December 23, 2011 – 5:55 am A big THANK YOU to Mishy Lane for this week’s Summer Photo Album series! Mishy has a really fantastic blog that you should visit and as well as a webstore and online portfolio too. Thank you to all the Guest Bloggers who has contributed to the Guest Blog in 2011 and to all the faithful readers for your ongoing support and encouragement each week. Wishing you all a very Happy Holidays and all the best for 2012!! The Guest Blog will be back on Monday 9th of January 2012- see you then! -Jenny xx
Torquay
I grew up in a small country town in northern NSW which was a 3 hour drive from the ocean. Every Summer we went on a holiday to the beach, so it does really feel like Summer when I get to see some waves. I love the laid back lifestyle of the locals, and the simple pleasure of being outside in the sun. My favorite beaches are still the ones that we used to go to, and I really do miss those family holidays.
- Mishy x
The Great Ocean Road
Seaside architecture
December 22, 2011 – 6:00 am 
Emma Aiston’s inspired Christmas wishlist!
We’re wrapping up our 2011 Christmas wishlist series today with a little double feature! Adelaide design duo Emma Aiston and Daniel To have each contributed their top 5 most coveted items this festival season. Not surprisingly for these extremely cool cats, each list is so succinct and brilliantly edited – presenting the perfect balance of cool / quirky and slightly silly. Cool and quirky is, after all, their speciality. ;)
We’ve loved the incredible variety of wishlists this year and so I’d love to say a big thanks to all who have contributed! From Kirra Jamison’s epic round-up to Brendan McKnight’s ‘not-particularly-blokey’ shortlist, and Megan Morton’s inspired eccentricities yesterday – I think we’ve covered all bases!
Massive thanks to Daniel and Emma for sharing these inspired finds with us! AND psssst. Daniel, I really hope you got Emma those shoes….!
Emma Aiston’s Christmas Wishlist
1. A years (or even a lifeime) supply of jam from Bonne Maman.
2. Super shiny Prada shoes (‘I am actually expecting these on Christmas morning!’ says Emma!)
3. Hay Bale by Richard Woods and Sebastian Wrong for Established and Sons.
4. Playmobil Christmas scene / Santa.
5. Thorsten van Elten Plant Cup.
Daniel To’s Christmas Wishlist
1. Portofino Wristwatch from IWC (Swiss)
2. Petite Friture Ikebana Vases by Edward Robinson (from France)
3. Texas spicy Chicken (Singapore)
4. Tray by Plus Minus Zero (Japan)
5. Tom Moore print (Australia)
Daniel To’s Christmas wishlist
December 22, 2011 – 5:55 am Exploring Melbourne is one of my most favourite things to do, especially when it brings back much loved memories like ending up soaking wet from the water window at NGV! But this city is ever-changing and there are plenty of new places to discover and memories to be made- Mishy Lane has captured exploring Melbourne in Summer perfectly. -Jenny x
When the weather starts to warm up I feel like exploring. Being outside is something to be celebrated, and I usually find myself wandering around the city in search of some great street art or a hidden gallery. Melbourne has so many interesting little surprises that you’ll never see if you aren’t curious enough to go explore.
- Mishy x
Paradise Hills Gallery, Richmond
D*Face exhibition at Metro Gallery, Armadale
December 21, 2011 – 6:00 am 
The Geelong home of designer Lucy Young and partner Marcus Miller. Painting by Miranda Skoczek. All photos – Lucy Feagins.
Painting by Miranda Skoczek, sweet re-purposed light fitting in entrance hall made by Lucy’s partner Marcus out of a basket from a 100 YEN shop in tokyo. cute!
Dining room – rug by Loom, yellow ‘Wedding Lantern’ from Fenton & Fenton
Today’s beautiful Geelong home is I think perhaps the very best advertisement for a sea change! Designer Lucy Young and her hubbie Marcus Miller moved to Geelong from Melbourne only a year ago – and look how good their home already looks! Serious seaside cuteness.
Lucy grew up in Geelong, but has lived in Melbourne most of her adult life. She finally convinced Marcus to move back to the surf coast last year for a few reasons. ’Even though Geelong gets a bad wrap, it’s actually a great place to live being so close to the surf coast, especially when we love the beach so much!’ says Lucy. ’It also means that we can have a garden and a dog, and don’t have to put up with the Melbourne traffic and pace. Geelong is a very relaxed place to be. We just need a few more good eateries!’.
I was impressed to hear that Lucy and Marcus have been here only a year. They’ve done so much to the place! In that time they’ve painted the home inside and out, installed new blinds throughout, landscaped a little and extended the outdoor decking, converted what used to be the TV room into a serene dining room (a separate dining room – so lovely!), and given the kitchen a cosmetic makeover by painting the cupboards and changing the bench tops! Genius. They also appear to have hung up ALL their artwork, which is kind of amazing. I still have artwork leaning against walls nearly 4 years after moving into my place. Perhaps they hung up every last picture the week before I visited?!
With a background in textile design, it’s no surprise Lucy loves colour and pretty, feminine, quirky details – although credit goes to Marcus for giving her free reign with the styling of their gorgeous home! One of Lucy’s most treasured possessions is the yellow ‘wedding lantern’ hanging in the dining room -’I loved it when I saw it in the window at Fenton & Fenton, and then when I heard it was called a Wedding Lantern, and we had just got engaged, I had to have it!’. Another favourite piece is the beautiful deep indigo painting by Miranda Skoczek in the entrance hall. STUNNING. That Miranda certainly has a way with indigo blue.
Massive thanks to Lucy for her time last weekend when I dashed down to visit her and photograph her place, and for feeding me watermelon and chocolate chip cookies. :)
Ps. Today’s home is the first GEELONG home to grace The Design Files! Can you believe it!? SO very negligent of me! I am sure there are many more lovely houses out this way and along the surf coast… but I am not across every neighbourhood – please forgive me! If you would love to see a few more homes from your neck of the woods please tip me off! (with photos!)
CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!
December 21, 2011 – 5:55 am 
DEAREST readers, thankyou so much to all who have purchased a TDF calendar this year, what with the alleged retail downturn and more pop-up shop action in one month than is probably normal for a city the size of Melbourne. We are truly grateful for your support, because lord knows printing things on paper is a helluva lot more expensive that putting more words on the internet.
With this in mind, I am writing this sneaky extra post today with some crazy and somewhat last minute news – for approximately 36 hours (ie til close of business tomorrow), Jeremy of Lamington Drive and I have decided to slash the price of remaining The Design Files 2012 Calendars to $10 + shipping. Yes, THAT’S RIGHT, $10 + SHIPPING! OMG.
You can buy one here!
Orders placed prior to 1.00pm EST today (ie Wednesday Dec 21) will be shipped today and all going well will be with you in time for Christmas (if you’re based in Victoria, Australia). All other orders will be shipped Thursday Dec 22 and should be in your hot little hands for the New Year.
It really is an insanely cute calendar and features some of the best illustrators in the land – including Kat Macleod, Beci Orpin, Dawn Tan and more! :) We only have a few left and would love them all to find a good home for 2012!
Thankyou and good morning! ;)
Kat Chadwick’s illustration for The Design Files 2012 Calendar!
December 21, 2011 – 5:55 am It’s all about sweet summer Fashion with Mishy Lane today. Be sure to pop over to Mishy’s gorgeous blog for more of her finds, inspirations and photography. -Jenny x
Brisbane Young Designer Markets
Summer is my favorite season by far. I never realised this until I moved to Melbourne a few years ago and have experience the full range of seasons (sometimes within a few short hours). Summer fashion is colourful, fun and freeing – it’s all about feeling comfortable.
-Mishy x
Sharon V Smith for Bessie Head
The lovely Paris Wells
My best friend Robina is a fellow Summer lover
