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!

The Hope Street Markets were created from a love of independent Australian art + design and the genuine love of finding new treasures at the markets. Hope Street is not an actual street address, it quite simply means “bringing hope to the street”. The Hope Street Markets is a non-profit organisation, raising funds from the markets to help support the ‘HopeStreet – Urban Compassion projects’ which help to bring hope to Sydney’s homeless while also supporting and exposing new Australian design talent.

Two of my picks are the very talented duo from Turn Me On Design with their Fiddlesticks jewellery range shown above. I do love their poem too:

And summerblossom’s range of handmade head pieces does it for me too. Rochelle uses cotton, recycled and vintage fabrics and aptly describes her pieces as being perfect for cocktails, weddings, high-tea, picnics and parties. And I love her extra suggestion: “Or, simply pop one in when you’re all alone in your nightie and enjoy that frosted cupcake in divine style!”

The dates for the next markets in Sydney are the 2nd and 3rd February 2008. And if you are not in Sydney then head to the Hope Street Markets website and check out all the designers there. Have fun!!

image from Habitat catalogue 2007

What a whoppa of a year this is going to be – can you feel it? This special energy is so ripe and rich, I could cut it with a knife and serve myself a slice for breakfast to keep me going for the day.

Habitat catalogue 2007
the mix of modern objects with found objects – only just the beginning.

But let’s not babble on but get straight to the goods we want to hear about: trends in home design.

We’ve seen a great shift in retail this past couple of years toward the handmade. And folks the good news is that it is only just the beginning – we haven’t even scratched the surface of what is to come.

Most of us are already keen users of ebay and etsy, but it is still a rather new if not undiscovered territory for most. For those of you who are struggling with your sales do not fret! You are pioneers and pioneers need patience, so hang in there and keep creating. And for those who haven’t yet taken the plunge, go for it for as moloko says, the TIME IS NOW

So what’s my word about 2008 trends?

(Click here to read more…)

it’s called ‘the steampunk laptop’ and it has to be the most beautiful machine I have ever seen! Completely crafted from wood and glass with a copper keyboard and mouse, this laptop is one serious creation – it TOTALLY works like any other laptop. You have to check out the video on the website so you can see how it turns on and off. I’M IN LOVE…

Thank you my secret techie source, you have made my day (of course I meant I was in love with you, hehehehe)