Wednesday [a]musings

I've found so many fab things on the interweb this week, I thought perhaps I should make a little list ....

1. I could meander for hours through the architecture, lifestyle, and design sections of The Coolhunter website. Oh yes! Creative types abound in this sweet little ol' world of ours.

2. I'd love to visit the sculpture garden at Chatsworth House in the UK.... Think it sounds a bit conservative? Check out this baby!


3. David Byrne's new NYC bike racks add a welcome quirkiness to the city's urban landscape:


4. If I were super-technical, I'd make myself one of these fabulous turn signal cycling jackets


5. ... and if I were cleverly geeky (and patient!), I'd make a team of these super-cute BristleBots - I just love the idea of racing them.



Away from the computer I've been losing myself in the pages of the beautiful Maisons Cote Sud (makes me realise I simply must learn French properly one of these days, but I get by) - it transports me to another world. *sigh!*

Sunshine and jasmine

I love the tiny little red flowers that emerge shortly after the new bright green foliage on our Japanese maple tree. They positively glow in the Spring sunshine.




Meanwhile, our garden is overwhelmed with the heady scent from this cloud of jasmine....



Sweet!

Persepolis

This afternoon we went to see the French/Iranian movie Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Parannaud. Based on Satrapi's graphic novel of the same name, it is deeply moving, sad, funny, quirky and beautifully animated - definitely one of my absolute favourites for this year.


I heard that Iggy Pop and Sean Penn were both cast for the English version, but I would definitely recommend the original French movie (for which Catherine Deneuve voices one of the main characters). Click here to view the trailer.



Post script: When I saw the movie I didn't realised it was traditionally animated (i.e.: by hand, rather than by computer). Now I'm doubly impressed!

Click here, here, here, and here for a peep at the animation process.

Gifts for you!

I'm deep in de-clutter mode. These are just some of the thingies that have emerged from my cupboards. Before heading off to the oppy I thought I should see whether anyone out there in blogland would like to re-home any of them ....

If so, please leave a comment, or drop me an email to let me know your postal address: juddie1[at]optusnet[dot]com[dot]au

Happy to send them on their way.

Great kitschy vintage melamine (?) picnic/BBQ plates (15cm w.) and platter (38cm). - these items are on their way to a new kitchen

Two prints by Marek Wilinski, print size: 10cm x 13.5cm, mountboard: 19cm x 22.5cm

Two Parade magazines from the 70s, and a knitting pattern book



A little apron (not made by me - found in a local op shop)

A stainless-steel Maxwell & Williams cocktail tray (never used)

Cambodian temple carving rubbings (prob. rubbed from reproduction copies of the bas reliefs on the walls of Angkor Wat), on thick handmade paper.
63cm x 30cm. these are on their way to an armchair traveller

As above, 47cm x 36cm and 57cm x 23.5cm


And now to a small section of my fabric stash (with apologies for the poor photo quality) ...

3m of pretty satin - dark chocolate base with a light teal and cream leaflet pattern. The larger leaflets are just over 1cm long.

A 70's cotton double sheet in green, yellow and orange (I've chopped a small section from one end). this item has been rehomed

Vintage table cloth 82cm x 82cm - could perhaps make a little apron or soft toys

1.6 m of chocolate-brown fabric with a subtle deep red pinstripe. This must be a blend (??? sorry - I'm not good at identifying fabric types so can't tell you for sure what it is) - it drapes beautifully, and could be used to make a pretty office skirt. This item has found a new home.

This photo doesn't show the fabric very well either. 1.3m of a rayon blend (??! - see above for my disclaimer!) - non-creasing brown fabric. It seems as though it would be super-easy to wash and wear..... again, perfect for an item of office clothing.

1.8m of lovely drapey chocolate herringbone fabric, originally purchased to make some wide pants for work. This item has found a new home.


3m x .92m of rather stiff cotton from the Cook Islands, in navy and white - anyone looking to make a summer skirt or bag? this item has caught someone's eye

This photo didn't capture adequately the brilliant greens and blues combined in this gorgeous piece of wool (I think). Believe me, it's really beautiful, but not in my usual colour palette and I can't think of a way to use it to its best advantage.

This is a very stiff linen tea-towel from England's Royal Horticultural society - good for drying dishes or perhaps used in a craft project .... this teatowel is off to a much more deserving home


And finally, don't ask me how I came to own this 'cause I have no idea. 1.6m of a snake-skin printed fabric, really difficult to describe - it's kind of plasticky, latexy, fabricky, in olive with a subtle powdery-gold sheen. I was thinking it would be great for making a reptile costume or some dragon or lizard softies. Any takers? this item may soon be transformed into a bubster's dragon's tail

Stay tuned, 'cause I know I have lots of things tucked away in boxes that might appeal to someone out there. I'll post more when I find them.

** Please note: I might ask for postage cost contributions for overseas postage/heavy items - hope that's OK. **

Party dreaming

Oooooh! Today I found a lovely link over at Please Sir, and it makes me really really want to throw a beautiful spring/summer garden party ....

I'm inspired by the pretty party supplies on offer at Cox & Cox in the UK:

Heide love

I've been a little neglectful of my blogs in recent weeks - hope to be back in browsing, contemplating and general web-exploration mode again soon. In the meantime here are a few of the photos I took the other day at the Heide Museum of Modern Art. I'm writing a research paper on the social, cultural, architectural and scientific heritage values of the site for my final semester.

This River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is thought to be 4oo-600 years old. It's a heritage-listed scar tree, considered sacred by generations of Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation:

Unfortunately it has a plastic possum guard wrapped around the trunk at the same height as the scar. I guess it's important to protect the tree from hungry beasties, but it's a shame the park managers haven't found a more respectful and less intrusive option.


These rustic iron sculptures mark the place where the estate's owners buried the ashes of their favourite cows:



These budding magnolia blooms reminded me of candles:


I love the messiness of these hellebores and forget-me-nots:


Countless aspects of the Heide landscape, architecture and history are beautifully dramatic, challenging, inspiring and invigorating. I love to go there to wander around the grounds, picnic under the trees down by the river, discover the many pieces of art placed in surprising locations throughout the gardens, or work my way through the galleries showcasing modern art.

It's all so la-la-lovely!

Let me tell you a secret

How remiss of me not to have mentioned one of my favourite blogs until now! if you haven't been there yet, I'd like to introduce you to Secret Notebooks & Wild Pages.


M. Heart's love of nature and design, beautiful photography, and thoughtful contemplation of the world draws me back again and again. Thank you M. Heart! I love your (not so secret) blog notebook.

The photo above is from Secret Noteboooks & Wild Pages, titled 'Bee leaving'
*groan!*

So sweet!

Squirrel Nut Zippers on Sesame Street

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are one of my favourite bands. Recently I found an adaptation of their song 'Put A Lid On It' on Sesame Street.... it's rather sweet! Click here for the original, and here for the children's version.


"...put a squid on it..." - ha! Now that's just silly.

Spring is springing!

I've been a bit tardy with my posts lately, but can you blame me when we're enjoying such glorious Spring weather?! I've spent as much time as possible outside this week.

Yesterday we wandered down past our local Russian church to CERES for a scrummy vege brunch in the sunshine, surrounded by the heady honey-scents of wattle and fruit blossoms.









Although I might miss the crisp Winter weather, I do love the sparkling sunshine and emerging green of Spring :-)