Journal
Welcome to the behind-the-scenes of Studio Van Low. This is where is keep track of things I’m eating, learning, making or contemplating (and there’s even some archival posts from my blog The Monday Issue RIP 2009-2019). Make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy browsing!
Rating Things I Bought for the Packaging (Asian Grocery Edition)
The Asian grocery store is one of my favourite places to find design inspiration. From colour combinations and layouts, to illustration styles to packaging materials, there’s always something that piques my interest.
Everything I got from the IKEA x Raw Color TESAMMANS collaboration
Along with colour-blocking enthusiasts the world over, I was utterly drawn to IKEA’s latest collaboration with Dutch design duo Raw Color.
Rummaging Archives: State Library of NSW 1970s Fashion
One of my favourite things to do is browse museum, gallery and library archives - they’re great for design inspiration, local history, or simply feeding my curiosity.
Ta Ta For Now (Closing My Shop)
My two shop streams (Found by Van Low and my candles) have given me so much joy but it’s time for my next chapter…
Things I Love On The Internet No.3
A few things on the web that I can’t help but share: IKEA Archives, Meeting Sofie, Mahjong tiles, and Pinterest predictions.
Interview with Creative Women’s Business
I was so honoured to be interviewed by Creative Women’s Business! Have a read to find out what inspires me, what I do in a creative rut, how my career began and the one app I can’t live without.
My Candle-Making Journey: lessons, experiments, choices, fails, and successes
When I started candle-making, a lot of things made sense: colour combinations, experimenting with shapes, crafting things by hand with love. However, I learnt a lot of things the hard way…
All My Packaging (So Far)
It’s been just a couple of months since I launched Found by Van Low / my online shop of curated vintage homewares. Aside from the process of sourcing, cleaning, styling, photographing and listing the objects online, one of my favourite things has been organising the packaging.
Things I Love On The Internet No.2
A few things on the web that I can’t help but share: Menu Archive from the New York Public Library; The Dispatch newsletter from At Claude’s; and Winona Ryder’s photographs of Winona her hometown.
Design Discovery: John Hinde’s 1960s-70s postcards of Butlin’s holiday resorts
The aesthetic of 1960s and 1970s design is some of my favourite - the colours, typography, shapes and overall kitsch-factor are like sugar to my eyes.
My Guide to the Southern Highlands of NSW, Australia (updated July 2020)
Just a few hours from Sydney and filled with small town charm, antiques and scrumptious pastries, this array of villages is full of personality and makes for a perfect day-trip out of Sydney.
Things I Love On The Internet No.1
A few things on the web that I can’t help but share: Window Swap; Liziqi; Céline Sciamma; Céline Sciamma and Bong Joon Ho; and Sharon Choi
Ellery Spring/Summer 2012/2013
From the archives: a few of my favourite photos from when I shot Ellery’s S/S 2012/2013 show. It feels like a lifetime ago but I would still love to wear these silhouettes; a perfect balance of construction and softness.
The wine bar with the insanely good food (don’t get me wrong, the wine is good too!)
I don’t think the term “wine bar” really suits Poly; it’s almost rude to not give the food some more attention.
Recent donuts
The Sydney donut scene is rather excellent at the moment – lots of variety and something new seems to be popping up all the time. Here are a few recent circular-shaped, baked goods I’ve enjoyed!
Book Review: ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ by Gail Honeyman
I rarely buy books in airports – they’re tempting but bulk. But flipping through Elenaor Oliphant is Completely Fine in the airport bookstore had me instantly hooked.
‘The Essential Duchamp’ at the Art Gallery of NSW
The new exhibition The Essential Duchamp at the Art Gallery of NSW gives an overview of the artist’s entire career – from early landscape paintings through to his final artwork that he kept hidden for the last 20 years of his life.
Recipe: Chocolate Chunk Meringue Cake
I recently made meringue for the first time and was very delighted by how straightforward and delicious it turned out, so thought I’d share the recipe.
January Favourites
A few things that make personal care more indulgent including a fragrance, hair clips and two skin oils.
Art Destination: irreverent & anti-establishment art mecca MONA
Since it opened in 2011, I haven’t stopped hearing about how I just had to go to the Museum of Old and New Art (aka MONA) in Tasmania, like it was the best thing since #bubbletea. I felt like I was the last person who hadn’t yet visited this art mecca and now that I’ve been, I get it.