sakura bloom sling diaries - style

As we travelled from the mainland to the island we slipped on extra layers to keep warm. I wore Poet in the sling; she was cosy and she was close. At the airport I wrapped my scarf around her head in lieu of a beanie; multitasking. 

My style is a blend of bohemian maxi skirts and classic French stripes. I wear yoga pants with long tee-shirts, ballet flats and a Mary Poppins bag (minus the lampshade). My wardrobe is a collection of vintage, second-hand, new, and borrowed. I usually wear a draped scarf around my neck; fashionable and practical (a great way to cover dirty little fingerprints). Sometimes I wear red lipstick.

I wear sakura bloom essential linen sling in organic raven/maple

Poet wears red beanie bonnet c/o acorn

Che wears Bergstein Gumboots c/o Fawn & Fox

A big heartfelt thank you to Luisa - photographer extraordinaire, amazing cook, sweetest companion - who travelled the apple isle with us. 

from the apple isle: the maker

Tea-stained autumn leaves have crept into the maker and lie huddled together in corners. The tracks from the old jam factory were uncovered during renovations - plum stones still visible in the earth. A soy candle burns on the front desk - the scent of fresh linen wafting around paper and trinkets.

Too much misspent time in antique stores prompted Leonie Struthers to open the maker two years ago. The aesthetic is inspired by her clothing range - sculptural pieces created from natural fibres - wool, linen, cotton. 

Simplicity reigns supreme here, a neutral colour palette inspires a sense of calm and quiet. Vintage finds sit happily next to hand-crafted bird's nests. Miniature porcelain jugs are lined up on the windowsill. The cash register is a real one, an old one, a ca-ching one.

the maker is small, beautiful and inviting; a showcase of contemporary Tasmanian art. Indeed, the shop is brimming with the handiwork of local craftsmen and women. Leonie refers to them as "the makers." 

If you visit Hobart, you must pop in. You will love it, I promise.  

Photos by Luisa

from the apple isle: hobart

We stumbled into Hobart in a Kia Grand Carnival with 70kg of luggage and two tired children. We had risen at 4.30am that morning, unpacked our suitcase at the airport because it was too heavy, flown across land and sea and completed a plethora of forms at the car rental desk. We were in need of food. And coffee. 

First stop - tricycle cafe & bar. A small and quirky cafe tucked into the Salamanca Arts Centre. There was one table that was big enough for us. It was taken. But the lovely lady could see we were in need so without any qualms she offered us her spot and wished us a fabulous stay in Tasmania. I'm pretty sure I declared my love for the apple isle right then and there. Tricycle was gorgeous - cute art prints, a bike with a basket and waitresses in denim pinafores. I delighted in a delicious coffee and the very best roast pumpkin/fetta/walnut paste sandwich I've ever eaten. After the last mouthful of a decadent BLT Daniel declared that he did indeed feel human again. 

We spent a few days in and around Hobart, visiting MONA (apparently it's quite common for people to fly into Hobart for the day just to visit the gallery!), walking through the city streets (dotted with antique stores and cafes) and eating delicious fish & chips at Salamanca. It's a city where sandstone meets the sea; it's small scale with beautiful views and the cleanest, crispest air. 

Here are my must-sees in Hobart - feel free to add your own in the comments section

the maker

a common ground

pigeonhole

caldew park

Che wears beanie by acorn, striped scarf c/o Hoot, orange sneakers c/o Jonah and the Girl, grandpa cardi by seed

from the apple isle: picnic at fat pig farm

The guys from A Common Ground know how to create an unforgettable event (even if they confess to being pretty bad at organising anything). Under the apple trees at Fat Pig Farm we snacked on Southern-Tasmania's best produce while the children climbed apple ladders and filled buckets with pink ladies.

Fat Pig Farm belongs to Matthew Evans - aka the Gourmet Farmer. Days earlier I had the privilege of interviewing him (and Ross and Nick) at Puggle Farm in Cygnet, his home that's so often featured on the tv show. Over tea and apple cake we discussed good food, the people that grow it and the lessons we can learn from them. 

There's no doubt that, as a nation, we are becoming more aware of where our food comes from. But I'd never been in a place quite like Cygnet - where the local IGA Supermarket sold organic milk in a glass bottle and 5kg bags of organic flour. Cygnet has a strong community of artisan food makers and self-sufficient folk, keen to share their knowledge and their produce. As Matthew says: "...they're the people who do things the long way and the hard way....and they do it over and over again until it tastes right. And good." 

Gumboots are a farm necessity - Che wears Bergstein's c/o Fawn & Fox (Sally writes a lovely blog too)

from the apple isle: michelle's home

Before I met Michelle I felt like I knew her. Such is the experience when blogger meets blogger. Michelle and I, we've been reading about each other's lives for years now, commenting on stories, household additions, sweet photographs. If Michelle went through her archives she would probably have at least a hundred comments from me regarding food. You see, she's a food curator and jam maker. She dabbles in cookbook styling and home making. She cooks from the heart for her family and her friends. After years of drooling over her edible creations and her magazine-worthy abode I finally had the opportunity to step into her life, for just a day. 

I'm pretty sure I sighed when I walked into her kitchen. Daniel wasn't quite as subtle: "Oh, I feel like I'm walking into a magazine!" he exclaimed. The Rayburn was fired up, there was apple cake on the table, sourdough on the chopping board and, everywhere I turned, there was a little detail that caught my eye. A collection of beautiful, rustic details that had both practical and aesthetic purpose. She had picked apples from her tree the day before and, earlier that morning, stewed them for Poet to eat. Yes, that's right, my baby snacked on Rayburn toast and applesauce - as you do. 

While the children played, I watched Michelle make plum jam, stirring the fruit in lemon juice while filtered Tasmanian sunlight poured through the windows. Prayer flags hung just outside the door and washing (all those thick wintry socks) dried on the hills hoist. I sat at the table, mentally noting the rhythm of the home while Daniel and Luisa filmed and photographed. 

I adore Michelle. She is beautiful, gentle and wise. She moved to Tasmania with her husband eight years ago, seeking a quieter, simpler life. And she has created just that. I reluctantly left her house that cold, crisp day with an enormous amount of gratitude - it was just so lovely to be invited into her home. 

Being in her space, watching her create and witnessing a snippet of her family life really affirmed for me the beauty in simple living. I'm all inspired now, to walk my family down that path of simplicity where the air is cleaner and the food is so much sweeter. Sure, I'd love to move to that country house with the plum trees and apple orchard - right now - but alas, that won't be happening just yet. Once again, I mentally repeat: bloom where you're planted. 

from the apple isle: journey

We are home - exhausted and inspired. When we bundled into the house late yesterday with our suitcases, stories and jars of homemade jam, we agreed that someday soon we would return to Tasmania. You see, six days is nowhere near long enough. A real holiday is a month - time to settle in, explore and soak in the ambiance. 

Travelling is tiring and travelling with small children is exhausting. I'll put my hand up high and admit that blending work and family was challenging but, as Daniel pointed out, if it wasn't for my career, we wouldn't have been blessed with such a wonderful opportunity. And wonderful it definitely was. The apple orchards were in full bloom, the vistas in both sun and rain were incredibly beautiful. We were deep in the countryside where simple living was priority and subsequently, we returned home with a greater awareness. 

But you know what made this trip so unforgettable? Being welcomed into the warm homes of new friends. Family homes that were achingly beautiful; full of home-grown, homemade and just-baked. Friends that shared knowledge, offered advice and cuddled my children. 

Over the next few days I'll be sharing a little bit more about Tasmania because writing blog posts is far more enticing than unpacking.

Photos taken by photographer and travelling companion Luisa. The setting? Michelle's to-die-for kitchen..more on that (and her) tomorrow.