We're in vogue over here

I was in luck at the local library this week with I scored a copy of the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of Vogue Living Australia. Featured is the home of Anna Spiro, from Brisbane design and decoration shop Black and Spiro, and Absolutely Beautiful Things blog. And it’s gorgeous.

The 1930s brick bungalow is a jewel box revealing Anna’s perfect mix of antique and new pieces. I particularly like the eclectic mix of fabrics and of art works – including the white painted floors; the black and white linen covered dining wing chairs; the black, white, pink and orange colour palette; the David Bromley nudes. It's great to see a beautiful Brisbane home featured.

Reflecting on his art work David Bromley has said, I weave through my thoughts and feelings searching for words to parallel the visual. As a presenter of images I express myself through paint and I don't always have a verbal explanation for my outpourings on canvas – perhaps this is why there is some ambiguity in the narrative in my paintings. I don't always like to reveal a definite outcome to the scenarios in my works and prefer the viewer to make their own decision... We all attach different meanings to things based upon our own experiences, opinions and desires. I don't want to eliminate other interesting possibilities...

Also enjoyed was a tidbit on Todd Selby’s cult website The Selby. The Selby features photographs, paintings and videos of interesting people and their creative spaces. All parts of the world are covered here including photos of Australian artists and designers at home. Todd’s recently published book The Selby Sydney is available for purchase on line as a signed limited edition - as is the poster below created by Sydney based artist Jonathan Zawada from photographs on The Selby website.

Featured too is iconic Australian fashion and textile designer Linda Jackson. Linda has been collecting opals for three decades. In her honour, and because the birthstone for those born in October is the opal, here’s a little Etsy collection.

l to r: Black Opal Rock Soap (yes soap!)from Good Karma Soaps, Linda Jackson via cairns.com.au, Server Set from Shelley Macdonald Designs, Ceramic Pocketbook with Opals from Brenda Santa Fe, Les Liaisons Dangereuses Necklace from Realisation Creations, Boulder Opal Pendant from Nature’s Art Melbourne, Opal Gemstone from Marcy Panek

Wednesday Update: I'm behind with my posts this week - life and fatigue are getting in the way. But, on Saturday, I'll definitely be joining in the Halloween Party being hosted by Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist. You're all invited to drop by here for a party and giveaways!

Fabulous Blogs

Valse Du Beau/Waltz of the Beautiful by Cody Smith Photos

In a local paper yesterday psychologist Dr Janet Hall welcomed the continuing popularity of light entertainment, saying that people felt happier if they embraced feel-good entertainment. You should expose your mind to whatever is beautiful, noble, right, pure and admirable, and anything that’s excellent or praise-worthy. She warned about the possibility of depression from constant exposure to apocalyptic and terror-filled TV shows and movies.

Yes, words like beautiful, noble, right etc are subjective. Sometimes too the English language is limiting. When it comes to blogs, the ones I follow often do it for me. They’re filled with my kind of beauty - not just material things but beauty in ideas, in observations. There’s humour, honesty and a feeling of connectedness. When I leave a comment I know that it will matter to the blogger. I’d love to hear about a blog or two that does it for you, where a visit leaves you feeling better than you did before.

The Art of Sitting / Pic Giveaway

Mother Print from Neon Matisse, Sit Under A Tree Pendant from Jennifer Stumpf, Sitting with Franklin Haiki Teacup and Saucer by Teaspoons and Petals, Cushion/Pillow Cover from Sew English

I've just enjoyed a little sit with some beautiful Etsy art work. Just punching in a search word and browsing never fails to inspire me. No I mightn't get much 'art' done, but just absorbing others creations helps me live creatively in everyday ways.

Then I had a little sit with this video. I don't think I'll forget the message. I hope I don't.

And now I'm sitting with this poem 'Sitting Outside at the End of Autumn' by Charles Wright. Just enjoying it - the rhythm, the images, the mystery.

Three years ago, in the afternoons,
I used to sit back here and try
To answer the simple arithmetic of my life,
But never could figure it—
This object and that object
Never contained the landscape
nor all of its implications,
This tree and that shrub
Never completely satisfied the sum or quotient
I took from or carried to,
nor do they do so now,
Though I'm back here again, looking to calculate,
Looking to see what adds up.

Everything comes from something,
only something comes from nothing,
Lao Tzu says, more or less.
Eminently sensible, I say,
Rubbing this tiny snail shell between my thumb and two fingers.
Delicate as an earring,
it carries its emptiness like a child
It would be rid of.
I rub it clockwise and counter clockwise, hoping for anything
Resplendent in its vocabulary or disguise—
But one and one make nothing, he adds,
endless and everywhere,
The shadow that everything casts.

previous three photos from Emery Et Cie

If you'd like this photo of Forget Me Nots I took with a vintage Holga camera just leave a comment and I'll do a draw on Friday night. It's 7"x5" and signed. If you want, follow along, and/or do some promos for extra chances.

Thank you for sitting here with me.

And the winner is....number 28...Roh Bruhn...I'll be in touch!

Other worlds

from TYanceyIV

One of my favourite activities is night swimming. I’m lucky there’s a pool here. And lazy backstroke is my preferred stroke. I can look at the stars and the moon then. It’s like a meditation.

Sail Us To The Moon Print on etsy from Velvetwoods

Living close to the city we don’t get the vibrant view of the stars that you do out west, and I miss that, but there’s enough here to remind me that there’s another world up there.

Elena Kalis underwater photography available from here

I like to walk along the river bank earlier in the evening. Most days I see at least one fish jumping, as if to remind me that there’s another world down there too. Life is so good.

photos from Kevin Raskoff via eu.lumas.com

Let's eat cake to celebrate giveaway winner

from Little Rosy Runabout

Charm Bracelet from Linda Vista, Letterpress and Linocut Recipe Cards from Ruby Victoria Printmaking, Wool Felt Handbag from Barbara Paige Knits, Photo from Grant Thomas on Deviate Art, Fake Chocolate Cake Postcard from Tang Baby, Birthday Card from Able & Game

Congratulations, and a big piece of yummy cake, for LW from The Pink Front Gate the winner of the Tim Irving photos giveaway! I'll be in touch. So many entries in this giveaway but what a giveaway. Thank you again Tim. If you didn't win, head over to Tim's Shop and purchase that favourite piece. There's even free worldwide shipping. Oh and then get yourself some cake to celebrate.

Did you know that followers of Artemis, goddess of the Moon, commemorated her birthday on the sixth day of each month by making a cake of flour and honey. I think this is a fine tradition. Let’s have birthday cake and a party at least once every month - with or without veggies.

Watch out for this...

via escutegarota

via garancedore

via vi.sualize.us

Don't forget to enter the fabulous giveaway in the previous post!

BIG Giveaway of Art Photography by Tim Irving

Yes…a giveaway! Tim Irving is a widely published photographer based in Granada Spain. He is a ‘travellin man’ traversing the world and taking his inspiration from any area that inspires and stimulates him. Often using vintage and handmade cameras Tim takes us on a world tour with soul. Enter to win any three photographs from Tim’s Etsy Store, Opart. Enter up to six times by leaving a comment here (1 entry) visiting Tim’s store and then letting me know which photo is calling to you (1 entry), following this blog (1 entry), following Tim’s blog (1 entry), doing a blog entry about this giveaway (1 entry), doing a ‘tweet’ about the contest (1 entry). The contest is open for seven days, ending midnight Brisbane time on Monday 28 September.

If you’d like me to host a giveaway for you on this blog, please send me at email at hfmedia@bigpond.net.au

I'm feeling much better and making tentative steps back to a 'normal' life. Here's to feeling contentment and joy in every precious moment.

Floating

Photos of Hot Air Balloons that I collaged a while ago via Flickr - I’ll add individual credits at a later date.

It seems a lifetime since I last sat at this computer. I’ve been hospitalized with some strange bugs in my lungs. I’m home now and being given iv drugs through a picc line by visiting nurses…and visits by pathology for blood tests to monitor the levels of the potent drug cocktail. It’s been horrible but necessary. I’m thankful for the medical care I’ve received. And so grateful for family and friends who’ve been there for me. I wish I could say more – something wise and insightful – but my brain isn’t functioning too well. I’ll do a post next week when I can stay vertical long enough! Meanwhile, why not visit some of the other commenters – you’re all lovely people.

Trippin over the moon

Lovely fashion from members of DUST (Etsy's Down Under Street Team)1. Blossom n Bird 2. Vintage Principessa 3. Maisy Brown Retro Repro 4. Penelope Red 5. Nostalgi 6. Angelene 7. JaEm Art 8. Felicia Fairy 9. Lyptis 10. Evie Grace Vintage 11. Velvet Ribbons 12. Hopelessly Devoted 13. Heidi and Seek

I haven't been able to complete a new work for the Three Muses 'Moonstruck' Challenge this week but did write a verse here a few months ago. Yes, I know it's kind of cheating...but...I'm out of action for the next week or so getting some medical treatment. So please forgive me and send some lovin!

'Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.' Coco Chanel

Private Moon Series by Leonid Tishkov and Boris Bendikov via Moscow House of Photography 'Private Moon is a visual poem, telling a story about a man who found the Moon and stayed with her for the rest of his life. In the upper world, in the attic of his house, he saw the Moon which had fallen from the sky. At first she was hiding from the sun in a dark, damp tunnel and was constantly frightened by the passing trains. Then she came to the house of the man. Wrapping the moon in a thick blanket, he gives her autumn apples and drinks tea with her. When she finally recovers he puts her on a boat and carries her across a dark river to a high bank, where moon pine-trees grow. He descends to the lower world wearing the clothes of his deceased father and then returns, illuminating the way with his private moon. Transcending the borders between worlds via narrow bridges, sinking into sleep, taking care of the heavenly body, man turns into a mythological being living in the real world like in a fantastic fairy-tale.' Leonid Tishkov

Some weekend frippery

I'm besotted by the art deco setting used in this clip. The furniture, the glamour, the atmosphere. A gorgeous little movie. The handbag I'm afraid only played a bit part for me. If $1500 is a little pricey for you as well, and you have a hankering for this designer, you could always purchase a vintage Dior accessory. Maybe you could create your own intriguing romantic tale.

Spun Sugar Vintage

Posh Adornment

Shell Art 123

Iones Attic

Jack's 'handbag' adventure from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde -

Jack: I don't actually know who I am by birth. I was... well, I was found.
Lady Bracknell: Found?
Jack: Yes. The late Mr. Thomas Cardew, an old gentlemen of a kindly disposition found me and gave me the name of Worthing because he happened to have a first class ticket to Worthing at the time. Worthing is a place in Sussex. It's a seaside resort.
Lady Bracknell: And where did this charitable gentlemen with the first class ticket to the seaside resort find you?
Jack: In a handbag.
Lady Bracknell: [closes eyes briefly] A handbag?
Jack: Yes, Lady Bracknell, I was in a hand bag. A somewhat large... black... leather handbag with handles... to it.
[pause]
Lady Bracknell: An ordinary handbag.
Lady Bracknell: And where did this Mr. James... or, Thomas Cardew come across this ordinary handbag?
Jack: The cloak room at Victoria Station. It was given to him in mistake for his own...
Lady Bracknell: [Shocked] The cloak room at Victoria Station?
Jack: Yes. The Brighton line.
Lady Bracknell: The line is immaterial.
[begins tearing up notes]
Lady Bracknell: Mr. Worthing. I must confess that I feel somewhat bewildered by what you have just told me. To be born, or at any rate bred in a handbag, whether it have handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life which reminds one of the worst excesses of the French revolution, and I presume you know what that unfortunate movement led to?