All posts by Gem Camille : BLACKBIRD

YES PLEASE | all i want for christmas

YESPLEASE | christmas

We are well and truly on the final countdown, christmas is knocking at the door and I am answering. All the gifts we are giving this year are handmade, we are trying a more thoughtful christmas. But a girl can make a list of nice things to leave out for her husband to see still cant she?

Well this is mine

For the unruly mane | SANS ( CEUTICALS ) BALANCING HAIR WASH from Tonic Room

For the summer siesta | CEREMONY SILK CUSHION from Let Liv

For snipping & sewing | THREAD SNIPPER BY DARUMA from Astute Assembly

For slipping & sliding | COMMONERS UNISEX SLIDE from Guilty As Sin

For hanging & gazing | MARTA BUDA WALL HANGING from Marta Buda

For more summer siestas | BEDOUIN SOCIETE LINEN from Indie Collective

For clippings & cuttings | SERAX COLOURED TERRACOTTA POTS from Father Rabbit

For no reason required | BONNIE UNDERWIRE BRA from Lonely Hearts

For the salads & sliders | SIDE PLATES from Holly Houston

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

YES PLEASE | may lindstrom honey mud from tonic room

Title TONIC ROOM IMG_9865IMG_9888

PRODUCT | May Lindstrom Skin – The Honey Mud, from Tonic Room

  Around this time every year, after a long winter and the onset of baring all for summer, there is nothing my skin needs more than a little love and hydration. And May Lindstrom’s – The Honey Mud does exactly that.

I chose to use it as a masque, but it can also be a daily gentle cleanse. I am always up for a good mask, when life gets a little crazy there is nothing like soaking in the tub with a masque to bring you back.

It’s ‘pudding’ like texture goes on like, well, delicious velvety face pudding really. And the smell is incredible. Honey, Cocoa, a little sweet orange and vanilla with a hint of juniper too. Wild harvested in the unsprayed, unfertilised Michigan wildflower fields. How could you not want that on your face? The aroma alone leaves you feeling fresh and relaxed. Because of it’s natural content and its organic nature, Its not harsh. It doesn’t ravage your face to give it a ‘glow’ it gently nuzzles in saying ” hey skin, I believe in you, lets work together. ” The end result, refreshed, soft and smelling pretty tasty.  Plus once you have used it all up you have a beautiful, heavy amber container to  re-use. Win win.

The may lindstrom skin – The Honey Mud is available at Tonic Room online and in-store at 465 New North Road, Kingsland. 

 Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

* This post is in partnership with Tonic Room

MAKE IT | shibori furoshiki wrapping

SHIBORI FUROSHIKI WRAPPING blackbirdblog TITLE

Each year I do a wrapping DIY, I am a wrapping addict, I seriously love it. Last year I made paint splatter wrapping but this year, keeping in theme of both a more sustainable christmas, and my continuing obsession with Indigo, I decided to make Shibori Furoshiki wrapping!

Furoshiki is a traditional wrapping used to wrap and transport everything from clothes to wine. There are so many ways to wrap, but I chose the basic wrap.

Shibori Furoshiki BLACKBIRD BLOG

For the shibori, I once again used linen fabric, ripped into 40cm x 68cm rectangles ( traditionally Furoshiki is around 68cm x 68cm ) Then using the same dye and technique as my Shibori Wreath I tied each one differently. One in a ring pattern, simply bunch up a small wad of fabric anywhere on your larger fabric piece, and place a rubber band around it. The areas covered by the rubber bands will create small, abstract rings of white. One in a line pattern, bunching the fabric horizontally, then binding every 5cm. One with an accordion fold then binding, and One pleating and stitching every 10cm. But you can choose whatever technique you want. I also left some plain, using the dregs of the dye for a light shade. Once again letting them to dry in the shade, and finally ripping into squares.

IMG_9709 IMG_9723IMG_9741

I wrapped following these simple Furoshiki instructions, It is such a great way to give a gift, it feels luxurious and thoughtful, plus they then have a piece of unique fabric to do with as they please!

Happy Wrapping!

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

Backyard Fire Pit for Homestyle

IMG_8553 IMG_8508 IMG_8523 IMG_8528 IMG_8537

Squabs and Throw Cushions made by me, Fabric from The Fabric Store | Festoon Lights available from Flux Boutique | Paint is Blue Bark by Resene | Palm leaf and leather cabin luggage and Acacia round chopping board both from Paper Plane | Leather Moroccan pouf from Let Liv | Lime and Coconut soy candle from J.Danes MAKER | Palm available from Paradise Palms, Hawkes Bay | Plywood Crate from The Ply Guy | Enamel Mugs from Father Rabbit

It is warming up by the day here in the Hawkes Bay, so having a little spot to sit outdoors is  a must have. And although there are plans for a deck, they are on the horizon still. So in the meantime we focused on the awkward little corner in the back, creating a little spot to sit in the morning warmth and somewhere to toast marshmallows over once the sun goes down. With a few simple ideas and a bit of muscle we made one of our favourite ‘rooms’ in the house.

For the ‘how-to’s’ grab a copy of the latest Homestyle Magazine.

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature