All posts by Gem Camille : BLACKBIRD

Island Christmas

13.01.14

Okay, Lets start at the start…..updates happening this week, starting with an Island Christmas.

This Christmas we went away. Jumping on a boat to the stunning Waiheke Island. I don’t know why we don’t go there more, either way, best idea ever.

My parents travelled from Whangarei Heads, where I grew up, and the husband and I from Auckland. Unfortunately my two brothers and their babes couldnt make it. One is in Melbourne, the other in New York City. ( I am still scheming a white christmas over there, we will be back NYC, just you wait )

So off we went, to a family batch. Keeping it simple, Ma and I foraged a wreath, ate great food, swum, ate some more, and took the traditional put-the-camera-on-timer-and-run family photos.

Blood fantastic.

Hope your Christmas was merry.
P.s Look at that kid grow!

Until next time

SUMMER CINEMA // DIY

23.12.13

Summertime is here, the New years creeping up fast, And Homestyle and I have the perfect New years eve party for you!

We bring you the backyard movie night!

You will need ::

1 Great backyard
1 large sheet
1 Clothesline
1 projector
Cute invite, You can download HERE
A few palettes
Mountains of blankets and cushions
One brilliant movie
Some great people to share it with!

With you large sheet and clothesline, you have set up your make-shift screen! So just line up the projector, connect it to the computer, and away you go ( I needed my handy computer wizz, but I am sure you are all capable! You can also always depend on Google ) Pop a couple of palettes around the place with cushions and blankets. Snuggle time galore!

And finally, Treats. Ice cream Floats. A bit of trip down memory lane, these are super simple and pretty darn yummy!

You will need ::

Vanilla Ice Cream
Strawberries or summer fruits
Lemonade
Pink Grapefruit Juice
Jars – Mine were from Countdown
Cute Straws – From Collected

First pop in your Ice Cream, then slice in some fruit, pour 1/2 with Pink Grapefruit and then fill up with Lemonade. Cute straw to finish and Bam! Done, So easy!!!

Enjoy your summer! ( Or winter for our Northern Hemisphere friends! )
Keep safe and see you in the New Year!

Follow my summer adventures on Instagram!

Until then!

MAKE IT // Diy wrapping paper

20.12.13

One of my FAVOURITE things in life is wrapping presents.
I am dead serious. I love it. And every year I like to do a new little DIY, almost always involving Kraft paper…This year was no different.

You will need //

White acrylic paint
A jar with a little water
A corse hair paint brush
Brown kraft paper
Scissors and Tape
Your choice of ribbon

Start by laying down a drop-cloth of some sort, your are about to flick paint everywhere, It gets messy.

Once you are ready to go, drop a large dollop of paint in with a couple of teaspoons of water, Mix it up.

Then take your kraft paper, wrap your present.

Then taking your slightly watered down paint, dip your brush in, and start flicking away! You can either flick the whole brush, or just the bristles, they make different patterns!

Then, lay it to dry, it does take a while, so best to do this in advance!

Then wrap with your ribbon! I went for a large tartan this year!

Get to it!

Happy wrapping!

Until next time

RAGS // 16weeks

16.12.13

white shirt // thrifted :: white singlet // made :: white bike shorts : Glassons tights cut off // White Converse // Care of The Husband

Things, they are a changing.

With a new season in life, a new wardrobe has emerged. For those who don’t know, I got the nick name Blackbird by the colour of my wardrobe. Black, head to toe. My favourite. I was all about the textures, not colour.

Now, with the change of season and the impending arrival of The Kid. Changes have moved into the wardrobe. And not a gradual transition, but a swift punch to the face kind of change. I simply put on black on day and said, ” Nope. Not right. ” And in the space of a week I had packed up my black and completely changed to an array of white and grey.

A selection from thrift stores, Stored clothes, cheaper basics and a few sewing afternoons left the bank account relatively happy and me in my new found etherealness.

So there you go. Saying yes to White and Bright. Thanks to The Kid.

And Happy 16weeks little one!

Until next time.

and The Kid.