Posts in Workshop
Noel en Juillet !

Hello everyone...

I'm Leigh and I'm an introvert!

I'm not talking about being shy or a loner.  What I am talking about is the need to recharge my batteries by turning inwards - having time on my own to relax, think and dream.  No talking.  No phones.  No plans.  Just me.  My social threshold is far lower than those bubbly extroverts out in the world, and even though I enjoy socialising, and I'm definitely not shy, I'm usually one of the first to say au revoir.

Today, I put my introverted self on hold.

Today I sapped up inspiration, knowledge and just utter loveliness in abundance by being surround by wonderfully talented and like-minded women.

Read More
The Parisian Kitchen !

I have a crush.  A big fat one.  I have a crush on the most beautiful apartment in all of Paris.  A crush on the delicious food we created in that beautiful apartment.  And a big big crush on the gorgeous Benedicte who runs the lovely cooking school (which is the reason why I cooked the delicious food in the beautiful apartment) known as The Parisian Kitchen .  I even love the name.

Read More
Camellia Fiber Company

Rebekka is from Nashville Tennessee.  She is the wonderful, talented lady behind Camellia Fiber Company and one of the hosts at the Slow Living Workshop.

And what a workshop it was.

Throughout the days we worked on our styling, photography and visual story telling.  We ate!  We spoke about building a portfolio and creating a social media presence (something I personally run from).  We ate some more.  And in between all of the styling, photography and eating, we delved into the natural dye process with Rebekka using local, foraged plants and flowers to brighten rustic kitchen linens - something I'd never heard of before but feel in love with......

Read More
Food for Thought: Strawberries

That wonderful fruit we call the strawberry.  

Filled with antioxidants, they have amazing anti-inflammatory properties helping prevent chronic illnesses caused by excessive inflammation in the body.  This includes cardiovascular disease, heart disease and several types of cancer.  They help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and help improve your blood sugar regulation by stopping blood sugar spikes, leaving you feeling energized and full, and not tired and hungry like most sugars do.

Does this mean they counteracted the sugary goodness that lay peacefully underneath them in this tart?

Read More
Katie Marx Flowers + Butterland

Katie is a forager and a florist.  She is the talent behind Katie Marx Flowers and she is the owner (along with husband Greg) of the mind-blowing beauty that is Butterland - our home base for the Slow Living Workshop.

Based in the Victorian country town of Newstead, Butterland was the perfect place to feel inspired from the inside out.  Katie's flower arrangements were the cherry on top and her outfit made me feel I had one foot in Paris and the other in the Australian countryside.

Two of my favourite things!

Read More
Styling with Local Milk !

Food Styling, I've just discovered, is actually a foreign concept to me.  Go figure?

I cook a dish, I photograph it, and then I devour it.

The problem with this little method of mine, for me personally, is that I'm usually so hungry by the photographing stage that I give no time to styling the shot or developing the story.  I simply take a few quick snaps and Bob's your uncle.  Voila!

Thank God this workshop and Beth came into my life .  Not only is this simple little step so necessary, it also puts the biggest smile on my face.  I'm a long long way away from producing anything even vaguely close to Beth's level, but that's ok.  I figure the journey so far is what has brought me inquisitively to this point in time, and I've loved every minute of it!

Read More
"THE" Pie !

I have that wonderful Nina Simone song playing over and over in my head.... Tomorrow is My Turn.

And in particular, the line "We all like the right to find the key to success".  It's a theme that's been personally turning around in my head for a little while now and I can tell you with complete and utter certainty that the talented people behind the catering company Fig and Salt have already found it.

This pie was my proof!

Read More
Slow Living: A Practical Workshop

A day back in August was the day I almost peed myself with excitement as I'd booked into a the Slow Living:  A Practical Workshop being hosted by one of my favourite food styling photographers....Beth Kirby of Local Milk.

Do you remember?

You can just imagine that if I was that excited just booking the ticket, what I was like packing the car and taking off to the Victorian countryside to get started.

I was in a state of pure bliss from the bear hug I received from Luisa Brimble (fellow host and photographer extraordinaire) on first arriving, to the mouthwatering Welcome Dinner organised by Local Gatherings, to the prop table filled from top to bottom with items that set my heart fluttering, right through to the very last photo I snapped two days later.  I didn't want it to ever end.

Read More