Red Shoes News

Bonjour Paris!

2011-11-25T20:25:00.001+10:00

I’m back in Paris! It’s summer and I’m searching the city for inspiration.
And the word on the streets is red is very big right now. Of course.
...

Looking at the bustle in the square below ... don't worry I'm holding on tight!

I spring out of bed on this fine Paris morning and pop to the local marché to forage for breakfast items.

Cherry tomatoes and raspberries make a bright breakfast but even better ... buttery boulangerie bounty.

Warming the butter.

Someone medical please!

...

A meditative moment at Place des Vosges in a bosquet of linden trees. I have just learned that a bosquet is a formal garden where the trees are planted so that all their trunks are in a perfect row.

I suddenly feel a bit small and maybe a bit lost. And there's a bit of gravel in my shoe.

Rescued.

...

Lunch - the best chips I've ever tasted.
They're all irregular shapes - a real person chopped up these potatoes.

Extreme espresso adventure.

Red fire engine. Moving with speed and sound.

Arc de triomphe ... wonderful!

Look! A Parisian pigeon.

An interesting sort of creature. Hope to see one whilst I'm here. I think we could be friends.

Is he smiling at me?

I have a good feeling about lunching at the red one.

Little sustenance to keep my red shoes firing along the streets.

Note to me - recurrent red is a particularly good red.

Musée Rodin -

I'm thinking he's done enough thinking.

I'm not sure it's her best day. She doesn't look particularly comfortable.

I think she could do with a cuddle but the security guards disagree.

Rouge RG, Rouge cadmium, Ocre Rouge, Rouge de Cadmium.

I have scarlet fever!

Raspberry jam with violets, pomegranates and a fire-engine red teapot.

Just another little spoonful. May as well - customs won't let it through.

Falling in love with Aotearoa - New Zealand

2010-05-16T18:33:00.012+10:00

It's now been two full weeks since I arrived home from my wanderings around New Zealand and already my red shoes are twitching to return.

I made many new friends on my travels but none so significant as Kevin ... a Kiwi, native to New Zealand, who made the trip back home with me to learn more about the fauna and flora of Australia. It's been exciting having him here but I've noticed he's begun making some soft whimpering noises, which he's done his best to muffle behind a hankie. I think he's homesick for the breathtaking beauty of home. I'm very teary about this but any day he'll be returning in a first class padded bag to his kin and country.

More about Kevin later!

So take a little stroll with me as I retrace our steps through a wonderful ten days ...

April 22nd 2010 - Auckland

Our journey begins in Auckland. What a beautiful city. We ventured out bright and early to pretty Birkenhead to visit Alison at Affirmations NZ HQ. When I saw the red door I knew it was going to be a good day. With some super coffee at the quaint cafe below the office, we mused over new projects and all the fabulous stores selling our products.

April 23rd 2010- Auckland

We've caught the ferry to Waiheke Island and spent several hours hopping and grazing around the gorgeous MudBrick Vineyard.

Feeling terrific on a topiary tree!

Lunch ... just a small florette pour moi.

April 25th 2010 - Christchurch

Here we are in Christchurch on the south island!

Coffee and homemade baked beans at Dose cafe, the girls who work there were particularly friendly to me. I love this artwork on the window.

The River Avon in Christchurch. Just about to go punting on the river. I hear there are enormous eels and trout so Kate has instructed me to keep all fluffy white bits well in the boat. I'm actually very happy snuggled in her bag .... there are very large ducks too!

April 26th 2010 - Christchurch to Greymouth

Meet Kevin the New Zealand Kiwi!

Here we are traversing New Zealand from Christchurch to Greymouth on the TranzAlpine railway.

It's raining and very chilly so I'm giving Kevin extra cuddles.

I've learned that this Kiwi enjoys a mid-morning coffee. He becomes rather animated and talkative afterward.

Keeping warm.

Being close to the ground Kevin misses out on much of the scenery so spends a lot of time seeking higher ground. He's asks so politely ... how could one refuse?!

April 27th 2010 - Franz Josef, Wanaka then Queenstown

Gillespies Beach has cairns all along the beach foreshore. A cairn is a pile of stones created as an art form or memorial. I read the names and messages from people the world over. The ocean looks grizzly and grey, thrashing the beach with its thundering waves.

“Have a deep respect for the source of life and also for the ocean,

for the forest, for the stars and for the truth.”

April 29th 2010 - Arrowtown then Queenstown

A stop off at Arrowtown to see the fiery autumn colours.

We eat a handmade chocolate each and go for an invigorating walk.

The weather turns!

It's now we hear Queenstown is flooding! Shouldn't we turn back? The weather ahead is looking grim.

Our arrival into Queenstown is met with the news that the lake is slowly rising and will flood the town! I'm suddenly all shivery as I imagine being swept from my bed into that freezing, deep lake. Kate assures me we are quite high and quite safe. The shore front is all a buzz as shops close for business and teams of locals fill sandbags to protect the town. I go to help but my red shoes are sodden after a couple of minutes. It's a perfectly awful thing to admit but I'm secretly hoping we will be stranded here and even more horribly hope it's all winter so I can learn to ski!

Look at our view! There's a fireplace and very comfy beds.

I think I was born here! How can I stay? I'm going to ask around town if there is any employment for a small, white hare. My species of origin is the arctic hare so I'm sure I would be good at something snowy, like operating the chair lift or taking hot chocolate drinking tours.
Anyone reading who may be interested please email!

Was there a white hare in 'The Sound of Music'? I keep breaking into song ... 'the hills are alive...'

The dinner steamer boat chugs out each evening. Adorned with it's necklace of coloured lights I imagine all the happy diners inside. Sometimes I'm up late enough to hear them come home.

Well here we are in the Gondola, ascending to the snow capped peaks. I look quite well here but Kate and I both turned a shade of parsley green as we get higher.

A few large gulps of seriously cold air and a cup of sweet tea and we feel somewhat better. We have agreed to close our eyes and sing silly songs the whole trip down.

Looking at these tranquil lakes from the sky I keep thinking of this line from a poem by Hilda Conkling ...

'The world turns softly

Not to spill its lakes and rivers.'

Kevin has quite an appetite for chips, or 'chups' as the locals would say.

Our last day. The sun is out and the flood waters receding.

Goodbye Queenstown, Goodbye Aotearoa - New Zealand.

With tear soaked cheeks ..... Ruby

Easter in Maleny ... Meet Kate and I!

2010-03-26T15:51:00.002+10:00

I've just visited Giddy and Grace (Kate's sister Samantha's homewares and gift shop) in Maleny to glimpse her new Easter display. I've gone made for these cuddlesome, clucky, chickens! They've laid pretty, glittery, chocolate eggs all over the shop and told me I was welcome to sample one or two. Delicious!

I've kept the lovely shiny paper which may come in handy when I need something dazzling.

If you're close to Maleny (Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland) on Saturday, April 3rd from 10am - 2pm, then we'd love you to pop in to Giddy and Grace to meet Samantha, Kate and I.

Giddy and Grace

Shop 2, 1 Maple Street

Maleny (next to Bank of Qld)

Phone 07 5494 3636

Hope to see you there!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

x Ruby

Farewell Tasmania ... for now!

2010-03-04T16:21:00.001+10:00

I'm in apple orchard heaven!

Look at how well the apples match my shoes!

My last day and I'm retiring early.

I've completely fallen ears over paws in love with Tasmania.

My red shoes will definitely be hopping here again soon.

x Ruby

I found a friend ... and blissful, blue Bicheno.

2010-03-03T14:21:00.007+10:00

I woke up to find a kindred, long eared friend in the garden! (Although he's a rabbit and I'm a hare it's lovely to talk with someone who sees the world through similar, gentle eyes.)

His name is Billy Buttercrunch and he has always lived around this part of Great Oyster Bay. He was born a few fields away but is very fond of collecting seaweed so lives close by the beach so he can indulge in his pastime.

Bathing in Bicheno!

I've never seen water this colour.

I'm having a romance with turquoise and peacock blue!

I'm hoping Kate introduces some into my wardrobe palette.

x Ruby & Billy Buttercrunch

Full moon over Great Oyster Bay.

2010-03-01T22:09:00.049+10:00

Full moon over Great Oyster Bay.

I think I can hear all those oysters, singing their salty songs,

bewitched by the moon's reflection on the sea.

Here is one of my favourite moon poems ...

Moon Thought

The moon is thinking of the river

Winding through the mountains far away,

Because she has a river in her heart

Full of the same silver.

Hilda Conkling

A stroll to take in some sea air ... and a near meeting with Neptune!

2010-02-27T20:32:00.013+10:00

I've wandered off on the gravelly paths to the beach. A little repose beneath some dandelions before I find a quiet beach to look for mermaids and hear the seagull's stories.

Guess who?

Lovely spot to relax.

A message to all small white hares .... never turn your back on the surf. Best of all stay in the dunes!

Where's Bondi Rescue? Hoppo! Kerbox! HELP!!!

I'm OK. Shaken but I escaped before Neptune had a chance to get his salty hands around my ankles.

Hobart ... or Antarctica?

2010-02-26T15:37:00.097+10:00

A snap decision to pop down to Hobart

... or did we overshoot and end up in Antarctica?

We bought a punnet of plump raspberries and strolled around the markets at Salamanca Place. Before long the rain and bracing wind drove us into a charming cafe to order coffee and hot chocolate to warm our paws. Then off we go on a climb to Battery Point where I indulge in a home made cream bun with jam. No photo as I ate it before Kate's camera came out of the bag. I draw the line at being in the spotlight whilst enjoying a cream bun.

HOBART WEATHER REPORT - 26 February 2010

by on location reporter Ruby Red Shoes

(observations conducted from a gum tree)

Temp: Antarctic's breath brings tidings laced with ice.

Ear chill factor: Biting

Recommendation for small fluffy beings: Wear scarf and tights ... best of all stay in the car.

Next stop Richmond.

Me at Richmond Bridge ... more tea and scones!

Ruby Tours Tasmania!

2010-02-25T15:19:00.021+10:00

I'm on holidays!

Kate has taken me for a week touring around the east coast of Tasmania and I'm having a sensational time. She says it's to broaden my horizons, but quietly I think it may have been her horizon she wanted broadening, but I'm not complaining.

After arriving in Launceston this morning we beetled along the oh so winding roads (my gills were green and stripey legs like jelly by the time we arrived) to Swansea where we are staying at Piermont Cottages. It's so tranquil that my whiskers are uncrumpling by the second.

Wish you were here.

x Ruby RS

2010-02-17T21:13:00.000+10:00

Look at me in my new best friend Sophie's bedroom!

This quilt from her Nanna is all my dreams come true.

All from Steph Bond's fabulous blog Bondville!

2010-02-14T21:18:00.016+10:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

To all our Twiggy friends and family, Ruby Red Shoes would like to wish you all a very special LOVE day this Valentines ... may your heart be filled and overflowing with joy and laughter in everything you do!

Holiday Diaries ... From York to The Blue Mountains!

2010-01-14T23:40:00.025+10:00

It's a white Christmas for a white hare in York!

Happy New Year everyone!

My passport's dizzy from all the opening and closing it's endured on my extensive holiday travels.

Christmas day was spent in York, England where I holidayed with my acupuncturists Peter and Mary Delaney. I was thrilled to my frozen fluffy toes to see such drifts of glorious snow.

What relief when we stopped for hot chocolate and carrot soup in the charming Cafe Concerto. Their salads are besprinkled with the sweetest jewels of fruit pieces ... cherry, plum and peach. The walls are lined with sheet music!

As you can see I had to be rescued from this precarious possible avalanche scenario I found myself in. Thank you Peter for administering calming acupuncture for the near frostbite on my nose.

Spinning around Blue Mountains on a blue AJS!

My travels also took me to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales where I spent many ear flowing hours riding pillion on Mandy and Peter's AJS.

I'm so smitten with this pretty motorcycle I've ordered red faux leather biking pants and jacket.

x Ruby

2006-12-21T08:52:00.008+10:00

Joyeux Noël! - Messages from the travelling Mademoiselle Ruby Red Shoes.

Sightseeing in France.

A spot of sightseeing at Notre Dame ...

Drinking in Paris from my apartment....

Ancestral family portrait?

Last day in Paris. All this touring. I am très weary.
Thank goodness for café.

Shopping and royal engagements in London.

Red shoes, red buses, Regent Street!
Morning tea with Her Majesty tomorrow at Buckingham Palace.
Looking for sparkly red shoe polish!

Hamleys toy store and I'm not in there! I'll mention it to the Queen.

Thanks to Auntie Linda and Mama Cinty for being my chaperones, looking after my passport and finding me cozy little places to nap.

See you all soon.
x Ruby

What I'm Reading.

2006-11-30T13:54:00.000+10:00

Hello friends.

I must share with you what I think are the two most wonderful books ever written and would be a lovely gift to ask Santa for. They are ‘Little Fur’ – The Legend of Little Fur and ‘A Fox called Sorrow’ - The Legend of Little Fur, written by Isobelle Carmody. Click here for an online bookstore.

My dear friend Kitty introduced Little Fur to me on my last birthday when she gave me the first story as a gift. Now these two books are always on my bedside table and sometimes I just hold them because they have the softest furry covers.

The books are about Little Fur, a “little elf troll who lives peacefully as a healer of small creatures in a grove of magical trees.” In the first story, Little Fur goes on a big quest to save seven magical and precious singing trees called the Old Ones from the human tree burners. Her friends that join her are Crow, Brownie a horse, Ginger and Sly who are cats. Little Fur has a strong connection with the earth energies and cares for all of nature.

Ruby thinks Little Fur is someone she would be eternal friends with and is hoping to meet her during one of her rambles in the woods.

For those of you who do end up reading Little Fur over the Christmas holidays, Kitty and I have put together some questions you may like to ponder, then a few ideas to stretch your imagination. Please email in any of your ideas or pictures for me to put on this space.

email: info@twigseeds.com

Questions for the readers of Little Fur:

Which character touched your heart the most?

What is your favourite type of tree?

What did you learn from reading Little Fur?

Do you know someone wise, like the Sett Owl? What do you learn from them?

What are some of your favourite smells?

Imagination Stretching Ideas for the readers of Little Fur:

Invent your own character. (May be a friend of Little Fur?)

Draw your own special magical tree.

Draw your own version of Little Fur.

Make a recipe for Little Fur (fruit, vegetable, nut and berry based).

Have fun!

Love Ruby Red Shoes.

Mulberries and Stripey Stockings

2006-11-10T06:56:00.000+10:00

Hello friends.

I have been very remiss with my blogging. I didn’t realise how busy my life was. As you can see by my photos, there is so much to do … swinging in the mulberry tree whilst sharing a few with the birds, reclining in the dandelions, a spot of horse riding, side-saddle because I was unprepared and didn’t have my jodhpurs!

At the moment I am very captivated by stripey socks! Kate brought me a pair of long knee-high bobby dazzler socks from the Sock Shop in Melbourne. I haven’t been able to take them off!
Fashion tip: experiment with layering them over spotted tights. I say you can never be too spotty or stripey. Please send in pictures if you love them too.

Look at what I saw the other day. Bird folk drinking cappuccinos! Decaf please. They are flighty enough as it is.

Bye for now,
Your stripey, spotty Ruby. xxx

Ruby's New Blog

2006-07-23T11:18:00.000+10:00

Hello friends. My red shoes have been twitching to have my own blog and finally Kate has created this space for some of my musings.

Well firstly I know there are many of you who have been looking everywhere, like under toadstools, up in tree branches and in the shops for a cuddly version of me, realeased in limited edition earlier this year, and wearing my favourite green cardigan and striped stockings. I am very sorry that many of you missed out. My friends and I at Twigseeds are working earnestly on creating another batch. Fluffy as ever!

For a little white hare, I am working very long hours with Kate on our first Children’s picture book. She types away and illustrates as I tell stories of my life in and around the caravan. It will take what seems like forever in production, so fluffy white paws crossed, you may see it next year.

Due to extreme exhaustion from my busy schedule, I was sent to a day spa for a seeweed wrap and ear rebalancing. I am feeling quite revived now. Many thanks to Miss K. Apple at the spa who took such great care of me.

Enchanting poems by Hilda Conkling.

I really want to tell you about the work of a child poet I stumbled upon called Hilda Conkling, 1910 – 1986. I am so surprised I hadn’t heard of her before. She composed most of her poetry between the ages of four and ten years old! Her mother was a poet and would write down Hilda’s words. There are lots of poems about birds, fairies and nature, all my favourite things. You see I was searching on google for the author of this beautiful saying, “The world turns softly so as not to spill its lakes and rivers” only to find the whole poem ...

WATER

The world turns softly
Not to spill its lakes and rivers.
The water is held in its arms
And the sky is held in the water.
What is water,
That pours silver,
And can hold the sky?

Then I found this poem …

FAIRIES AGAIN

Fairies dancing in the woods at night
Make me think of foreign places,
Of places unknown.
Fairies with sparkling crowns and dewy hands,
Sprinkle flowers and mosses to keep them fresh,
Talk to the birds to keep them cheery.
Once a bird came home
And found a fairy asleep in his nest,
Upon his baby eggs,
To keep them warm!

Did you know I have seen fairies sleeping on baby eggs to keep them warm? Sometimes the bird will give the fairy a feather as a thank you.

You can read some of Hilda's poetry here.