Just my cup of tea

I know Laurence Llewelyn Bowen isn't everyone's cup of tea but I think he is great.

I love his flamboyency, his wit and charm, his floppish hair, his passion and enthusiasm for his work and his big sleeve cuffs!

I think these patterned cups he has designed for Royal Doulton are just darling.

Make my tea a Cranberry & Elderflower one please...

'It's only polite to treat the eye on a daily basis to something interesting, exciting and diverting.' - LLB

and another...

this one makes me cry!

to be home

If you have ever lived away miles away from those close to you, you can probably relate to that desperate sense of urgency to suddenly see and be with those you love.
This Air New Zealand advert has been showing in NZ for a while now but I still love it. I think they have captured that feeling beautifully.

It's good news day for me. I received a text message from my friend Amy in London to say she is coming home for Christmas. Hurrah!!
Amy J I can't wait to see you!!!

Music Tuesday - ringing in my ears

Rocking my world this week:

Crowded House - Don't Stop Now

Neil Finn can do no wrong in my book. Oh ok, well there is one thing. Crowded House have some tour dates announced but nothing for NZ! What's up with that?

The new album Time On Earth is released worldwide July 2.

And if I lived in Auckland I would go see his son Liam Finn play here.

And Gwen Stefani.

I love it when bands come to play in New Zealand but hate it when they only go to Auckland. (ok, rant over)

Hollie Smith - an amazing NZ singer / songwriter who has just signed to Blue Note records (Miles Davis, Norah Jones, Herbie Hancock...). This is a big deal and I can't wait to hear the album. Her voice is incredible.

Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough

I didn't like this song when I first heard it. Lucky I perservered because I just love it now.

I was surprised to hear a female singing with the Manics. I wondered who she was. I saw the video and still wondered who she was. Then somewhere, I saw it in print. Nina Persson. Wow! The lead singer of The Cardigans. I never guessed it. The song is so rocky and it really suits her. And she looks so rock chick in the video. My favourite part is when Nicky Wire sings a couple of back up lines near the end of the song. Love that gravelly voice and his Welsh accent.

I caught a glimpse of the video for From Yesterday by 30 Seconds To Mars the other day. Jared Leto with eyeliner. I like the song but I'm not convinced about the eyeliner. Then it occured to me, I loved My So Called Life and Jordan Catalano when I was around 16-17, now teenagers who are half my age must be lusting after Mr Leto. Somehow I suddenly feel ancient...

New cds I want to check out...

Jeff Buckley - So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley

The Horrors - Strange House

The Bravery - The Sun and The Moon

has anyone heard any of the above?

Aga love

When I was in the UK I spent the last 3 months living in Cornwall. I loved every second of it. Cornwall is so beautiful.

Victoria May has a great Cornwall blog you can check out here. It makes me feel homesick for my second home.

It was in Cornwall that I fell in love with my Cornish family, Black labradors (especially Jet and Bella) and Aga stoves.

Waking up to a cosy warm kitchen and making Aga toast is the best. They come in such pretty colours and when I do eventually get one I'm not sure how I will decide which colour to get but I think I will have to design my kitchen around it.

Oh I want me an Aga! But considering they cost more money than I make in a year they rank pretty low on my objects of desire. Still, I can always dream of Aga toast...

Flight of the Conchords rock HBO

I suppose I really should have waited until Music Tuesday to post about New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo but I just couldn't help myself.

I was so excited to see a clip on the news the other night about Flight of the Conchords upcoming HBO series.

These guys crack me up. I just wish I was in the States so I could watch the show too. Luckily you can watch the first episode here or download the podcast.

I'm already a big fan so of course I found it funny but I just hope their humour comes across to those new to the FOTC way. And a little part of me does think that perhaps it comes across better in their live shows. Hmmm, hopefully they will put more shows on the web so I can follow it. And they are touring a little in the States so if you can catch them live, then do it. You will not be disappointed.

For thse of you who have never heard of FOTC before, the duo is Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Bret has also been in NZ band The Black Seeds and was a founding member of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra (I love their version of Hey Ya!). He was also in some movie about a ring.

Ok, I confess. I may be the only New Zealander who hasn't seen Lord of the Rings. I tried to watch it, I really did. But it just wasn't for me. Pretty scenery though :)

So anyway, Bret played the role of Figwit which apparently created quite a little fan base. Funny.

These guys are easy on the eye, their music easy on the ear and the laughter they create is easy on the soul.

Flight of the Conchords rock my world.

Check it out. Enjoy. And happy happy weekend to you x

Bless you

I love it when people say 'bless you' when someone sneezes. It's so comforting. But what do you do when no one is around? If you had one of these Kat Macleod Artkerchiefs from Third Drawer Down, I think it would do the trick. Cute huh?

Do you all know about Emma Magenta? She has done some pretty fine artkerchiefs herself.
Emma also writes the most gorgeous love fables. Ever.

'and everything seemed to move to the pulse of an invisible samba beat, making her swell with joy'

from The Peril of Magnificent Love by Emma Magenta

Emma's been busy because she has also done some photo albums which you can find here.

All would be a lovely lovely buy in my opinion.

It's all gone Pete Tong

Is it just me or is blogger doing strange stuff to any of you as well?
Usually when I post a photo, it shows up in the draft as just that - a photo.
But now when I post a photo it is showing up as html code! What the?!
Also, there are no font options, colour options or alignment options.
Have I done something funny by accident? Please help!

UPDATE: It was me! I am officially an idiot. But thanks to Alyson and Robin all is sorted and I am a happy blogger again. Phew.

So Sassy

I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but with so many gorgeous cover designs out at the moment I'm finding it hard not to.
These SASS (Students Across the Seven Seas) books caught my eye in the young adult section at Borders.
Ok, so I haven't been a young adult for a while now but these pretty pretty covers make me want to read these books and hop on a plane! So cute.

Today was a good mail day - my Get a Hobby! book arrived from Holly! Thanks again Holly I love it. Very cool!

Music Tuesday - Karaoke Hits

When I visit my sister Jo in Wellington we love to get together with her friends, have Japanese for dinner then go for a night of karaoke. We go to a great place where you hire your own room, so no getting embarrassed about singing in front of strangers. You also get a tambourine that lights up. It's the little things that count you know.
These are some of my favourite karaoke hits. Please share yours!

And for a fantastic wedding dance rendition of Time of My Life click here. This makes me grin from ear to ear.

By the way - has anyone heard the new Damien Rice album?

Fonts around town

There has been a lot of re-development happening lately in the city centre. I'm glad that these old signs and business names have been uncovered and left untouched.
They're like little treasures of yesteryear when everything was a little simpler. It reminds me of unwrapping a present and finding a nice little surprise inside.


I downloaded some fonts by Eduardo Recife here which I found via How About Orange.
Being the technophobe that I am, it took me a while to work out how to actually get them on my computer so I could use them but somehow I suceeded. Hurrah!
But I can't quite work out how to use the sky picture below as my blog header. When I try it comes out way too big. Any ideas?


By the way - does blogger look different to anyone else? I'm not sure where the font options have gone!

Happy Friday

Love this street art by Banksy.

Marta discovered this Etsy shop where you can buy the prints.

It's been a long week and this weekend I am looking forward to:

• turning my alarm off
• a little lie in
• catching up with a friend for Saturday shopping and lunch
• going to check out my friend's new house
• catching up on some reading
• and maybe, just maybe, a little sewing.

Happy weekend everyone x

Cool jewels

I'm so in love with this necklace by Johnny Ramli.

It's so rock chick.

Somehow I think I would be better at SingStar if I wore this.

I might just give it a try...

as pretty as a favourito graph

I know I'm a bit late with this but I love it all the same.

favourito as a graph.

So pretty it could be a textile print.

Found via Nikole, with help from Andrea on how to save it (was a bit technical for me).

Make yours here.

Music Tuesday - cd wish list

itching for a holiday

This time last year I had just come back from a week long holiday in the Gold Coast of Australia. It was my first time there and I loved loved loved it. It had everything that delights me. Shopping mecca, Baskin Robbins and swimming everyday.

Now that it is getting colder and darker here, I really feel the need to get away to warmer climes. No holidays planned until October (I know so far away!) but if I was to go anywhere I would want to take one of these Wallpaper City Guides.

And having long been a fan of Moleskine notebooks, I was excited to see that they are doing travel journals too. I think that these are just perfect. I haven't seen them in NZ yet but I hope they make it here soon.

I know everyone raves about Lonely Planet guides and I love them too but I'm an Eyewitness Guide travel book girl. Mostly because the pictures are so darn pretty.

My Mama Mia

Happy Mother's Day Mum. You rock!

It's all good

I started my day off well when I checked Holly's blog and discovered I was one of the lucky winners of the 'Get a Hobby!' book she was giving away. Holly ran a competition where you had to state what your dream hobby would be if you had all the time and money in the world. Mine was giving gifts to complete strangers. Wouldn't that be the best thing? And now Holly is doing just that to me and it feels great! Thank you so much Holly! And thank you so much to everyone who voted. I'm so excited. I'm like a little kid at Christmas time. Hurrah for that.

I have just been to see the best movie at the Latin American Film Festival called 7 Days (7 Dias). It's about U2, taking a punt, love, friendship and living life. Oh it was so good! My friend Andrea and I even did that gleeful little clapping thing you do when you watch a movie and are hap-hap-happy. Go see it!

It's Friday, it's fabulous, it's Frankie of course!

Have a fabulous weekend x

your words in my memory

So on Tuesday I posted about favourite duets and included was 'Set Fire to the Third Bar' By Snow Patrol featuring Martha Wainwright.
I just can't stop listening to this song. It is so hauntingly beautiful. Watch the video which is gorgeous too.

So then when I did a little exploring and discovered that in recent gigs Snow Patrol are pulling women out of the audience to duet with them I got goosebumps. If there is is any one dream career I could ever have, I would choose to be a singer. I can rock at Singstar (a few gin and tonics help) and sing loud in my car but Kate Bush (whom I adore by the way) I am not.
But I just love going to gigs where the band engages the audience and how more involved could you be than by being asked to join them on stage? Sigh!

'your words in my memory are like music to me'

pure moo love

I love you flickr! I love you moo!

I ordered some mini moo cards just 10 days ago and they arrived in my letterbox yesterday. So quick and so beautiful! I chose images from the flickr library and next time I will get some made with my own images. Oh yes, there will be a next time!

These cotton shoppers from Topshop for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer are great. A cause close to my heart.

Music Tuesday - duet faves

This week my ears pricked up when I heard a new song by Bright Eyes - Four Winds. Can't wait to get my hands on the album. I love Conor Oberst's voice.

So as promised, the following (in no particular order, I love them all) are my picks for top male and female duets:

1. Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (Debbie B next time you go to Dollywood I'm a comin' with ya!)
2. Set the Fire to the Third Bar - Snow Patrol feat. Martha Wainwright
3. Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
4. Finality - Dimmer feat. Anika Moa
5. Southern Lights - SJD feat. Anika Moa
6. Don't - Gramsci feat. Anika Moa
7. Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
8. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand
9. El Presidente - Drugstore & Thom Yorke
10. I See You, You See Me - The Magic Numbers
11. Dice - Finlay Quaye feat. Beth Orton
12. When the Stars Go blue - The Corrs & Bono
13. Good Morning Baby - Bic Runga & Dan Wilson
14. Where the Wild Roses Grow - Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue

15. Land Locked Blues - Bright Eyes feat. Emmylou Harris
All, in my humble opinion - sweet sweet songs!
Let me know what your picks are!

Ooh, just watched a Patti Smith interview on the telly. I've only recently discovered Patti Smith. Can you believe it? The lady oozes rockstar cool.

Lastly for NZ readers, go check out The Haints of Dean Hall coming soon to a venue near you.

Autumn glory & Huffer cool

Botanical Gardens in Autumn splendour

Briar & Finn throwing leaves

Lovely Autumn hues

patterned pillars at the Arts Centre




one of many sculptures at the Arts Centre

pink dahlia

The weather was unseasonably warm in the weekend. I even went crazy and wore jandals (kiwi for flip flops).

Embracing this weather, I went to the museum, Arts Centre and for a walk in the Botanical Gardens with my friend Lee and her children Briar and Finn. It was a gorgeous day.

I hope you all had a gorgeous weekend too.

Autumn sunset

The Huffer kids are helping out the Westpac Rescue Helicopter kids with these cool tees. Nice work all round.

Friday night special

I don't think I will ever stop buying magazines. For me it is one of lifes pleasures. My treat after a long week at work. Opening the smooth glossy pages that no one has thumbed through yet (I always take from the back, never the front one!) and curling up on the couch to take it all in.
So tonights treat is the April/May issue of Donna Hay Magazine. It had a free kitchen timer that magnetises to the fridge. I am a sucker for free things that come with magazines. And that's why I miss buying magazines in the UK. They come with free loot all the time and it's good loot too! Umbrellas, tee shirts, lip gloss, books etc. But my kitchen timer will do me pretty fine. Not sure how much use it will get though...
Find the recipe for the lovely teacup desserts here. Perfect for International No Diet Day on Sunday May 6 which I discovered thanks to Alyson. I think I shall have to partake in that!

Ali's list is making me happy this week because I made her happy and that's makes me happy so have a happy weekend!

Oh happy day!

I arrived home to find this waiting for me. Oh such a treat! Thank you so much Abigail! It's fabulous and I love it all.

This swap has been so cool. Thank you again Marta! To receive a gift from someone you have never met from the other side of the world has turned out to be a magical thing.

So here's the stash...

A gorgeous scarf which I'm pretty sure is hand crochet. Stunning and soft and beautiful.

A scrumptious sandalwood soap. I love the smell of sandalwood so this is perfect.

When I discovered I had Abigail as my swap partner and I saw her amazing illustrations I secretly hoped I might be the recipient of one. Bingo! And this one Abigail sent me is gorgeous. It's going to be framed and hung for all to admire.


Wicked.
Phew, it's been a busy day! And I have managed to cross two things off my 'to do this year' list (well partially anyway). Tonight I started a night course in bookbinding which was fun! Challenging after a long day at work though. Started to make a notebook. Pretty cool.

And I booked some flights for a trip to Melbourne in October with my sis Jo. It's Jetstar's birthday and the flights are as cheap as chips. Take a friend for $3. Yes please!

Oh the funniest thing about posting about the real me yesterday was that my friend Lee asked me what I meant by 'chucks' when I said I have a huge hole in my chucks. So I told her they were my shoes and she thought it was an old fashioned word for undies! Man it cracked me up!
But let me set the record straight - I do not have a huge hole in my undies! I don't even use the word undies. They're what boys wear. And anyway, as if I would say anything even if I did! (which I don't. By the way. Again.)