on the book shelf

<div style="text-align: left;">how great is it when a bunch of tiny good things become the subliminal building blocks of a good day? this morning my coffee was perfect, the new Vogue landed on my desk just in time for lunch in the park, i finished some work i had been procrastinating over, and I downloaded the newest episode of The Office from iTunes. hurrah! <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">right now i am reading.... Giselle Scanlon's newest book: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Goddess Experience </span>($39.99, Harper Collins)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">.</span>It is the companion to her best-selling<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> The Goddess Guide </span>(the decadent flocked cover was enough to draw any fashionista in). Like it's older (but none the wiser) sister, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Goddess Experience </span>is jam-packed full of Giselle's European adventures. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299285233321012146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiT3X-D-LE99cDg-gzWJtZrh2bw8RzTJSu9i-oACFVPtACTx8vqbvcYVrUeWM1CzH_h-JmpNpXSblgB4FrZDo8zAMDLbv2jF5tz5DREQcdYK1m1sy6DYZm2SbqFDElbXQ7PwjSoNrt7w/s400/gg.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Irish-born fashion journalist shares with us her London shopping tips, the best place to buy melt-in-your-mouth macaroons in Paris, what inspires fashion queen Vivienne Westwood and tries to answer that interminable question: what makes us happy? Giselle is my modern-day Jane Austen and without doubt always manages to inspire me when I'm suffering from a case of the mean reds. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299285246180278322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC12f21INK97n5uvp-UDZHBxex1l49aHdxTQXqSgdEz-7uOX6rHoZd8VnPNKxDiY-4lKmX4CuS2IuuhqKHC2INMIOt0cGK9I-tuKf4_o4FW2NTZFdXqBOuH5kCAnifnbr_NOUaeVYeyQ/s400/Picture+12.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 212px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299285239292897602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzo9Z_TD_W7i25giij1ie5kSfJkX8v1_E64qqKgWPzr_nX0gQbYG2HbGmfDAOD-P0OU08NTbIOas__193uLoETvzVhDU3FF_vckFeb0JfKElXVUbIO0nGOw8AGA7D970jlqjLi6gbRdc/s400/Picture+14.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299285240818308850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0dCFMjg1yE85TbwYWu9thlpZnpvol5Zn7WrjbPeSS3D0g6wD3VoQGm2C1MH5aBUxF4Aylx7rNK_I0krvzi9Lo5L06fp1eXTiV8rS28IXvdead4-ySw9-PYnrDuaxUABOj35qdw7VrTw/s400/Picture+15.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299285238510415090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uo0Bm5Nw5TarZhxwI0nQm01kDNspMrhvKYnqJxm1otHsOEC9NL-qyq94NK7sxSYngNjHBT6gM-mfpWZSXjTWsdZlibUoIr3yXPbMVqnG9kADYJw0DkIKB94indQGq5ENs3UDvyg-Zrg/s400/Picture+16.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a must-read! Have a fabulous friday everyone - eat some cake, drink some beer and wear a pretty frock (at least that's what I'll be doing...)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ness x</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div> </div><div> </div>

on the book shelf

how great is it when a bunch of tiny good things become the subliminal building blocks of a good day? this morning my coffee was perfect, th...

Read more »

the hills are alive with the sound of sirens

outside, the wind is on a rampage. Tree branches fall clumsily from trunks, the water from the Kings Cross fountain sprays magnificently over passing pedestrians and filthy plastic bags swirl spectacularly out-of-tune. It's like there is something ominous in the air; people furiously scurry by, blotting their watery eyes with old tissues, and the near sound of overlapping sirens bleats loud and furious. I walked home from the movies tonight; i now sport tangly hair and dust has settled on my eyelashes and in the crooks of my ears. I also fear that i may have inhaled a tree-worth of pollen in the process -- but i don't mind; somehow the wind makes things more exciting, more alive. the world <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">does</span> have a pulse!<div><br /></div><div>With the weather wild, i thought i'd go and see <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Duchess, </span>do some book shopping and lose myself in the day's papers over a long black. The movie was really lovely; nothing world-altering but certainly entertaining and definitely an eye-opener to how women (and the less-fortunate) were treated back in the 18th century. I also agree with all of the recent reviews that this is probably Keira Knightley's best performance to date. For the first time -- since <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bend it like Beckham </span>anyway -- i forgot that it was Keira i was seeing on screen, and really got involved with her character. She still had a lot of her throaty mannerisms but on the whole, she was very good. Definitely improving.</div><div><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4p2UtgtJuDk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4p2UtgtJuDk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are so many good films out at the moment; I'm also dying to see <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Xql3fDM44">Brideshead Revisited</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTjbBP9YjgM">Towelhead</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmVNHnGh4bE">Bitter & Twisted</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">. </span>Just not enough free time (or money!) Yes, i think I would like a public holiday once a month, please. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>My book shopping was successful too, there's just so many that i want to read right now. I bought <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">America America </span>by Ethan Canin, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Zookeeper's War </span>by Steven Conte (partly cos i'm reading it for a book club, and partly cos i was intrigued after it picked up the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Award) and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Krueger's Men: The Secret Nazi Counterfeit Plot </span>(the recent movie <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Counterfeiters </span>was based on this; i missed out on seeing it at the movies, but the book looks just as good). </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It's funny that i qualm at spending $60+ on a shirt or a pair of shoes but have no hesitation at spending that kind of money on books. Maybe because books don't remind you that you hate your thighs, or that your feet are ugly and oddly shaped. Instead, they talk to you and educate you, make you laugh and cry and think and dream. They take you to worlds you can only dream of going to, or places in time that are now obsolete. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Before i head off to indulge in some new words, nibble on some pita bread+humous and watch Denton; i want to share with you a website that i came across a couple of days ago: <a href="http://www.beforeidieiwantto.org/">www.beforeidieiwantto.org</a>. It's a polaroid project started in 2008 by two girls from the US. They ask strangers what their goal before they die is, take their photo and get their contact details. The site is updated weekly with new polaroids. Then, as the years pass, the girls will contact their subjects to see how their goal is progressing. It's completely fascinating, and not as morbid as i thought it would be -- i really urge you to check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Before i die i want to</span> write a novel. How about everyone else?</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253967538250721490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe8II2LhePJoeFUH_VpN5mG27cuUnnq-UaJoaRjAHMNqACRb0vlLnC9srpcF8iONE5-VZsPDUvCfHdUCY4644DmMhc2LDuNXlAWuYRfnlpaCoPJ6M07DDwyJbW5T5c_ZSkMrrdcvKK_Y/s400/die2.png" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253967538699955954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrwbl2s0ID0Nn5T8Tk4p-o9fks7r53y_eavZq1MMYGgvpAJ6jbVehpjgyn4PZRgCUZS3zojcgDXWs2I9pWagoSFqJeJ-ZJFayFjJdymZle1NgdN04Zpd8P6c5XCOB1H50dD4WgkLasG4/s400/die1.png" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>ness x</div>

the hills are alive with the sound of sirens

outside, the wind is on a rampage. Tree branches fall clumsily from trunks, the water from the Kings Cross fountain sprays magnificently ove...

Read more »

the beauty of creation

<div style="text-align: left;">While i'm sitting here watching the emmys (award ceremonies are my guilty pleasure) i thought i'd share with you two of my latest discoveries to start the week off.<br /></div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>First, i have a major girl crush on UK designer <a href="http://lucyjanebatchelor.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lucy Jane Batchelor</span></a>. I've never met her, but i have fallen head over heels for her delightfully whimsical cards, stationary and textiles. Have you ever seen anything as gorgeous as her "For You" tokens?</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248822339494768466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgkpZjVKTKYiqqWSEtjHKyGqca-yTdmyCmQ-7cyX1zwxOqXCvbN0TFBU5I-SvtoIU7RuVXLxBgxVXLHqWVbOF-m9emdaWZ4VyYpOhbXKdgGXG0PnthKg2OVqrX40ijnLyOjRSQa_0W6M/s400/token.png" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248822341565892978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCTkDaJor8RNCvUiwbERBdsy-ByK2FI7K1mJRvhWoYfwOs6kGs0825xt7yQQH4IoW_LaegirAWLgL9Q0x0N_cB2SCC7Q_Ql6v3eyKa1yoQIMlAiXyW912uEWPcY4-gAnjwbpfWVt-ubM/s400/token2.png" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She does so many cute cards too, but this one is definitely my fave:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248825403777440114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd82g9V2YwFTeeFMweUtqZ4Zsy0idEA2RlmnlnRGirMYqJm3oCCdUnhmKhsW7XS6vPpIPI8NcJh1rwCO1-6M4z2_vRk4X2rwvtng2XEbbJMN5PkGJt5YAe77uQFI-j_RdGTyoNURuLss/s400/token3.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lucy also has a blog, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.hellomylittlefriend.blogspot.com/">hello my little friend, </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">which i urge you to read. Her handcrafted little toys are absolutely to die for. I desperately want to order one for my cousin's little girl.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I know that i've waxed lyrical about my undying love for books many a time before, but there's just so many novel (ha!) ideas out there. Like the hauntingly talented <a href="http://www.jenkhoshbin.com/home">Jennifer Khoshbin</a>. Jen, who hails from Texas in the U.S, carves the most beautiful scenarios and characters into the pages of unused books. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248832472545836754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHQt_-V77NUcpyuNbhLqr_rJ60TR8Me0Ftq1q-1H6FXFmOKsFbT0Vq2Yr1Q-S3Sz9-6okNhSjkxRIYErlL_ofPhLTdOGgg7BtVj2nYyFEy2cxD7oFRu7Lo6qXsT4Ye24zRyTbmnS_UTw/s400/jen.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248832474412846770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rm1v8oAABgeWt5M-FsETD8FIH-mV2_d3kHoFlizApmk_FzOj2IyoHADwkaFAUewgx31ALOYN2ORrqLVykV74PLy8SFH9xQ2VssXe4swlL-rML5uuEOnzbJ4920ugWaFIHqzAEHquvRE/s400/jen1.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248832480842069922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IimTG5Ft7rIepIA1rvNcezzSYJfbxL52ErXtsA-QS4yI1qoWlIJkHMuQ84h1VARx4QW3nZ_tiIZhSTlILCzoLwVJOBA6xRtWLu-x7qErvQIvAgdqxxHATB_iRhanloe5Scy7RIhRh5A/s400/jen2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px; ">got goosebumps!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Okay, that's it for tonight my lovelies. i am all blinky-eyed and watching the fools bumbling around at the emmys is making me kinda seasick. (except for you, Tina Fey. god bless your little heart, words cannot express how much i adore your S</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdDqSvJ6aHc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">arah Palin impersonations</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, not to mention 30 Rock... best. show. ever).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ness x</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div></div>

the beauty of creation

While i'm sitting here watching the emmys (award ceremonies are my guilty pleasure) i thought i'd share with you two of my latest di...

Read more »

here there and everywhere

so as it turned out, saturday was definitely <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> the best day for an adventure. the weather was gross. windy. rainy. fucking cold basically. buut.. my friend V and i soldiered on, wrapped our necks in scarfs and stuffed our tootsies in boots. <div><br /><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.lilifields.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">lilifields</span></span></a> </span>[oxford street, paddington] was our choice for brunch. a veritable fairy garden, this is the most peaceful place for a spot of scrambled eggs after a busy week at work. handcrafted vases, jewelry and the loveliest cards grace the walls, not to mention the buckets and buckets of beautiful blooms. peonies, sweet peas and hydrangeas waft around you while you're eating and fill the store with the most stunning scent. </div><div><br /></div><div>my mum used to own a florist shop when i was a wee ness, and after school and on holidays my sister and i would spend our days in the back of the shop, watching as our mum stripped blue gum until her hands bled and transformed unassuming stalks into the sweetest bouquets. that strong heady smell of roses and lilies mixed with blue gum always remind me of my mum and that part of my childhood.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><div>             <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238407646851006530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0toMHPSiWwja8rvkxJEGMFqgGAXGyWOZqb5y3OY5Bta7tmhn9hq5Ue57e30wetXNpoXr3pNK4lPm9VzMdCNW7tuv-foQvggZurcsGnegO6fjIho00j8y03dLsxyBrIjkH0W0Vjqj97kE/s320/lilifield.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />               <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238407651746007058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji5WVwS-_NkrOHoFX8iEa8KBBcs7ZCG9iRu7DsWo0ZUrziKdD_s4o_un8ZY5SDTAlPHLU0PaFKJdkQs3y6iDg0r8NuFN-aurQfKa7EwXVAlM-ZxRcDpFWOhsXaNNZChko14WbnhxCGVI/s320/lilifield2.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /> </div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>with bellies full, we meandered down oxford st into the markets at the <a href="http://www.thefringe.com.au/">Fringe Bar </a>[oxford st, paddington]. i love seeing the popular paddington watering hole transform into a vintage wonderland come saturday mornings. soft leather belts, tan bags, feathered fedoras, shiny secondhand shoes (lovingly scrubbed) and local designer jewels are some of the treasures (and trash) up for grabs. i walked away empty handed but with the cutest pair of patent mary-jane heels on my mind. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>the first time i came to sydney was in 2006, for three weeks of work experience at a couple of magazines, and also, i guess, to scope out my future home. i stayed at bondi, and after a long day of coffee-fetching and photocopying and transcribing pseudo-celebrity interviews, i would walk up and down the streets and laneways of the beachside suburb, peeking into tropical-night themed bars and dusty retro shops. despite its cool beach image, i discovered bondi was actually a really fun indie girl in hiding; full of record shops and tucked-away coffee bars and... the best bookshop ever. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>introducing... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">gertrude&alice</span>. (after the infamous literary duo gertrude stein and alice tsolkias of course). Not only was this darling shop jammed full of the best secondhand books, but the cafe served the best salads and chai tea in sydney. steamy and cinnamon-y, i loved to curl up in the worn armchairs with a cup of chai and a copy of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">wild swans</span>. when i moved here for good, i discovered that gertrude&alice had a sister shop in paddington. in the last year, the bondi shop has very sadly shut its doors but the paddington haunt is still going strong (with a name change though, to <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ampersand cafe and bookstore</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">) </span>with the same greats reads and amazing chai as ever.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420500723186834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0N6_Q5iaoZigI5zf0XZSh4qgXSkuzD7leBlZzzVF0Yl0R1iD7NGgYqnWaZJwTPSDortcvc40W72E8IbdkDRX4CYurh_9ScINU8z2iRbCKdNbDdQsKjHsyKDkuD_6vRzd5ceSymseA0k/s320/berkbooks.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /><div>my other favourite bookshop is <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://www.berkelouw.com.au/about"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">berkelouw books</span></a></span>, just around the corner from <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ampersand</span></span>. this too has a great secondhand collection (2 levels worth) and a cafe (which does the best long blacks in sydney). they have a really good new book section, plus lots of gorgeous art and photography books, stationary and lit magazines. i could quite seriously spend a good deal of my weekend perusing these two bookshops. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>surry hills was our next stop. this is sydney's design hub, crammed full of all the best homewares haunts, galleries, paper+stationary boutiques and lots of tiny treasure-chest shops with one-of-a-kind finds. <br /></div><div> </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238436131324412226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT6X-CRWZeze940p6BTptq_TPaQP6_cRhNkOZVGZ08KnUeAl5O9GJwvspFw5u-CRO_cRIZYLAelK2GHhWpei1C80O25PKl5pGGqWVAR_76RjAH1mSyD4tyY8WTBYkXlnoUboU7f7KizI/s400/icietla2.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238436653234188690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vmV6o10nTK2m5GLxABxeWWiX8n0KDB_xx93uLmeFCZugvPevGqD9O0apihMih99Sqx7CBWJ7qdm_awjDYhWsRQrickuEoh4pyYI3Wv58fVpWZxvidOc_IsMM4MfoXV8TKZze2CjDv9M/s400/icietla5.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://www.icietla.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ici et la</span></a></span>, [bourke st surry hills] has such a crazy eclectic feel to it. huge steel alphabet letters, vintage teatowels, espadrilles, french-inspired textiles and striped deckchairs... you can almost taste the south of france on the tip of your tongue. sandy beaches and champagne here i come!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://www.cheesoonfitzgerald.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">chee soon and fitzgerald </span></a></span>[crown st surry hills], sandwiched between trendy wine bars and steamy indian restaurants on crown street, is the original surry hills design shop. opened in 1992, the area at the time was still pretty much a slum like nearby redfern. the residents were pretty happy with the local pub and weren't really keen on browsing marimekko fabrics or artimede furnishings. (funny that!) but -- the shop thrived and spurned the opening of hundreds of similar shops on nearby bourke and foveaux and commonwealth streets.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love the <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">EYOI YOI table lamp by Marc Pascal...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(234, 131, 11); font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(234, 131, 11); font-family:Arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(234, 131, 11); font-family:Arial;"> </span></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238430635342218562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1z3H2WKFo8M90vYIuvzge4uEGuvbLFuS6C5hb7S-Ath9U3ovuIfr-L_WheNc5kMkVKwikoihIsMyYVfPxofhk4MPCW9O-OXbR-JnNjxqdq3DkjAsOgIJH81GlVQ81jApe5GGDZxAwsI/s320/csf3.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">and these funky spanish-style Dibbern ceramics...</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238434734169057618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_r9b8vEa-aR91gSM3f8Z8qpzIZD3gqFc4Dik21yuI0JZPUKyfkSY6-9vd5FEt6X1dNsAns_5elYPxcOM4oW6ebTAmAXReuXZhtiVaU4htt8kI2kCpTFl5gHesC82zszSDtaR__a5_A/s400/Dibbern_ensemble.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">and of course, what girl doesn't dream of filling her studio apartment with fabulous marimekko fabrics and ceramics...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238438152250279042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkiZgHwQVOcitvVzOU4_9JkO-bkUsHspk-S-2kz8xA7q_QZkVnho3_M1c959lTrcRveB6ZoAdlPwE4jRIIz4y-154e-vDQGiOFTT_9tYY8R2lpP8trOC1oShgmhtbujhusInHeC3GWB0/s400/keittio.jog.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">our last adventure before seeing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Savages </span>at the palace verona cinema on oxford street (fabulous film btw. recommended v.highly) was a well-deserved stop at the <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://www.thebookkitchen.com.au/">book kitchen </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> [devonshire street surry hills]. no sydney adventure would be complete without a pot of english breakfast tea and a chocolate brownie at this quaint cafe/cookbook shop. chocolate-y goodness and food books abound... bliss!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238439241925027218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wlN6-v0S7B-zwj7j5RbAVZIW99ahNakTmubeCgm8bPWr2FzaNU5zvb82cIt90mTcSDHNJXT_QctS4wwNjwEmuku-ex7WImSvcNAV-KhAu1nCFjIwnlCzEzsJ8IhQeVTloFEzP89H4cs/s400/bookk.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ness x</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div>

here there and everywhere

so as it turned out, saturday was definitely not the best day for an adventure. the weather was gross. windy. rainy. fucking cold basically...

Read more »

book nerds rejoice

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">like i said, i love lists...</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">these darlings have been patiently waiting on the bookshelf of ness for months now. i am particularly eager to read </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Addition</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; my mum bought this to sydney with her on her last visit - she met author Toni Jordan at the Adelaide Writers Week and said she was wonderful (if not a little eccentric).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Suite Francaise</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Irene Nemirovsky</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Running With Scissors</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Augusten Burroughs</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Double Fault </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lionel Shriver</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paula </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Isabel</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Allende</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Red Shoes </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Carmel Bird</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Margot Fonteyn Biograph</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">y Meredith Daneman</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happiness</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Will Ferguson</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Man and Boy</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Tony Parsons</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Changed Man</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Francine Prose</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Addition</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Toni Jordan</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and these are the brand new beauties i am desperately craving...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Private Lives of Pippa Lee</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Rebecca Miller</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One Foot Wrong </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sofie Laguna</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When You Are Engulfed in Flames </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">David Sedaris</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Poppyland </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Raffaella Barker</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Behaviour of Moth</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s Poppy Adams</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I Dream of Magda</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Stefan Laszczuk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Mary Ann Shaffer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don’t Get Too Comfortable </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">David Rakoff</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Children of Freedom</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Marc Levy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Child’s Book of True Crime </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chloe Hooper</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just lately i have finished a couple of books that i feel the need to share. Helen Garner's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Joe Cinque's Consolatio</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">n has been sitting on my shelf for awhile but it somehow drew me in to its pages last week and i devoured it in a matter of days. funny how a book can do that. i love miss garner for her stunning story-telling skills and journalistic integrity. she brings to light another side of the idea of duty-of-care that i've never thought of before. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">how deeply involved with someone do you have to be before you are considered an "accessory" in any wrong-doings they commit? Obviously, if you walk past someone in the street who is suffering from a drug overdose and you do nothing, you can't be pinned for manslaughter. But if you happen to help that person, perhaps give them a pain-killer which raises their blood pressure or thins their blood and they die, are you partly responsible for their death? It is such an intricately fascinating topic. I could debate it for days (high school debate geek coming out...)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i also loved Geraldine Brooks'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">newie, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The People of The Book</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I religiously watch 'First Tuesday Book Club' each month and so when they reviewed this one and the overall consensus was a resounding THIS IS TRIPE, i backed off. But  -- my mum read it and loved it and i trust her book judgement a thousand times more than Marieke 'I wear a ratty flower in my hair so i look bohemian and cool' Hardy and Jennifer 'I LOVED this! (squeel)' Byrne. (I have nothing bad to say about Jason Steger, the third member of the reviewing team and that's because i have a slightly creepy crush on him. And yes, i know he's old. whatev)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back to the book. I know Geraldine has this tendency to ramble on and use slightly too many stereotypes in her prose (how many times the main character had to say 'tinnie' and 'g'day' and 'shit -a-brick' before we finally realised she was an Aussie I'll never know). But all in all, i thought it was a great read, i ended up sitting there with my laptop on so i could google all the things she talked about that i knew little of (ie. the Sarajevo War). And my god can she write historical fiction well. am tres` jealous.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">tis' bedtime now for ness. if only my neighbour would stop watching reruns of Will and Grace on repeat and then we'd all be happy. oh yes...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ness x</span></div></div></div></div>

book nerds rejoice

like i said, i love lists... these darlings have been patiently waiting on the bookshelf of ness for months now. i am particularly eager to ...

Read more »

new soul

<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">as much as I love magazines, nothing quite compares to the journey that you take when you read a book. In my twenty-two years, I've sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, rode a rickshaw into a tiny Chinese village with Amy Tan and fought the Civil War with Scarlett O'Hara. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My books (all 400 or so of them) have travelled with me through 14 houses, from adelaide to sydney and hopefully in the near future to new york. it's hard for me to throw out magazines but completely unbearable for me to part with my books. every one of them not only tells a story through the author's words but through it's own history; where it came from, who owned it before me and who will own it after. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">when i was packing up my adelaide life, my dad asked (told) me to cull my collection. i v.reluctantly picked out 12 novels (albeit all really bad ones given to me in my past life as a book reviewer) and left the box with my dad the day i boarded my plane. turns out history repeats itself; my mother saved my rejected hardbacks and found a place for them on her bookshelf. after all, no matter how bad the writing this (please, PLEASE never read a book called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">knitting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, okay? you'll thank me) there's no reason to let them go unloved.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">'s why i'm currently loving interior designer Samantha Parson's vision. Her dream? To rescue the world's unloved hardbacks and turn them into works of art. Her avant-garde tables (book block tables) and screens (bookscreens) are created by recycling and folding the discarded pages from old atlases, cookbooks and children's picture books. They’re part of her handcrafted product range, Family of Sam, which can be found at </span><a href="http://www.studiosam.com.au/" style="line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; " target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.studiosam.com.au</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. LOVE! how genius is this?</span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236394438302900754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPviazt2uK3OBDFOXPciKnR0rapyiG0dkNOKiwov5N6PyW8pDdva-16uo_5qefYYJX-ysMfToV38NWzdSrzJxYua9kbdp01dDAp6iEFzWgHmi4CcHc4PmoTSWoYs7c6GTTbD19ekbCNLk/s320/booktable.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236394433045865346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7BJKR7-Kr_vl0jUn-slaRqh1xtR_ybeuxm6sjQVh9Op2fvgzn5hyphenhyphenE1k4N-J5V9qIZYaGC0mZbBE7ZQfp8I85rvo6ApSOBLhp9gc1_uoNgxRT4yZfeiiamRrU-Ny45ZC-85DV_uxl9K4/s320/bookscreen.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Melbourne couple Ben Mason and Natalie Crupi have also jumped on the book bandwagon with their online store Rebound Books. By day they rescue dusty hardbacks from charity op shops, and at night they fill them with recycled denim paper and bind them with sturdy wire, creating a blank journal for travel dreams, shopping notes and sketches. My personal favourite are the old Enid Blyton covers. Go to </span><a href="http://www.reboundbooks.net/" style="line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; " target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.reboundbooks.net</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for more details.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236394442413732162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighEIB_x98GJjmSfOwEslt9VukHhRWtW15O4yYKjo9N7lG0PCJg6Sp2IEB4Y-8Z7nuX9ipk0SyPsbmxsqTMBuDvuroBoEPq_Yd11Y7GcT4xLvJ_mTvwZwjh67lzc8Uz4oTirCpTmgrgkA/s320/book1.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">                                     </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">speaking of fabulous design, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on saturday i went to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">sydney design</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> at the powerhouse museum with my friend C (aka The Wife). we moved to sydney together this time last year so we thought we'd celebrate our first anniversary together and do dumplings/design...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">i went mainly for the modern times exhibition, which was just so well done. they had architecture, music, fashion, art etc through the ages, from 1917 to the 70's. if you get a chance to go along -- do! it's on until Aug 24th. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">it's time for a tired ness to rest her head, so i'll just leave you a pretty song to end the evening on...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YUxbDEPFiM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YUxbDEPFiM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>

new soul

as much as I love magazines, nothing quite compares to the journey that you take when you read a book. In my twenty-two years, I've sail...

Read more »

circus love

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpK_V4eErhh1LB1s7FGFdCFPuMn7gpmTKzC8ECzMdXPhH_vxH0jERdRoxDg-CHUmV1gGQGv70Kk4J1pbsXg9tdK7uyW0OE5uroEyvJExBUZXJ4fqNSGgXbATnz34nREe15-peaHIpy8Q/s1600-h/circus3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">confession #2</span> when i was little, i loved reading enid blyton books. why, i'm not too sure -- looking back at them makes me question my eight year old judgement a little. it was always the girls who had to clean and make the sandwiches while the boys got to go off and have adventures which seems totally unfair to me now. in my eight year old mind i think it was the idea of finding a tree in your backyard which had magical characters living in it with names like moon face and saucepan man. a tree which had revolving worlds at the top of it, like 'get-what-you-want' land, and 'topsy-turvy land'.<br /></div><div><br /><div>in one of her stories, a little boy is playing in his yard when the circus rides by. he stops them and asks his parents if he can join... they look at each other and say, why not? Let us just finish the dishes and put out the rubbish and we'll come too! So the boy waits on his front steps, chatting to the tightrope walker and the clowns while his parents finish their chores and lock the front door, then they all hop on the backs of elephants and go riding off in the sunset together. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>my inspiration for today's musing comes from the lovely <a href="http://madeleinestamer.typepad.com/">Madeleine Stamer</a>, a Melbourne artist who designs under the label <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little circus design</span>. i love her prints for their deep intensity - she has an uncanny ability to express beautifully honest emotions through a simple drawing. it's how i image the circus to look if someone sat down and captured its soul.</div><div> </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233986468883304674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6Wu0kgqJ0TLgyCUlN04Lb87haXru1-5TuE6RZ63PtLCiW-bagjqCc7-Vh_wgKsaZ_iJ6mnEni0ofC3UJD456NJLvItEyGbgRfOOv1cC4-wEtH4cHQiFuZAmaxPlGz9Y0xqPbXtok0Sg/s320/circus2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233986468122194162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Idg3FVv5lmVN_LfDtjnUlOXqI7b-NYbBFMxGlEvqmCyoQShbLlApcegn4wdarj6xNnmfgxOJZ-IdwBGuvhkFOI3SDGxtVo7eR01CUYooIWNkBlPjjHK6b2H-Us6NDBj7k30YSLLxj20/s320/circus1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="I*heart*you" height="600" src="http://madeleinestamer.typepad.com/photos/limited_edition_prints/i_heart_you.jpg" width="469" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div></div>

circus love

confession #2 when i was little, i loved reading enid blyton books. why, i'm not too sure -- looking back at them makes me question my ...

Read more »