Arthritis Awareness Week. 29 March - 4 April 2009.

I am one of the estimated 3.0 million Australians who suffer from arthritis. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis nine years ago. I was almost 19. When I first got sick I joked with my Dad about the possibility of having arthritis, we both laughed because we thought it was an 'old peoples' disease. We were wrong. One in four people in Australia with arthritis are under 50.

Arthritis has had a huge impact on my life and the way I live, but with the help of some medication and a positive attitude, I'm still able to do the things I love without too much trouble. I even won my indoor soccer grand final a couple of years ago!

Arthritis is very common (I'm sure we all know of someone who has it) and it's not just something you get when you're old.

Photo: 'Where you can breathe' by Alicia Bock. Alicia's beautiful work can be found here. I just love it!

Can I count on you?

Image from Le Love

The times they are a changing.

A little while ago Zee posted about change. How as humans we struggle with it and so on. I've had a big change and although earlier I was feeling quite scared, I'm now feeling a little more optimistic about it. I hate to sound cliche, but everything happens for a reason and I'm looking forward to finding out what that is. I went for an interview for my dream job - how that went I have yet to find out. Fingers crossed though. Even if they do pick someone else, I'm sure there are bigger and better things coming my way. Some nice quotes that fit today:

"Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time." Desiderata poem

"Life can be one of two things: A spectacular adventure or absolutely nothing" Helen Keller

Photo by Chris Searl. Artwork by Sister Corita

So fine.

Have you ever seen anything so fine? The Sartorialist shot a bunch of Parents on the streets of Stockholm for his column in Cookie Mag. Love it. I hope I get one as stylish as this (I'm talking about the dad of course).

The ultimate makeover.

I love a good makeover. I think I can pin point this love to the first time I saw 'Calamity Jane'. I was about seven and it has been one of my favourite movies ever since. Now I do admit that I fast forward a couple of the 'musical numbers', but if you love a good makeover this movie is for you. Calam brings Katie Brown to town and before you know it they have turned Calam's old shack into a charming cottage, complete with rose flower boxes and lace curtains. The best part is it doesn't end there. Katie manages to work her magic, and before our very eyes Calam is transformed from a dirty, boyish cowboy into a beautiful blonde lady. Oh and all this happens in a 'makeover montage'. It truly is a feast for the eyes. I think I'm going to go and make something over, I just wish it was as easy as it looked in the movie.

I feel like a deer in the headlights.

Right now I feel frozen with panic. I know it will pass, but fear is such a powerful thing. I can't think about anything else and my heart is racing...

Photo by Lella

Gucci Westman in Cookie Mag

I know its an old interview, but I’ve just re-hashed Gucci Westman’s interview in Cookie magazine about motherhood, work, and her gorgeous husband David Neville, the British codesigner of the Rag & Bone clothing line. I am just loving her. It’s always inspiring to see successful women who are still so down to earth.
Here are a few cute questions she answered for the interview:
1. The unhealthiest thing I ever passed off as dinner for my child was... "...chips, guacamole, and hot sauce."
2. I define downtime as... "...Sundays with David and Dashie, just kicking it, going on long walks with no pressing engagements."
3. I wish I had more time for... "...reading books. It's nice to get lost, be uninterrupted."
Read the full interview here at Cookie Mag.com

Colour me happy.

I love stationery supplies. I could spend hours browsing through the endless treasures at my local art shop, and even feel giddy with joy at the thought of visiting 'Office Works'.

Of all the wonderful stationery items available, pencils would have to be my favourite. Lead or coloured I don't mind. I love making sure the pencils in my tins are in order and freshly sharpened, ready for the next time I use them. I even love the smell.

There is a line in 'You've Got Mail' that captured my imagination as soon as I heard it. Meg Ryan talks about a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. Doesn't that just sound wonderful? I often think there would be nothing more romantic than receiving such a bouquet. Oh the beauty...

Photo from Flickr

Doomgloom....Doom and Gloom.

Dear Readers,
Terribly sorry to be the voice of doom and gloom, but I’m having a particularly tough day.
Its time for a pity party: Crap day, no job (anymore) and no prospects (well at least none that I can foresee with my pity party pants on). I’m sure there are much worse things that could happen to me. But still, I wish I had a mum to sing “Cheer up Charlie” to me.
Luckily for me there are people like this who make pretty images like the above to cheer me up a bit.
Hope you have a lovely day, unless you're having a pity party like me....in that case, we should bake some cookies and I'll come over for tea and we can party it up together.

Inspiration of the week: Record the Day.

I just love this blog. The collages are so inspiring and beautifully done. Be sure to take a look at both Record the Day and Lobster and Swan. They are both stunning blogs full of lovely things.

Photos from Record the Day

Cupcake love.

It’s a cupcake kind of day. I need some baking love...so that's exactly what I’m going to do when I get home. I don’t have the best track record with the oven, but we’ll see how it goes. Stay tuned.
Photograph by Lella.

Guest post: Anooke

When I saw this beautiful photo from VogueGirl Korea, I wished the giant robot was my best friend.

I imagined us discussing such things as Shakespeare's Sonnets, why the world goes round and whether we would bake souffle or choc-chip cookies. He'd say things like 'in my book courtesy counts', and I'd reply 'I would love to read that book someday Chester' (that, of course would be his name). We would walk hand in hand through this complex world we live in.

Photo: VogueGirl Korea

Loving Sarah Seven.

So I was browsing Etsy again, yes I do it a lot, and I came across Sarah Seven and fell in love. Her designs are just lovely. After looking at her Etsy shop I went to visit Sarah's blog and found even more delightful designs. Be sure to check them out for yourself.

Photo: One of Sarah Seven's beautiful designs

Mrs Prior.

I love old signage. There was a fantastic old sewing machine shop near my house and I kept meaning to take a photo of the old Singer sign out the front but never got around to it. Anyway, over Christmas the shop closed and that was that. I felt really sad that I hadn't been able to capture it's fantastic look.

After the Singer shop closed, I went out with my camera to make sure I had photos of all the old little shops I know and love. This photo is of an old baby ware shop near my work. It has been empty for a long time but still has it's original signage. I just love it! The typography is beautiful. I have a feeling it may not be there much longer after having had it's window broken a few weeks ago.

Change.

Change is one of the things I struggle with most. I like being comfortable and in control. The thought of the unknown scares me. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but every time change is near I dig my heals in and fight it with everything I have. We are both on the brink of change and a little frightened at what it might mean. I'm sure everything will be ok and even turn out to be wonderful, but right now, standing here looking out, I can't help but shiver at the thought of things changing.

I thought this beautiful artwork seemed to sum up the way I feel tonight. It can be found at www.groundwork.etsy.com.

What a lovely name.

I'm due to have a baby in a few weeks and my Husband and I are yet to decide on a name. We know we are having a boy, but are stuck between two names and can't seem to commit to one. It is such a huge responsibility and there are so many things to think about, what will the initials be, is it easy to tease, how popular is it...

I was getting a bit down about it and then Lella sent me this lovely website – it hasn't made our decision any easier, but it has been fun to explore...and it's so pretty!

Reese.

As I was scrolling through one of our favourite blogs, Bella Mumma, I came across a post about Elle magazine's interview with Reese Witherspoon and remembered how much I love her. I love that she is sweet and down to earth, but strong at the same time. This photo of Reese is just lovely. Click here to read Elle's interview with Reese.

It’s gross outside. There's a severe lack of sunshine to light up the world (or at least the world around my office). So get this yellow into you.
Photograph: Liz Ham

Ice cream.

I'm loving Vanity Fair's Pin-Up style shots of up and coming actresses.
This is Tasmanian born star Rachael Taylor’s shot from 2007. It reminds me of the song "Ice Cream" by New Young Pony Club.
To view past and present shoots look here.
Photograph by Michael Elins.

Grocery night.

It's grocery night tonight. I wish I could look as glamorous as Audrey when I'm walking the busy aisles stocking the trolley with this weeks necessities. I can always dream...

Photo: Flickr

No words. Just images.

Each post on Leslie Miles' blog is simply images. I check in every now and then to look at the latest theme, and just loved the most recent 'She's a Lady'. Here is how Leslie describes the blog "No words. Just images. Each post is a theme. The beauty is in the simplicity of the visual inspiration."

Photos from Leslie Miles' blog

A favourite.

I just wanted to share Michele Bosak's artwork with you. I love art. I love chairs. Could Michele's artwork be the perfect combination?

To check out more of Michele's work you can visit her website, blog or Etsy store. 

Artwork: Michele Bosak

Card observer: Card obsessed

I love business cards. I have a collection (that keeps growing) that I'll go through occasionally, be it for inspiration or to simply run my fingers over the various finishes. Varnished, coated, uncoated, letterpressed... I love them all.

If you love business cards as much as I do, be sure to check out Card Observer, if you're a card creator you could even add some of your own designs.

All cards from Card Observer. 1. Three Advertising  2. Platform for Architecture Research, printed by The Mandate Press  3. Fuse Design

Doodle me happy.

I'm a doodler. I think I get it from my mum. I doodle when I'm on the phone, in meetings, watching TV, waiting for something, plain bored, nervous or when I just feel like it. What can I say, I love to doodle. Some of my doodles are just little scribbles on note paper and some are 'serious' doodles that start and then turn into hour long pieces I want to frame or turn into cards.

I got in trouble for doodling in year 12 English once, even though I was listening and focused. My teacher doubted this. Anyway, I came across an article about doodling as I was signing out of my Hotmail account – here's what it claims:

"Do you doodle while you're on the phone? And you think you're not paying attention? Science seems to think otherwise, the UK's Daily Mail reports.

A study undertaken in England observed 40 people listening to a boring phone message about party plans. The message included guests who were attending as well as those who were not, place names, times and other dull information.

Around half of those who took part in the study were doodlers and they had written down names while listening to the message. The doodlers were able to remember a third more of the party goers, as well as place names than those who did not put pen to paper while listening to the message.

Far from being a sign of inattention, doodling is thought to help us persevere with dull tasks, according to the full report to be published in the Applied Cognitive Psychology journal..."

Article source: FHM (never thought I'd be quoting FHM!)

Doodle by Zee

So you think that you can dance?

Last night when I was dancing around my apartment I did, but today.....mmmmmm not so much.
This image by Chris Von Menge is absolutely breathtaking. It’s the kind of photo that makes you wish you were a svelte six-foot tall dancer. I am neither, but I will continue to dance around my living room while my flat mates tell me I should keep my day job.
Photograph: Chris Von Menge

Inspiration of the week: Pitch Design Union

I'm still obsessed with Pitch Design Union. Every time I check, Margot has posted something else that blows my mind. Today I'm in love with Tony Francesconi's photography. It's dirty and pretty at the same time. Usually it's Lella who swoons over skater boys and their photos, but today it's my turn. 

Thank you Pitch Design Union – I'll be checking again tomorrow for more inspiration.

Photo: Tony Francesconi

Off by heart...

The stars are aligned, but they don't align for us
Excuse me for I am the ocean, and I will starve for you
Will you know how to stay brave?
Such fragile moments we share
You are my everything....even with nothing to say.
Words: City and Colour
Photograph: Corrie Bond

Monday Monday....

"Every other day, every other day, Every other day of the week is fine, yeah, But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes You can find me cryin' all of the timeeeeee" I completely know how The Mamas and The Papas were feeling when they penned this. I found myself getting to Sunday afternoon and wishing I could go back to Friday night. I call for more time on the clock. Sitting in air-conditioning, I am wishing I was in this lovely magnolia tree instead.
Happy Monday! Only 4 more days till the weekend!
Photograph: Liz Ham