Happy Esther!

Instead of letting your friends overdose on chocolate this Easter, give them a gorgeous Esther Diamond tea towel instead.

All images supplied by Esther Diamond. March 2009.

It's a beautiful range that includes designs by well known Hawke's Bay artists Martin Poppelwell, Dick Frizzell and Leanne Culy. I gave a friend an Esther Diamond tea towel recently and she's declared it 'far too lovely to dry dishes with' and it's about to meet the framer. That's typical of just about everything in the Esther Diamond range - and you can check out the products by clicking on http://www.estherdiamond.com/ I've also written about them several times previously and you only need to click on any of the index labels in the line below this post to read those.

I'm Stuffed

"I'm Stuffed" Graphics by Napier artist, Martin Poppelwell. 2008. Ajr This is one of my favourite cushions from the gorgeous Esther Diamond range. Started by Napier’s Sandi Reefman (meet her in my Meet the People series), Esther Diamond has been a raging success. You should definitely check out the great Esther Diamond website and one of their major stockists is leading Auckland design store, Eon, which has a great online shopping facility. www.eon.co.nz www.estherdiamond.com

A Swim Anyone?

Millar Road, Hawke's Bay. Image: Brian Culy, Hawke's Bay.

Let me introduce you to one of my favourite spots - the gorgeous pool at Millar Road near Hastings....a sublime escape where you can indulge every lazy bone in your body, overlooking a cascade of grape vines and persimmon orchards. Factor in a beautiful collection of New Zealand art and the colourful Esther Diamond range of bedding and cushions and you're guaranteed a retreat to please all the senses. www.millarroad.co.nz www.estherdiamond.com

Shining a Light

Lamps from the Esther Diamond Collection, Napier. 2008.Ajr

Here’s a little something to brighten your day – two lamps from the gorgeous Esther Diamond range. You can read about the founder of this innovative Napier-based company by clicking on Design Spot 6 and there are a few cushions from the range here. www.estherdiamond.com www.eon.co.nz

Design Spot 6

Sandi Reefman, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

Meet Sandi Reefman, the Napier creator of the fabulous and rapidly-expanding Esther Diamond Collection – a quirky, colourful range of homeware products that incorporates the designs and artwork of several leading New Zealand artists including Dick Frizzell, Para Matchitt, Fane Flaws, Martin Poppelwell and Ben Pearce. I LOVE the idea of drying my dishes on a tea-towel emblazoned with a Dick Frizzell design or a witty work by Martin Poppelwell; or, in a loose moment, wiping dribbled food from my chin with a table napkin that really looks as though it ought to be framed. It’s all about getting contemporary art out to a much wider audience says Sandi, and I’m all for that. I think it’s a brilliant concept that deserves all the support it is currently getting. See here for more of this gorgeous range. www.estherdiamond.com www.eon.co.nz

Soft Landings

June 2008. Ajr This is just a tiny taste of the terrific cushions from the Esther Diamond Collection. Top: two from nationally acclaimed artist, Dick Frizzell; Bottom left; a witty offering from Napier-based Martin Poppelwell; Bottom right: a new take on the stag’s head from Napier artist, Leanne Culy. You can see a whole lot more of this creative take on household comforts by tuning in to: www.estherdiamond.com or www.eon.co.nz

Table Art

Esther Diamond napkins. June 2008. Ajr.

Staying here at Esther's Place in Napier I am surrounded by stunning products from the Esther Diamond Collection. These are some of the table napkin range - with designs by top New Zealand artists like Dick Frizzell and Martin Poppelwell. http://www.esthersplace.co.nz/ http://www.estherdiamond.co.nz/

To Sleep Perchance To Dream

Esther's Place, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

This is the gorgeous bed I am going to sleep in in Napier tonight!

At the very divine Esther's Place, a waterfront apartment stylishly put together by the Napier design company Esther Diamond, Millar Road, Napier providers of seriously stylish accommodation and Eon Design Store, Auckland.

Sleeping among these divine little rabbits - created by Napier artist, Martin Poppelwell for Esther Diamond - is something I'm very much looking forward to. www.esthersplace. www.millarroad.co.nz www.estherdiamond.co.nz www.eon.co.nz