A line from the song above has been running through my head all week, "I never had the chance to change the batteries in my watch". It's had me thinking about what I make important and what really is in the broader scheme of my personal goals. Lately I've not been entirely inspired yet it's like I'm bubbling over with creative excitement, and I guess intentions too. I'm not sure whether this is a typical "dry" spell for artists or anyone who feels creative in their pursuits, but I know that I'd like to be as original as possible in what I do. I know that there is an argument that "everything old is [always] new again", and that this adage is even murkier in the Internet age. I've been looking at style sites all week and I still feel this absence of direction and therefore actual productivity in my own pursuits. I'm concerned about how to be myself; I'm not even sure what that is right now. I sometimes think and feel that the Internet is both blessing and curse in terms of originality. The days seem to get away and it's still just a matter of sifting and searching while trying to find something that can connect with you personally. It's strange to feel so overwhelmed, yet also like there's no specific destination. When there is time or isn't enough time, what drives you and keeps you sure of your own artistic intentions?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
On The Road
At last we're getting closer to the release date. There are so many wonderful stories making it to the big screen this year, it's so inspiring and wonderful. While I was excited about the cast from word go of the project, this snippet solidifies that anticipation. The added bonus will be the American landscape and the 1950s setting. The way it charts the motions that were part of the 1960s revolutions have captured me for so long. How I love going to the movies for pictures like this!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Forbidden
The story of how L'Interdit (Forbidden) was created is almost as beautiful as the friendship of Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy. The fragrance was made specifically for Audrey, who as his muse largely wore his designs and then adopted the perfume designed for her too. She loved what he had made so much she wore it for the rest of her life, and even encouraged him to sell it to the public (such were the requests she'd have from people who smelt it on her!). While it has been remade in a modern version today, the original was supposed to be spectacular..
"..the original L'Interdit, it was a fragrance of elegant beauty, with a playful side. The opening notes are of aldehydes paired with bergamot, which soften considerably as the fragrance is allowed to meld into the skin and reveal soft peach and strawberry--ripe fruit warmed by the sun--on the floral backdrop of rose, jasmine and iris. The floral notes are not distinct, instead presenting a beautiful swirl of abstract shapes, with the edges blurring into each other. Yet, above this refined melody, spicy carnation adds some pleasant honeyed warmth, thus enhances the floral voices. Matte glow of amber paired with the earthy opacity of vetiver forms an elegant base upon which the floral notes recline, veiled by a powdery mist." - via Bois de Jasmin
I've been thinking about scents and how they can help identify a person or conjure memories. My love of perfume goes back to when I was a little girl and my parents would go out smelling, always and only for a special occasion, of their respective choices of Chanel. It's like dream dust that way.
If I had a personal perfume, I would want mine to manifest as an incense flower bed. I used to wear Attraction by Lancome and it was pretty much perfectly like that. I still have the first bottle I bought of it, empty in a box, it's just waiting to transport me back to those old places in the powdery mist described above. Until I find a new one, I've been wearing Lola by Marc Jacobs, Hari by Kenzo and a mix of Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford with Amber by Kiehls. But I know I'm still looking for that particular one, and I really want to try these.
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Image via
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tinker Blood
I finally got around to watching Sounds of the Woods last night. It's strange to think that such a special mood can be created between artists, with fictional characters amidst the bounties that nature offers. The collaboration between Nadinoo (designer) and WishWishWish (blogger) is a powerful representation of what one might find off the beaten track. Art like this is a potent form of soul food. Since I was very small my mother has amounted our family's need to roam and experience the land around us as a birthright from our Grandmother and her lineage of nomadic people. The same magical qualities are elicited in the video, from the quiet soundtrack of trees, birds and music to the interaction between the handmade clothing and older man made objects. When I think about the gypsy I'd like to be it's like a meeting place between the beauty, mystery and culture here. I can never decide between water farer or forest dweller. While there's the mystique of being adrift, sailing onwards and outwards, wearing waxy woollens, there's also the draw of wild dancing beneath the trees, flowers at ones hands and making oils and teas from the spices and plants in your surrounds. Here it's like I've found the answer. In these woods there lies a meeting place -- that cathedral of boughs, and the pleasure of roaming from the riverbanks deeper in to find birch pools, shrouded by tree trunks. Oh to travel and wander, always and forever. There's more to delve into here and here.
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My favourite dress from the collection featured above, here.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Basket Of Kisses
Here's Your Basket of Kisses
Apparently lipstick sales tend to increase during times of recession. Known as the Leading Lipstick Indicator, the drop in confidence about the future is thought to sub-consciously drive the investment in 'cheaper' lifestyle items. It's a strange statistic, but when I look at the place that lipstick has come to have in my make up bag I start to understand how it's justified. When I wear lipstick, I feel abnormally va-va-voom with a whole let less product. The shock of colour from my preferred matte shade is both classic and stylish, and I tend to feel elegant as well as mischievous with it on. Despite lipstick becoming less of a staple in a lady's make-up routine, it unexpectedly makes me feel well-groomed and adds a dimension of glamour that my curly hair always seems to prevent, no matter how much time I devote to getting ready. I feel like I can be a version of me that is not always part of my personal attitude or the way I naturally present myself. Even though I'm constantly in somewhat of a financial cul-de-sace, I can understand what drives women to seek out that tube of waxy perfection. How it makes you feel, the ease that it comes by, that's something that money really can't buy.
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Image via
Monday, March 5, 2012
Cetacea
It seems like I'm being followed around by whales at the moment. The other night Sim and I read his favourite childhood book, Whales: Mighty Giants Of The Sea (there was pop-up cardboard bits and everything - my favourite was the Beluga) and marvelled over how big they are. Then last night I was stalking the Closet Visit blog, which is always beyond wonderful, and found the most recent interview with the lovely lady above. Though her wardrobe and make-up were beyond amazing, it was her whale pin that most thrilled me. I've wanted one for the longest time, but this reminded me that I hadn't fulfilled that longing just yet.
After hopping on Etsy - the one exception to my non-shopping quest - I found this sweet, smiling whale pin:
The Big Chill
As the weather edges towards cooling off, I am so glad that it's autumn at last. In the last year, as time has become more apparent and central to my life (something about getting older perhaps..), I've become increasingly obsessed with maximising what each season has to offer. Making and keeping traditions is something that I find grounding and I looked forward to introducing these to my life as a teenager. Childhood was full of moments defined by seasons, and I love the classics as much as the unorthodox, personal ones that I've shared with dear ones since leaving home. This year, we've already started planning a few special things (starting with the Easter long weekend), but I thought of some more tonight that definitely have their place in the forthcoming, chilly months.
One, plant the Icelandic poppy seeds that were a gift last autumn. This is really the last time to sow the seeds and poppies are my namesake after all..
Two, have some indulgent comfort food nights. We have a Christmas ham bone, frozen, for the first pea and ham soup of the season, plus I'd love to make fondue and pie (sweet and savoury of both - of course!).
Three, buy some quality running skins and refuse to have my fitness corrupted by cold weather or my toasty bed. I'd really like to be fit and healthy to try and ward off flu season..
Four, knit a chunky scarf in a bold wine or mustard or forest green. Emma has some beauties, and while I would jump at the chance to support her, I'm really not meant to be buying anything at all right now.
Five, find ways to pass winter nights without technology. I'm thinking board games, reading old magazines, getting to know new books and experimenting with records and my guitar.
Six, take a trip to the Hunter Valley. Some more friends have moved south and we are plotting to visit them and explore the highlands.
Seven, take the chance to learn some new things. Sim often introduces me to TED talks and the Khan academy has some awesome history sessions online too. We've done the French Revolution, but I'm really keen to do more of the early 20th Century.
Eight, drive north and enjoy the coast on a winter's day. I love the wind coming off the ocean, being warm under a blanket and how good everything tastes when its eaten amongst the elements. Fish and chips on the beach is what I should actually call this one..
Nine, have a Christmas In July-Bad Jumper party. I can't wait to crack out a llama jumper.
Ten, perfect my stewed apple recipe. My absolute favourite breakfast and dessert, really. Maple syrup with homemade vanilla extract and greek yoghurt, I think..
Eleven, branch out in terms of my personal style, without spending significant amounts of money. The more we have for Japan the better! Lately I've felt lacklustre and uninspired by the collections and trends coming up and I'm going to work on creatively exploring my own style instead.
Twelve, have an Easter egg hunt, as well as our second annual, Goon and Coon, mulled wine and cheese night. Last year was exceptional, and there are so many cheeses I can't wait to try.
Thirteen, drive to the Scenic Lookout that overlooks Byron Bay on the Pacific Highway in New South Wales. This is my favourite view in the whole of Australia and a cup of tea there on a freezing day is out of this world.
Fourteen, do some volunteer work at the RSPCA. I've been wanting to do this for ages and I finally have the time to help out some sweet kitties and puppies.
Fifteen, write some songs and have a little jam night with whoever is around. There are a few spoken word and poetry slams that welcome this too, so it would be rad to explore these and make a night of it.
How do you feel about the cooler months ahead? I know some people are thinking about whether they can hibernate all winter long..
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Image via
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sip, Nibble, Settle
Since finishing uni and full time work drying up somewhat, I have spent so much time at home. Cabin fever has set in from time to time but just now, as I got ready for bed, I realised how special it is that, finally, it really does feel like ours. As I looked around tonight I could see that it's incorporated into both our space and our lifestyle and is flexible when we have guests and when it's just us two. It's less about decor and more about habits that we decided should be present (and items that could be kept) even with such a tiny unit. These habits stretch to our belongings and I'm glad that our musical and writing endeavours are so clear in the bits and pieces we have around us. It's pleasant to have the dearest things close and I'm always inspired by the memories they recall. The other things that make our house feel like home shine through in other ways, but we've developed a routine together that can easily adapt to playing host or letting things go a little, particularly on weekends..
Our abode is a fairly constant build of the instagrams above..
..morning coffees - with vague attempts at heart swirl art - and lots of honey.
..movie dates together. This is largely curry, and last week it was yoghurt marinated chicken and vegetable curry with a side of Tanqueray and tonic.
..lots of lamps lending their glow, as well as having records, books and my guitar all near our beloved couch. My love close by too.
..mugs all over the house. They especially signal autumn and cosiness to me. It's kind of impossible to enjoy that sort of comfort in summer.
..a celebration or two - a soy vanilla ice-cream affogatto for me or a Scotch for him. We tend to mark occasions in our own way.
..quality time with our families. This is only complete with some sort of food pampering. Last Monday, it was fig, ginger and honey ice-cream with a drizzle of honey, a shot of Frangelico and blueberries - a very indulgent sundae.
Even with occasional cabin fever, I'm always happy to be here.
What defines your home? I'd love to hear your homestyle secrets if you've the time to share, I adore learning about other people's lives.
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