The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English

Love love love. Anything with words, but this is also a lovely list. I'd add 'linen', 'epitome' and 'uxorious'. What are your favourites?

Vetted

This desk set is just perfect. It makes me want to get rid of everything I own and buy wooden lovelies. Which could be problematic, I guess...

Leather Envelope

I love that Korean stationery is really focused on a 1950s European feel. This wallet is such a delightful vintage-looking package - just lovely.

Envelope Letter Holder

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Love this. That's all.

Stephen Fry: On Language

A beautiful way to begin the week - happy Monday, everyone!

Pencil Flats

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Aren't these adorable?! I'm actually going on a non-internet buying spree until the end of January - I'm trying to test my discipline and see how many pennies I can save. So in the meantime, you'll be seeing a lot of what I'd otherwise be buying!

Owl Calendar

I know, another trend animal. The owl. But my friends, I loved owls long before Harry Potter and before they were hungover. My love stemmed from two wonderful and unique facts: owls can turn their heads around 360 degrees (don't correct me on that if I'm wrong. I enjoy the myth) and that their collective noun in 'parliament'. Awesome.

So if you like owls like I do, you might like to check out this delightful, customisable owl calendar. Incredibly cool.

Endorsements Dec 2010

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Every month, my book club follows the Slate Culture Gabfest model, and endorses a cultural recommendation. We thought it would be fun to share them on the blog, so here goes!

The recommedations this month are:

The AV Club for excellent TV reviews.

Using Picasa for uploading photos.

The new TV series Sherlock, from the BBC.

The book, The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell.

Neil Perry's flourless and almond-meal-free chocolate cake.

D. H. Lawrence's novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover.

The TV series Rake on ABC iView.

The Chrome Web Store (especially the Grooveshark and New York Times apps which let you stream music and see the newspaper).

The new Kanye album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Henry James's Portrait of a Lady.

2011 Diary

After having most excellent diaries for 2009 and 2010, the race is on to find a new one for 2011. Yes, I like to hunt in November - what of it?! The one above is pretty gorgeous, with a lovely hot air balloon. But the one below is in front by a whisker - who could resist the mantra "Don't you worry about a thing"? Not me!!

Paper Town Friends

I probably don't need an app that is 100% pure distraction, but this one, where you can make your own paper dolls, is pretty adorable. I think the silver-panted rhino is my favourite.

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Update

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This little guy - a dancing escape key, no less - made me laugh today. Lots going on, but happy and busy. Friends start coming over soon for the wedding, and I can't wait to giggle, get excited and have lovely yarns.

See you soon xx

Horsey Bikey

This Horsey Bikey is pretty delicious. It definitely makes bike riding look more fun, that's for sure. (Sorry if I've alienated any cyclists out there!) Thanks again to Ali for the heads-up: she really should get half credit as author of this blog, lately!! If you haven't read her eloquent film reviews, you really should start.

Tokuya Melbourne

Some very cute containers

Last Friday I was in Melbourne for work for the day, which was most excellent timing. I had recently read on Twitter (sorry - can't remember who tweeted, but thank you!) that a brand new Hyaku-en store had opened up in Melbourne. Many of the stores like this in Japan are from the brand Daiso, which is a high-quality, low-cost Japanese brand. Tokuya is (from what I could tell) made in China but Japanese design. And everything in the store is $3.50. Eeee!

Hula girls ribbon with hula skirts which come off the ribbon. Cuuute!

I only had about 15 minutes in the shop, which wasn't nearly enough. Although it's nothing on real Japanese Hyaku-en, it is a good, smaller sample size. There is lots of stationery, kitchen goods, hardware, cleaning products, beauty products and more. The kitchen section is very good, with lots of bento boxes, chopstick cases and little plastic animal-headed toothpicks. (Having bought about 40 plastic animal-headed toothpicks in Japan, I told myself no more. But really, can you ever have too many?)

Aroma pens, pencils and and cute little pens.

Hedgehog procession! "It walks side by side always together. It is a start of happy time"!
"Good sheep: it splashes in a lot of lovely child sheep. It follows one after another later"
"The Handmade Letter"
I can't go near hyaku-en without a Miffy purchase. This one is going to look especially grown-up in meetings...

Overall verdict? Most exciting and thrilling to have an Aussie hyaku-en. I didn't buy as much as I wanted, partly limited by time and by the fact that I only had a handbag with me. But it is a lot of fun, and if you love hyaku-en in Japan, you will adore this. Go, explore and love!


Tokuya: Basement, 236 Bourke St, Melbourne. (Near Target).
If you're heading to Melbourne, or if you live there, please tell me and I will ask for you to be a stationery mule! Seriously. I will pay cost + postage and maybe even treats to willing buyers!

Graduation Day!

Yes, I thought books were the only possibly appropriate image for today. I get to put on an ugly bonnet hat, have my thesis topic read out, and officially graduate. Wish me luck!

Words

WORDS from Everynone on Vimeo.

One of my favourite podcasts, Radiolab, recently featured this beautiful short film about words, noise and nature. I know, I've been blogging a lot about short films lately - I don't know why - but this one's a keeper. I should warn you - this isn't 100% worksafe (a split second is a bit risque), so please be careful when and where you play it.

Oh, and it's my birthday today, so I feel like I can be totally self-indulgent! Hope you enjoy the Words!

History of The Beatles as told by their hair

Yeah ok, I'm a Beatles nerd. Loved this poster with much glee and happiness. (It's also pretty accurate!)

Elisa Strozyk

These papery and wooden installations by Elisa Strozyk make my heart melt. Above, is a pendant lamp and below is a rug.

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Blu's Big Bang Big Boom

This short film by Italian street artist Blu is extraordinary. Using all kinds of media, Blu explores consumption and environmental destruction in the most interesting of ways. A bossy addendum: You must watch all the way through - it's totally worth it.

Have a lovely weekend - see you Monday!

Life Baggage

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Ahem, I am hoping to start a Proper, Full-time Job soon, and realised I have nothing to wear. So I've been quite busy over the past few weeks trying to quickly accumulate a wardrobe which will be functional, warm and not too expensive: turns out I may as well have decided to find the Holy Grail, because it probably would have been easier.

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Happily, I have narrowed down some work bag options, but won't buy anything until I know the dimensions of my work laptop. Nerd! I know, but obviously that's important. What do you think of these pretties? They're pretty reasonably priced and come in lots of different colours, too.

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Grove Made iPhone Cases

Aren't these little bamboo iphone cases the prettiest thing? Made out of Portland, Oregon, these little cases are engraved with the loveliest designs. Enjoy!

All images via here.