it’s a hat. and i spotted it in the window of paris’ very first tibetan store which opened over 32 years ago. there are tibetan boutiques and restaurants all over paris, not to mention a fabulous collection of tibetan flags flying from haussman apartment windows all over town. i have had my camera handy and have been snapping shots of the flags at every opportunity. right now my friend tenpa is finishing a three day protest walk sans food, along with some of his fellow tibetans in australia. here is a little interview he did before the walk. i hope he is doing okay right now. meanwhile i am in paris eating my heart out. the world is a funny (not funny ha ha) place.

I fell in love just the other day: the moment I laid eyes on this range my heart skipped a beat, and I completely went weak in the knees when I touched the garments. The more I found out about the designs and company profile, the more my heart fluttered. This Danish fashion designer gets the enhance the everyday hallmark for being everything we want in a fashion label.

Introducing, AYMARA…

“in this modern, transient world, everything is quickly discarded. i wanted to create a product that endures, not just in time, but also in people’s hearts”. Maria Høgh Heilmann, fashion designer AYMARA

AYMARA is named after the original Bolivian people and their language, Aymará. This exclusive fashion company meets our demands as the modern, conscientious consumer with their stunning, high quality garments wrapped in good conscience.

”The vision for our collections for women, infants and home is to create original, but classic designs in such authentic and durable materials so they can last many seasons. When we combine this vision with fair trade principles, the result is authentic sustainability.” Trine Fyhr for AYMARA

AYMARA is part of a developing project in Bolivia - the first Danish fashion label to introduce the Llama fibre (called cashlama) and to create awareness of Bolivia and their exclusive products. Read more about AYMARA right here.

My wardrobe has been in serious need of refreshing and this is exactly what I was looking for - I am going for the wrap cardigans, and that top in the first image has my name on it. Oh who am I kidding, I cannot take a favourite item here, I mean, look at those long johns! I also want the entire homeware range you see above. AYMARA, I’m so glad I found you.

You are all probably well aware now that I am a nature girl. I am drawn to all things natural, and I gain all my styling inspiration from nature. And so while I am on my Sunday sloth fest, instead of getting out there amongst nature, I am going to bring the nature to us today. And all in the name of fabulous design. Let’s start with these beauties…

Hans Silvester is the photographer of this incredible book called Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa. My fabo friend Beve from the wonderful blog Afropolitans sent me this link knowing full well that it would make me jump up and down with girlish excitement. She also sent me the link to this great article about the book which is described as a tribal fashion show inspired by the wild trees, exotic flowers and lush vegetation of the area bordering Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan… “these tribal people have created looks that put the most outlandish creations of Western catwalk couturiers to shame.” I have already ordered my copy from Amazon, as even though this article is so full of awesome images from the book, I cannot get enough of them. I need this book. now. Plus, who doesn’t love having their face-painted? Oh I am sooooooo inspired…

Next up on our nature walk through the blogosphere, I am taking you all with me here:

I found this treasure on what I believe to be my personal secret source of life’s most interesting and incredible things, a blog authored by a mysterious and extraordinarily talented chick. So who and what am I raving about? Cherry Coloured. And the author I must reveal, is more than just a pretty blogger, she answers by the name of Nyla, and she made this documentary about Jeff Buckley, which I only just realised (GASP!!!); she takes these beautiful photographs; and she finds and shares these treasures with us. Nyla’s blog is a must on your daily blogroll, that’s if you want to find such a place as this:

Yep, we are talking the ULTIMATE in fine nature backyards here. I am completely enraptured - a totally sustainable rainforest community nestled into the tree tops of a 6,000 foot rainforest mountain on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The residence is called Finca Bellavista, and they even have high-speed Internet and WIFI. That means we could all live there and STILL blog away. Can’t you imagine us coo-ing each other from across the tree tops? You would all be invited to dinner on my treehouse terrace, where we can have a bloggers meeting right here…

So who is coming with me?

Oh I almost can’t keep up with this post, my imagination is running wild now. I am thinking of how we could dress our treehouses, with all the incredible finds we have been sharing on our blogs, including these French creations which I want vite…

These are called Living Stones, floor cushions in the shape of oversized pebbles that are made from 100% wool and are environmentally friendly with no use of chemical dyes. They also have an outdoor range:

Don’t the French just know what we want? But so do Kim and Jo, because they started me on the wander that lead me to these delightful pieces. As it goes, I was perusing their WINK post as I always do on my free weekends and as you know they introduce new bloggers, and this one called Shift caught my eye. So over I went and that is where I found the rocks for my new treehouse accomodation. This new blog has loads more inspiration, so go check it out. While you do that, I am just going to stick a flower in my hair, leaf through the pages of my new book, and sit on my treetop terrace on my new furniture. Hope to see you there…

Are you prepared to be dazzled, frazzled and knocked right off your office chair? And are you prepared to have an unyielding urge to purchase a one-way ticket to Africa pronto? You think I kid and exaggerate BUT I MOCK YOU NOT! We are about to hit interior inspiration overload mes cher amis, and here is a little peak…

There are two words that I like to use when describing my chosen style and decor: raw + sophisticated. And rarely do I get to use these two words together. But this is one of those rare occasions. So pack your suitcases, slap on some sunscreen and come with me while I take you on an epic visual journey through this African retreat. This is one place you will never forget…

(more…)

Imiso means ‘tomorrow’ in the Xhosa language of South Africa, and is the name of this stunning collection of ceramics. Owned by 4 South Africans, Imiso Ceramics vision is to not only be a distinctively unique African brand, but also to inspire and be an example to young artists and entrepreneurs in Africa. They have achieved their goal and are indeed a great example, now exporting pieces to Paris, New York, Austria and also to Anthropology throughout the USA.

The website is beautiful - I highly recommend taking a look and be sure to look out for the ‘imiso’ range in your local homewares boutique, and if they don’t sell it then recommend it! My stylist’s pick are their pieces in the pinch bowl range.

“Whatever you dream of today, you will realize it tomorrow if you are determined and fully committed to that dream” - Imiso Ceramics.

Here here. I will update you on the Kenyan Crisis soon, but looks like peace is being restored although it is only due to mass confusion and fatigue. In the meantime, let’s support African designers. I will continue to put African designers and creatives in the spotlight even after this terrible tragedy, in the hope that equality amongst us all is achieved, oh for it to be in my lifetime would be the greatest gift of all. Here’s to tomorrow.

instrumental piano with two leather handles and butterfly

You guys must be realising I am such a baby when it comes to surfing the blogosphere (or it should be ‘flying’ not ’surfing’ right?) because I am only just discovering what and who is out there! This morning I found a bit of time to put my wings on and fly (umm okay, I actually skipped the household chores I’d assigned myself. Again. and eating breakfast.) and I came across this incredible artist over at Oh Joy!. So that is actually discovering two talented people with the same click, because Oh Joy!’s blog is awesome. She just posted about leather artist Aiko Machida and above Aiko has combined two of my favourite things within her leather creation - butterflies and pianos… oh I can be such a GIRL sometimes it cracks me up! Here are a few more of her beauties that feature another obsession confession, ‘chairs’…

Leather-legged chairs, who would have ever thought?! I don’t know where Aiko lives or where you can find her pieces, so please do fill me in if you know more about this fab designer. Also if her work is displayed and/or sold in Paris.

PS. sorry if my posts are lighter than normal lately - I am working on a few projects at the same time which I am looking forward to telling you about as soon as I can, but one of them I am happy to announce involves all of you! I am putting the final touches on it and will reveal all soon, I am very excited about it!

Styled this for Le Forge in Sydney a few months ago, with photographer Brian Gilkes. I just love this image. We shot it at the end of the day, it was raining, we were tired, but I had seen this fantastic wall in the car park on my way in that morning and I was determined to capture one of the Le Forge pieces against it. I picked this piece from the new range at the Le Forge studio and with poppies under my arm I dragged Brian and his divine wife Trish outside in the rain. They both indulged me but I’m quite sure there was eye rolling going on behind me. But once outside, with lots of passionate arm flailing to explain my idea, they were both hooked on it. In the end, it was I who had to drag them away from the shot!

Another fun day at work, thanks to the Le Forge team and Brian & Trish. I will be posting more on Brian’s work soon.