{ PLAN BEE WORKSHOP } Create your own Bee Hotel

We had a fun afternoon at The Calyx - Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney attending the Big Kids Plan Bee Workshop - Create a Happy Insect Hotel.

'Bee In The Know' presentation by the Garden Educator provided great insight into bees, our super pollinators, before we got busy building our bee hotels.

Pre-cut Untreated Pine ready for assembly. Tools needed - Flat head nails & hammer

Pre-drilled holes help make for easy assembly

Quick assembly with our bee hotel now taking shape

Stack various sizes of bamboo hollows

Different species seek different size holes. 

Make sure you provide a range of holes between 2-9 mm (ideal)

Adding the last of the bamboo hollows

Our bee hotels are complete!  

BEE HOTEL TIPS

Decorate and seal using non-toxic paint

Secure Bee Hotels 1-2 metres from the ground where it gets early morning sun, shade from mid morning on, and minimal weather exposure

Bees love variety - lots of flowers in different colours & shapes - best to have somethings in flower at all times

Native bees play such an important environmental role in pollinating plants. By providing food and water in your garden, you can encourage them to visit and by building a bee hotel, hopefully have them stay!

We look forward to welcoming new guests to our garden in 2018.

Jodie x

www.fairweatherdesign.com.au

PS. Thank you Mr B for being our model

{ COLLABORATION } SADDLER & CO - THE ARTISAN SPRING POP-UP 2017

It was wonderful to be invited by Saddler & Co to join their Artisan Spring Pop-Up - Collection 2017,  showcasing the work of makers and artisanal brands.

Saddler & Co is a small Australian owned family business, based in Dubbo NSW, creating timeless handcrafted leather goods and artisan wares. Australian Designed & Made. The work that they do is truly inspiring.

The Artisan Spring Pop-Up Collection 

... 'As makers ourselves, we believe in showcasing the work of an artisan and as we collaborate together, we allow each other's strengths to shine through. We have curated a selection of beautiful brands whose stories inspire us and whose work we believe in'  Bede & Jemima Aldridge - Saddler & Co. 

The collection was launched on Friday October 21st, at Saddler & Co's new flagship store. An amazing

line up of artisans included - The Inspired Paddock, Fiona Schofield Millinery, George & Willy, Bel Campbell,  Capri Positano Sandels, Botanical Signature, Delilah Devine, Kim Wallace Ceramics, Kyah Wilson Art, Mork Chocolate, Once Was Lost, the dietrich collection & The Wayfaring Stranger. Learn more - Meet the makers 

This collection in store from October 20 - November 18th , 2017. 

Saddler & Co - 1A Sterling Street, Dubbo. 

The event was styled beautifully by Floral Collective and captured by Abbie Melle Photography.  

Thank you Saddler & Co for showcasing Fairweather Design Akuna & Coolamon Carrier at 'The Spring Pop-Up. The perfect garden accessories for the Spring / Summer season ahead. 

Carry On....  Fairweather Design xx

Saddler & Co - The Spring Pop-Up 2017

Fairweather Design ' Coolamon' Jute Carrier & Peonies

Fairweather Design 'Akuna' Wood Carrier

Saddler & Co - Postcard from the Spring Pop-Up

Saddler & Co Flagship Store - Opening Night.  Styling by Floral Collective 

{FOOD STYLING + PHOTOGRAPHY HARVEST WORKSHOP} LOCAL IS LOVELY

Earlier this year, I was gifted a new Olympus OM-D Camera from Mr B for my birthday. A new series of film SLR camera .... not an SLR but a compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. It was very tempting to continue to take photos using the auto functions and to be snap happy.  It was time to take my business and product photography to the next level.... 

So last month I ventured off on a road trip 2.5 hours from Sydney to attend Local is Lovely Harvest Pracshop. A 2 day food styling & photography workshop hosted by food writer & farmer Sophie Hansen and artist mum Annie Herron, on their family property Kimbri - Rydal, NSW.

We were inspired and guided by the talented food photographer Luisa Brimble and food stylist Stephanie Stamatis.

We did leave it to the last minute to book so we weren't able to take avantage of the accommodation onsite but did stay at the gorgeous Rose Cottage, Rydal only 7 minutes drive.  Rose Cottage is the oldest remaining cottage in Ryal c1860, and has been loveling restored. The package also included gourmet dinner and breakfast. Very spoilt.

It was nice to exchange the fast paced city for the country setting at Kimbri Farm.  The smell of the open fire and the crisp autumn mornings were a nice reminder of country life. 

The course was based around food styling however there were so many photo opportunities everywhere you looked. Plenty of tips and tricks also shared by Luisa and Stephanie throughout the weekend. There was only plenty of home cooked food to photograph and taste.

In addition to the new skills learnt, it was also great to connect with so many talented and inspiring people. 

Jodie x 

{Kimbri} Local Is Lovely Harvest Pracshop

{Kimbri Studio}

{Kimbri Studio} Great Autumn day

{Styling} Produce & Props - Our Coolamon Garden Carrier looks great in shot

{Food Styling} Autumn Harvest

{Food Styling} Coffee Time

{Food Styling} Afternoon Tea - Freshly Baked Apple Pie

{Styling props}

{Food Styling} Preparation

{Fresh Local Produce} Supplied by Dougal

{Food Styling} Sunday Picnic

{Day 2} Afternoon Tea - Fresh Ginger Cake

{Food Styling}

{Sunrise} Morning shoot & breakfast

{Winter Essentials} Handmade 'Akuna' Wood Carrier by Fairweather Design

{Kimbri} Plenty of props ... cute caravan

{Accomodation} Rose Cottage, Rydal

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{TREE CHANGE ... TAKING THE NEXT STEP}

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'AKUNA' PROPERTY - LOWER HUNTER VALLEY

I had always wanted to live in the country and in 2010, we purchased our first rural property in the Lower Hunter, NSW.... it was the best decision that we ever made.

An Australiana inspired timber slab constructed home set amongst 20 acres and blessed with an amazing meandering creek line. It inspired us to name our property, 'Akuna' .. traditional aboriginal name for running waters. The previous owners, at the age of 60, built the home and regenerated the land by planting over 4,000 native plants. We benefited from their 12 years of hard work and love. We continued to be amazed by the native flora and fauna on the property. We also loved the regular visits from native wildlife, especially the Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos. 

What started as a weekender quickly became a place that we wanted to call home. It was nice to escape the fast paced world to enjoy the simple things in life. We found it extremely difficult to leave each week at the end of the 4 days.

Our time at Akuna has opened our eyes to a whole new world and to what is possible once you let go of your fears. It also provided an environment to create my own range of Australian Made products.

In 2014, we sadly sold 'Akuna' to allow us to be in a financial position to exchange our corporate lives with the possibility of starting our own businesses. So far so good. I'm so pleased that we took that step and now enjoy a balance of consultancy and creative work.

We do miss 'Akuna' but life is a journey and this is our next chapter. 

I was gifted a new Olympus camera by Mr B at the beginning of the year for my birthday. 

It's time to put my camera to good use, so today I take the next step in starting a journal #ayearbeindthelens  ... 

Jodie x

www.fairweatherdesign.com.au