Hello lovely beautiful and bizarre folk,
Since many of us are still in lockdown due to COVID, and others have transitioned to working from home permanently, creating a safe and inspiring space for ourselves, that expresses who we are, what we love, and what is important to us has become a priority. Hence, I thought I would take the initiative and share my ‘Lust Haves’ list with you each month. A list of 10 wonderful things I have found on the internet and Instagram, which I would personally love to own! As you know the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine brand encompasses: Art, Culture, Couture. So these lists will of course include visual art, some of which I have recently added to my collection, and some which I would love to acquire, plus fashion, jewellery, ceramics, home wares, garden and pet related goodies, music, books and whatever else is on my ‘Lust Haves’ list at the time. All the goodies that feed the mind, body and soul.
I hope you find some inspiration from my list to update your look, feed your soul, and create your own sanctuary. One which expresses your unique individual style, brings you comfort, and joy, and inspires you each day. I personally advocate for shopping local where possible both for environmental reasons, and of course to support local makers and brands. However my lists will include both Australian and international artists ad brands to cater to our special international community.
I will be collecting all my ‘Lust Have’ ideas via my personal Instagram account @danijelakrhapurssey, so please join me there, and feel free to suggest some amazing products via DM to my Instagram account.
Exciting! Take a peek at my October 2021 Top 10 ‘Lust Haves’ below. You can check out my previous Top 10 ‘Lust Haves’ lists here for even more inspiration.
Much love xo
Danijela Krha Purssey // Editor-in-Chief, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
October 2021 // Editor’s Top 10 Lust Haves
I love The Vampires Wife for SO many reasons! The name of course (I wanted to grow up to be a Vampire – yes its a thing!), the fact that the brand was founded by Susie Cave, and I adore the style and cut of the dresses – timeless, romantic and a little goth.
I love this green dress, but I also love all of her floral designs – one of these beauties is definitely on my ultimate wish list! I have two exhibition openings, one here in Australia and one in San Francisco next year [I curate all the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibitions, and attend the opening receptions (COVID permitting)] – I think I need one of The Vampires Wife dresses for one of these prestigious events – don’t you?
Spring is here and its a wonderful time to be in the garden! Here in regional Northern NSW of Australia the nights are still cold enough for the fire, but most of the days are filled with glorious sunshine. We have very cold winters here, with hard frosts which means much of the garden is dormant in winter – so spring is a celebration of new growth, renewed life and colour. The bulbs are the first to welcome spring and what a joy they are. I was rewarded by my Autumn plantings of tulips, ranunculus, hyacinth, and daffodils which have put on such a beautiful display. I cant wait to add to it next year! I am already plotting and planning.
Of course my garden would not be complete without Dahlias! These gorgeous summer flowering bulbs are something I crave. Sadly, I was too late getting onto the dahlia sales and missed out this year – they are in such high demand. We have a number of excellent growers here in Australia including Florelie dahlia breeders, whose range is just incredible. Wish me luck next year!
Ah the colour, pattern, texture, and richness of the Moroccan Textile Co’s rugs are divine! I have been eying them off for a while now – this runner would be perfect in my long hallway against the original 1800’s wooden floors.
The Moroccan Textile Co is a local Australian business who source authentic rugs and textiles from Morocco and West Africa.
I am very lucky to occasionally get some wonderful and precious gifts from the artists I work with in my role for Beautiful Bizarre Magazine! Artist Jason Mowry recently sent me a gorgeous print of this painting “The nudge, the touch, and the whisper”. I am so grateful to Jason for thinking of me!
Happily many artists have sent me treasures over the last 8 years. I am thrilled to say that I am now finally in a position to get many of these beautiful prints and originals framed and hung in my forever home – I am making my home a monument to the visual arts and the artists inside its walls! I feel so honoured to be able to see a little glimpse of their creative soul as I move around my home every day. I appreciate these random acts of kindness so very very much! The arts community is truly one of a kind, and I feel so privileged to be part of it.
I have mentioned my obsession with ceramics! I want all the things!! Kerryn Levy’s unique squiggly candlesticks are high up on my list. Beautiful, unique and functional – what more could you want?
Kerryn is an Australian ceramicist who hand builds all of her beautiful creations.
With Spring here it is time to start thinking about how I could revamp my back porch in preparation for those lazy summer days, and these gorgeous Pretzel cane chairs by Naturally Cane would be perfect! I can see myself happily sitting in one of these curved beauties with a glass of bubbles and a good book.
Naturally Cane is an Australian brand that creates beautiful cane furniture including bedheads, cabinets, chairs, tables, lounges and daybeds, and lots more!
Dried flowers are my new thing, and I can’t seem to go past Australian brand everbloome. They have so many stunning posies and individual blooms in their range. Each posy is SO gorgeous that it is super hard to choose just one! Everything from gorgeous brights, to soft pastels, to earth toned arrangements.
I purchased a small posy a few months ago, and I’m in love with it! So now I am dreaming over a larger arrangement, and these earth tones are speaking to my country girl soul.
I dont have human children, but I am a proud dog mum. Monty my 11 year old Golden Retriever is my fur baby, and my soul dog. He has the most beautiful, gentle, sweet, loving nature – I could not imagine life without him! One of these days I would love to have a portrait of him done to add to my art collection.
Artist Steven Kenny, Winner of the 2019 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award would be my go to artist for such a special commission. How beautiful is the above portrait of a different Golden – I think my boy also deserves a crown!
I adore the soft, natural feel of linen. Both in my bedding and throws for my lounge room and office. These gorgeous Freya throws from CULTIVER are divine! The nights are still cold here, so having a beautiful throw to snuggle into in the evenings when the sun begins to set would be heavenly.
I recently discovered the American indie folk band, Lord Huron. How amazing is Spotify’s artist RADIO function? Ive found lots of new artists via this function. I just go to one of my favourite musicians Spotify page, and scroll down the their RADIO section, and BAM, it creates a playlist with a similar vibe/feel to my favourite artist.
Lord Huron is one such amazing discovery – Ben Schneider’s vocals give me chills, and the cinematic evocative nature of the music feeds my soul. The above is a little snippet of a live performance of one of their songs, “The Night We Met“. You can listen to the full track here on YouTube.
The Night We Met
I am not the only traveler
Who has not repaid his debt
I’ve been searching for a trail to follow again
Take me back to the night we met
And then I can tell myself
What the hell I’m supposed to do
And then I can tell myself
Not to ride along with you
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Oh, take me back to the night we met
When the night was full of terrors
And your eyes were filled with tears
When you had not touched me yet
Oh, take me back to the night we met
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Take me back to the night we met
I hope you enjoyed this little journey into my personal aesthetic. Stay tuned, my next Top 10 ‘Lust Haves’ list will be published in November. xox
