Wednesday, June 29, 2011

My first attempt...

Played around with my camera last night....
... and then filtered the images with the
 poster edges effect (on Adobe Photoshop)
It's subtle but I really like it.
I tried the effect with warmer Brown tones and then changed
my colour scheme to Grey, Black and Silver...
These are all items I have somewhat of an obsession with by the way.
String, twine, ribbon....
.... fabric, jewellery, swing tags, cards and dried flowers
(I stress dried flowers... not pressed... very different if you ask me)
It was fun setting up little a little milieu for textures, colours...
.... and beautiful objects.
I love my camera.



Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Vintage love...

A few vintage images to brighten your day...


Love what the ladies are wearing.


These are some of the playing cards I picked up at the Camberwell market when I went to Melbourne in March - I think the blue ones are my favourite.



On a different note - it has rained non-stop here today.
Oh joy. I made a very comforting Dahl for dinner which Hubby embellished with delicious
toasties - German Rye, Pepitas and Colby Cheese - yum yum.
Then for desert - an Orange Syrup Cake...
(It's actually just come out of then oven so I'm putting the kettle on ready for a slice)
Hope your week is going well all?
Soon on it's way - more bunting, more clay tags, more vintage finds and of course more tea and toast.
Happy Tuesday all.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

For the love of Africa...

Yes I know it's kinda warm in Africa.
Yes I know that it's everything that "rainy UK" is not.
Yes I know -  but I still want to go ...

Via - here
here - with some tea and a good book.
Or here...

Via - here

with my Hubby, a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and a bit of Mozzie repellent 
(of course I'd probably pack a wee bit more than that - but you get my drift)

 I'd also settle for a day or two here....

Via - here
.... sipping Gin & Tonic and listening to my pod.

Well GUESS WHAT?
We are off to Africa in December!
 We will be spending our Christmas with family and it's going to be VERY VERY special.
My sister Illona and her Hub, Nico are hosting the JAm family for just on three weeks.
I kid you not - I am dreaming in sepia!


Via - here
We hope to be able to see a bit of the bush whilst we are there.
Hubby has visited with me briefly before, however my son has not. 
It would be so special to give him a taste of the essence of Africa.
The mere thought of falling asleep to the sounds of the bush. 
The raw beauty of a landscape so completely untamed.

Via-here
The notion that I was born on this continent still amazes me.
My family migrated when I was 12 so of course the memories are still very vivid.
Contrary to all my fantasies though, I was not raised in the African Savanna but rather I grew up just outside a bustling capital city. Still the heart strings tweak and twang uncontrollably when I see images such as these....

Via-here

The above image is of accommodation in a town called Karen - named after Karen Blixen.
You may remember me writing about the movie Out Of Africa here
Well her house is open for tourists to visit. It is not the house where the movie was made but that wouldn't bother me. No siree. I would be in seventh heaven just perusing all of her beautiful colonial wares and imagining the rugged romance that she shared with the land and it's people.

Via-here
But for the ULTIMATE in "Glamour Camping" you could not look past this place.
Sabi Sabi -  The most divine African experience I can imagine having!!
And methinks I will stay here...

Via - here
The Mandleve Presidential Suite...
For more heart wrenching images visit their website
But DO NOT MAKE A BOOKING!!
For I'm sure that I will simply shrivel up and die of envy!
(or at least send me photos so that I might experience the delights vicariously through you)

So yes... I am off to Africa - in only six months time.
I don't actually think it has sunk in yet.
But it will.








Wednesday, June 22, 2011

He's done it....

I'm falling harder than I've ever felt before
I'm falling fast while hoping I land in your arms
Cos all my time is spent here
Longing to belong to you


Image via Pearljam.com

I dream of circles, perfect eyes within your face
My heart's an open wound that only you'd replace
And though the moon is rising, 
Can't put your picture down
Love can be frightening when you fall


Image via Pearljam.com

And when the time is right I hope that you'll respond
Like when the wind gets tired, the ocean becomes calm
I may be dreaming but I'm
Longing to belong to you

Longing to Belong 
Words & Music  - Master Eddie Vedder

What else can I say? 
The voice (Lord above THAT voice!!!)
 The poetry, the way that for 2 minutes and 38 seconds the world stops spinning and gravity holds no cause. Have a listen peoples... go there and figure out for yourselves why Nietsche said:
 "Without music life would have been a mistake"


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Self Portrait...

Been playing around with a collection of "self portrait" shots
(I'm a very cheap model and I never miss a shoot)


Mostly experimenting with Hipstamatic 
(I have every film package & the lens/film combos are endless!) 


Can't decide on an absolute favourite but I'm very fond of the Chunky & Helga Viking Lenses as well as the Cafenol, Inas 69 & Kodot films.


The coolest thing is that each photo records the exact details of every combo so if you love a particular effect you can always refer back to the settings...


There's also a "random" function which allows you to shake the camera (I-phone) and Hipstamatic selects a film package combo for you. You can switch this function off if you like - something which proves handy if you want to take all your shots with one combo and you accidently "shake the camera"


I love the varying casts that you get depending on whether you are using natural, tungsten or green light.
It's like a myriad of moods possible within one tiny little 5 megapixel camera!


Too cool!


The last photo was taken using the regular I-Phone camera and then processed with an application called Plastic Bullet - also a fun way to alter an image.

So if you have an I-Phone (and you haven't checked out Hipstamatic) then go on and have a quick look. 
It's not expensive and it's a lot of fun!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Anne Grahame Johnstone

The Illustrator responsible for this....



and this...


and this...


and this..



Sigh....

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Weekend music & musing....


At the studio...
Looking forward to the following this weekend....


Two birthday parties
(Happy 60 years young Mum!)


Good food
Great wine
Gorgeous company
Grey skies
&
Gloomy weather


And of course.... great tunes

Happy Thursday Peoples!

PS Here's a beautiful tune (and a fab-oh vid clip) to get you ready for the weekend....

The Truth

Today I heard the truth
From a heart younger than mine
It came from a place of knowing
It sought me out in the crowd

This truth was spellbinding
It gave me wings to fly
It told me to fear less
It encouraged me to try



I didn't see it coming
I'm glad for this I'm sure
No time to second guess it
No time to doubt how pure

Today I heard the truth
It was entrusted in my care
It will stay with me forever
It will form a brand new prayer

Words that scream 
"Include me!
Don't ever leave me out
For Divinity makes no mistakes
and Love has no room for doubt!"

Today I heard the truth
From a child younger than me
And as the saying goes...
I was blind, but now I see

*****

This post is dedicated to the young boy who opened up and shared his truth with me.
What an honour to witness someones authenticity and their bravery.
Young man, I applaude you, admire you and envy you.
It took me a lot longer to stand in my own truth. 
(something I'm still practising every day)
Hold your head high and know this.
Your truth is something beautiful to behold.
Thank you.

(All words by BPP)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Hunting and Gathering

So we are on a hunt.
A real hunt - for an animal - dead and stuffed


He will do nicely - right size - perfect expression...


Then again he's rather impressive isn't he??


Or perhaps he's the one for the job?


Better yet why settle for a bust when you can get the whole beast!

Just in case you think I have gone completely and utterly BONKERS... these are all animals preserved by a man named Michael Buzza 
Situated in the picturesque town of Guildford and housed within an old cinema. 
I had NO IDEA and of course you can imagine how unusual this sort of thing is in well...
Suburbia?


Michael practices ethical taxidermy and only casts animals that have died of natural causes.
(Amen to that)
Hubby and I were here sourcing a specimen for the studio. 
We fell in love with the space though. The architecture of the old cinema is just so sublime and for some strange reason these stunning creatures look quite "at home" in this setting.
Personally I am against hunting for sport and (having been a vegetarian for more than half my life) I can see why some like minded people would be mortified to find themselves in such a place.
I on the other hand think it's wonderful to have the ability to savour a beast I could never dream of approaching, and in turn honour the magnificence of its creation.
Really and truly I loved it.
When you go to larger Natural History Museums you do not always get the chance to see these creatures up close and in this case more than half of the animals were not behind a glass wall/cabinet.
On top of that Michael is passionate about Wildlife Preservation.


His collection is truly impressive and you can even hire the venue out for functions!!
No need for conversation starters or entertainment here peoples!
"Excuse me where's the host?"
"Oh just there next to the BISON!!!"

So if you find yourself in Guildford - check it out. Really you must.


On the downside - a real specimen was not within budget so Hubby and I had to keep hunting (pardon the pun) for something as ... interesting 


..... and um... unique?


I'd say we did pretty well wouldn't you?
No trophy Buffallo but hey... made from real shells!
They do have a sort of "natural history" feel about them.
I stress ... sort of


After quite a bit of thrifting we had built up an appetite and decided to go to the Rose and Crown for a pub lunch & a pint - as you do on a Monday arvo!
We sat outside - secret closet POMS that we are - looooving the gloomy, rainy, overcast weather.


Next time we come though we are definitely heading for their cellar bar!


With a fascinating history (erected in 1841 when the colony of Western Australia was little more than a decade old!) and built by convict labour  - it's definitely worth the drive north.
Some say it's haunted but I'd still stay in one of their Deluxe Hotel Rooms - if anything to spend the evening in this bar!


Lucky for me I am able to return home to my own kind of cosy...


Candles...


& Chocolate Cake


So I'll pop the kettle on...


and savour the warmth that is my home...


Filled with it's own kind of wildlife displays.
See you soon peoples.