Readings is SO much more...

I've been lazy. And I'm going to continue along that string until next Thursday.
But if you are struggling without my empty rants; please do yourself a favour and read this. I was starting to consider my dependency on facebook a little extreme as I sat in class today and this article has just deepened my feelings...
I thought I loved Readings Bookstore just for the books....

"We have emails instead of letters sent by ship across three months of nauseating sea. When we open an email, there is no longer the wafting smell or half-smell of salt and vomit and sunrise across more nothingness and water".

Miles Allinson

http://www.readings.com.au/news/a-heart-that-beats

blobs, burbs and bureaucracy

I always have had an interest in law and policy in relation to the creative arts. In the last two years the debate surrounding taking photos of graffiti and using it as ones own 'creative photography' (you know the type, featured in black and white, sometimes a weirdly dressed friend standing in the background... essentially the proliferation of all things 'urban) has shown either considerable adjustment or at least an address needs to be made to the law in this current context. Otherwise it will continue that some kid may be getting considerable notice for a photo that features work by another artist, which is fine as long as it is acknowledged... but you can bet this doesn't tend to happen. Especially because there is the legal issue that graffiti is legally still considered defacement of property... For more on this, a great article, while international; highlights the key issues.

www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/nyregion/04citywide.htmlex=1338609600&en=40a14194a7027634&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Taken at breakfast; 20th October, 2009; Northcote

Probably because I'm not good at creating any type of art, I try to become attentive to the background of it all so at least I have something of interest to say when I'm hanging out with my much more inspired friends. So it was with great caution that I took a photograph of the mark 'The Blob' had left on a wall in Northcote today. Instead I was rather happy to just get a shot of his tag; as far as I'm concerned, you aren't in it for the intrinsically hip image credibility when you yourself are content with leaving an image of... a blob. God I wish I had that kind of confidence. Confidence to be good enough at a tag or an artwork I can leave it on the wall of somewhere it will be seen and secondly the confidence to call myself a blog and not really care.

sign language, supersize shadow puppets, shop happy

I really want to learn sign language one day. This is kind of irrelevant because this necklace is a shadow puppet but it reminds me of that aspiration. I've been meaning to buy it for at least the last three months and after emailing the divine ladies from the brand who makes these little pieces of lovely regarding who stocked them locally; I was able to strut in with my hard earned dollar and walk out with the result of a l satisfying exchange.

Supersize Shadow Puppet 'Butterfly' Pendant www.lolaandbailey.com

Trashy brand names don't reflect trashy brands.

I am going to be in a freezing workplace this summer and will be needing sweaters that aren't frumpy... and coats look ridiculous indoors.
Yet the only warm jumpers I own at the moment are university emblazoned or dated 'class of 05'; so this has made my day.
I've kept it down to one thing for my blog, but I'd advise you to visit the website and enjoy the brand.

Light Feather Baggy Long Sleeve Tee

US $88.

http://www.wildfoxcouture.com

sequin, shag, shopping, supervised

Often living in one of the quiet and rather placid NSW suburbs in my youth, I'd dream of sweet little stores that looked like this. Sepia toned, plush and with a huge open fire roaring ;I never actually knew what they sold- just that I wanted to buy it.

I'd heard of the mysterious and alluring Shag stores in Melbourne before. I'd seen bags hanging off the odd friends arm when peering through their Melbourne holiday snaps. In the bi-monthly street press, Fashion Journal- most girls featured in "Street Style" would be wearing something bright and sparkly that they'd snapped up in Shag. I have always been wary of vintage stores; while I'd randomly stumbled into Grandma Takes a Trip and managed to fall upon a bargain- usually I remain a little cynical regarding their markups.

Yet according to... well... my opinion. Shag isn't full of your sisters 90's wardrobe. You probably won't glance at something and go "I knew I shouldn't have thrown that out". It's not even that expensive if you are savvy and have bought a friend and her rather impatient boyfriend along for the trip.

My first visit was a treat; but now it's a few days later . I have the typical mottley hairdo and a boyfriend laughing at me for trying to take photo's of clothes. So trying to visually convey to you how great this jacket is that I purchased will have to be postponed.

I can't wait to grow up.

Sydney. July 2009

I know. Amazing. I think when you are older, you stop caring so much and that is when you become the cool person you always worried about trying to be.

Creation, Candles and Cultivation

There is something so charming about this candlelabra that has been created over dozens of nights in the boho Fitzroy. You can imagine the way bar staff have shoved yet another candle in night after night, patrons meanwhile have cheekilly shoved a finger into the wax after a few glasses of red; their joy perhaps not quite akin to that way as a child the first time you ever dipped a finger in wax and were rewarded with an almost instant mould of your precious fingerprint, however almost as satisfying.

I love that history doesn't always need to be large, famous or expensive.

Fitzroy, July, 2008

Bad Weather, Beautiful Blooms

I love that four dollars can buy so much colour, joy and natural decor for my little apartment. I've been avoiding spring cleaning for the last few weeks; especially because Melbourne doesn't seem to be doing much to convince me it's is movoing toward summer. So I'm throwing things away, vacuming and considering washing dishes. It's all about doing anything instead of an essay.

Flowers from Camberwell Markets, September 2009

Frogs, Flu and Fridays

There are some things that never get old. No matter how time passes and even though you are spending your own dollar coin instead of the parent who would indulge you that day. After days where things are working against you; it's still good to know things like this can make everything better like they did at 12. Mind you, it was accompanied with a glass of red. I'm not fooling anyone.

Carbs, Cash and Clothes

This is the skirt I had been lusting over for the last four weeks.
I've been stuck in an ocean of auteur theory and propaganda models; keeping afloat with extra large cafe lattes and then probably submerging myself deeper as I wolf down the most delicious White Chocolate and Raspberry muffins from my ever university cafe. I have emerged with a birds nest head of hair- from hours of running distressed hands through it to find solace, computer destroyed eyes that squint in terror of any direct sunlight and a suffering a brain meltdown in which you can find me akin to a zombie in front of any situation that required human interaction.

And because of all these wonderful experiences that are supposed to be contributing to my "mental advancement" as my Father so lovingly calls it, I haven't been able to work as much as I wish to fulfil my current desire to go out and spend, spend spend! I want to have my eyebrows done, I want to have my hair dyed crimson and I want to buy an amazing pair of ankle boots. Instead I negotiated with myself- one amazing piece of clothing, as oppose to five crap things. One item worthy of a sea of female admiration rather than three flimsily made dresses worthy of male pity.

After my whole essay debacle (which is actually still in progress but I am giving myself the weekend off) I, in essence... Look like cat vomit. This skirt was the only thing I thought could get me through. It is by SHAKUHACHI and I've been viewing it at http://www.mycatwalk.com.au/. It is perfect and if I had been working full time this year, I wouldn't have even considered it not buying it. Look at it! It will be one of those staples your daughter will eventually wear because it's "vintage" and "so hawt" when vintage is trendy in 2030. But it's $340 dollars. And you had to pre order it.


My issues? I don't really have $340 to spend right now; and I also HATE WAITING! I was rather despondent yesterday. Fortunately, thanks to Gidget at Camberwell; which I always peep into on my walk down to work- I was suddenly thrown this skirt by some kind of merciful entity that was pitying my so last season outfit fail. It's by the ever reliable Minty Meets Munt label from Sydney, who for those of you who don't know... make on trend pieces that are budget bang for your buck. This bad boy cost me $90 and I'm buzzing today. I've even held off pairing it up with some boots and leather today and am instead holding off for the right event. Luckily I'll have appropriate events on this weekend... what a surprise.


Updated 6th October
As I predicted... while I rarely say this...
It looked amazing.