what: tea cup & saucer where: revolver cafe, annandale why: delicious tea.

A couple of months ago, Parisian bag designer Alexia Hollinger (who you may recall I wrote about in  Paris: Made by Hand) emailed me to say she had created a new collection of bags in my name. I couldn’t quite believe it.  I received one of my very own just the other day, in gold linen or lin doré as they say in French. Here it is above, hanging from my studio doorknob. I adore it – it’s light, it’s big, it’s incredibly practical but stylish and sophisticated. It has a pocket especially for one’s phone, and a zipped pocket for other things, it even has a key holder.

I love it in every way, and I feel incredibly honoured that Alexia named this bag after me. It’s now available for purchase in Alexia’s shop in Paris, but also online right here. It comes in four styles including Toile de Jouy and Lin argenté (silver linen). Merci beaucoup Alexia, je suis très touchée. xx

beautiful floral sculpture by tracey deep

Since settling back in Australia – but especially over the last few days during the book launch events – the question I have been asked the most is “Why did you move back to Sydney?” Has this been on your mind too? I thought I’d answer that question here, in the (blog)house in case there are more of you wondering the same thing:

I came back to Sydney for my Mum.

I wanted to say this at the launch on Friday night at Ariel, but when I practiced saying it out loud in the days leading up to it, each time I’d choke up with tears before the answer came out, so on the night I thought it best not to.  Also, I know mum dislikes the spotlight as much as I do (can you imagine how anxious I was writing about her throughout My Heart Wanders? Thank goodness she loves it), so I thought it wiser not to shine it in her direction.

But I’ll shine it on her here now: Happy Mother’s Day Mum. It’s so nice to not be so far away.

I’m off to Brisbane today to celebrate the book’s release with many wonderful and creative Brisbane folk this Saturday, just in time for Mother’s Day. I know a number of people are bringing their mums along, and have bought copies of My Heart Wanders to give to their mums on Mother’s Day – thank you! I will try to keep you posted on my whereabouts via twitter, which has now become my mini visual diary as I post photos during my days through instagram.

Next week I’ll definitely catch you up on all the events over the past week. For now, you can see some great photos of Friday night’s Sydney launch on Jillian Leiboff’s blog (thank you Jillian!).

xx

PS yesterday I created some little foresty oases in the windows of two great bookstores in Sydney – Better Read than Dead, and Oscar & Friends in Surry Hills, I’d love it if you would swing by these bookstores to have a look, and tell your friends about them, thank you so very much.

PPS if you’ve missed out on some of the events already, there are still a few more coming up – please check the sidebar for the schedule. x

I realise there is much to share & tell as it’s been an incredible few days, but for this moment right here, right now, I just wanted to post these pics I took at callan park today, while looking for inspiration for tomorrow’s wandering window displays (more about that in the next post). I found it in the form of a tree with the most exquisite silver and speckled brown leaves scattered on the ground below. It was a magical sight. I spent a blissful half hour gathering a basketful of leaves. Thank you dear tree…

what: faraway treasures. where: in my new home. why: they’re pretty

I’ve only a few more boxes to unpack. phew.

xx

PS if you like, you can click on the image above to see a bigger version with captions.