The Other Side

I've just discovered that a most amazing installation occurred in Paris just after 
we'd left. The Place Vendome played host to a ring of 4-metre high mirrored 
cubes bouncing light and reflecting scenes. The installation was created by 
Arnaud Lapierre for FIAC 2011.





Don't you think it has that funny surreal feeling to it that you get when travelling?
Maybe there's a bit of jet-lag in the mix but also that heady feeling of seeing new 
things and they all fracture and jumble in your mind as you try to take it all in and 
make sense of your new surroundings?





I love it :) Wish I could have seen it. Better than drugs I'd say ;)








Apparently, it's currently to be found at the Paul Ricard circuit in Castellet and
from there it'll be 'doing the rounds' to several art fairs around Europe. Hope you 
get to see it if you live over there... I'd love it if you could share some pics :)


via  

Paris: new/old

The girls were so excited about Paris... recognising icons and linking in with 
history lessons made it such an informed part of the trip for them. Basically, 
it was all about the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa and the Palace of Versailles 
for them.

For us, it was seeing things anew through their eyes... I kept thinking how Paris 
is the ultimate postmodern city - the new sits so well amongst the old, and both 
are everywhere interacting in different ways.





As it happens, this very concept was being played out at the Palace of Versailles 
where they had an exhibition on 18th century fashion, showing original pieces 
juxtaposed with modern interpretations by the likes of Vivienne Westwood, 
Alexander McQueen, Comme des Garcons etc. 








It was heavenly. My fingers were itching to see how pieces had been constructed. 
I would have loved some displays showing how the patterns crossed over, but 
unfortunately, even lingering was a difficult exercise in these rooms... the long 
walk to the Grand Trianon where the exhibition was hosted meant that only the 
diehard fans attended... they were many and they were ferocious in their elbowing 
to get the best view! ;) This was the other exhibition where no photos were allowed, 
so the pictures above are borrowed from here.


We took plenty of photos around the rest of Versailles though... ;)





We covered a lot of ground whilst in Paris, mostly walking from one site to the next... 
but Versailles took up an entire day. It was massive, especially the grounds which 
were so breathtaking.





As much as I loved visiting the 18th century (particularly the fashion exhibition) I 
have to admit that my heart belongs to the 'modern' era, ie. 1905 - 1960... Hardly 
surprising then that favourite place in Paris was for me the Pompidou Centre.





I love this place... I love the building... I love the art... it is perfection :)
Kupka, Sonia Delaunay... all my favourites were there...





There was also some fabulous street art out and about too. I know it's quite an 
unpopular form of art, but I love it. It's often so clever. Again I admire how it works 
by playing the old off against the new.





Okay, I'm sure anyone who is still reading these posts is heartily tired of it all.
Thanks for bearing with me. I guess this blog is as much a journal for me as well as 
a place where I can show things I think you might like... So, travel posts are over. ;)


I'll leave you with a YouTube clip about the Versailles exhibition, 18th Century Back 
in Fashion:

London + Powerful Making

Timber Wave Cromwell Rd installation by Amanda Levete Architects
Part of the London Design Festival.

There were two amazing exhibitions I saw whilst away where you were 
not allowed to take photos... and this was a great shame. One was in Paris 
and I'll come to that in a day or so. The other was in London at the V&A 
Museum entitled The Power of Making. It was breathtaking.

As you enter the V&A from the Cromwell Road entrance there's a large 
space to the left of the information desk where the bookshop used to be. 
Here, The Power of Making exhibition will be in situ until 2 January 2012 
– a free exhibition celebrating handmade and the presence of craft in 
modern life.





I'm sorry if this is text heavy but I just have to reproduce the exhibition's 
introduction:


Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas 
and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and 
communicates who we want to be. 
For many people, making is crucial for survival. For others, it is a chosen 
vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating. And for some it is 
simply a delight to be able to shape a material and say 'I made that'. The 
power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires.
Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very highest levels can create 
amazing things. But making is something everyone can do. The knowledge 
of how to make – both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations – is 
one of humanity's most precious resources.


Guest curator, Daniel Charny


Isn't that just fabulous? The exhibition leaflet listed a glossary of the skills 
and techniques employed in the pieces, including: 3D animation, 3D printing, 
airbrushing, annealing, baking, beading, blacksmithing, blocking, brazing, 
carving, cobbling, cordwaining, crocheting, cross stitch, drawing, drilling, 
dyeing, embroidery, etching, felting, glassblowing... and so many more.





It was so very inspiring. We were all blown away by the depth of imagination 
and ingenuity... and just when we started, reluctantly, to leave the space, we 
saw this lovely fella from one of our favourite movies. The handmade Mr Fox :)

photo credit 

There's a vimeo too for the exhibition. My favourite quote is from the 
flutemaker, Steven Wessel, when he says "Craft, or working with yours hands, 
is fundamental to being human". That just about sums it all up really :)




Power of Making from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

Trippin'

We're back and life feels a bit surreal at the moment. It was soooo hot in 
Europe and we've returned to unseasonally cold and rainy weather here 
in Brisbane... what's happening with the world!? ;)





I'll post on some of the things I saw over the next couple of days, but just 
for now some funny photos. It was so much fun travelling with the girls. 





There's no such thing as a stand-in-front photo pose with these two. They 
were dancing and singing their way around the streets and catching us up 
in their enthusiasm.










Isn't it funny how when they're younger kids can make you feel so old but 
then later they can make you feel so young again? :)





Hope you've had a fabulous fortnight too.

Happy time :)

It's my guaranteed happy time of the year.... the time of year when I get 
to travel because of our business. This year, we'll be going here...





and then here...






and finally here (the work part but also a fun part!)...





We're taking the girls with us this year which I'm also really looking forward to. 
Quality time with the Mr and our girls :)


I'm still madly trying to get organised and have somehow lost some of my 'notes 
to self' of places to see. So, feel free to leave a comment saying "While you're 
there you really must visit..." Actually, please do! I'll be reading your comments 
until Sunday morning (Australian time).


 Thank you in advance and see you in a couple of weeks!


 à bientôt!


Photo credits: me :)

A different kind of Tour

Maybe it's because I've been watching the Tour de France every evening 

and, now that it's over, I want more of the excitement of new scenery... 

Whatever it is, I have itchy feet... I really want to set off on an adventure; 

explore a new city....

So I guess it's rather timely that I web-hopped upon this architectural 

wonder in Seville, Spain, completed in April 2011... Metropol Parasol.

Don't you just love the way it pops out from all the 

box shapes of the city's architect? 

 Designed by J.Mayer H Architects, it's part of  a re-development project for the 

Plaza de la Encarnacion, formerly an archeological site.

I just love it's organic form... 

As an entity in itself I find it so incredibly inspiring and uplifting.

Luckily for the locals it also has some functions with an archeological 

museum, a farmers market and bars and restaurants included in the mix ;)

Can't you just see yourself strolling through, or coming upon 

the parasols when wandering down a narrow laneway?

I haven't been to Seville since 1994... it's on the list now.

Have you travelled there recently? Have you seen the Parasols?

I'd love to hear what you think.

via

Goodies

My parcel of goodies from the US arrived in the mail yesterday. It felt like Christmas :)

Gorgeous yarns in colours and thicknesses I couldn't resist and amazing textures like the 100% silk 'straw' yarn below. Both from Purl Soho.

I seemed to be obsessed with metallics at M&J Trimmings... I'm thinking of ways I can combine metallic trimmings with my silversmithing work.

And then there were the books... Purl Soho had an amazing selection of Japanese craft books. I'm not sure how I managed to limit myself to just two, but here they are... two crochet titles, Crochet Cushions for Stools and Mini Doily Lacework.

Purl also had some felty things I couldn't resist... have you ever seen felt buttons? 

I was totally smitten :)

On the fabric front, I found this incredibly soft green tulle and giant ric rac. I am so in love with this colour at the moment.

... and I just had to have this tea towel from Anthropologie. 

I plan to use it as the lining for one of my bags.

So, there you go. Goodies from my travels. I didn't go too overboard after all but of course when you're travelling every purchase is weighed by 'how am I going to get all of this home?' ;) What was your favourite travelling purchase?