They All Come From a Land Down Under

I’ve been noticing a distinct trend lately on my Instagram account.

Everyone is Australian.

Ok, not EVERYONE. But nearly every time I see an impossibly beautiful cake, or a stunning bit of calligraphy, or the sickest illustration, I look at the website, and it’s a .au address. And not unlike Mormons, it seems like all Aussies are also hot and happy, which just seems unfair.

Why are Australians so f***ing cool? Isn’t it enough that they have that accent? Can’t they leave a bit for the rest of us?

Apparently not.

My 4 favorites:

Nectar and Stone: Cake and Confections

The Instagram of this Melbourne confectionary is all pink-aqua-watercolor-gilded goodness. The chocolates, sugar cookies, and macarons are jewel-like, with masterful hand-applied color and bits and bobs of edible gold leaf. They probably cost $12 a piece, but damn, it’s good eye-candy (pun intended). They’re so pretty, it almost makes me mad.

Cake Ink: Cake and Stationary

Fairly self explanatory- this shop (ALSO in Melbourne) specializes in both cakes and ink- as in calligraphy and paper goods. It’s all good- but I’m specifically in it for the frequent posts of sugar flowers-their peonies are some of the prettiest around.

Kelly Smith: Illustration

It takes a lot of focus to draw the way Kelly Smith does- her super lifelike graphite drawings are no joke. I usually can do a single eye and then need to move onto something else, so girlfriend has the patience of a saint. Her work is pretty and subtle and nearly colorless, so of course, I love it.

Samm Blake: Photography

So this is a bit of a cheat, because Samm Blake now works out of New York. BUT, she’s from Australia, so it still counts. A fine art photographer who shoots weddings. Look at the photos and fall in love.

So congrats, Australia. You’re killing it.