Birdies

Have taken an interest in stylised bird illustrations ever since drawing the creatures in the trees on the St John wall. This picture f-f-f-found at FFFFOUND!

We be the judge

This year, I am most excited to have been invited to sit on the judging panel for the DIA (Design Institute of Australia) GOTYA (Graduate of the Year) awards. I love seeing the work produced by wide eyed, passionate students: I always find it really inspiring to see their fresh creativity, and interesting to see what trends are working their way through design schools. The work will be judged in two phases, and we will be meeting with the shortlisted students in the second phase. I intend to be as intimidating as I possibly can!! He he...

Water for Elephants

This book was the last one we read last year and was enjoyed by all. It's the story of a young Polish man, Jacob Jankowski, who after short series of unforeseen tragic events, finds himself working for the circus. Being a veterinarian student, he works with the animals and makes himself two particularly special friends: Rosie the elephant and Marlena, the prettiest girl he's ever seen. Marlena also happens to be the wife of the header trainer, August.

I watched the recently released film version of this story after reading the book and it was just as spectacular. Both book and movie come recommended from Team Boheem. Next book: Catcher in the Rye.

Typeface

Think I'd like to see this film. I don't think this is the official poster, but it's nice eh? Check out the trailer on youtube.

Cut it out

Kicking off 2012 with a focus on a charming little design studio in the UK. Cut It Out has a great online shop with limited edition prints of hand-made collages and what not.

Last one 'til 2012!

Thank you to all of our faithful blog followers for sharing another fantastic year with us. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and see you in 2012!

Bill Granger's Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Thought I'd share this recipe as it's been the flavour of the month – literally – in our household. I had a friend send it to me after she made it for us. It's from a Bill Granger cookbook. It's a bit fancy with porcini mushrooms but I left those out and it was still outstanding! Best thing is you can freeze it easily and bring it out again and again, night after night. I'm not sick of it yet…

Serves 4

10g dried porcini mushrooms

500g skinless chicken breast fillets

60g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

25g butter

1 small onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

150g mushrooms, sliced

80ml white wine (or water)

125ml cream

1 tablespoon chopped sage

300g ready-made puff pastry (I used shortcrust)

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten, to glaze

Soak the dried porcini in 250ml just-boiled water for 30 minutes. Cut the chicken into 2-3cm dice. Combine the flour, cayenne, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat, shaking off any excess. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan over high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry until lightly browned and sealed (not cooked through). Remove and set aside.

Add the onion, garlic and fresh mushrooms to the pan and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms are coloured. Add the wine and let bubble for 1 minute. Chop the porcini and add with their soakage liquid and the cream. Simmer gently for a further 5 minutes. Add the chicken and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in the sage.

Roll the pastry in a lightly floured surface until 4mm thick. Cut out 4 rounds large enough to line 4 pie tins, 9.5cm in diameter, and 4 smaller rounds for the pie lids. Line the tins with the larger pastry tops on the pies and press the edges together to seal, then crimp with a fork. Make a slit in the top of each pie using a sharp knife.

Pies can be made and refrigerated or frozen in advance to this stage. If cooking now, brush with egg yolk and bake in a preheated oven at 180c for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

To cook after freezing, allow the pies to thaw in the fridge for several hours or overnight then brush with egg yolk and bake as above.

Serve with green salad.

Dunlin Home

Well if you're looking for gift ideas this Christmas, and hoping to find something with classic, understated and original style for your loved ones (or me... he he!), check out new Australian homewares store, Dunlin Home. It's a collection of elegant pieces inspired by the olden days in the country, when milk jugs were actually used to serve milk, and fruit from the orchard was collected in a pretty woven basket. Check them out!

Flickr Find

This prolific photographer from Bulgaria is a bit of an enigma. I can't find any information about her, but her work is astounding. With a large collection of self portraits as well as other photos and paintings, she calls herself "Foxe" on Flickr, and her photostream can be viewed here.

One of the testimonials on her profile page best describes this talented artist and her intriguing work: "Foxeto is a beautiful girl with the soul of a poet; the maker of images haunting and unforgettable. I love her work so."

Hurrah

It's been a crazy few months here at Boheem. Lots has changed, the days are flying by and somewhere amongst it all we found our work published. {Graphic Design} Australian Style Manual is the first textbook for tertiary students written with an Australian and New Zealand focus. In a constantly changing and inspiring design environment, it's good to see something like this available to young designers -and we're stoked to be included for our work on Everything in Common.

California Gold

I just came across these posters the other day and instantly fell in love with them!

The design duo who also happen to be a husband and wife team over at Lab Partners are responsible for these beautiful prints. This series is all about California's natural wonders, the mix of gold and geometric shapes are stunning and work so nicely as a series. All five screen prints will be printed with metallic inks. They're not available yet, but I'll definitely be purchasing them when they are!

Spoonflower

Do the words 'custom printed fabric' make your heart skip a beat?

A good friend of mind recently told me about Spoonflower, which we now (at Boheem) consider somewhat 'life changing'. This site allows anyone to design, upload, print and create custom made fabrics.

There is no minimum order, they have a selection of really nice natural fabrics, the printing process is eco-friendly and yes, they ship internationally.

The website is extensive, well organised, with thousands of samples of past prints and projects.

Spoonflower will even send you a swatch and colour sample book for just $2.

Amazing and definitely worth a look: www.spoonflower.com

Plank and Trestle

Whilst being away from the studio I've been creepily checking in on the progress of some of the projects which were underway when I checked out. Just hopped online to see if furniture designers Lana and Mike Hall had launched the branding for their new venture: Plank and Trestle. Sure enough – a spiffy new landing page. By the way, the range is stunning… I can't wait to order one of their pieces for myself!

Luca Turns Two!

Somewhere in the blur of the past 12 months Luca started walking, talking in sentences, selecting her own clothes, riding a scooter and can count to 10.

Her favourite colour is green.

She loves Greek yoghurt.

Carrots the rabbit still remains her most loyal friend.

Happy birthday big girl!

The Distillery Letterpress Excursion

On my past few visits to New York City, I have paid a visit to Greenwich Letterpress in the West Village (visit their blog greenwichletterpress.blogspot.com). I have wondered why we didn't have a similar printing press/store in Sydney, this was true until now.

Last Thursday evening, Chantel, Kat, Mei, Jo and I went on excursion to the grand opening of The Distillery Letterpress in North Sydney.

The smell of ink greeted us, and after a short demonstration where we saw the 1959 Heidelberg Windmill Press in motion we were sold! There is a special place for letterpress in every graphic designers heart, the textured, pillowy paper subtly debossed brings design to life.

We were impressed by the team at The Distillery, they really seemed to know their stuff - and their passion for the fine art of letterpress was inspiring.

To put it simply, letterpress printers are to printing what artisan bread makers are to baking - yum!

www.the-distillery.com.au