dimdi

Dimdi's watercolour paintings are just lovely. You can either buy one direct from the shop, or, if your preference has sold, the lovely Irene (who is based in Italy) will paint it for you. I am now the proud owner of this fine flamingo fellow but there are so many to choose from. Framing the penguin family would make the perfect new-baby gift, don't you think?

Photos: Dimdi's Flamingo, Giraffe, and Family of Penguins

women who hit balls hard

US-based fashion photographer and commercial director, Dewey Nicks, photographed nine of the world's best tennis players for The New York Times. He also directed these hypnotising videos that were shot with a high-speed camera. The lighting is beautiful and so are the outfits. Hello, US Open!

Photo: Dewey Nicks for The New York Times via Chase Jarvis

foldschool

Swiss architect Nicola Enrico Stäubli designed this funky - and free - DIY kids furniture. Visit foldschool to download the pattern and make it at home from cardboard. There are other objects to choose from and even a sample folding project to practice on. The first thing I noticed were the adorable photographs but isn't it such a great idea! Kids would surely love helping out with the construction and decorating.

Photo: Foldschool via kidsmodern

banana ripening chart

My preference is for stage 4 but I will stretch to stage 5. Two friends of mine don't like them at all and another loves stage 7 (but I think that's strictly cake-time). How about you?

Photo: Getting Re-Rooted via Things Organised Neatly

chocolate brownie

I'm not sure if these brownies could be any easier to make. It's Jamie Oliver's recipe and made my flat smell great. I was even tempted to cool it on my desk so I wouldn't miss a second of the sweet chocolatey goodness. But I didn't...

Photo: Heidi Adnum

store front

Lucky me got this fabulous book 'Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York' as a gift from a client last week and I can't recommend it highly enough. It was on my wish-list but I had no idea it was so big and beautiful and am completely in love with it. Authors, James and Karla Murray also have a Flickr page where you can view some of the photographs. Over two-hundred store fronts are featured in the book and almost half are now gone.

Cover image here.

halloumi: a tribute

Oh, halloumi, how delicious and versatile you are. You're always there for us when we we need something fast and easy for dinner. Grilled, fried, baked; wraps, Bites - you name it, you can do it. Thank you, we love you.

Photos: Heidi Adnum

matt stuart

I noticed Matt Stuart's work in The Right Moment to Photograph (via SwissMiss). Matt is a street photographer in London who takes really clever pictures - you'll love them! Matt, we want to buy your book!

Photo: Matt Stuart

purses for pakistan

My friend Irrum has begun 'Purses for Pakistan'. She is making and selling coin-purses, each costing £10, and is donating all of the money raised to UNICEF to aid their emergency relief in Pakistan. So, I'd like you to meet my new Zazzy purse...

Photo: Fifi Flyaway

lip-sticks photo booth props

How hilarious! Cheryl from Linden Lovebirds makes these Lip-Sticks Photo Booth Props especially for kids. Can you imagine the fun and giggles at parties?

Photos: Linden Lovebirds

max from port macquarie

Port Macquarie is one of my most favourite places in the world. It's a beautiful, relaxing, sunny place, surrounded by gorgeous beaches, and is where my family spent most holidays. It's also home to 4.5 year old Max, decorator extraordinaire. Max had full say in how his bedroom was redecorated and this is him lounging around in the final product. Visit Baby Space to read the full post.

Photos: Cuckoo for Coco

even more good will bunting!

It goes like this: see a nice fabric, buy it and make bunting - I can't stop myself! So, may I introduce to you Good Will Bunting's newest additions... Lilac Loves Pink

Brown Floral and Lemon Stripe

Vintage Blue Seersucker (limited stock)

And a Christmas range! Candy Cane, Vintage Falling Snow, and a combination of both (limited stock)...

Available in small or large. Photos: Heidi Adnum

lower east side

This is one of my favourite photos of our trip to NYC. It was the scene one afternoon across the street from where we were staying on East Houston. I especially love the ice cream van, the 'Lower East Side' art and the speeding taxi.

And this is part of my bagel from Russ & Daughters...

More NYC photos here, here, here and here. Photos: Heidi Adnum

diy personalised memory photo card game

Check out Liz's idea for a personalised memory card game using photographs of familiar people and things for kids. Isn't it such a great idea for a holiday project or for a thoughtful gift?

Photo: Liz Stanley

banana cake

Last week, the overripe bananas in my kitchen were begging to be made into this cake. I think it was delicious, albeit a little burnt. It reminded me of my final year of university when I did work experience at the Australian Women's Weekly Test Kitchen. My first task was to make a cake (similar to this one) to be photographed for a cookbook, the thought of which was very exciting - my cake in a cookbook?! But it was technically burnt and ended up in the bin. Faint. Have you ever met a fresh cake that didn't belong in your belly? Me neither.

Photos: Heidi Adnum

american cars

How about LA-based photographer Kevin Gray's photographs of American Cars! Don't you think they'd make a great gift for my birthday later on in the year a photo/car lover?

Photo: 'Electra 225 - Mar Vista, CA' Kevin Gray

rspca young photographer awards

Do you know a young photographer in the UK who also loves animals? If they're under the age of 18, let them know that they can enter the 2010 RSPCA Young Photographer Awards for free here until 7 September 2010. 

Photo: Mischief by Jon McGovern (Highly Commended Pet Personalities category, 2009)

low-angle elephants

You really must see these photographs from South African photographers Jill Sneesby and Barrie Wilkins. Amazing! Thanks to Irrum for the tip.

Photos: Jill Sneesby and Barrie Wilkins

hungry policemen

Tennessee-based web designer Kristi McMurry is also a part-time photographer. Her Hungry Policemen photograph is one of my favourites and I am now the proud owner of an 8x10" version of it. For the rest of August Kristi is offering free shipping worldwide on all of her 8x10" prints - yahoo! My only hope is that Kristi got to eat that fine doughnut when she was done photographing it. PS Don't forget to enter our Good Will Bunting giveaway at You Are My Fave, it will be drawn tomorrow!

Photo: Kristi McMurry

growing on my window sill, part 2

Having a garden to potter around in is something that I really miss. When I visit home I always look forward to a day or two in the garden with mum and dad. My sister sometimes calls me Prune because I'm always wandering around the backyard with secateurs in my hand. But for now, it's important to make the most of the window sill! I planted basil seeds one month ago and this is what they look like now. I love their smooth-feeling but grainy-looking little green leaves.

Photos: Heidi Adnum

jordan jordan

Jordan Kaltwasser married Adam Jordan and from that day forward became known as Jordan Jordan. US-based photographers Jesse and Whitney from Our Labor of Love have the most beautiful photographs of the wedding. I especially love her yellow flats and his yellow socks!

Photos: Our Labor of Love Photography Studios. Cup of Jo for the intro.

wisteria

So, it's the last month of summer. This can only mean two things: 1. My mum will be pleased that it's the last month of winter in Australia, and 2. We start to say goodbye to wisteria flowers for another year... (Don't you just love that house in Oxford, UK, with wisteria growing all the way up to the roof?)

Photos: Heidi Adnum