Happy 10th Birthday Inside Out!

The blogosphere is currently awash with birthday wishes to super cool Australian interiors/lifestyle magazine Inside Out - they are celebrating 10 years of fabulous design, inspiration, ideas, recipes, colour and style.

Now, it is a little tricky for me to rave on about this celebrated birthday issue as I have not yet got my hands on a copy - although I have begged my Aussie mates to post me a copy toute-de-suite! (is part of my need linked to the fact that this issue comes with a screen printed Rob Ryan T-towel????? I'll let you judge me on that one!) So instead I shall link you over to one of my fave Australian design blogs, The Design Files, where the lovely Lucy interviewed Inside Out's editor Karen McCartney, who launched the mag back in 2000

And for a greater appreciation of the talent that goes into such a brilliant monthly mag, you must visit the Inside Out blog, where "the staff happily reveal a few of their favourite things". The Inside Out team totally inspire you to inject style into your life... it's contagious

I had originally thought that this would be the end of this post but then I realised that it is in fact thanks to Inside Out that I have my work now as a stylist. Back in about 2003, when I was living in Sydney, Australia, I found myself assisting various stylists in order to pick their brains about the job & get some hands-on experience of working on a shoot. The first kind soul to give me a break was English stylist Lynsey Fryers & the majority of the jobs we worked on together were for Inside Out with the hugely talented photographer Amanda Prior. Ah, happy paint-fumed, gluey-fingered memories!

I continued to assist various established stylists even when I started to get my own gigs (thank you at this point to kind soul no.2 - Art Director Caroline Sherlock) - it's such a great way to learn a trade, pick up tricks & secrets and meet other people in the industry. Plus it's fun - they tend to get the really good gigs which you can then become a part of. I remember in particular a 2 day shoot with stylist Sam Beer & photographer Lucas Allen - we took over this wonderful home up near Centennial Park & the entire front room was filled with props that Sam had called in from numerous stores and boutiques in the city. I was busy ironing creases from out-of-the-packet bed linens & decorating oranges with cloves (oh, yes - did I mention how glamorous the life of a stylist's assistant is?!) when they suddenly decide that the bed shot would look so much better with a body in it.... cue me, stripped down to my essentials & in a nightie, frolicking on a luxurious bed of throws & blankets with lights & cameras pointing at me. I can assure you I am not accustomed to this type of behaviour! Here, I have just dug out the clippings for your amusement!

So I guess that just leaves me to wish all at Inside Out a very happy birthday & here's to another 10 years of style inspiration for the home & for living!

photos of selected Inside Out/Home Beautiful magazine clippings by Lisa Pocklington