19.06.09 – It’s terrible to start this off with a bad photo (but don’t you worry, I promise to end with one too) but these things are usually done in chronological order. The photo was taken in the middle of the night near a friends house. Isn’t it the prettiest No Parking sign ever!

23.06.09 – FUCK. Well, this is a little more subtle (and technically more “letters”) but it says it well enough. It still needs a couple of tweaks, particularly need to make the @ smaller. I think it’ll be great as a brooch.

29.06.09 – A big box arrived today full of organic bio-dynamically grown kiwifruit and tamarillos. The kiwifruit are not at all tangy, they’re really sweet. It’s strange. Two weeks later and we’ve got heaps left.
Also, to any US readers, the fuzzy fruit is called a kiwifruit, not a kiwi. A kiwi is New Zealand’s native flightless bird and a colloquial term for a New Zealander.

03.07.09 – Friday night was the Rocky Horror Picture Show party! It was a lot quieter than I thought it would be but the costumes were great and the band were fantastic (the Hardy Ha Has). The host was more cross dresser than drag queen unfortunately, my friends looked camper than her.

Anyway these are two of my friends who came to mine and The Boys house for pre party drinks. We managed to bribe the guy on the left to dress in the cat suit he happened to have with him. After some alcohol he was quite happy to pose like a rock star with my bass. This is also one of the few situations that allows for wearing tights as pants. If I had such amazing legs I’d probably wear tights as pant too.

The guy on the right is dressed as Brad (as if you didn’t already know that :]). Faces have been blurred to protect the not so innocents.

07.07.09 – I finally have my hands on the Gilmore Girls fourth season! I’ve become quite obsessed with watching their lives. A favourite past time of mine is pausing DVDs and laughing at the horrible faces. Zoooommmmbie Emily is coming to get you.

07.07.09 – The Boy helps run a monthly young professionals gathering with a speaker. This month we had Nathan Gray, he is the youngest Westerner to walk the length of the Great Wall of China, it took 2 years. Since then he has written a book and sold over 10,000 copies. You only have to glance at his CV to feel inadequate and inspired. Nathan is a lawyer, speaks eight languages, is trained in ballet, drama, speech and piano, he’s a photographer and has worked in all means of media!
Anyway, this is the wall that greets you as you walk into the Green Man pub where the meetings are held. This pub is very kitschy, it’s awesome.

07.07.09 – This is the outfit I wore to the meeting. Please look beyond the laser eyes, shiny face, and uncooperative fringe.
The lady at the medlab who took my blood spent the time I was there complementing my skirt and scissors necklace and enquiring about my business. I think she thought I was a student selling jewellery on the side, cause real adults don’t do that sort of thing for a living.

The results of the survey are telling me you want more photos. And seeing how the point of the survey is to give you more of what you like…here’s a summary of what I’ve been doing the past month.

Note that all of these photos look better when they’re bigger, if you’re interested. And they haven’t been messed with apart from the occasional crop.

Ready for take off + Whizzing past

10-17 May 2009 – Had a great trip to the Gold Coast of Australia and enjoyed a repeat of the rides at Dreamworld.

Snowing in Wellington + Shattered glass

31 May 2009 – Back in New Zealand the weather is shit. It snowed in Wellington! Albeit the kind of snow that lasts only 30 seconds on the ground. But it’s not supposed to snow in Wellington making it a photo worthy occasion. I also kicked a glass right on the only hard surface that was close by causing it to shatter. :[

Tempt packaging + Tempt cupcake + Chickie Little’s cupcakes

2-3 June 2009 – My last two days of sucky corporate office work. I was treated to a Tempt cupcake on the second to last day, and a whole bunch of Chickie Little’s cupcakes on my last day after a boozy long lunch.

1 + 2 + 3 + 4

5 June 2009 – After one day off work it was straight into 6am 8 hour drive to Hamilton. Thankfully I still don’t drive so while I slept and sang at the top of my lungs The Boy drove. I got some pretty sweet photos of the landscape by accidentally leaving the previous nights white balance active on the camera. Everything turned blue.

Chubby bubby + Hot pools

5 June 2009 – We had headed up to Hamilton for my sister 21st, it was a really short visit. My sister got wasted and I look terrible in all the photos, so instead I’m treating you to a couple of photos of the three eldest siblings when we were littlies. Aren’t my little brother and sister adorable in the left photo!?

Snow on the Mt behind Lake Taupo + Snow capped peak + Desert Road + Big round moon

7 June 2009 – And just like that it was time to go home again. Thankfully driving long distance in NZ is pretty.

Scissors + Wholesale + Seahorse

June 2009 – Somewhere along the way I sold my first Cupcakes and Mace jewellery wholesale order. It was just a small one but very exciting to get. I came up with some new designs and took heaps of jewellery photos too.

STOP Israel + Pine needles + Sun starting to set + Theatre and dramatic sky + Fence

15-16 June 2009 – Monday was beautiful and sunny, I nearly winded myself walking up the big hill to get to the trees near our house. I’m so unfit. Tuesday it all turned to shit again though, so fucking cold! I wish New Zealanders believed in insulation and central heating, our houses are ridiculous.

1 May 2009 – Resignation letter. I’m pretty sure time slows down when anyone hands in a resignation!

1 May 2009 – The sun is so low in winter that light stream through the window as I arrive at work. It hits my little disco ball splatting dots of light everywhere.

2 May 2009 – We have boobs growing out of the ceiling. Our roof started leaking again, in a different place. But it’s only doing it when it’s not raining!

2 May 2009 – Chickie Little, her Hubby, The Boy, and I spent the afternoon at a park up the road eating iced buns, taking photos and playing with Fez. He was a good boy and didn’t try to run away. He’s SO adorable!

3 May 2009 – I started cooking some noodles but noticed they were well past the best before date. I decided to see what else was past the best before, and I found all of this. One or two things from 2005 most of it from 2007 and 2008.

3 May 2009 – Seize the day. A very cool design ordered by one of my lovely Etsy customers, I love how the little skull turned out.

3 May 2009 – Unicorn brooch. The first one I’ve done! Another custom request. I’m so glad my customers are taking my notices about customisation always being an option to heart. Special requests are fun.

4 May 2009 – Using a bottle or so of the expiring oil we fried some dumplings. This one looked like a cute little monster with peas for eyes, I couldn’t eat him. Plus I was full.

5 May 2009 – Bright pink hummingbird spray painted on the footpath.

22 April 2009 – It’s the boys mums birthday and I think this bracelet I made suits her style a bit more than the cupcake necklaces.

24 April 2009 – The Boy and his friend led me on some crazy tiki tour to get to the I’m On A Boat party. We ended up not lost, and with some good photos. Choice. This is Wellington Harbour.

24 April 2009 – And this is the view of Petone from Oriental Parade.

24 April 2009 – Some crazy hippies spitting fire at the party.

25 April 2009 – The Boy’s dad is in town and takes us to Lone Star for dinner. This steak is absolutely humongous.

25 April 2009 – My plate of Lone Star mussels, and my other plate with potatoes and salad. Too. Much. Food!!

26 April 2009 – And then the weather turned to shit and it’s been raining pretty much ever since.

27 April 2009 – It’s that time of year when everyone remembers that they didn’t fix the leaks from last year, and they still haven’t gotten around to resealing the doors.

15 April 2009 – Amazing clouds!

17 April 2009 – We saw the coolest little run down place amidst the apartments and bars in the parliament area. So random.

19 April 2009 – I was forced (forced I tell you!) to stay in my PJs all weekend. I literally put them on on Friday night and didn’t take them off till Monday morning. My life is not at all glamorous. I was also forced to watch 6 movies and 4 downloaded TV shows while simultaneously surfing the net (forced!).

20 April 2009 – See, not glamorous. Mmm gluggy.

21 April 2009 – Unicorn vs Vulture…who will win? Just wait till we add Narwhal to the fight, dun dun dunnnnn.

8 April 2009 -Interesting textures on a garage door

9 April 2009 – Fields on the way to Hawkes Bay.

12 April 2009
These swampy areas on the outskirts of Hawkes Bay are one of my favourite parts of the drive. It’s like a graveyard for dead and dried up trees. One day I’m going to get in there with waders and photograph it to death.

My camera can be pretty terrible and my hands are shakey, but I was determined to get a good picture of this cicada shell. I took heaps of photos!

Pink petals in the grass

The Boy’s mum keeps a beautiful garden. This secret path down the bottom is especially ethereal.

Dried flax flowers

Unusually beautiful weather for a New Zealand autumn. Although ask The Boy and he’ll tell you that Hawkes Bay is always like this.

Dried leaves in the gutter

14 April 2009 – My new glasses arrived today. I love them! You might not be able to tell but there are two pairs being “modelled” here. One is tortoiseshell Burberry and the other is black Genesis (which I think is a random rebranded name). The black ones make my eyes look huge (well, huger)!

When you fail for the fourth time (twice in one week actually) it’s time to reassess your commitment to the project. Obviously my concentration and memory is pretty shot at the moment so I’m going to relieve the self applied pressure on trying to take a photo every single day and instead just aim to tell the story of my week with photos. You’ll be seeing “The Week in Photos” each week instead of Project 365. :]

1 April 2009 – My sister has been desperate to watch the latest season of Gossip Girl. So she sent me a few DVDs to make a copy for her. DVDs feel so out of date already, I’m used to flash drives!

3 April 2009 – Lunch time on Friday we saw this lady on the corner of one of the busiest shopping streets in Wellington being filmed standing still amongst the bustling crowd. Hopefully I didn’t ruin their shot by stopping to take a photo.

4 April 2009 – A menagerie of twisted chains, charms, and rings on my bedside table.

5 April 2009 – We went to a friends house and ddiscovered an amazing view. Forgot to take a pic until we were leaving so it’s not the best, but you could see a lot from the house.

6 April 2009 – This is exactly the type of thing I hoped people would use my services for. I love my customers! It’s such a delight to be able to provide something I’m proud of.

7 April 2009 – Kroko the Toyvoyager arrived today. He’s the biggest TV I’ve hosted and he arrived just in time for a weekend away in Hawkes Bay.

Well I made it through week 1 of the Project 365 challenge. Pay particular attention to the 4th of January :D

1 January 2009 – The sun sets over Lake Taupo on the first day of 2009

2 January 2009 – Lots of driving today, thankfully the weather was pretty bad most of the way home because the car turned into a sauna when the sun came out. We should have bought a car with aircon!

3 January 2009 – I bought this cuff from the children’s section of Farmers. I love it. I wish they made kids clothes in adult sizes.

4 January 2009 – Ta da! I have a fringe for the first time since I was a young child. My bff Chickie Little is the talented lady behind the cut. I think everyone loves it, so many compliments!

5 January 2009 – These posters are everywhere in Wellington. There are others with Fork and Fast on them too. I have no idea what it means.

6 January 2009 – We went bowling at The Lanes for Chickie Little’s hubby’s birthday. Got some sweet “Ladies Night” deals too despite “Ladies Night” not happening any more because they still had it advertised on their website (and still do now!).

7 January 2009 – “Hoon” sprayed on a pedestrian crossing in Mt Victoria.

Super Summer Starter – Yep, it was amazing. Beautiful weather followed by a four day working week.

Angels and Demons – By Dan Brown. I started reading this book while camping and I’m almost finished, I’ve got the added distraction of work, internet and TV back in the real world though. If you liked The Da Vinchi Code then you’ll probably like this one. It may seem like you’ve read it all before though, it is VERY similar to The Da Vinchi Code. Religious guy is killed, Robert Langdon is called in as specialist and helps daughter of dead guy to save the world.

Sales – It’s that crazy time of year again. An emailed voucher for Glassons got me the bright blue purse for 30% off. My camera completely refused to take a photo to indicate its true colour, it’s bright 80s style blue. Awesome.
The necklaces were cheap to begin with but I’m not going to complain about 50% off! The plain black one is a long strand of star beads :D

Like my dance?

Fluffy skirts – After feeling like a slob in grey pants and a faded t-shirt yesterday I decided today had to be different. You’ll have to excuse everything from the shoulders up, the photos were taken after work and even though it was a short work week it feels like I’ve been dehydrating in my air conditioned office forever. I was also very bored and therefore falling asleep, it was beginning to feel like poking my eyes out with sticks would be a good option because at least then I’d get to take a trip to the hospital.
It’s amazing what a fluffy skirt can do to perk up your day and have everyone commenting!

Also note the bag from above, you can see the colour a lot better in these photos. I swapped the provided strap for a pink ribbon too :D

• Star bead necklace – Bling
• Tails style blazer – Portmans
• Misery t-shirt
• Blue purse – Glassons
• Silk check skirt with netting petticoat – Portmans
• Black over the knee socks folded down
• Sneakers – Babycham

Summer – I’ve always said that winter is my favourite season, mostly because it means I don’t get too hot or burnt. But with summer gradually returning I’m changing my mind. If I can see this from my bedroom window between 8 and 8.30pm what do I really have to complain about?

Can’t beat Wellington on a sunny day.

OK, I lie, it’s more like the month in photos…but for posterity’s sake…

• We’ve had a few beautiful days lately. Labour weekend’s Monday was spent at the Botanic Gardens in the sun with a picnic. There are some odd sculptures in the gardens but I liked the one top-middle, the hard shininess was very contrasting to the greenery and dirt tracks surrounding it.
• The fireworks display for Guy Fawkes on the 5th of November was great once again. We were late leaving the house this time so half of it was watched as we were walking towards the waterfront. We saw first hand why mixing fireworks with the public was a bad idea that night. As we passed a school on the way to town we noticed some small flame coloured flickers above one of the buildings, I assumed it was one of those fizzing fireworks being let off up the hill, but it turns out the trees were on fire! A fire engine turned up pretty quickly and saved the day (night) though.
• Cupcakes and frozen banana daiquiris…need I say more? :]