• Candle tea and cake party | totallybydesign.com
    Travel

    Flower photography and visual storytelling with Marte Marie Forsberg – Part 2

    It always comes down to flowers for me. The slightest chance that I get to hold a few blooms and arrange them, photograph them, re-enact a ‘story’, and I am there. Never mind it is across the Atlantic. That is how I felt about this workshop and opportunity to style and photograph alongside Marte Marie Forsberg and her special guest Anna Potter of Swallows and Damsons. On a brisk March Saturday morning we stepped into a room filled with flowers. Not just any flowers. Flowers that you dream about, but rarely see by the bucket. Jonquils, lilacs, ranunculus, roses, tulips and lots and lots of eucalyptus and brambles! Anna did…

  • Bowl and flour | totallybydesign.com
    Travel

    Food styling and photography with Marte Marie Forsberg

    Back in November, I did a very brave and uncharacteristically rush and spontaneous decision. I bought, within minutes of seeing it going live, a spot in Marte Marie Forsberg’s “Flowers and Food Visual Storytelling” photography retreat. I remember somewhat frantically emailing Marie “where is it exactly”, having barely ventured outside of London in my UK travels. If you are like me, and follow Marte Marie on her Instagram for a couple of years now, you know the story of the thatched cottage, the rolling hills, the moody pubs…Traveling there seems like stepping into the mysterious fairytale though, bit like boarding the train in Harry Potter movie. Luckily, Marte Marie responded reassuringly…

  • Rabaul trekking | totallybydesign
    Travel

    Wanderlust: Visual storytelling, Papua New Guinea

    Ever wondered what that really means? I have dedicated 2016 to be my year of discovery, mindful travel, and observation. Last year’s 3 week trip to Papua New Guinea gave me an insight into conquering apprehension, hesitation, procrastination and…downright fear. I will always plan my trips meticulously, I will always give myself extra time to get from point A to point B, that is just my nature, but after that, I will let go.  Often you have to let things go, there is just no other option, like when you get stranded at the tiny airport, waiting for the engine parts to be flown in, or finding accommodation on an old…

  • Flat white Brisbane | totallybydesign
    Interiors,  Travel

    Australia: indoor/outdoor living

    This past weekend reminded me that I still have not posted my favorites from Brisbane visit this summer.  I guess, I needed a cooler weather to truly capture the feel of the city that seems to have perfected all season indoor-outdoor living.  Where the doors are always open (or gone altogether), where you warm up quickly by the fireplace in the morning with your flat white,  before heading out on the porch to eat.  As I watched my Sunday evening guests huddle around the grill trying to warm up hands (yes, I made everyone stay out as long as I reasonably could!), I thought about Brisbane… Then, there is flat…