Are diamonds still a girl's best friend?

Diamonds have always been regarded as "a girl's best friend"...however, there seems to have been a resurgence in pearls of late, particularly in France and here in Australia...  I've always been a lover of jewellery...I love the permanence of jewellery, it is not a transient thing that you can wear out, although it can be fashionable and it can also be altered to suit new ideas.  Which do you prefer diamonds or pearls?  Perhaps you are a lover of precious stones...I would really like to hear your comments on this.

There is no doubt there are some very talented Australian jewellers and one of my favourites is the girl from Narrabri in New South Wales...Jan Logan...here

 Images - Black  & White Diamonds & Pearls - Jan Logan 

I first met Jan when she moved her first store from Royal Arcade to Close Street in Double Bay...there she was hands on setting up the window display, hard at it, as I assume she still is.  Jan Logan's story is an interesting one...after raising her three sons, she went to work for the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce and the President of the Chamber of Commerce was the town's main jeweller and she spent a lot of time in his shop, helping with designs and ideas.  Eventually she was offered a 20 per cent partnership and that was her start in the jewellery business.  Jan had great foresight with travelling around in her car with her designs, exhibiting at various towns and having her sights set on having her own business.  Jan eventually moved to Sydney in the 1980's and opened her first store in Royal Arcade in Double Bay in 1987 and from that beginning there has been a huge expansion...here

Image - Diamond Earrings - Jan Logan

In 1996 Jan was joined by her youngest son, Angus, who is now the managing director of Jan Logan...and their success means obviously they make a very good pair.  Jan believes that the feel of what they do is young and directional, but their pieces retain a classic quality that will stand the test of time...here

 Images - Pearls - Jan Logan

Jan Logan has over the last twenty years evolved into an international brand and it seems only fitting that Jan is now designing jewellery for the stars. Many international actresses including Naomi Watts, Jennifer Lopez, Rose Byrne and Joan Chen wear Jan's unique designs. Jan is also a great supporter of Australian fashion design and has contributed to the parades of Australia's finest designers, including Collette Dinnigan and Akira Isogawa...Her vast array of designs are on her website including Jan Logan shop online...here

Images - Diamonds & Semi Precious Stones - Jan Logan

Enjoy shopping or browsing...Wendy

Spring flowers...sunshine and happiness...and a good florist

Don't you just love spring...everyone seems so much happier when the sun shines, although here in Melbourne it has been a little up and down...however, there is nothing better than all the lovely flowers coming into the florists and one of my very favourites is Flowers of Canterbury in Maling Road, Canterbury...here.

This lovely shop was taken over by Cobi Mastenbroek in April 2010...Cobi is a most delightful young lady who is most helpful and has wonderful customer service.  Cobi started working in a florist in Tecoma after school and on weekends before starting a floristry apprenticeship at the age of 18...then going on to work and manage shops around Melbourne until she could save enough money to have her own dream shop...and this is it,  Flowers of Canterbury...here

The shop had been a florist for over 40 years and had fallen into a rather run down state when Cobi saw it...snapped it up..changed it dramatically into a more welcoming eclectic feel by collecting old wooden boxes, typewriters and crystal vases.  As you can see from the images, Cobi has a different slant on how to arrange flowers...I just love these wedding bouquets...the arrangement of flowers are so different, and yet somehow she brings in some rather old fashioned plants, like these lovely lambs' ears in the bouquet below...and the eclectic wedding arrangement...see more here

The whole process of building the store and inviting the locals into the journey has resulted in the beautiful seasonal garden it is today.  Cobi travels out to Monbulk twice a week for purchasing flowers from growers and wholesalers and also has daily deliveries from other growers.  Have a look at this beautiful wrist corsage...so pretty for a young girl going to her first formal perhaps...here

Cobi has some exciting ideas, refreshingly different.  I particularly like her collection of arrangements for occasions, and the one that's coming up very, very soon Christmas...have a look at her wonderful ideas and I would recommend you visit her shop very soon...here

So much excellent detailing in this wedding table

Traditional Christmas colours     A delightful detail on this umbrella

See more beautiful arrangements...here 

Flowers of Canterbury, Maling Road, Canterbury


Images by Flowers of Canterbury

10 Piece Swing Band...Queenscliff Town Hall...This Saturday

Are you at a loss this weekend and don't have anything planned?  Why not have a look at this event...Here's a great way to soak up some good swing music, visit an historic town and help raise money for the local museum.

Image - CD - Red Hot Rhythmakers

Jazz Australia is hosting a Dinner Dance this Saturday night 6 October at the Queenscliff Town Hall with the fabulous 10 piece Michael McQuaid's Red Hot Rhythmakers.  This celebrated ten piece swing band in the style of Glen Miller, Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman perform the tunes that made those bands so famous.  

Image - Red Hot Rhythmakers 

The Rhythmakers is full of great jazz musicians who impressed Graeme Bell to such an extent that he chose them out of the whole of Australia for his Farewell Concert at Scotch College a few years ago.  They are very popular in Melbourne with swing dancers but for this unique Queenscliff Museum event, they will play for a listening audience as well, and happily cater for those who are not interested in tripping the light fantastic any longer!  So you do not need to dance to enjoy this evening of great swing music...here

This is a major fund raiser for the Queenscliff Museum and they do need your support...You don't need a whole table, share one with others who enjoy the same music and want to support the Queenscliff Historic Museum... Tickets are $55 BYO a plate of finger food and a bottle or two; 7pm start, so please do consider this special event and help a very worthy local cause.  Bookings and inquiries to Diana it's not too late to book...here

Just in case you are looking for somewhere to stay...now that you've decided to spend the weekend at Queenscliff...here's a couple of lovely places...The Vue Grand...The Queenscliff Hotel...both very good and there's always the quick cheap deals at the last minute you may be able to take advantage of...

Image - Queenscliff Hotel                                             Image - Vue Grand 

Bookings Saturday 6 October Dinner Dance...Jazz Australia

I hope you can enjoy a night with the Swing Band...Wendy