Figs & Rouge

I discovered these cute organic Balms by UK company 'Figs & Rouge' at the Organic Expo a few weeks ago. They are 100% organic, smell like heaven and are great for lips and any other dry spots. And most importantly - they come in the most divine tin. Keep your eyes peeled for them, they'd make a great little pressie!

pictures eat people

Oh wow - these words just made me cry. I love, love this amazing book made by Rachel Skrobalak at http://pictureseatpeople.com/

it's printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks, hand bound and beautifully packaged using degradable materials. I would be so happy to have one of these by my bedside. Just beautiful.

Christmas Hamper

It seems terribly early to be making up Christmasy things, but we made one of our lovely hampers for a shoot today! We are going to be doing a special Christmas picnic this year, but there'll be no ham in sight. We thought of our fave things that we love to eat, and that remind us of Christmas in Sunny Sydney! Just find a sparkly spot by the water and crack open the rose..... perfection!

Here's a sneak peak at the menu:

• Ligurian olives marinated in rosemary, chilli, garlic & fennel seeds

• Medjool dates filled with goat’s curd & pistachios wrapped in prosciutto

• Poached Australian King prawns with gremolata & aioli

• Lemon & thyme baked free range chicken with fregola, asparagus, sugar snaps, baby peas, mint and toasted almonds

• Mango & passionfruit pavlova

• Infinity sourdough baguette

Two weeks in the life of a nasturtiam seed

After a rather amazing lunch at Marque restaurant here in Sydney a few weeks ago, we were inspired to try and grow our own nasturtiams from seed. I lovingly planted them and waited for a few weeks, there really wasn't much to report. Then all of a sudden, the little fellas went nuts. Here is there progress to date..... I love them. They remind me of being a child back in England. That smell is so distinctive and one I will always treasure.

Habitus Living - article

We had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Frankie and Ben from Habitus Living earlier this week. Check out the great article that they wrote about us!

http://habitusliving.com/play/the-sydney-picnic-co

Thanks guys!

Boxsal picnic boxes

Have just come across these really cool picnic boxes from US company 'Boxsal' www.boxsal.com.

Each kooky box comes with all the bits and bobs that you need for your picnic and the whole thing is super friendly to our world! Great for when wicker just wont cut the mustard!

Ice cream - Parisian style

I was enviously looking at some snaps a friend of mine has uploaded of her European travels and this one made me stop in my track..... I want my ice cream cornet to look as pretty as this French rose!

Cup cake cases for grown ups

I was just perusing the shelves our our brilliant local 'cooking and other great things' store "The Bay Tree" on Queen Street, Woollahra, and came across these gorgeous cupcake cases. They cost a small fortune, but they are so pretty and would be great for grown up gals parties or weddings!

They are made by Vestli House ( http://www.vestlihouse.com) who also make great napkins, wrapping paper and baking moulds. If only I could bake, I could have some fun with these!

Purple Pansies

I LOVE these little lilac and purple pansies that sit by our front door. They look like pretty smiling faces and always remind me of Si's gorgeous mummy!

Flower pompoms

I just have to share this as it was the quickest, cheapest and most simple little crafty thing I've done for ages. I just came across this great tutorial (http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-wallflowers.html.) and thought that I just wanted to see if they were really as easy peasy as they look.... and they are! Literally took 2 minutes and is made from cheap, paper napkins! This one is far from perfect, but for a first attempt I am most happy! It's huge as well - as big as football in fact. They will be super cute for summer picnics!

Life's a Picnic

I love these gorgeous hand made picnic hampers from UK company Life's a Picnic (www.lifesapicnic.co.uk). Each one is totally unique and they use vintage crockery, fabric and cutlery. They also make fab cake stands,again, using vintage plates. If only I could pack one in my suitcase when I next go home!

Spring time in the fairy garden

We had the most fun day yesterday! We headed out to Dural in search of happy, healthy plants that don't cost the earth ( a near impossibility here in the Eastern Suburbs) . We found a brilliant nursery call Hargraves. The people working there were so friendly and helpful and all the plants looked as tho they had their fair share of love.

We LOVE to tinker in our teeny yard, and we bought lots of little seedlings that we can nurture ( if the possums don't get there first!). We bought wild strawberries, chocolate mint, rose geraniums, mint geraniums, purple sage, nastertians, snow peas, sugar snap peas, lavenders and the list goes on..... Common theme being that we can eat practically everything that we bought!

Cant wait to watch them grow and make our garden all the more pretty.

Notebook Magazine

Just caught this in time! We had a lovely mention in the September edition of Notebook magazine. Picnic season is really coming around fast and we are in the middle of changing some of our menus for the summer months ahead. Watch this space for updates.

Some of our styling work

When we're not making picnics, or eating and drinking, we like to indulge in a spot of food styling. Si does the cooking and I do the making pretty! Here is some of the work that we've done in the past few months. All of the photos are taken by the brilliant Adrian Lander ( www.adrianlander.com.au). We always have such fun shooting with him and he is just an amazing food photographer.

Girly but super cute Cath Kidston wallpaper!

Simon and I agree on everything other than my love of Cath Kidston. For the last 12 years I have been a bit of a fan. I try to keep it to a minimum around the house, so I was pretty excited when I discovered that I could have one of her cute designs as my wallpaper on this here beloved Mac! I chose the cowboy one as it's one of my favourite designs, but all of these are lovely and make my computer look mighty pretty!

You can download them here:

http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/t-Wallpaper.aspx

Thanks Cath!

Father's Day

We have been very busy prepping for a manic weekend of picnics for all those daddys out there. Been trawling the net for inspirational quotes and found some fabulous ones,many of them made me cry, having recently lost my gorgeous daddy, it all makes me feel a teeny bit sad. BUT, I am so happy to be making pretty things for all those wonderful fathers out there.

Happy Father's day for Sunday to all the brilliant dads out there - and to mine too.

Here are some of my favourite quotes:

A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.

Knights of Pythagoras

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

Jim Valvano

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.
-- Author Unknown

There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus.

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.
-- Mark Twain

4years: My Daddy can do anything!

7 years: My Dad knows a lot…a whole lot.


8 years: My father does not know quite everything.


12 years: Oh well, naturally Father does not know that either.


14 years: Oh, Father? He is hopelessly old-fashioned.


21 years: Oh, that man-he is out of date!


25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.


30 years: I must find out what Dad thinks about it.


35 years: Before we decide, we will get Dad's idea first.


50 years: What would Dad have thought about that?


60 years: My Dad knew literally everything!


65 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad once more.