27.08.2008

It was a nice day.

C x

Jack's Painting

My nephew Jack is always a little shy around me which is something I've battled with for a long time. He makes me laugh a lot and I think he's the spunkiest 5 year old I know. We have not, however, spent nearly enough time with eachother and I hope over the years that after more time spent together he and I develop a bond that lasts forever.

I asked him one day if he could paint me a picture, and a few days later he came to my house with his Mum, walked slowly with trepidation through the door with an A4 piece of paper in his hand avoiding all eye contact with me. His Mum said 'Jack, do you have something for Aunty Clare?', and he nodded and very quickly handed me the piece of paper and ran off.

I instantly fell in love with my new piece of fine art. The colours matched those in my bedroom. The shapes were organic. It was abstract. There were dramatic lashings of black. It was a bit Willem De Kooning meets Claude Monet.

Now I have been told Jack usually paints in larger than life primary colours, so it was interesting to see that when he was commissioned to do a piece for me, he chose colours that he could associate with me. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I really do think he put a bit of thought into this piece. And it certainly paid off.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

C x

Art Deco @ The NGV

I woke up bright and early this morning, and took myself [and Sarah] down to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Art Deco exhibition. A must-see for furniture design lovers and those obsessed with Parisian culture. But it's not all French, the exhibition shows pieces from all over the world, from Japanese lacquer finishes to Australian graphic design.

My favourites? The posters by Paul Colin [see one above, entitled Le Temulte Noir: Josephine Barker], the Strand Palace hotel foyer, and of course, the Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel haute couture gowns.

Click Me!

C x

How to Make {almost} Everything

I purchased an excellent new book for my collection the other day, How To Make {almost} Everything. It's been put together by the people at ReadyMade magazine. Here's how the people at ReadyMade describe their mag:

ReadyMade is a bimonthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff, who see the flicker of invention in everyday objects—the perfectly round yolk in the mundane egg.

I'm off to make myself a Martini Glass Bird Buffet.

C x

Come Fly With Me

Two Bad Mice

Push Me Pull You Design

Chronicle Books
[image by an unknown 18th century Japanese artist]

Beau Monde

Studio Antic

I am one of those people that loves collecting. Yep, I'm a hoarder. But I only hoard beautiful things. I have a collection of little plates in the shape of leaves. I collect vintage shoes & dresses [I will buy them and keep them even if they don't fit me, no joke]. However, my favourite thing to collect is greeting cards with pictures of birds on them. I love well-designed greeting cards and I am obsessed with birds. I bet you never guessed that last part.

Above are my five of my favourite cards and links to their publishers.

C x

Pow!

I have been doing what I do best this morning, and that is a bit of online shopping. I stumbled upon Homeroom Clothing and they sell something I have wanted since I was a little girl, an action ring! They also have some very awesome threads for sale.

Now I just have to sit back and patiently wait for my order to arrive...

C x

The Cobra Snake

This dude, Mark The Cobra Snake, is snap happy. And he's good at it too. These photos make me want to live the rockstar life in New York.

The Cobra Snake

I'm off to find some fake eyelashes.

C x

Clare vs. Comic SansMS

WHY OH WHY are people still using Comic Sans MS for anything?

Official Ban Comic Sans Website
C x

Quote

I once told a woman I coined the phrase 'Pardon my French.'
- George Costanza

C x

Website Nerd

I am a nerd, I spend way too much time in front of the computer. I've added some more websites of interest to this blog [see left-hand side], for those shy subscribers who frequent my blog. [Hi Mum!]

C x

Hyper-Colour Tshirts

I was the coolest kid on the playground in Grade 6. Why? Because I was rocking a Hyper-Colour tshirt. You know what I am talking about, those delightful tees that change colour according to your body heat.

I was so happy to discover that American Apparel have brought back the tee ['cept they're calling them Thermochromatic Sheer Jersey Tshirt], and even more excited that I no longer have to shop online, I can visit their new store in Chapel Street. Double yay!

Click ME!

C x

P.S. Yes I am a bit post happy today.

We Love Colors

My new fave place for online shopping. I LOVE colours.

We Love Colors!

C x

Dr Suess Quote

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
- Dr. Suess

C x