styling by Pia, photography by Brian Gilkes.

While I seem to be on a rather botanical theme lately, for us poppy lovers here is another fun image with the lovelies in there, surrounded by the new Le Forge range. I had alot of fun shooting this as the request was for something fun to show off the new colours and designs. The photograph is part of a series, this one also being amongst the collection.

And since I am on the subject of poppies, I must send you over to poppytalk who has an incredible series of interviews on ‘collecting’, and showcases some great designers and artists’ personal collections. To go straight to the series, click on one of the pictures on poppytalk’s left side bar under the title ‘collecting’. While you are over there, check out today’s post titled ‘share your love’ where jewelry artist Colleen Baran is asking for submissions of love stories for her upcoming ‘like wearing a love letter series’ jewelry collection…

What a beautiful idea, and Colleen’s work looks gorgeous! I am thinking I have a few love stories of my own to share. I adore all this collaborating and sharing via the blogosphere.

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!!

pilfered from Uncle Beefy

Who doesn’t love a quote? Pia obsession confession #1: Quotes. If someone gives me a book of quotes that’s it, anything I was doing goes out the window and I am stuck in that book until I get to the last quote. I am truly obsessed by them – I mean, they are tiny little pieces of art are they not? They make you think, question, ponder, wonder, and instantly fly you someplace else. And what’s more, if you have one of those freakish abilities with memory you can pull them out of your head to really bring home your story at your next dinner party. Instead, my story finishes with something like this, “and yeah you know, it is just like that guy said, you know, that guy, his name starts with an S, you know, everyone knows him! Anyway, he said something like, ‘fish with a man and you eat with…’ no no hang on, it’s ‘be a fish and eat for a day’ I mean no, sorry, it’s…). By then everyone’s eyes have rolled so far into the backs of their heads that I am surrounded by a table of zombies grappling to fill up their wine glasses to dull the pain.

Actually I’m wondering now whether the eye rolling just starts the moment I start a story, not necessarily when I end it. Hmm. Food for thought.

Anyhoo, I stumbled upon Uncle Beefy’s cool blog who then lead me to Compendium, a Seattle based company who’s mission is this: “To inspire, educate, motivate and celebrate the world we love and live in. We will strive to set an example of hope, passion, and creativity in everything we do—from the products and programs we create, to the ways we can make a difference for our clients, customers and community.”

Right on! Love finding companies with these goals. From what I understand, they are the guys who make all those journals and books, and postcards with cool quotes. You will have noticed already that I love to throw in a quote or two in my stories (like in Handy Hints numbero uno), and I have already a list of some great French ones I’ve learnt that I will be sharing with you so you can show them off at your next dinner party (I will try to give some pronunciation tips too, so you don’t look like a complete fool to the guest who’s secretly fluent in French). But for now, I will leave you to ponder this oldy-but-a-goody, you may even be able to find a slot for it at tonight’s soirée…

Olivia from LaLesso is currently in Kenya, she commented on my article yesterday and I just wanted to share it with you:

“Only 2 out of 6 permanent tailors have been able to make it back to work and we have helped them to move their belongings to safety and they are ‘camping’ in the workshop until things settle down. Kenya is the most wonderful country and the people so warm, it is all so undeserved. We can all only hope that peace is restored soon.”

Thanks for taking the time out to respond Olivia – we love LaLesso and we love Kenya!

Now don’t get too excited, we only have time for a quick stop over before we head on to our final destination. We have just enough time to sneak a peek at the windows of the very grand Galeries Lafayette…

One of the most majestic sights to see in Paris at Christmas time, both the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores are lit up in strong competition with their sister la tour eiffel. (Click here to read more…)