Hazel Loves Design in 2013

I have recently come to realise, that although I am super busy in the real world, I haven't been sharing all of the things I have been doing often enough on the blog. So today, I thought I'd start telling you about some of the great initiatives I am involved with this year.

Sharing indie design of the kiwi flavour with our friends across the ditch, care of the fabulous Gallop Lifestyle blog. Annie is a fabulous advocate of new and emerging designers, I loved her webstore and was always proud to see the mentions in local magazines! I feel proud to be able to showcase the work of our nation on this gorgeous decor site!

I'm also involved in helping to launch 'Around the Table - Blogger's Connecting'. So excited to be a part of this weekend and can't wait to meet the other sixty bloggers who will also be there!! If you aren't already registered, you should definitely check out their website ASAP, I think there may be three spots left?

As part of 'Around the Table', Hazel Loves Design is involved in bringing together 'Craft Love Festival' our first ever indie design market here in Christchurch!! Super excited, just as you should be!! Check out the event page on Facebook for more information!! I really do hope that you all can come!!

On a personal level, I am only one assignment away from finishing my 'Diploma of Interior Design'... PHEW! That feels like it has been a long time coming, hoping to have it finished by the end of the week, and then I'll finally be able to start on the task of launching our online emporium! 

We are planning on making the online emporium a showcase of some of New Zealand's favourite indie designers, with the goods being shipped direct from the maker's studio to your home. Stay tuned for loads more details!! - If you are a designer interested in being involved, we would also absolutely LOVE to hear from you: hazellovesdesign@yahoo.com

Not to mention it looks like 'Pay It Forward', the co-operative store that will be launching in Mairehau is pretty close to getting its' funding, so won't be long until you can get a taste of all the fabulous Cantabrian designers in one place!

Of course we are also still chugging along with Hazed Magazine, if you haven't already, you really must check it out! Such a great way to celebrate the makers here in the isle of the long white cloud.

So, that is what we are up to, alongside being a Mum and working full time! Phew, makes me tired just thinking about it all!! 

What are your plans for 2013? And how are you going with reaching your goals? 

{Kiwi Touch...} Hazel Loves Design

My younger sister brought it to my attention that I haven't been showing enough of 'Me' on the blog recently, and... she's right!! Today I thought I would share my own personal 'Kiwi Touch' interview and enlighten you about the voyage that my mind has been making recently...

Right now I am... 

Clicking on... PINTEREST! Ever since getting an iPhone it has become my go-to App! I can't get enough, and those who follow have probably noticed increased activity in your newsfeeds! 

Following... There are so many small up and coming sites that I love following, Rock 'n' Rosie is a newbie on Facebook and a great example of the type of sites I love watching evolve.

Thinking about... There are too many exciting things coming up that I can't stop thinking about! Jellybean's second birthday party, camping trips away, including a trip to a music festival in the Wairarapa, the bloggers summit in Christchurch, the indie design market I'm helping to organise, the bricks and mortar store we are hoping to have opened soon, the online store I should've launched by now... The list is endless, have way too many thoughts on my mind!

Listening to... Of Monsters and Men, a fabulous indie folk band I originally became aware of them through a television advertisement, of all places! But absolutely loving them!

Saving for... A house! We have had a bit of a splurge lately and don't really want for anything much else! Time to buckle down and get saving for that house. 

Obsessed with... Camping! When we lived in Australia hubby was always on my case to buy a tent and go camping, but I just wasn't keen! No way I was going camping near snakes and spiders! Yuck! But this summer we invested in a nice Kathmandu tent and a Coleman Road Tripper BBQ, so summers ahead can be filled with camping fun! We've just come home from a trip to Lake Tekapo and have a trip to a music festival planned for March. Just trying to find the time to fit another trip away inbetween! 

Reading... I've actually only just finished reading 'Coco and Igor' a story about the love affair between Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky! I love Chanel's legacy so much and it was wonderful to be able to dip my thoughts into her world.

Doing... finalising the last couple of assignments for my Diploma of Interior Design, preparing the Autumn edition of Hazed and thinking about all the things I should be doing to prepare for the multitude of projects I am embarking on this year!

Excited about... 2013! Seriously! I said to my husband earlier today 'Great things are going to happen this year' and I honestly believe that to be the truth!

Are you keen to do a Kiwi Touch interview? Get in touch: hazellovesdesign@yahoo.com x

{Wardrobe Wednesday...}

This is my very first attempt at Wardrobe Wednesday, and hopefully the first of many! 

I felt ultra cute in this dress and it was perfect weather for wearing it, loving the Canterbury summer! 

So Jack, what do you think?

The dress is a Lauren Conrad (via Ebay), Sandals from Wild Pair... they have a glittery surface, Sunglasses are Marc by Marc Jacobs (via Post Christmas Sales) and bracelet Pandora (via the Christmas Tree... thanks Hubby!)

Merry Christmas To All....

As write this everyone is sleeping it is the quiet before the storm that will be Christmas Day, Jellybean is too little to understand what awaits him this morning, I'm the one filled with anticipation and excitement! I feel like a child once again!

The stocking we had made for Jellybean by Uku Chic

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Wishing your family a safe journey with many happy memories! 

I have been exhausted lately, apparently I have been putting too many eggs in my basket! Constantly teetering on the border of absolute exhaustion can not be good for the soul. So I have decided to exile myself from the online world until the middle of January. 

Both the blog and Facebook will be completely silent, although I am sure there will still be some activity on Twitter and Instagram. I doubt I could maintain complete online excile for such an extended period of time, so I won't promise to do so!  

Thank you all for making Hazel Loves Design and Hazed such a fabulous success. I can't wait to see how much more it is going to grow and evolve in 2013 and I definitely can't wait to take you all along on the journey too! Miss you already xo

Santa Claus is coming to town....

My gift from Holly

On Thursday night the gorgeous Deb of Works In Progress hosted the Christchurch bloggers in her home for Secret Santa. Juliet and Miriam helped to organise the event.

Our Santa gifts were required to be no more than $10 and preferably handmade or thrifted. I made the lovely Hannah of 'Lost Seamstress' fame a punk-inspired snow globe (which was a mini-disaster) and gave a pair of Marc Jacobs earrings.

Holly of 'Holly May B' made me a gorgeous stash of crochet goodies, the crochet pet rock (or paperweight) is sitting on my desk at the day job! I'm sure you will all agree that she is one super talented lady!

The evening was such a fabulous occasion and a joyous opportunity to meet some talented Christchurch bloggers. 

My gift to Hannah

Although with so much chit chat going on around me I did come to realise how exhausted I have been feeling lately, and how even an event that I would normally enjoy and flourish through was making me feel like the shy-timid teenage version of myself. 

I'm not sure where the brave chatty Hazel has gone! But I do wish she would come back!! I'm such an introvert that I really have to work had to have confidence, and when I am tired I really do struggle. I hope people don't think that it is because I'm not enjoying myself! 

I am looking forward to many more blogging events in the future. And really appreciating the opportunity to bridge the gap between online and real world. 

Do you have a personality trait that you find can be challenging? And, have you met any of your blogging contacts in the real world?

My wardrobe epiphany....

Bringing sexy back...

I recently decided to overhaul my wardrobe I have been trying in vain to do this for a number of months, but with spring in the air I got up the courage to do it good and proper. There is something about a good ol' fashioned purge that makes me smile, colleagues of mine can attest to this. (I have been known to visit a messy desk whilst someone is away and clear it out!!!) However this cleanse was a little different as it was time to get rid of the pre-baby clothes and relinquish the fact that not only has my body changed since pre-pregnancy, pre-baby but so too has my outset on life. 

I no longer have a need for those slinky clothes that I used to wear when I'd tot around Brisbane city on a Saturday night. After all, how many cocktail dresses does a girl need when living in Christchurch? It's not like we can wear them all year round, and when we do go out, it is more likely to be for dinner and a cocktail, and sadly due to the lack of inner-city night life, not cocktails and a 3am souvlaki! 

Case in point, my most expensive pair of pants, a $450 pair of Sass and Bide midnight black shiny denim dream jeans, used to look to die for when prancing around the night life! Sadly they no longer fit my post-baby body, and it is not that I can't get my body back to it's pre-baby shape, its that I don't want to, I no longer wish to be a waif thin bean pole, and I am happy with the curves and not the hip bones. Thank you very much. 

But these pants have left me in a conundrum, on a cost per wear basis they are still awfully expensive. But, do I really need to hold onto things that no longer fit the new 'me' both in size and in personality! And the answer is.. no way, jose. Time to sell them on Trademe.

Now my wardrobe is a colour co-ordinated array of clothes, admittedly a lot of black with whites, greys and a sprinkling of colour - mostly in accessories. There is something about black and the ease with which I can mix and match it that draws me to the colour like a moth to a flame. It wasn't always this way, but with a goober-filled toddler on the loose one can never be sure of how many outfit changes may be needed in a day!

It was once suggested to me that an interior designer should look in ones wardrobe to determine how to decorate ones home. In my case I'm hoping that means a monochromatic manhattan penthouse, and not a gaudy gothic inspired faux-chateau! 

Have you had an epiphany whilst cleaning out your wardrobe? 
What colour dominates your wardrobe?

Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary!!

Hubby and I were married on 10th October 2010, so I thought today I would share a couple of pictures from the archives....

Wordless Wednesday...

Normally, I don't often share images of my life, but I promise to start doing a better job of this, this week I have been spending some time making sure the gifts under our Christmas Tree look stunning, what do you think of my job so far?

We've used ribbon, gold ornaments, brown paper and so far only one roll of wrapping paper. 

How is your Christmas journey coming along?