7 Vignettes May Round Up

I finally got around to completing another 7 Vignettes challenge on Instagram! I really love these monthly challenges so much and I encourage anyone who hasn't participated in them yet to give it a go next round. They really inspire me and push me to be creative. It was a little challenging this month as for a few days we had so much rain that I had the worst lighting to deal with! And then the rain actually caused the Internet to be down around Brisbane for a few days! :O I couldn't transfer images from my camera to my phone, or upload any blog posts! 

The brief for the above picture was "Mother" since Mother's Day is this weekend. My Mum is actually away overseas at the moment, but I took a photo of some of the collections she has on her desk. She loves nature and has this little collection of stones in a jar, and a tiny jar full of dried flower heads and seeds for planting later. The little pine cones have been around for as long as I can remember growing up!

Relaxed

As it's autumn here and getting cooler, I've been drinking so much coffee and tea and craving hearty meals and lots of sweet things. There's nothing better than relaxing with a coffee in the morning before I get started with things.

Symmetrical

These marble horse book ends are another thing that have been in my household for as long as I can remember. 

If you don't follow me on Instagram, you can find me here @littlepinkcactus!

Hope everyone's enjoying May so far!

Nina xo

Hand Lettering

Yesterday I had a day off (score!) and I felt like doing something creative, so I had a play with some hand painted lettering using water colour, brushes, and an ink brush pen. When I was younger I was quite into calligraphy, and I was reminded of it by all the beautiful hand lettering and typography that is around at the moment. I used to use calligraphy pens and ink back then, so it was really fun to have my first real go at hand lettering with brushes! 

I have always had a habit of writing in different handwriting styles and doodling words in fancy cursive or different lettering styles. I'll sometimes just doodle words that are being said in the conversation around me! Does anyone else do this? Or is that kind of weird...

Of course my cat Stella wanted to come and lie on whatever I was taking photos of. Lucky she's such a beautiful model and didn't seemed phased by a lens being put in her face! I think she might have what it takes to be Australia's Next Top Model, what do you think? ;) (She is getting seriously podgy though... too many cat biscuits for you Stella.)

I decided to hand letter a kind of title page for a letter I'm writing to my friend KD in the U.S. He studies art and does great screen prints so hopefully he'll like this! 

I only have very cheap brushes and pens at the moment, but I'm excited to see the brush pens, brushes and ink available in Japan when I'm there in just over a week! Japanese calligraphy is amazing, so I'm sure there will be lots of inspiration to be found!

Nina xo

7 Things I've Learned About Styling So Far

Less than a year ago I got the opportunity to do a little display work in my retail job at the time. It was only because there was a delay with deliveries and there wasn't much to do, and my wonderful manager at the time gave me the task of making some fun product displays, and gave me free reign to do whatever I liked with them. They were some of the most fun shifts I have ever had in any job, and it was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me as it got my brain swirling with vague ideas about some kind of career in styling, design, interiors, or decorating in some capacity. In the fairly short time since then, I've done work experience in the industry, now have a job in a fantastic homewares store with an amazing interior stylist as a boss, and the vague ideas from back then are forming into more focused aspirations to become a stylist. I still have so, so much to learn and still a lot of hard work to do to get to anywhere near where I want to be, but I am loving being able to practice prop styling for this blog and other projects, and helping style furniture and homewares at the store I work at!

The other day I was styling some vignettes for this month's 7 Vignettes project by Interiors Addict. As I was making a huge mess of melted chocolate (I'll get to that) and gathering all sorts of things from around our house and actually talking to myself at one point, I had to have a laugh. Styling photos makes me act a little crazy and really pushes me to get creative. Here are some things I have learned and experienced so far when prop styling for photos...

1. Being absolutely void of any ideas whatsoever for a project and sulking about it and worrying that I'll never have another idea ever again. (I think any creative activity suffers from this one!)

2. Then being almost overwhelmed with inspiration from all sorts of unlikely places and trying to do four projects at once. I'll be inspired by Pinterest, people's blogs, interior magazines, a homewares catalogue, all sorts of things, and suddenly when inspiration strikes it tends to unleash an almighty flood of creative ideas. I've found myself in the middle of doing one thing and I suddenly have to go and grab something else for another idea that's just sprung to mind for a completely different project... and I'll end up doing four different projects at once.

3. Fossicking for objects to use in a vignette or styling project anywhere and everywhere is my new thing. When I have an idea, I start to see all sorts of objects in a brand new light, and I search high and low for items to use in my photos, and sometimes find them in the oddest places.

4. And if I can't find quite what I'm looking for... I'll think outside the box. It has sunk in that when prop styling for a photo shoot all that matters is what's in the frame. The other day for example I really wanted some decadent delicious looking cookies in a photo I was taking. I didn't have any, and I didn't want to waste time going to get some and I didn't have any ingredients to make some. All I found was an old packet of very plain wheat biscuits at the back of the cupboard and a very old block of sea salt chocolate that didn't taste very good (why were they in the cupboard still? I don't know). So I put down my camera, melted the chocolate, drizzled it all over the plain biscuits and voilà! Delicious looking shiny chocolately drizzly biscuits for my photos. Every time I put something together I find myself doing something like this!

5. A large white piece of card has been my must have styling tool. I live in a rental house which has sage/seafoam green walls. A large white piece of card to use as a background has been a fantastic $2 investment, although I really should upgrade to some kind of wood panel or something less prone to bending and marking.

6. Agonizing over the placement of every object of the picture. I'm getting really fussy over my composition of images, that's for sure! I want to have everything in the frame balanced and perfect. It's really helping my photography skills!

7. And then agonizing over which picture is the best one to use. I'll take so many photos of the same thing, most people would think they all look the same. But I'll spend a long, long time agonizing over how this one has the slightly better lighting, however this one has the poster and the tabletop perfectly straight and in line.

I'm sure that a lot of bloggers who take a lot of pictures for their blogs can relate to these as well! What are your photography and styling habits? Do you have props that you always use, or short cuts you like to take? 

Hope everyone is having a brilliant week!

Nina xo

P.S. Yes, these pictures were taken on my new camera! I am definitely still learning the ins and outs of it, but I'm loving it.

Christmas Gift Wrapping, Merry Christmas!

I usually (secretly) love Christmas, but for the last two years it seemed to come around so fast I barely had time to get into the spirit of things! But this year, just in time I found my festiveness and have really enjoyed preparing for Christmas day. Right now I can smell the gingerbread cookies I'm baking, I have last minute Christmas cards and stickers next to me, our Christmas tree and lights look glorious, and I put the last of my presents under the tree this morning. 

I had so much fun wrapping this year. I picked a theme and just really went with it after finding this gorgeous teal, red and white wrapping paper set at Typo. One paper is a teal background with adorable owls wearing hats and scarves, one is a slightly darker/bluer teal with white snowflakes and hedgehogs and deer, and the last is a simple polka dot in matching colours. What a gorgeous combination! I already had some plain bright red wrapping paper, white and red washi tape, teal washi tape, and these cute mini Christmas cards from the supermarket which matched in colour! I also got some various red and white ribbons to finish it off.

I made these bow decorations with off-cuts of the wrapping paper. They are super easy to make - just cut a rectangle to whatever size you'd like, fold in a concertina back and forth to the end, and then secure the middle with tape and fan out both ends to make it look pretty. You can secure them with tape or tie them on with ribbon. I first heard of this idea a long time ago from the wonderful Hello Sandwich, go check out her amazing wrapping ideas.

I can't believe how well these mini Christmas cards matched the wrapping theme! What a happy fluke. 

Blue wrapping with a big red paper bow...

Or with a white ribbon and polar bear gift card...

Or with a matching blue paper bow as well as white satin ribbon!

Contrast this simple paper with a bright red paper bow...

Or decorate with a thick red ribbon...

Or put both together for a big pop of colour!

For a different set of presents, I also re-used this old gift bag, alongside some of last year's wrapping paper, and a piece of a clear Christmas wrapping. I put the clear bow together with some gold and white striped washi tape, which I also used to wrap the present. It definitely jazzed up some pretty ordinary wrapping paper, and I'm always for re-using and up-cyling things where you can!

 I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas has a fantastic day, and happy holiday season to everyone! My favourite things about Christmas are the pretty lights everywhere, and all the gorgeous decorations, the food, and of course giving gifts. I'll be seeing family tomorrow, eating a huge spread of delicious food, and having a swim. Can't wait! I'm so happy to have a few extra days off. I had better go and ice these gingerbread cookies... ;) Merry Christmas!

Nina xo

Styling Product Displays

Working in retail isn't my dream job. But I do enjoy a bit of visual merchandising, and at my job I've recently been lucky enough to be able to create product displays in our store. It's my favourite part of the job, and I was given free reign to make these tabletop displays my own. (Yay!) I love the challenge of using what you have at hand and working with whatever space you've got to make an effective display even when you can't open certain packaging, or the shelves above the table are very low, etc. Mostly I just love being creative with it and trying to think outside the box!

I apologise about the photo quality. I had to take these on my phone quickly on my breaks. It was hard to get a good picture because of the background and lighting etc., but I still wanted to share them. :)

This black, white and kraft brown stationery display is my favourite so far! I had so much fun setting it up, and it didn't take me long at all because I had a clear idea in my mind. My favourite part of this one is the skull, candle and fake pothos combo. I was so happy we had some fake pothos in stock (real live pothos is one of my favourite indoor plants!). And yes, I've always been pretty skull-obsessed, as you can probably tell.

Here are my first couple of displays. I had a lot of fun with this eclectic polka dot breakfast table setting! I love the cow salt and pepper shakers and the tomato jar. Although I think I tried to fit too much into it, because I was so excited about it. I was like a kid in a candy shop choosing everything to display.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of the actual finished product of this desk space display. Everything was neatened up when it was finished, and the photo frame was propped up so you could see the whole picture. My favourite part of coming up with this one was the pretend pin board with the little memos and gold scarf thrown over the corner.

It was so much fun working on these, hope I can do something similar on a larger scale sometime in the future. ;) I love styling, decorating and interior design, so it's something I'm working towards!

I hope everyone has had an amazing start to their weeks!

Nina xo

Colourful Cafe: Pineapples, flowers, dinosaur!

The local cafe I work at has recently been bursting with colour! It really inspires me and brightens my days at work to be surrounded by pretty things. :) 

+ The ceramic pineapples at the top are from our gorgeous local homewares/interior styling store and friend Jack Mitchell! I love them so much.

+ We've recently started selling flowers from local florist Flour And Bloom and it is so exciting when the lovely lady brings a new delivery of beautiful fresh flowers each week! It's always a nice surprise to see which gorgeous flowers we'll get each time.

+ Our new dinosaur friend is from Dino Planters! He it ready to greet all our customers at the front door. I am in love with the blue colour, and the tiny teapot and cup he's holding! I've been thinking about making one of these toy planters myself at home recently, so I was surprised to see one at work! It's on my long list of projects to get around to. :)

Sorry about the quality of the photos in this one, they're all taken on my phone since I didn't have a camera with me. :P I hope everyone's week is going well! I've gotten a cold after not having one all year - even when my boyfriend had a cold! I think that's why I was feeling so flat yesterday. Anyway I thought I'd take the opportunity to post while I'm resting up and getting better.

Nina xoxo

Cats In Ukiyo-e + I Can't Stop Drawing Cats

Hello! Well the weather here has gotten even colder, but today is sunny and cold and beautiful - AND I have the day off! It couldn't be better! Last week and the weekend was really busy with work, so I'm really glad to have a day off to relax (and finally write a blog post!).

Recently I've been enjoying looking at this book called Cats In Ukiyo-e. My Mum bought it for my birthday a couple of years ago, but I recently re-discovered it. Since I've been drawing cats a lot, I've been really enjoying looking through this one again. I adore the way the cats are drawn, the style, and how much character each cat has. Just like a real cat, they're all full of mischief and attitude! :P And the fact they are from the 1800s is even cooler.

The dust cover is cute, but this kraft colour patterned inside cover is really amazing too. So many cats!

The cloth in the background of these photos is actually a scarf which came with the book! It's so lovely. 

As well as the artwork in it, I really love the design, colour and layout of this book. It's really nicely put together. I especially love this little cat bookmark which is attached to the book! Super cute.

Like it says here in my sketchbook, I can't stop drawing cats. :P I'm still playing around with my fountain pen and different drawing styles, trying to capture the attitude and nature of a cat. My two cats, Finn and Stella, are so different not just in looks but their personalities and habits too! It makes me want to draw all different types of cats.

Well, another busy week ahead after my one day off this week, but I'm feeling ready. ;) 

Little Pink Cactus xo

Drawings + Kitty

Here are some recent doodles of mine! I'm working toward getting some simple cute designs together to print on stationery, like note cards, maybe note books, etc. What do you think?

While I was taking photos of my drawings, along came my cat Finn...

And he ended up just sitting right on top of my sketch book, of course! 

From Little Pink Cactus and Finn xo