Australian design brand Aura just got that much better, with the launch of their first ceramics collection. The gorgeous new range, encompassing stoneware mugs, bowls and plates, reflects Aura’s ethos of producing design-led homewares with the highest of quality materials. And we love it.
The bright and bold new designs feature graphic patterns and delicious colour palettes that you can easily mix-and-match with your existing white dinnerware.
Inspired by founder Tracie Ellis’ global travels, Aura say it’s “a little bit Scandinavian, a little bit Indian, but it’s also a whole lot of Melbourne.” I also think it’s a little Memphis, which is enjoying an ’80s revival in global interiors design right now. White-hot in trendland, in other words.
Once again, we’re delighted to see an Australian design brand extending itself and proving once again, that Australia is leading the way in global design.
Head to Aura now to check out the new collection, and while you’re there, you might like to have a peek at their latest bed linen, towels and table linen.
It’s no secret that I love decorating with plants, and I’ve always wanted to make a moss terrarium. I’ve seen loads of stunning glass and timber terrariums around, but the prices (around $80) are eye-wateringly expensive.
I re-purposed my gorgeous timber and glass candle holder and created a miniature mossy garden for much less than that. And it was super-easy too, as you’ll soon discover.
Materials
Vessel for your terrarium (I re-purposed a Freedom timber and glass candle holder – get a similar one here)
Small dark pebbles
Potting mix
Charcoal
Sphagnum (or peat) moss
Small moss plant (I used Selaginella Kraussiana)
Moss-covered stones (optional)
Old spoon
Chopsticks
Let’s Get Started
1. First, give your container a good clean, washing inside and out. Make sure it’s completely dry before starting, otherwise, bits of dirt will cling to the glass and make it look messy.
2. Carefully add a layer of small pebbles to the bottom of your vessel. Be careful to add just a few at a time, as you don’t want to break the glass. I added a layer that was about 2cm deep.
3. Next, add a layer of charcoal, which is essential to keeping your soil ‘sweet’ and assists drainage. You might want to use an old spoon for this part, as a garden trowel is too big and you want to create nice clean layers without making a mess.
4. Add a layer of potting mix on top of the charcoal. A good rule of thumb is to put enough pebbles, charcoal and potting mix to fill about one-quarter of the height of your container.
5. Now for the fun part – adding your moss and plants. If you’ve bought a potted plant, remove it from its pot by lightly gripping the stem at the base, turn it upside down, and give the base a tape. You really only need the root ball, so give it a little shake to remove some of the soil.
Make a small hole in the soil, then lower your plant into it and lightly press the soil around the plant. It’s essential that your plant is snug in the soil to prevent air pockets around the roots which may cause your plant to die.
Once I’d added my mossy plant, I discovered I didn’t have room for my moss-covered stone. But if you’ve got the space, continue to add stones around your plant.
6. Add a form of top covering to the soil. I chose sphagnum moss because it’s in keeping with my mossy theme, and it’s great for an open-vessel terrarium (technically a miniature garden) because it retains loads of water and keeps everything nice and moist, which is essential for a terrarium environment.
Use chopsticks to carefully arrange the sphagnum moss around your plant.
I also sprinkled a few grey pebbles around the sphagnum moss to add colour and texture to this layer.
7. That’s it. You’re done. Give your new mini garden a nice drink of water – just one tablespoon, and then give it a good mist with a misting bottle.
To care for your moss terrarium, don’t place it in direct sunlight, otherwise your plants will bake! Because it’s an open terrarium, and you’ve used moss plants, you will need to mist it regularly. Keep an eye on it and you will soon work out how much misting it needs.
Now pop your terrarium on a shelf and admire your good work (optional shelfie for Instagram, naturally).
Yes, this is a Christmas-y post. In August. I know everyone freaks out when Christmas decorations start popping up in shops after the September school holidays, but fear not. This is just a sneaky-peek at what Target Australia has lined-up for Christmas and summer this year, and Lisa and I were so impressed we thought you had to have a first look, too.
Feast your eyes on their amazing outdoor collection for summer. Some of these pieces are in-store right now…
With highlights including a fantastic round watermelon beach towel, we can’t wait for summer to roll around and get our hands on this fringed beauty.
There is also a matching watermelon cushion, an awesome multi-purpose side-table that looks like a giant disposable plastic cup, a tropical-print sunlounger and an inflatable pineapple esky. Imagine that bobbing around the pool this summer. So much fun!
Lisa and I also loved their collection of gorgeous beach towels for summer – beautiful prints, vibrant colours, great quality – and at affordable Target prices.
OK, hold tight, but Christmas is coming…
You can see why we had to show you. The table settings were beautifully styled, and we loved the combination of pink, gold and stunning orchids. Keep an eye out for the white and gold plates, in a mix of star and festive patterns. You could easily mix and match a few pieces with your existing white dinnerware.
We also had our eyes on the awesome cookie cutters (pineapples! gems! icecreams!) and the faceted gem timber serving board set. Both great gifts and fun for entertaining in December.
Oh My Doughnut Bauble! In this table setting (above), bright and vibrant colours combine with playful ice-cream accessories (and the most adorable doughnut Christmas tree decoration).
Think you’re over pineapples? Think again. Can you spot the glorious pineapple Christmas tree decoration (above)? It really is a object of beauty, and like everything else in the summer collection, it was designed by the in-house team in Australia.
We loved the colour palette in this tropical-inspired setting. The plastic outdoor tableware is transformed by the smart peach and navy blue combo, and we can’t wait to get our hands on them come summer time.
And so concludes our sneaky peek of Target‘s Christmas and summer homewares collection. There are a lot of fab new pieces coming out, and it’s a good indication of the capabilities of the Australian design team to deliver on-trend pieces that look fantastic, and don’t cost a fortune. (Did I mention there are globe string lights coming out. True. Beeline.)
Photography and styling by Lisa Tilse for We Are Scout.
This post was originally published on We Are Scout.
You have roughly 48 hours left to vote for your favourite Australian designers and makers in the Etsy Design Awards 2015.
So who do you think has talent? Vote wisely, as the winner gets a trip to Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and be featured in the October issue of Inside Out.
We thought the Art & Paper Goods category was particularly well-judged – we love all of the artists, illustrators and designers who’ve been selected as finalists. It will be a tightly-run race. Home and fashion was also well-represented. That’s just our two cents – what do you think?
Rather than tell you exactly who you should vote for, we’ve picked our top 12 favourite buys from a choice of 52 finalists.
In the final post for our series on decorating tables, we’re looking at how simple, pared-back details can make the most stylish of table top statements. Take inspiration from the following 10 tablescapes for your next celebration.
1. Create a Nordic-themed tablescape by keeping things clean and simple. Sunday Suppers used white linens and minimalist ceramics combined with simple greens and white flowers in small bud vases on the table.
3. Make your own statement table runner with a long roll of kraft paper. Use the eraser tip of pencil dipped in white paint to create a polka dot pattern. Cut an inverted ‘V’ at both ends for the finishing touch.
4. Take inspiration from this table setting for a Kinfolk dinner, featuring handmade and dyed grey linens and ceramics by Handmade Studio. Use a low-lying plywood tabletop and create seating on the ground with sheepskins. Trails of silver dollar eucalyptus add a touch of simple greenery.
Photography by Felix Forest Words and styling by Steve Cordony for Country Road.
5. Stylist Steve Cordony created a simple table top for Country Road with pared-back details. His tip for a beautiful and functional table setting? “Asymmetry can be more exciting that having everything in order. Placing items like flowers at the end of the table (as we have done above) or off-centre can add interest and excitement to the table and also avoids blocking the view of guests. As a general rule, centerpieces should be around 25-30cm high.”
7. Spray fallen branches with gold paint and hang them above your dinner table for a modern rustic look. In this table setting, Sunday Suppers kept the decoration simple and raw, with white cheesecloth and muslin napkins and “an abundance of white candles perched in copper caps.”
10. Take inspiration from this simple table top for a 30th birthday by combining white pillar candles with potted cactus in grey stoneware, decorated with eucalyptus leaves and natural woven baskets. The timber chairs pulls the natural-outdoorsy theme together.
Tell us: which dinner table look is your favourite?
This is the fourth and final post in a four-part series on how to decorate your dinner table.
If you’re looking a beautifully-designed gift for a small child, look no further than Les Jouets Libres Shifumi Game from Mama Shelter.
Made in France, Woody the Sheep is a knitting game and at 24€, it’s a quite a good buy. The combination of great design, beautiful timber and natural wool yarn is also a bonus, as it’s the kind of toy that parents don’t mind lying around in any room of the home.
The eco-friendly kit comes with two balls of chunky wool yarn and a knitting needle, so the child needs to thread the yarn through the holes in Woody the Sheep, and create a beautifully woven design.
It’s recommended for ages four and over, and it’s the perfect educational toy for practicing patience, creativity and fine motor skills. And don’t forget, it looks pretty good, too.
The shirt dress has come into its own this season, with just about every brand and designer including this classic cut in their collection. We’re seeing lots of oversized shirt dresses that fall just below the knee, and are intended to be worn unbelted, like a large tunic. Another trend this season is the top-buttoned-up look, a look that’s influenced by ’60s mods wearing their Fred Perrys smartly buttoned up.
If you like the belted-in, open collar look, there are plenty to choose from this season, including the new pencil-cut shirt dress.
You really can’t go too wrong with a shirt dress. It’s a wardrobe staple that you can wear throughout the year, and is perfect for trans-seasonal dressing.
I bet you’re already familiar with Australian artist Laura Blythman‘s distinctive collage-based art and design. (You’re not? We’ve banged on about her work in the past, so catch up here.)
Laura has hooked up with another Aussie creative, Peter Cromer, to create artwork and products under a new brand, Enemies Yay (great brand name, btw). Have a look at some of their gorgeous work…
The big news? They’ve teamed with another fab Australian creative, footwear designer Jean Vincent Lebon of Rollie. (We know that Australian collaborations are a bit of a running theme here on We Are Scout recently, but can you tell how much we are LOVING it?)
Anyway, I’m going to let the shoes do the talking right now (see also top pic)…
The capsule collection features Enemies Yay’s inimitable artwork in three different designs on Rollie’s classic lace-up derby shoe. I love that they’ve literally reinvented the most straight-laced shoe design you can get.
Think they’re a bit too loud or ‘out there’ for you? Think again. Imagine teaming these $169 beauties (affordable art if ever we saw it) with something classic, low-key or norm-core. Go on. Surprise yourself. YOLO (no, I can’t believe I just wrote that either. I only just learnt it has nothing to do with frozen yoghurt).
Want to refresh your home without slavishly following trends? We love Australian online store Sage and Clare for their immaculately designed and curated homewares with an artisanal edge.
Their brand new collection, The Caravan, is a design triumph with eclectic global influences, and their new online campaign has been beautifully photographed by Annette O’Brien and styled by Julia Green.
It’s a smart move that highlights how their homewares can effortlessly enhance a space for a look that’s both timeless yet also perfectly-on-trend.
Husband and wife team Chris and Phoebe are the brainchild behind Sage and Clare, and The Caravan collection is inspired by vintage textiles from around the world, with an emphasis on texture, print and embellishment.
You can spot tribal motifs and patterns found in traditional African mud cloth; irregular stripes and vibrant colours inspired by vintage Berber blankets in Marrakech; and a clash of Aztec patterns and carnival hues referencing traditional South American design and handcrafted techniques.
While a stunning handcrafted patchwork bed cover will set you back $389, there are also plenty of pieces under $50 which will add a spot of colour and artisanal element to your home, like the hand-painted enamel tumblers, which can double as a bud vase, for $15 each. Or update your bed with a set of new pillowcases, starting at $39 each.
Fan of mid-century modern? In London this month? Make a beeline to Forest London for their exhibition of new prints, paintings and textiles by artist Daniel Clarke.
The excellent Clerkenwell-based mid-century design and furniture store is hosting the Londoner’s latest work, with highlights including upholstered pieces of furniture in Clarke’s new printed fabric.
The exhibition is the result of a year-long body of research collated from Daniel’s drawing trips across Europe. By looking beyond the surface decoration of of urban architecture in cities such as Hamburg and Marseille, he’s created a series of modernist-inspired works where the lines and grids of architecture becomes pattern.
As Daniel explained, “The illustrations have a sense of familiarity, even though they hold no specific architectural point of reference. Modernist architecture connects the urban aesthetics of culturally-different place.”
‘Stairwell’ by Daniel Clarke.
‘Marseille’ by Daniel Clarke.
Daniel Clarke at Forest London runs until 27 August, 2015.
Forest London
115 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1R 5BY
Tel. 00 44 20 7242 7370
Opening hours:
Weekdays 11am to 7pm
Saturday 12 to 5pm
Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane
Are you a Country Road member? If you’re not, it’s well worth signing up next time you’re in store. Lisa and I are both members, and we always hold our breath (and wallets) until the new season‘s ‘spend and save’ offer for members. You get $50 off when you spend $150, or $100 off when you spend $300. It’s on now and ends 23 August.
It’s a great time to update your wardrobe with anything you’ve had your eye on. And with the recent launch of Country Road’s Spring 2015 collection, there are loads of brilliant buys to be had.
Notice a bit of a ’70s trend? We are loving the brown suede pieces, fringing and the tan and indigo colour palette. Best buys? Make a beeline for that tan suede A-line skirt, which might just be the only new thing you need to buy all season for an instant refresh. Or you could replace your usual t-shirts with with this gorgeously drapey drop-shoulder blouse for a subtle nod to the ’70s. It’s available in burgundy and navy, and you could pair it with your current jeans and skirts for an effortless look that says ‘now’.
We also love the new range of simple separates in clean lines that can be easily worn with your current wardrobe pieces. Look for pieces with interesting design details, like raw unfinished hems and assymetrical cuts.
The spring 2015 collection is now in-store and online at Country Road.
“‘Assembly: an assembling or coming together of a number of persons, usually for a particular purpose.’
This is exactly what The Assembly is all about.
Getting together, gathering and sharing. For us, life just wouldn’t be the same without community.
Our products are carefully curated to complement and fit with our daily life; a collection of the finest homeware, furniture and knick-knacks that help us get together at home. We work closely with wood, linen, copper and brass, but most importantly, we believe in quality over quantity. Most of the products in our shop are either handmade/shaped by us, or other artists we are in collaboration with.
Johan is a jack-of-all-trades; an artist turned graphic designer who is now a plumber/builder. Nia’s always had a love affair with styling, collecting and curating while their little sidekick Scarlet adds a touch of cute to everything. Together, we assemble and do life.
Add The Assembly to your Instagram feed, and get a slice of beautifully curated Sydney style – and events – through the eyes of founders Johan and Nia.
This is one of those (many) times when Lisa and I lament the fact we don’t live in Melbourne. But it’s great news for our southern friends, who can look forward to seven weeks of fantastic events, workshops and markets that celebrate Melbourne’s maker community.
‘Structure & Surface’ – BA Textile Design students at work in the windows at RMIT Brunswick: Claire Beale.
Head to the website to see the full schedule of events – but here’s our pick of the best stuff not to be missed:
Craft Hatch Market
Sunday 9 August 10am-4pm
Venue: Thousand Pound Bend
Showcases emerging makers, featuring the craft of over 30 fledgling craftspeople and those new to the market scene. This special Craft Cubed edition will feature workshops and demonstrations upstairs, above the bustling market. Don’t miss the craft Stash Swap!
Craft Window Walk
1-21 Sept
Venue: CBD to Docklands, see website for details
A fantastic walking tour from Spring Street to Docklands, taking in window displays ranging from simple tableaux to grand experimental displays.
ALTA Papercraft Workshop 29 August 2-5pm Bookings Venue: Bouverie Studios, 1/81 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
Create a papercraft masterpiece with ALTA Papercraft in a 3-hour workshop that will provide you with the materials and know-how to cut, fold and glue your own piece of art. You’ll walk away with your own 3D paper artwork from ALTA Papercraft’s unique DIY papercraft templates and some great new papercraft techniques from founder and head paper engineer Anna Trundle.
Craft and Design as a Career
Tuesday 15 Sept 10am-5pm
Cost: $45 member/ $90 non-member
VENUE: Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Craft’s annual conference for makers and designers. Speakers include artists and experts at the forefront of the creative industries.
SaJo Ceramics Open Studio
August 15-16
Venue: SaJo Ceramics, 11 Lillypilly Lane, Kilsyth South, VIC 3137
See a working studio, watch throwing and hand-building demonstrations, meet some of the Sajo Students, and check out the garage sale.
Pop Craft Studio Wild Weaving
August 1- September 20
Venue: Meri Creek, Northcote
Forage the surrounding Merri Creek for organic materials to incorporate the warp provided onsite.
