I don't care if its passe

Don't you just love vintage. As a daydream of being Jackie O, makes me want to be a photographer back in the 60's / 70's. The dirty gritty photo's, with the brown and orange tinge. aahhh i'm in love. Okay that's it, buying an old camera and shooting.

But haha, what about these newspaper clipping. Gotta love how this was so taboo. Who would have thought, this seems so tame. The underwear, the poses and the terrible hair, i don't care if its passe, i'm finding this inspiring.  On my way to find the newspaper clippings of my grandparents.

a little bit of history.. graf style

Learn how some old school graffiti artists came about and how they’ve come full circle…

what is a graffiti artist?

how to grow and show...

Talk about being green fingered. Or rather, finger. Hafsteinn Juliusson is an Industrial/Interior designer from Reykjavik, Iceland living and working in Milano, Italy who has come up with the idea of combining living organisms with jewelry. AWESOME. 'can i take one moss ring to go, please' I love it.

Growing Rings and necklaces are a mix of jewelry and plant, couture and organism. The rings and pendants hold actual living greenery and are now available in limited production. 


Word of advice: For best results water it only once every 5 weeks and be careful not to water too much. It’s also good to store the ring in deep freeze to preserve it. The moss can stay green for up to 8 - 12 months but Hafsteinn Juliusson takes no responsibility for that.

check out more designs on his website... here

my thoughts on graf...

I have never been a huge graffitti girl, i appreciate the art style itself. But I hate tagging, i think its lame. Writing your name on a wall seriously... its a little self involved, don't you think.  It also most of it adds to the deterioation of a community or area. Now i'm not saying all of it is ugly, there are some beautiful tags. But i believe that if you have a skill like that, you should rather manifest in something that will actually help a community and add to an environment. IE inspirational words, whatever just not your name.

So in general i was against graffiti. We all live in the same world, we all need to be able to love what we see around us. And i don't really want to see a dudes name on a wall.

 

 

however, when i read this article and the laws they want to pass about graffiti, i became more open to the idea, that there is a difference between public art and graffiti. And it can't all be judged on the same level.. so i added my name to the petition. You should too.

http://www.writeonafrica.org/projects-initiatives/graffiti-by-law/

Clink on the link below to sign the petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/art4all/petition.html

fashionably inspired

There are often 2 sides to everyone you meet. Everyone has a something else about them whether its gorilla film making, knitting or baking the best cupcakes in town.  However, no of these describe the dynamic designer Doreen Southwood. Doreen is recognised for her latest fashion trend on the runway. Of which i am always drooling for.

Not many know, she completed her studies at BAFA University of Stellenbosch in 1998, and is now an influential sculptor. Doreen doesn't limit herself to work in any one medium and has produced sculptures incorporating 3 dimensional objects, prints and video. In her two dimensional work, she retains her style of creating object-like pieces. She often employs the skills of craftspeople such as glass blowers and cabinet-makers.

She draws inspiration from her conservative, white, middle-class Afrikaans upbringing. Southwood is able to unearth feelings within of a haunted past. She taps into the nasty cycle of repression, abuse and the coping mechanisms offered her by this society. She makes one aware of the women occuping a silent and haunted interior.

 I love how juxtaposing Doreen's work is. Her fashion takes me to the streets of Paris where beautiful woman sip espresso's. Where sculpture evokes feelings in me that could only be described as small girl cowing in the corner of an empty room.

Drop Doreen an email on doreensouthwood@worldonline.co.za. She is so inspiring please give her a google, its worth it.

unfolding like paper

Origami is the traditional Japanese art form of folding paper, which started in the 17th century AD and was popularized in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form. Emma Ann is a young jewellery designer from Cape Town and has drawn inspiration from this art form for her latest collection.

 I meet Emma over a year ago and noticed that she such style and taste in beautiful contemporary jewellery, it was only a couple months when i just couldn't help myself and wanted another piece i wanted. I asked her where she she got it and I was really inspired that she designed it all herself. She has just graduated from Cape Tech. She maybe a young designer but she definitely has the most interesting and exciting concepts. Her unbelievable skill and eye for form fuses together to produce very striking pieces.

Check out her website www.emmaanne.com or email her on info@emmaanne.com

Inspired by TyPE. Inspired me.

Aaron built a small very uninteresting shelving unit for our studio, and all i could think of was 'yeah another carpenter' (sarcastic as ever). It wasn't until he pulled out his porti, i was gobsmacked. My mother's words never judge a book came running back into my head. I had underestimated the man. I was inspired.

Craftsman, designer and full on talent. Aaron studied in Ireland and is inspired by his travelling. Since being in South Africa, he has designed the exhibition stand for Heath Nash, for the annual Design Indaba Expo. And is currently working on a range of lighting for an established Art Gallery.

Now have a look at his work...Done in collaboration with Selina Swayne, studying at the RCA, the chair is inspired by elements of Baskerville font.

The inspiration: "An interest in the basic terms of typography led to research concerning the different parts of a letter and the elements that make up the alphabet. Aiming to bring the details of type normally reserved for letterpress and typography into everyday life, the shapes were developed into 3D, with the ‘legs’ and ‘arms’ of the letters naturally lending themselves to the form of a chair."

Here's where you can find him... www.aaronkearneydesign.com
or on +27 (0) 719 001 201

The {B} word

B-Word Worldwide, doing business as Bitch Media, is the nonprofit organization best known for publishing the magazine Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture. Bitch Media’s mission is to provide a feminist critique and analysis of pop culture, to encourage discussion about how the media influences us, and to promote the connection between cultural critique and social-justice activism.

It's not only for the girl's i promise, there is a lot boys will enjoy too. Bitch has a diverse audience, which keeps the dialogue and the movement dynamic and strong. Bitch not only plays a role in exploring a diverse range of topics, it also provides a toolkit for engaging in analysis that promotes activism and impels social change. The blogs are great, and there are some interesting and exciting creative women. However, i'm not convinced that you need to have an intire sight to promote your sexual orientation, what about promoting your skills as a woman... but each one to themselves, check it out anyway.. http://bitchmagazine.org/issues

Shoes, the perfect shoes for your boyfriend jacket..

There is definitely a move in fashion towards a look that i would call .. boys are looking more like girls and the girls could be mistaken for boys. And although reading this it sounds horrific, the fashion has got a sophisticated edge, the jackets although boyfriend style with rolled sleeves. I like the move away from dirty to chic. The Fall 2009 boyfriend jacket craze has provided the perfect excuse to make that one-time boring staple - the black blazer - an integral part of your everyday wardrobe. Whether you’re going casual or dressy, “office chic” has suddenly become “always chic” with the boyfriend jacket.

So here are the perfect shoes to go with that jacket...


Bespoke shoe maker, Sue Engles established her shoe making studio in Observatory, Cape Town. The workshop is small and designed to cater for exclusive lines of beautifully crafted contemporary shoes. Sue uses traditional methods of shoe making, which date back centuries, are used together with modern twists in the design of the shoe. The shoe designs are influenced by current trends blended with a historical reference.


Bespoke shoes are made in such a way that components may be renewed or repaired if and when necessary.
 The full leather linings and leather insoles allow for breath ability. Dress shoes and boots are soled with premium quality vegetable tanned leather. The casual range has air cushioned rubber soles that are light and durable.

Her shoes definitely complement what is new and trendy in fashion whilst the quality is of supreme importance to her. These are a must have in your closet check out... www.zasu.co.za

typographically fun and green

Alphabot, a typographically built robot, which is creatively introduces the alphabet to kids. And maybe, i'm not a kid anymore but i want one for my bookshelf.

I would the equally like the bright Birds A-Z (below), who’s sharply illustrated alphabet is cushioned in red and blue.

The fresh, distinct design of Bold and Noble’s lively prints exude a playful energy that is at once appealing to adults and kids, making them something of a special addition to home decor.

Which also are 'green', i should have guessed this as most forward thinking designs are started by the most forward thinking individuals. There are a dozen striking designs to spoil the senses, each available in two colour options, that are silk screen printed onto recycled card and delivered in eco cardboard tubes.

Make sure you check out their delightful Little Acorns Height Chart; measure yourself and the little ones.. depending on who wants to be the kid today.

handing written type

Hand written although often the over used cheesy option, i did some research and found some big brands that have successfully used this option. Ford, Davidoff and Harrods, hou sehold names are examples of making hand writing less cheese. The key element is the simplicity of these logo's and their us e of white space as part of the branding.