Bona Drag is my favourite online boutique to browse through, and make mental lists of all the things I'm going to buy when a sudden magical windfall comes my way. I feel like I might shop there exclusively when I'm a successful thirty-something. For now, I'm a barely-surviving twenty-something, so I just look, most of the time.

But what I do get really, really excited about is Bona Drag's lookbooks, especially their ceremonial collections. Last time Bona Drag released a ceremonial collection, I posted about it here. My sentiments remain exactly the same -- this, to me, is how wedding attire should look.

Also, the campaign was shot by Alexandra Valenti who, in my mind and eyes, can do no wrong with an image. And finally, that Pamela rose gold Serpentine necklace... I'm already cataloguing all the drawings and sketchbooks and vintage pieces I can sell off to make payment on that baby.

A sneaky glimpse at things I'm working on for 'Northern', which opens at the Southset gallery and boutique on May 2.

Exciting times // Ramble on

Things I love lately...

1. Collections // Words

2. More collections // More exhibition planning

3. Dreaming about Eden // ... and in illustrative form

4. More words // Finally working on a big, detailed illustration -- it's been ages

5. Street flowers, new rings, drawings // Rad work with Mate Vintage and a painted jacket

6. New prints (here and here) // Collections and gifts

7. Working alone (print available here) // Working with my dad (and his fox-skull gift)

8. Going big and colourful for 'Northern' on May 2

9. Things // Thank yous

10. Collecting, drawing, making // Creating

11. Whiskey visions  (available here) // More of the same

Harley Davidson boots (eBay); Dr Denim jeans; Three Arrows Leather bag; vintage Harley Davidson shirt; Cormac McCarthy – All the pretty horses; Cotton on bra; Howlin’ Wolf necklace; Sportgirl sunglasses; Spell necklace and ring; Rejoice the hands ring; Buffalo Girl leather ring; Tree of life eagle earrings; Posca and Unipin pens; Vintage Zeiss Ikon camera; Pony Gold Wildness art print; All others are vintage/market finds/gifts.

Sometimes it’s a hangover, or a lack of sleep, or I’m just plain discouraged about facing the day, but there are definitely times when I have to hit autopilot in the mornings and gravitate toward my favourite go-to things – boots, jeans, shirt, jewellery – to get me through. 

The comfort of slipping into well-worn boots and jeans is not to be underestimated – especially when you can be sure that said boots are not going to betray you with blisters halfway through a trek across the city. And as for go-to jewellery, I think the secret is buying well-made pieces with quality metals and stones. They’re maybe a little more expensive, but I’ve been carting some parts of my jewellery box around for more than 10 years – so it pays for itself, I like to think.    

So these are the things I have on high-rotation; things that I’m going to wear to death and then despair about replacing for a few months … Also, there's a few favourite books and artworks and plants for good measure. What I didn't realise, though, was that so much of it is black.

But… res ipsa loquitur, I guess.