Autumn for me is all about getting back into the indoors and reconnecting with my home, I’m such a home body, I love nothing more than cooking feasts for my family and friends, lazy days playing board games and watching movies with my girls, or relaxing with a cup of tea and the latest magazine – let’s face it – I do that a lot!

Autumn is my favourite time for a “Spring Clean”- I love to get my home “ready” for living in. A good clean, de-clutter, swap a few cushions and the odd piece furniture around, rearrange a few “vignettes” and add some new candles and snuggly throws.

I’ve really noticed in the last 2 weeks a lot of our lovely customers are doing the same thing. Here are some of my favourite things we have in store this Autumn…

Handmade Mini Egg candles by A Little Light, available in Cream, Ink and Chocolate. $10 each.

Handmade herb cutter and wooden bowl by 1803. $350

Wooden reclining armchair in teak. $800.  

Jaye believes simple, everyday events can become a pleasure when done beautifully and it is this love of beautiful things that started her on this exciting journey to produce gorgeous, high quality scents.

Here are some details about each of the available scents in the range:

Living Verbena…fresh, light luscious. A zesty combination of citrus & spice

This combination of juicy citrus and spice opens with a burst of green lemons, May Chang and crushed verbena mellowed against juicy peaches, basil and caraway and then surprises by trailing tender base notes of the softest musk and sweet woods as you pass by.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: may chang, verbena, basil, caraway, sweet orange, lime, lemon, eucalyptus.

Ginger Lily + Water Fruits…light, green, floral full of lovely notes from a Japanese water garden

A naturally pretty, casual fragrance, Jaye modeled this scent on a Japanese water garden with its abundance of lovely notes. Ginger lily, lotus blossom and young bamboo sparkle against grapefruit, orris and the unique cotton candy scent of early morning katsura tree, finally drying down ever so slightly to a birch and lichen base.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: lemon, petitgrain, spearmint, galbanum, white grapefruit, birch, lotus leaf, ginger, melon extract.

Tuberose + Sandalwood…deep, sultry, voluptuous. Absolutely intoxicating

Overflowing with voluptuous sultry notes, this truly intoxicating combination is not for the fainthearted. Heady notes of neroli and jasmine introduce the hero of this fragrance, tuberose. Swathed in sandalwood and touched by a vanilla pod, its base notes offer a comforting romantic undertone to this exotic scent.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: sandalwood, ylang ylang, celery seed, vanilla, tuberose absolute.

Precious Woods + Vetiver …warm, spicy, narcotic. An ethereal experience

This fragrance is a favourite of Jaye’s. The intoxicating heart of midnight jasmine, clover and narcissus is lifted by spicy coriander seeds and delicate orange blossom petals. Exotic precious woods of cedarwood, sandalwood and guaiacwood reflect the warm final notes before enveloping the sultriness of vetiver and tree fern.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: cedarwood, sandalwood, basil, vetiver, clove, lavender, geranium, jasmine.

Lavender Mt Blanc, Valencia + Clary Sage…soothing, balancing, delicate. A truly restful ambience

A soft gentle fragrance saturated with soothing balancing essential oils to assist in creating a calm, peaceful ambience. The graceful white scent of lavender Mt Blanc encased in geranium and clary sage is lifted by orange and bergamot oils and drawn together using precious sandalwood.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: lavender Mt Blanc, valencia orange, rose geranium, bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, sandalwood.

Grapefruit + Jojoba…light, crisp, cheerful. A lively blend of fresh tropical notes

A plethora of lively upbeat notes to entice and delight. This cheerful combination of fresh mandarin, grapefruit, peach and coconut is beautifully complemented by rose, jasmine and dew fruit. The youthful personality of this fragrance is perfectly rounded by the warm resinous base notes of labdanum, elemi and benzoin to exude an air of cheeky confidence.
CONTAINS ESSENTIAL OILS OF: mandarin, grapefruit, labdanum, elemi, benzoin.

Jaye Niemi Aroma Reeds and Candles are available in store at The Design Hunter and via our online shop.

This week we chatted to the delightful Penny Hanan of 1803 Artisan Deer Design, who supply us with our range of deer antlers. Penny has just released a beautiful set of hand forged knives with hand finished deer antler handles and is soon set to launch her range of leather accessories, including bags, scarves and throws. 1803 is a company with a strong ecological and ethical stance, where quality pieces are designed and made by local artisans using bi-products of the meat industry that would otherwise be discarded. We are excited to have pieces by 1803 at The Design Hunter and are sure you will love them too.

Cheese/antipasto knives

1. What was your inspiration for your collection?

My family have farmed deer in on the slopes of Mt Canobolas in Orange for 32 years. My brother Tim is also a venison processor and we market our meat under the Mandagery Creek Venison brand. I have established 1803 to utilise the natural bi-products from our deer farming operations, focussing on sustainable and ethical production from the farm gate through to our beautiful hand-forged knives, handcrafted bags, leather, suede and antler collections. 1803 collaborates with a wonderful team of Australian artisans based in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Sydney and I am absolutely committed to developing fabulous products and a unique Australian story that connects our deer farm, our family and our clever regional artisans with the broader market place.

Herb cutter with wooden bowl

Cleaver

2. How did you start as a designer?

I’m not a designer – I just love naturally connected products and a good story. 1803 embraces the beauty of the natural materials from all things deer and shares them with expert artisans to turn our special leathers, suedes and antlers into extraordinary objects of desire that are simple, understated and wonderfully functional. It is about connecting the land, the beast and the consumer with elegant and beautiful products.

3. Your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possessions are my family, my humour and my friends – I can not be who I am without any of them.

4. Coffee or Tea?

Definitely coffee (and lots of it)

5. Fave Holiday Destination; Beach or Mountains?

Family time is best at the beach – HOWEVER I spent a week by myself in the hills beyond Ubud for my 40th…… it was sensational, I am not sure if it was the mountains or the isolation or the perfect mix of both! Ship me back Scotty!

A sneak preview of the gorgeous totes and scarves on their way from 1803.

Jaye Niemi Aroma Reeds $60

A Uashmama metallic bag $28

A Leif Body Balm made using natural Australian ingredients $28

A handmade snakeskin leather Ipad case $130

A Code Love 3 Wrap Bracelet $90

A hand-poured white Chapel Candle from $30

A handmade porcelain vase from The Paper Series by Hayden Youlley $88

Traditional Suzani cushion. $205.

Original artwork by Julie Paterson of Cloth Fabric. $140.

Vintage Indian brass chapati bowls, perfect for jewellery and other nick-nacks. From $35.

1. What was your inspiration for your collection? 

The inspiration for this new range comes from a love of food. The work not only acts as a canvas on which cuisine is presented – to complete the total sensory experience of enjoying a meal – but works also as a sculptural object. Being visually trained, inspiration comes from any and everything – a continuous  process of thought and making and eating -very hands on- literally drawing in the clay.

2. How did you start as a designer?

After art school and having worked in the sculpture and design departments of both Sydney and NSW universities I wanted to try and make a living from my art practice. I was skilled as a potter – a long term interest –  so was determind to create a new range of collectable and usable pieces in a unique satin matt surface, which I had spent sometime developing. So far so good.

3. Your most treasured item?

I have a treasured  Alessi stainless steel cocktail shaker I acquired in Rome years ago that has preserved my sanity many a time.

4. Coffee or Tea?

Coffee from Ed at Little Marionette and The Lodge Balmain.

5. Fave Holiday Destination; Beach or Mountains?

Beach. A dear friend’s beach house up the mid north coast of NSW. Dont want to say exactly where. Unspoilt, quiet in high summer, pristine and really good coffee. Aussies are so spoilt for choice in beaches.

These are the words written on the chalkboard above The Cook and Baker kitchen and I think it sums up everything that you experience when visiting their Bondi Junction cafe and catering business. Run by the friendly Cook and Baker themselves, Cherie and Tass, everything they make is the epitome of scrumptious. The Design Hunter favourites include the carrot cake with cream cheese icing and the more-ish caramel popcorn. (Have never been able to stop at just one bag.)

We recently used the Cook and Baker catering services and ordered mini quiches and sandwiches for our First Birthday event, (which went down a treat), and also included the caramel popcorn in our gift bags which went to each of our guests. We’d definitely recommend their services for any event you have coming up. The food was fresh and delicious and the staff were helpful and professional.

Personal pieces collected from around the world are lovingly placed throughout the little shop, adding character and personality to the space.

Above is a shot of the delicious Rasberry Coconut Ice and the addictive Caramel Popcorn. Cherie and Tass have used colourful, vintage illustrations to liven up their display, which is such a cute, personal touch.

To bring the outdoors in, and lessen the impact of busy Oxford Street, a luscious vertical garden covers one wall of the shop.

The Cook and Baker is located at 238 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction (opposite the About Life health food shop). Open from 7am – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday. You can also check out their website www.thecookandbaker.com.au. Cant wait to go back again and have a leisurely Sunday brunch!

— William Morris

Below is a selection of the Cloth Fabric pieces that we now have in store. Stop by the store at 267 Bronte Road, Waverley, or browse our online store to explore the entire collection.

1. What was your inspiration for your collection?
My Pebble Platters are the result of a bit of an obsession with concrete. After experimenting with concrete during my final year at uni, I wanted to explore how this beautiful, simple material could be used in small, designer objects- not just in industrial applications. I really like the beautiful smooth finish and simple rounded form – and being made from concrete, I think people find them quite intriguing!

2. How did you start as a designer?
When I was little, I spent my weekends under my dads feet, watching him tinker away and build things in his backyard shed. Later when I started studying design, I took over his shed space and started creating my own small projects, and I’ve never really stopped. I particularly love working with reclaimed timber and furniture, textiles and concrete.

3. Your most treasured item?
My books – I collect them wherever I go and love flicking through them when I need to feel inspired. And of course my beloved Macbook! Like any designer’s laptop, she’s had a pretty hard life. She gets a bit hot and flustered sometimes, but she works long hours and never lets me down!

4. Coffee or Tea?
Tea! Super strong, sweet and often.

5. Fave Holiday Destination; Beach or Mountains?
Absolutely the beach! And Australia does them best- my partner and I love finding secret swimming holes where we’re the only ones there. And Hahei, NZ and Lord Howe Island are both places I really want to go back to soon!

Sarah’s Pebble Platters are produced by &Company and available through The Design Hunter.

April 2013

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