The Poladroid Project

For those of you missing and reminiscing Polaroid, there is always The Impossible Project to look to for hope!! Also, there are several fun free applications you can download to create a Polaroid experience- not nearly the original, but pretty fun all the same! I just downloaded the free app from Poladroid, in this post are some quick examples of the results, including cranes from our wedding day.

You get a little Polaroid camera which sits on your desktop and makes shutter sound when you drag an image into the camera, it then slowly develops on your desktop and your nostalgic journey is complete!

Hakone Novelty Bathing

The newest attraction at The Yenessun is the ramen noodle spa!

Bathing made me think of my ultimate bathing pilgrimage in Hakone, Japan. While I've been lucky enough to visit Hakone a couple of times, I've still not been to what looks like the funniest bathing venue ever! The Yenessun is a hot springs amusement water park and you've got to see it to believe it! We actually drove past it a couple of years ago and from what we could see over the fences, it looked like we should pull over- didn't have time :(

Now for your viewing pleasure, here are some images to show you what I will one day visit. Now i bet you'll put it on your must-see list too! Imagine experiencing this place?!

The tea spa

The coffee spa

The beer spa- lots of kids in this one!

The wine spa- very popular by the looks of things!

By the way, they also offer more traditional Japanese style outdoor nude bathing (segregated) as well as slippery slides and health orientated treatments.

Bath Time

Oh how I love bathing! I think lots of women enjoy a long soak in a tub, and now we have been suffering from years of drought in this country, I feel so guilty about filling the tub (we're trying to stick to 3 min showers!), I haven't had a bath all winter- or all year from that matter!

So tonight, I think I will fill the our lovely deep tub 3/4 full and enjoy every moment. I'll then siphon out the water in the morning in buckets for our little roof top terrace.

Some nice inspiring bathrooms in this post. My dream tub would be in my bedroom, with a view to a garden and in front of an open fire pace. Decadent!!

State of Design Festival 2009

Russell Place Substation, interior

Recently, I got up early to view the Russell Place Substation as part of Melbourne Open House 2009. So popular was this working sub station that the queue reached around the corner up Bourke St! Unfortunately I didn't have the time to wait around and see it as I wanted to attend other events that are part of the current State of Design Festival. Must get there earlier next year!




Instead, I high tailed it to This Is Not A Design Market with the lovely Krista McRae (fellow jeweller and member of the Pieces of Eight Workshop) which was a great day out! Bigger Than Ten Bears and Moth Design collaborated to turn this empty dormant factory into a lively design market for one day only. During the same week, I also was able to attend Design:Made:Trade at the Exhibition Buildings and the Design Boom Mart 2009. All these events profiled some great designers working in broad disciplines from textiles to furniture and products to books.

Some highlights from these events: Furniture and lighting by Alex Earl who I first met when we studied NEIS years ago. I bought a great poncho/shrug from a very cute Japanese lady from Perth who's label is called Bonito. Her website is super kawaii! Oh and I couldn't resist the cards from Able and Game, check out their blog to see why... They even had the perfect card for my currently zombie obsessed husband (a side effect from quiting smoking I think!). Beautiful calenders and printed designed goods from The Foundry from whom I bought a 2010 calender and coveted the gorgeous Japanese books they import. I bought some great leggings, including an electric blue pair, from OK-OK who had a great stand. Check out their shop in Brunswick where they have created a thoughtful fit-out in a small space.

Card by Able and Game



Products from The Foundry

As a side note, Pieces of Eight will be moving to Little Hero Building early next year which is set to be built above the Russell Place Substation- a reason for me wanting to visit this subterranean space. Also, we will most likely be part of the next This Is Not A Design Market later in the year, stay tuned!!

Orchids

Here's a snap-shot of my own orchids, grown on our little sunny terrace. I love having fresh flowers in the house, especially if I've grown or picked them myself! Spring is in the air...

Exhibition: Avant-garde Art Deco Jewellery at the Musee de Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Jean Despres Pendant, 1932

If you find yourself in Paris, head to the wonderful Musee de Arts Decoratifs. Currently they are showing an exhibition getting great reviews of avant-garde Art Deco jewellery. Hailed as the first of it's kind, this exhibition showcases some of the best French jewellers who were leaders in this style.

The Art Deco period was marked by a post-war rebirth and a rejection of the old while embracing the modern. There were advances and innovations in technology, science, art and architecture. The jewellery in this exhibition was created in this environment and reflected this new age. Some of the pieces in the exhibition are instantly recognisable as Deco and Cubist inspired, while others look incredibly timeless and even contemporary.

These jewellers would have been radical in their day and I can imagine these pieces being purchased by the wealthy intellectual elite who would have worn them to the most amazing soirees! After all, the jewellers shown in this exhibition were using the gold and precious stones. This was jewellery for the wealthy and few. The exhibition ends July 12th, 2009.

Cartier Bracelet, 1930

Jean Fouquet Bracelet, 1931

Jean Despres Brooch, 1937

Jean Fouquet Brooch, 1925

Gerard Sandoz, 1928

Raymond Templier, Cigarette Case, 1930

Weavie Wonders by Sunday Ganim

The gorgous Miss Sunday Ganim is often in the Pieces of Eight workshop, assiting her good friend Lucy Folk with graphic design grand plans. Tonight is all about Sunday as she launches her beautifully designed and woven collection of winter warmers.

From scarfs to blankets, each piece is unique and priced to be accessible. Using mostly Italian cashmere and wool, they will last a lifetime and be something I imagine you'd forever treasure. I'm certainly planning on attending and getting there early to get first pick! Delicious food and cocktails brought to you by Spoonful and Capi- what a treat!

Where: Crossley & Scott Gallery, 32 Crossley St, Melbourne, 3000
When: from 12pm today, drinks from 6pm to 8.30pm
Until: for two days only! Until the 8th July, 12-6 daily

Hip Hop 's Crown Jewels

Lil John's 'Crunk Ain't Dead' necklace is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the
largest diamond pendant in the world! Valued at US$200,000 - $250,000

It's interesting to see what these hip hop artists commission when it comes to jewellery. Earlier this year in March there was an auction of donated jewellery from some of hip hop's biggest stars. Originally scheduled for October 08 it was moved to March 09 to accommodate the huge interest from potential buyers. The auction was called 'Hip Hop's Crown Jewels' and the proceeds benefited three charities.

Interestingly, one of these charities is called the Diamond Empowerment Fund which seeks "to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource". I wonder if buying such large amounts of diamonds (possibly from Africa) in the first place was such a good idea... The prices listed were the estimated value and reserve, I couldn't find the actual auction results. I think I'm liking the eye patch the best as it's such an unusual piece of jewellery!

Slick Rick's multicoloured gemstone and diamond eye patch, US$20,000 - $25,000

Missy Elliot's Turntable black and white diamond ring, US$8,000 - $12,000

Kanye West's 'Black Jesus' pendant, undisclosed reserve.

Biz Markie's diamond headphone pendant, US$8,000 - $12,000

Rainy Days

Finally, some rain in Melbourne! It made me think of my last trip to Japan in May 08. Everyone carries either super cute designer umbrellas or cheap clear plastic ones sold in Japanese 7/11 convenience stores. Here are some pics I took one evening in Shibuya, Tokyo.





It also made me think of songs about rain like....
Guns n Roses, 'November Rain'
Milli Vanili, 'Blame it on the Rain'
The Carpenters, 'Rainy Days and Mondays'
Led Zeppelin, 'The Rain Song'
'Singing in the rain'

Then I found this clip. It's Eddie Rabbit's 'I love a rainy night' put to a clip of cute anime girls dancing. So very Japanese, you can sing karaoke style to the song!!

Good Morning!

Something pretty and sunny to kick start your day :)

Engrave Your (Moleskin) Bookcover

Engrave Your Book is a great company from Portland, Oregon in the US which offers customised leather covers for the classic Moleskin notebooks. I can imagine they would only improve with age and use, and are a great way to dress up a Moleskin. They come in both pocket and notebook sizes. Who doesn't love customising their favorite notebooks? Better than using your favorite scratch 'n sniff stickers (although they were pretty awsome!).

You can choose from some beautiful artist designed covers or even design your own! The image is laser engraved onto the leather and the results are sharp. They also allow artists to submit three designs for possible production, successful applicants get 15% of the sales from their design. Never being a great illustrator myself, I think I may just have to buy one or have one made from a favorite photograph!


Covers illustrated by the following (from top to bottom):

'Mermen' by Michael Hsiung
'Drawing Yourself Into a Corner' by Neil Doshi
'Saw' by Dan Funderburgh
'Knifes' by Dan Funderburgh
'Elephant' by Jacob Escobedo
'Waves' by Justine Ashbee

Big Fat Duck Cookbook

Talented photographer Dominic Davies has produced some wonderful other-worldly images of chef Heston Blumenthal's food in the Fat Duck Cookbook. Stunning, whimsical and visually exciting, I love and covert this book! It's the kind of cookbook I would adore for purely aesthetic reasons- it's not to kind of food to attempt at home, but rather dream of experiencing one day.

Blumenthal, and exponent of molecular cooking, has very complex ideas and methods. His Big Fat Duck restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars and has propelled him to huge heights globally. Read about his culinary philosophies on the Big Fat Duck restaurant website. The restaurant is located about 50 min. outside London in Maidenhead.

Blumenthal was recently in Melbourne as part of the Food and Wine Festival where, among other things, he ran a master class. Read his festival diary on the Gourmet Traveller website. The Big Fat Duck cookbook retails in Australia for $299. I'd buy it as an art book more than a cook book. I'll put it on my wish list for now! I hope you enjoy the magical and technically stunning photographs from Davies.