More stuff can go here...
| Threads from the Web | 25 November 2011 |
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| Change rooms in your mind for a day |
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Extract from “All The Hemispheres” by Hafiz.
Quoted from The Subject Tonight is Love translated by David Ladinsky.
Ink on watercolours.
| There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. And poppies too. |
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| Threads from the Web | 28 October 2011 |
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Pet Food!
I have a younger sister and two infant nieces, and I often think about the kind of world they are growing up in. Cammila writes elegantly about the adolescent trend in high fashion and its effect on us;
The development of little girls and young women into adulthood is supposed to include a proportionate amount of what I think you might call “being a kid.” In addition to it being damaging to a girl’s developing sexuality, identity, and feelings of self worth, it’s also just plain unfair for a kid to be deprived of precious moments in life where the structures and strictures of beauty, body, and style do not yet apply. Every girl deserves the right to arrive at and own her sexuality on her own terms, but I tend to think the same right applies to adulthood in general.
Charlotte wrote a lovely little post on Vintage for Beginners. If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into the vintage trend, I suggest giving it a read.
How easy-peasy is this DIY Peter Pan Collar? And I bet the materials would cost about $4.00 tops. Download the free pattern and GO!
25 Halloween costume ideas. I love how Miss at la Playa posted a photo of Steve Zizou instead of Jacques Costeau!
Or why not dress up like Lydia from Beetlejuice?
I could watch Virginie scoop up autumn leaves all day.
Kate Miss writes about Being Wordless. Sometimes its nice to cut out all the words and say it with pictures instead.
How amazing is this farm? Candelabras, comfy chairs, glasshouses. Perfection.
Lady Problems. I can relate.
Protect Yourself
A slideshow of 25 fun and flirty nail trends to try, with links to the originals. I’m not sure I’d call them flirty, but oh my, they are lovely!
Its spring here in the antipodes but that doesn’t mean I can enjoy these beautiful photos from An Indian Summer; Falling for Fall.
I have a secret girl-crush on Hair Romance. I also looooove putting my hair up in twist and pin styles. It’s so quick and easy and people always say nice things about it. Pop on over and have a look!
Pull Your Socks Up go married! And didn’t she look freakin’ awesome too!
And in other wedding news, how about this Harry Potter themed wedding!
Ahhh! Cute alert! Knitted jumpers for penguins!
I actually cried a little reading this. Do you think he’s gay and other inappropriate questions. If you take one thing away from this week’s Threads from the Web, please make it this;
Do you think he’s gay? Is not a cool question for anyone. Not a 5 year old, a 15 year old or a 50 year old, because no matter what, it’s really irrelevant. In a world where we struggle with the sexualization of children. Why would be discussing a child’s sexuality?
Do you think he’s gay? Pollutes a conversation with undertones and stereotypes. Bad stereotypes, old stereotypes.
Do you think he’s gay? Makes me want to ask you if you think your child will be in to nipple rings, ribbed vibrators and fetishes. Do you? Have you thought about your toddler having sex? Or who’ll they’ll have sex with? No? Me neither.
The top 11 most ridiculous job titles in advertising. Social Media Ninja? Interactive Evangelist? Brand Strategy Guru?
Our walls are looking pretty bare these days. In an effort to cover up all that rental-apartment-beige I was thinking about trying to make my own canvas portrait. Here are some instructions on how to make your own! what do you think?
If I could change our walls, I might try this gorgeous gold on black wallpaper.
Why not try skullface or skull nails this weekend? Hmm?
Be still my beating heart! Treasures of Art Nouveau!
Yet another reason to pop another strawberry in your champagne glass.
Oh my gosh! How beautiful does this photo shoot for W.E. look? I can’t wait to see the film!
Anyone else think this is kinda creepy?
Reading is Sexy. Why yes, I would LOVE one of these, thankyouverymuch.
50 kindle covers you can make yourself. I will defiantly be trying some of these. Erm, perhaps not the magazine and rubber band one though…
From Black and WTF is this photo of women being arrested in 1922 for wearing one-piece bathing suits in public. Makes you think about how much things have changed, doesn’t it? I’m incredibly grateful that women like these two were there to push the boundaries. I wonder what happened to them?
Have a Happy Weekend everyone!
| Book Review | The Espresso Quest |
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The lovely folks at BeanScene Magazine were nice enough to send me a copy of Instaurator’s book The Espresso Quest. Instaurator describes this book as a “record and explanation of my quest to discover the pure joy found in a cup of espresso coffee,” or as he later describes it, “God in the espresso cup.” There is no denying that at first glance, this is a beautiful book. The glossy shallow-depth-of-field shots remind me why Australian’s love cafés’ so much and the macro photography of fresh pulled shots is too sexy for words.
Touching on the autobiographical, the book is divided into four sections. The Taste recounts the author’s foray into the world of coffee. Here, Instaurator develops his definition of God in the espresso cup. I found myself reading about his first caffeine-related epiphany and nodding my head enthusiastically. There are shots out there, that I have tasted, or will taste someday that quietly approach perfection. As Insaurator says, these bijoux can turn up in the most unlikely of places, as if by miracle.
In the next chapter, entitled The Grower, we treated to a breif overview of the growing process, and the many variables in coffee-farming that can effect the end result, namely flavour. Instaurator shares a few anecdotes and casually discusses that process of farming coffee.
Later, we are treated to a basic description of coffee roasting. A few techniques are explored as are one or two gadgets but this chapter lacks the meaty stuff I was hoping for. The final chapter, The Barista is an exploration of the mysterious craft that nowadays keeps so many university students employed. Instead, Instaurator focuses on those truly passionate about creating great coffee, and it’s heartening to read about people willing to experiment and push the boundaries in an effort to create a better tasting beverage.
The Espresso Quest is a light read, full of personal anecdotes written in a friendly and casual style. Instaurator busts a few of the more widely held myths and superstitious of the coffee world, but these are things that any seasoned coffee professional will already know. The pages that do deal with technique are vague so if you are looking for a guidebook or instruction manual, look elsewhere. This is after all, a coffee-themed biography. Instaurator also has the annoying tendency to name-drop certain companies. The book is littered with ® and TM symbols, and I’m cynical enough to suspect that perhaps these names sponsored the publication of the book.
The beautiful photos, stunning presentation and simple text make The Espresso Quest an ideal gift for the co-worker who has a lascivious relationship with their Breville Cafe Roma, or the aunt who still serves up instant coffee loaded with sugar. It’s an inspirational read and will leave you wanting to discover your own “God in the espresso cup.”
The Espresso Quest is $58.95 in hardcover, or $48.95 in electronic format.
| Weekly Wrap Up | 16th October 2011 |
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It’s the end of another week!
I’ve bee reading more murder mystery novels than is probably good for me. I’m fond of Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher series at the moment. They’re set in Melbourne in 1929 and are full of twenties era glamour. Greenwood writes simply, so they’re an easy read and I can get through about one novel a day.
Inspired by a post on {this is glamorous} about silver trays and julep cups, I snapped up this tray at Lifeline last week for the costly sum of $3.50. It isn’t hallmarked, but it might be silver. It has that patina that old silver gets when it hasn’t been used in a while. I don’t mind really, it’s just a nice way to organise my curl-clips and make-up.
I spent and awful lot of money on artisanal cheese this week. Soft creamy brie, heavenly blue, sharp cheddar and a goat’s milk cheese that makes my mouth feel funny. Sometimes it’s not always about flavour…
I contributed more photos to The Toast Files! My love of toast for breakfast lives on!
How amazing is Rimmel Lycra PRO nail polish? Their colours are spot-on for my skin tone, last for ages and as a bonus, the brush is extra big, making applying the stuff easy for the detail impaired (such as myself….)
Trust me, its more stable than it looks! I tried my hand at organising our book collection. For someone who works in a Library, with knowledge of AARC2, Moys, DDC and LC, I sure did choose an atypical sorting method. Trying to get a book out of the collection is bit like playing Jenga. Still, it beats keeping everything in boxes and I don’t need to go out and buy a bookshelf…just yet, anyway.
Extras things that make me happy at the moment: watching the sun set, cocktail hour in my lounge room, short macchiatos, birthday cards, rubarb, finding out about my newborn niece (!!!), boiled eggs, my enslaved tame web developer <3, getting motivated enough for yoga, toast, having comments work on the blog again, laughing at my horoscope, jacaranda trees, petrichor, getting good odds on Southern Speed, pilates, Downton Abbey, organising my shoes, Midnight Oud perfume.
What made your week phenomenal?
Look at this purse. Isn’t it beautiful?! The cutest thing you’ve ever seen?!
I’ve been lusting after these gorgeous YSL mail purses for a couple of years now. It was something I would quietly file away in my mind as “purchase when loaded.” But I just can’t seem to justify the $400 that would makeit mine. There’s also the crushing realisation that this thing is made of leather. That’s right, dead cow.
I’ve been making a bit of an effort to control my lusts for, spending on, and cultivation of leather goods. But its pretty difficult in a world full of footwear and handbag fetishes. Part of me finds the glorification of the handbag kind of bizarre, and the other part of me wants desperately to own it. I’ve definitely got some cognitive dissonance going on! I still own a couple of pairs of leather shoes and one or two second hand leather handbags but I’m only human. I am making an effort to be a dilliget consumer.
Which brings me back to the YSL mail purse. I decided I would make one myself. All it took was a patent black vegan wallet, a gold pen and some aerosol fixative sprayed over the top. Hairspray would work just as well. Easy-peasy.
My handwriting isn’t so neat though. But I kinda like the imperfections!
Now I feel glamorous instead of guilty. What do you think?
| Adoration | 17th April 2009 |
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I don’t need to wait until Thursday to let you know what makes my world sparkle!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13
I adore:
1. Sleeping in. I love warm sheets on early weekend mornings & the way they crinkle. I love having time to dream & wander about in fantasy. I love waking up next to someone awesome.
2. Cloudwatching. I like to watch the clouds on the way to work. I don’t look for pictures or images. I just enjoy the shapes the way they are & let my mind wander. My favourite clouds are cirrus clouds, the ones that are high up & full of ice. Delicious!
3. AWESOME! My new word it seems! I’ve found myself using the word awesome to describe just about everything. It’s so much more refreshing than the usual “nice” or “fine” that I used to pepper my speech with. & you know what, the more I use it, the more it applies. Life is pretty awesome right now.
4. Homemade pizza. Nothing beats pizza you made yourself. The choice of toppings & the perfect cooking time make for a ridiculously tasty dinner (or lunch, or breakfast!)
5. New appliances. It’s nice to have a few conveniences after a period of denial. Boiled water is one of them ;-) Can you say pot of tea?
6. My new pen. I recently bought a new pen. It’s a glorious Parker pen that glides over the paper like nothing I’ve seen before & leaves a beautiful trail of black ink. I love the weight & feel of it in my hand. It’s just itching to record my thoughts. I’m thinking about giving it a name.
7. Crispy fresh fruit. I’m riding the deliciously kaleidoscopic high that is fruit salad.
What do you adore right now?
So Miss Constantine of Cupcakes & Mace has tagged me. Here are the questions & my answers!
What is your current obsession?
Packing things. I’m a little bit obsessed with getting all my possessions sorted out.
What are you wearing now?
Floaty floral print dress. This dress is falling apart because I really do wear it too much.
Do you nap a lot?
Not really. But I do take “day-dream breaks” so I can just sit & imagine things for ten or so minutes without being disturbed.
Why is today special?
Tonight is Nerd Night! This always makes me super excited!
What would you like to learn to do?
Forgive indiscriminately.
Image by Jeff Bauche
What’s for dinner?
Probably chilli with corn chips!
What was the last thing you bought?
A lemon & four limes. Hey, you asked!
What are you listening to right now?
My intuition.
What is your favourite weather?
I like cold rainy days & windy days & warm sunny days & thunderstorm days.
What is on your bedside table?
I don’t have a bedside table.
What’s your style?
I’m still in the process of figuring this out. I don’t think it’s anything static though. My tastes are very fluid & unfixed.
What is your most challenging goal right now? If you could have a superpower what would it be?
To make people smile the moment I meet them.
If you could take an all expenses paid trip to one place where would it be?
The Czech Republic. Again.
Name the things you cannot live without.
Daydreams, warm beverages in general, cheese, colour, public transport.
What would you like to have in your hands right now?
My destiny!
Image by checoo
What would you like to get rid of?
Bad vibes, nasty thoughts, junk & stuff in general.
What was the last book you read?
Pyramids by Terry Pratchet. I read a new Discworld novel each week – it’s a guilty pleasure.
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Scotland.
What languages can you speak?
English, LOLcat & smatterings of Czech, German & Latin.
What language(s) do you want to be able to speak?
As many as possible!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t ever want to grow up thank you very much.
What is the worst job you’ve had?
I worked in a food court & it was mostly physical labour & my boss had a habit of standing too close.
Name something that makes you deliriously happy.
Getting hugs via a text message. It’s almost as good as the real thing except that you never expect them.
| Today’s Threads | 20th March 2009 |
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(from yesterday…)
- White cotton stripe bouse
- Black satin sash
- Black cotton slip dress
- Black knee-high socks
- White Doc Martens
- Silver bangle
- Silver & amber ring
- faux croc bag
Schoolgirl chic. For some reason I decided to wear bright red lipstick. I think it was these photos of Emma Watson that made me do it! Anyhow, this is what I pranced around in while running errands. It was a really hot & humid day so I returned home looking a bit dishevelled. Despite all the cotton I was still too hot! I think this outfit would look better with some red high heels a la Agent Lover & a bow tie instead of a sash.
