Happy New Year

Apologies for my extended absence. I just got into the slothy groove of the holidays, and it's been hard to get back into my normal routine. My university was closed for two weeks, and Monday was my first day back at work- so I am slowly getting back to normal. The holidays were great - lots of food, family and fun. And of course, lots of lovely gifts.

Martin and I always make sure that there are books under the tree, because we love to just sit around and read over the holidays. I did really well this year, with lots of gorgeous "coffee table" type tomes - Shaker Design - Out of this World, Handmade Nation, Bazaar Style (I had been eyeing this one for quite a while), Happy Gloves ,(to feed my new obsession with making little creatures. And then - I got a gift voucher for Amazon as well - so I bought heaps more books - a boxed set of the Sookie Stackhouse books (the series "True Blood" is based on these - I think they will be a really fun read), What it is by Lynda Barry (looks really inspirational), Sock and Glove, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (which I've heard nothing but good things about). So, I'm happy to say that my reading needs are taken care of for the next little while. (:

Something that wasn't under the tree, but has dramatically changed my life for the better is my new Mukka Express (video above). Perhaps my intro is a bit over the top, but I do love it! It makes espresso on the stovetop, and heats and foams the milk at the same time. Revolutionary! I have had small electric espresso machines before, and find them a pain in the bottom - it takes forever to make a coffee and the pressure is not enough to get the coffee nice and strong - but this is perfect. It makes a creamy coffee reminiscent to the cafes of Sydney (which I love). But, this could also have something to do with the tin of Illy that I treated myself to. (:

Best get back to work - but I have to tell you about one more new love - the blog Garance Dore. A French fashion illustrator combines her work with Paris street fashion shots - gorgeous! She publishes the blog in both English and French. I love the big warm boots in the post above - as she says in her French version "pas des Uggs."

Now - off to work - happy new year to all!