You will surely find more lovely things than what you need. Allow a while for exploring!

Scout House (Melbourne)Ah Scout, how do I love thee? Beautiful and unique second hand wares sourced from Australia and overseas, you will surely find something that takes your fancy (see also 'boutique').
http://www.scouthouse.com.au/

Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre (Sydney)
Two storeys on antique goodness! Upstairs are more individual stores, with downstairs being kind of like a warehouse full of so many pieces of furniture. I could spend so much time rummaging finding beautiful object after lovely piece of furniture and so on.
http://mitchellroad.wordpress.com/

Doug Upon Bourke (Sydney)
Another large store in an old factory that is full of charming aged pieces. I could fill my house with this stuff! Find something you love in all its worn vintageness or something you can do up to be even more unique!
http://www.douguponbourke.com.au/

Izzi & Popo (Melbourne)
European antiques and collectables that are all second hand and lovely. Think coat hooks, demijohns, bird cages, furniture and the like, with all of it imported from Europe.
http://www.izziandpopo.com.au/