Egyptian Sunset

Leggings: Gypsea   |   Shirt: UNIF  |   Shoes: Windsor Smith   |   Bone Ring: House of Harlow 1960   | Skull + Bones Wrist Junk @ Market HQ   |   Necklace + Leather Ankle Cuffs: Made by Me

The grass is always greener on the other side, right?
We always want what we can't have.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Trust me to (now that we're galloping towards winter) be dreaming about sunsets. We were just there, basking in a summer daze, and now as the leaves fall, I'm dreaming of that glow again. But you know what? I think I like it like that... The idea of what's on the other side of the moment... Some people might call it a personality flaw - to always be thinking about what's coming next... but I think it's more like hope and excitement for the roller coaster of life.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fine art of patience, understanding and flexibility that can allow you to think about what isn't right in front of you whilst still sucking the juice out of the current moment in life. And it's taken me a long time to get here. To the now.

But while I'm here enjoying this journey every step of the way, I've always got room for what I see on the horizon. I've just learned to trust that no matter how much I may want it to be here right now... It'll come around soon enough and then it will be gone. Onto the next thing.

So right now I'm enjoying making things (like this necklace and ankle cuffs) and letting the 'hands-on' side of me lead a little more. I've been cooking, designing and studying some of the things I loved learning about when I was younger, especially Ancient Egypt (hence the necklace). I've also been downsizing the clutter in my wardrobe, jewellery box and office space, but more on that later.

I recently found a bunch of rings that mean a lot to me... Not really my style anymore to wear just a single ring, so I stacked them all together and have totally given them a new life! The two matching diamond bands were my Grandmother's wedding and eternity ring and the the emerald and diamond ring was a 21st birthday present from my Mum that we designed together.

Now every time I wear them I feel some kind of a connection to my roots... some kind of comfort from afar.

Join for exclusives & VIP giveaways x

Top 5 Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts

M o r g a n   &   K a t h l y n

Mother's Day is one of two days a year that should be all about your Mum (the other is her birthday of course!). It's one day a year that you can put aside all your own stresses and petty worries to thank the woman who gave you life! For me it's getting harder and harder each year when Mother's Day rolls around, because I'm so far away from my Mum. *Sad face*

I'm an only child who grew up with a Mum that was more like a friend, definitely a confidant, and most importantly my biggest supporter in all the dreams I wanted to chase. So moving to the other side of the country is a hard choice to live with at this time of the year...

In the past I've sent artwork gifts to her, organised massages, made video messages and secretly had old photos scanned into Photo Books, all posted and delivered in time. But I will admit that this year, the whole thing has really snuck up on me! Even my boyfriend managed to organise and post a gift to his Mum in time (but that's OK because it's never happened so I'll give him this one) 

Anyways, it got to thinking of all the other Mum's and daughters who will be spending this special day apart from each other and the dream-chasing daughters who need some quick and instant ideas to spoil their Mother's rotten - from the other side of the country....

So here's my list of Top 5 Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts all with no waiting or delivery times!

1. MOET Pamper Hamper 
alittleluxury.com.au
Flowers are nice and all that, but they just sit there and then they wilt away. So if you go for chocolates and Champagne she can get all sauced up while you guys chat on the phone and eat all the sugary goodness.

2. "Gift This Album" on iTunes
iTunes.com
Did you know that you can choose albums by artists your Mum loves and "Gift" them on iTunes? You can add a personal message and they'll email your Mum on your behalf - then all she does is download and enjoy!

3. Magazine Subscription
magshop.com.au
What better way to give a little reminder of your love than having your Mum's favourite magazine land on her doorstep all year round. More excuses to veg out on the weekends and try new recipes!

4. Gold Class Cinema Tickets
everythingbutflowers.com.au
Since you may not be able to enjoy the actual movie with her you may as well make it an incredible movie experience. Get your Mum two tickets from Everything But Flowers so she can take your Dad or a friend (or a date!) to enjoy all the laid back luxury that Gold Class has to offer.

             

5. Photo Book Voucher
snapfish.com.au
I love, love, love the printed photo albums at Snapfish! And I think the best part about photo albums is actually putting them together - you spend all your time thinking about the stories behind the photographs, laughing and reminiscing. So if you get Mum a voucher (and send her all those digital pictures from your last trip that are just sitting in iPhoto) then she'll get to have a laugh whilst making it herself! And if you're really tech-savvy, you could do a Skype call and screen-share while she makes it!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women out there who gave us life!

Join for exclusives & VIP giveaways x

Galaxy Fur Dreamer

Denim shirt: Somedays Lovin @ Market HQ   |   Galaxy Skirt: Evil Twin   |   Boots: BooHoo c/o Park Avenue PR   |   Double Skull Bangle @ Market HQ   |   Necktie: Fremantle Markets   |   Fur: eBay   |   Skull Ring: Lotus Mendes

Now, I'm a Leo born and bred on the West Coast, so I love me some summer sun... But I've got to be honest - I like winter. I like the scarves, the layers and the leather jackets.  Don't get me wrong - I don't like being cold, I just like all the symptoms of it... The cuddling under the doona, the nights in front of the heater, the gloves, the beanies, the fur!

So at this point, in the Autumn transition where the days are sunny, but the leaves are falling and it's getting chilly, I'm dreaming of all things wintery - and planning a creative attack on rainy day D.I.Y's. My first step into cold is this fur vest I found on eBay.

That's the other thing I love about winter... all the online shopping excuses.
What's your favourite thing about winter?
x

Join for exclusives & VIP giveaways x

Self Portraits in Print & Music...

The following artwork is for the limited edition packaging for my EP Borrowed & Blue which is now available exclusively in my online store! It's free postage, worldwide. I'm so excited to share my original artwork with you... and the story that goes along with it...

SELF-PORTRAIT.

Pencil, Paper, Water-colour, Photograph and Graphic Design via Photoshop...

I've never done a self-portrait before. I found the process interestingly weird.

When the topic of CD packaging came up with my label, I was thrilled when Sony said they really wanted to embrace my artistic side... So we came up with a unique, one-off packaging design that unfolds to reveal my original artworks.

GRAPHIC LANDSCAPE.

Sketch and Graphic Design via Photoshop.

Weird scenes inside the gold mine... Let the pictures and the music take you on a trip...

I've spent the last 6 years of my life writing, recording and releasing my original music as an independent artist. Putting together packaging and working to specs in Photoshop was just part and parcel of being the indie artist - firstly because there was no one else to do that stuff (and I couldn't afford to pay a graphic designer) and secondly because I've always felt that the imagery helps in setting a tone for what I was creating with the music. So to continue that process for my Borrowed & Blue EP was just a logical step...

In music, I started out with just my acoustic guitar, then moved onto jamming songs out with my band... Both pretty straight forward when it comes to the recording process. Then I began to explore a new aspect to my solo, live performance: the loop pedal. And that's when, in the recording studio, I hit a brick wall.

I was writing song after song and recording demos with a bunch of different producers and nothing was turning out like what I felt in my heart, how I performed it live, or what I heard in my head. The music I wanted to make just wasn't being captured in the recording studio.

I hit that dreaded slump...Writers block.

So I stepped back from writing songs and I started creating a collection of stripped back tunes by different artists; re-imagining the beats, the chords, the harmonies and all the parts of a song as if I had created them myself. And through that process I re-educated myself on what it is to be a musician. Before now I really only knew half the picture - the lyrics and the melody... but now, after producing this EP (with an awesome co-producer and engineer Adrain Breakspear) I have a completely new take on things.

As someone who has only ever recorded and released original music I never thought I'd release a collection of covers, let alone be proud of it! And yet, this entire process has been the most gratifying, satisfying, challenging, eye-opening and rewarding experience I've ever had.

What I learned is that the things you think you can't do are usually the things you need to do to break through the doors of perception. And that nothing much good comes of always saying no.

Be challenged. Be uncomfortable. Be wild.
And then see if you know yourself.

Limited edition packaging for Borrowed & Blue looks like the size of a 7" vinyl record and unfolds numerous times to reveal a final art piece containing the CD, measuring 54cm x 36cm.
Buy a copy here.

Join for exclusives & VIP giveaways x