YES PEAS

Feeling rather crafty this Sunday, I got cutting and pasting and made this cute "Yes Peas" banner. Next is the name of my unborn sister's baby - just one week to go before she hatches. Woot Wooot!

I thought it was about time I got myself some business cards. Feeling a little quirky I went for these..something different and in my view, the "bees knees". I can't wait for them to arrive in the mail!

Origami!

I've gone made for Japanese cranes. On a recent trip to the city of Geisha's - Kyoto, I was taught how to make origami. Since then, I've been leaving a trail of cranes behind me. Here are a selection of my first ones.

I've got a fair way to go before I fold 1000 cranes - according to Japanese legend anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish. Gulp. Only 960 to go!

The (Sydney) Magazine

I stumbled across a really lovely story..

To see the whole article, click here

A Light House in The New York Times

Photography: Sonia Mangiapane

I had the pleasure of meeting Architect, Tim Hill a couple of months ago at his charming home in Kensington, Melbourne. After chatting to Tim, I discovered he's giving a whole new meaning to what it means to live in a Light House. To see the whole article, click here.

WHAT A WEEK!

The launch of The Modern Woman's Anthology was a crazy, wonderful and surreal day!

To see more pics of the big day, click here

Poster Exhibition

A few months back we launched a competition to find the front cover image for the Modern Woman’s Anthology 2010. After receiving entries from all over the world we chose a beautiful artwork from Los Angeles-based photographer, Brion Topolski.

The quality of entrants was overwhelming. The idea that the competition had spread far and wide and from one corner of the earth to another was enough motivation for us and This Is Ikon to curate an exhibition, saluting these artists and their talents.

Libby Hathorn in PEN Magazine

Earlier this year, I interviewed Libby Hathorn for PEN magazine

Contributors Page!

My first, but not my last - Contributors Page!

The Way Words Travel

It recently came to my attention, that my Paddock to Plate article originally printed in The New York Times had been syndicated to a couple of other media outlets. So I thought I'd share in the success of the little piece.

To view it in the Boston Globe, click here.

Or, to see it in the Australian Financial Review, you'll have to dash to the library to see it, as it's only available in print format, edition: May-21-23 L4 in the Life & Leisure section.

And, then all the people that tweeted about it, here.

Enjoy!

Ideas worth Spreading @ TEDxSydney

Yesterday was like a dream come true. I was part of the small TED community which gathered at the inaugural TEDxSydney event at CarriageWorks. It was a superb day, with inspiring talks, visual spectaculars and old friends (I bumped into an old high school friend).

Five highlights;

This fantastic stop motion video, Bathtub IV

Upular a remix from the Disney-Pixar film UP

The talk by Andrew Kuper from LeapFrog Investments

The idea of Collaborative Consumption

Mr. Percival. I need not say more. The man is a genius. Would it be wrong to one day ask him to sing my wedding song? Now, that's collaborative.

A Good Night Kiss

Crafty creations ii: " A Good Night Kiss" farewell present for our beautiful friend Shell who moved to London last week. Every night her head hits the pillow - there is a kiss from us - her girls in Australia.

In memory of my Grandparents

It's been a while since I have posted inspired ramblings or crafty creations. So this week is dedicated to both. Enough said. Actually, a bit of background information might be good. After foraging through my parents old shed, like a mouse looking for food, I discovered my grandparents old dinning room table from Vienna. The same dinner table they ate from in the mid-1940's, just after the war. My dad even remembers eating at it. He would have been only two at the time.

** I had them reupholstered in different colours, just because.

In the throngs of editing

We, at The Modern Woman's Anthology are deeply stuck in the throngs of editing. And what a wonderful place it is! It is sheer an unadulterated pleasure. The woman have balanced their stories with personal perspectives and professionalism.

Our website has also gone live - super exciting. Not long now..

Farm Fresh Down Under

I LOVE writing about FOOD

California-Style Living High Above Sydney

A recent article from The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune here.

The Modern Woman's Anthology 2010

As promised here is some information on the MWA 2010. Just because my friends and family really haven't heard enough about it...

The Modern Woman’s Anthology is a literary project that raises money for mental health. Twenty high-profile Australian women have submitted a chapter on the universal concept: What it means to be a woman in the modern world.

All proceeds will be donated to the Black Dog Institute, a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-orientated facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.

The writers include: Australian Athletic Hero Cathy Freeman, Award-Winning Children's Author Libby Hathorn, Media Savvy Dr. Cindy Pan, Chairman and Executive Director of Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation Dr Gene Sherman, Australian Local Hero & Oz Harvest Founder (2010) Ronni Kahn, Freelance Journalist Nicole Madigan Everest, Business Woman Jen Dalitz, Author & Media Personality Kathryn Eisman, Adventurer Kate Leeming, Trespass Editor Olivia Hambrett, Bush Personality Jane Grieve, Artist Kathy Ulpar-Altman, Short Story Teller Rebekah Clarkson, Speech Pathologist Annemarie Laurence, PR Personality Kate Engler, Acting Teacher Kate Ellis, Studio Executive at Sony Pictures Entertainment Stacey Kalish, Opera Singer Rosa Krel, Real Estate duo Pauline Goodyer & Debbie Donnelley and Author Juliet Darling.

The Anthology will be launched by Therese Rein and Professor Gordon Parker at Customs House in Sydney on 22 June. Attendees will include all the contributors, media representatives, politicians and writers for the 2011 edition.

Back from the blogging dead..

I've had an epic break from blogging - and my excuse, terrible but true, I forgot the email address I used for this blog. I'm so much a gmail girl now, that when I first logged onto Blogger I used my hotmail address. In the midst of all this identity crisis a lot has been happening. So shall I start at the beginning...

1. I was eventually published in The New York Times (and continue to get published, thank you Editors)
2. After my writers retreat, I created something called The Modern Woman's Anthology (more on that later)
3. I got my first 'contributors page' (one life goal down, that was up there with the social pages)
4. I've started a regular writing gig at The Agenda Daily.
5. And, most recently I was (or shall I say, my furniture) was rejected by the Salvation Army. But, more on Beggars CAN be chooses later.

I'm sure there is a lot more I've missed, but all in good time/s.