Gallery Wall Love

Abbey has an amazing collection of gallery walls she has painstakingly scanned in and labeled. They are incredible, and make me want to rent a place where the landlord says, "Sure! I'd love 17 nails in that one wall!". One day...


Anyway, I am nowhere near as clever as Abbey, as I found these two images without labels in my inspiration folders. Thought I'd finally (and shamefacedly) show them off here. If you can help me out where they're from (or if they're yours!) I love them, and I'd love to credit them, too.

By the way, today is my birthday. Despite doing mammoth amounts of work again, I am having quite a lovely day!

ABC, It's as Easy as...

Image from Dutch Osborne via Black Eiffel

Isn't this the coolest thing? You can buy it here. Happy weekend, lovelies and see you on Monday!

Delphine Durand

I was lucky enough to find Delphine Durand from Tiny Candy, and I'm overwhelmed by just how cute and grumpy her little monsters and people are.

Images all via Delphine Durand

Eugenio Recuenco Photographer

I'm in awe of this fabulous photography from Eugenio Recuenco. I'm sure some of it has been used in advertisements - but the sepia and the models - it all looks very luscious and lovely.

Images via Eugenio Recuenco.

Chair Update

I finally took some photos of my dreamy new chairs. Either I've spent far too much time alone or I am big-obsessed with them, but I just can't stop thinking about how I'm going to polish them up and re-cover them.
These photos aren't the best - I was on a fly-by visit to my grandparents - but at least they can give you a bit more of an idea...

Goodies in the mail!

There's almost nothing better than receiving things in the mail. It makes me squeal with happiness! Today, I was lucky enough to receive two lovelies, and am now feeling quite bouncy and happy.

First up, a little while ago, I won a competition (eeee!) on the blog of the lovely Mary of contrary-fame. I am so excited, as not only did I receive the most beautiful earrings made from vintage bingo markers (see below), but I have been a long-time fan and customer of Mary's delicious site. Do go there, and have a look around - it's so much fun and she has free shipping to anywhere in the world! Above are the lovely earrings wrapped (complete with contrary moo card!)...here they are - ta-da!

Thank you Mary - happy three year etsy-versary!

And then I was also lucky enough to get a magnificent card (and newsy, newsy letter!) from my lovely friend (and newly initiated fan of both blogs and stationery!) Miss T.

These cards are made by Care Crafts, the proceeds of which go to the "education of children and empowerment of women in Pakistan". They are so beautiful - the green part is silk with gold paint and sequins. Thank you, my love!

Politics and Paper Dolls

Loobylu kindly gave me the tip to subscribe to the Dover sampler - a weekly taste of the new books which are coming out by the prolific publisher.
I adore these art deco ladies, but still can't get past the obvious, 'what would I do once I had cut these out?' Even as a child, I got quite frustrated with paper dolls. They seemed to involve meticulous cutting - something I was never very good at - and then not much reward afterwards.

That being said, I have long been a fan of the Dover series, often buying friends strange paper doll series, like a John and Jackie Kennedy set, complete with baby John Jnr. I seem weirder now I've written that down... Yet, weirdness ahoy, as you can now buy Barack Obama and John McCain dolls!

Here is the "fashionable way" to support your candidate! The Obama book includes, according to the website, "Barack Obama...his wife Michelle, and their two daughters Malia Ann and Sasha. [Also included are] a wardrobe of authentic outfits: business suit, tuxedo, and for Michelle, a wedding dress, evening gown...and knit shirts and shorts for the children."

I wonder whether artist Tom Tierney is a Democrat, as Obama's pose seems to say, "I'm graceful and model-like - just look at my well placed feet, and svelte lines" whereas McCain's strange stance really does seem to say, "Sadly, I did have both my arms broken in the war, and now must forever grimace accordingly." Maureen Dowd was obviously right - he is so out-cooled by Obama.

Each set also includes an Election Night Scorecard, so presumably you can sit with your paper dolls and play along at home.

By the way, how funny would it have been to have had Howard and Rudd dolls in November 2007? I don't think Australian patriotism is strong enough for that to have been anything other than satire.

I Went to a Book Fair...and Bought Some Chairs!

Image via Shamrock Furniture

My treat for this week was to take a short trip to a local book fair on Sunday. I do love book fairs, and had that nervous feeling of impending book-joy and bargain hunting. What better way to spend a Sunday morning?

I walked in, and saw hundreds of books for 50 cents each, which would have normally put me into a spiral of glee. So what caused me to leave booktopia, you ask?

In the corner, with a sad '$20 each' sign on them were two chairs. One of the lovely volunteers wandered over as I was inspecting them, and told me how comfortable she thought they were (she had spent all of Saturday sitting in one while at the check-out).

Now, why would chairs put me in such a spin? One look at these told me straightaway that they are Parker chairs - solid wooden frames, with cushions in good condition but with worn upholstery that will need upholstering. My parents had a dining set of Parker furniture years ago that I always hated as a child - they were burnt red leather seats which stuck to you in summertime. But thankfully, I was well-versed in the quality of Parker furniture from my family, so thank you ugly red chairs!

In one fell swoop, I bought them both and had to stop myself from squealing! I have stalked similar chairs on eBay, and always been so disappointed when they invariably sell for upwards of $200 each - and here I was buying two for $40 - it just seemed laughable.

The volunteers were all so lovely - two even helped me carry them to my car - and joked endlessly at how I had come to a book fair, and left with chairs!

Sadly, I don't have any photos of them, as I took them straight to my grandparents' house to store them as there's no room at my place right now. I'll be sure to post pictures when I take my camera round again, but for now, they look quite similar to the picture above, (the frame and angled back piece is identical) but the cushions have more rounded edges and are attached to the seat and backrest. The wood, my grandfather tells me, is blackwood, and has a rich, deep browny colour.

The very best thing about these chairs? When I sit in them, I imagine the Pal and I sitting in our abode one day, talking about future plans in these chairs, while having endless cups of tea and giggles.

By the way, it is worth nothing that for perhaps the first time in my life, I was in close proximity to cheap books, and didn't buy any. Ha!

Loft Space of My Dreams

Door Sixteen linked to this amazing loft with photos taken by Anastassios Mentis. Looking at the pictures, I feel like it could be my loft (ahem, not that I actually own property...) as it's exactly the sort of light, bright and airy space of which I dream.

Images via Apartment Therapy

By the way, this is my 101st post on the blog, which is big crazy. Either I am obsessive or just really enjoying this blogging lark! Thanks for all your support and comments - it's been really lovely to seek refuge here from the scary thesis. xx

When Monsters Meet Design

Image via Top 3 by Design

I love a good monster, as you've probably figured out by now. And love to see them incorporated into design quite creatively. I adored these plastic plates by Jacquie Shapiro for French Bull.

And how about these monster plates - the complete set includes, (in tiiiiiny frames!) left to right, Frankenstein, Freddy, Jack the Ripper, Nosferatu, Quasimodo and Frankenstein's Bride.

Image via Design for Use

Chris Ware

Image via Tate

Chris Ware, of Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth-fame, is one of my favourite graphic novelists. The broadsheet above is entitled The Whitney Prevaricator and is from the Tate Modern.

Hankeshi longing

Image via Gennine's Art Blog

One of the things I am really missing in my life at the moment is the lack of crafty activities taking place. By the end of the day, I feel like I both lack the energy and imagination to make pretties. But yesterday I had a deep yearning to get out my hankeshi kit and make some stamps. It's going to be first on the list when I get some free time!

Hankeshi are also known as 'eraser' stamps - you hand carve them out of rubber, ink them up and then stamp away.

Here is some inspiration in the meantime.


Love Asian Taste makes the above stamps - aren't the large seal ones beautiful?

Sakura Days makes a pretty expert stamp - I love those flowers, but the curly hair looks waaay too advanced for me.

Only 3.75 weeks!

Print Mania

I'm so glad I discovered the lovely Jasmine from A Print A Day. Not only are her prints entirely divine, but she also has a page of weekly downloads of truly delectable things.

Have a look! They're amazing. I love this new series of ordinary things juxtaposed with weapons. If I was someone who said 'fierce', I think I would say it here.

Self-seclusion, or Getting a PhD Done...

Image via Desire To Inspire from Michael Alberstat

This is a bit how I feel at the moment, except I don't have a cute egg-chair, nor am I reading fun books about David Bowie. I am in lock-down thesis mode from here on in - four weeks to go! - and while it's exciting, it's also quite emotionally draining and a bit exhausting. So many life changes happening all at the same time.

But, as if on cue, dearest friends have been so helpful. Whether it's a little email to check if my head's above water, dropping food packages over (low GI and gluten-free, no less!), editing and proofreading for me, or sending postcards with words of encouragement, I have been really blessed to have so many thoughtful and lovely things coming my way. So thank you friends for all your love and support - you can't possibly know how much it all means.

Of course having this blog has been a really important outlet, too, and thank you also to my bloggy friends who egg me on.

The thought of actually finishing this thesis makes me all jumpy in the tummy. Imagine not thinking about it! And having some time off!

Eeeee!

I may be a little light on posting over the next little while, but I'll do my best!

Bento Love

Images from Vivo

I love these Bento boxes. Like, a lot. I think they'd be too big to whip out for lunch-at-work, but they're quite fabulous, no?