Perth-based artist duo Pip & Pop (Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz) will create an immersive and vibrant environment for children and families to explore in this major Children’s Art Centre installation as part of GoMA’s fifth anniversary celebrations.

Drawing on children’s stories, creation myths, Buddhist cosmologies, video games and folktales, Pip & Pop create large-scale fantasy worlds coloured with a bright, often fluorescent palette, using cake-decorating tools, intricate layers of sugar, glitter, modelling clay and mirrors.

Pathways and peepholes will lead visitors to different worlds: a magical forest filled with strange flowers, vines, mushrooms and animals; a cosmic universe condensed into a darkened room with twinkly stars; and a volcanic lake with crystals, mist and liquid pools are just some of the creations waiting to be discovered … releasing your inner child, of course!

Pip & Pop’s installation will only be at the Gallery of Modern Art until March 4, 2012 - so make sure you drop by for a visit!

While you’re there, why not also take a detour over to Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition, ‘Look Now, See Forever’. More information here.

For more information on ‘We Miss You Magic Land‘ + opening hours, visit > www.qag.qld.gov.au/magicland

As one of our top picks to be an artist to watch and collect, we are very excited to hear that Mia Oatley is bringing her stunning works to Gallery One for an up coming exhibition titled ‘Jungle Love’. It’s her first solo exhibition in Queensland, and if you’re a local arts lover you should really try to get along to this one - we’ve been following her work for some time now and she has secured us as big fans! Mia’s portrait of Jasper knight for the Archibald Prize was selected for this years Salon Des Refuses, and her growing national and international appeal has seen collectors Australia wide and from cities such as Hong Kong, London and Paris, add Mia’s work to their collections.

‘Jungle Love’ has been inspired by a recent trip to Bali and the beautiful landscape and incredible tropical bird life Mia encountered there. The result of this visual epiphany has seen her produce a stunning series of paintings that are saturated in bold colours, with Mia’s signature figurative females lounging in a jungle world, surrounded by a lush kaleidoscope of nature and those birds that left such an impression on this talented artist.

‘Jungle Love’ is showing at Gallery One on the Gold Coast from February 13th - 27th. See more of Mia Oatley’s work at www.miaoatley.com.au.

Gallery One > www.gallery-one.com.au

Top: Yayoi Kusama Bottom: Flowers That Bloom at Midnight 2009

Top: Dots Obsession 2009 Bottom: The obliteration room 2011

> Opening Hours (FREE ADMISSION):

10.00am — 5.00pm Monday to Friday

9.00am — 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday

9.00am — 5.00pm Public Holidays

> For more info about the exhibition, visit their website > www.qag.qld.gov.au/kusama

> Visit GoMa’s website … www.qag.qld.gov.au

If you haven’t already bought yourself a planner for the new year, then you must check out the range of 2012 Planner Calendars by Julia Kostreva. Julia Kostreva is a designer/illustrator based in San Francisco and has come out with a collection of eye-catching stationery, mixing bright colours and sleek, geometric prints. Check out the entire stationery range here > shop.juliakostreva.com/category/paper

If stationery’s not your thing, you can also take a look at her other products including quirky printed pillow covers and of course, her collection of art and print work.

All her items are available for purchase online - worldwide delivery included!

Visit her website > juliakostreva.com

Shop online > shop.juliakostreva.com

Read her blog> blog.juliakostreva.com

- Cherizza Almario , QH Web

Some of us getting put off by a restaurant’s name thinking it will be too ‘hoity toity’ and super expensive, but we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover as I found out.

It was my daughter, Courtney’s official graduation from university recently and as she passed with a distinction we decided to make it a very special time and Courtney requested going to a restaurant that matched the occasion.  Our plan was to finish the ceremony at QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) and head over to dinner at Aria, a restaurant we wouldn’t normally choose to just go out to dinner.

When Aria called to confirm our booking a couple of days beforehand, I happened to mention that we would definitely all be there as it was my daughter’s graduation that day, hence the dinner. The woman who rang said to make sure my daughter ordered dessert, so when her Black Forrest cake came out on a plate with ‘Congratulations’ written in chocolate was not an unexpected surprise to me, but a delightful addition for her.

What I, or anyone else in our party for that matter, wasn’t expecting was that from the moment we walked in all the staff that we dealt with, from the maitre d’ to the wait staff, congratulated my daughter. After graduating my daughter was on cloud nine, as were we all, and it was an unexpected pleasure to receive these extra accolades.

I expected the magnificent food and everyone raved about their food choices, snapper, lamb and rib fillet. Personally I thought that the pick was my main course of duck - roast breast with duck pastilla, spiced pears and a witlof and raisin salad. The simplicity of the dish emphasised the complexity of flavours superbly. The desserts were divinely sinful; I practically inhaled my delicious Banoffe (banana brûlée with caramel, almond praline and toasted almond milk ice cream) and started eyeing off the remainder of Stuart’s Expresso Soufflé. But it was the service that was extraordinary - especially with all the little touches, including the macaroons handed to us ladies on departure. When I compared the prices to Moo Moo or Jellyfish ( a couple of my favourite restaurants) the cost was about the same.

Not sure if it’s the time of year, but I do know that complaints are much easier to pass on than compliments, so I wanted to take the time to pass on this info in case you’ve thought of going to Aria and been put off for any reason.  Guest blogger Cheryl Menagh (QH production)

Splendidly positioned in the Brisbane hinterland, Mercure Clear Mountain Lodge, Spa and Vineyard and Stephanie’s Mountain Spa have teamed up to create a new range of indulgent packages just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The ‘Restful Respite’ overnight accommodation package which includes breakfast for two in Mandy’s on the Mountain Restaurant as well as one soothing forty minute massage allows couples to unwind and experience a taste of Clear Mountain Lodge from $259 per night.

The ‘Rest, Relax & Restore’ package priced from $355 per night includes one nights’ accommodation, a forty minute couples massage, scrumptious buffet breakfast, chilled sparkling wine delivered to the room and the luxury of a sleep-in with a late 12 noon checkout.

Designed for those with a little more time on their hands this package will have couples reconnecting with their loved one and re-igniting the romance.

For the ultimate pleasure-seeking getaway, Lodge’s ‘Bountiful Bliss’ package includes overnight accommodation,  a one hour couples massage with a steam therapy lounge experience, a three course dinner and full buffet breakfast in Mandy’s on the Mountain Restaurant.

Priced from $545 per a night, couples will be treated to a late 1pm checkout and will be spoilt with the choice of a bottle of bubbly and chocolates or four Coronas and selection of nuts.

Definitely something to keep in mind for Valentine’s Day!

For further information call: 07 3298 5100, email: enquiry@clearmountainlodge.com.au or visit: www.clearmountainlodge.com.au

With the new year coming up, so is the release of Queensland Homes 2012 Annual Gold Edition!

QH Gold 2012 brings us a fresh new mix of home pictorials - from beach side living to country homes on the coast, you’ll be spoilt with unique design + decorating inspiration.

There’s also a HUGE Interior Designers’ Q&A feature, which you simply must read! With a low-down of new tips and trends from a selection of interior designers, you’ll be all set for the new year.

Lastly, Natalie shares some stunning interior images of designer boutique hotels around the world in one of our regular features, Global Style. I’ve had my flick through and the pics are STUNNING!

Featured in 'Global Style'

This issue will be available in newsagents in January, so make sure you grab your copy early! You can also pre-order online via our website > graphicpublishing.com.au/subscribe/qhSubscribe.htm

Here are a few words written by Margaret McGuire for the editor’s letter -

When you read this it will be the start of a new year - a fresh slate on which to write another slice of your life, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy, safe and prosperous year.

Queensland Homes Gold differs from our quarterly issues in the number of pages we are able to give the homes we feature, and this edition our houses needed every page we could find. In many cases, these homes are on acreage sites, where there is room for big, beautiful trees and lush landscaping - and some of the houses have access to their own creeks and waterholes - now that’s bliss.

We also feature a gorgeous old home from Toowoomba which has been restored and renovated but which is still a fun, family home; a beach house built on a sand dune, an ultra luxurious Balinese resort and Sir Richard Branson’s Makepeace Island at Noosa.

We’ve also conducted a Q&A with a number of interior designers and it seems that minimalism is on the way out after a record run of popularity - I have to say it never made an appearance at my house; you need to be very tidy to live with minimalism!

In its place the designers are predicting a return to warm, welcoming homes, softer and more colourful interiors filled with all the lovely accessories that make a house a home - and the return of wallpaper.

I’m sure you will enjoy this issue.

Purchase your copy of QH Gold 2012 online > graphicpublishing.com.au/subscribe/qhSubscribe.htm

Visit the QH website > www.queenslandhomes.com.au

- Cherizza, QH Web

Looking for a luxurious getaway these holidays? Then check out Bangkok’s newest Novotel, which is set on top of a shopping paradise!

Shopping enthusiasts will be in awe with the opening of the NEW Novotel Bangkok Platinum, located in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping district and strategically on top of Thailand’s largest fashion shopping centre – Platinum Fashion Mall.

Located on the corner of Pratunam intersection, Novotel Bangkok Platinum is around 45-mins drive from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and a 10-mins walk to the BTS SkyTrain Chidlom Station near several shopping malls, including Siam Square, Siam Paragon, and CentralWorld.

This newly built hotel starts from the 6th floor of Platinum Fashion Mall, Zone 3, which is the region’s top wholesale shopping centre. With a panoramic view of Bangkok’s city centre, the 283 “new generation” guest rooms and suites have been carefully designed to blend ergonomics with spacious, modern designs and colourful décor.

Ensuring practical and technological features, each room consists of a flat screen TV,  free Wi-Fi internet access, and a TV connection panel for USB, audio and video for guests who plan to work in their rooms.

To indulge guests who love shopping, the hotel also provides a “Personal Shopper” adviser and shopping delivery service from Platinum Fashion Mall where guests can shop and have the goods delivered to their rooms instead of carrying it around (how great is that!).

> For more info and accommodation rates, visit their website on: www.novotel.com

This year my family has opted for the ’secret santa’ style of gift giving.  It goes like this : we put our names into a bowl one by one … we then close our eyes and repeatedly chant to ourselves, ‘please don’t draw Daniel, please don’t draw Daniel’ (who happens to be my brother. He is awful to buy for, there is always one in the family right?) I thankfully drew one of my sister’s names (ssssshhhh, it’s a secret!) Since then, I’ve been on a ‘under $50 dollar’ gift hunt and thought I would share my top 10 finds …

1/
Baby Bunny Rabbit Brooch from O design
> $26.00
http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=426834

2/
Ice Ice Baby - Tea Towel by Dubblyou Studio
100% cotton tea towel, screen printed locally.
$12.00
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86785988/ice-ice-baby-tea-towel?ref=v1_other_2

3/
Bamboo coasters by Thea & Sami
Bamboo coasters are a design collaboration between designers Thea & Sami and Red Revival who laser cut them. Designed and made in Brisbane, Australia.
$24 set of 4
http://www.thea-sami.com.au/Coasters_Bamboo.html

4/
Ridley’s Classic Table Quoits Set
This tabletop sized set is ideal for a bit of after-dinner entertainment or for taking on picnics.
$19.95
http://www.larkmade.com.au

5/
Limited Edition - “Love you the longest of time” Print - Red
Hand printed on an antique 1893 printing press on 100% cotton rag archival paper (white colour) and printed the beautifully old fashioned way in Brisbane, Australia.
$45.00
http://bespokepress.bigcartel.com/product/limited-edition-love-you-the-longest-of-time-print-red

6/
The Little Veggie Patch Co: How to grow food in small spaces by Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember, RRP $45.00 published by Pan Macmillan and available through all good book stores.

7/
Acrylic Diamond ring by : AMT
You don’t need to plan a diamond heist, these rings are a steal! This is the classic Tiffany-set diamond ring reworked in plastic by:AMT. Way more affordable and a lot more fun!
$29
http://www.oyemodern.com/rings/acrylic-diamond-ring-by-amt/prod_15.html

8/
CAVALLINI & CO. ANIMAL STICKY NOTES
Useful and beautiful sticky notes featuring wonderful animal themed images.
The Animal collection features 480 decorative sticky notes in 8 different animal themed designs in a variety of sizes.
$24.95
http://notemaker.com.au/products/cavallini-co-animal-sticky-notes-cavalinie-and-co

9/
Bright yellow, faceted coffee/sake cup
Small faceted white porcelain cup with a bright neon yellow coloured interior.
This range of cups have a heavy base that sits beautifully in the hand and is perfect for; coffee/espresso, sake and whisky.
$40.00
http://www.goldenink.com.au/products/bright-yellow-faceted-coffee-sake-cup

10/
K TOTE
TDK are proud to bring you our NEW summer range - a must-have TDK canvas tote perfect for those trips to the beach.
$28
http://www.thedesignkids.com.au/k-tote.html

Happy hunting! - Joanne Thies QH digital manager.

I am looking for lots of new blog content > email me and submit your new finds, ideas or events happening around Brisbane! joanne.thies@graphicpublishing.com.au

We’ll be interviewing some of Brisbane’s top kitchen and bathroom designers for a BIG feature in the March issue of QH - do you have a question? What would you like to know about making your kitchen as comfortable, attractive and efficient as possible - and no, it’s no use asking for a live-in chef!

As a little treat, 5 best ‘questions’  be given their very own copy of the magazine!

> You can email your ideas (and questions!) to QH Web at:  web@queenslandhomes.com.au

> Follow this conversation via our Facebook or Twitter!