lisadiederich.com

SNOW, SUNSETS AND MY PUPPY

2012-02-09T17:04:00.001+11:00

Some happy snaps of snowy Indiana, a beautiful sunset in my parents’ backyard and the always adorable Toby.

And then a few days after the snow melted… I still can’t believe my parents live here!

PARTY TIME

2012-02-08T10:17:00.001+11:00

Celebrating Christmas, Sam’s Birthday and the New Year with friends in Indy. Our Ugly Sweater party featured Sam’s signature cocktail, really really ugly sweaters and battery-powered Christmas lights as accessories. It was fabulous…

Have you heard of the website Awkward Family Photos? It’s absolutely hilarious and was the inspiration for these next few photos. Oh, heyyyyy awkward. How you doin?

Then, just a few days later it was time to ring in 2012 with the same favorites! Kathryn and Scott threw a wildly fun party and we celebrated the New Year with hugs, kisses and of course running around outside banging on pots & pans!

This photo just makes my day. Great guys. Great guys :)

I know it’s a little late, but I hope everyone is having a fantastic 2012 so far!!

REYNA & BRIELLE

2012-02-04T00:15:00.001+11:00

I have known my best friend Laura since forever. And yes, I know. I sound like a teenager. But OMG, like seriously, we are totes BFF!

Okay, but it really has been like that for as long as I can remember. We met doing gymnastics. A couple of little blonde 11 (?) year olds who weren’t really the “cool” kids at school OR at gym. But we found each other at the same gymnastics level at the perfect time and developed that type of friendship that can withstand anything. The kind that lasts literally forever no matter how much you change, where you live, or how different your lives are.

We were pretty much considered sisters by everyone during those younger years. For years we traveled to gymnastics meets together with our families, had a million inside jokes, and almost simultaneously became horribly cranky and unbearable when hungry.

But what we were most know for were our endless stories to each other. We went to different middle and high schools, so of course had different friends, boys and fun times in our lives. How else were we going to catch up on EVERYTHING besides talk for hours? And where else to do this but 4 hour gymnastics practices, 4 times a week. So to our coach we were known as Aesop's Fables and inbetween tumbling passes, beam routines, and turns on bars we would talk :) They are some of the best memories of my life.

But remember when I said you may change or have different lives? Well….see below. Laura is a MOM. To TWINS! I got to meet them for the first time on our trip home and they now occupy a big giant space in my heart. There is nothing quite like seeing your best friend as a Mom and witnessing how amazing her kids are. Reyna and Brielle are 1 1/2 years old and I love them.

Oh, also….they are FREAKING ADORABLE. Meet Reyna…

And Brielle…

And of course, their beautiful Mom…

Reyna was putting on a show for me. While Brielle was just looking sweet and adorable :)

See what I mean! Haha, what a SASS.

Peek-a-boo!!

Story time as the light was leaving us :)

Later on Laura pulled out an old box of CDs to show me because she’d discovered that almost ALL of her CDs from our teenage years were mixes I had burned for her (and also embarrassingly decorated with various designs on the disks. Bet you didn’t know I was a loser, huh?) But the girls loved playing with them. And I’ve gotta say, it was probably because my mixes were soooooo good.

CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN

2012-02-01T10:30:00.001+11:00

Well, I promised I wouldn’t bore you with too many photos from the US trip. But I do want to share some! So here is a little bunch from our first week. We spent the few days before Christmas with my parents in my hometown and also made a trip to Chicago. It has always been a tradition to go to Chicago and see the Christmas windows (at what used to be Marshall Fields but is now Macy’s). We would walk along State Street with my family and my best friend’s family looking at the decorations and doing some last minute shopping. Then we’d choose one of the city’s iconic restaurants and have a fantastic dinner full of laughs. Those are some of my favorite memories growing up.

So this year, we did a semi-version of that trip. Seeing the sights, shopping and then meeting up with my best friend (who now lives in Chicago) for breakfast the next day! It was so wonderful and really got me in the Christmas spirit. Especially since we visited Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest – a giant event complete with ice skating. It literally looked like Christmas threw up all over that place :)

My amazing parents :)

Oh, and we also couldn’t go to Chicago without a trip to Portillo’s for their famous Chicago Style hot dogs! I totally crave these on a weekly basis.

After our Chicago visit, we spent a few days back in CP getting ready for Christmas day. Lots of gift wrapping, cookie baking and tree decorating took place. It wasn’t pretty. But it was awesome. Oh, and Toby was there :)

He likes having breakfast with the family…

Then it was finally Christmas Day, and it was an extra special one. My brother joined the Navy last year and started basic training in November. He was still in training on Christmas, but was given a day of liberty to travel a certain distance away from base. We me t up with him in the city for brunch and celebrated Christmas as a family. It was great seeing him again – he looks so different! But I couldn’t be more proud.

MEET LORELAI

2012-01-24T22:03:00.001+11:00

Hello Blogosphere!!

I’m back :)

Thank you for being so patient with me and my absence while I took such a looooooooong holiday in the US. I can’t even explain how wonderful the trip was. After being gone for nearly two years, it was amazing being able to spend time with my family and friends again. Over the month trip, Sam and I split our time between my hometown Crown Point, IN, Indianapolis, IN and also Austin, TX like the traveling pros we are. It was hectic, but perfect. And, yes, there was plenty of snow :)

I won’t bombard you with personal traveling photos (because, let’s be honest, most people find it suuuuuuper boring/annoying!) but I will post some little photo “stories”. And first up is one of the most incredible moments of the trip. Meeting my best friend’s brand new baby girl, Lorelai. Her arrival could not have been more perfectly timed. Sam and I arrived in Indy for our week-long visit and that night at 2:35am little Lorelai decided it was time to meet the world. So I got to meet her in the hospital on the day she was born. It was insanely special. I never thought I’d be that lucky – living on the other side of the world. But it was a moment I will never forget.

Here she is. At only 12 hours old :)

The beautiful, happy family.

Then, just a few days later the sweet girl went home! We celebrated with a visit and I couldn’t help but steal her for a little photoshoot. It was casual and impromptu but I’m so happy with how these turned out. My first newborn shoot was definitely pretty special and I’d LOVE to do more now. Although… other newbies are gonna have a LOT to live up to considering this cuteness level :)

My favorite :)

OFF TO THE STATES!

2011-12-20T10:52:00.000+11:00

Well kids, it's finally here. Time to head home for the holidays!! I am so beyond excited to spend the next month in Indiana with my family and friends. It's going to be such a special trip. I hope everyone is prepared for bone crushing hugs and tears upon greeting. Especially Toby. I'm gonna snuggle that pup so hard.

This will probably be my last post for a little while. I plan on taking plenty of photos while I'm in the US, and hope to get some Christmasy pics up around the holidays. But I may get super distracted by all the fun, family and festivities....so apologies in advance :) If you do want to stay updated though (without having to visit the blog all the time) just follow me on Facebook HERE and I'll let you know if and when posts are up. In the meantime, here is life through the iPhone lately.

I hope you all have such a wonderful holiday and a happy New Year!!

xo Lis

FLOWERS FROM SAM

2011-12-16T18:47:00.001+11:00

He’s pretty special :)

BACK TO BLONDE

2011-12-14T10:13:00.000+11:00

c/o Jess at Amore Hair :)

POMEGRANATE

2011-12-12T18:24:00.001+11:00

So I bought a pomegranate. And then I thought….hey, I’m a little bored…and there’s my camera…

Yeah…these are the things I do.

It’s What Katie Ate meets Dexter. Except not nearly as good as either. Haha :)

PUMPKIN PIE

2011-12-08T23:23:00.001+11:00

Pumpkin pie is not a thing here in Australia. Here, pumpkin is a SAVORY thing. Not a sweet thing. So the days of pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, cupcakes, cookies, spiced lattes…..well, you get the idea….are long gone. The Aussies also don’t really believe me when I say that pumpkin pie (the good ole fashioned American way) is actually good. It’s like sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. Does. Not. Compute.

So, thanks to a wonderfully thoughtful and generous friend back home (Em, you rock) I managed to get my hands on some pumpkin pie ingredients. Now… don't judge me. I know I could have made it from scratch. I should have. But I didn’t, alright? Get over it.

Doesn’t it look pretty though!? There is another one in the oven and I reallyyyyyyyy hope they are good because this will be a pumpkin-pie-first for my friends. Can’t have them not liking it!

IT'S DECEMBER?

2011-12-05T11:35:00.001+11:00

Well kids, it's back to reality. No more of these dreamy weddings to share with you in 2011. So sad :( BUT! I do have another wedding next year. Woooo hoooo!

On another bright note, it's December. Which means it's almost CHRISTMAS! Which means I'll be headed back to the US so soooooooon!!!! Can you tell I'm a little excited? Besides my excitement over going home and seeing all my loved ones, I love Christmas. Like really freakin love it. So I can't wait to spend it in the snowy weather of Indiana with my family this year. All of the traditions like going shopping with my mom, walking around Chicago looking at all the Christmas windows, putting up decorations, wrapping gifts with the family, baking and decorating cookies...ahhhhhh, they are perfection. And this year, I get to introduce Sam to all of these wintery, Christmasy traditions. It will also be his first white Christmas :)

But until we actually get on that big fantastic plane that will take me home, I have been trying to get in the Christmas spirit here in Oz. It's a little tricky because we won't be getting a Christmas tree this year (kinda a waste if you are going to be away from home) and we haven't done much shopping or gift wrapping because we plan to do most of it when we get to the States. So my Christmas spirit has been screaming for some action and over the past week I've tried to do my best. After watching Elf a few times, we even pulled the decorations out of the garage and dressed up some decorative branches in the living room. It feels more festive already :)

I know, it's a little Tim-Burton-Christmas-esque....but I like it!

KYLA & MICHAEL - WEDDING SLIDESHOW

2011-11-30T14:29:00.000+11:00

Well, I'll be honest. I worked hard on this one. I just really wanted the slideshow to tell a story! So I edited some music together (yeah, I'm pretty hardcore) and couldn't believe my luck when it all fit so perfectly! The songs just pull at your heartstrings huh!?

I really can't thank both of these couples enough for giving me the opportunity to photograph their special days. I have truly found a new passion and can't wait to shoot more!

Thank you Kyla and Michael, I really hope you enjoy your slideshow.

KYLA & MICHAEL - SYDNEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-11-29T09:25:00.001+11:00

Back in June, I met up with Kyla and Michael at Lindt Cafe to chat about their wedding photography. You might remember me posting about it here! It was such a lovely little spot to talk wedding bliss, over hot chocolate and macaroons. And, well, let me tell you....their wedding on 11.11.11 was just as blissful and romantic as that decadent cafe. Kyla planned every detail to perfection and they couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Sydney day!

The ceremony was set right on the water in Drummoyne and afterwards the bridal party hopped into a water taxi and sped over to Cockatoo Island for some photos. The island is very industrial and some of the architecture is really stunning. It was an especially unique setting for photos though because there was a HUGE street art exhibition going on this month, covering the entire island and every building there. So each empty warehouse was full of graffiti works. There was even a Banksy exhibition! Very cool stuff for this little beginner photog :)

Soooooo, I hope you enjoy the photos!

The boys have it so easy. Beers and a swim while the girls are getting pampered :)

Kyla, you are stunning. These are some of my favorite photos from the day...

They are just so in love!

Then it was off to the reception at Ecco, overlooking Sydney Harbour.

And I have never seen such a DANCE PARTY. The groom was dragging everyone out on the dance floor. There were dance-offs, handstands, sunglasses and someone even broke out the worm. Amazing.

Thank you Kyla and Michael. I'll have your slideshow up tomorrow!

KYLA & MICHAEL - SYDNEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-11-28T15:10:00.000+11:00

You may remember from a few weeks ago that I had my second wedding photography gig?

Well, boy was it a stunner.

I've been editing photos over the past two weeks and almost have the selection ready to share with you! Getting ready to blog them tomorrow! And I'm sure the bride and groom are the most excited out of everyone, but for those of you also interested....I can't wait to share! The wedding was absolutely gorgeous - with the ceremony set by the waterfront in Drummoyne, a water taxi ride to Cockatoo Island for the bridal party photos, and a reception overlooking Sydney Harbour - it was hard not to take beautiful photos.

But aside from all of that, the bride and groom were adorably, perfectly, stunningly in love. You can even feel it through the photos.

Embarassing Secret: I just finished their slideshow and was nearly in tears over how perfect the music and photos fit together. Sigh.....

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR...

2011-11-25T11:40:00.001+11:00

wonderful, loving, and encouraging parents who support me endlessly and make me feel so blessed.

a brave brother, who is starting an exciting new chapter in his life with the US Navy.

a supportive family who make me feel loved and cared for, even in another country.

good friends spread around the world who are so amazing, caring, supportive, beautiful, and inspiring that there aren't enough adjectives to do them justice :)

a secure job, comfortable home, fresh food and water, and blessed lifestyle.

the opportunity and courage to live in another country and make the most of this thrilling life.

a loving second family here in Australia to be a part of.

and last, but most certainly not least, I'm thankful for Sam. a best friend who loves me unconditionally, makes me laugh, encourages me to follow my dreams, keeps me safe and just generally makes me feel like the most important person in the world :)

Beth-Emily

2011-11-23T15:47:00.001+11:00

Sometimes my brain hurts from all of the beautiful creativity out there. People are just so dang talented!

Case in point, artist Beth-Emily. I love her work and think you will too....

Sam first discovered Beth-Emily and bought me a birthday card with her artwork on it from Apache Rose. (Awwwwww!)

Then I noticed that the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets has used her beautiful work on their posters this year! Double love.

(Sidenote: the connections really are endless because when I was stalking Beth-Emily's work all over the web I discovered that she sells work through Melbourne Gallery Signed + Numbered. Which is where I got THESE amazing works from Kareena Zerefos. Swooning over everything!)

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE

2011-11-21T10:48:00.001+11:00

So yesterday I did something kinda crazy. And by crazy I mean....

I JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE!

Yeah. Skydiving. Freakin crazy, huh?!

Why? You ask? Well, let's go back to my birthday earlier this month.... when my kind, loving, and thoughtful Sam asked what I would like for a birthday present.... And I said....

Oh, babe! I don't need anything! Really, I don't need any gadgets or clothes or anything like that. Maybe we could just do something fun together?

Kids. BEWARE OF THIS ANSWER. You may think you are being casual, easy-going or budget friendly....but you are NOT. You are daring them to throw you out of a plane!

And you will look like this:

But I digress....

So Sam told me that we were going to go on a surprise adventure for my present. He didn't tell me where or what, but he said it was his first idea and that I was going to LOVE it. Two weeks went by of me begging for clues and making wild guesses. Some of the clues I was given included:

"The weather is supposed to be really nice, so the view will be amazing if we get high enough." Uhhh, ya think!?

"Wear comfy clothes....like you would to go on a hike." Yeah, a HIKE. Totally the same thing.

"Sure, you can bring both your SLR and your waterproof camera. You never know......." Haha! Thanks Love.

And this one is my favorite....said so casually.... "Well, there is a little bit of fear involved."

My guesses included: hiking/kayaking/paddleboarding/etc in the National Park, abseiling, going on an African safari (admittedly not my best guess), or climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Which was probably the closest I got to the thought of jumping out of a plane.

So anyway, Sunday morning came around, we went to breakfast and then jumped in the car. We headed south, so my bridge climb theory was wrong. And I was so stumped! After about 30 minutess, we got off the highway at Wollongong and Sam changed the music. First track: "Highway to the Danger Zone" No joke. I was laughing and shaking at this point. I thought it could go either way....just something a little dangerous OR...planes. And then he put on the song "Free Fallin" and I LOST IT. I had always wanted to go skydiving but never thought I'd actually do it. This was really happening. Ahhhhhhh!

So about 5 minutes after finding out what we were doing, we pulled up in front of Skydive the Beach, filled out our forms, I nervous-peed about 3 times, and then we were harnessed up and ready to go! It all happened so fast!

Once on the plane and strapped to our tandem skydive-pro, we climbed to 14,000 feet. Sam was so pumped. And I was nervous. But still smiling....

Then people started jumping. And I was NOT having it. I just wanted everyone to calmly sit back down in their seats so we could finish the nice little plane ride!

Sam jumped before me (we didn't really have a choice) and that officially sent me into panic mode. My face is priceless. This was my genuine, not-staged reaction to Sam jumping...

His smile is really trying to tell me it will be alright :)

And then, before I knew it, I was out the door falling through a cloud!

So scared. But then LOVING it!

40ish seconds of free-falling. 5 minutes of flying with the cute open. And then, as quick as it started, it was time to land...

What an amazing experience. And I am so glad I got to share it with Sam. Isn't he the best?! What a great gift.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, after we landed we totally ran across a big open field towards each other. Movie style. It was awesome :)

Love him.

AUDREY WILKINSON - HUNTER VALLEY VINEYARD

2011-11-14T15:57:00.001+11:00

I fell in love with Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard after Justin and Nikita's wedding. Even though I had been to the Hunter Valley before, I had somehow never seen this beautiful vineyard! The rolling hills, lined with vines and the panoramic views were just incredible. So I drug Sam back there the next day to sit on the fence and watch the sun set. Stunning....

BUSY BUSY AND BIRTHDAY FUN

2011-11-14T15:15:00.001+11:00

Hi Friends! How are you?? Loving this beautiful spring weather? Yeah....I thought so. Me too!

(Sorry US friends....I know it's getting cold for you. I'll be visiting soon and enjoying those freezing temps with you, so don't be too angry at me.)

I've been busy busy these past few weeks. Between photographing the weddings, turning a year older, planning a trip to the US and still trying to have a social life, it's been a little nuts.

But luckily, I got to take some time on Sunday and enjoy life with some great friends. To celebrate my birthday a little belated, Sam and I invited a bunch of friends over to our place for a late afternoon balcony bash. There was wine, and beer, and cheese, and dips, and crusty bread, and paté, and olives and prawns! Yummmmm!

Oh and there were also babies.

Really cute, snuggly, soft-skinned little babies who had fun destroying our house. I loved it :)

I was a little bit spoiled with presents by my friends, too. A big box of beautiful fresh potted herbs, a print by one of my favorite artists and some lovely red wine vinegar for fancy salad dressings. Oh and a flower for my hair :)

Speaking of flowers.... here is a cheeky sneak peek from the second wedding I photographed :)

YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS...

2011-11-08T11:55:00.001+11:00

I am totally obsessed with the new musical discovery Private Life

In their words, If Bob Dylan and Debbie Harry had a drunken instance and siblings were birthed....

Your ears are really going to enjoy it :)

NOVEMBER 7

2011-11-07T12:36:00.001+11:00

It's been a little crazy around here lately, but here is a quick life update through the lens of my iPhone. Instagram is the jam so follow me if you'd like @ lisadieder :)

This past weekend was spent lounging in the sun pondering the fact that I'm one year older. It was beautiful outside and I felt so special to share my celebrations with Sam and some close friends. Then I came into work this morning to find an explosion of party on my desk. I'm a lucky girl :)

JUSTIN & NIKITA - WEDDING SLIDESHOW

2011-11-03T10:31:00.000+11:00

Justin and Nikita, I know you said you didn't need a slideshow..... but I just couldn't help myself :)

Plus, I've included a lot more photos in this video than in the previous posts.

I hope you enjoy it!!

JUSTIN & NIKITA PART 2– SYDNEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-11-02T07:40:00.000+11:00

The second collection from my first wedding shoot – post-ceremony and reception. To see the first group, just scroll down to the last post :)

I hope you like them…

One of my favorites :)

Nikita, you are stunning!

Love these! That dress. Gasp.

JUSTIN & NIKITA – SYDNEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-11-01T08:10:00.001+11:00

Well, I finally have some photos to share with you! It’s been a little crazy, I’ll be honest. But I’m actually a bit proud of the results. For my first wedding (shooting all by myself) I think I did an okay job! Although I’ll let you be the real judge.

Nikita and Justin are such a wonderful couple and their wedding was one incredible day. The details were beautiful and so carefully planned. The ceremony was relaxed and full of love. The bride and groom were adorably happy all day. And the reception was stunning, set in the cask hall of a winery. I really couldn’t have asked for a better day to photograph.

I have two posts for you guys. This first one shares all of the photos from before the wedding – details, portraits, moments – through to the ceremony. And tomorrow I’ll have the post-ceremony portraits and reception photos for you!

ALMOST...

2011-10-31T17:43:00.000+11:00

My dear readers, I know you must be so annoyed with me! I am so so sorry. I significantly underestimated how freakin BUSY I would be these past few weeks. Holy schmoly!

The good news? I have photos. Like, real honest-to-goodness wedding photos.

And you will get to see them tomorrow. Yes, you read that right..... TOMORROW!!!
(Tuesday morning in AUS - Monday afternoon in the US)

Wheeeee!!

2011-10-25T14:09:00.000+11:00

Sorry, I know that was SUCH a tease!

(insert evil, but cute laugh here)

For anyone wanting an actual update, I am nearly through editing the post-ceremony photos and only have the reception left! Between the day job and some computer/monitor complications (why do colors look different on EVERY single screen?!) it has been slow work. But I promise I'll get faster with every new wedding I do!

xo Lis

HUNTER VALLEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000+11:00

Would you like a sneak peek? Huh? Would ya?

Yeah....I thought you would....

It's one of my favorites :)

LIGHTBOX MAGIC

2011-10-21T09:52:00.001+11:00

Ummm, so my blog started doing something kind of awesome. Without me actually changing anything?!

When you click on images within a post, they pop up in fancy lightboxes. Crazy! Has this happened for any of you?

I'm using Firefox so maybe it's a browser thing??

I SURVIVED

2011-10-17T15:10:00.000+11:00

It was gorgeous, romantic, exhilarating, EXHAUSTING and most of all... so rewarding.

I took some beautiful shots - made easy by Nikita and Justin's perfectly planned day and genuine love for each other. It was an absolutely stunning wedding!

But, let's be honest, I also took some less than beautiful shots. There were moments when I thought my camera had actually decided to rebel against me and purposely put everything out of focus. Just to spite me and my sweaty hands. There were also moments when, while crawling around on the chapel floor, I dreamed of being invisible so the guests weren't tempted to laugh at me. (I don't think any actually laughed at me...but they should have.) And speaking of dreams....after the whole day was said and done, and I had backed up all of the images 3 times on hard drives and computers, I crawled into bed exhausted and had nightmares of trying to edit photos that were completely and horribly out of focus. Talk about psycho-stress-Lisa. Geez!

But all jokes and worries aside, I am really happy with the results. And now I am so excited to edit the photos and share them with the bride and groom! And you, of course :)

I still have my work cut out for me though. Because between two camera bodies, four lenses, 6 camera batteries (I may have over-estimated how many I'd need. Haha!), four memory cards, a flash, and two spare lenses... I snapped over 1500 pictures. Yes. You read that right. 1500. One person. In eleven hours. 1500 photos. Soooooo it might take me a little while to post them. Sorry... just enjoy this sneaky iPhone snap for now.

MY FIRST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GIG

2011-10-12T15:54:00.000+11:00

Well, it's here. Much sooner than I expected, but it's here! This weekend I am shooting my very first wedding. Crazy, huh?!

I'll be honest...I'm a little bit nervous. But over the past week I have been going over everything in my head, planning all of my ideal shots, and making lots of lists....all of which have actually made me more excited than I am nervous. Bring it on!!

Without giving too much away, I'll tell you that the wedding is in the Hunter Valley (Australian wine country) at an adorable little church. The post-ceremony portraits will be taken at a vineyard and the reception is in a cask hall. Goodness. Is your mind creating beautiful landscapes, lighting and atmosphere in your imagination?? Mine totally is.

Of course I've been collecting inspirational images from day one, and I thought I'd share some with you. Mainly for a bit of fun, but also so you can hold me to this high standard when I share MY photos with you. The inspiration is mainly coming from the composition and type of photo...not so much the coloring or people obviously :)

Enjoy....and wish me luck!

(Images stolen mainly from OnceWed, 100 Layer Cake and Ruffled. Sorry for not linking. Bad blogger!)

SAM STEPHENSON MUSIC

2011-10-10T13:52:00.001+11:00

This kid never ceases to amaze me. Seriously, how can one person have so much talent?!

I'm really really proud to share Sam's latest project.... a solo mission!

When he's not busy with Fisherking, he's writing and recording songs like mad for his own EP. The work he has done so far is pretty amazing and I think everyone is going to really like it.

To hear three early demo tracks, read about his music and browse plenty of photos, check out his new site HERE

HOLIDAY HORSEBACK RIDING

2011-10-06T12:48:00.000+11:00

Ok Lisa, snap out of it! Time to get inspired. Or at least a teensy bit motivated...

So here are some happy snaps from last weekend. Monday was a public holiday (and much needed if you ask me!) so I headed down south for a bit of true relaxation. I even left my camera back in Cronulla on purpose. It was time to unwind.

Buuuuuut did you really think I'd be able to go an entire weekend in Mollymook without taking a few photos? Especially when we spontaneously decided to go horseback riding? Nope. No way :)

Have you ever seen a white peacock!? I was amazed.

The farm was in the middle of NOWHERE. Just sitting in a little valley, with green hills all around. It was rustic and charming...but we quickly headed out onto the trails with our horses. Sam and I were looking super cool on our BFF horses. They were supposedly inseparable from each other, but mine seemed more interested in eating than anything else that afternoon. Such disobedient things, those horses!

Case in point. That is NOT the trail...ugh

BLAH

2011-10-05T09:15:00.000+11:00

I'm not feeling very inspired this week. Sorry.

I did walk into a spider web this morning though. So yeah....there's that.

2011-09-30T11:11:00.000+10:00

FISHERKING AT THE MONKEY

2011-09-28T23:18:00.001+10:00

Last week, Fisherking had a gig at The Brass Monkey. And I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to practice shooting with my 50mm f1.4 in low lighting. It’s a new lens to me and I’ve been trying to work on my general photography skills a bit more lately (I’m even taking a lesson next week!)

So, I gave it a go. (I know, that was so Aussie of me to say!). And I was relatively happy with the results. Findings include:

Obviously it’s much easier to shoot objects that aren’t moving. Which isn’t really an issue in natural daylight.
Photographing musicians while they are moving all over the place is tricky. Especially when there is an audience in your way.
Photos in low lighting can actually look GOOD! If you do it right.

Here is a selection of the best shots from the night. They’re ok, but I still need a lot of practice. Especially considering these are 20 shots out of practically 300! And I didn’t even bring my flash…geez Lisa.

Obviously I’m biased to the frontman :) But in all honesty the other guys were really hard to shoot! The angle wasn’t right, and they move around a lot more than Sam. I guess because he stands relatively still in front of the microphone, it makes it easier to get a clear shot of him. Hmmmm…with practice I suppose….

Thanks for putting up with my experiments. And if anyone has advice on shooting in low light with a prime lens (or with a flash), hit me with it!

LUCAS GROGAN

2011-09-27T14:09:00.001+10:00

As usual, The Design Files has introduced me to a phenomenal artist. I'm loving Lucas Grogan. And I think you will too.....

I mean, just LOOK at this wall mural!

More of his work.... I just love the colors.

(Images via The Design Files)

DESIGN*SPONGE AT HOME

2011-09-26T22:04:00.000+10:00

My copy of Design*Sponge at Home (courtesy of The Design Files and Hardie Grant) came today! Here I am posing with it like a cheese.

For more cheese, you can check out my new About page :)

HAPPY FRIDAY

2011-09-23T10:48:00.001+10:00

SUCCULENTS

2011-09-22T11:13:00.000+10:00

Remember back in August when I begged and pleaded for your DIY advice on what to do with THIS pot? Well, a full month later I actually got my butt in gear and did something about it. Everyone had such helpful suggestions, but I couldn't stop thinking about Elise's idea. So last weekend, I headed to the local nursery (for plants! Babies wouldn't really fit in the pots.) and bought two cute little succulents. Add a giant (insanely heavy) tree stump that I insisted on dragging up to the unit last fall, and we have a nice little addition to the balcony.

I snapped these photos the other morning and thought I'd try a faded, desert- inspired color treatment for them. I think I like it! What do you think?

WHAT I WORE

2011-09-21T10:10:00.000+10:00

I'll start by saying that I'm so NOT a "fashion blogger". I've always loved reading style blogs - whether it's for inspiration or just envy - but other passions and hobbies take up the majority of my time. Plus, I'm not really all that stylish. Especially when compared to Jules, or Emily, or Kendi, or....well the list goes on....

You've probably noticed though that I'll happily share snippets of my style favorites (like this), online purchases I'm excited about (like here and here) or images for inspiration (like these). But this week I'd thought I'd have a little fun with outfits and share what I wore! The product of extra time and some new clothes :)

(Sidenote: You know you have an online shopping problem when most of your outfits for the week can be created using images from the online stores. Yikes!)

And a peak at my plans for tomorrow and Friday...

CATHERINE CAMPBELL

2011-09-19T10:37:00.000+10:00

One of my closest friends just celebrated her 26th birthday and I wanted to give her something extra special for the occasion. You all know how much I love giving gifts. So I wandered down to another friend's shop in Cronulla - called Apache Rose.

Apache Rose is a new store in Cronulla from Kirsty Parnell, a super talented jewelry designer known for her label barton & bell. Her and her mother opened the shop to feature unique gifts, jewels, clothes, homewares and so many other things from around the globe. One of my favorite treasures though is the collection of artwork in the shop. They showcase these beautiful paintings from Mexico and also works from Catherine Campbell. She is a Melbourne based artist with some serious talent. Here are some of my favorites, but visit her shop or blog to see even more inspiring things.

2011-09-16T11:00:00.000+10:00

Phew! This week flew by! It was such a good one, so that's no surprise. Between booking our flights to the US for Christmas, winning the Design*Sponge book, getting a GIANT box of surprises from my Mom in the mail and enjoying the photos I took of Benson last weekend, I have been one happy girl :)

I hope you have all had a wonderful week as well and are making exciting plans for the weekend! Spring has sprung here in Oz, so excuse me while I enjoy the sun and spend zero time in front of the computer...

I've been pinning all sorts of spring looks lately. I can't seem to get away from the chic shorts/tunic combo...

It's time for all of the new fall TV shows to start in the US, which means new HIMYM and Modern Family episodes. They are my favorites! This new show Up All Night looks funny too. Might have to add it to my list...

These cosmetics cases from Cath Kidston are just perfectly pretty and girly.
(via The Daily Spark)

A very cool online planner.

I'm constantly checking Sarah Beth's pet photography blog. She's a great photographer, but her joy sessions are TEAR JERKERS. My goodness. It's such a beautiful idea, but I just don't know how she does it without soaking her camera in tears :(

BENSON | SYDNEY PET PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-09-14T22:20:00.001+10:00

Well, I hope you are ready for some cuteness. Because as promised, here are the photos from our weekend with Benson the Groodle.

HAHA! Is that a teddy bear?!

Thanks to Mitch and Lauren for trusting us with your pup. And for letting me exploit his cuteness :)

I WON!!

2011-09-13T19:22:00.001+10:00

Oh my goodness. I am in actual, real shock. I never win anything! But I just found out that I am the lucky winner of The Design Files giveaway of the brand spankin’ new book,

DESIGN*SPONGE AT HOME!

I have been admiring and lusting after this book ever since Grace Bonney announced it and I can’t believe it will be showing up on my doorstep soon, thanks to The Design Files. I have been reading both of these blogs for sooooo long :)

I promise to share photos and favorites from the book once it arrives, but until then you can admire these images c/o TDF and the adorable video of Grace below. And if you want to buy the book yourself (which you TOTALLY should) here are the links for Australia and the US (Amazon).

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

GOING HOME

2011-09-13T09:52:00.000+10:00

It's official. Flights are booked...

I'M GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!

WEEKEND PUPPY SITTING

2011-09-12T12:24:00.000+10:00

Ohhhh this weekend was just so much FUN! For those of you who read my blog often, you don't need an explanation....but for anyone who is wondering why I was so friggin pumped about a little ole weekend in September, here is the backstory...

I am a dog lover. Pretty obvious if you look through my photos :) And I have a puppy named Toby. He is an adorable brown and white, cocker spaniel-poodle mix and is 3 years old. Just look at that face!

He is my favorite and I love him to bits. But when I decided to move to Australia, we had to say goodbye. It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make when coming here. It may sound insane to some people, but anyone who has a dog will understand. You just become so attached! In my case, I got Toby when he was a puppy. I drove 3 hours to pick him up from the breeder and 3 hours back to Indy with the little guy curled up on my lap the whole way. From then on, we were BFFs. I was living on my own, so Toby and I ran the place. He went on walks whenever he wanted, played fetch for hours on end, hung out at the dog park and dog bakery on weekends and always snuggled up with me in the bed (I know....so bad).

Long story short... Australia has pretty strict regulations on importing animals. It's a complicated process, it costs a fortune and would likely be a traumatic experience for Tobes (knowing my dog, I really do think he would end up scarred from the travel and 30-day quarantine). So he's happily living with my parents and hopefully missing me.

I really miss having a dog though. I stop people on the street to pet their dogs, interrupt strangers having lunch to get some puppy love and try to convince people to let me photograph and/or dog-sit their pup. It's hilarious. Sam just rolls his eyes. Haha :) But my hard work finally paid off, and my coworker asked if I would watch his groodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle mix), Benson, for the weekend. BINGO! Puppy acquired. Best weekend ever. There ya go!

We had a blast being dog owners for a few days. I got plenty of snuggles and I took a million photos. This post is just a teaser of iPhone shots....more about our adventures and some adorable photos to come tomorrow...

All tuckered out. Lovin the belly rubs and cuddles :)

LAVENDER

2011-09-08T23:08:00.001+10:00

Oh, just been entertaining myself with a new bunch of flowers. Ya know…the usual :)

This particular bunch is full of the most wonderful smelling lavender and has made our unit smell like spring. Although, I do think these photos feel a bit winter-y. What do you think??

Flowers and arrangement by In Bud

THUG LIFE

2011-09-08T15:38:00.001+10:00

My friend just sent me this image with the subject:

For some reason when I saw this

guy it made me think of you & Sam.

Ah, yes....naturally...

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE

2011-09-06T15:33:00.003+10:00

Australians love their coffee. I mean LOVE. This isn't just some Starbucks-addicted country that needs a hit and will settle for low-grade coffee beans processed through automatic espresso machines by college students in aprons. The people of Oz are fanatics. Fanatics about quality, culture, and appreciation. Here, you won't find many street corners without a rustic-looking cafe boasting professionally trained baristas and single-origin coffee. And as you can probably tell by that first Starbucks-bashing sentence, I've totally been converted too. With this Aussie coffee culture and a boyfriend previously trained by the top barista in the country, my perception of coffee and feelings towards drinking it are completely different compared to a few years ago...

In college, Starbucks was a hangout. I drank sugar-dosed lattes and calorie-loaded frappacinos because I didn't love coffee, but I wanted to be in the scene. Coffee was what you were supposed to drink to get you through that 3 o'clock lecture or late night study session. So cover up the actual taste with sugar, would ya?! Then, when I started my first job out of college, coffee was the scene at 8:30am. My colleagues started every day with a mug of drip-coffee (the typical water/coffee grounds machine + cream and sugar, American style coffee). And I did to. It made me feel like a grown up. (Nerd.) But after a while, I realized that I actually didn't LIKE coffee. So I quit. Headaches, sleepiness....blah blah... ensued. But I made it through and was happier on the other side.

Or so I thought....

Because then, I moved to Australia. And I have officially fallen in love with coffee. Proper coffee. I look forward to my perfectly crafted cappuccino each morning and on the weekends I admire the pretty rosettas poured into my cup. It is an art form. And very difficult to do! (Yes, I've tried :)

Well, the reason for this crazy blog tangent today is that I just got back from a special little afternoon coffee break. It all started when Sam's friend brought him a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans from Papua New Guinea. Sam doesn't work behind a coffee machine anymore, so we took it to our favorite spot Alley Break for them to work their magic. The baristas there are top notch, especially our friend Tanvir who is the master of coffee as far as Sam and I are concerned. Anyway, after some grinding, testing, and chatting we tried a few ristrettos and macchiatos. I'm no stranger to these and have been known to start the morning with a "shot' but there was something special about bringing in this new bag of beans and tasting them. Right there on the spot. So different! And something I would normally never do. But I really love how this country and this boy are changing me...

2011-09-02T12:12:00.000+10:00

Happy Friday (or as my bestie pointed out last week...Thursday to those of you in the US)! Haha.... I've had a shocking morning with some nightmare work stuff. But then my sweet co-worker brought me a chocolate covered strawberry to brighten my day! How wonderful is that? I'm a lucky girl :)

ANYWAY, I hope YOU have had a lovely week fill with chocolate strawberries and thoughtful people. Do you have exciting weekend plans?? I'm hoping to get the camera out tomorrow for some shots around Cronulla. It's supposed to be gorgeous spring weather, so there is no excuse!

Here are some findings from around the web this week. Enjoy and see you on Monday!

Pinterest goodies from this week. You can find the links for these and more of my pins here :)

(via Ez)

This wedding photo feature is STUNNING. I'm not a big fan of the Americana theme personally....but it works for them considering it was July 4th. The whole event looks so casual and fun! Plus, that canoe is perfection. James Moses, photographer extraordinaire, rocks socks off.

A fun and unique hairstyle calendar for every day of the month. Go nuts.

I agree Grace. Loving this artistic take on Central Park!

I want to make this sweet corn ceviche sometime soon :)

xo

NARRAWALLEE INLET

2011-09-01T12:07:00.001+10:00

Just 5 minutes from Mollymook is a beautiful little spot called Narrawallee. It sounds just like it's spelled... nair-ah-wall-ee :)

I took these photos on a crisp, sunny day with my 10-22mm. I love how open and free they feel! This last one has even been blown up canvas size for our bedroom wall.

They make me feel like I'm right back there, wading through the lake.

SPRING INTO BED

2011-08-31T16:37:00.000+10:00

It's almost time to take the thick winter quilt off my bed and replace it with something light and summery! This little blue beauty from Urban is on it's way overseas right now to fill the role. Jaipur hand-printed cotton, with a vintage feel :)

Hurry up USPS!

MOLLYMOOK MAGIC

2011-08-29T20:49:00.001+10:00

It’s like a second home. I don’t know what I’d do without Sam’s family’s house down in Mollymook. I feel so lucky to have a place like this to escape to, and so blessed that Sam and his parents share it with me. Plus, it’s always full of inspiration…

The peak of Pigeon House at sunset…just slightly to the left of center

2011-08-26T11:12:00.001+10:00

Happy Friday! Time for another round-up of internet wonders. I'm really starting to like putting these together. My week has been pretty busy and the weekend doesn't look like it will be much different! I have two trips into the city planned. First, I'm headed to El Loco tonight for a friend's birthday celebration. They have $5 tacos, a tequila bar out the back and are apparently one of the best Mexican restaurants in Sydney. (Ahem....although, I'll be the judge of that. You can't trust an Aussie to know good Mexican. Unless that Aussie has been to Mexico or a proper Mexican restaurant in the States. They just don't know what they are missing!) I digress....

Then on Saturday it's back downtown to catch up with an old friend from the US! There is talk of her moving to Sydney for work, so I'm going to do my best showing off this great place :)

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and of course, enjoy some of the feasting...

Ha! Love it. Only Marc Johns could sell a drawing on the back of cereal box for $75.

The founders of the Finders Keepers Markets, Sarah and Brooke, are really something special. They have opened a new shop in Surry Hills called Follow Store, and it boasts the same amazing wares as their infamous markets. I am so totally going this weekend. Here are just a couple of my favorites....

Totally obsessed with Jules and her style. Love absolutely everything she wears.

I'm gonna need to make a trip to THIS bar. Maybe while I'm out and about this weekend!

Aweeeeee puppers :)

SHOPPING MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

2011-08-25T13:21:00.000+10:00

Still no luck on the flights. But you know what else makes everything better? Shopping.

Asos, I heart you.

Pepe Jeans Shirt, Stripe Holdall, Island Cuban Heel Boots, Bird Print Dress, Floral Shift Dress, House of Harlow Necklace, Envelope Clutch, Contrast Tunic

BROWNIES MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER

2011-08-22T16:30:00.002+10:00

I had a rough Sunday.

Well, actually, the first half of it was great. Brekky by the beach with Sam and Amy, and then us girls spent hours on the couch messing with our cameras, trying to learn about photography. Haha :) No, but really... Amy just got a new Canon 7D and while I may seem like I know what I'm doing behind the lens, I'm still technically a beginner. So there was lots of manual-reading, test-shot-taking and laughing as we made Sam uncomfortable by secretly taking photos and video of him :)

But then.....

I had one of those evenings where as soon as the sun goes down, so does your sanity. Stupid things got the best of me and I found myself on an unexpected trip to Crazytown. A long detour to the grocery store...

After dinner and a much needed glass of red, I thought I'd try to boost my mood by booking flights to the US for Christmas. A few weeks ago I came across this article by Brooke about booking reward travel with a mileage special. Brilliant! If it worked and seats were available, it would be such a relief. Flights in December are INSANELY expensive. So I had worked myself up into thinking this plan would totally work. We'd save thousands of dollars and be happily rolling in mileage discount glory.

But...it didn't work.

I have been missing home, family and friends so much lately and (full disclosure) daydreaming on a regular basis about snow, Christmas trees, and hugs from the people I miss. So I was heartbroken.

Two meltdowns later, we had brownies.

Brownies make everything better. And so does Sam....he suggested we try finding a one-way mileage flight. It wouldn't be as cheap, but it would help. Fingers crossed :)

WATERCOLORS

2011-08-22T08:00:00.001+10:00

I wouldn't call it a new obsession....but I would say that my love for watercolor is growing at a crazy-fast rate. I have found some stunning works recently and wanted to share. Water your watercolor obsession so it can grown with mine :)

Samantha Hahn via gallery hanahou

Wedding Invites by Spencer Studio

Sarah Prood via Seesaw Designs

Stationery by Jeremy & Kathleen

And also the watercolor illustrations by Emily Green, I posted here.

2011-08-19T10:10:00.000+10:00

Happy Friday kids :) What do you have planned for the weekend? I'm looking forward to a fun night out tomorrow, because Fisherking is having an album launch show at The Brass Monkey! You can never have too many nights filled with great music in my opinion. I'll let you know how it goes....hopefully I can sneak some photos.

Onto the fun stuff....I think I have a little floral/watercolor theme going on here. Not intentional at first...but I'm glad it's happening now!

A new blog favorite - August Empress. I just kept reading post after post. You'll love it.

Continuing the Aussie love... August Empress posted about Emily Green, a Melbourne-based designer whose jewelry is cute, but I'm so much more obsessed with her own watercolor illustrations used in the product shots! See for yourself.... there are even more at her Etsy Shop.

I adore this wallpaper. The reasons for owning my own home are growing :)

(Via Oh Happy Day)

I'm not necessarily a huge Kate Moss fan, but good God these wedding photos are stunning!

More beauties from Rifle Paper Co. Love those calendars!

KIRRA JAMISON

2011-08-17T18:27:00.001+10:00

Kirra Jamison is at it again. This time with her collection titled Love me two times.

I dig…

I can’t even choose which one I’d want the most :)

SCATTERED

2011-08-16T22:34:00.001+10:00

Sometimes the most beautiful things are just lying on the ground…

My favorite…

RIFLE PAPER CO.

2011-08-15T16:00:00.000+10:00

I couldn't agree more with Jordan at Oh Happy Day ... these Happy Birthday cards from Rifle Paper Co. are just adorable!

2011-08-12T09:00:00.001+10:00

Have a wonderful weekend you lovely people, you. I am escaping to Mollymook....away from the housework, alarm clock, internet hum, and To Do List. Hello glorious sleep-ins, brunches, market strolls, leisurely photo taking, red wine and fireplace. It's going to quite nice me thinks :)

So clever! Now, where can I get one :)

I love the styling of these chapter openers for the Design*Sponge book. Grace is so creative and has the best taste!

Yet another inspiring pet photographer. My list is getting soooooooo long!

I pretty much want/love everything on Ez's style pinboard.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

Discovered this great project by Louise this week. What a cool idea! An especially good way to get out and really see where you live. I'm inspired. 52 Suburbs.

POPPIES.

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000+10:00

My favorite floral photos yet!

Sam brought home these gorgeous poppies on Tuesday and I have barely been able to take my eyes off them since! The lighting yesterday morning was perfect, so I snapped a few quick shots before work and then ran out the door. I knew they looked nice from the previews on my camera….but I wasn’t expecting this! The colours are so soft and pretty. And the delicate petals really show through with this morning light. I’m in love. I think these would look gorgeous blown up on a few canvases and hung on a stark white wall.

If by chance you’d be interested in purchasing the high-res images, let me know at lisa.dieder@gmail.com :)

LIFE THROUGH INSTAGRAM

2011-08-09T21:25:00.001+10:00

The big SLR doesn’t always make it out, so here is life captured through the iPhone lens. With a little Instagram filter love :)

Look what I found! A candy shop selling US treats!

Buuuuuut yeah….that says $63 DOLLARS! for a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. Holy schmoly…..

HELP!!

2011-08-08T11:16:00.000+10:00

Ok, DIY'ers. Help me! I'm soooooo not a DIY person.....aside from painting of course. So I desperately need your expert advise on what to do with this little guy.....I have three of them from IKEA.

My original plan was to put herbs/plants out on our balcony, but this winter our herbs are struggling to survive and I'm hesitant to send more to their death. Any other ideas?? I have a feeling that Sarah from Everyday Easy, Sarah from TBC or Elise from Romantic Hippie will know what to do :)

WOW

2011-08-05T15:22:00.000+10:00

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

2011-08-05T13:00:00.000+10:00

Loving this trend.

Truly spectacular shots. It just never gets old! Although I do wonder whether some have been helped by Photoshop. Wish I could master it with my waterproof camera, but I feel like you'd need a really large lens instead of a point and shoot?
(via A Cup of Jo)

Hahaha...great proposal :)
(via Jo again)

Have you heard of The Beauty Department? It's a little blog gem started by Lauren Conrad (don't pretend you didn't love The Hills), her makeup artist Amy Nadine and hairstylist Kristin Ess. Full of beauty tips, step-by-step tutorials, and current trends/inspirations it's written in a fun, casual tone by all three of them and really doesn't seem all that "celebrity". Win!

I adore this wedding. It looks like so much friggin' fun and the photography is absolutely stunning.

I have an ASOS addiction. Purchased. Among other things :/

MOLLYMOOK JAMS

2011-08-04T13:18:00.002+10:00

You might remember me mentioning here that Sam is playing a show next week at The Brass Monkey with some of his closest musician friends. It's going to be a night of collaborations and amazing music (cough...shameless promotion...cough). And in preparation, these kids have been jamming together for months! I've been lucky enough to be at the sessions as a quiet (yet, totally enthusiastic compliment-er) and sometimes I even put my creativity to use. No...I do NOT sing :)

Winter jam sessions at Mollymook are the absolute best. Come visit us. We'll take you....you'll see....

Love.

He won't like me for putting this up. Too "looking-off-into-the-distance"y?

Hehe :)

JOY THE BAKER

2011-08-02T10:22:00.001+10:00

I am so in love with Joy the Baker. Not in a creepy way....

I don't think.

But she's just fantastic. So freakin fantastic that I read her blog and dream of her recipes and wish I was her. Or at least her friend so I could have THAT much fun.

Read her blog. You'll know what I mean. She's hilarious. And really good at baking stuff.

Double Chocolate Indoor S'mores

Rissotto Rice Pudding with brown sugar and cinnamon

Simple Roasted Apricots with honey mascarpone

Peach and Raspberry Crumble

And the monster of all wonderful-looking, sure-to-taste-heavenly, terrible-for-you treats....

Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

Joy also makes healthy or vegan or savory or fresh things that will make you drool on your computer. But I know you just wanted to see pictures of the sweets.

You're welcome :)

2011-07-29T15:03:00.001+10:00

Is it honestly Friday already? Sheesh. I didn't realize what a jam-packed schedule I had planned. Between friend and family dinners a few nights in the city, I've barely been home all week!

Today I thought I'd share some of the incredible paintings of my friend Merrity's Dad, Idris Murphy. Sam and I attended the opening of his exhibition at Kings Street Gallery with a group of friends and had such a amazing time! What he has been able to accomplish with his carrer and his work is truly inspiring. These images don't do his paintings justice at all....the textures, sheens and colours are so wonderful in person. If you are in/near Sydney, I would absolutely recommend visiting the exhibition which is open until August 20th.

Idris Murphy, On the Way to Turkey Creek 2011

acrylic on board 180x175cm

Idris Murphy Coles Bay, Freycinet 2011
acrylic & collage on board 45x45cm

Idris Murphy River Flats, King George River, Kimberleys 2011
acrylic on board 45x45cm

Idris Murphy South Coast Drive from Tathra 2011

acrylic on board 120x130cm

Idris Murphy Still Light 2011

acrylic on board 45x45cm

The group :)

BUTTONS

2011-07-28T14:45:00.001+10:00

Did you notice my fun new social media buttons over there??

I got serious with some coding, alright. I told you I'd figure it out eventually :)

Now you can find my Facebook page and Twitter profile really easily. AND there's an email link. Oh, and did I mention they float when you scroll up or down? Booyah!

THOUGHTS FOR A WEDNESDAY

2011-07-27T16:50:00.002+10:00

If you have a passion, share it with the world.

Recently I've noticed a really surprising shift in people's attitudes about this. I'm not sure if it's our age, our world of over-information, or just a whole heap of naysayers coming out of the woodwork...but there is definitely a trend of....judgement, I think I'll call it. A trend of people being annoyed with other people's interests, passions or hobbies and not wanting to know, see or hear about them.

And fair enough. Social media has made it nearly impossible to AVOID knowing about other people's lives. If you're on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Blogger, or heck...even just have an email address, you are asking to be a part of the collective share. The wedding photos of a girl you knew in high school, but haven't spoken to in years. The mass email announcing your friend's brother's cousin's new blog. The tweets about life with a new baby from your old college friend. Personally, I like hearing news about the lives of people I know. I enjoy seeing them discover new hobbies or promoting their new business. I like seeing photos of their weddings and babies. I realize that not everyone is like me, but my point is simple - these are all things that can be opted-in to or opted-out of. There is a choice...

To friend or not to friend. To follow or not to follow.

So for the judgers I have heard about and also experienced personally, no one has forced you to read a blog, or look at a photo. No one has forced you to get a boob job. No one has forced you to listen to their music or look at photos of their kid. Just let people share. And if you don't want to be shared with....don't opt-in.

For the sharers, please don't stop! Whether it's your passion for photography, your love for writing, your impressive new recipe, your wedding photos, a million photos of yourself looking smokin hot, or your extensive collection of tiny erasers from 3rd grade.....don't be afraid to share it, promote it, and be proud of it. It is not self-indulgent, vain, annoying or inappropriate. It is YOU. And there will always be someone out there who is interested.

COVERS AND CREATIONS

2011-07-26T12:08:00.001+10:00

My insanely talented boyfriend is playing a show on August 11th, at The Brass Monkey. Here are two little tastes of what's to come. And my goodness, I'm excited. LISTEN to those magical sounds!

Videos by Wylie Fowler, as we sat around in various cozy rooms, drinking, laughing and singing :)

Covers and Creations
Who: Sam Stephenson, Merrity Murphy, Bob Stamper, and Matt Corby
What: A night of musical collaborations, original songs and covers.
Where: The Brass Monkey
When: August 11, 2011 Doors @7pm

Call or click here to book!

2011-07-22T11:43:00.000+10:00

What a week! This one was insane-o. I really haven't had much time at all to find fun finds or inspiration. That said, I have been thinking a lot about my passions and how to maximize my own happiness by dedicating more time and energy to them. (Whoa, how's that for a heavy sentence on a Friday! Sorry folks.) I guess what I really mean is that I'd like to make the most of my passions and find new ways of challenging myself and my creativity. Whether that's coming up with new projects to focus on or perfecting my skills in something I love.... It's easy enough to like photography, for example, but maybe I should think about taking a photography class? I've also been thinking about how I can make my artwork more accessible. I love my style and my past work, but every artist needs to evolve. What can I do to push myself ....experiment with new styles? Maybe open an Etsy shop? Paint smaller pieces for lower prices?

These are the things swirling around in my head lately, so I just thought I'd share them with you :) It's a work in progress...as usual, but I'm going to keep the thoughts going. And of course, I'm totally open to any of your suggestions!

In the meantime, here are some fun things to entertain your Friday. Have a great weekend!

A great name for a great typeface.

You are KIDDING ME with this wedding location.

There is just the right amount of weird and beautiful in this Spring/Summer Collection
via seesaw

Style for the man in your life :)
Another great find from seesaw

Seaworthy. Another Etsy shop added to the favorites. Thanks to Design*Sponge.

I love this print from Letitia Bucha. Via The Design Files... who is running a giveaway for 7 limited edition Letitia prints. Yes, you read that right....7!!

ART INSPIRATIONS

2011-07-19T13:13:00.000+10:00

Hello you beautiful people, you! I thought I'd kick this week off with a little collection of artworks I've grown fond of. My love for prints is only getting deeper.

Now if only my pockets were.....

Cake with Giants So Sweetly We Sing, Whiteoctopus Mimic, Katie Murphy Oak II, Bold&Noble Moonlight, Yellena Morning, Bird painting Unknown, Karen Hofstetter Make Tea Not War, Hillary Bird All I Need, Siiso Autumn Landscape Giclee Print, Todd Hunter Painting Died Pretty.

2011-07-15T11:14:00.000+10:00

Ah yes, another Friday. But wait! It's not just any Friday.....it's HARRY POTTER FRIDAY!! Yes, friends, I am a giant Harry Potter nerd. Fully aware and proud. And tonight I will be seeing the last movie with my fellow-HP-nerd man in a big, fancy gallery-style theater with comfy couches for two, drinks and treats. Talk about a date night!

Are any of you planning to see the movie?! If not, I hope you have some equally exciting plans for the weekend. And if you don't have plans, just go see the movie ya crazy kids! Then we can talk about how awesome it was on Monday. xo

Simple and wonderful cards.

I love these necklaces from Norwegian designer le voyage creatif
via Creature Comforts

Now this is dinner party dedication.

You are all I need.

YUM. Toasted marshmallow millkshakes. I could also totally go for a s'more right now.

This room looks so comfy.

Oh, and if you haven't seen the trailer - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 :)

GEMSTONES

2011-07-14T14:55:00.000+10:00

Lately I've been completely infatuated with gemstones. Jewelry, decor, art....everything gemstone catches my eye. I love this trend. The jewelry is especially fantastic, but there are even pieces out there (like the serving platters below!) that you could showcase at home. Something about this style is just so la-de-da and glamorous.

Here are some of my favorite finds...

Nallik by Jean Balke Chrysocolla Necklace, Multi-colored stone rings by Satomi Kawakita, Gemstone Bullet Necklaces, Gemstone inspired clutches from Nada Sawaya, Prints from The Pairabirds, Rock and gold serving platters (How Glamorous!), Paper installation by Kirsten Hassenfield, Gold dipped necklace from Friedasophie.

Like I said.... a little obsessed :)

DIPPED IN GOLD

2011-07-11T11:55:00.000+10:00

I've been wearing my new gold-dipped emerald green gemstone necklace to death. I just plain adore it.

It adds the perfect pop of color to any outfit and the gold makes it feel so glamorous! Between this and my freshly honey-colored hair, I can tell it's gonna be a good week :)

2011-07-08T11:17:00.000+10:00

I won't dwell on it, but this hasn't been the greatest of weeks. Illness, attitudes, and wasted time all contributed to my general frowny-ness but it's now FRIDAY (!!!!) and I'm looking forward to a change on the weekend. I'm going to turn things around. Time for a personal attitude adjustment and some feel-good weekend fun. Let's do this!

There is a local design team here in Cronulla called Blacklist Studios (behind it are a wonderfully talented couple who are so lovely to know) and recently they released a series of new prints. I love them. All about love...

This Jill Sander dress is FANTASTIC.

Must find time to try and make this Salted Butterscotch Peanut Popcorn.

One of my friends is pregnant (wheeeeeee!!) Even though it's still a secret, I've been trolling the webs for all things baby for her. I just can't help it. I love this photo selection of portraits from a baby shoot. I think I'll do something like this when I take the little one's pictures :)

Adorable jewels from Ayofemi Jewelry...especially this one.

Happy flower font :)

THANKFUL

2011-07-07T22:23:00.001+10:00

I am so grateful that even far away from “home” in a foreign country there are beautiful people and wonderful friends in my life who can brighten an otherwise dreary week. It’s been a hard one, but I’m still feeling lucky and loved. Thank you :)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

2011-07-05T11:37:00.000+10:00

Missing the good ol' US of A today - and all of the backyard BBQs, festive cocktails, hotdogs, ice creams, bad Americana clothes and fireworks that go along with it!

Images from
Emerson Made Creature Comforts What Katie Ate Cat Klein Hither and Tither Bator Horvath