My new blog pal Cindy from Quaint Handmade tagged me a number of weeks ago. And to be honest, when i read the tag i thought: great balls of belching fire these are some pretty heavy questions! I have had a rather intense life, and i am a rather intense person (“apparently”), so for me, the following questions are pretty full on and difficult to fulfill without giving you a painfully long post. But here is my attempt, in brief, and I hope you can stick with me to the end…

I was 20. In my last year of Uni, working on my final film piece. I would have been in the midst of casting, and would have just met my female main, actress Felicity Hay. Back then Felicity was on lots of tv ads, played as an extra in Water Rats and other aussie dramas like that. I selected her out of 20 other actresses that were keen to play the role. She was so passionate about my film and gave me all her time, even when it was a non-paying part. Felicity was only 25 or so at the time. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21 or so, and was well on her way of recovery. All her hair had grown back from the chemo, and i remember she had the most beautiful thick, dusty blonde hair. She was friends with Belinda Emmett at the time. I lost contact with Felicity some years after I finished my degree, and when I heard the sad news of Belinda passing away from her battle with breast cancer, it got me thinking about Felicity again, I’d love to get back in contact.

I was also going through a very traumatic break up with my first true love. The film was definitely a way of expressing the anguish and confusion I was going through.

and I was also about to meet my second true love (time went quick back then!!) who was to become the editor of my film (god bless his cotton pickin’ heart), my business partner, and a friend for the years to come.

My daily to-do lists are always longer than my arm but in brief, since I am working on a book right now my main goal is to finish it! Today I also have a meeting with a client at noon at my agency to discuss an upcoming job, and I am hoping to have a cuppa with my friend Riley at around 5. In between all of that I hope to find time to eat, organise a courier for a pick up from another shoot, and still get everything else done including prepping for shoots for the week and emailing clients new work. and blogging! washing the dishes and making dinner are not on my list today.

I am a snack-a-holic! So this list is long. But among my favourites are choc-chip cookies, muesli bars, bitterballen, cheese croquettes, wedges with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream, French Boy’s sardine butter on little toasts, apple with cheese and sultanas, a slice of my carrot and date loaf, a glass of ice cold milo. oh and did I mention chocolate? but you already knew that.

pass.

The list goes a little something like this:

Sydney, Australia
Montreal, Canada
West Chester, PA, USA
Rovereto, Italy
Paris, France
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

oh just six, this is the hardest question of them all as I want to know everything about all of you! But here is six, and ladies, if you don’t want to play I will not be offended I promise, just know that I think you’re great and enjoy your blogging company.

Esti from píntame el día.
Yoli from Musings.
Jo from Red Aprons.
Corine from Hidden in France.
Nadia from La Porte Rouge.
Leah from Hyena in Petticoats.

Thanks for being interested in my life Cindy, it’s nice to get to know you, and everyone thanks for listening! and girls if you do choose to play along, please feel free to use and link my tag pic and heading pics too. i put time into them so they might as well get a work out!

I am completely smitten with these handmade pocket fairy tales created by the new etsy boutique of Apol Lejano-Massebieau, crafter extraordinaire from la pomme…

..featured above is the story book of Busy Mary from the imagined history collection of stories Apol has written after finding old notes and postcards…

..this one is called Rosenda “who pours two cups of coffee every morning – although one always grew cold – and at dinner she sets out two plates – although one always went back clean into the cupboard”…

..and this one is called Lulu Leloup Turns Blue. How gorgeous! Click here to have a read of all the fairy tales, and have a browse through Apol’s two stores, you will find so much inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by for this week’s installment of…

I have been holding a basket full of thank you’s for a month or more and it is now overflowing – it’s time to dish out.

I have only just learnt that my dashboard on wordpress actually tells me when another blog has mentioned me in one of their posts. wow! technology! It never ceases to amaze me. There have been many of you mentioning me lately and I can’t tell you how wonderful this makes me feel to hear that I inspire you. So to each of you first, I say…

I treasure my blogroll and I keep each of you there in sight to share with everyone as well as so I can come visit anytime I like for an inspiration hit. So to my new readers, please visit my blogroll regularly, each blog in there is special to me. I always strive to add to the blogroll when I am able to visit the blogs from new commenters, so it is worth checking my blogroll regularly, even if I haven’t had a chance to post about new blogs and new friends, no doubt there will always be someone new there to inspire you too.

Here are a few new friends I’ve made lately…

Loobylu. What a champ is the loobylu creator, Claire – she added me to her June links and wow, I received a whole heap of new readers thanks to her! So hi loobylu readers, thank you for stopping by! I do hope you like it here.

Check out Claire’s etsy shop, it’s packed with great things, she is one incredibly creative gal! Thanks Claire, you rock. Hope you are having a fabulous time in Canada.

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The Shutter Sisters: An incredible and inspiring photo blog, please go and have a look, it is fabulous.

Thank you girls for mentioning my blog and the My Heart Wanders project on your blog.

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Stylist Kim Gray from South Africa.

It is so rare to make friends with fellow stylists – just like in the movie Devil Wears Prada, this is not the most nurturing industry to be in. But I am lucky to have a few great stylist friends who are genuine, kind, and beautiful, scattered around the world – and Kim is now one of them. She has a great blog full of the things that inspire her, and it is choc full of her latest work. So go and check out her blog and say hi from me. Thanks Kim!

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All Things Bright and Beautiful and Liberty Post, thank you for your beautiful words recently. Both your posts were so touching.

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A Cup of Jo. Who not only inspires us everyday with her great finds and introduces us to her fabulous family, but has also included me a couple of times in her blog post round ups! It seems Joanna has fallen in love with le petit bateau, and also loves the soundscapes. Thanks for sharing my posts with your readers Joanna! xx

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And last but not least, is Sherrie from Frenchy Finds. Sherrie makes the most divine soap – she has an esty boutique called Birch Bark Soaps, and she recently featured me amongst her favourite blogs when she was an etsy featured seller. Not only that ,she sent me some soaps to try out and now I am hooked! I have just finished using the peppermint poppyseed soap and it is simply divine. Go and stock up your soaps at Birch Bark, i promise you will not be disappointed! Thanks Sherrie.

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Thanks everyone. For your comments. Your encouragment. and your friendship.

I have to get going to gather some props and check on a set, but I’ll be back very soon. à bientot xx

do you? today i’ve found some black and white lovelies for those of us with heavy leanings toward the monochromatic…

A carnation from photo graffiti on the left, and the vanilla truffle bag from morelle’s boutique on the right. Both = yum.

these gorgeous black beads are a little over a buck. just a buck! who finds something these days for so little? me, apparently. They can be found at Blue Lady Studios. And on the right, are you wondering what it is? It is a handcrafted porcelain magnet that looks just like a beautiful piece of coral. I love it. Its from New York ceramicist Kim Westad.

I adore this silk cushion from Pamela Tang. Oh it would look perfect on my sofa.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this selection of…

I promise I did not forget. Here are my picks for this fine Monday…

Above, a little patience in a bowl, from the very sweet Paloma’s Nest.

this eight petal flower pinhole piece from heather smith jones. stunning.

and i love these delicate slim lined pouring vessels from up in the air somewhere.

Well, I made it back onto my bike over the weekend, but not without trepidation. Thank you for your awesome ongoing encouragement, it has helped so so much. This morning I was on my way in to a meeting – in a taxi – and I can tell you, my heart was in my throat every time we passed someone on a bike. But this driver was a good one and was very cautious. Phew.

I have so much to share with you this week, but it is also a frantic week of productions so let’s see how I go. Right now I am moodboarding, tomorrow I will be sourcing, the next day cooking, the next day shooting, the next day… well, catching my breath I imagine. I will be back here every moment in between. See you then!

Oh yes, and as I always like to end, I hope you have enjoyed this installment of…