The Brown Paper Book

Goodies

kerentravels — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:54:01 +0000

I have discovered that when your family knows you well, and you drop a few (less than subtle) hints, you end up with some delightful treasures on Christmas day.Very spoilt.

1. Second Skin, by India Flint — inspiring New Year’s resolutions to shop ethically and wear more natural fibres. 2. Vintage collar box. 3. Vintage Enamel jug. 4. Saplings, by Noel Streatfeild — to add to the Persephone collection. 5. Housewife Superstar, by Danielle Wood — the fascinating life story of Marjorie Bligh. 6. Hand-painted mug, from Whittard of Chelsea. 7. Beautiful cotton quilt cover by Mercer + Reid. 8. Seafolly bikini from their La Bella Vita range (only mine is in a lovely indigo blue).

Tasmania

kerentravels — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:48:37 +0000

I probably couldn’t have asked for a more naturally beautiful start to the year — from the many talented bands at the Falls Festival in Marion Bay to the isolated beaches of the Bay of Fires. Pinot noir, local cheeses and an array of seafood were the culinary highlights. A very sick sister was the definite low light. We pitched tents and packed the car more times than we cared to. We ate way too many Zappos. We drove through quaint, historic villages. We stumbled upon an echidna. The sun was scorching hot, the water icy cold. The roads were windy. So very windy. But they afforded the most amazing views. A beautiful place for a summer holiday.

The Weekend Before Christmas

kerentravels — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:08:04 +0000

The house is getting noisier. In a good way. There are more plates around the dinner table. There are fewer empty beds. And today is meant to be the day. When all eight of us are under the same roof to share the same meal. Four months, I think, since the last time. So the coming days will be special. And just a little bit crazy.

Naturally Festive

kerentravels — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:13:47 +0000

Adding a little nature to my wrapping and decorating…A pretty dried flower or grass tucked under some festive string works beautifully against some simple recycled brown paper. I’m also enjoying bowls of miniature pinecones and nuts in their shell for their lovely shapes and textures. And for the satisfaction of cracking nuts with a nutcracker, which is one of those things that feels like Christmas to me.

Festive Inspiration

kerentravels — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:20:35 +0000

Tonight I weighed the currants, sultanas, raisins and mixed peel for my Christmas cake — pouring over 3 generous tablespoons of brandy for it to soak in overnight. I then discovered that the December issue of Country Living magazine had arrived in the post, full of beautiful Christmas giving, decorating and cooking ideas. The Christmas issue of Inside Out magazine is also providing some more Australian flavoured Christmas inspiration, along with various online shops and many blogs. Oh, I do love this time of year!

Presents from Father Rabbit

Hamper by Valley & Norfolk

When wrapping isn’t necessary, add a festive note to your gift. Seen on What Katie Ate

Foodie gifts, by What Katie Ate

The brandy and the dried fruit

Baubles, from Toast

The Baking List

kerentravels — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:37:39 +0000

Why do we always want what we can’t have? In England I baked crazy–stupid amounts of banana bread, because none of the local cafes could sell me a slice. And when Cyclone Yasi hit QLD, turning bananas into luxury items, I dreamt of having enough bananas to bake into bread. I’d forgotten about these yearnings to bake banana bread until recently, when my friend Becka, (who helped me digest many of those loaves of banana bread in England) asked me for my banana bread recipe. I realised that I hadn’t even thought of baking for quite a while.

I write this sitting at my kitchen bench, (not quite as poetic as “in my kitchen sink”, but much more practical) at twenty to eleven on a Thursday night, waiting for my chocolate fudge cake to finish cooking in the oven. The rich, 72% cocoa chocolate of the icing I have just licked from the Kenwood whisk lingers in my mouth (this is quite possibly the best chocolate icing I’ve made). And I remember — I love to bake.

Thanks for reminding me Bex, and happy baking! xx

I have What Katie Ate to thank for this delicious chocolate icing. The cake is cooling — I’m very excited to try a piece tomorrow night and celebrate the birthday of a best friend.

My Banana Bread Recipe:

Sift one cup of plain flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, one teaspoon of bicarb soda, a quarter of a teaspoon of salt and one teaspoons of ground cinnamon into a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream 125 grams of butter and one cup of brown sugar. Add two lightly beaten eggs and the seeds of a vanilla pod (or a teaspoon of vanilla paste or essence) and beat until well combined. Add 3 medium bananas, mashed. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture alternatively with a quarter of a cup of buttermilk or natural yogurt (you can also use milk with a tiny squeeze of lemon, or just plain old milk) Bake at 180 degrees in a loaf tin for about 50 mins, or until cooked. Serve warm from the oven with extra butter, or toasted the next day.

My banana bread recipe is an adaptation of Tessa Kiros’ in Apples For Jam. But I’d like to try this variation (pictured) by Heidi Swanson: Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread

I also can’t go past bills coconut bread

Looking forward to trying this one. Cocoa Layer Cake with Blackberries and Marscarpone Cream on Sprouted Kitchen

Feathers

kerentravels — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:25:04 +0000

I remember finding feathers fairly often as a schoolgirl — in the playground, walking home from school, at the park. Given my current love for feathers, it would be quite nice to find a few now. Except I don’t find feathers quite so easily anymore. Do we have less birds? Do I spend less time wandering outside? Or maybe I just don’t look for things like I used to…

Lisa Madigan

Inspired By This

Lisa Madigan

Jesse Leake / Inspired By This

Lisa Madigan

Sleeping In

kerentravels — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:50:34 +0000

These lovely cushions can be found on some of my favourite online stores, and are perfect for a Saturday morning lie in. shelf / life also sell some very fluffy cushion inserts that also happen to be very ethical — made here in Australia from recycled PET bottles (and only $12 each). Perhaps time to get your craft on and make your own designer cushion?

Happy weekend. xx

Squirrel Cushion at shelf / life

Feather Cushion at shelf / life

Dove Grey Pillowcases at Father Rabbit

Feather Cushion at Follow Store

Crochet Cushion at Toast

Bottles Half Full

kerentravels — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:42:00 +0000

Nature’s beauties — from cultivated carnations to the stalks of a parsley plant that had gone to seed — sit in bottles around my room, surprising me with their longevity and mood-lifting abilities.

Saturday

kerentravels — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:50:05 +0000

Hanging my mirror on the wall.

Mango and peach.

Blueberries and strawberries.

Finally printing out some photos of Europe.

Missing the faces and places in these photos.

The Kooks.

The Jezabels.

Sewing.

And Esther’s funny little wave to me as I drive up the street.

Making me smile.