anything goes

Going Solo.

2011-04-01T09:55:00.003Z

Breaking the silence on this blog to share the above video with you.

Temporarily closed.

2010-12-20T19:52:00.006Z

Obviously it's been a while since I've posted. I've even considered completely removing this blog. However, according to google stats quite a few people still stumble upon the content that's been posted here. So I'm leaving it up for now.

My only explanation is that at this present time 'life' demands more attention and headspace than online life.

Please forgive the lapse here.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Semi-detatched series.

2010-11-05T12:29:00.005Z

I love this series of 'suburban boundaries' by photographer David Malan. Beautifully observed and captured. Visit his site to see more of this series and some other great personal work.

Halloween cookies.

2010-10-30T12:00:00.002Z

Happy Halloween! It's not really a holiday we celebrate in South Africa - but I did make some effort by baking the above skull cookies. Remember this post? Well, I gave in to some of that skull mania when I spotted a skull cookie-cutter at Kinderfeestwinkel in Amsterdam.

2,500 match sticks.

2010-10-27T15:00:00.000Z

Artwork By Pei-San Ng.

The top piece - 'Love on fire' is made of approximately 2 500 match sticks. Representing romance and passion or destruction and jealousy? The second was titled 'Temptation' before burning and now quite simply, "Burned".

Another pursuit requiring patience in the extreme.

Cookie Boy.

2010-10-27T10:34:00.000Z

Cookie Boy makes the most fantastically intricate iced biscuits. Attention to detail and the most steady hands called for here.

How NOT to cook.

2010-10-22T11:52:00.006Z

"How NOT to cook" aka "lessons learned the hard way". This is a self help book with a difference - a project that invites you to share advice on what NOT to do in the kitchen. Your burnt offerings and unmitigated disasters now have a place! See more of the How NOT to series, or submit your advice.

The quiet revolution.

2010-10-20T14:36:00.002Z

'Bejewelled' by illustrator Claire Scully. Beautifully intricate. Also see her blog.

Bright delight.

2010-10-18T18:00:00.000Z

From Kate Spade. Illustrations by Jenny Bowers.

Like? I do.

Things I like right now.

2010-10-12T06:57:00.007Z

One of my favourite blogs, Miss Moss, shares 'things that are nice to look at'. I'm never disappointed by a visit to her blog - from her track compilations to street style. Today she has posted my 'things I like right now'. (Unsurprisingly my list is heavily influenced by our 2 months spent in Paris).

Thanks for featuring me Diana, I love this series!

Save the type!

2010-10-11T10:34:00.007Z

Germany has a museum of rescued letters. How awesome?

We have a couple of letters rescued from Vangard House in Woodstock before it's demolition. A friend salvaged them by negotiating with the developers in the nick of time. He chose to spell out the GRANDE below, we have the rescued O, A and H!

Time stands still.

2010-10-08T12:52:00.006Z

While wandering the streets of Paris and marvelling at the magnificent architecture I often imagined what lay behind some of the imposing doors of various buildings.

Well, here's a great story about a Parisian flat that lay uninhabited and untouched for 70 years. Belonging to a woman (named as a 'demimonde' in the article) who never returned to Paris after the Second World War the apartment was only recently explored upon her death - at age 91. In it, amongst the cobwebs and dust, a Bodini painting worth a hefty sum was discovered. Ah - dust, treasure, a war and an illicit past - could only be in Paris.

Home is where the heart is.

2010-10-05T12:58:00.011Z

It's nice to be back.

Credits: Bird and Banner, Necklace, Welcome mat, Illustration, Scissorspaperglue.

Au Revoir, Paris.

2010-09-28T09:00:00.001Z

"There are two kinds of travelers. There is the kind who goes to see what there is to see and sees it, and the kind who has an image in his head and goes out to accomplish it. The first visitor has an easier time, but I think the second visitor sees more. He is constantly comparing what he sees to what he wants, so he sees with his mind, maybe even his heart, or tries to. "
Adam Gopnik, Paris to the Moon.

What does two months in Paris look like?

2010-09-27T15:22:00.010Z

Well, from my point of view it looks like the above. It's my pin board on one wall of the studio illustrating our Parisian adventures (including visits to Venice and Amsterdam.) I'll be dismantling it this evening in preparation for our trip home. It's all boxes, suitcases and mess in our tiny apartment at the moment.

But I think the last evening in Paris calls for a glass of champagne somewhere beautiful.

Tea at Mariage Frères.

2010-09-26T14:00:00.000Z

You may be excused for thinking that all I do in Paris is have afternoon tea. Not true, although there are many, many amazing places to sip the infusion. Mariage Frères was recommended by my SIL (although she cautioned against ordering the green tea tart which she described as tasting like silkworms). I just hope she meant it tasted how she imagined silkworms would taste otherwise there's a story I need to know more about.

Silkworms aside, I really didn't need much encouragement to add this tea house to my list of places to go. The brand is centuries old and at it's salon in the Marais the brew is celebrated beautifully from it's packaging to the tiny museum on the second floor. It's a challenge to decide on a flavour from the menu of countless different options.

Tea from Mariage Frères is sold in Cape Town for a small fortune and DH once brought me some home from a trip to the South of France - but this is one tea that tastes even better when sipped in Paris.

Mooi.

2010-09-26T09:00:00.001Z

Amsterdam was great. Perhaps because we met up with friends in the city, perhaps because I just happened to sleep in the best bed in a hotel room yet and definitely because the Dutch are the most wonderful gezellig mense.

Palais de Tokyo.

2010-09-25T09:00:00.001Z

The above piece by Theo Mercier was a favourite at the 'Dynasty' exhibition. The Michael homage was spotted in the court yard.

I'm watching you.

2010-09-22T09:00:00.001Z

Spotted these bizarre mounds of earth in a park in the Marais. The grass hasn't completely covered them yet but it's well established. I think they're nicely weird. I wonder how they came to be - a commissioned piece? And I'm sure the kids love them (after what I imagine could have been initial fear!)

Jaime Hayon at Masion & Objet.

2010-09-21T09:00:00.000Z

One of the many interesting things I saw at Masion&Objet in early September was the Jaime Hayon exhibit "Moving Ideas". It was a glimpse into his creative process - from work-in-progress sketches to prototypes from first projects and recently unveiled pieces. Experimental, eccentric and quite extraordinary.

More here. Images from here. (Cameras strictly verboten so no images of my own.)

Macarons might be overrated.

2010-09-20T09:00:00.001Z

Shock! Horror! I can hear the reaction in the blog world to the title of this post. But really, I haven't been as impressed by macarons as I was expecting. Admittedly, we've only tried the above macarons from Laduree, but they're supposed to be one of the best.

Or perhaps my underwhelming taste experience was because I (like a true Art Director) selected my macarons by colour rather than flavour. I hear that some other houses - Pierre Herme, for example, are really experimental with their flavours. They offer Huile d'Olive et Vanille (olive oil and vanilla) or Chocolate and Foie Gras. Or a Wasabi and strawberry combination. Hmm, not so sure.

The redeeming factor of my Laduree experience was certainly the packaging. It didn't actually matter what the morsels tasted like - they looked so fantastic. The French are really great at packaging things beautifully. Some of the best advice I've been given was that each time you buy something in Paris and the sales assistant asks if it's a gift - say yes! The item then gets specially wrapped. But then, I am easily seduced by a bit of ribbon and paper.

Maybe I just need to keep trying macarons until I find my nirvana? There are enough patisseries here for that to be a full-time occupation. But then I'd need a few more months and and insulin on stand-by.

Beautiful decay.

2010-09-19T19:00:00.000Z

Some snapshots from our 'Venetian interlude'. Oh, la bella Venizia! What a magical place, albeit touristy. The kind of place you have to see before you die - or it sinks!

Parisians ARE nice.

2010-09-15T19:00:00.000Z

Today a stranger saw me standing in line to purchase a metro ticket and walked over to pass on the valid all-day 5 district metro card that she'd obviously finished with. As I was at least a 40 minute train trip outside of central Paris she saved me about €6 - which may not sound a lot - but equates to a decent bottle of wine. No prizes for guessing what I'd rather spend the money on.

I've also been (politely) asked for directions more than a few times (I obviously look like I know where I'm going) and had enough happy waiter experiences to dispute the fact that all French waiters are bastards.

The severely reduced amount of French that I know seems to suffice most situations - a smile and the use of one or two of my well executed phrases seem to bypass any confusion. And if not, no one is shaking their head or rolling their eyes. They've all been rather nice.

We just spent a few days in Italy, and the Italians on a whole (mass generalisations here) seem to be a wonderfully emotional, effusive bunch. Which I loved. There's a certain passion that seems to radiate from them - whether they're discussing the weather, giving directions or recommending a dish at a restaurant.

But I like the French. Despite reports to the contrary, they don't all behave as if they have a stick up their bum.

And cheers to you, stranger lady, it was a good bottle of wine.

Haute couture of food.

2010-09-15T17:15:00.000Z

I've always liked the bold pink and black branding of Fauchon. It's a colour combination that usually reminds me of lingerie or boudoir styling, but some how it works really well for this food emporium.

The luxury gourmet store has been open since 1886 and serves up a variety of perfectly arranged delicacies. We had a coffee at their rose-tinted café. It's on Place Madeleine in the 8th. The interior of the café is designed by Christian Biecher. It's worth checking out his site - the interior images are far more beautiful than anything I could snap. My photography style in these places is subtle (in a 'lets try not get chucked out' kind of style).

Any colleagues reading this? You may count yourself lucky, you have chocolates from Fauchon to look forward to.

French letters.

2010-09-13T09:00:00.000Z

No, not condoms. Type.

I keep seeing reclaimed typography emblazoned on walls in restaurants, for sale in decor shops and at the market - and even in BHV. Seems to be another trend that's staying firmly put. No surprise that this is one I really like.

Lunch at Chartier.

2010-09-12T12:00:00.000Z

C&J introduced us to Chartier five years ago when we visited them in Paris. We had a great lunch at this Parisian institution at that time and so decided a return visit was in order. The restaurant has been around since 1896 - it's even classified as a historical monument. Frequented by locals (but now in all the guidebooks I'm told) it's said to have fed over 5o billion bellies since it's opening! Thinking back, I could recall the decor of the vast dining hall and the brusqueness of the waiters. But not what I ordered. I wasn't sure if that meant that the food was forgettable or that we'd all had too much wine to drink at the time.

It might have been the former. Our lunch experience this time around was great for atmosphere and charm - perhaps only added to by the fact that we were seated practically on the laps of the couple next to us - and 'okay' from the food point of view. It's billed as classic, 'home style' French fare and is a welcome change from the fussy morsel posturing on a plate that looks as if some chef has had his hands all over it for far too long. But perhaps these particular plates could have done with a little more attention. Regardless, the wine was great and the bustling ambience ensured it was worth the visit. Especially as it's inexpensive.

I'm just not as much of a fan as the man who has been eating there every lunch for the last 20 years!

Cabinet of curiosity.

2010-09-06T10:58:00.007Z

I think it was in Standard 6 biology class that we were required to do an entomology project. This entailed seeking out (chasing dementedly after) specific specimens, effectively euthanising them and mounting them on board complete with latin names smartly lettered. I'm sure you can imagine the squeals of disgust that resulted from the pitting of teenage girls against various insect life. But we became ruthless in the pursuit of good grades and driving that pin through the abdomen of whatever poor butterfly or beetle we had caught was ultimately done with glee.

Until one horrid experience that is etched in my brain. I awoke in my dormitory cubicle (yes, a product of boarding school) early one morning to the sound of desperate scratching. Lying in the pitch dark, I was terrified. Eventually forced to switch on the lights and investigate, I discovered one large butterfly that had 'woken' and was unsuccessfully attempting to fly away. Skewered through it's middle it wasn't going anywhere but the scratching sound had been the result of the wings scraping against it's polystyrene bed. Appalled, I quickly grabbed the bottle of acetone and doused the poor thing - effectively ruining my project (have you seen what nail polish remover does when it comes into contact with polystyrene?) but fortunately ending the life of the damned thing by drowning rather than anesthesia.

Why the protracted childhood recollection? Well, I'm not a fan of insects. Not in a oooh-scream-I'm-such-a-girl way, just in the sense that I'd rather we didn't share the same space if at all possible. And I'm not much a fan of animals, either ("cold-hearted-bitch" I can hear you saying, so I won't even attempt to explain myself).

Perhaps it was then surprising that after reading about Deyrolle, the absolute 'cabinet of curiosity' in Paris, I was keen to visit. Or perhaps unsurprising as being specialists in the collection of insects, shells and animals of all kinds since 1831 they are a darn sight better at the art of death than I had been.

Above images Deyrolle.

I think the shop on Rue de Bac has been housed in the same building since 1888. It has a rich history in not only entomology and zoology but botany, geography and human anatomy. It was visited by artists the likes of Salvador Dali and André Breton in their time. The unassuming first floor houses books, fragrances, garden tools and garden accessories of beautiful quality. It's all natural fibres and stainless steel flower pots costing €100. Aptly named Le Prince Jardiner.

Above images Deyrolle.

It's on the second floor that the taxidermy is revealed. From a polar bear to a mole - they've a collection enviable only by Noah. And then there are the insects. Quite an astonishing collection. But most of all I liked the posters. The House of Deyrolle was the first supplier of 'teaching boards' to the State Education Department since 1866 and even today supports teaching and sustainable development. Their posters are a collection of beautifully illustrated vintage teaching aides from botanicals to anatomy.

Above images Laurent Bochet.

One of the most interesting books on display was "1000ºC". It's the photographic story of a fire that devastated Deyrolle in February 2008. Representing the fragile state of nature, photographs of the charred remains of taxidermy animals as well as sculpture, drawings, paintings and other works of art done by over 50 artisits were auctioned by Christie's to help raise funds for the restoration. And the restoration was painstaking taking almost two years and paying close attention to refit the space as it was previously.

Above images Objet de Curiosité. One of the decor houses I spotted at Masion&Objet.

The art of taxidermy and entymology seem to have shed their grisly reputation (for a while wasn't it just serial killers in movies that collected insects?) Nowadays I can't stop seeing it's use in interior decor. I particularly noted a lot of it at Masion&Objet yesterday. A well placed skull or box-framed collection of some rare beetle from Thailand with a long latin name seems to hint at owners with a natural curiosity and a taste for the exotic and unusual. A display of a fossilised giant Clam must hint that you're an explorer - even if it was chosen out of a catalog and delivered by UPS?

It's not that I'm not a fan of this aesthetic, it's just that it can seem a little 'faked'. I'm not advising that you shoot the deer that you then get stuffed and mount on the wall, I'm just suggesting that unless you actually bought that beetle collection in Thailand or have the story to tell of how you unearthed that gem of a starfish specimen at an antiques market then perhaps you're slightly less qualified to display it. I admire real collectors, and feel privileged to be introduced to their collections as they are usually accompanied by rich stories.

But that's just me, what do I know? I can't even kill a butterfly successfully.

Bad to the bone.

2010-09-02T18:00:00.001Z

You'll have to forgive the fact that the follow up post to my catacombs experience is about skulls. It's just one trend that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. And it's not just adorning bad-ass biker t-shirts. Skulls appear on everything - even babies booties and scatter cushions. It's certainly not a new emblem to embellish fashion and home decor items, but it seems to be everywhere I look in Paris.

I actually quite like the application of this icon when it's used in an unexpected way - as a minute pattern on a cashmere jersey, for example. Something that appears at first glance like a ditsy floral print is revealed as being more interesting or subversive. But most times I think it's just become a meaningless symbol. I certainly don't believe most people who sport clothing with skull decoration think about death at all. I guess we have the Damien Hirst's of this world to thank for the prolific entry of this icon into recent pop culture - but I think the really interesting representations are those that stem from solid cultural roots - like the Mexican 'day of the dead' iconography.

What do you think of this trend? Macabre, meaningless or marvelous?

From one extreme to the other.

2010-09-01T16:44:00.000Z

One of our recent adventures was to explore Paris from it's high(est) point - The Eiffel tower, to the lowest possible depths - the tunnels beneath the city. The catacombs.

I wasn't so sure about going up the Eiffel tower. Although it's the absolute icon of the city it seemed such a touristy thing to do. And in August it's not great to be a tourist in Paris - there are just so damn many of them. Even the tourists will tell you that the only thing wrong with Paris is - the tourists! The long queue we had to stand in was enough to swear me off any tourist type activities for about a week following. But the view over the city when we finally reached the top was worth it. The world reduced to ant-like miniatures.

Visiting the catacombs was a crazy experience - after descending a 19 metre stone spiral staircase you find yourself in a dank and musty tunnel. After passing through a few stone walled tunnels and coming across some sculpture you are greeted with the inscription "Arrête, c'est ici l'empire de la Mort" - "Stop, this is the empire of Death''. Delightful. From here on stacks of skulls and bones line the passageways - some in quite decorative formations. It's a bizarre attraction for a city. A bit macabre but still fascinating and I'm sure its curiosity that drives most visits. Certainly true in my case.

The tunnels open to the public represent only a small corner of the underground tunnel system of Paris. There are over 300km of underground passages underneath the city. Some of it is explored nowdays by cataphiles (tunnel enthusiasts) although it's illegal to do so. I've even read of an underground cinema and raves taking place in the tunnels.

Not the kind of place I'd like to party. Actually given the choice of 'high' or 'low' I think I'd select the former!

Sunday brunch at Le Germain.

2010-08-30T15:47:00.010Z

Brunch seems to be a big thing in Paris. Numerous restaurants offer their brunch menu until 6pm on a Saturday and Sunday. And said menu includes a selection of hair-of-the-dog refreshments and a myriad of different ways to order the simple oeuf. We did brunch at Germain this Sunday and found ourselves amongst the well-heeled but casually chic of the left bank. A couple of Janice Dickenson look alikes who've obviously overindulged on the collagen and a more than just a scattering of LV bags casually slung over chairs (these were the real thing, baby) completed the picture.

But the interior stole the show.

A massive bright yellow sculpture of a woman in a coat and heels breaks through from the café floor to the lounge area above. It's by artist Xavier Veihan. Interior architect India Mahdavi.

With spaces like these in which to while away your weekend, it's no wonder brunch is trés popular.

Marie Delafon.

2010-08-27T18:00:00.000Z

Marie Delafon illustrates childrens books amongst other things. We came across some of her personal work recently and couldn't leave without buying a print. Her work explores tracking dreams, fears, wishes and "little experiences". I like the naiveté. This is her blog.

All photographs Marie Delafon.

Musée de la Monnaie: Willy Ronis exhibition

2010-08-25T14:46:00.006Z

We went to see an exhibition of photography by Willy Ronis just before it closed. This French photographer died at the age of 99 in September of last year. His photographs have become synonymous with Paris and he is celebrated for his reportage style of shooting "ordinary people with ordinary lives”.

It was an extraordinary body of work to see - one that inspires you to look through the viewfinder of your own camera differently each time you lift it for a snap shot.

Images: Le Petit Parisien (1952), Les Amoureux de la Colonne Bastille (1957), Place Vendôme (1947), Lorraine en hiver (1954).

La Terresse.

2010-08-20T15:00:00.003Z

We've been visiting a lot of churches. Their age and beauty is quite staggering. In fact, I'm so inspired by these spaces that I've even pulled out my water colours to engage in a little creative project of my own.

Gallaries Lafayette, on the other hand, is the ultimate church to consumerism. Seven floors bursting with merchandise and an annexe for the 'Homme' and 'Masion' sections. It's shopping deluxe. But the highlight of our visit to this shopping mecca wasn't carrying out bags of goods - I was actually ~~forcibly~~ extremely restrained. Rather, it was our lunch with a view of Paris.

The eighth floor has a recently opened restaurant called La Terresse. It has an amazing panoramic view of the rooftops and monuments of the city. Unfortunately when we stopped by for lunch they had had a recent power failure so we could only order a salad (and a glass of champagne) but by the time our lunch ended electricity was back up and a coffee rounded it off nicely.

Definitely much nicer to store this experience in my memory bank than the pair of shoes I was eyeing in my closet.

Credit: Top three images used with kind permission from thepariskitchen. Perhaps I drank too much champers as my own snapshots weren't that great!

Merci beaucoup.

2010-08-19T12:00:00.002Z

Last week we visited 'Merci'. It's a concept store on boulevard Beaumarchais in the East of the Marais. Outfitted in a converted fabric factory it houses a wide range of products - from designer threads to furniture to one euro bits and pieces. All carefully curated and displayed.

The really interesting thing about the store is that 'Merci' gives all it's profits to charity (a foundation that it runs is currently helping children in Madagascar). Certainly retail with a conscience.

We also visited übercool 'Collette' although this time around I wasn't as impressed. And apparently if we really want to discover the best of the Parisian concept stores then we still have 'Spree', 'L'Eclaireur' and 'Hotel Particulieur' to explore.

Bumper day.

2010-08-14T14:48:00.020Z

Today we set off to discover the Marché des Enfants Rouges or Market of Red Children in the Marais. Being a national historical monument and the oldest market in Paris as well as off the tourist beaten path it seemed worthy of a visit. We weren't disappointed. Apart from the fact that it's August and not every stall was open we still browsed the photography store where I picked up some vintage postcards of Versailles; bought a baguette and fresh produce and dawdled over coffee.

The strange name of this market is well explained here. "Marguerite de Navarre, sister of King François the 1^st and mother of King Henri the 4^th (who was the one to end the religious wars that had been bloodying France), was a very well educated, politically engaged and charitable member of the royal family. In 1534 she had an orphanage constructed in what is now the Marais whose little pensioners were dressed in red as a symbol of their status. The orphanage was closed in the beginning of the 17^th century and in 1615 was transformed into a market dubbed the Marché des Enfants Rouges (market of red children) to commemorate the charitable establishment that had occupied the site for almost a century."

A few hours later we were drenched. And I mean drenched. Our search for a specific art supply store was fruitless and the umbrella proved flimsy and inadequate. It would have been far more sensible to take cover until it was over but 'non' we pressed on! The weather in August is changeable - apparently the hottest but also wettest month in Paris. Up until this date it's been a light drizzle now and again - no serious rain. But enough about the weather.

Far more interesting I believe, is the latest task I've set for myself. Along the lines of the Julie & Julia Project I've purchased a copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". (We found an English bookstore near the Tulleries and I blew my entire daily budget on books.)

I like to cook, I like to bake and quite unfortunatly for the waistline I like to eat the results. So it should naturally follow that while in Paris I should attempt some French cooking. The catch is that I'm severely limited in this endeavor by an teeny-tiny, extremely basic kitchen - with no oven. That rules out a vast number of recipes in the aforementioned cookbook. Nevertheless my aim is to attempt a dinner menu composed from it and I'll document the results should they be blog-worthy. Or perhaps even if they are not.

Our bumper day was rounded off nicely with a visit to 'Angelina'. It was simply impossible to pass by this century old tea shop on Rue du Rivoli. Apparently once frequented by Proust, Coco Chanel and other famous names it was definitely worth the stop.

Another full day. Now what to do this evening?

La couleur verte.

2010-08-10T07:11:00.009Z

A friend asked me how I felt about our apartment in Paris - did I feel 'hemmed in' in a small space amidst all the concrete and stone that make up the streets and buildings? Well, you can almost swing a cat in our space and admittedly we feel right on top of our neighbours but we don't feel stifled. We spend most of our time outdoors and there is a surprising amount of green in Paris - it is summertime after all.

Of course the great green areas of Paris are the beautifully landscaped gardens. But above is some of the green we've spotted in unexpected places during our walks. Amazing overgrown window boxes and carefully cultivated vertical green walls.

Perhaps cultivating vertical gardens is owing to the fact that in the majority of the cities gardens you aren't to sit, walk on or otherwise touch the manicured lawns!

Bonjour, Paris.

2010-08-06T15:49:00.006Z

We were woken this morning at 4am by a jazzy rendition of 'I love Paris in the Spring time' played full blast by one of our neighbours. Although sleep disturbed our response was surprisingly tolerant - after all, it was just someone a little pissed, and enjoying Paris.

Piss, on the other hand has been something I'm not that keen to tolerate. It seems to be the summer perfume here. I'm not sure if it's because we are walking everywhere or if there are just more Parisian bergies making use of pavements as toilet facilities than usual!

We've had a chance to explore the Marais - and everything we could need is fantastically close, had a sundowner champagne picnic on the bank of the Seine, done a bit of the Decorative Arts section of the Louvre, explored Rue de Rivoli, the Tulleries and the Jardin de Luxemborg and wandered St. Germain.

And I'm still pinching myself that we are here.

Um, awesome.

2010-07-29T09:00:00.000Z

Check out The Art of Jim Denevan. It's landscape art at an incredible scale. Drawing in the sand with a stick and a rake... he is credited with creating the largest artwork in history. Spotted here.

Desaturated.

2010-07-28T10:00:00.000Z

A lot of this going around at the moment obviously. Fffound.

Age-old advice.

2010-07-27T09:00:00.003Z

Some sage advice from WWI. Kinda along trend of the reprinted WWII Keep Calm poster. From the Wallblank Vintage collection. We could all do with a prompt to be more mindful, I think.

I love Bread and Jam.

2010-07-26T12:42:00.005Z

'I love Bread and Jam' sells the sweetest little dresses for tiny people. I'm mad about their retro fabric prints. See the limited edition Pick-a-pocket and Runaway dresses.

Reading matter.

2010-07-23T12:00:00.001Z

I'm reading a lot a at the moment. Not just the books above although I've enjoyed immersing myself in all things French - I've also discovered some fantastic blogs about Paris. Some were in my reading list before, but most are new. Here are a few...

David Lebovitz

Food author, dessert king and renown blogger who I've followed ever since the purchase of the ice cream bowl of my KitchenAid..

God, I Love Paris

Great updates from a sweet-loving writer in Paris.

99daysinparis

A couple from Canada in Paris for 3 months - fun 'Wino Wednesday' posts and exploratory walks around Paris.

Unlock Paris

The editor of GoGoParis - great intro to interesting Cafés and so on.

HipParisBlog

Paris tips and insights into touring, renting, living in the city.

I'm now debating what reading material to take along on our trip. The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain de Botton and Affluenza by Oliver James are on my list. But I think definitely need something 'lighter' as well. Thanks to Candice for our guidebook and English/French dictionary. And to the others who have passed along novels they thought we'd enjoy. I'm sure I'll manage to pass the loooong flight with my nose firmly buried in a book, if not a blog!

Fine foliage.

2010-07-21T18:33:00.006Z

Little Autumn Treasures.

Leaves in full colour - SkinnyLaminx.

O wen Gildersleeve wallpaper for iphone.

Fabric branches by Jane Joss on Etsy.

'Leafy' by Vanille.

Fabric print - The Artful Parent.

I seem to have stumbled upon so many beautiful images of leaves recently. From the gentle colours in the fabric printing of The Artful Parent to the Plascon cut-outs by SkinnyLaminx. We are way past Autumn in South Africa (we've actually been experiencing some glorious sunny winter days at the moment in Cape Town) but falling, fabric & paper leaves are front of my mind. Thanks to all those above for the 'bit 'o pretty' they've put into the world.

Karen Cheung

2010-07-20T16:16:00.002Z

Karen Cheung used to be a zoologist but 'found it more stimulating to draw doodles during lectures' - she also admits to being obsessed with freaks, weirdos, outsiders and mythological beings. What a character she sounds - quite as quirky and delightful as the characters she draws. See her blog here and find her on etsy too.

Made me smile.

2010-07-14T10:36:00.003Z

Isn't it great when humour is injected to everyday design? The 'Sylvester' bird box is by John Casewell.

Feint!

2010-07-07T07:42:00.002Z

This clever person has redesigned the traditional lined notebook into an 'inspiration pad'. I'd use it. You can buy it here.

Via Swiss-Miss.

Finger in the nose.

2010-07-05T14:59:00.003Z

Aside from the that fact that the kids in this shoot look awfully grown up I think the brand name of 'Finger in the nose' is quite genius. The right amount of attitude to really stand out from the more common twee tags. More here.

Joie de vivre

2010-06-27T18:00:00.002Z

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Joie de vivre can be expressed in English as an 'exultation of spirit which involves one's whole being'. This just about perfectly describes how I feel about our recent news.

We're off to Paris for a glorious two month sabbatical. Made possible by the the fact that DH has been granted an artists residency at the CIte des Arts. I am fortunate enough to be able to accompany him. We'll be staying in an apartment in the historic Marais area for the months of August and September, and will use each day to soak up all that the amazing city has to offer. We've only had a short visit to Paris in the past where we behaved as typical tourists - chalking up the quintessential visits to the Louve, Eiffel tower etc but this visit will be a chance to experience it all so differently.

We are so excited and grateful to be heading off to the most romantic city in the world for a sojourn that I'm sure will continue to inspire long after the trip is over.

All of this only slightly complicated by the paperwork (visa preparation) that has to be done before we go - and the fact that we can't communicate in French further than 'Salut' or 'Merci' ...

I've been scouring blog-land for suggestions on things not to miss in Paris, so please share if you have any recommendations.

Legends of Unity.

2010-06-24T10:30:00.000Z

I went to the opening of an exhibit of portraits of African footballers by Kehinde Wiley last night. It's a collaboration between Puma and Wiley and as well as artwork you can see the range of Puma clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the work.

It is vibrant, graphic work which I was looking forward to seeing up close - the only disappointment was that the originals were not on exhibit - apparently stuck in customs. I'm a big fan of West African textile prints so I found the bold wallpaper type backgrounds really beautiful.

Images by me & various other sources. Unfortunately so many people and press it was hard to get a decent shot. The exhibition runs from 24 June to 3 July.

Stuff no one told me.

2010-06-23T09:56:00.004Z

Stuff no one told me (but I learned anyway).

Break your teeth on this.

2010-06-21T19:03:00.004Z

I'm a fan of unusual and quirky jewellery so the above piece by chewedbytuesday appeals to me. Check it out here - plus the chewed version!

Homebody.

2010-06-08T19:00:00.000Z

I really should go out, but it's so cold. Sitting in front of the fireplace is much nicer.

Underachiever

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000Z

This made me laugh. By Muddyshoulder.

New shoes.

2010-06-06T15:44:00.004Z

Challenging the function of a pair of Nike shoes. To see more of the often crazy reinvention of thse shoes see more here.

10 days to go.

2010-06-01T09:00:00.007Z

After all the hype and preparation we have just ten days to go until kick off! It's great to see the spirit of the general public grow and the excitement build up . We've got tickets to see Portugal vs Korea DPR at the shiny new Greenpoint stadium. How about you?

The pictured striped football by Paul Smith and patchwork football by Idea.

Spotted any other designer footballs?

The crazy Aunt.

2010-05-31T15:05:00.005Z

I was introduced by a colleague (thank you, Bronwynne) to 'The Crazy Aunt Company'. And I've since commissioned a few designs from Narina. These baby grows and t-shirts will be finding their way overseas and hopefully bring a little African smile to their recipients. A bit of customised embroidery or felt lettering make the gift especially personal. The best part? The quirky company name!

Thirsty girl.

2010-05-28T11:29:00.001Z

Found on ffffound. Love this layout.

Go big or go home.

2010-05-27T12:00:00.001Z

These classic hair clips remind me of growing out my fringe but still being required to clip my hair back neatly for school. The iconic design has now been cleverly SUPERSIZED.

Jumbo clips by Adia Kibur available here.

Edible crayons.

2010-05-26T18:01:00.004Z

When I was little I had a friend whose baby sister used to eat crayons. We always guessed that her poop was rainbow-coloured. She could have safely eaten the above crayons without dramatic consequence. They were created by Luxirare. See more on her site for the 'recipe' and a documentation of her process. So great.

Mischief.

2010-05-24T10:53:00.002Z

Hope you're having a good Monday. Lighten up with more of Katrin Hagen of Mischief Champion. I'm afraid I forgot to take my vitamins this morning.

Best thing since sliced bread?

2010-05-17T17:15:00.003Z

Embroidered sliced bread.

See more art, textiles, objects and oddities by Catherine McEver.

Why not?

'A matter of taste'.

2010-05-13T06:41:00.005Z

These delectable images are by photographer Fulvio Bonavia. See more on his site.

Found here. I'm pretty sure these will be making the blog-rounds but had to post them here too.

Top Drawer.

2010-05-12T09:00:00.000Z

The above already combine two of my favourite things - books and perfume - but the pièce de résistance is the awesome cover design & illustration. Credit to Klaus Haapaniemi. Spotted at CR where you can view some of his prelim work.

Update.

2010-05-09T17:18:00.003Z

Feeling overwhelmed! Advice? Perhaps try-not-to-do-it-all-have-it all-at-once?

Apologies.

2010-04-07T10:36:00.004Z

If I have any readers left, apologies. Sincerely. I miss you, blog-land.

Marian, you beauty!

2010-04-07T09:00:00.000Z

I've pre ordered this book by Marian Bantjes. Due for release in September it looks a fantastic visual feast.

What typeface are you?

2010-03-24T11:19:00.003Z

Of course I couldn't resist this. What typeface are you?

Outdoor movies.

2010-03-18T15:14:00.004Z

Tonight we are going to see Le Grande Bleu at the 'Pink Flamingo'. This outdoor bio-scope is at the Grand Daddy Hotel's Airstream Penthouse trailer park. DH and I stayed in one of the trailers last year. I'm sure that the cinema experience won't disappoint - especially as this time the venue has been booked out for just our office and friends. Nice.

Le Grand Blue - that's starring 'Jac Mayol' for those of you who remember the 1988 film.

In-jokes

2010-03-17T14:28:00.003Z

The designers tongue had me laughing out loud. From the 'approval of Steve Jobs' to the 'comic sans rejection buds'. Great fun from Core 77. Click to enlarge.

CeraMIX

2010-03-16T14:21:00.004Z

CeraMIX by CTRLZAK.

The above pieces are the result of a project exploring Chinese and European ceramics. On the left hand side you can see the literal East meets West - and on the right hand side the new ceramic design that resulted.

I can't decide whether I'd prefer to use the 'inspiration' crockery or the end design... I guess the latter would be more leak-proof!

Skermunkil & Two Two

2010-03-11T11:56:00.007Z

I have my eye on these ceramic dolls by Skermunkil. One of the lovely things I spotted at Design Indaba Expo that made it onto my wish list. I have a jewellery piece from Skermunkil that DH bought me and it's nice to see what else they are up to.

I did however, fork out the cash for the piece above - in black. Dramatic, yes? It's a collar type thingy that can be worn a variety of ways. Designed by Twotwo - a talented pair of sisters.

Images from Eendag op 'n reendag and Twotwo.

Take a seat.

2010-03-02T11:00:00.003Z

This was one of my favourite pieces shown by a speaker at the recent Design Indaba.

As usual the conference was a complete overload of inspiration.

Design by Fehling & Peiz.

The Vinyl lab.

2010-03-01T09:00:00.001Z

Quirky, fun stickers by 'The Vinyl Lab'.

Did you know?

2010-02-19T08:29:00.001Z

Learn something every day.

For budding directors...

2010-02-11T14:13:00.002Z

For budding directors and advertising people everywhere. The Storyboard book. So clever. Seen at DC.

Fancy fast food.

2010-02-02T15:21:00.003Z

McFancy is an idea by TCH. Stylishly rebranding McDonald's. More.

Roxanne Floquet

2010-01-26T14:48:00.003Z

Um, beautiful. Just beautiful. These bespoke cakes, cupcakes, biscuits and petit fours are by Roxanne Floquet.

Wolmer

2010-01-20T17:56:00.002Z

Meet Anna. A talented ex-colleague of mine. Above are her lovely creations. You can see more at her newly launched blog - Wolmer. I'm proud to say that when she started knitting a few years ago I was the first to give her a commission - a quirky scarf embroidered with felt lettering. Nice stuff Anna!

First day.

2010-01-18T11:40:00.003Z

Image - Johnny Yanok.

HELLO... my name is Katherine.

It's not that great being 'the new girl' but I'm sure that tomorrow will be better.

Snapshots.

2010-01-11T13:47:00.001Z

Still on holiday. It's lovely.

A new decade.

2010-01-01T09:00:00.002Z

Image: fffound.

It's hard to know where to start. It has been a while since I put anything of real 'substance' on this blog. And by substance I mean a post with more than ten words to it.

I've been kinda preoccupied - hence the sporadic, sparse posting. The last few months have been busy, busy, busy. I've mainly been busy making changes. After almost 5 years I've resigned from my job. (Five years is an absolute age in advertising years - creatives seem to hop, skip and jump agencies with knicker changing frequency in this industry.)

I've decided it's time for something new.

The new year - and new decade - will bring a fresh start for me. I'll still be doing advertising and design, but in vastly different environment. The new year will also bring fresh challenges in other avenues and exciting things to share as time progresses. That's the plan, anyway.

What ever the next 365 holds for you, I hope it's great.

Christmas!

2009-12-25T10:14:00.000Z

I hope you are having a jolly time!

Image from Cath Tate cards.

Make it fun.

2009-12-11T13:46:00.003Z

The Fun Theory is about changing behavior for the better by introducing FUN. Watch them here.

Hello Artists.

2009-12-08T18:42:00.004Z

Illustration by Mia Nolting at Hello Artists.

I really love the way she works type into her illustrations.

I want for nothing.

2009-12-02T18:21:00.003Z

Pencil full of lead

I've got a sheet for my bed
And a pillow for my head
I've got a pencil full of lead
And some water for my throat
I've got buttons for my coat
And sails on my boat
So much more than I needed before
I got money in the meter
And a two bar heater
Oh now it's getting hotter
It's only getting sweeter
I've legs on my chair
and a head full of hair
Got in a band
And shoes on my feet
I've got a shelf full of books
And most of my teeth
Two pairs of socks
And a door with a lock
I've got food in my belly and a
License for my telly
And nothin's gonna bring me down
I've got a nice guitar and jazz in my car
I've got most of the means and scripts for the scenes
I'm out and about
So I'm in with a shout
Favorite chat but better than that
Food in my belly and a
License for my telly
And nothin's, nothin's gonna bring me down
And nothin's gonna bring me down
Best of all
I've got my baby (x 2)
She's mighty fine and she's all mine
And nothin's gonna bring me down

-Paulo Nutini

My favourite song of the moment. Listen to it here.

Shopping party.

2009-12-02T11:17:00.002Z

Yes, I just posted about a shopping detox and I'm following it up with an invitation to BUY.

This Friday for anyone in the Cape Town area.

The best source of inspiration.

2009-12-02T09:00:00.001Z

Cell cuff, David & Martin; Newton Sneaker packaging, TDA Advertising. Images - Joe Duffy blog @ Fast Company.

No surprise - it's Mother Nature. Great article and more images here.

Pretty paper.

2009-12-01T18:39:00.006Z

Invitation design by Daniel Carlsten. Très chic.

Shopping detox.

2009-11-27T09:00:00.001Z

Tomorrow is 'Buy Nothing' day. A day of protest against consumerism. Activities include the obvious commitment to a spend-free 24 hours as well as things like the public cutting up of credit cards and other creative and daring protests. More at adbusters.

Not just a good statement for a day but a good reminder to keep the spending in check before this hedonistic Christmas time...

"Mr & Mrs Fancy Pants"

2009-11-26T09:00:00.000Z

aka Will Bryant & wife. Another talented couple inhabiting the blogosphere.

Will Bryant also of 'I love nice people who make cool things' fame.

Lessons from a dog.

2009-11-25T15:48:00.002Z

See more lessons here. By Patrick Moberg.

Happy, Happy.

2009-11-19T09:00:00.002Z

Another 365 days have just flown past. Whew.

Image Fffound.

Update: This is really the way to look at birthdays.

I don't care if they're in fashion..

2009-11-12T11:42:00.001Z

Some amusing illustration work by Justin Southey. From Infidels.

Love what you do.

2009-11-09T15:00:00.000Z

More here.

Enough already?

2009-11-08T18:22:00.003Z

I'm sure there will be plenty more soccer themed shoots that we'll see before this time next year... this one complete with bloody knee and red card is from ZooZoom. I'm okay with the themed shoots - just not the promotional messages that keep appearing in my in box. No, I don't want to put my clients logo onto a mini soccer ball key-ring...

The Chocolate Club.

2009-11-04T09:00:00.000Z

I'm doing some work for this client. Rebranding and packaging ideas that I'll share once the client has approved them. It's a really elegant concept for the connoisseur - a different selection of handmade chocolates sent to you monthly. Here is how to join.

What next?

2009-11-03T15:30:00.002Z

The Sugar Daddy Ken Doll by Mattel. He hails from Palm beach and 'sports a dashing jacquard-patterned jacket.'

Seen at StyleFrizz.

In a nutshell.

2009-10-29T15:05:00.002Z

Wise words spotted in the klein dorp of Montagu last weekend.

Ignore everybody.

2009-10-22T14:47:00.002Z

Great advice by Hugh. More at Gaping Void.

Patrick Ryan.

2009-10-20T13:05:00.002Z

This beautiful image by Photographer Patrick Ryan. More here and here.