Boyce Avenue

Instameet and Greet

A lovely walk up through the busy end of Beaufort Street allowed for lots of ogling at super-cute cafes and eateries. Streets off the main road hold idyllic houses resulting in a gorgeous setting with amazing food, fabulous location and four competing florists just within a few metres of each other.

Up along the Beaufort strip is Empire Highgate and for the night, it was home to Perth's very first Instameet organised by the bright and effervescent Stacey Clarke and Bec Tougas. It was a super night packed with wonderful food, flowing drinks and loads of people from the stylist, design and Instagram community.

Empire is itself really cute, quaint and cosy and that night even candle-lit and just intimate enough to make close connections with new friends we may have already been following on Instagram or would be following soon after meeting them. I was delighted to see an array of cupcakes, Cake by Laura Isabella, red velvet, cookies and cream and finally salted caramel. 

The Articulate was gracing blank chalkboards with her typography finesse and leaving them so much the better. Hello Love Designs glammed up the Instameet with a bespoke backdrop, the very same at Jarred Seng's The Hidden Sound Project. The lush decor (which could be purchased at a special 10% discount for all Insta-goers on the night) made for a comfortable and commended setting with interior items often featured on design blogs and such - the perfect backdrop for meeting and greeting new friends and even those whom we've been idolising from afar.

It was lovely to see Jinn and Sarah fromThe Silver Lining Blog again and just as lovely to meet Vanessa from Nezuki, April from Coffee With Me on Instagram and to catch a glimpse of Ally from the Vintage Valley. Stacey and Bec will be holding another Instameet next year in February so if you missed out this time, be sure to attend the next! I may even see you there.

Burlesque Baby

The above sneaky snaps are from the Fresh Faced Follies Grad Show held by Sugar Blue Burlesque at the Bakery in Northbridge. Two Wednesdays ago I attended my first ever Burlesque show to support two of my beautiful girls. I brought my camera only to find out there was a strict no-photo policy however as I had left my camera on my lap which just so happened to be facing the stage as I was in the front row... and I didn't have my flash on... I thought it couldn't do any harm to take one or two or perhaps ten photos. Right?

The show was lovely and although I couldn't stay for the duration of it I got to see my girlies perform. Sultry movements, fun and bold lips, all the silk, pearls and black velvet you could imagine. It was here. An array of performances graced the stage, red aprons, silky nightgowns, big fluffy feather fans and kitty cats. Chan's 'spider leg eyelashes' were soon peeled off and used as eyebrows and moustaches by Iris and I...the photos are somewhere on Chantel's phone.

Sugar Blue have courses for beginners, intermediates and advanced Burlesque dancers. From the 1920's through to the 1960's, Sugar Blue Burlesque is about the elaborate vintage costumes, dances, comedy, music and fun.

Wedding Upmarket

I think most things that attract people to the thought of weddings are the little details done in the most "perfect" of ways surrounding one of the most integral moments in many of our lives.  The tulle, fine silk, the cake and the reserved table settings. It's being surrounded by love, happiness and anticipation. And sometimes all that matters is the feeling of complete and utter magic. 

The Wedding Upmarket is a gorgeous array of goods for sale, masterful set ups and prettiness. Held once a year at the Undercroft at the University of Western Australia, the Wedding Upmarket is a colourful, lovely and wonderful (free) way to take note of the beautiful services provided by well established or even smaller venders with a whole lot to show, as well as to get that creativity going. You'll more than likely leave the Wedding Upmarket feeling inspired, sometimes even with a goodie or two to take home with you. 

To Market, To Market

There is something incredibly refreshing about waking up early on weekends. Most weekends of mine are spent running around doing errands, tutoring high schoolers and most definitely not spent sleeping in. So what made this particular morning weekend wake up different? I guess it was that I was up earlier than usual and off for a stroll around the markets and breakfast. The weather was beautiful with the warm sun out in the early hours of the morning and the brisk cool air washing over me as I walked around the markets with Suzanna.

My market plans with Suzanna included a visit to Leederville's Sunday Morning Markets. Little but quaint, the food stalls and friendly people warmed up the cool morning air, welcoming the early risers with a smile. Soups, freshly baked breads, pastas and farm fresh fruits and veg littered the Leederville carpark just off Oxford Street, across from the newly established Bills Bar and Bites. We did a little market hopping, driving down the road after Leederville's Market to Subiaco's later that morning. I love the freshness of the food, the smells and the bustle.

Subiaco markets are incredibly popular for those that live north of the river and aren't too keen on driving to the even bigger Fremantle Markets early in the morning. I would arrive about 9am however, as when it reaches late morning the crowds are definitely hustling and it gets a little difficult to manouevre around the fresh markets. And if you're unlucky like me, you may at some stage drop your flowers after bumping into someone! But if you're also lucky like me, you'll have a beautiful friend who will pick them up and dust them off for you.

The Art of Blogging

Truth be told I have been admiring Michelle Lau from afar for a while now. And I know a few (a quite a few!) have been doing the same. So when I first saw the announcement from Stacey about The Art of Blogging Workshop with

A Minute Away From Snowing - I quickly and somewhat impulsively bought myself a ticket whilst on the bus to work and happily went about my day with the knowledge that in a few weeks I was going to meet such a modest and enigmatic local blogger - while trying out a new and buzzing restaurant I had yet to visit.

I first heard of The Creatives Workshops from my friend Matthew who had the great opportunity of attending The Art of Hand Lettering (albeit his bribed by his boss). He had found it so well organised, plenty of fun and a great way to meet people. There are an array of workshops run by Stacey Clarke, an honest, fun loving and energetic woman who I had the pleasure of meeting. Matthew and I have signed up for a few other events Stacey has organised and I have no doubt they will be as great as the ones we had attended. Sorry Stacey but you haven't seen the last of us!

It was 10am on a Saturday and it had been raining a fair bit outside with a small group of us gathered around the doors of the Raw Kitchen in Fremantle. After a little hesitation and some peering through windows, we thought to perhaps try the back door. That was when Sarah opened the big blue doors for us and welcomed us through. Not before I exclaimed out loud "Sarah's coming!" which then had people asking me if I knew her personally, to which I said no, I follow her blog. And if you're not following it, you probably should be.

When entering the kitchen, the first thing you notice is that it is so big. The workshop was held upstairs, next to a room where a yoga class was taking place and where I have found out regularly takes place. On the ground floor just to the left of the doors is a store within the warehouse/loft style restaurant, selling raw food books, teas, knick-knacks and other kitchen utensils, of which I surreptitiously stole glances of when Sarah and Jinn took me there for our portrait session. As a surprise in the lovely workshop bundle, Stacey had organised for Sarah and Jinn to take photos of us which were then given to us on a disc to use however we liked.

I was very stoked to meet them in person after mutual follows on Instagram (I feel like since finishing uni, most of my social interaction occurs via Instagram) and after falling in love with their blog The Silver Lining Blog - for both its words and its beautiful images. Sarah and Jinn themselves, are beautiful people. Speaking of beautiful people, Michelle was upstairs waiting for us, dressed impeccably - perfect make up, a big smile and greeted us individually as we seated ourselves around the table.

Orders for coffees were made and just like the very first tutorials at uni - little introductions were said and each of us went downstairs in turns for our photos. Michelle then got stuck into the workshop - telling us of her humble beginnings and tips and tricks she has learnt along the way. Questions were asked and answered, with Stacey piping in every so often to ask the questions we were all thinking and to share experiences of her own. Everything from how to create compelling content, which platform to begin with and what to write about was discussed. Michelle was incredibly helpful, inspiring and lovely, talking through our own aspirations with us and suggesting ways to go about creating our own personal/professional spaces online.

It was a great event to participate in and I am glad I acted a little impulsive that morning when I bought my ticket. The other girls who attended were so lovely - I just wished I was a little more social or a little more cool because everyone who attended were so creative, cool and above all really nice people who were a pleasure to meet. Michelle was happy to answer questions, guide us through our blogging qualms and gave plenty of support and feedback. She really is the loveliest and it was such a rewarding experience and a privilege to have met her.

Luckily for those who may have missed out, Michelle and Stacey are holding another two Art of Blogging Workshops throughout August so head over here if you'd like to learn all there is to know from the best. You also get lunch which is a big yes in my books so head on over!