crafty projects...

I recently attended a screen printing workshop with the Brisbane Brown Owls generously lead by Ellie from Red Seed Studio.

Here are some pics from the day...

I'm keen to play some more with this medium - I have a great book by Lena Corwin called Printing By Hand which has some gorgeous little projects in it and I'm also keen to acquire a book Ellie had by Lotta Jansdotter called Lotta Prints:  How to Print With Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum.

It's going to be a crafty Christmas Season me thinks!  I'm heading for a spot of Christmas Craft shopping with my Mum and little sister this week - can't wait!

the state of things...

After three months of nothing (aka day job craziness & weekend socialising) I'm back with many wonderful things to report.  Number one amongst these is the joy of our new outdoor setting - just in time to soak up the summer heat and afternoon peacefulness while enjoying a cuppa and relaxing in our courtyard.  Ahhh the serenity!

I can attribute my current blissful state to today's state of events:
1.  Sleep in
2.  Potter about doing homey thing with some vegemite on toast
3. Trip to the finder's keepers market where i purchased bundles of goodness like my little friend darcy below!!
4.  Fried egg burgers fill our bellies
5.  Round off with another cuppa tea and relax to write my blog out in the courtyard under a bright blue sky
6.  Off for a walk with my lover

Could waste many days in this fashion....only things missing were some reading and candle making which I shall endeavour to do tomorrow.

winter picnic...

oh the glory of living in queensland!  the day was as warm and sunny a winter day as i've ever seen one - perfect for a walk around brisbane to our destination picnic spot in the botanical gardens.  first we walked over the newly built go between bridge to west end...we passed multitudes of people out and about, chatting in cafes and soaking up the beauty of the day...stopped off at the shops for some picnic produce to add to our backpack - hello cherries, dates, dried peaches, fresh bread, semi-roasted tomatoes, roasted artichokes, olives and goats cheese!!

 these are a few of my favourite things... followed by a doze in the sun...

and some more cherries...

dozing and watching the world drift by...

baking, candles & sunny delight...

i'm off on a picnic with my beloved so i have to make this quick...the gorgeous winter sun is calling!

last night we had the most amazing pavlova, and after my mum's amazing pavlova as well, i think i'm going to have to give this a go...it's definitely one of my favourite desserts...alongside creme brulee and the most amazing passionfruit souffle i tried last week...but i digress...here is the masterpiece that took five of us just ten minutes to demolish!

on the subject of baking, i've recently become enamoured with banoffee pie after trying it at the wicked sisters cafe in bulimba with my grandma.  i've now made two attempts and despite being extremely yummy i'm still struggling with the base...it's way too crumbly...so i will continue trying to perfect it until we're rolling out the door!

my first banoffee pie attempt

and before i go...i've made a lovey batch of lemon verbena and vanilla soy candles last week...they smell absolutely gorgeous!

must go outside now and soak up the joy of the simple things...like a clear blue sky and some goat's cheese in my backpack xo

food inspirations...

harvest moon bakery
just near mt baker (usa)
...homemade blackberry pie to die for

my mum is constant inspiration...
here is an amazing pavlova she dropped over the other night - isn't she the sweetest?!
nom nom nom...gone in ten minutes! 

the granville island markets in vancouver
my other half sneaking into the picture
...so many awesome food memories in lovely canada

slow down everyone we're moving too fast...

i've finally stopped to take a breather...the last weeks and months have been choc-a-bloc full of food, fun and laughter and while it's been lovely to catch-up with so many friends, i am now equally enjoying having a cup of tea at home and just pottering about.

yesterday was one of those out and about days - first up....breakfast at flute, on cavendish rd to catch up with friends and their new little bub!  our breakfast's were pretty spesh but i especially loved the bowl/cup my latte came out in...(damn, just realised i meant to ask our waitress where i could find these) adorable!

then off to the finders keepers markets at the old museum building...

such a gorgeous venue and so many wonderful stalls!  

i am now regretting i didn't splurge on this gorgeous vintage inspired frock from kindling, 

however i'm keen to have a go at making it myself.

all in all it was a beautiful sunny winter day...

i got this great shot of the sky while we sat on the grass with our warm winter beverages

today i'm rugged up at home and it's not so sunny...perfect weather for making some chilli jam xo

vintage tattoo at the library...

i went to the sandgate library on saturday morning for a vintage tattoo embroidery workshop aimed at beginners.  it really was wonderful and i was surprised at how easy it was, and how few materials you need to get started.  we all got to take home a sublime stitching pdf of patterns, a needle and a choice of threads.  this is all i managed to do in the two hours but i'm sure i'll get quicker with practice.

craft space...

my newly painted desk - a space for inspiration!

brisbane brown owls  paper craft along project in march

pottering around today to get our place ready for a housewarming next week - the need to paint things never seems to end.  looking forward to relaxing with friends.  picked up a lovely retro three step bookshelf to display my candles on...  going to give it a clean, sand and coat of fresh white paint!

kitchen loveliness...

my lovely workspace...the bamboo floors have just finished it off!

Easter greetings!

Joy to you at Easter! Here are some gorgeous Easter pics I discovered while searching for images for the newsletter at work - aren't they wonderful?

1. I absolutely adore the first easter image of woodland creatures playing croquet - how wonderful

2. Jolly Easter dancing

3. Easter Greetings

hello again

Okay, so just to give you an idea of what's been going on with me since my last blog (which was an embarrassingly long time ago) I’ll share a little conversation that has been going on in my head for a very long time – ‘What am I going to do with this blog? I don’t even know anything about blogs...what was I thinking!? I’m not even a good writer, sigh. Can I write about all the things that inspire me day to day even though they aren’t to do with candles? Is this blog about me or about ‘the orchard’? Are they one and the same thing? How the hell do I make this blog look as beautiful and amazing as Pip Lincolne’s?’ and so on and so forth...I know, it’s terribly pitiful and self-indulgent of me. So I have now decided as of today, that instead of worrying and trying to get it perfect, I’m just going to set one little goal at a time - so to begin #1 I'll make one blog entry a week (even if only photos)...and I will schedule this in to make sure I comply.

Oh and I haven't been totally resting on my laurels - I did a big batch of candles at Christmas just before Dave and I headed to the US&A for our big trip. I will take some photos of them this week to put up. In the meantime here are a few magical moments from our trip to the U.S. and Canada!

note to self - work out how to format the photos in my post.