July Is A Battle.

Illness I can't shake.

And this cold dark July weather.

Fortunately, and miraculously, the fashion photography by Paolo Reversi in the June issue of British Vogue reaches out to me with it's soft colours

as though rendered in chalky pastels.

A place to rest tired eyes.

Ghost World - Top Five Favourite Movie.

One of my most favourite movies of all time ever is Ghost World - the movie adaptation of Daniel Clowes cult comic about  misfit teenager Enid and her best friend Rebecca. There are so many reasons why this movie is a treasured DVD in my collection but take for starters the casting - it is pitch perfect. Thora Birch as Enid and Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca are inspired choices for the two alienated yet too-cool-for-school just-graduated best friends but really it's Steve Buscemi as the reclusive Seymour whom Enid befriends which makes the movie. His character is so fully concieved and painfully rendered that at times it's hard to watch. The addition of Illeanna Douglas (totally underated actress), as the hysterical and embarressingly hippie art teacher, is the icing on the cake.

But for anyone who appreciates a movie's style as much as it's substance (or even more than!) this movie is heaven from the very first frame. The credits open with the fabulous "Jaan Pehechan Ho" number from a 1965 Bollywood musical "Gumnaam" as Enid gets ready for her graduation ceremony. If this scene - an intersperse of the "Jaan Pehechan Ho" number with views into the windows and lives of anonymous inhabitants of the apartment block Enid lives in, as she dances to the video in her tiny room - doesn't get you in I don't know what will. Watch it below and see if you just don't want to hire it immediately. Otherwise I might have to bring my copy around to your house, pop it in your player and sit there watching you expectantly through all my favourite bits. Which I'm told is really off putting.

You Tube clip of Ghost World intro. (sorry, can't seem to embed it here. Can anyone offer tips besides cut and paste?)

Rochas Groovy Autumn 2010 Runway Show.

Heaven is Rochas recent runway show in Paris. Retro seventies, back combed hair, lots of leopard print and all that soft lemon and bright turquoise. As for the pantsuits - sooooo Samantha Stevens. Happy and fun fashion - the best kind of all.

Are Ears The New Black?

Hooray! It appears girls with sticky outy ears can now come out of hiding. If the above photos in this months British Vogue are anything to go by the long wait is over. No need to be shy anymore. Such. Good. News. (Not personally you understand...I'm just pleased for those poor unfortunate girls who now can take their hats and headbands off....nothing to me...).

Sucked In By Billie Bones.

Have you seen Billie Bones on TV yet? He's a plastic skeleton delivered to your house bone by bone in weekly instalments alongside a magazine booklet full of interesting facts about the human body. Suitable for young kids. Aimed in fact at young kids. Probably mostly six year old boys like the one in our house. I was oblivious until Billie's elaborately packaged skull turned up to the house the other day with my mother. Archie had somehow spied it in the local newsagent and told his Grandmother all about the fantastic series you could collect and guess what? This introductory offer of skull and magazine - which comes with a life size poster of Billy and all twenty of Billie's teeth which you get to insert yourself  - is yours for only $2.95. That's right, you heard correct. Only $2.95. Trouble is all instalments after that are $11.95. So if you end up collecting all of Billie's bones to build his life size (six year old) skeleton plus his vital organs you will have forked out $320.

I had to sit Archie down and explain that that would not be happening. Luckily Archie understands the concept of things being "too spensive" and we settled on getting the next instalment so that Billie could have his eyeballs and brain and then leave it at that. Imagine our upset then when we get the next lot and it contains the two eyeballs but only the right hemisphere of Billie's brain. Turns out the left hemisphere is going to cost another $11.95. Maybe, I say, Billie can just have half a brain. He will be very creative without any reasoning skills. No, says Archie, you can't have half a brain. Well, I say, the human brain is very amazing and can sometimes compensate for parts that have been lost. In fact researchers estimate we only use up to 10 % of our brain anyway and that the cells we do use are very adaptable and  plastic. And in Billie's case actual plastic. No. Archie's not buying it. He shakes Billie's skull and the lone hemisphere rattles away inside.  I can't say I blame him. We need closure. Billy needs closure. We commit to installment 3. That's it though. I swear.

Fun drawing With Fairy Tales.

Fairy tales are huge at the moment as you probably already know - all over the place in fashion editorials and illustration etc. so while sitting in front of the tv at night with pencil and sketch book I have been letting my doodling head in that direction. I mean, God Forbid a trend should pass me by.

 This is so much fun as accuracy and reality are less important, imagination is freed up to go anywhere and  subject matter happily treads along the dark side. This begun with a badly needed exercise drawing hands but that was just too much hard work so it drifted into this bigger drawing which still needs finishing - not sure it will be though....

Young At Art.

I know as parents we shouldn't place undue expectations on our children but really there's worse a parent can do than push a child to realise their own unfulfilled dreams in the art/design world. With this in mind I've been seizing on Archie's new found enthusiasm for whipping up cards when the occasion warrants (birthdays, Mothers' Day...) scrutinising them for a latent talent. 

Hmmmm......

Enough, in truth, just to see all the magic a six year old contains express itself on paper. These latest examples bring a great big smile (and sometimes even a laugh) to my face.

Marie Antoinette Meets Gidget.

It can be hard when entering my studio not to be slightly put off by the clutter, the dust and the unfinished projects leaning up against walls. On Saturday however while lying on the studio bed (it's also the spare room, kids craft space, tv room etc) with sunlight coming in at all directions I  only noticed the colours and textures. So I decided to take some photos of the small windows of perfect my eye caught - while ignoring the what needed finishing, fixing, dusting. Even the unfinished chandeliers seemed good enough as is. Hope you enjoy these photos like I enjoyed taking them. The discerning observer might even pick up a subtle leaning toward kitsch...
                            

                                  

  

A Tretchikoff In The Doll's House.

Don't ask me how they did it but the doll house inhabitants have got themselves an original Tretchikoff!

The Magic Garage (aka The Wardrobe Project).

So here is the vintage wardrobe Ruby and I 'rescued' from the Salvos for a not small amount of cash ($130 to be exact). OMG, we said upon discovery, it is exactly what we are after. We'll just sand it back and paint it white and that will be it. After all that is all there is to furniture restoration right? First things first though, we'll have it delivered to my Dad's garage and work on it there. Dad knows a bit about these things. He'll 'guide' us. Plus, it has to be said, he does have a very special garage- for example it has been known to exhibit magical properties. Sometimes you can leave one of your trickier projects in there and when you return the next day it's done. I know, it's amazing. Elves, I expect. But I will tell you now - I am not relying on the elves. This wardrobe is to be a learning curve for me. Will post regular pictures of our hard work. And hard work it might be - it seems the previous owners gave it a decorative paint finish using some unknown medium. Super glue perhaps? 

Molly Hanna.

Gorgeous handcrafted jewellry from Molly Hanna in new York. Don't you wish you owned one? Or could make it yourself? Think of all the estate auctions she went to and all the old ladies who may have once owned and worn the costume jewellry gone into these. I think that's what makes them so special (besides how beautiful they look) - all the history that might be contained in just one piece.