young me

Have a browse through Young Me, a site where you can submit a photograph of yourself from days gone by along with one from now with you recreating the scene. My favourite are these two, where the man on the right was the baby on the left. 

Photo: Young Me. Via swissmiss

things

Here's a unique opportunity to contribute to Henry Wellcome's curious collection at the Wellcome Collection, Euston Road, London. Donate, loan or upload a photograph of an item no bigger than your head for possible inclusion in this intriguing exhibition from 12-22 October. Will you take part? What thing will you offer? 

Photo: Wellcome Collection

500 colored pencils

Calling all art/colour/organisation/pencil lovers! 500 Colored Pencils is a subscription programme that delivers to your door twenty-five beautifully coloured and delightfully named pencils every month for twenty months. You can also order display cases to arrange tem neatly on the wall. They'd make the perfect gift for an art/colour lover, or for the person who has everything, don't you think?! 

Photo: Felissimo Via 2Modern

flickr blog

The Flickr blog is just dandy. I especially liked their recent 'Life in Oz' post, featuring some great photos submitted by users into this group. Here are some of my favourites:
Lyn and Bill by Mark Q Photography

Rust and Rocks by Wendy Tanner

Shore Break by Jasard7773

Australia 12 by Jason Archibald

They also posted also a lovely tribute to Koalas here. Aww!

thanksgiving good will bunting (and more)

A friend of mine asked me to make her some Thanksgiving bunting, so I made it from this quirky turkey fabric. There was a little leftover, so in my shop it went and is now ready and waiting for a loving home across the pond in time for November's big celebrations. (I've only got three for sale.)

Gobble gobble...

I also got to making what I have called 'Citrus', which I think is zesty and delightful! Great for brightening up autumn/winter parties, don't you agree?

As if that wasn't enough *rolls eyes* I couldn't resist this tiny polka dot fabric. Wouldn't it be perfect for a baby shower or new-baby gift?  

Good Will Bunting available for purchase in my Etsy shop. Photos: Heidi Adnum

diy painted recycled frames

I've wanted to frame some fun little photo booth prints for a while now and when I found these three small pine frames at a charity shop recently, I thought they'd be just right. They cost me about 50p but they're still available at Ikea as a set of three for £1.49. 

I bought a sample pot of Pearl Grey paint from a value store.

Gave the frames three coats.

Cut three pieces of cardboard to match the paper backings provided with the frames.

Then covered the cardboard with ironed white cotton scraps from my bunting escapades.

Then stuck the little photographs on to the fabric and tucked the fabric inside the frames.

And then hung them up! This is the view from my desk (on a very rare dreamy, sunny morning!). It cost less than £2 and only took a few hours (including time for the paint to dry). 

Photos: Heidi Adnum

extreme dogs

Have you seen the Extreme Dogs over on More Intelligent Life? They've put together a few of Tim Flach's brilliant dogs photographs. This is Honza before competition grooming and then after grooming - wowzer. Thanks, Erin!

Photos: Tim Flach

becoming an architect

My eleven-year-old nephew wants to be an architect (a roller-coaster designer, in particular) so for Christmas I've got him 'Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids': 'the story of a young man becoming a great architect as he uses his love of nature's colors and shapes in his unique designs'. This Junior Architect Magnet Set looks good, too (also in the FLW shop), and there are some terrific products in the Lego Architecture range. Do you have any tips for a budding roller-coaster designer?

hello darling! vintage on sale

Mel and I are kicking off the week with a sale in our vintage store that may make your Christmas shopping that little bit easier: Children's Clothing, Children's Toys, Books and Postcards, LPs, Games and Other Items are all half-price! Some of our favourites include:
These hand-knitted baby leggings in lilac (now $4.50)

Spencer Bear (now $5)

Fondue Cookery (now $5)

Game Counters (now $7.50)

We've also replenished our Women's Clothing and Women's Accessories departments, too, (non-sale) so take a look! All prices are plus postage - we ship internationally from London, UK.
Photos: Heidi Adnum

uguisu

Uguisu is a funky little online shop specialising in lovely goodies that are either made or designed (or both) in Japan. I love this Camera Photo Album (for 4x6" photographs)!

The Japanese Paper Balloons are seductive little suckers. The Globe would be great for a 'bon voyage' or 'welcome home' party.

This Tokyo Sweets Guide looks delicious but it's only available in Japanese or French. I would have to look at the pictures.

Don't even get me started on the linens... Photos: Uguisu via Fine Little Day

chocolate coconut slice

This recipe is an old Australian favourite. It's the type of sweet you'd find in lunch-boxes, kids birthday parties and at the school fête. Before I found this perfect recipe from Exclusively Food I'd tried a few others but they were never quite as I remembered it. Incredibly easy to make (the only thing to note is that you should use fine desiccated coconut as the medium makes it too crunchy), you must try it!

Photo: Heidi Adnum

white company photo frames

For affordable, high quality, off-the-shelf photo frames, you really can't go past The White Company. Take a look at their new range here, and go here for a 10% discount. My favourite is the bottom-weighted 7x7" frame. 

Photo: The White Company

jeffrey milstein

Airliners photographed precisely when the aircraft was overhead is the collection 'Aircraft: The Jet as Art' by US-based photographer Jeffrey Milstein. Such vibrant colours and interesting features, I could look at hundreds of them! My dad often spends time watching the planes fly far above our family home, looking at the direction they've come from, their size, airline, etc., so the book will be perfect for his Christmas present and I'd like one, too!

Photos: Jeffrey Milstein via 2modern

the farewell season

What a bittersweet day it is for Oprah fans: The debut of the 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show. I hope one of Oprah's surprises for this season is that it's not really the end... Take a look back.

Photo: Heidi Adnum

vintage wooden spool photo holders

Call into Design*Sponge for a tutorial on how to make these lovely, simple photo holders out of vintage cotton spools. Great idea, right?

Photo: Ashley Ann

pineapple box

Pineapple is my favourite fruit so I'm very excited about one of Have You Met Miss Jones' latest bone china designs, a pineapple box! 

Photo: Have You Met Miss Jones

kitchen

Right, I've cleared the diary for tomorrow morning and I'm off to Nigella's first book signing for 'Kitchen: Recipes from the heart of the home' (released yesterday) in Kensington. Can you help me with something sensible to say/ask the Domestic Goddess? Update:

jeff friesen

I absolutely adore Canadian photographer Jeff Friesen's Wild Life Prints. Stripes, Dirty Duck and the customisable Sneaky Hippo are three of my birthday hopefuls favourites. 

Photos: Jeff Friesen

pink pencil shavings

You probably shouldn't sharpen pencils over your neat, clean notepad, right? They were so pretty that I just couldn't resist taking their picture.

Photo: Heidi Adnum

eight fingers

Steve Martin has only has eight bread fingers in this fantastic photograph by Chris Buck because he had two of them for breakfast before realising he was eating the props. Read more about this photograph on Guess The Lighting.

Photo: Chris Buck via Guess The Lighting