First stop from San Francisco, our hire car and "cabin" at Big Sur Camp Site. It was such a beautiful spot right next to the creek, we missed out on the gorgeous shingled A-Frame cabins, they looked so cosy at night with fires going. 

On the road to Las Vegas....lots of desert and then this.....

On the way to El Mirage dry lake, found another great sign! Didn't dare try the 'good food.'

Casino watching, we walked down the strip and found the flamingos at the Flamingo Casino and the gondola at the Venetian....

Next stop lovely Palm Springs, even the tourist information centre is a fabulous modernist building! The picture below is the foyer of the Del Marcos which is where we ended up staying. It was lots of fun, small place with a heated salt pool for lounging about.

This is the view from our room, the mountain behind really looked like a movie prop. And palms everywhere for Palm Springs of course!

...some little things...

Hello again, slowed down on the old postings, trying to catch up on all the work that was neglected while we were away....better now!

The in house illustrator has come up with some swell gift tags to top off your pressies- all hand drawn therefore, one-off. Pop in and grab yours quick!

Issue #4 of Chopped Magazine should be hitting shelves soon and we'll be sure to keep you up to date, we have just received another delivery of Issue #1 for those who missed it. Perfect place to start your collection.... 

Kindling Cards have also just sent a beautiful selection of cards including 2 brand new designs. We some some fabulous handmade 'Puff' necklaces made from vintage fabrics, a lovely addition to the winter wardrobe. 

a brunswick hello

Ok, ok lots of photos from overseas but you may be asking what is actually going on at the local Boroughs...your boroughs in Brunswick well and our answer would be WINTER STOCK! Yep thats right the local favorite 'Otto and Spike' have delivered a fabulous range to keep heads, necks and fingers warm this winter. And just to indulge my holiday spirit I'll let you know that these guys are responsible for keeping us tucked in and warm all over America on our trip. Their scarves turned into wraps over heads and keeping ears warm up the Empire State Building in fact!

Some styles have returned from last winter as they were such winners and there are some great new additions we will predict a return from next winter perhaps....Pop in some great colours and these are going fast! 

next stop San Francisco

So another flight back to the West Coast, and some amazing views of snow capped mountains and we landed in San Francisco. We stayed downtown, the hotel provided muffins and coffee (which was decent!) every morning in the lobby which was great. We walked up some gigantic hills and back down, caught the cable car and of course walked the Golden Gate Bridge. There was some fabulous signage here as well, check out the images below.

The bird below was from a shop called Monument, a gorgeous store filled with 20th Century goodies, the bird was the pick.

On the first Sunday of the month there is a big market at a place called Alameda, at this stage of the trip we were still feeling like nothing was too much of a challenge, we had worked out all the public transport pretty well and decided, with muffin and coffee to set out early on the Sunday we were in SF to find this market. We left with no actual address and got a train, and two buses and directions from the two drivers and a Fireman out to a disused Army base to find the BIGGEST, and BEST market ever. Well worth the effort, it was a beautiful day and there was great veggie food for us too! Bliss. I took some photos for the memories as Coburg Trash and Treasure will sadly never live up to this.

Below is the first purchase of the day, more to come which included a suitcase to carry the loot!

Great big letters.

There were tables full of wooden block sets, type writer letters, clock faces, plastic and brass numbers and letters.

The good fat men above x 3.

The blue bike above made it home, in a large bike box, and now has fat white walls and speedo and is proving to be a great cruiser! Circa 1948, they don't build them like that any more.

Great television and small cooker for a very small person.

We couldn't resist this diner for dinner, with a side of fries and cherry soda...Above their front window they had a line of vintage cereal boxes, (RIP Seinfeld, which seems to be on 24/7).

New York streets, ahh, what great signage for a travel agent on the pale cream wall, and the sight of the water tanks on buildings.

Walking along Madison Ave, steam stacks were all along the street, as were the Monster trucks, below, is a shop front we lusted after, check out the size of their fabulous, arched window! 

On our trip to the ferry we found 'The Sphere' which stood in the plaza of the World Trade Centre for 3 decades. It was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. You can see it was damaged during the events of September 11, 2002 but was kept and placed there on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all those who lost their lives. There is also an eternal flame that was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of those lost.

This was quite an amazing piece to see, as the World Trade Center sight is still wrapped and under construction, yet to see the size of the area and to think of what had once stood there, had collapsed around this sculpture it really stands as an icon of their hope and spirit.

Brooklyn is sweet, so long as you get off the correct subway stop....Could Brunswick have a sign like this?

Skating in Central Park, we walked around and sat by the small lake and ate bagels while watching some little remote boats sail around- so cute.

I know, I know but how could I resist this photo opportunity? Walking though Central Park too.

Looking uptown from The Empire State building, you can just make out Central Park, so many fabulous shops down there!
What an estimated $190 million could buy you, the Flatiron Building, they say we'll have to wait another 10 or so years until the Italian company that bought it earlier this year turn it into a hotel, for the lucky few hey.
And who could deny you a photo of the Chrysler Building, another great piece of architecture. The corners of the 31st floor are replicas of the 1929 Chrysler radiator cap and on the 61st floor you can see the replica eagles from their 1929 hood ornament. What a tribute. Still more to come.

**i've met someone that looks just like you**

Time to introduce one of the fabulous ladies that not only took care of Five Boroughs while the owners were lazing by the pool in Palm Springs.....but who has also created a stunning range of jewels! Made locally in Brunswick from sterling silver, some have been treated so they are black, some polished and others are soft and matt in finish. Ready for your wearing pleasure!

so good they named in twice

New York, New York, our first stop. We navigate our way at midnight into Manhattan on the subway and find our very cosy (real estate/new york terms) hotel. Heated room and happiness for some sleep.

This is the view from one of the windows, looking down on the what we soon find out is a fabulous Japanese restaurant.

We purchased the 'city saver' booklet (great savings) and see SO much amazing art, after strolling through Central Park and giggling when we see squirrels....so cute! 

Make some quick present purchases.....

See some more sights, caught the ferry out, named, 'Miss New York' to the BIG lady. Looked for the image we have in our mural, looking back up Manhattan.  We went up the Empire State building, which was a great way to see the city, long lines to get through the airport security, city saver tickets paid off here again!

Such great signage, neons and diners. Pretzels and bagels on just about every corner. Horns honking all through the night, yellow cabs and dunk-able donuts YAY we went to New York!

pennies, dimes and nickle

Well, the lack of posts are about to change as we share some super pictures from our fabulous trip to America. Right not we are waiting at LAX to fly on home. Not looking forward to the epic flight but excited for the Melbourne coffee! The bags are heavier than we left and we took loads of snaps.
From New York over to San Francisco a drive down the number 1, across to Las Vegas and into Los Angeles- all in a month. Be sure to stop by again and check out some fun pictures.

print, sew, stuff

We have been in full swing production of our 'Holly Daze' range, producing three new Limited Edition cushion ranges which are in store now, as well as some new bags we have printed, sewn and are now ready for you to fill with your goodies.

More screen printed cards for a 'Happy Birthday', shouting out a big 'Thank You' or perhaps if you're attending a few wedding's like us- well we have sorted out the 'Congratulations' for you!