Hosted: MillerMcKean Clothing

Recently was lucky enough see the new range by the lovely (and talented) girls from MillerMcKean clothing.  

They asked me to host the launch of their new label to the South Island.  Priv!

Ange Hart and Missy Bayer, the designers.

Silk Kimono tops in colours and patterns

The temporary show-room

It was a super evening where guests could peruse as leisure the yummy sampling they had to offer.  MillerMcKean pride themselves on their sumptuous silk fabrics that delight in brights and flatter in all shades - silk that are made to be worn everyday.

Racks of colours

They are planning to be available online at some stage in the near future but until then you can see the range at Thread in Auckland.  You can find them on Facebook.

Room info:
Walls painted in Dulux, Dance Studio
Faux Zebra Rug from Sallee 

West German Pot Collection - owned by Alex Fulton Design

Sneak Peak: Our Place

Exciting times as we gradually renovate our new home in Blenheim.  

This is just a sneaky peak as we are also getting ready for a photo shoot early next month, then all will be revealed.

What we have done here:

All Beige walls have been painted white 

All wood work has been painted white

Original tim pressed panels painted dark navy

New lighting from David Trubridge, Corals in White (from Essenze) and Tom Dixon, Jack Light (from ECC Lighting and Furniture)

Other products include Balinese Water Container and Magis Paradise Tree Coat Rack (from ECC Lighting and Furniture)

Good Prod: Luxy Loli Customised Phone Cases

If Anne Hathaway's nipples can have their own twitter account so can my new iphone case.

Images by Alex Fulton Design

This bespoke beauty was made just for me and it could not have been more perfect.  Sharai from Luxy Loli is a glueing genius that can transform any phone/ipad into a mini masterpiece.

Those of you that know me will know immediately that this phone cover was mine.  Silly, colourful and mostly bonkers... and what about the troll people.

When I found her via the inimitable Gala Darling, imediately I knew one had to be mine.  You can find Shair's beauties via her facebook, email or etsy.

Giveaway: URBIS Design Day

The URBIS Design day is a fun designery day out in Auckland City, New Zealand.  

It's a lovely conglomeration of spacial design, fashion, art, food, automotives, graphic design, colour, photography, lighting, furniture, architecture and schmoooooozing.

Collaborations make it all the more fun and they have just been announced - very exciting indeed.

They are:

MINI + Switch
Hewlett Packard + Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design

Geyser + Design Assembly
ECC Lighting and Furniture + Tape Art NZ
BoConcept + Styled by You
Backhouse + Gather and Hunt
Paterson + Studio Frazerhurst
spazioCasa + Yvonne Bennetti
Youmans Capsules + Simon Devitt Photographer
Resene + Matter

Each collaboration is supposed to interpret this years theme, which is 'Journey of Connections'.  The collabs were announced at the new venue in town called Citizen Park.  Tres cool.

Here at AFD we are giving away 2 double passes to some lucky design heads (NZ peeps only sorry).  All you need to do to get your name in the hat is to tell me a favourite collaboration you have seen or would like to see.  

e.g.  Tom Dixon + Habitat (all time favourite wallpaper)

Kate Sylvester for Douglas + Bec (golden beaked swans, say no more)

Louis Vuitton + Yayoi Kusama (those polka dots!)

You can either put your answer here on the comments section or on our AFD facebook page, here.

Good luck (you have x2 chances) and I will draw this prize next Thursday the 15th March.


*******Our lucky winner was Missy Bayer********

Here's some images taken last year...

All images provided by URBIS Magazine

URBIS Design Day double pass tickets provided by URBIS Magazine

To be used on the day of the 23rd March.  This prize does not include accommodation or flights in/to Auckland.  To find out more about the day please see here for details.

Shop it up: Bloc (Mt Eden, Auckland, NZ)

Bloc is collaboration.  No understatement.

The talented photographer Larnie Nicolson recently photographed the design lineup that is Bloc.  The images really speak for themselves.  

Cool Food

Bo Concept

Collected by LeeAnn Yare

Douglas and Bec - Homewares

Citta Design Homewares

This, my design buns, is a destination for the design savy and creative inspired.  Food, beauty, interiors, stationary - it's all covered off under one stylish roof.  Glory be.

Pencil

WORLD Beauty

I'm coming Bloc.  See you when I come for the URBIS Design Day.

The stylemakers - look at you all.

All images taken by Larnie Nicolson

Shop it up: Vintage Marquee Lights

Waiting for a sign was not me hoping that some mythical creature would appear or the next lotto numbers to emerge from scattered stones.  I literally have been waiting for my sign...

and it arrived.

Oh happy me.  A vintage sign.  My very own.  

I have been spotting these yummy's all over the shop... Pinterest, Shelter Mags, Look books, and Catalogues.  Not to be out done, I investigated and luck behold I found.

I found Jerrad and his skills of vintage marquee goodness.  Him and his lovely wife make and own Vintage Marquee Lights. They sell a glittering array of rust and coloured rust signs, symbols, letters and numbers.  They can be joined up to make works or simply stand alone.

They rock my eyes.  So did their sweet movie.

Teeeeeeensy problem.  They came with bulbs that hated our NZ voltage.  I fixed that issue and bingo-mingo we have light.  Not cheap to fixaroo but do-able none the less.  If you are to order one from Jerrad, I'm happy to assist with the conversion - just contact moi.

Here's my red arrow in ma kitchen.  S'lovely.

Shop it up: Dear Colleen

Dear Colleen, I love following you on Intagram - I feel like one of the first people on earth to getta glimse at a new drawing or a new idea or product.  

This Bristol born, New Zealand based artist is tops.  I am in awe of her illustration skills and her work ethic.  I'm also a little jealous as she gets to draw for a living.

Her online Etsy store is crammed with fav's that reflect her off beat humour and artistry.

Colleen's studio in Dunedin

She's recently come to the world's attention with an American journalist, Grae Drake, passing on one of her teatowls to the guy that features front and present - Mr Ryan Gosling.  While he turns puce in embaressment, she equally is, and has said that she could only watch the clip once.

  Being made to look like a fan-crazed-gosling-geek, she is not.  She's just a clever artist with a wicked sense of humour.  

"Dishes I'd rather be doing" is up there in my top ten, but there is plenty more magnificent 'Colleen' I love.

Society 6 also makes her illustrations in iphone cases, hoodies, pillows and tote bags!

You can find Colleen on Instagram (dearcolleen) , Etsy and on Blog here.