To finish off 2010 with a bang, Two Flat Whites is going mad with giveaways. Thanks to our many contributors and supporters, we will have loads of prizes to giveaway to see off a great year.

If you haven’t already heard, Two Flat Whites has created a Fan Page on Facebook. Future giveaways will feature through this new Fan Page, so do yourself a favour and sign up now!

To sign up to our Fan Page, simply click on the link on the top right hand corner of our website, you can’t miss it.

For all you INXS fans out there, this album is an absolute cracker, 2 Years in the making “Original Sin” brings together an array of amazing talent to cover some of their greatest hits.

Read more about INXS - Original Sin»

Two Flat Whites in conjunction with our friends at Design Federation are giving four (4) lucky people the chance to win a copy of the Design Federation Book ‘The Annual’, which is being released on the 25 ^th November 2010.

The Federation Annual will be released at an exclusive launch party sponsored by Peroni and Nespresso at The Art Lounge kicking off at 7pm on the 25th November 2010. Design Federation called upon the many talents of their readership and supporters (the “Friends of the Federation”) for submissions to feature in this exciting inaugural departure from the virtual to the actual.

This print debut will serve as a striking visual showcase of the community in a beautiful, full-colour inspiration book. The theme of the book was “1” to celebrate the first book of its kind and demonstrate Design Federation’s solidarity with the Aussie design community.

All profits from The Federation Annual will be going to Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiative (CYI). Based in Sydney’s Surry Hills, CYI is a unique service that provides young people aged 16-25, who are facing many and varied challenges in their lives, such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, family breakdown, unemployment and early school leavers the opportunity to access professional and accredited creative programs. Design Federation has partnered with CYI to raise awareness for the program and promote their inspirational work.

The Federation Annual is available for $34.40 pre-order via the DF  Big Cartel site .

For your chance to win this great prize, simply email your name, postal address and the code word to info . Remember you need to be signed up on the on Facebook to win and also grab the code word.

Competition closes Sunday, 28 ^th November 2010.

If you havent heard of Briggs (no not shannon briggs the boxer), then you are in for a real treat, as this Australian Rapper with his slick rhyme delivery is one to look out for. Click here for all the tour dates for Briggs "The Blacklist"»

How do you experience the esteemed Yarra Valley wineries if you’re broke and don’t drive?  Now there’s a dilemma many students philosophise over as they recline into their second-hand couches sipping three-dollar merlot.  Most decide that it’s not possible, that it’s an experience reserved for the wealthy, and recline further – resigning to live vicariously through an episode of Getaway .  I am one of those broke students with no car.  Luckily (?!) for me I have one of those darling girlfriends who just loooves an adventure; the more ambitious, the better.  Now throw in a couple of recently purchased second hand push-bikes to the mix and I was faced with the recipe for a beautiful disaster; its bittersweet taste not easily forgotten.

The toasty interior of the Flinders to Lilydale train allowed a temporary escape from the harsh reality of Melbourne’s furious winds outside.  At bang on midday we sat down at Danielle’s Cafe (conveniently located directly opposite Lilydale train station) with a map marking the wineries around the region.  With well over 50 estates within a 30 kilometre radius, we sought the advice of the friendly blokes at Yarra Valley Cycles (conveniently located two doors down from the cafe).  They drew a few squiggles and wished us luck.  A quick gulp of Danielle’s enlivening latte, a cautious glance at the brooding weather clouds overhead and we were off:  pedalling down the B300 highway at the steady pace of 11 km/h, alongside the thunderous cavalcade of hurtling trucks and semi-trailers blowing their warm welcome of horns and jeers.  Viva la adventure!

Read more about the Yarra Valley»

In the news recently has been the talk about Interest Rates and the Banks. I know that it seems that the banks are always popping up as a hot topic and it seems for good reason. Last week the Reserve Bank lifted Interest Rates by 0.25 points and guess what, the Commonwealth Bank decided to almost double its rate!

So many questions come to mind, the most common seems to be how can the banks continue to raise interest rates above the Reserve Bank’s rate; when they are continuing to make billion dollar profits? The Big 4 Banks continue to neglect good old fashioned customer service by closing branches and making us wait while on the phone, sacking workers and raising charges, yet we as a community continue to accept it!

The Commonwealth Bank won’t be the only bank to raise interest rates in the next few weeks, all the banks will likely follow. They are sitting back looking at the communities reaction to the situation and will pounce when we least expect it! The banks are always quick to raise interest rates and by large percentages, they raise the credit card rates at the same time, even though these are ridiculously high. Can you remember the last time banks dropped interest rates so quickly from the Reserve Banks adjustments?

The other key fact here is the current economic climate; wasn’t it only a year or so ago when the Federal Government declared that it would guarantee each deposit and buy the Banks out if they fell into trouble! Isn’t it still offering this support? So what gives the banks the right to kick the Federal Government and the Reserve Bank in the guts when it was these same bodies who have been supporting them through some of our toughest times in recent history.

The Banks are not silly. They realise that customers will need to walk away before they change their spots, and guess what, people will not! Why? A mixture of factors, but the main ones seem to be lack of knowledge of just how much they can save and simple laziness. That’s right,  people just can’t find the time to worry about trivial matters like this.

My suggestion to you is to keep the pressure on the Banks. Get free advice from an independent mortgage broker, check out a smaller regional or community bank or a credit union. You will be surprised just how much you could be saving on your mortgage and credit card repayments every month.

Article written by Disheartened Dave.

Its finally here! The Federation Annual will be released at an exclusive launch party sponsored by Peroni and Nespresso at The Art Lounge kicking off at 7pm on the 25th November 2010. Design Federation called upon the many talents of their readership and supporters (the “Friends of the Federation”) for submissions to feature in this exciting inaugural departure from the virtual to the actual.

This print debut will serve as a striking visual showcase of the community in a beautiful, full-colour inspiration book. The theme of the book was “1” to celebrate the first book of its kind and demonstrate Design Federation’s solidarity with the Aussie design community.

All profits from The Federation Annual will be going to Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiative (CYI). Based in Sydney’s Surry Hills, CYI is a unique service that provides young people aged 16-25, who are facing many and varied challenges in their lives, such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, family breakdown, unemployment and early school leavers the opportunity to access professional and accredited creative programs. Design Federation has partnered with CYI to raise awareness for the program and promote their inspirational work.

The Federation Annual is available for $34.40 pre-order via the DF  Big Cartel site

Do you remember the floury golden goodness of the pastry treats of your youth? You know… when you used to eat carbs.

Fingers of gooey dough, studded with raisins and lashings of pink icing. Custardy slices, strawberry and mock cream-stuffed neenish tarts, what next is the question… rich gentlemen have it, boys, in-di-gestion!

Sorry, Oliver aside, we do want more but then there seems to be a drought in Sydney. We will now refer to it as The Great Cake Shop Drought and, I’m afraid, it ushered in the canary-yellow, crumbly, hardened pastry that has permeated suburbia.  I’m sure I don’t need to remind you this has been followed by heavy, too-floury cupcakes, soggy pastry, thin icing, sickly-sweet aerated cream-substitute and a general reduction of apple filling all round. Read all about The Great Aussie Cake Shop»

Can you believe how quickly the year has passed by? I’m already getting bits and pieces ready for Christmas, but I feel like it was only Easter last week.

Anyway, with that said, I thought it was time for a little update on all that has been happening these last few months. I was lucky to get away to Europe for a few weeks, a little lazing about in Greece before heading to London for some inspiration. I found some delightful galleries and stores, like Salon Contemporary and Elphick’s (who have the cutest prints!).

Now, back in Sydney, I have been working on new pieces for the ‘From the Menagerie’ series and also the artwork for Sparkadia’s second album (by the way, how catchy is Talking Like I’m Falling Downstairs?).

There are also a couple of things that you might want to check out…

1. The Libby Edwards Galleries in Melbourne have a couple of the new ‘From the Menagerie’ originals hanging on the wall, if you happen to be in the Armadale area..
2. A lot of people have been asking about the Elephant, unfortunately the limited edition giclee prints have all run out, but I do have poster prints available at the store… I’m also going to be releasing a new flying owl print soon, so keep an eye out.
3. Tomorrow night (Thursday) is the opening for The Happy Tree show at Monster Children in Sydney, I’ll have my work hanging along side other Element Advocates including Courtney Brims, Sarah Larnach and Beastman! Yay!!
4. The ZM925 x Kareena silver pendants have been moving fast, so don’t miss out on your favourite (I’ve kept a couple for myself!)… I’m going to be popping gift cards in for all orders over $40 leading up to Christmas too, as a little treat.

Over at Design Federation they are giving readers the chance to win one of 10 double passes to see Gainsbourg, a movie about the life and times of the legend Serge Gainsbourg.

To enter, click the link