The Shanghai Dumpling!

Food is such an integral and important part of Chinese culture. (You probably have already guessed this looking at my paintings). Everywhere we looked, people were eating – it was so wonderful to see. Possibly the most perfect takeaway food would have to be the Shanghai Dumpling. Each dumpling is filled with soup and served in it’s own bamboo steamer along with a big straw to drink the soup. There were queues a mile long just to buy these. (Unfortunately, in 35 C heat I didn't feel like queuing for these to try).

High Tea

I know it looks like all we did was eat and drink but we had to try High Tea in Shanghai. Just as good as the original in HK and more inspiration for a new cake painting I think ;)

The Peninsula Lobby

High Tea - finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries.

Dinner & Drinks on the Bund

Dinner at Yi Long Court

Peninsula Rooftop Bar

Enjoying the light show.

The Peninsula Hotel Shanghai

As a thoroughly indulgent & decadent treat, we decided to stay a few days at The Peninsula on the Bund when we were in Shanghai. OMG!! The hotel is an artist's dream, well my dream anyway. It is unbelievably stylish combining Art Deco with Chinoiserie Chic. Everything from the stunning artworks to the carpets to the deco styled bathroom mural has been meticulously thought out. No detail has been left out - we also loved the Nespresso Machine in our room and the spa music/ mood lighting in the bathroom. Enjoy the pics:

top left: our bedroom, detail of vase, tv cabinet, bathroom

top left: the hotel, nail dryer, bathroom mural, toiletries from the Napa Valley

top left: gorgeous flower arrangements, desktop lamp, hallway carpets, swimming pool.

top left: our bedroom, detail of lamp, bernardaud china, rug.

The Hermes Peacock

Found this in the Hermes airport boutique on our way to Shanghai - thought it was a clever idea of displaying their ties. Pity the colours & patterns shown weren't more inspiring....

Hong Kong Pt 3

The many different 'faces' of Hong Kong - from top left clockwise; bonsai trees, knitted tea set at Lane Crawford, Bamboo Scaffolding, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Vase, Monocle Shop and Classified Eaterie.

Hong Kong Pt 2

Hullett House is Hong Kong's newest landmark destination. Formerly the old Marine Police Headquarters on Canton Road, it is now comprises of a boutique hotel, restaurants, bars and performance space for celebrations/ festivals. Whilst beautifully finished, we found it quite difficult to navigate our way through the space. We wanted to have a look at the new hotel but we couldn't find it. I guess they want to keep the riff raff out as there are only 10 suites! We do want to try the Chinese Restaurant for Yum Cha next time as the food and dining room looked wonderful. 

Hong Kong Part 1

Our first day in Hong Kong was fabulous: a wonderful lunch at Lian Restaurant which features a waterlily pond in the middle of the communal dining table!! The chairs also had a built in shelf that you could pull out for your handbag/ backpack etc.

We then spent the afternoon at the HK Museum of Modern Art which was so inspiring, in particular the works of Wu Guangzhong.

The unexpected highlight of the day was catching up with our good friend Amanda who happened to be in HK that night. We had no idea she was here for work until the day before when I got an email from her!! It's so funny how fate brings people together (last week in Melbourne, I literally bumped into an old school friend who I hadn't seen in 20 years).

Hi from Hong Kong!

We're staying with my Aunt and Uncle who are living in the seaside village of Sai Kung, about 45 mins from central. It's very relaxing and quiet here - the perfect antidote to the hustle & bustle of HK!! The locals come here on the weekends for hiking in the surrounding hills and the majority (& less sporty) head down to the waterfront to eat in one of the many seafood restaurants!

We've found the weather hard going - when I say it's hot, it's really hot and humid too! But I can't complain - it's a nice relief to escape the Melbourne winter....

(View from my family's home)

(There are boats everywhere)

(Local waterfront)

(The restaurants have every type of seafood imaginable...)

(ready for you to choose to eat!)

Last Day in Australia

I've been a bit slack this week with posts - sorry! Have had millions of things to do before I go and I've actually got a meeting this morning with a new client. I haven't even packed yet so I'll be doing that this afternoon. I hope I'll be under the baggage limit. See you in Hong Kong.

Skye's the Limit

My good friend Skye Rogers is a very talented and uber accomplished author, illustrator and designer who produces a range of wonderful products (soap, stationery, teatowels, candles etc) under her brand Skyes the Limit. She has her own unique, quirky, romantic, vintage, charming and individual sense of style which is very much like herself.

One of the things I'll miss (when I leave Australia) is catching up with Skye for our weekly bowl of pho. (Pho is a Vietnamese soup with fresh rice noodles, Asian herbs and thin slices of beef served in an aromatic stock). We would talk about everything, show each other what we've been working on and bounce ideas off each other. Hopefully, we'll catch up again in Bali later in the year. Here's some photos of her gorgeous stand in Melbourne.

Melbourne Gift Fair

Earlier this week, I went to the Melbourne Gift Fair to visit friends and clients who were showcasing their new collections there. Here's some of the highlights from the Ashdene Stand:

(My new Magnolia Range)

(Jaipur)

(New Miss Peacock Christmas Mugs)

(New Zodiac Range)

(My talented friend Nicola Cerini)

(Botanical Extraordinaire Jenny Phillips)

Last week in Melbourne.

I can't believe that I'm finally here! Everything has been packed up; either sold or put away in storage and all I have with me are my clothes, some paper and inks ready for our departure Thursday week. It's been a long time since I've felt like I'm stepping leaping off the edge of the cliff into the great unknown but it feels great!!! Don't get me wrong - I have been very happy but I'm ready to do something new and exciting.

M and I feel very lucky that we're both at the same stage of our lives where we're ready to do something different, step out of our comfort zone and follow our dreams. A bit like 'Eat, Pray, Love' but we're still both very happy together and are able to support each other in fulfilling their potential.  We've been talking about this for the past 2 years. We may be away 6 months or 6 years - there is no definite plans. Whatever happens, happens but I think if we didn't do this now then we would regret it later on.

For M, he has had this dream of taking some time off from work and just writing a book. He has never lived overseas before. For me, I want to sketch everyday and paint BIG!!! I'd also love to use my product development experience and work with local artisans to create beautiful products which can support their local communities. And I also want to work on a gorgeous 'coffee table' book which centres around my art, travel, food and heritage.

Our first stop on our trip is Hong Kong where we'll use my Aunt's place in Sai Kung as our base. Then we have a few days booked up in Shanghai to see the Expo then 2 weeks in Phuket. After that, we will go wherever we feel like it. The plan is to first do a reckie around Asia for the first couple of months then we'll choose somewhere we like to stay for a year or so. It'll be a wonderful experience and the plan is that my blog will be like my visual diary!!

Chris xx

Up Up and Away!

My last painting done in Sydney best sums up my current state of life at the moment. I have sold most of my belongings, have packed up house and am ready to start a brand new adventure. Who knows where we will be? I feel so light, optimistic and free!!!

Desk Snapshot

I feel like the studio has been a zoo here - it definitely looks one (a very messy one).

Desk Snapshot - Hoot! Hoot!

I've recently painted my first owls - they're such magical creatures!!!

Desk Snapshot

I can't believe this is my last week in Sydney. I am madly packing up the house this week so there'll be no more painting here in my studio. A bit sad but very excited at the future. I'll be showing some of my latest paintings from the past 2 weeks....

(Each painting begins with a drawn layout)

(cake anyone?)