December 23, 2008 – 8:00 pm 
A table for 18 in the park
Food by everyone (the dolmades pictured above are by culinary whizz Sarah Toohey), native floral centrepieces by Georgie Boucher, ivy stolen from the neighbours’ fence (shhh..) and candles from Ikea.
I usually keep gratuitous images of my own work and/or social life well away from The Design Files… but today is a bit of an exception! Last week my friend Gavin and I hosted a Christmas/Hanukkah dinner party extravaganza for 18 of our closest friends… we’re both prone to slightly crazy creative ideas…. so needless to say the event was art-directed to perfection :)
Somehow we conjoured up this crazy theme which involved a very long table in the park, a ridiculous amount of white fabric, 18 mismatched chairs, screenprinted tuxedo bibs (which also acted to tie each guest in to their seat at the table), top hats for every guest, and costume accessories hanging above the table for DIY outfit customisation!
…finishing touches at the table
nearly there…
Guests are seated and tied in with screenprinted tuxedo bibs…
DIY costume customisation at the dinner table 
…more DIY accesories – moustaches, beards, glasses and lapel flowers
Top hats! (That’s my creative partner in crime Gavin Youngs in the top image chatting to the lovely Miss Leski…)
Freedom! After dinner everyone is cut free from the table…Big thanks to all the favourites who attended and made it such a special evening… especially the amazing contributing chefs, the gorgeous Miss Leski and Michael for 300-odd photos(!), and also to the extremely talented Georgie B for the stunning floral centrepieces. And extra-special hugs to my partner in these crazy antics Gavin Youngs – we make a good team!
Phew. I need a lie down.
ps) I think I might take a little blog break for Christmas day… see you all again next week! x
December 22, 2008 – 8:00 pm 
Goodness me. I skipped a day. :( Really struggling for time right now! Agggh.
These beautiful images by US photographer Dean Kaufman make me want to learn how to take photos properly.
White, white and more white. Love.
ps) Dean Kaufman is also the photographer behind this INCREDIBLE BOOK about the New Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC, designed by famed Japanese architects SANAA. (Seriously and permanently on my Amazon wishlist…)
December 18, 2008 – 8:00 pm Hey hey. I can only apologise. I have just worked a 13 hour day and am too exhausted to write a proper post. Also I had an interview lined up with a very exciting Melbourne-based fashion design duo, but a last minute hold-up means I can’t share it with you just yet…
So today just a photo and a link :) Hope that’s ok.
Knitting graffiti! More great examples/images and a little video with the very talented culprits here. (Thanks Marni!)
December 17, 2008 – 8:00 pm 
Bowerbird by Jane GillingsLook a little closer… this playful sculpture by Sydney artist Jane Gillings is made entirely of recycled plastic packaging – from plastic pen casings to bottle tops and cable ties.
Gillings was the darling of Sydney’s ever-popular ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ last year, with ‘Wreath‘, her cheerful installation of colourful flowers, each intricately created from recycled plastic (images below). I am often frustrated by the over-use of the term ‘bowerbird’, frequently used by interiors/design magazines in describing the current stylist / artist / decorator of the month…. However in Gillings’ case the term couldn’t be more appropriate :)
Gillings work is extremely varied and includes more traditional drawings, paintings and printmaking as well as the popular recent assemblage and sculptural pieces. For more info and images do check out her website and blog.
Wreath – detail, from Sculpture by the Sea 2007
A couple of Gillings’ flowers from the Wreath installation. Left – Measure of Success features the ubiquitous family home surrounded by a white picket fence (and ‘in a leafy suburb’ too, Gillings point out!). Right – Bo Peep calls out to her sheep as they hide amongst the cable-tie grass. Her skirt is made from the trap in a Mouse Trap board game!
December 16, 2008 – 8:00 pm December 15, 2008 – 8:00 pm 
Portrait of independent artist / writer / musician / filmmaker / curator Aaron Rose at his home in Silverlake, LA by Todd Selby.
I think it’s possible I haven’t yet blogged about The Selby…? Have I?
The Selby is the amazing photo-blog / website of New Yorker Todd Selby. He mainly photographs interesting creative people in their homes and studio spaces. Almost everyone he photographs has(have?) multiple job descriptions, ie ‘stylist / illustrator’, ‘ film director / DJ’ and ‘student / artist / musician’ etc. I get the feeling Mr Selby mixes in all the right circles.
However, it does makes me feel a bit better about being a props buyer / set dresser / stylist / writer. :) (…constantly dreading the ‘what do you do?’ question)
…these shots look so much better in a larger format… check out The Selby for much bigger pics :)
A table for 18 in the park
Food by everyone (the dolmades pictured above are by culinary whizz Sarah Toohey), native floral centrepieces by Georgie Boucher, ivy stolen from the neighbours’ fence (shhh..) and candles from Ikea.
…finishing touches at the table 
nearly there…
Guests are seated and tied in with screenprinted tuxedo bibs…
DIY costume customisation at the dinner table 
…more DIY accesories – moustaches, beards, glasses and lapel flowers
Top hats! (That’s my creative partner in crime Gavin Youngs in the top image chatting to the lovely Miss Leski…)
Freedom! After dinner everyone is cut free from the table…
