Cutting Away

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Through exploring TED this week I found this wonderful talk by Beatrice Coron. I find it fascinating that she removes what is not from that story. Her work is breathtaking.

Béatrice Coron: Stories cut from paper | Video on TED.com

Old Show Tunes

Now I would be lying if I said that musicals and the tunes that go with them are not a favourite in the kijaro house... so the other day in one of my light bulb ideas I acquired from my lovely father, my grandmothers record player. Although it isn't as lovely as the one I nearly bought at an estate a couple of weeks ago and have been kicking myself ever since.. it is still amazing. It proved to be a little bit of a challenge to get it going at first (helps if you press the phono button not the AUX button) but I can assure you that I have it all sorted now. The house of late has been filled with wonderful show tunes from the Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and a vast arrary of other wonderful broadway tunes mixed with some Santra and a dash of ABBA. I can say that it is wonderful to do the breakfast routine with some good old tunes with the wonderful unique sound of the original player. On a side note I am a little excited about tomorrow, the wonderful Laura from Kit and Nancy and I have a date with some yard sales, a coffee shop and maybe an oppy or two or maybe a few. I will be sure to check back let you know what our adventures entailed. kijaro xx

The new partnership, Apples and Kijaro xx

Well I must say that I have been a bit undisciplined in this blog business.. but rest assured I have had some ideas to make it happen a little more often. I am writing tonight from the Kijaro Mansion, as the lovely Laura has named it.... I am liking this one a lot better than 'The Hunting Lodge' as Amy has named it, due to the large number of porcelain animals that reside here... if you have any other suggestions I am open to them, but that is veering off track a little... I am writing to you from my lovely new abode, listening to some Frank Santra in the new/old record player, I have the house all to my self and it is quite delightful in fact... Today saw me back at work after a rather disappointing market weekend on the sale front, but on the up side I purchased some wonderful items to add to the growing collection (I hope to share those with you when I can photograph them), also I met some lovely people across the weekend at the Ipswich Environmental Festival and also Aladdin's Fair so in the end it all worked out delightful (these included LoveFromPatt and A little Vintage just to name a couple . When I wasn't marketing I managed to purchased some wonderful things from Laura with her sneak peek Yard Sale photos, if you haven't checked it out you really should and quickly.. things are not hanging round for long.... 

I think this would have to be my favourite out of all the things I have caught in just the nick of time. Although this is the third couch I have bought for the new house, (I know a little excessive) I am going to make it all work. This little beauty is a sofa bed and it is coved in the most divine fabic you have seen in the form of a couch. How could I say no really??

But to the real reason for our meeting tonight the very exciting news about the new partnership! Before I tell you about the news I want to give you the little back story first. Near my old house there is a delightful little shop with the blissful name of Apples on Ainsworth. Run by the duo of Kymberlee and Sarah this little shop is just the place for coffee, chats and catch ups of all sorts, did I mention its also a green grocer with fresh produce, herbs, honey and bread!! What more could a girl what.

 I have been past this little gem a couple of times thinking I should stop by for a taste and not just a look, and Thursday was the day. Miss Kylie and I popped in for a bit of brunch and were not disappointed. With walls covered in blackboard paint it is literally a canvas for all things vintage and lovely. The food was amazing! For under twenty dollars you could find yourself tasting beautiful food and drinking perfect tea all off mismatched vintage crockery! Defiantly worth a visit.. and make sure you take advantage of their blanket lending service for a picnic in the park. Oh, and don't forget to pick up a kijaro greeting card while your there! Yes thats right! Kijaro is now stocked at Apples on Ainsworth, now that should give you even more reason to pop in and see the girls and their beautiful shop. xx

 

Happenings of Late

It has been a while I know, but this have been very busy round here. After 5 weeks leave I am back at work and wishing that I was on holidays again, but never mind I have to have some form of income to support my rather expensive vintage habit. We have been to lots of markets lately including Marky Markets at West End, Suitcase Rummage and the Wynnum Spring Fair, and this weekend is shaping up to be a busy one too. We have the Suitcase Rummage at the Ipswich Environmental Festival on Saturday and the Aladdin's Fair on Sunday at Windsor. Also we have just received an email confirming our place at the new West End Twilight Markets starting on the 12th of November, all very very exciting. We have had a birthday in the house, Amy turn 23 and we had some celebrations across 2 night. For the occasion our walls got graced with its first lot of event bunting made out of an old girls annual. Although I didn't get a photo of it the right way round you get the idea. 

Sunday night saw the lovely Laura pop round for dinner and some talk about moving into the house. She bought brownie treats with her and there was a vintage and artwork swap take place. But Laura describes it a lot better than I do and you can read about it on her blog over here. I must say that I am very very flattered that she thinks my house is a wonderland (and I am very very very anxious to see what goodies she has for sale in her yard sale, one not to be missed!). I am extremely excited about having Laura join our little house I'm sure it will make for a very vintage and creative house with Amy, Laura and I. Spending too much time in op shops, learning blogging tips and generally being a lovely place to live.. and I must say the prospect of tasting Laura's treats is also a large positive! Anyway I must be off to make sure I am ready for the up coming market weekend. Kijaro xx

Doodlers, unite!

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Sunni Brown: Doodlers, unite! | Video on TED.com

Happy Monday, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Just a small video on the Art of Doodling, let those creative juices flow and be proud to be a doodler! Hoping to check back later with photos of my weekend adventures.

Kijaro xx

A Pencil Rainbow

I thought I would share with you one of my wonderful finds from my recent trip up north. I squealed with excitement when I opened this gorgeous timber box, all the colours of the pencils just seemed to pop. Would it be nice if still made stationery like this. I hope you are having a wonderful Friday. Kijaro. xx

The Goal to Slow Down

If you ask any of my nearest and dearest I have two speeds and two speed only, they are ON or OFF. I am either running around on the highest speed that there is or I stop and go to sleep. It has got to the point that my friends tell me I have to be somewhere 1/2 an hour before I actually have to be there so that when I try and cram to much into one day that I make it to the event on time (even though I think I am late), they have even named this time as 'Kim Time'. Aside from that, when I do see them, I am ordered not to sit, lay or reside on any soft surface for fear that I will try and do a little eye lid watching. Its actually quite sad really, I am missing out on doing the things I love and spending time with my magical friends all because I am to busy trying to 'do things'. I am caught up in making everything perfect and building this wonderful life I have planned in my head, and at the end of the day, I am too tired to appreciate it. This idea has been going around for a while now, I know I need to slow down, but how is the next problem I have to tackle. I stumbled across this magic little video from TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design, a wonderful website that I discovered through Dumbo Feather Magazine, but they both deserve a post of their own). Anyway back on track,  the video titled Carl Honore praises slowness, is a 20 minute talk where Carl managed to convince me that maybe fast isn't best, and maybe I do need to find my inner tortoise, slow down and find that magical middle speed that I am yet to master. Yes indeed there are times when the adrenaline of an experience is worth while, but if I am running at full speed all the time how am I meant to appreciate everything that I work so hard for? How am I meant to form and nurture the relationships with the people I love and cherish if I am busy fitting too many things in too little time? So although I think it will be hard work I want to slow down, appreciate the small things. I want do what I really love and make sure that I don't miss the best part, actually living my life. In my light bulb moment this morning I came up with a list of ten things I want to do to make this happen. I thought I would share them with you to see what you think.

10 things I want to do to help me appreciate the small things and slow down.

1. Make more- I want to stop thinking of things I want to make or create and actually do them.

2. Keep a Journal- Take the time every day to stop and reflect about what happened in the day, what I liked and what direction I want to go to continue doing what I love. Record ideas, goals, dreams and silly little things that make me smile.

3. Bake more- appreciate the process of baking and cooking and of course the sharing and eating.

4. Spend more time with my Friends- I have a small group of very wonderful friends who I need to cherish and spend more time with.

5. Change my way of thinking- I have a habit of thinking about things WAY to much, and always thinking about the negative. Now is the time to change that and look for the positives (cliché I know, but a lot easier to say than do).

6. Read- I have a whole library and magazines that come in the mail every month, and truth be known I haven't opened or read most of the books I own, and some of my magazines are still unread on the shelf in their plastic.

7. Learn- I love learning, making and doing things with my hands. I want to find classes, groups or workshops to keep me learning and being creative.

8. Communicate more- I have friends on the other side of the world and friends and family in this very city. I want to make the effort and appreciate them and build our relationships through old fashioned letter writing.

9. Appreciate the small stuff- taking time to appreciate the little things in life. Reading the paper, seeing my Dad, cooking, making, creating and the other wonderful things in this world that I am usually to busy to appreciate.

10. Go on more picnics- spending time out doors with people I love, wonderful food and sunshine.

and to slip one last one in

11. Smile

It will take baby steps, persistence and  determination but the goal is very much worth all of that and more. I am more than will to take any advise on the topic of slowing down and any ideas you have on helping me achieve it. Well Im off to make some bunting for my beautiful new house and bake some cupcakes (the flavour is yet to be decided). I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and take the time to appreciate the small things.

kijaro xx

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