Thoughtful career advice from designer Jessica Hische, illustrated smartly by Chris Piascik. Isn’t it lovely?
My procrastination techniques include – making coffee, organising my room, planning exotic holidays, writing fiction, watching Come Dine With Me while writing up notes… It’s all an endlessly inspiring loop though. Writing is my passion, and whether that manifests as writing perfume reviews (check!), crafting websites at a digital agency (check!), or noodling away at a cookbook (one day!) – it’s all good. Knowing what I really love to do is a real blessing. How do you guys while the hours away?
One thing I have observed since moving to England is that there is SO MANY COINS. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence, 1 pound, 2 pound. Every time I buy something I’m given a small treasury in change. I find it especially strange coming from New Zealand, where we make most of our purchases on plastic. Here I have a purse full of shrapnel. I think a Trip Fund jar is definitely in order!
I am now safely ensconced in the land of tea and biscuits (or in my case ginger crunch – it keeps magically appearing in the kitchen). In a dream world, I’d have one of these Scrabble mugs to drink out of. Or maybe 5 – my name is not very high scoring!
I’m on day 5 of bed rest after having my tonsils out. OUCH. I don’t recommend it. Oh, I kid; it’s one of those no pain, no gain situations. I’m looking forward to being a lot healthier in the future!
Despite the mewling, I am making the most of my time at home and preparing for the move to England by going through some of the design snippets, magazines and ephemera I’ve collected over the years. There are piles of interesting stuff stashed away in my filing cabinet. One such thing was this Nest winter catalogue from 2007. Nest was a New Zealand homewares store that sold the prettiest things, and sparked my love for all things Conran.
“It’s time: turn on the kettle and stir the pot,
pull up the quilt and cozy up.”
I like these spreads because they are very “New Zealand” – both the dark landscape, and the way the stylist has mixed high and low, old and new. Shiny new pots hanging by an old cooker, a satin dress on a spindly wire washing line. Actually, the first shot reminds me very much of my great grandfather’s house.
If you’re in the midst of winter too, I hope you’re staying warm. (And if it’s your summer – get off the internet!) ❤
Check out this tropical stop-motion video advertising fruit juice. Super slick and fun:
Boom! I love to see South American creative work. It seems my head is always turned north by those saucy Europeans. I’ve got to work on my Español (and Portuguese) and “see” more of the world.
* Yes, the title references a biscuit disco mashup. Wah, I hadn’t had coffee yet…
This skate deck totem by Pale Horse Design strikes a chord with me. While not my usual style, I like the bold use of primary colours, and the way each can deck stand alone, or be part of the wider stack. Also, I still like owls. A lot.
To tell you the truth, I can be a total gadget nerd sometimes. And I like things that aren’t always what they seem (James Bond totally floats my boat).
So of course when I spotted this watch totally made me squeak. Meet the F-Stop Watch brought to you by your friendly online photographic supply proprietors, Photojojo:
It’s a simple, beautifully executed idea - aperture numbers mark off the hours. 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8 and 11. It’s a whole new way of looking at time. The only thing that could make this better? If the blades adjusted according to the hour! But hey, at only US$35, this nifty little timepiece is a bargain.
I am in love with these enchanting vintage rock collections by Cori Kindred. Her collections of stunning gemstones are nestled in a bed of paper in a vintage box, and each lovingly labeled with a typewriter. However, in a refreshing twist, rather than name the crystal, she picked words inspired by the shape and colour of the stone.
More glorious, crooked, colourful, peeling, perfect, typography from the streets of Newton. See part 1 of the fun here.
Some are actually different ‘crops’ of the same building. Once again, I love the details – the ribbed diamonds of the awning above the not-a-love-shop, tired neon signs, the stripes behind the fish shop hours and the way Suits To Measure is broken up (like a poem, or one of those best friends necklaces – Be fri & St ends).
It’s hard not to be stimulated and inspired around here. I hope where you live has just as many visual tidbits.
I am forever trying to organise my recipes in a handy dandy way. Right now I use a flowery Cath Kidston binder for print outs, or more often than not, drag my lap top into the kitchen. However for something more permanent, these darling Rifle Paper Co. Heirloom Recipe Card Boxes caught my eye:
Aren’t they fantastic?
Here’s one recipe I’ve made recently that I will be transcribing straight away. It’s a delicious lunchtime snack – or a great dinner with a crisp carrot & rocket salad.
Mushroom and poblano vegetarian enchiladas
1 package of firm tofu
1 small pepper
Sliced mushrooms
1 tsp. ground cumin
¼ cup dairy sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar and another sharp cheese of your choice
8 corn tortillas
Chopped tomato and red onion
Drain tofu; cut in cubes. Stem and seed poblano; cut in strips. In skillet heat 1 Tbsp. oil over medium heat. Add tofu, peppers, mushrooms, cumin, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until mushrooms and peppers are tender, turning occasionally. Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup of the cheese.
Lightly grease a baking pan, set aside. Wrap tortillas in dampened paper towels and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm and softened. Spoon mushroom filling into tortillas; fold over and place in prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Grill in oven for 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese is melted. Top with tomato and red onion.
I’m a sucker for vintage book covers, and these hand embroidered clutches by Olympia Le-Tan make my heart go boom-a-boom-a-boom. They’re not cheap, but her miniaudieres and malettes (briefcases) from the collection You can’t judge a book by its cover are simply charming.
I live in a place called Newton. I am very fond of the name Newton – it was my great grandfather’s English name. I also adore the names of the streets. The neighbourhood centers around one long strip – Karangahape Road (K Rd), and then there’s Mercury Lane, Cross Street, East Street, Pitt Street, Poynton Terrace… So without further ado, here is a selection of type and letters spotted around my favourite neighbourhood:
Speaking of gin in teacups, my favourite brand Hendricks have already made their own cups with delightfully quirky illustrations, complete with matching saucers!
Along with ‘Hendrick’s & Tonic’ and the ‘Floradora’, the recipe for a ‘Tea Time Martini’ sounds awfully good! I have transcribed it here for your reading pleasure:
Tea Time Martini
50ml Hendrick’s Gin
15ml fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon rose petal jam
6 large mint leaves
Add all ingredients to a teapot and fill with ice. Stir vigorously and leave to brew. Serve with panache in your Hendrick’s teacup.
{Images via NotCot. Thank you Emma for the heads up!}
I love this jaunty little map of the Royal Wedding Procession. I just wish I knew who made it! That’s one of the problems I have with Tumblr, credit gets lost in the sea.
Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
