COLOUR CREATIONS

The Divine Miss M spoke of a great website called http://www.designboom.com/. Designboom.com currently has 4 million readers monthly from 190 countries covering topics from art, architecture and design to unique competitions and product mentions to specifically create dialogue between creative professionals.




In addition to the design forums they have a great online shop. A small but creative range of products including the above Cat Cabin made from corrugated cardboard in 2 different sizes and the liquid bookmark which comes in a set of 3 (white, red & grey) handmade in Japan a more Pulp Fiction way to keep track of your favourite pages. Plus many more items, check them out!

Another story featured on http://www.designboom.com/ is about The Felissimo's 500 coloured pencil set - OMG! This is definately a designers dream set. There are 20 units but you can't buy the complete set at once, you can receive them over a course of 20 months. The wall mounted brackets help keep your beautiful pencils perfectly in order and at handy reach. For more information visit DesignBoom.

POP ART EVENT

Project 5 is a charitable public live art & music event to be held at Sydney's Cockle Bay Wharf. Times vary across the weekend: Fri 20 August 6-9pm, Sat 21 August 12-3pm & Sun 22 August 12-3pm. This is the second event for Project 5 which will showcase groundbreaking street art along the shores of Cockle Bay Wharf. Present will be internationally renowned Australian street artists - Anthony Lister, Meggs, Ears and Webuyyourkids; complete with Future Classic deejays cranking out tunes for all. For anyone who can't make it you can catch the live-webcast streaming directly from Cockle Bay Wharf at www.cocklebaywharf.com.au

Once complete on Sunday 22 at 3pm, the finished one-off works will be sold at Leonard Joel auction house in Double Bay, October 14 (6-9pm) - Australia’s second only ever street art auction. Sure to be a high profile event packed with investors and urban art lovers keen to get their hands on a piece of history in the making; all proceeds from the auction go to charitable arts and media organization Information and Cultural Exchange (I.C.E), who run creative arts programs for disadvantage youth in Western Sydney. Get down to Cockle Bay Wharf and support this awesome unique event!!!

MAMAK UPDATE

If you didn't get to read SMH Good Living today, Mamak has announced that it's 2nd venue will be in the new Chatswood railway station food arena. Keep an eye on their website for more information to come http://www.mamak.com.au/

MADE BY JOEL

I search the web for fantastic companies, websites and of course blogs. The thing I love about http://madebyjoel.blogspot.com/ is that Joel Henriques of Portland USA has the best ideas about entertaining people and kids with simple & easy home-made fun. He has been featured in some of the best American home-maker magazines and has a strong following - and why not? He inspires people.... :)

UNTIL NOW

Not sure how I come across these websites, but I'm glad I did. Visit http://until.com.au they have a great range of really unique gifts and ideas. I love the Postcard Aeroplane... what a great way to send a letter to a friend.

Akari Noguchi Furniture

I was once given the most beautiful gift. An Akari Noguchi desk lamp which I treasure to this day. Isamu Noguchi was one of the most important artists of the 20th century (1904-1988). Isamu was the son of an American mother and a Japanese father, poet Yone Noguchi. He was born in LA, USA and spent his childhood in Japan before returning to the USA for his early education. As a young man he traveled to Paris to work with renowned sculptors and then went on to develop his own career as an artist in New York. His designs to this day are unique and immediately scream NOGUCHI. Very hard to find, the only store I found that seems reputable would be The Noguchi Museum Store http://akaristore.stores.yahoo.net

THE ULTIMATE KITCHEN

This is my idea of the perfect kitchen & dining room around. I found this in a magazine called "Sunset" which is an American publication really hard to find in Australia. This house is in Savannah, Georgia USA. I can't find the designers to this to credit them but they certainly deserve the credit - just beautiful!

NORTHERN BEACHES ZUMBO ATTACK!!

Just in case you missed Good Living in the SMH today, Adriano Zumbo is looking at opening a shop in Mona Vale on the Northern Beaches!! I know my Husband and Dad are going to be SO happy about A) not traveling to Balmain and B) all the cakes in the world to eat!!!! How exciting read more at:http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/zumbo-to-stretch-his-sugarcoated-appeal-20100726-10sd5.html

GNP (Gross National Happiness)

Taktshang Goemba (Tiger's Nest Monastery) in the Kingdom of Bhutan is another one for my bucket list. It's a small nation (roughly the size of Switzerland) and is squished between China and India with natural barriers of mountains and forests. In the 1960s the king began the process of modernisation with paved roads, electricity and phones, quite refreshingly TV only arrived in 1999. The fourth King was famously quoted as saying "Gross National Happiness is far more important than Gross National Product." You've got to love a country where plastic bags and tobacco are both illegal and banned. The country opened to international tourism in 1974 with still to this date fewer than 30,000 visit this amazing part of the world per year, with Taktshang Goemba the country's most sacred site to visit, positioned at the gateway to Bhutan, this amazing temple was built in 1962, it's about a 2 hour trek from base and sits some 3000m up a sheer mountain rock face. It's one of the last sacred Buddhist Kingdoms in the world.

AmanKora resort (below) http://www.amanresorts.com/amankora/home.aspx over the last 6 years has opened small lodge-style accommodation in five valleys across Bhutan. The name of the lodges "Amankora" comes from Aman the Sanskrit €word for "peace" and kora the local word for "sacred circular pilgrimage". The properties are high end and have been built with respect to local people and the environment. Guests are invited to join in discussions about peace and happiness and hopefully gain an insight into the buddhist culture and beliefs.

DISCOVER HUNTERS HILL

Hunter's Hill is Australia's oldest garden suburb and a place of national heritage significance. It has a fascinating history. When proclaimed a borough in 1861 it was already known as the 'French Village'. The many early stone houses and buildings are still set in leafy gardens and streets and are close to enchanting bushland areas, including Kellys Bush and Boronia Park.

Its local government area is small (575 hectares), yet it contains seven distinct localities - Boronia Park, Gladesville, Henley, Hunter's Hill, Huntleys Cove, Huntleys Point and Woolwich. There are many places of interest, most of which feature on the sixteen walking trails developed by the locals. Examples are the National Trust's 'Vienna Cottage' (1871), the Council's former Marist Father's retreat 'The Priory' (1857) and the Harbour Trust's Woolwich Dock (1901). Cockatoo Island which lies nearby is now also open to the public.

During 2004 a group of local citizens formed the Hunters Hill Walking Trails Group and developed a series of magnificent interconnected walks throughout the Hunters Hill Municipality. These walks feature the many places of interest and highlight the natural and cultural heritage of the area. The Project is supported by Hunters Hill Council.

HARBOUR CIRCLE WALK

A splendid circular walk between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Gladesville Bridge, with a loop into Hunters Hill. The Walk was launched in September 2005.

GREAT NORTH WALK

This map includes the route of the Great North Walk from Woolwich wharf through Hunters Hill to Fullers Bridge in Lane Cove National Park, with an alternate return track to Figtree Bridge.

SYDNEY HARBOUR AND COASTAL WALKS

A significant series of walking routes around Sydney Harbour and its tributaries, and along the coast between Palm Beach and Cronulla.

COCKATOO ISLAND WALK

Regular ferries now run to Cockatoo Island from Circular Quay and Woolwich wharf. One can take a self guided walk or a tour around this historic island.

SEVEN BRIDGES WALK

The Inaugural 7 Bridges Walk took place on Sunday, 29 October 2006. This annual walk is a major event and traverses the 7 bridges between the City and Hunters Hill. In places it takes a different route to the Harbour Circle Walk because of the number of entrants.