sketch+

the fig, the ancient fruit

2012-02-29T14:51:00.000+11:00

Figs have been around for millenia, and as a fruit they've certainly stood the test of time. It's not every food that can seem as delicious to King Solomon as it is to Sam down the road.

Things have turned a little smitten kitchen here at sketch+, so without further ado, here is the final product from today's project:

It's fig+pear jam!

Jam is pretty simple to make actually.
Here's how I did it:

3 figs, chopped roughly
1 Packham pear, peeled, cored and chopped
1/6 cup or so of water
Sugar
The peel and core of one apple
Cinnamon
Vanilla
An old jar, sterilised

- Put figs, pear and water in a saucepan. Add apple peel and core [this is to add more pectin to the mix so that the jam will set - you'll remove it later]. Bring to the boil, then reduce to simmer for about 20 mins.
- Allow to cool slightly, and remove apple peel and core. Then blend in a food processor till it's a smooth puree.
- Weigh it, and add just under the same amount of sugar [so, if your mix weighs 160g [which mine did] then add about 150g of sugar].
-Add a dash of cinnamon and vanilla [this is optional].
-Put back in a saucepan on mid-low heat till sugar is dissolved, then turn right down and let it go for about an hour or so.
-Woo! Almost done! Now just pour into your sterilised jar, allow to cool and refrigerate. It'll make as much as you see in the picture below. But you can double quantities etc. if you'd like a bigger batch.

How easy is that!!

I've labelled mine with some DIY stickers from kikki.K (which also feature on my felt gift wrapping)

It's a lovely idea for a personalised gift, or wedding favours, or just to enjoy yourself. Add to a cheese platter, spread on some sourdough, have fun!

spring in glasshouses

2012-02-24T22:20:00.000+11:00

A collaboration from the Christmas is Happening people, this video is part of an interactive website celebrating Easter. Made last year, I really love the simplicity of it - celebrating life in community, appreciating beauty, being thankful, allowing yourself to be openly creative...more of this I say! I'm hoping that they'll produce a 2012 sequel, so I'll keep you posted if something emerges. Happy weekend!

ahh paris...

2012-02-24T11:18:00.003+11:00

A picture I took on my last adventure to the City of Light. I love so many things about this...the typical Parisian buildings, the lamp, the autumn leaves, the uni students reading on the park bench...the countdown has begun for my next voyage!

[creative of the week] tim walker

2012-02-21T08:31:00.000+11:00

Tim Walker is an artist/photographer who's worked a lot with Vogue and the like. Some of his photographs are held in London's National Portrait Gallery. All of his works contain a surreal quality that makes you look twice.

It Rained Outside so we Camped Inside, Chanters House, Devon, England 2002

Juliet Bewicke, Northumberland, England, 1998

Otis Ferry and his Foxhounds, Shropshire, England, 2007

Coco Rocha and the Giant Glove, London England, 2006

To me, the images have a distinctly English feel to them, not surprising considering Walker is British. I hope you've enjoyed our creative of the week!

All images belong to Tim Walker.

[creative of the week] zaha hadid

2012-02-14T14:44:00.000+11:00

A visionary architect with global reach, Zaha Hadid's works evoke organic shapes, using new materials and technologies to achieve this.

Beethoven Concert Hall [Bonn, Germany]

Elastika, from the interior of the Moore Building in Miami

And the [yet to be completed] Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre

I think we can afford to think outside the box a little more! Hope you've been inspired by our creative of the week.

round faces

2012-02-09T09:57:00.000+11:00

I have a theory that men's watches look better. Here are a select few of my favourites, all, as you'll notice, with round faces!

Clockwise from top left: [1] Flight Stainless Steel Watch [in black] from Fossil [2] Uniform Wares 300 Series Chronograph Wristwatch from Mr Porter [3] Issey Miyake Twelve Watch [in blue] by Naoto Fukasawa [4] Flight Leather Watch [in brown] from Fossil [5] Uniform Wares 250 Series Steel Wristwatch from Mr Porter.

flowers for hair

2012-02-08T10:07:00.000+11:00

Musubi uses the most beautiful flowers, in the most beautiful arrangements, making the most beautiful photographs. Here are some artworks that feature. These pictures show such a creative take on colour and shape. It reminds me a little of the illustrations in the children's book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie!

All images from Musubi.

animal friendly antlers

2012-02-07T12:08:00.000+11:00

Urban Outfitters have come up with a more sustainable answer to animal wall hangings - using cardboard!

And you can build them yourself! A humorous take on a historical trend.

The Giant Cardboard Taxidermy images are from Urban Outfitters.

draping florals

2012-02-07T08:50:00.000+11:00

BHLDN has some really good party decorations, as well as beautiful dresses and accessories. Here is the Forever Flower Ceremony Backdrop. A [little!] pricey, but so pretty!

book shop beauty

2012-02-06T12:34:00.000+11:00

Books have such a good aesthetic. They've been almost done to death lately in the world of interior design, but of course they've survived! Here are some interesting book shops that might inspire your own book display:

Gertrude & Alice Bookstore Cafe at Bondi Beach.

Shakespeare and Co. in Paris

And finally, one can't go past the Mitchell Library at NSW State Library.

For something a little different, here is my favourite bookshelf to date. It's actually part of an art installation: David Garcia's Archive Series. Here is Archive II.

And this is the entire Archive Series in context:

[creative of the week] amy borrell

2012-02-06T08:52:00.001+11:00

Each week at sketch+, we'll have a feature of a creative person/company to inspire us!

This week is the talented Australian illustrator Amy Borrell.

Borrell uses a lot of watercolour and pastel colours, giving her illustrations whimsy and sweetness. I think they'd be so perfect in a children's book!

You can see more of Amy's work on her website, Cake with Giants. All images by Amy Borrell.

arnold the elephant

2012-02-01T09:17:00.000+11:00

Do you enjoy sewing? I am pretty hopeless at it to be honest, but it is a good feeling to create something. I usually stick to ultra-basics, like pencil cases, but I did once branch out and make a dress! And, as an added bonus, it was actually wearable!

But there's no sewing incentive greater than the little character that is my measuring tape:

Meet Arnold! He's the best! A friend gave him to me for Christmas last year. He sits on my desk and I love him.

tissue paper done right

2012-01-31T18:15:00.000+11:00

Tissue paper pom poms are everywhere. They just look so good! My sister gave me a few a while ago, but I wasn't really sure how to make them look like they fit in my room. Finally, I've decided on a cluster near my mirror.

Also featured are a few of my favourites from The Sartorialist.

You can buy pom poms like these at most paper shops, etc. but you can also make them!

Oh Happy Day has a tutorial for party hats that uses the tissue paper pom pom idea:

They are excellent for parties, and just generally make rooms look fun. Some friends have a bunch of red ones hanging from the ceiling in their dining room and they look GREAT!

Are you a fan?

pasta

2012-01-08T19:39:00.002+11:00

In my house, we're centering our dinners around a different food culture each month. January is Italia month! So in the spirit of things, yesterday, for the first time, I made pasta from scratch! Without a pasta maker! I know!

Here is the fruit of my labour:

Making staples like pasta and bread can seem a little intimidating, because we rely so much on others (eg bakeries, supermarkets) to provide them.

But if you have a rolling pin and a little patience, it is ultra achievable! I took heaps of shortcuts (eg I used regular plain flour instead of Tipo 00 flour) but it somehow worked out in the end. The rolling pin technique doesn't create as fine a pasta as the machine, but it still tastes good. Really good.

My friend Jamie showed me how.

Have you ever tried making pasta or bread? Were you met with success?

fun geometry

2011-12-23T15:50:00.000+11:00

Bold colours and bold shapes go so well together!

Clockwise, from top left: Zebra [Castle]; Flying Colors Idiom Bangle [Kate Spade]; A Stone's Throw Away wallpaper [Oh Joy for Hygge & West]; Remix Blanket [by Ferm Living from Huset]; a colourful diagram in Information is Beautiful [David McCandless].

felt + cellophane = beautiful gift wrapping

2011-12-22T16:59:00.000+11:00

I spotted this in a Donna Hay entertaining issue last year, and thought I'd give it a go!
All you need is a sheet of felt in a colour of your choice and a piece of clear cellophane the same size (plus string/twine, decorations, etc. I've used kitchen string, felt balls and stickers here), plus of course some sticky tape.

Lay out the felt on top of the cellophane. Place your gift bottom-up on the felt. Wrap and stick, then decorate! My advice is to keep it simple. The felt and cello already provide a lot of interesting texture - no need to complicate the issue.

I think they look very effective - the felt creates softness and warmth, while the cellophane keeps it pretty and shiny. Happy wrapping!

P.S. My friend Millie pointed out that technically you can reuse the felt as many times as you want, so we're helping the environment too! Win.

stockholm library

2011-12-22T13:18:00.001+11:00

This is a CGI of the winning plan for the Stockholm Public Library.

It's so dramatic and commanding. I love it! The designer is Olivier Charles. Have you stumbled upon any visionary architecture lately?

tattly

2011-12-21T13:13:00.001+11:00

Tattly's 'designy temporary tattoos' are fabulous! Different designers are commissioned to create them. Aren't they a step up from those nasty kids' ones?!

Clockwise, left to right: Yes No [Tina Roth Eisenberg]; You're Late [Julia Rothman]; James [James Victore]; Color Burst [Jessi Arrington]; Camera 2 [Julia Rothman]; Tattone [Josh Smith].

christmas is happening

2011-12-21T09:30:00.005+11:00

This is one of the best collaborations...an online advent calendar, featuring a new artwork and song each day! Each day, from what I can tell, is by a different person.

Day 1

Day 7

Day 11

Day 17

diaries

2011-12-20T17:05:00.000+11:00

There comes a point every year when one has to embark on the difficult task of choosing a diary.
The reasons it is so tricky are as follows:

1. You will use it almost every day of the year. So it has to be functional.
2. You will see it almost every day of the year. So it has to look good.
3. Other people will see it almost every day of the year. So it has to look really good.
4. There aren't enough good quality diaries out there.

So, to help you (and me) choose the best diary for 2012, here, ladies and gentlemen, is the shortlist!

The Frankie Diary is arty. It's pretty. It has fun sections to write things like "books to read" and "wine I liked" which makes one feel very cultured and mature. Each month features a different background pattern. It's lined in fabric and hardcovered, so it fits the brief. Some months, the backing pattern can be a letdown, but all in all, a good little number.

This, admittedly, strays a little from the brief, but I couldn't pass it up:

Art gallery gift shops are all over it. Their book selections alone make me want to spend up big (hello there, student income!), let alone the posters, magnets, and generally brilliant things that I never realised I wanted so badly. This is the NSW Art Gallery's 2012 Calendar, featuring Japanese landscape woodblock prints by various artists.

Here is the Kikki-K A5 (just the right size) Sundae diary. Perks include a day-to-a-page layout and pastel colours.

Although, to be honest, I'm not a massive fan of the plastic-y outside.

And lastly, Japanese stationery (note correct spelling) brand Delfonics has come up with these colourful diaries complete with pouch for extra protection!

You can pick your colour:

I would love to see/track down more good diaries for 2013. What diary are you going for next year?

italian garden dream

2011-12-20T16:17:00.000+11:00

I caught some of a show the other day called "Monty Don's Italian Gardens - The South". When I think southern Italy I think Naples, which isn't exactly the best endorsement for the region. But once you get past that, there's Capri, Amalfi, Positano, etcetera, which I think might just make up for it.

Welcome to Sunny Naples

Living in Australia, we don't really have any gardens (that I know of) even near the calibre of the gardens in this program, so I basically spent the hour living vicariously through the host.

Right at the end, he took us to Ninfa, nicknamed Italy's most romantic garden. The garden looks like it sprung up by its own accord, like some beautiful undiscovered area of Middle Earth. It feels like one of those places that implores visitors to only have intelligent, important thoughts...I just wanted to move in.

This explains the Middle Earth reference.

Image credits: 1. Green Areas in Rome, 2. SMH, 3. Trekearth