The Design Files Daily

Event Design

Friday, March 02, 2012

Interview – Sophie Cookes and Nicole DeBono of Cookes Food!

Vintage wedding by Melbourne boutique catering company Cookes Food – photos by Jorge de Araujo

Vintage wedding by Cookes Food – photos by Jorge de Araujo

Warrambeen wedding by Cookes Food – photos by Jorge de Araujo

Warrambeen wedding by Cookes Food – photos by Jorge de Araujo

You know what.  I tried really hard to edit this interview.  I seriously made every effort to make it succinct and bite-sized (pardon the pun)… but I failed.  Sophie Cookes and Nicole DeBono are just so inspiring and so truly passionate about their industry and their brilliant little business, I really couldn’t bring myself to cut too many of their words!   It is just so refreshing to hear from two local ladies who have launched their own super successful business, and who work so incredibly hard to make every project unique and even better than the last.

Sophie and Nicole joined forces 5 years ago to launch Cookes Food - a boutique catering and events company in Melbourne.   I first met this dynamic duo in December, when they assisted us with catering for The Design Files Open House!  They did an amazing job and were so efficient as well as being great fun – we were so lucky to have them!

For Sophie and Nicole no challenge is too great – you could basically book them to cater a function in a remote forest with no electricity or refrigeration or running water, and they are the only events people I know who would say ‘AWESOME let’s do it!’.  AND it would be amazing. :)

This interview provides such an excellent insight into the launch of a successful events business, but also there are so many valuable pearls of wisdom relevant to any small creative business.  In addition to being one seriously clever creative team, Sophie and Nicole have a brilliant sense of humour, so this interview is an entertaining as it is inspiring!

EVEN BETTER – for our little nod to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (which kicks off tomorrow), we have invited Sophie and Nicole to join us ALL NEXT WEEK on the Guest Blog, sharing their favourite local foodie suppliers and even some RECIPES….  Amaze.

SO without further ado, here’s the interview!  I know it’s a bit long but truly it is solid gold, just read it on the iPad on the train home or something.

LOVE YOUR WORK ladies!

Sophie Cookes (left) and Nicole DeBono (right) of Cookes Food

Tell me a little about your backgrounds – what did you guys study, how do you know each other and what path led you to joining forces and launching Cookes Food?

SC – I always loved cooking, but to be honest it didn’t come naturally and I would consistently demolish mum and dad’s kitchen whilst creating the next culinary train wreck. I studied a bachelor of arts and then a graduate diploma in professional writing, before realising that if all I could write about was food, then something had to give.

I was very lucky that my parents were supportive, so I left Melbourne and spent a year living and studying cooking in Paris. It was brilliant, inspiring and lonely all at once. Once completing my course I went off to London to join my cousin who was living in squalor!  We lived a hand to mouth existence whilst I spent my days working for Skye Gyngell at Petersham Nurseries. It was the single most influential and inspiring time of my life. I arrived at the office door where Skye greeted me with skepticism and amusement – I was wearing a y shirt that said “I love cooking”.

I spent 2 years learing from Skye and the team, I met a string of incredibly influential people including Maggie Beer, Greg Malouf, Alice Waters and Patricia Michelson. It was like a food dream that didn’t seem to be real… I travelled with the kitchen to France where we went to the French markets and I spoke of close to nothing but food for the entire time I was there.

When I returned to Melbourne, I was bewildered and confused about where to work. Not only that but no one had heard of this Skye Gyngell person or Petersham Nurseries and I could not find a job. It was rather depressing. I took some jobs at different cafes, feeling a little uninspired, chugged along at this speed for about 1 year.

Then I met Nicole DeBono who was working as an event manager for an extremely successful events business, and had a second business baking cupcakes every evening after work. A mutual friend introduced us and I began purchasing her little cakes. We got to talking and very quickly realised that we both had this vision of a food-based events company with a strong focus on seasonality.   So 2 months later after what can only be decribed as speed dating we rented a kitchen and here we are!

ND - My background has been many things, I grew up in Adelaide then moved to Melbourne five years ago. I worked in fashion for about five years, then decided it was time for a new challenge in my life. I studied events management and targeted a business I had my eye on – they specialised in experiential marketing for large corporate brands. My job demanded a lot of me, it proved quite challenging and every day I was learning important lessons about events and how small business works.

Growing tired of working for someone else I started a cupcake business called Sweetidarling. It was at this time a friend introduced me to Sophie who was working at a café close to my home, she had just returned from OS and was keen after a very quick meeting to get my cakes into the café. We soon became friends and headed out for a drink (first of many many more) and chatted about food and business.

Sophie expressed an interest in catering, and as I had worked with so many caterers and been involved in my fair share of corporate functions I had a good grasp on what I felt was missing from the industry. And so began our ideas and business plans for Cookes Food!

Cookes Food relies on a rotating team of excellent (and usually very good looking) bar staff and wait staff

What have been one or two favourite recent jobs and why?

SC - We catered a wedding in Warrambeen for a couple who Nic and I got on with like a house on fire.  (pics at the top of this post).  Relationships in this industry are so important – if you can’t relate to your client and if they don’t trust you, then you should part ways immediately, as it’s just never going to work!   This particular couple were a dream to work with – together we created a menu that was perfect for them and the environment.

The other job I thoroughly enjoyed working on was another wedding in Robe, S.A. It was really difficult logistically but was so much fun to work on. Nic and I love road trips and we loved taking our staff with us… all staying at the Sea View caravan park with the florists, waiters and chefs!   It felt like a travelling carnival.  Nic did all the styling and worked with Mel from Cecilia Fox on the flowers. The wedding was a brilliant success and the bride and groom were thrilled, which at the end of the day gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

Wedding in Robe, South Australia by Cookes Food

Wedding in Robe, South Australia by Cookes Food

ND - Another excellent one was a wedding we did last year at Sothebys in High street Armadale.   The bride and groom didn’t want anything traditonal at all, and gave us a huge opportunity to be creative and design something that was just all about them. They were into the idea of a supper club.

We took inspiration from the Plaza hotel’s marble-clad Palm Court, Marrakesh L’Avenue and movies; Out of Africa and the Great Gatsby, we talked about aesthetics, lighting, trees, flooring, and music! With a love for 1920’s and the occasional sing along, the groom’s pick was Marty Rose to kick of the nights proceedings, he played classic covers whilst guests smoked on cigars, and dined on old fashioned prawn cocktails under the huge sky light in the venue’s ceiling. Once the mood was set, the party continued with an 11 piece jazz band playing Louis Prima and Ella Fitzgerald – a genre of music that is close to my own heart. The night was full of old school elegance, with all the guests completing the look in white dinner jackets, and our waiters dressed in white shirts and fes hats ….it was visually spectacular!

What does a typical day at work involve for you guys?

SC - I spend a lot of time in front of a computer these days but my solace is always when I step into the kitchen, with great music on and my team falling into the rhythm of the job or prep list.

ND – Anything and everything, most days its office time for me, sharing my time between clients and putting together different ideas and quotes. I go to site visits, check out venues and do my best to pop into new café or restaurants to see what is happening out there food-wise!

Some days there are menu tastings (which are always fun) – we have quite a few client meetings at work which I also love, and then there is all the time that sophie and I just discuss what’s on, coming up, needs to be done and so on and so on on!

Sophie in action!

What sets Cookes Food apart other catering and events companies?

SC - I don’t reallly know what makes us different…we are definitely food focused and we are both quite in love with our business. We love meeting new clients and being able to play with past clients again.

ND – I like to think that our service is really personal. We are a small team of two essentially – so we enjoy the close interaction with our clients and getting to be part of their event. On the food side of things Sophie’s style is what is a stand out within our business, we really stuck to our goal by creating unique seasonsal menus for our clients, and it’s a compliment each time our clients tell us that the food is amazing – makes all the hard work that goes into it worth it!

YUM! A few Cookes Food faves

Which other local foodie people, events people or generally creative people do you look up to?

SC - Michael Strownix; a stylist and florist that we have worked with a couple of times recently. He is insanely creative and can see things in a space or theme that completely open your mind.

Som from Rickets Point makes the most breathtaking ice cream/sorbets in the world – my fave at the moment is the apple cider sorbet.

Adam North at Hopkin’s River Beef is really passionate about meat and so am I, and we often chat about it… Hopkins River is a new supplier for us!

ND – Most of the people we interact with about food and ispiration come from the people around us, our good clients, friends and family!

What is the best thing about your job?

ND – Obviously the food and the wine are a HUGE bonus, but I love the creativity, I love the interaction with clients, I love that it gives me the opportunity to travel and go and see parts of Victora that I have never seen before.  I love that every day is different, which is giant cliché but the truth is, it really never gets boring!

SC – Every time I need to create a new menu and then execute on game day.

Cookes Food love a good BBQ!

And the worst?

ND - Hmmm probably how much my body hates me sometimes when I have been on my legs for way too long. Big events require a lot of energy and after a 3 day bump in, then event then bump out – sometimes you just feel like you have been hit by a bus!

SC – Corporate catering.

Can you list for us 5 resources across any media which you turn to regularly for creative inspiration?

SC -

− French by Damien Pignolet (‘cause Skye Gyngall  gave it to me).
− Spoon HQ blog – I met Sarah when I worked at Petersham in the UK and she is very clever.
− Au Pied de Cochon (’cause Dad gave it to me and we share a decadent food side)
− Old Gourmet Travellers – older the better
− Wolterinck – an extremely rare book that mum gave, with some of the most beautiful and over the top styling I have ever seen.
− Northern Spy Food Company blog – I read a lot of overseas food blogs to check out restaurants, catering and events companies website from all over the world.
− The Loft Project
− Boobs Radley - for comic relief when everything seems too much.

ND – I do love Gourmet Traveller, but I loved Vogue Entertaining and Travel better!  I love the food styling images, they give you a huge amount of inspiration!

I love the style of John & Peter.

Sophie has put me on to at least a thousand wedding blogs but one goody that is easy to use is Grey Likes Weddings.

Dutch floral artist Marcel Wolterinck – we have his book on loan from Sophie’s mum, its pretty amazing to say the least!

For my birthday last year Sophie gave me Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi – this is one of my favourite cook books, the pictures are really well done, it’s quite rustic and non pretentious which I like!

What would be your dream creative project?

SC - A wedding overseas – somewhere crazy like Brazil where we could use local produce and work with a local kitchen team or work with a restaurent… heaven!

ND - Funny you should ask, as just this morning I was thinking that I would love to produce a music festival, maybe it’s just the mood I’m in, it’s a far cry from what I have been working on and slightly ambitous but I think mixing all the creative and catering components together on a large scale event could be awesome!

*OMG Nicole AWESOME idea – local food meets local music, please do that I am there! – Lucy

Do your friends and family expect perfection at your dinner table!?

SC – sometimes!

ND - Haha with my family interstate, I rarely have to cook for them and even if I do, its just pasta the way my dad likes it!! With friends, we often go out for dinner so fortunately I don’t get judged, or we go to Sophies place and she cooks and well then its always delicious!!

Engagement at Arteveneta by Cookes Food

What are you looking forward to?

SC – I’m going to Milan with AJ (future hub) and I can’t wait to eat my way around Italy.

ND – I’m looking forward to this year and our businnes blossoming into it’s sixth year.  The first five years were intense, and with all the hard work which we have put into the business I am hoping that this year we can stretch our wings a little more, get a bigger office and maybe even add a few new staff to our team!

Melbourne Questions

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

SC - I really enjoy South Melbourne.

ND – I have always loved the city, I love Spring street, The City Wine Shop, The European and The Supper Club. I love meandering through Melbourne laneways and finding new hidden away restaurants. When I can it’s also great to get to the Victoria Market deli and buying up on picky bits mmmm!

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

SC – It’s not Melbourne but Dunkeld so I hope it counts. I went to the Royal Mail with Nic after we had worked our butts off at a wedding in Robe. I wasn’t expecting much as I don’t really get molecular gastronomy (and it’s the opposite to the way I cook) but I had a perfect plate of whiting with toasted quinoa, a brilliant sauce made from coconut or something (I was in a daze) beautiful produce and it made the rest of the drive a little more bearable – Nic had a stunning pecorino risotto w shaved zuchinini – she loved it!

ND – I do love pasta and a favourite of mine is Da Noi, Toorak road.

Where do you shop in Melbourne for the tools of your trade?

SC –

Scullerymade
Chef’s hat
Casa Iberica
South Melbourne Market
Gasworks Market

ND -

Essential Ingredient for random obscure ingredients, or great cook books, for events I go to place like the prop store, Izzi and Popo & I love Astoria in Balaclava.

Where would be find you on a typical Saturday morning?

SC – Either asleep till midday if I worked on Friday night, or out to breaky somewhere wonderful!


 ND – If we are not working, my day usually starts with walking, coffee and a good breakfast!

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

SC – Da Noi.

ND – I am into the fish taco’s at Fonda.

Another sweet Cookes Food set-up…
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Event Design, Food Design, Interview, Uncategorized Comments (17)
Thursday, February 16, 2012

Fête

Fête Magazine – a new free Australian online magazine about event styling, entertaining and party planning!

Pagespreads from issue 1 of Fête Magazine – PEONIES are so perfect, aren’t they?

Mexican-flavoured teen pool party – SO cute!

I find myself stumbling across more and more incredible design talent in SA recently – first it was our darling pals Daniel and Emma, then the immensely talented glass artists at the JamFactory, then cooler than cool Collect Mag and of course, more recently the clever boys at Mash.  I get the impression Adelaide is a secret land with all these very clever people tap tap tapping away at these super inspiring projects behind closed doors, without any fuss or fanfare… and then when we finally catch on in Melbourne and Sydney it’s like BAM – where did that come from!?  Sheesh.  We really are hopeless. :)

Today we’re sharing another stunning new SA-born creative project – Fête Magazine!  Fête is a free bi-monthly online mag with a focus on all aspects of entertaining – from food to flowers and decorations, from kids to teens to grown-up dinner parties. Whilst there’s no shortage of online magazines popping up these days, I must say it is SO great to see one that has a distinctly Australian feel to it.  The parties pictured in Issue 1 of this beautiful publication are unmistakeably Aussie in their execution – I especially love the Mexican-flavoured teen pool party with it’s sepia toned shots!  SO cute, yet so natural and relaxed – and all too familiar!

It was actually my dear offsider Jenny Butler who brought Fête to my attention (thankyou JB!), and as with any new discovery, my first instinct was to scan the credits to see which clever team might be behind this polished project.  Turns out Fête is the creation of no one I had heard of (until now!) – Adelaide based event stylist and ‘big picture person’ Annabelle Kerslake, and ‘obsessive, details-focussed’ graphic designer Jane Cameron.  Needless to say – these two make the perfect creative match!

We love to  learn a little more about special self-starter projects like this, so we asked Jane Cameron a few questions about Fête -

You have crept up on us unawares with Fête!  So we’re curious… what are your career backgrounds?

Annabelle’s an entrepreneur at heart and started her career by opening a corner florist shop – after three years she was ready for a bigger challenge and moved on to build one of Adelaide’s leading event styling companies. Annabelle’s a people person and this endearing quality earned her a loyal following.

Meanwhile, I was running my own graphic design studio where my clients would wing me across the country as their corporate high flying designer. I’d lectured design to eager young students and served on the AGDA committee for what seems like forever (still!) – I even judged the awards one year which was pretty special. To satisfy a creative hankering I started a little personal stationery business on the side.

That’s how I met Annabelle – she was looking for someone to design stationery for her clients. Not long after meeting, Annabelle came up with a hair-brained scheme to get in to publishing and we started a printed wedding magazine to international acclaim. After five years we decided to leave to start our next big project, fête.

Annabelle’s the grand plans, big-picture type girl and I’m the obsessive compulsive, details person. By some miracle we work really well together and feel more like sisters than business partners. It’s a collaboration that has turned in to a life-long friendship.

What inspired you to come together to create Fête?

We both love entertaining and celebrating but are so seriously time-poor we wanted to find a way to do it quickly, easily but still do it well. With our collective backgrounds in design, styling and event management, we knew there was a better way and we wanted to pass on these ideas to every other person we know who is trying to juggle their hectic life, like we are.

We are especially loving the distinctly ‘Australian’ feel of the magazine – what do you feel is fresh / different / fabulous about Fête?

It’s important to us to present our ideas in an authentic way, that are relevant to our lifestyles – it has to be achievable and accessible.  It has to be easy – after all, Fête is pretty much just the two of us, with the help of some fantastic family and friends.

We like to think we present an Australian aesthetic, after all it’s what we know and we’re proud of our lovely country and its customs. This is something we strive to emulate – our laid-back, not-too-serious attitude to life.  It’s who we are and what makes us special in this world.

It’s such a laugh when international inquiries work out we’re based in Australia. We love it even more when Australians realise we work out of Adelaide!  We still get a laugh from the fantastic emails we receive from all parts of the world singing our praises when we are just two girls from SA doing our own thing. If only they knew!

Keep doing your own thing ladies – you’re on to a winner!

Massive thanks to Jenny Butler for sourcing this excellent story  :)

More pagespreads from the current issue of Fête Magazine

Fête Magazine

Fête Magazine
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Adelaide, Event Design, Food Design, in print Comments (18)
Friday, January 20, 2012

Interview – Christian Wagstaff

‘The Last Supper’ at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – creation direction by Christian Wagstaff

Good Food Guide Awards ceremony and event - creation direction by Christian Wagstaff

Pics taken this week of Christian’s team on site hanging their new Chinese New Year installation at Crown Casino.  Photo – Georgie Skinner.

Christian oversees the Chinese New Year installation at Crown Casino this week. Photo – Georgie Skinner

Christian Wagstaff is one of Australia’s most experienced and well respected production and event designers, with a bulging portfolio of work under his belt for incredible clients including Crown Casino, The Logies, The Million Dollar Lunch and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.  From Spring Racing marquees to runway shows, it seems no challenge is too great for Christian and his tight knit team… and I’m sure you’ll agree by looking at their collection of work – a Christian Wagstaff project always has a certain sparkle about it!

Despite being so prolific and highly regarded amongst his peers in the creative industries… I must say Christian Wagstaff is still a bit of an enigma.  I’ve known his name for a long, long time and have always been interested in learning more about his work, but he’s a hard man to research!   That’s mainly because he is pretty much un-Google-able!  And don’t think I didn’t try.  No, it seems Mr Wagstaff is just so busy doing, there’s little time to stop and congratulate oneself, document ones’ work in depth, chase publicity or, I guess, update a website!

There is a sense of immense energy and passion as Christian discusses his work – I get the impression he is just relentlessly chasing the next exciting project – no sooner has one job been realised than another is underway.  It’s clear from reading Christian’s generous responses below, this is one local creative who’s certainly living out his dream!

Massive thanks to Christian for his time with this interview, and for digging out all these incredible pics!  As mentioned his website is not exactly current (!!) – but many of his projects are documented on his Facebook page so do pop over and like / follow if you’re that way inclined!

Thanks also to Georgie Skinner for photographing Christian on site this week hanging his stunning Chinese New Year installation at Crown Casino.  Can’t beat a 24 hr photo turnaround – thankyou Georgie!

Please tell us a little about your background – where did you grow up, what did you study, what path led you to creative direction and event design?

I was born in Warrandyte, living in a mud brick house that dad built (and never finished). I grew up travelling back and forth between Mum’s in Blackburn and Dad’s in St Kilda. I went to Blackburn Tech where I dodged an unhealthy dose of bullying, whilst focussing my mind on drawing, painting, metalwork and woodwork. My year 10 work experience posting whilst at Blacky Tech was at the Victoria State Opera working under the great Production Designer Kenneth Rowel. This didn’t go down well with my peers. One day I got up and walked out of class half way through the year and never went back.

The next week I was attending english lit and media studies at Ardoch High in St Kilda. My life took a fabulous turn that year. I was one of 20 students taken in at Prahran TAFE for an experiment in Performing Arts education, taking on classes in acting, dance, mask work, bouffant clowning, set design and video art to name only a few of the mixed bag of subjects. It was a crash course, but it opened my eyes to the idea of taking on anything creative and giving it a go.   Win or lose, I took it all on from here on in.

I will say though, most of my study was self taught. I was a very focussed kid. Quietly driven. I built billycarts, roller-skated and loved a tree house. I also rode horses, dirt bikes and loved motorcross. But I constantly turned my attention to the arts, film, theatre, and design. My dad was one of this country’s best cinematographers, and my mum loved to tread the boards occasionally, so I was very aware of creativity in general. My step father was a songwriter and columnist, and my step mother a designer and artist. Who said divorce creates broken families?  Mine just got bigger and more interesting!   I have five sisters and two brothers, but I seem to be the only one that took the creative path and stayed on it.

I was obsessed with puppets. Particularly marionettes. My bedroom which was a 1970′s custom build bungalow, was divided into two parts. A theatre auditorium and a stage divided by a proscenium arch, which was a window into another world for me complete with revolves, wagons and a counterweighted flying system for moving sets. Then there was a bunk bed. The top bunk was the dress circle. The lower, the stalls. My dear parents sat through every production of mine.

I moved out of home at only 17 whilst still at school. For no reason other than I was very independently minded. I have been working since the age of 19 and havent stopped once. My first job straight out of College was designing the set for the 1990 Logies, so I was off to a pretty good start. I worked in a television art department and my bosses were veterans of the industry, working in set design since television’s inception in the 1950′s. They were fabulous, and they threw everything at me. I was the production design assistant but had a key hand in all of the designs. They were very trusting in me and I learnt a great deal, fast.

Eventually I moved away from television as back then it was stuck in a time warp and was a bit limiting, so I started to dabble in theatre, designing sets in Melbourne and Sydney. I lived on the smell of an oily rag as the saying goes. I did love it and know I will turn my hand to that again one day.

Melbourne then announced the launch of a casino and entertainment precinct. I have butterflies even now when I think back to my reaction to the idea of working there creatively somehow. As a 22 year old, it was a bit of a fantasy. One of my childhood obsessions was Hollywood movies depicting large Vegas-style theatrical stages, and scenes that cut-away to backstage and back of house. I loved all the beautiful, glamourous on-set creations but also the workings that went on behind the scenes. The chaos and drama. The notion of “the show must go on”.

Crown Casino opened in 1994. I worked there full time in various creative roles, eventually fulfilling the role of Creative Director, working on the many visual aspects of the business, promotions and major events. Spectacular!

I opened up my own office as Christian Wagstaff + Creative Production Services on St Kilda Road in 2005, taking on new business and new adventures, whilst still maintaining a key creative role with Crown. I have practically grown up there, and they still keep me busy. That place will always be a part of my life.

Crown Casino Christmas Extravaganza

What have been one or two favourite projects in recent years?

Two of my favourite projects have both been very recent indeed. The Victoria Racing Club’s Sponsor Chalets in The Birdcage at Flemington at the last Melbourne Cup Carnival, and the Chinese New Year installation in the Crown Atrium that is currently on.

The Sponsor Chalets at Flemington were an opportunity for me to create gorgeous corporate entertaining spaces that actually looked like marquees, rather than what they have steadfastly become over the years – monolithic architectural statements. I thought it was time to swing back the aesthetic to something a bit more human and fun. Sweet striped marquees can only put a smile on your face and go hand in hand with chicken sandwiches and Champagne. We got such a great reaction to them. People were so refreshed by them as they were fun and frivolous spaces.

Yellowglen Marquee, Spring Racing Carnival 2011

Yellowglen Marquee, Spring Racing Carnival 2011

Chinese New Year in the Crown Atrium has been an opportunity for me to create something large scale and theatrical. This is my third creation for this celebration and I think it’s the best so far. Its a beautiful, dramatic, striking and atmospheric installation. Whilst being very culturally sensitive and appropriate, I love how magical and glorious it feels when you stand under it.

One of my key influences is master art director and production designer Cedric Gibbons. Cast your mind back to any key MGM Golden-Years of Hollywood film and he would have designed the sets. I thought of him a lot when I designed this project. I love the immersive aspect of this installation. Its quite theatrical and it’s rare for any of us to get an opportunity to create a setting like this outside of a theatre or film studio in Melbourne.

Pics taken this week of Christian on site installing Chinese New Year installation at Crown Casino.  Photo – Georgie Skinner.

Chinese New Year installation – from concept sketch to execution

Your work is predominantly temporary in nature – visual merchandising and installation, racing marquees and corporate events that pop up for a short period of time then disappear forever.  Do you ever crave a more permanent project?

I love the temporary nature of the work that I do. It is my interest in theatre and film and the fact that they are fleeting and ephemeral by nature that drives my interest in temporary projects. There is a mystery and romance in that. I have worked on shows that have taken 8 months planning, 7 days set-up and then the actual moment only lasts a few hours.

I tend not to have a huge amount of photos of my work as the project passes too quickly and I am too focussed on the actual live moment itself. And I think deep down I like the idea of that moment passing. Some people incessantly photograph their work, recording every step of the way from start to finish. I prefer most of it to pass by and the notion of it to never be seen again. Commercial reality is we do have to photograph work to show potential clients, so I do it occasionally via our Facebook page, but I am not one to look longingly over my portfolio. I like to move on quickly. Creative Production Services is based on my original thinking back at Prahran TAFE as a student. Trying anything. We are very unique in that way. We have so many different things going on at any one time.

Temporary ideas also provides for taking more risk. With good and bad results. It is a different approach to permanent. I redesigned a theatre interior once that was to only last three years. Its been six years and it is still there as it has worked so well. So it is nice to know I can do permanent if I have to!

The Palms at Crown Casino (beautiful deco details on the stage!)

How is your business structured – ie where is your office based, how many people do you employ, what significant tasks do you outsource, and do you still play a very hands on role in every project?

Our office is in the Frederick Romberg building, Stanhill. One of only a few of his architectural projects remaining. It’s in an old apartment. We have been in this space for 5 years. It’s falling apart and currently going through major heritage external restoration and I know will never be finished, but I wont complain about it. I enjoy the spirit of the building and most of its imperfections. The faults make it more real.

There are 5 of us full-time. But we all work varied hours around the clock. It certainly isn’t 9 to 5. We are not set-up like your usual design practice. Our work schedule is very diverse. Whilst designing and managing the build of marquees at Flemington in October 2011, one of us was over in London, then Paris, San Sebastian and New York shooting for a photographic presentation which is launching in March 2012 for the 20th Anniversary of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.   I cant think of anyone else who is designing event structures one minute, producing photoshoots, whilst facilitating major international artist shows the next.

All key management tasks are internal and as Creative Director, I oversee the ideas, shape and final output of each project. We bring in various skill bases depending on what is needed. We contract 3D CAD, hand illustrators, model makers, stylists, florists, carpenters, set mechanics, engineers and painters, drapers, lighting designers, sound engineers, musicians, riggers, costume makers, sculptors, photographers, and artists. My level of ‘hands on’ also depends on the project type and the tasks. I am all over most aspects of every job, but as far as putting pen to paper, it depends on what it is and when it is needed. I never underestimate the power of a thumbnail drawing to get a project started. They are often the best in communicating an idea and often after the idea has been further developed and realised, it has somehow swung back to the original thumbnail.

VRC Hedges – another Spring Racing marquee

Hedges – another Spring Racing marquee.  Branch floral installation by Katie Marx

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Is it boring to say no day is typical?  As soon as a day becomes routine or typical, I tend to short circuit it!

Like any job, the administrative requirements are always there, they have to be done and I am quite good at it. I am usually an early riser – my brain works best AM rather than PM. I often do a days administrative work in the first 3 hours of a day. As an Aquarian, I am a big day dreamer. So most afternoons are reserved for sourcing, visiting, scheming, dreaming, thinking, playing, watching and being.

Which resources across any media do you visit regularly for a bolt of creative inspiration, or just to be kept in the loop!?

I buy less magazines as reference material these days. But I still buy large reference books. Books are still going strong and perhaps going stronger as they are getting cheaper to buy.  My own library consists of about 4000 books collected over the years.

Of course the web has become king. There is a new phenomenon happening across the internet that is quite scary. So this is a good question for the moment. All the major internet platforms are tuning their search results to what they assume is in our interest based on search history. So source material on the net is fast becoming more and more filtered and curated and subsequently limited. The web was revolutionary in that we could cast a wider net out to pull in resources over and above the resources we usually relied on. It’s all becoming very edited now. It just means we have to get smarter with how we use the net and not sit back and just use Google, Facebook, Youtube, Wikipedia and the rest. The net has almost turned back on us and started to reverse in breadth of research. The secret is to always having your eyes and ears casting wide across all media.

I think books are best. Another key research tool that we shouldn’t forget is talking to people. Easy to forget that skill.

Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?

So many. I turn to different creative individuals for many reasons.

Hedi Slimane - art director, menswear designer, photographer, visual artist. He is extraordinary. He could breath in a jar, seal it and sell it and I would love it.

Cecil Beaton who would have had the sharpest eye known to man. He would have been tricky to be around. Again, someone that could put his mind to anything. He was a painter, art director, set and costume designer, photographer and was the best ‘scrapbooker’!

Diana Vreeland who famously said ” There’s nothing wrong with bad taste; it’s no taste I abhor”. I love that quote. It’s a bit of a mantra of mine. She was another one with a sharp eye.

My best mate Meow Meow also inspires me. She is one of the funniest people I know on and off stage. Intensely creative and knowledgeable.  I admire people who know their craft and live for it and take on many opportunities.

What would be your dream creative project?

That is a secret. But second to that, it would be to make a film. I have a very deep and moving idea for a film inside of me that will one day make it to the screen. Thirdly would be to design for an opera or butoh project of any size. Or to just get back into theatre of some kind.

What are you looking forward to?

I always have something to look forward to.  We have so many ideas across our desks.  We run the business in a way where we like to throw a hundred balls in the air knowing that some of them will land at the right time and then happen.  We have some beautiful projects coming up over the next two years.

Personally, I always have to have projects way down the track that keep me spirited and excited.  I can’t just think week to week, month to month. I look forward to seeing ideas come into fruition that I have been thinking about for a long time.  I also look forward to discovering ideas I never thought I would have.  I look forward to the idea of never stopping to create.  My father recently retired working as a cinematographer at 72.  He now takes still pictures working with his wife who creates the scenes he photographs.  Thats a good life to look forward to following.

The Million Dollar Lunch – Charity event at Crown Casino

Melbourne Questions

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

I lived on Gore Street Fitzroy many years ago when Smith and Gertrude were seedy and only just starting to emerge. I would love to go back to that ‘hood. I have many friends who live in that part now and I love dropping in. A genuine street life that has evolved beyond anyones expectations. East Melbourne fascinates me for contrasting reasons. It’s so quiet and uniquely Melbourne. The wide streets are lovely.

Where /what was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

I am known to curse at what I call the Melbourne Food Bubble. I should lighten up about it and enjoy it, but this public and media obsession with restaurants and focus on specific dishes frustrates me. I like simple food. I’d prefer to eat at someone’s house than out to be honest. There is nothing better. Most of my mates are great cooks. However, if I am out, I would prefer to frequent some of the old establishments like Cafe Di Stasio or Grossi Florentino – The Cellar Bar which are just consistent and good at what they do and with no attitude. I hate to admit though the lobster roll at Golden Fields is sensational.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Robbie’s Day. My partner of 21 years. Generally a no go zone. I work hard all week and go out a lot with friends. Saturday is my dedicated family day. Me, Robbie and my darling Little Egypt (14 year old black pug dog).

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Melbourne’s best kept secret is that the secret is not a place. It is in our collective mind. But don’t tell anyone.

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Wunderplant

Gorgeous wedding flowers by Melbourne floral designer Amy Wright of Wunderplant

Such cute and unexpected floral combinations!

Amy wright is a multi-talented and perhaps somewhat indecisive local creative!   She is one half of design team Woot’n Wright, and co-runs A Shop called Milton with partner Jess Wooten (a shoemaker – blogged here).  She also has a passion for all things botanical and runs a floristry business called Wunderplant too!  Until recently Wunderplant was based out of A Shop called Milton, but this burgeoning little business has already outgrown its nest, so Amy has taken over a little studio just around the corner.  Here she creates all manner of floral treasures – posies for the shop and selected other retail outlets, creative installations, wedding flowers, buttonholes and corsages.

Wunderplant flowers emulate the simple garden posy – cute and quirky, not too structured.  Amy using seasonal flowers, unexpected foliage, herbs and even the odd common weed!   For more pics of her gorgeous work check out her website and blog.

Wunderplant creates flowers for cafés, visual merchandising, weekly flowers for small creative businesses, weddings and events.   My life will be COMPLETE when this ‘small creative business’ has a weekly flower budget.   I’m writing that into my five year plan as we speak.

Amy will be at The Melbourne Design Market on Sunday December 4th with her gorgeous blooms, alongside Jess Wootten and his fabulous handcrafted footwear.

Wedding flowers by Amy Wright of Wunderplant

Amy Wright of Wunderplant

Studio Wunderplant
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
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Friday, August 26, 2011

Interview – Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative

Moet & Chandon ‘L’esprit des Miroirs’ Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival Marquee 2006.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative in collaboration with Emma-Jane Pilkington.

Sportsgirl ‘Join Us’ instore installation 2011. Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photo – Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Join Us’ instore installation 2011.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photo - Marcel Aucar.

Myer ‘Spotlight’ Autumn / Winter Parade Launch 2009 / 10.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.

‘Shells, Architects of the Ocean’ Myer Spring / Summer collection launch, 2010/11.  Co-designed by Gloss Creative and LAVA.

Through interviewing some of the most talented Australian creatives every single week, I have come to realise that the very best of the best, in any field, almost always have one character trait in common – they’re GENEROUS. Generous with their time, their advice, their resources and pearls of wisdom.  To be completely honest, I find it’s usually the ones that aren’t much chop(!) who squirrel their trade secrets away and are reluctant to pass on their wisdom.  Nine times out of ten, if you find yourself chatting to someone who truly is at the top of their game – they’ll be humble, approachable, and genuinely helpful – although they’ll also probably be very busy!

Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative is the ultimate example of this rule.  The interview below is without a doubt one of the most genuinely insightful and generous interviews I’ve ever shared on TDF – truly!  It is an incredible resource for aspiring creatives in any field – I’ve even taken away a few pearls of wisdom myself!

Celebrating their tenth year in business this year, Gloss Creative is absolutely the best of the best.  Under Amanda’s watchful eye, her core team of five staff work from a simple studio at the rear of her home in suburban Melbourne, and whilst they might be a small team – they’re not afraid to think BIG!  This dynamic group is responsible for some of the very best event design, set design and visual merchandising this country ever sees.  No exaggeration!  Gloss is where creative meets commercial in the most spectacular fashion!

No brief is too tight (or too broad!) to shine given a little Gloss treatment – from spring racing marquees to Sportsgirl shop windows to high end runway shows.  Amanda’s highly skilled team are revered for their most impeccable attention to detail – every Gloss Creative job has a certain sparkle, yet no two executions ever look remotely the same.  But perhaps the most admirable thing about the Gloss team is that they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty!  Whilst a designers’ role too often ends on a computer screen – at Gloss, once a design is finalised, the real fun begins.  The entire teams mucks in with hands on installation of each project, often into the wee hours during peak season.

Gloss is a truly special local creative company – and I feel super lucky to finally be interviewing someone I’ve looked up to for many many years!  Massive thanks to Amanda for her time, and to Tiffany at Gloss for facilitating this interview and supplying too many stunning pics to choose from!  Love your work ladies! :)

Tell us a little about your background – what did you originally study, and what path led you first to visual merchandising, and then to launch Gloss Creative in 2001?

I didn’t study a lot! At school I spent my time doing drama, debating, public speaking and hanging out in the art room with the coolest art teachers making things! I spent a year at uni and quickly realised that my part time job at Sportsgirl was more like a ‘university of fashion’.

I became VM Manger for Sportsgirl Nationally and then National Creative Concept Manager at Country Road. These roles gave me both a sense of creativity and commerciality that created a platform and skill set for my exploration of Gloss Creative in 2001. Both of these companies have an ongoing belief in visual merchandising as vital in business success.

Gloss Creative reaches an important milestone this year – it’s your 10th birthday! Congratulations on this incredible achievement! What have been the most significant changes in the way you run your business over the past 10 years? Are there any key ‘lessons learned’ you would love to share?

We have always been a small business working with brands that have big dreams that need to be put into action.

Early on it was just me, my graphic designer niece, fresh from uni Kimberley Moore, artisan friends and my bookeeper Albina. I have always worked on projects from inception to end and that has not really changed, I have more time to devote to ‘whats next ‘ because our team is now larger and highly skilled, my belief in training people over time has paid off. We have the right people in the right jobs .

As well as our love of creativity, our practical, simple visual merchandising skill set has meant our consistency of delivery has been a major business asset and that only happened because we have developed an amazing in house team and network of collaborators and never failing suppliers.

What has changed is the diversity of projects we work on.  Early on event design was our main activity – that has expanded over the last five years to include set design (my personal love) and retail installations. In the early 2000′s the event industry was the place where the creative freedom was and still is to a large extent, but we noticed a shift about 4 years ago of retailers wanting their creativity back! This lead to wonderful collaborations with retailers such as Sportsgirl , Paspaley, Mecca, Sussans, Myer and now our newest project, together with the amazing team at Fabio Ongarato Design, Melbourne’s GPO -  Our first shopping centre!  Dangerous though, each time I go for a meeting I shop!)

The are a lot more businesses working in this space now which is another major change – the financial crisis really mixed things up , it lead to us being really targeted about who we wanted to work with and became way more proactive about creating projects that suited our skill sets.

Sooo many lessons learnt, I feel like ‘Yoda’ writing this -

1. Keep as much freedom in your processes as you can – you don’t have to be too flaky, just enough room to keep inspired.

2. Work with people you love and who love you, the best chemistry comes from seeing qualities in others you admire, and funnily those qualities you might not know you have that others see in you!

3. Get a book keeper. I have had one since day one. Can’t live without.

4. The best ideas and themes are those from outside your industry.  Before you design look far beyond where you sit for inspiration.  Look at the way other industries respond to their challenges.  New ways of seeing existing material and techniques is the secret to creative renewal. I love looking at work that is so different and yet it looks so obvious, you think, why hasn’t that been done before?

5. Don’t copy. You can make something way better.

6. It’s ok to show creative vulnerablity.  Remember you don’t have the answers all of the time, if you’re tuly making something original, you’re making it up as you go along.  Embrace precious unformed ideas and teach those around you to be comfortable with incomplete ideas until they develop.

7. The two hour principle. Brilliant ideas can be achieved in two hours.  Not everything has to take days.  Some of the best ideas we had have been born in minutes, you just have to grab the time.

Sportsgirl ‘ Without the Rain’ instore display, 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

What have been one or two favourite Gloss Creative projects / clients in recent years?

A client who collaborates is gold. Find cool, courageous, brave people who really want something new.  Sometimes the corporate world is risk averse. Do something new and exciting, but that moves their brand forward. Reward them, hold your project tight for them, and deliver something you’ll all be proud of.

My favorite clients have been those who know what they want, understand how I think and allow me and my team the freedom to deliver.

Some of my favourite clients have also been collaborators : Rachael Ruddick, Amy Foster, Emma Hofstede, Barry Wafer and Simon Hayward, Kerry Nelson, Kate Rees Rowie Kelly, Alistair Thompson, Kate Jennings and Paul Bonnici have always come onboard with our ideas no matter how crazy they are!

I’m proud of our collaborations with Sportsgirl – an ever changing feast of freedom and creativity for their customers over the past 3 years. The Sportsgirl team really believe in VM and it shows.  And the Myer fashion launches – a great example of what big business can do when it gives creative freedom to its team. I love the way we have been able to combine design with a sense of theatre to create a brand experience that works on a couple of levels.

Sportsgirl ‘Look Stop Shop’ 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Look Stop Shop’ 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

Your work is predominantly temporary in nature – runway shows, marquees and corporate events, magical environments that pop up for a short period of time then disappear forever. Does it ever frustrate you that so much incredible talent, energy (and budget!) is poured into such fleeting experiences? Do you ever crave a more permanent project?

I love the temporary, it suits my skill set. I was the girl who could never finish knitting a scarf, couldn’t read a long book. It took me ages to work out that smaller, temporary projects can be very rewarding. Temporary projects tend to have more emotional and visual impact because of that need to grab people’s attention quickly for a limited period of time. It always feels fresh.

We try to reuse elements on projects, we are not perfect but visual merchandisiers are the original recyclers. We put a lot more time and thought into reuse than we did 10 years ago and that’s a good thing . I’m really proud of the fact that half of the MGPO spring orchard installation will be reused again!  although you’ll never know it will be all cleverly transformed…)

BlueScope Steel ‘Colorbond Garden’ Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival 2007.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Graphic Design – Kimberley Witkowski.

I am sure many TDF readers will be curious about the inner workings of Gloss Creative! Can you give us a bit of an idea of how the studio runs?  ie where your office is based, how many people you employ, what significant tasks the studio outsources, and whether you still play a hands on role in every project?

We work in a studio at the back of our house, its relaxed but well organised. There are 5 of us on any one day and grow on larger projects to 20 people, mostly comprising of specialist artisans such as sewers, painters, jewellers, saddle makers, florists, lampshade makers, interior designers, graphic designers, visual merchandisers. We work with larger production, staging, print and signage companies as well as shopfitters, metal workers, builders, electricians etc. We have built an incredible network of people who just know how to make strange and wonderful things!

We work as a team on the top line ideas and then break down into smaller teams to make things happen, then usually coming back together to install our work.  I’m always involved with everything but try to let my team have freedom to show their considerable skills and style.

Myer Spring / Summer Parade Launch 2008 / 09.  Dancing with Architecture.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Graphic Design credit Kimberley Witkowski and Pamela Dale.

Which other designers, artists or creative people do you admire?

In the world –

I love the scale and playful qualities of the work of Australian artist Sally Smart, the patterns and colours of any Dries Van Noten garments, Bram Bogart‘s work with giant impasto, Constance Spry’s Floral work, Liberty of London‘s ability to combine old and new with so much cool I could cry when I shop there.  Any John Lautner house.

In my network -

Marcus Baumgart always says its important to state the obvious – I’m always inspired by the team that I work with everyday. They have shared my dreams and made them happen alongside me. Lucky me.

Architect Chris Bosse (LAVA), he’s way ahead of his time .

Bruce Keebaugh (The Big Group) – party guru and entrepreneur.  I have learnt so much about business from him, he knows how to make creative links across different industries and he’s a great story teller.

Sportsgirl ‘Make Do & Mend’ instore display 2011.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Make Do & Mend’ instore display 2011.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

Can you list for us your current top 5 go-to resources for creative inspiration, across any media?

1. Lsnglobal network. The boys at the Future Laboratory give great Insight into new thinking not just new trends. Puts me in the right frame of mind before designing.

2. I love Yellow Trace blog, Dana makes mood boards to die for .

3. Trendhunter, I love their theme galleries. Always slightly weird

4. I still like magazines. I’m often standing in airport newstands – I buy the latest of whatever is looking the most interesting that month. I’m not loyal to any one publication. I love it when you find an image you cant stop
looking at, you can tear it out and keep it next to you .

5. theflawedmind.com. I’m inspired by Marcus Baumgart’s eloquent writing style and love of the slow, his ability to express what he’s thinking makes me jealous…

Circa ‘The Prince’ Restaurant interior.  Design by John and Lisa Van Haandel with Gloss Creative.  Photography Earl Carter, Stewart Leishman and Paul Mosig.

Circa ‘The Prince’ Restaurant interior.  Design by John and Lisa Van Haandel with Gloss Creative.  Photography Earl Carter, Stewart Leishman and Paul Mosig.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Talking, talking, designing by talking, scribbling in my notebook, I stand at my desk because I am literally walking around our studio talking all day with Steff, Tiff, Kim, Ross , Albina , Jan or Sam. I rarely sit down, except when we talk as a group. I think I need one of those standing desks.

We work on multiple projects all in different stages so my day is always varied.  A mix of designing with our team, talking with clients, site visits, installations at night, driving to find things and more talking. My day is busy, but I try to think slowly and find pockets of time for free thinking. My phone often runs out by the end of the day.

Sportsgirl ‘How long is a piece of string’ instore display 2010.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

What would be your dream creative project?

A set design for Sydney Dance Company.

And… I’m already dreaming about Christmas at MGPO, so I would have to say our next project …

What are you looking forward to ?

Putting up spring carnival marquees at flemington at the end of this month – big Melbourne celebrations just around the corner.

Hanging with my AGA cooker in my kitchen on the weekend.

Melbourne Questions

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

Probably the city – anywhere that has such an amazing retail world and brilliant restraunts, beautiful buildings, laneways and gardens at the same time 12 minutes from my house must be good .

Your favourite Melbourne bookshop for gorgeous reference books and art / design publications?

Often I find inspiration in older books so I’m a fan of the library. I’ve borrowed and bought amazing books at second hand library book sales. School fetes are another great sources of out print inspiration. The Victorian Embroiders Guild library has an incredible array of textile and handicraft books – you have to join up to get access but its worth it..

What and where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

That’s easy – the new Vue de Monde at Rialto. There are not that many places in the world that you can have an experience that is both luxurious and still mind blowingly creative. Shannon’s sense of creativity redefines
what ‘occasion’ means.  Apart form the watching the day views turn into incredible view of Melbourne at night, the restaurant interior draws you into his world of dark but organic luxury.  The table is not set when you arrive – no tablecloth, a leather topped table, and a still life of handcrafted stone shapes and the burnt driftwood pieces on the table. As the meal progresses each piece’s purpose is revealed. Ah beauty and function!  For me this is almost like modern theatre. I’m always inspired when a business has creativity at it’s core – you can feel it!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

You would find me being slow. I’ve always been a slow person, so Saturday is my chance to go at a snails pace, whether its sleeping, walking, food shopping, coffee, I move at a “glacial pace” (quote from The Devil Wears Prada!)

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Its weather – no seriously, I love the fact that it keeps you guessing. My favourite melbourne page is Weatherzone, I love the watching the live rain radar!

Sportsgirl ‘Understated is Overrated’ instore display 2010.  Photography Marcel Aucar.
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
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Monday, June 20, 2011

Beautiful Bio Table Ware

Wasara bio-degradable tableware from Japan – available at The R.E.A.L Store in Sydney

Wasara bio-degradable tableware from Japan – available at The R.E.A.L Store in Sydney

I have been SO INSPIRED by this week’s Guest Blogger, Liane Rossler, that I am kicking things off with a little post about something she introduced me to on a recent trip to Sydney.

Bio table ware.  Sounds boring right?  WRONG!  The stunning examples of bio-degradable tableware in this post prove that the most ETHICAL option can also be the most BEAUTIFUL!  Ethical = beautiful.  Gotta love that.

The Japanese WASARA tableware above literally has to be seen to be believed.  It is so so beautiful.  Made from a combination of reed, bamboo and bagasse (sugercane waste product), it feels soft and velvety, it holds your food / liquid for one-time-use… and it is completely compost-able afterwards.  SO. GOOD.  The stunning organic shapes come in tiny canape size or larger plates, cups and bowls – truly they are so special you won’t even want to use them!   You can buy them in Sydney at The R.E.A.L Store (featured in Liane’s Guest Blog today!) and they also sell online. Prices starting at a very reasonable $2.00 a unit – they’re sold in packs of 8 but larger custom orders can be arranged.

Another gorgeous option, for a slightly more rustic picnicky feel, are these beautiful bowls and plates (below) from I Ran The Wrong Way, also in Sydney (also online!).  Again they’re totally compostable and biodegradable.  They’re made from the naturally shed leaf sheaths of the Areca Palm, from plantation palms in India, utilising a manufacturing process which avoids chemicals, resins, dyes or synthetic materials.  They’re sold in packs of 24 for just $12.50 (that’s .5oc a unit.  bargain).

You can learn more about The R.E.A.L Store TODAY on the Guest Blog, and I Ran The Wrong Way on Wednesday!   Two very inspiring gorgeous Sydney shops.

Do support these lovely thoughtful retailers and snap up some of their beautiful bio-wares in preparation for your next party.  There is seriously NO EXCUSE for awful plastic plates next time you organise a BBQ, kids birthday party or picnic!  Plastic!?  Ugh!

Bio Tableware from I Ran The Wrong Way in Sydney
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