The one where I realise (again) that bloggers are pretty fabulous

I am feeling much better than I did earlier in the week and have been out and about meeting friends and being my usual busy self. And what a week it has been!

The vibrant home of Karim Rashid

Hello friends, I am feeling better and it helps to surround myself with bright and bold colour to cheer me up and feel better again. Enter Karim Rashid.

Dreaming of a road trip

I am a little unwell at the moment but trying to get myself back to full health quickly! I'm planning a road trip very soon. I hear Byron Bay is beautiful but I have never been. Have you? If you have any recommendations of what to see and do whilst there please do let me know.

Strummer

There are some wonderful things happening in Sydney. Little studios tucked away and beautiful designs being born within. I was lucky to visit the Redfern studio space of fashion label Strummer by Edwina Hagon to get a peak into her new Autumn collection and for my friend Emily to photograph her creative space to share with you. It was fun to see her large inspiration board with fabrics, images and ideas tacked to it and samples of her new collection.

I asked Edwina a few questions:

How did you get started in your career and what does 'Strummer' mean?
After completing a business degree at UTS, I went on to study fashion at Ultimo Tafe.  After studies I worked for a Sydney based label for a year and a half.  I then tried my hand at styling for a little while. 

Strummer was born in 2008 and I continued with the odd styling job whilst also growing the label until it became a full time affair.

Strummer doesn’t mean anything as such – I chose the name because there is a nice rhythm to the word and when I say it I feel the way the clothes also make me feel. 

  
What inspires you and your collections?
I find inspiration everywhere.... from the streets to the web, magazines, movies, books. I love people watching and seeing what styles are moving by especially around Redfern where I am based – I see some really quirky and individual looks.  I also go to the library and look through loads of books depending on my main inspiration theme for the season. 

Tell us about your latest collection and what we can expect to see from Strummer in the future.

Our latest A/W Collection, Baby Blues, is devoted to Trailer Park Living and the romantic side of 'Beautiful Trash'. 

We shot the campaign 126km north of Sydney at Freeman's Waterhole Caravan Park where the residents are primarily permanent tenants. 

I was inspired by a more simplistic way of life and really wanted to capture the personality of the location whereby possessions are fewer and the surrounding community live together with a village mentality; all sharing the one big front lawn. 

I hope you have enjoyed this visit and Edwina, thank you.

♥ Visit Strummer
♥ Photography of studio No Chemistry

PS. If you would like to see a video to accompany this post, visit ish and chi on facebook and if you have a creative space you would like to share, please contact me. I would love to hear from you.

First sprouts

Despite all the rain we have had here in Sydney and a vegetable patch that looked more like one big mud puddle, a few sprouts have appeared. Almost three weeks of sun and rain (but mostly rain) and the garden is looking a mess but there is a sign of life.

And I am still determined to grow these vegetables.


Please keep your fingers (and toes and eyes) crossed for me!

Meet Frankie & Sammy

We adopted two stray kittens over the weekend and these little brothers are settling in very well.

Parties. Concerts. Friends. Family.

I have been quiet lately. There has been so much on and I am on overdrive. I hope you have been well?

These last few days have been fun for me. I have spent it with friends at a rockabilly/retro/rock event, a christening, a wedding and a concert. Tonight is the first opportunity I have had to unwind and write and catch up on some reading.

Light shade cluster

The Christmas decorations have finally been taken down. It took me a long while to get around to it. There wasn't much to begin with and the decorations weren't all that "Christmas-y" so I didn't mind keeping them up. Over the weekend I replaced the decorations with flowers.

Vegetable planting

Okay so I'm back into it again. Vegetable planting. I did well last year! I couldn't kill off the spinach for the life of me.

This time I enlisted the help of my partner and we planted beans, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, bok choy, garlic, silverbeet and broccoli. Something has to survive from all that don't you think?

Fashion Friday: The last of summer

Life Instyle & Kids Instyle

Life Instyle is one of my favourite trade events and one that I visit every year. This year it was held last weekend along with Kids Instyle and I have been meaning to write about it since but have been swamped with work

Forgive me for my absence but let me make it up to you by showing you some beautiful displays and products.