MEET YOU AT THE BEACH - IN PARIS?

http://pretavoyager.blogspot.com/ has to be one of my top 5 sites I visit every day. It's my little piece of daily virtual-travel, you should definately check out her blog. We've been to Paris twice now, and in Summer and I had no idea that the Paris Plage (Paris Beach) initiative is now in it's 9th year??? Starting in 2002 Paris Plage is a free summer event that transforms several areas in Paris into beach area each with a distinct theme. How clever!! It was the brainchild of Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, originally criticized as being extravagant and now celebrated as iconic and innovative.

The different scenes include sun baking sand arena, swimming in pools suspended over the Seine, kayaking the Seine and the free concerts about town. As I've found out it's normally run from mid July to mid August 8am to midnight every day!!! Apparently several European cities have now copied the idea, to think they have to re-create a beach when in Sydney, Australia we are so very lucky to have it surround us. Nice to dream about Paris - great to live in Sydney :)

GLUTEN FREE ANYONE?

Healthy Feast is located at 157 Norton Street Leichhardt. It's open Sun - Tues 8am-4pm and Wed - Sat 8am - 7pm. One of their goals is to cater for those with food intolerances or special dietary needs in inspiring ways. If you have any type of intolerance then you are aware of the limited options available for you, I know we all enjoy eating cardboard... NOT. Healthy Feasts has everything from Lamingtons, Lemon Meringue Pies, Apple Crumbles, Orange Blossom Cakes and more - ALL GLUTEN FREE. Visit their website for more information http://www.healthyfeast.com.au/

CRUELTY FREE FESTIVAL

The Cruelty Free Festival returns to Sydney's Belmore Park on Sunday 7 November from 10am - 7pm. If you care about animals or want to learn how you can make a difference you should definately attend this great day out. There's over 60 food & wine stalls, inspiring cooking demonstrations, entertainment / live performers, meditation and yoga workshops and more. You don't have to be vegetarian to attend the festival - there are so many things you can learn from this festival including avoiding key products that are still tested cruelly on animals. Make a day of it - why not? Visit http://crueltyfreefestival.org.au/ for more information

THE GAFFA

Did you know that there is an awesome artists space on Clarence Street in Sydney CBD? Either did I. I have walked past this building several times and only just walked into it today. GAFFA is located at 281 Clarence St, Sydney CBD or visit www.gaffa.com.au for more information. It is a three level artist space. Ground floor includes the cafe KLINK plus a couple of Keeper Gallery displays and the Gaffa Gallery Shop which stocks all local/Australian upcoming designers. The first, second and third floor contains the gallery spaces which are available for hire. What a fantastic space in the heart of the Sydney.

VINTAGE VENUS

Vintage Venus is an online poster store which has digitally restored some amazing vintage art. There is far too many to mention here, just a small selection above. Recommend to visit their website http://www.vintagevenus.com.au/vintage/intro.htm for more information and inspiration!

THIRD DRAWER DOWN

Third Drawer Down, a fabulous Melbourne store is setting up shop in Surry Hills YAY!!! They have some really unique quirky gift & homewares. Apparently open for 3 weeks only from July 24 - August 13 as part of Sydney Design Week located at Space, 374 Crown Street, Surry Hills. If you can't get down to Surry Hills in time visit them at http://thirddrawerdown.com/

The above 'Winged Blanket' is so very cool! So cosy!!!

There are some really unique finds on the website including the 'RUOK' candle above and a range of postcards that convert into mini city gardens, the idea is you plant your seeds and watch the grass grow around the postcard - there are three to choose from "City Hall", "Botanical Garden" and "Allotment" .

Then there is the freaky hand soap range (below) - weird.

And my favourite - the crayon pebbles :)

Oh and if you feel like getting in touch with nature, the below (expensive) bird calling tools will surely make you feel part of the wild again :)

Farmer Joe

This is a little Farmer-Joe of me, but I love weathervanes, can't wait for hubby to build the ultimate garden shed so one of these glorious weathervanes can adorn the top :) Found through http://www.glenviewproducts.com.au/catalog/index.php

The same company also lists a bunch of very strange letter boxes, still unsure if they make these or whether they just like the look of them - this one was priced at $999,999???

GEORGIE LOVE

How beautiful is this company. Georgie Love is named after the owners much loved ginger mix-mutt super dog. He is a rescue dog and the inspiration behind the website http://georgielove.com/home.php. The design and feel of this site really meets the company motto "handmade pleasures". I found some beautiful items that are so unique - compliments guaranteed. Everything from T-shirts, necklaces, rings, toys, kids items and a very cool funky cape!!!

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.