WINDOW SHOPPING // H&M HOME

With H&M's move down under last week, opening their first Australian store in Melbourne's GPO as well as their Australian online store, I thought it only appropriate to check out what the swedish retail giant had to offer in their homewares department. And while not everything is available to the Australian market yet there are still plenty of stylish bargains to be had. Here's my favourites...

SHOWER CURTAIN // UNSCENTED CANDLE // COPPER CUSHION // WIRE BASKET // STRIPED CUSHION // METAL TRAY // TEA LIGHT HOLDER // TIMBER BOX

LIVING LIFE INSTYLE

It's been nearly 2 months since Life Instyle Melbourne but life has been pretty hectic so apologies for the tardiness. 

For 2 weeks in August I called my hotel room in Melbourne home. Life's not always glamorous in the event industry but the hard work is always worth it when it all comes together at the finish line. Life Instyle was no exception with long days/nights, the blistering cold Melbourne winter and extreme show foot, however the show looked amazing and as usual our exhibitors brought their A-game to display the best brands in the retail business. Not to mention our own little touches including our post-it-note wall (above), astro turf lounge, and chalk boards designs.

Of course there is no way I would have survived without the best team in the biz. Amelia, Tea, Brad, Mel, Mousa, Jac, Adam & Tim are the reason I didn't go completely crazy (well more crazy then I already am). They make getting out of bed each morning after only 4hrs sleep so much easier as well as being able to share those uncontrollable giggles when you're running on empty at the end of the day.

Here's a colourful snapshot of the show and some of the goodies you can expect on the shelves this season. And for more of the products on show check out my Neon's & Neutrals post over on the Life Instyle Blog.

Emma Scamell Photography

cool kids: meals on wheels

I'll admit it. Sometimes Sydney falls a little behind Melbourne on the trend scene, but i'm happy to say that Sydney is finally getting on board the Food Truck invasion.

Made popular in the urban LA scene, gourmet food trucks have been rolling in all over Melbourne since Raph Rashid opened Beatbox Kitchen (voted Melbourne's best burger) over a year ago,  followed by his second pop-up kitchen Taco Truck.

This week it was announced that 10 food trucks will offer a diverse range of tastes across Sydney from early 2012. Can't wait to track one down, plant myself in the gutter and get sauce all over my face.

design crush: the hungry workshop

I love letterpress. But I absolutely luuurve Melbourne's The Hungry Workshop!
Jenna and Simon Hipgrove have a real knack for creating eye candy and here's just a sample...

Aim True Sketchbooks

The Finders Keepers Brisbane Market

Flanno Cards

Valentines Day Card

inky co.

Last week I was lucky enough to discover a parcel waiting for me on my desk and I do indeedily doodily love parcels, but even more than that I love stationery, so you should have seen the look on my face when I unwrapped these gorgeous notebooks and pen & pencil set from fabulous new stationery brand Inky Co.

Inky Co. is a new Melbourne based stationery and gift wrapping online store launched in 2011 by honours graduate and graphic designer, Chloe, in collaboration with her graphic designer mum, Carolyn (what a family, feel like adopting?).
The Inky Co. philosophy is to design and manufacture in Melbourne using a combination of age old production techniques, like letterpress and flexographic printing, with environmentally friendly materials to produce beautiful Australian made products Chloe and Carolyn both love and love to use.

I'm loving the Inka Earth collection, with aztec patterns and bright bold colours, all made using only 100% recycled paper stock and printed with vegetable inks. Apart from all the stationery goodness, Inky Co also have a delicious blog. Make sure you check it out.


You go girls!