Sep 28, 2010

the sea, the wind, nature at its best..

The following photographs were taken whilst we were away for a weekend with some friends at a costal town a few hours from our city. The air was crisp, with strong winds on the back beaches as we walked Legero and enjoyed her friendly nature, greeting those who passed by. The local surfers were out trying for those last waves of the day. We watched.. took in the fresh air and enjoyed the surroundings of the country side and rolling sea before heading back to the house for a magnificent soup and spectacular salad. (I will tell you more about this salad very soon!)

These photographs bring a sense of freedom and well being into my daily routine. I hope they transcend an emotion that enables you to feel unencumbered by. xx













Our ocean; a sense of freedom and life. Breathing the air, the birds, the smells, the wind.. alive!

Sep 20, 2010

product picture taking..







I have been collecting quite a few pieces over the past few months, these bits below being some of them (excluding the food, they just looked too good not to shoot with the blackish background).

Using a black background accentuates the rich colours and fullness of the products used giving them a wholesome characteristic and light. This is what I love most about shooting food and still life products. Its really about getting the most out of the items being used, allowing them to be a pure subject in their own form, and ensuring they look as inviting as if you were standing right next to it.


Sep 15, 2010

skinny laMinx

So I recently purchased these fabulous pillows below from a gorgeous company on etsy called skinny laMinx. I think the best thing about receiving things from OS is the love and attention that goes into the packaging. When I received these goodies, they were wrapped with love and wonderful bits and pieces. Included in the packaging was a cute little card from the owner, saying 'i hope you love your new pillows', plus there was also a cute little brooch that i have attached to my handbag. These little extras do really make you appreciate all the beautiful things in life.

Thank you skinny laMinx,  I do indeed love my new pillows, which have so easily become part of my workroom! xx



Sep 13, 2010

Lemon & Yoghurt Cake with Lime & Coconut Ice Cream

Sunday required a shop at the South Melbourne markets for some fresh ingredients for baking. Last week I purchased some vintage cutlery from Etsy and have been so excited to use it in my food shots.




Lemon & yoghurt Cake

1. Mix 1 cup sugar and grated rind of two lemons with an electric beater
2. Then add 2 eggs and 1 cup oil (I used vegetable oil) and beat well
3. Then add 1 cup natural youghurt and 1/4 cup lemon juice and beat well
4. Then add 2 cups SR flour and beat well with electric beater
5. Pout into greased and floured fluted ring tin.
6. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius
7. Turn onto place and prick with skewer - evenly spoon hot syrup over cake.

Lemon Syrup
Bring to the boil 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until dissolved.


Coconut lime Ice Cream

1. ¼ cup (25g) desiccated coconut
2. 1 ½ tablespoos grated lime
3. 1/3 cup (80ml) lime juice
4. 4 tablespoons coconumt milk powder
5. 1 litre of good quality vanilla ice cream (softened)

Combine the desiccated coconut, grated lime rind, lime juice and coconut milk powder in a bowl and mix well.

Add the coconut miuxture to the ice cream and fold through with a large metal spoon, untilo evenly incorporated.

Work quickly so that the ice cream doesn’t melt.

Return the mixture to the freezer and freeze for 30mins

Serves 4.



all images  © victoria robertson

Sep 9, 2010

Violet & I - Body of Art Exhibition

An event supporting body image & eating disorder awareness week 6-12 September.

Body of Art exhibition bought together spring pieces by Violet & I, an array of art by young women including the awe inspiring Emma Codrington and the celebration of positive body image on Tuesday 7th September at Mars Gallery. Together Anna of Violet & I and Christine Morgan of the Butterfly Foundation hosted a successful and inspirational evening. With over 100 attendees, the upper floor of Mars was taken to a dream like existence with pictures hanging from the ceiling of positive affirmations and Violet & I spring coloured pieces, it really did make you feel like you were surrounded by beautiful, talented artists and supportive spirits.

The Panacheya Camisole was Violet & I's garment of the evening with every 20% of each top sold being donated to the Butterfly Foundation to support those with eating disorders. You can purchase the stunning top in 4 different colours at Violet & I online. (please see top below). Also, each owner of the top will receive a notebook with one of Emma's pictures on the front. (pic below) How lucky are you to be the owner of the gorgeous top and notebook knowing that part of your money spent will support such a wonderful Melbourne based network and group at Butterfly Foundation.... 

Thanks to Anna Linklater, the owner of Violet & I who has been a corporate supporter of the Butterfly Foundation to help inspire those who have been touched by eating disorders. Her support for this foundation will be ongoing and we hope to see a lot more events like this in the future. 
Violet and I have a newsletter that you can all join to keep in the loop for these wonderful gatherings. 

RIGHT - Christine Morgan (CEO Butterfly Foundation), Anna Linklater (violet & I) and Hannah (Butterfly Foundation)


The notebook pictured right with the panacheya top.
Emma Codringtons key work for the evening.

colourful cocktails from smirnoff

mmm lollies...
yummy gelato icecream, the mango is the best! 
The gorgeous Anna Linklater with the top of the evening.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this night Anna, it was truly special. xxxx

all images © victoria robertson 2010

Sep 3, 2010

Craft day Friday. How to make decorative vases...

I am still organising my QLD countryside photos to share with you all, but was really excited to show you what I was working on yesterday. As I haven't been feeling all that well of late, I've still managed to find plenty of things to keep me amused. One of those being creative with some crafts and old milk bottles I've collected.
It all started with the idea of incorporating red with gold, perfect Christmas decorations or gifts. Then I was at Lincraft the other day and came across some baby wool which I adored and thought perfect for the bottles. See below.

 

All you need for this easy task is; scissors, your choice of paper (I would love to use patterned paper from Handworks next), raffia or coloured string or cord, some blutack, and of course old bottles of vases.

birds eye view of all the bits

I even use some of the vases for tea light candles. You could decorate them all as little or as much as you like. You could have the wool covering the bottle completely, or even just a little bit so when your candles are burning you would still see the simple glow coming through.
This is the baby fine wool, so soft and easy to work with. The final product looks delicate and simple.


Here, I have chosen not to cut the wool as yet, since I am not sure if I would like to keep wrapping. I thought it was a nice example to show you the middle way wrap. Its easier also if you have the vase or product on an angle whilst you wrap.



Some final product images.... have fun!


If you are wanting to purchase milk bottles or vases, try either Camberwell Market, or your local second hand stores or cheaper giftware shops. 

Sep 1, 2010

my love for QLD homes


Whilst on my holiday I was taken back by a few of the original QLD homes that have so much character sitting amongst some of the newer establishment. The area where we were staying is called Mission Beach, a quiet and peaceful place, with a stunning long beach of clear waters, where you wont find, but maybe a few others enjoying, no doubt you will spot a ulysses butterfly on one of the many nature walks on offer too. 
On the Thursday night we went for a drink at the local resort Castaways where they had happy hour from 5-6pm and enjoyed watching the waves and passer bys. On the walk home, after coming from what felt like a 5 star resort parked right on the beach front, we had to walk past the gorgeous little beach shack, which I had admired since we arrived. There were 4 locals sitting out the front (roadside mind you) enjoying the sunset, chatting amongst themselves with a few drinks and a sheep... We thought to ourselves 'no other place but mission' will you find this. It was the opposite corner to the resort where this group of relaxed locals enjoy the summer air with a stuffed sheep, fake mind you. The funny part was one of the girls sitting with the sheep, made a noise so that we could hear as we passed by 'baaahhhhhhh'...! You cant get much more Australian than that... We all had a giggle as we strolled past down the road and enjoyed the moment we had just experienced.

As I didn't have my camera on me that night, I went back the next day and took some photos to show you all the beach shack, the sheep however, was know where to be found...




I just love the red and yellow colours. 
(Apparently a developer has purchased the land this shack sits on for 1.5 mill) Unfortunately, this means the place will be bull dozed. One thing though that I noticed a lot in Mission, is that developers have purchased blacks of land, but have done nothing to them, there are still no high rise building yet. I am guessing the locals play a huge role in keeping their place peaceful. It really is a place that is not yet ready for tourism to take over and thats what i love about it, it seems behind the times...


Mission Beach has alot to offer, with gorgeous rainforest walks from easy, to moderate, to difficult courses. There is always Dunk Island to Explore too. And if you are more adventurous than me, there is skydiving on the beach daily.



Another brightly coloured home I had my eye on was this one below....



I think what I love most about the QLD style home, is the colours. Mind you, there were some stunning million dollars beach front homes that I would happily live in any day. But the colourful ones just seem to be filled with the most character and self poise.


And how could I forget.... The little goat... We were walking the beach on one our last days, only to see a couple with a puppy and a goat! It was super cute and it just so happened whilst we were walking beachfront and admiring the houses that we found him munching on some grass.


My apologies for taking so long to post. I have been fighting the dreaded flu since being back, and haven't seen much other than the bedroom and a few good books. I have more photos from my trip I will be sharing, some of the most opulent green countryside I've seen, set amongst original farming and QLD buildings. I felt as though I was back in Africa with the green lushes rainforest and farming fields. Australia has many hidden secrets waiting to be revealed. I will post these soon! xxxxx