music // phoenix Posted by Helena

one of my favourite bands is phoenix. their music never fails to make me feel light and happy! the french boys have been staples in my music collection for 6 or 7 years now and i've seen them live 3 times. the first time was at v festival in 2007 and the day was so dreary as it had been raining on and off. the one time the sun decided to shine was during phoenix's set when thomas sang consolation prizes. happiest festival moment!

the second time i saw them in melbourne was also fantastic because it was the first time i saw them play their own gig with sam (fellow phoenix nut, photographer and all-round creative entrepreneur) and our friends N and S. there's something special about seeing a band for the first time in an enclosed venue. festival sets never feel quite as intimate. i felt the same way when i saw bloc party for the first time at festival hall. they're such a great festival band, but i loved them just as much indoors!

anyway, one of the many blogs i follow in google reader (thank you internet gods for google reader!) is phoenix's diary. not only do the boys create wonderful boppy music... they take some pretty darn good photos too. they know about composition!

people // jess - the island of dr gateau Posted by Helena

 

grenadine and cherry velvet cupcakes

it's no secret amongst my family and friends that i love food. i mean, i really love food. the kind of love that gets me bouncing in my seat with excitement when masterchef is on (and marion wins yet another challenge) and that i plan to centre my days around eating out rather than shopping when i visit melbourne next month. i love baking and have perfected the art of the red velvet cupcake and, more recently, creme brulee. but my culinary skills have got nothin' on my friend jess'.

jess started her own blog, the island of dr gateau, and it's pretty darn spiffy. she's completing her thesis in neuroscience and is frighteningly intelligent with an amazing memory. her parents also have artistic backgrounds and she's a wonderful photographer and artist herself. oh, and she could also rattle off the names of every model in the pages of vogue while dressed impeccably herself in lanvin, country road and thurley. she's recently back from a trip with her boyfriend to canada and new york where they ate their way around some amazing cities. i followed her photos avidly on picasa.

we tried making red velvet cupcakes for the first time together and have been obsessed with them ever since. jess takes it a few steps further and keeps trying variations. her latest is malted red velvet cupcakes, which i can't wait to try because i love malt!

click through for the recipes.



malted red velvet cupcakes

yuzu tart

chocolate brandy mousse with vanilla pear puree and pear tart milk pudding

alexander kapranos brownies


peach tea velvet cakes

friends // sam - twin cat vintage & blackbird market Posted by Helena

i have so many talented and creative friends in melbourne and one of the most entrepreneurial is one miss sam sidney. she started her own ebay vintage clothing store, twin cat vintage, and then co-curated blackbird market with another of her equally stylish and amazing friends courtney.

twin cat has been going great guns and i've been lucky enough to accompany sam on a buying trip in melbourne. it was a lot of fun (and somewhat stressful) rummaging through countless racks. i don't quite have the same buyer's eye that sam has, but she bought a few of my suggestions. i also spied some girls trying on faux fur coats and they left a gorgeous leopard print one on the ground. i pounced and showed sam, who promptly bought it, then couldn't bear to part with it! it seems to be one of her favourite wardrobe staples, and the best part? it was only $10!







blackbird market curators: courtney & sam

blackbird market is closed during the melbourne cold winter months but will reopen in september:

Up and coming contemporary fashion and jewellery design, vintage clothing, live music, DJs and delicious food and drink - all on a beautiful afternoon.
In the hub of all things creative and fashionable, Melbourne's Fitzroy, nests Blackbird Market - a monthly indoor market held at the trendy Worker's Club on the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude streets.
Not only a place for shopping, Blackbird Market is also home to live bands, DJ sets, artist installations and a delicious food and drink menu. Past performers have included the likes of British India, Skye Harbour, Love Connection, The Ravenous, The Bon Scotts and plenty of other amazing local talents.
Blackbird Market is held the second Saturday of every month from 11am to 4pm

sam's boyfriend, chase burns, is also mega talented. he's a filmmaker and has recently been in bali to shoot a surfing film. he's also done some creative work for twin cat and blackbird market. they're also both ridiculously pretty.