Dear Internets,

[*spoiler alert* for my Lovely package swap partner]

As some of you know Oh hello friend had organised a swap for the blogging gift wrapping world. I am  having swappers anxiety as I'm just about send off my package. My partner was going on vacation so I though we should both send at the same time, even if it is late.

Do you think she'll like her loot?

she likes ferrets and yellow & hopefully hand made

Here's a few, attached to their respective envelopes with cute mini pegs

mint green paper bound in butter soft leather &

ampersands gift tags (cos she likes &'s)

note books and necklace/wristlet which -she likes stationary and yellow

stickers and a mini softie, just for fun

bookmark for her reading, printed tape, scissors, rubbers and ruler

I'm just about to wrap it all up in pretty-ness so there's no turning back now...well unless I realise in the next couple of days that I made a horrible mistake.

I hope you have all had an anxiety free weekend. I'm a little stressed and sore but I got to see friends which is always awesome.

the boys with the man sign above their heads belong to me...the others were just there, lol

Coffee shop decor

I'd love to find a local coffee shop with couches that I could read in once every weekend. Do you have a place like that to escape to?

Happy sunday everyone!

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

Shhh! Come over here and be subtle about it...If you promise PROMISE not to laugh, I'll show you a little peep of what is in my sketch book. I don't know if it's any good nor do I care really, just know that fun was had creating it!

Camera, because I love to take photos

Drawn while waiting at the finish line of the City to Surf (14km run), cheering my J on

she looks puzzled. Unfinished perhaps

Also, I bought a crazy little film camera from ebay and just developed the 1st roll. It's a little strange and the clarity isn't off the charts but it has character (and not in the way that means it sucks...but then I was the photographer so there is some obvious bias)

Filled with pork chops and tomato rice
♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

It was a WONDERFULLY sunny weekend and I enjoyed it by getting creative. I dragged poor J to the stitches and craft show where I enjoyed watching people being really good at things I can't do, and bought pretty supplies. There were 'craft bars' where I got taught how to knit, and embroider amongst other things and level 4 was choc full of handmade lovelies from blogs I follow. This was for some reason particularly exciting, and made J laugh at me as I cooed over Craft schmarft and The Red Thread). A merry old time was had but by the end of 4 floors of exploring, we were dead.


 

Crafty saturday was followed by a lazy sunday of shoe revamping, painting, playing with Milo the naughty beagle, and reading. The best part was, I got to set up an umbrella under the shade of our cumquat tree/shrub and eat ice cream in the sun with the rest of the family, wiling the time away. The day ended up being rather productive without feeling cumbersome.

Well either way, let me show you a little of the fruits of my non-labour shall I? The illustrations aren't quite finished yet, but the shoes are.

Here's an imaginary back to front before and after

  

And here's the finished product! I'm not laying one more finger on it or I'll surely ruin it!

I hope your weekend was equally victorious! Happy working week everyone!

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

How have these pretty little things been featured in so many magazines yet I had never come across it? Kiel Mead's jewelry is so fun and lovely! It's like someone decided to take everything crazy, fun and reminiscent of my childhood and dip it in metal. I tried picking a few of my fave pieces to show case the work but I liked so many it's turned a little more into a catalogue.

forget me knots

camera necklace

drill bit necklace

chewie necklace

puzzle ring

Now who is going to put their hand up first to get me one of these

yeah i'm totally dreaming aren't I?

OhOhOh, my friend got engaged yesterday! I'm completely jealous and more than that completely HAPPY for her! He lovely fiance surprised her with twirls (her confectionary of choice), baloons, confetti, red ribbon bound scrolls and his handsome self, suit-clad and on bended knee. She didn't see it coming either which made it all the more excellent. Maybe I should get that puzzle ring, it's rather sumbolic of my relationship confusion, much like friend's engagement ring is symbolic of the end to her confusion

CONGRATS LADY! it's about time huh? lol

with resounding joy

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

Did anyone ever make you a funky lunch?...mind you, that's funky in a good way. I used to make my little sister traffic light sandwiches with new fillings every day, until she asked me if she could please just have cheese sandwiches all the time. That was a little disappointing. I would have loved something like this! It may have even been enough to quash my childhood hatred of sandwiches. There's heaps more to check out at funky lunch, and perhaps even try to recreate if you are feeling ambitious

On a completely different note, I want these crochet style tights. They are white and have a pretty panel of flowers above the knee. Sock dreams, don't go out of stock, I'm just not sure yet! Even if I do get them, I still haven't found a good spot to take pro outfit photos. When I do, don't worry, I am not of the school of thought that tights can be worn with short tops. TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS! For now I'll just have to sketch outfits and hope the images are good enough to peak your interest. coming soon!

Eating strawberries
♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

Remember when I rambled about RSPCA cupcake day and deciding on flavours? Well it looks like I've found some winners

1. Double chocolate chip (white and dark) cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

2. Vanilla banana cupcakes with passionfruit frosting

3. Good old vanilla cupcakes with strawberry frosting.

3 hours later and tada = It's type tow diabetes in cute cupcake form! By the time my sister and I had finished our baking and decorating it was dark so the photo lighting sucks but that doesn't take anything from it's deliciousness. I'm just glad we're selling them, or I'd be eating cupcakes for days.

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend!

yum yum yum
♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

Time and time again my dress sense has been described as, odd, colourful, quirky, strange and 'very me'. Sometime I wonder if that's a good thing, because it's usually followed by a look of horrow that reads " oh no! I hope I didn't offend her!".

Ok so my clothes appear in odd combinations but they're comfy and make me feel like skipping. I also don't dress to flabberghast and am a massive fan of simple and classi. Either way it doesn't matter 'cos I live in a lovely cloud of dillusion in which unicorns are as imaginary as panda bears and griffins.

I've been meaning to take happy snaps but work has been rather hectic. Thankfully I have Looklet, a site that is in my opinion the younger more fabulous sister of Polyvore. Ok so the models on looklet have the strangest expressions, oddly sizede heads for their bodies and the clothing is limited but look at the resulting fabulousness!

What is your 'quirkiest' fashion item?

with oddly itchy palms
♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

It's RSPCA cupcake day soon and I need a good cupcake flavour idea to raise as much money as I can for forgotten cats and dogs. do you have any yummy ideas?The yummier and prettier the cupcake, the more likely people are to buy them. Is $2.50 a pop too much?

Update:
1 batch Dependable vanilla
need more flavours!

My sister and I have added the competitive edge, vieing for the title : Best cupcake baker EVER! which should spur us on.

The cutest thing is that the RSPCA has puppy friendly cupcake recipes available. Too bad my little beagle just ate our telephone line, depriving us of a phone and interent for a week so he gets no cupcakes for a while.

Pupcakes

• 2 3/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups wholemeal flour
• 1 cup dried apple pieces - you can also use fresh fruit
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cage free egg, beaten slightly
• 4 tablespoons honey

Methods 

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Mix all wet ingredients thoroughly. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl.
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients slowly , scraping well to make sure no dry mixture is left.
4. Pour into muffin tins.
5. Bake for 1 1/4 hours. Insert a toothpick into the centre of a pupcake and if it comes out dry, they are
6. ready to come out of the oven.
7. Wait until cooled to serve.
8. Store in a sealed container.
9. Makes around 12-14 pupcakes.

What's your favourite
cupcake flavour?

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,





You have been raving about it so much and really it's bordering on nagging now. 'OKAY okay! I will try it but can I at least make it rather than buy it?' is what I thought, until I looked up the recipe and realised it was much like rocket surgery. Today I saw it in a shop and through it was rather expensive, decided to try it anyway and OH MY GAWDNESS! Crisp, soft, sink your teeth in, chewy, creamy all in one delicate bite. It had the beauty of an untouched ecosystem. Now I get the hype! If I get some assistance I may buy a candy thermometer and give it a shot.

All these images are taken from MadBaker's photostream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caution: Do not visit on an empty stomach because her desserts there are imaginative, beautiful and abundant as well as delicious looking!

Also, It's hard going back from toned to wintery soft and I hate it so it's back to exercise for me! My new found macaron obsession isn't going to help but I like execise and being fit, once I get going. Some Camille Belle hotness for me to aspire to

Anyone have some helpful tips?

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

Have you ever taken a photo and thought "hmmm, something is missing"? Well clearly, so has Mel Stringer. Don't you worry though, because she knows just what to do to make it perfect. In a project called kooky snaps, Mel places her cartoon self in with photos of your family, bunny or snowman. I think the project has just begun and I must admit, I absolutely love love love  it! Don't pretend you wouldn't like her to kooky-fy your photo's to!

How gorgeous is that bunny? Mel must be rather tiny

I love this one! Hugs help you keep warm

All images were taken from Flickr.

♥ pixelhazard

Dear Internets,

I went on an adventure to the National Portrait gallery in canberra over the weekend where I spent 2 hours perusing the 'vanity fair portraits' exhibit. Would you like to see some of my favourites in comfy adventure mode? You won't have to pay for pertrol, be forced to eat fast food on the way or go numb from lack of movement on the trip over!

I like the classical painting vibe this one gives off
Caption: Julianne Moore as Ingres's 'Grand Odalisque', New York City, by Michael Thompson, 2000, publ. April 2000.

Credit: Michael Thompson

All dressed up and no place to go. I love that it's white on white
Caption: Albertina Rasch Dancers, by Florence Vandamm, 1927, publ. April 1927
Credit: Courtesy Condé Nast Archive

Another adorable couple!

Caption: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Crawford, Santa Monica, by Nickolas Muray, 1929, publ. October 1929

Credit: Gift of Mrs Nickolas Muray. Courtesy of George Eastman House

This was taken in 3 different locations on 3 different occasions

Caption: Hollywood Cover, by Annie Leibovitz, 2001, publ. April 2001.

Credit: Courtesy of the artist

As Eva Peron,I've never seen Madonna look so classy!

Caption: Madonna, by Mario Testino, 1996, publ. November 1996

Credit: Mario Testino

 

How incredibly sweet is this photo?J said it looks like he's eating her nose 

Caption: Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard, by Bruce Weber, 1984, publ. October 1984.
Credit: Bruce Weber

On friday nights, in black and white, how I loved you Carey Grant

Caption: Cary Grant, by George Hoyningen-Huene, 1934, publ. November 1934.

Credit: Courtesy Condé Nast Archive

Addmittedly the boy did get incredibly bored by the end of my slow exploration BUT he was sweet enough to take me and stick around because he knew I'd enjoy it. I hope you enjoyed the sneeky peek incase you don't get to see it yourself.

Waiting for her onyx nail polish to dry
♥ pixelhazard