bright young things

Controversial superheroes, smiling day of the dead, illuminated cattle, colour pops aplenty. Imagine my delight when I discovered Venucci and their outspoken range at the Reed Gift Fair in Sydney a few months ago. The wholesaler & retailer has been importing their "bold and distinctive designs" to Australia & New Zealand for over 10 years and their collection certainly packs a 'kapow'. I love the quirky, fun pieces, sure to brighten up any room or tickle decor that's started to take itself way too seriously.

Check out the full Venucci range for yourself, but beware, 'I want' may quickly become 'I neeeeeed!!!'

ink + art

When I first walked past Tora Sumi (read: walked, stopped, stared in window), I knew it was a pretty special place. Primarily tattoo studio, Tora Sumi blends art and beautiful design into the world of ink. Walking into the studio, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's an edgy new art space. Part hanging pieces, part installation, sculpture and interior design. But no, this is just a visionary way to make ink accessible to a range of people that are passionate about visual creativity, on their skin or on their walls.

Taken on a chilled tour of the studio by Store Manager, Loic, I quickly felt at home in the place. It was easy to feel inspired by the beautiful art layered on bright white canvas and tattoos emerging from the buzzing needles in the immaculate studio space. Comfy leather sofas welcome guests to hang out while they work collaboratively on designs with artists. A sunburst Les Paul stands in the corner and books on body art lean against shelves. Tora Sumi, or tiger ink, is represented by its modern day tribal tiger icon throughout the studio - even in the sunshine yellow window decals on the shop windows.

Spending half an hour with Loic chatting about the concept for the space, the work they do and seeing the Tora Sumi clientele pop in and out with coffee in hand, you get a really good feel that if you were going to get a tattoo, this is where you'd want to come. Chilled, pressure free and ultimately dedicated to the art it represents, this is a beautiful tattoo space that challenges the preconceptions of the dingy tattoo studios of old. Ink tempted.

pen to paper

At a very significant point in my life, a postcard landed on my desk, as part of a 'retro' print DM campaign. I have no idea what turn of events caused this trio of postcards to arrive over a three day period, beginning on the very day my life changed massively, but they did and I still have them today.

The third - write your own manifesto - was the most thought provoking. As I slowly build this creative project, call it what you will, it really resonates with me. I have had the fortune to encounter so many people recently who are seeking out their project or already exploring what path it will take them on. All have a tangled, living breathing mass of ideas, creativity and vision inside. At this point, I am taking my own advice to them. Feel the fear. Do it anyway. Write your own manifesto.

belgrave cartel

There are a million and one cool places to hang out on a weekend, or even a lazy Thursday afternoon if you are lucky enough to have one not spent inside an office. But there are some hangouts more awesome than others and I am looking forward to checking them out. Soaking up the 'sphere. Drinking a bit of coffee. Eating a few eggs. Making some barista friends.

First up, Belgrave Cafe in Manly. A little bit hipster, lovely people serving the coffee, bursting at the seams with retro cool trinkets and decor and just when you think you've seen it all, it opens up into a gorgeous little courtyard complete with coloured lightbulbs and more cosy little corners to hide and enjoy your flat white.

mixing it up

Chocolate and blueberries. It works it's socks off. Unexpected but true.
*and maybe you can get away with all those amazing antioxidants offsetting the calories..? Yes.