mayhem and miscellany

2012-01-29T12:59:00.000+10:30

I love this. Swedish interiors be gone! Found Australian interiors from real estate websites, come to me! At the moment I'm in a very enjoyable 'nesting in a new home' period myself. (Via textile and terrain).

2012-01-28T14:06:00.000+10:30

I've lost half of my negatives from London. I imagine I put them somewhere 'safe' when I moved house just before Christmas.

I've never really loved London, but this visit was nice. London with a bit of sun on it makes for a far more enjoyable time! Not to mention London Design Week, which led me to all the nicest streets and neighbourhoods. Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, cupcakes, markets (OMG the Borough Market!), Saatchi, V&A, The Breakfast Club, Fika, Flat White, Monmouth, the Barbican, pop up shops, tiny galleries, Look Mum No Hands, flying out in a jumbo jet. FIN.

2012-01-28T12:04:00.000+10:30

Oslo. I drank Norwegian beer and ate fish burgers at the harbour in the middle of a bustling food festival and market; I watched skateboarders roll up and down the front steps of the town hall; I took the train into the hills and went hiking, passing by two enormous but obviously out-of-action ski slopes; I saw a play at Black Box; I saw the absolutely amazing 'Absolute Installation' at the National Museum of Contemporary Art; I took a ferry ride around the fjord; I drank coffee at Fuglen (where the barista was from Melbourne, go figure) and admired the wings on the bike out the front; I drank more coffee - the best of my life - at Tim Wendelboe; I bought a waffle from a young girl around the corner who was making and selling them in the street (perfect English at age 10. Cue feelings of inadequacy); I had my photo taken for a Japanese magazine out the front of a cafe one morning - apparently I'm a good representation of the Norwegian cafe/knitting culture (go figure x2)!

2012-01-27T22:36:00.001+10:30

I can't believe I'm still doing this, still stuck in Gothenburg. In more ways than one, I suppose.

Life is odd at the moment. Coming out of an extended break from work. Trying to find my feet in quicksand. Appreciative of those around me. Newly twenty-three!

We stumbled upon the Gothenburg International Biennial for Contemporay Art, with the tagline 'art in a time of creativity fever'. There were some amazing pieces, like this giant hanging bean-filled work, a world map made out of electrical wire and sound representing migration flow, and a symphony based on the 'voices' of the Icelandic financial collapse! Röda Sten, the building under the bridge, blew me away. What an amazing space.

2012-01-03T12:18:00.001+10:30

Anne Kristine from 11.54 had me guest post over on her blog. This photograph of me was taken by the lovely Sia Duff.

It's the new year. I hope yours is, has been and will be happy. I'm crossing my fingers for the same for myself.

2011-12-11T20:41:00.001+10:30

Gritty and grey, but beautiful.

2011-12-10T18:38:00.001+10:30

Gothenburg felt so right*.

*This may or may not have had anything to do with the number of beautiful boys I fell in love with whilst there.

2011-12-07T18:00:00.000+10:30

Obsessions.

2011-12-07T11:17:00.001+10:30

We spent our life savings on coffee and cinnamon scrolls. TOTALLY WORTH IT.

2011-12-06T08:03:00.000+10:30

Despite being close, my friend and I are very different people with very different tastes. We ended up balancing each other really well, and did lots of exploring that I otherwise would not have done by myself. (Plus, his tolerance for cafes, galleries and vintage stores seems to have exponentially grown since he lived in Adelaide; and my tolerance for trashy rappers has exponentially grown since he left!)

2011-11-25T07:57:00.001+10:30

I took a train to Stockholm and met up with one of my dearest friends, who I hadn't seen in over a year. He had come from dreary London, and I hadn't experienced a sunny Stockholm before. We had the most wonderful time.

2011-11-22T19:30:00.000+10:30

The end of Copenhagen. For now, but certainly not forever.

Things that happened that have no images:
- Freaking out in peak hour cycling traffic/being on the wrong side of the road when I went riding through the city
- A wonderful lunch with Katrine
- Drinks with darling old friends at Kalaset
- My own little studio apartment in the centre of the city
- WEEKDAY
- Hours and hours spent at The Log Lady
- Having that funny little language fill my ears, mind and heart
- Pastries
- Walking by the lakes and never ever wanting to leave

2011-11-22T08:35:00.001+10:30

I drank an obscene amount of coffee during this trip. This one was at Sort Kaffe og Vinyl.

At first I was disappointed with how unreliable my camera proved to be. I hardly used my digital, so these are really all I have. But I'm coming to love the quirks and the magic. In a way, it's true to life.

2011-11-21T18:00:00.000+10:30

I went to an exhibition that radically altered my perspective on the cities that are closest to my heart. I think it's the reason why I have come back feeling they way I do about Adelaide. This place is hard work. Which is fine - I'd rather be a creator than a consumer - but it's draining. In a city like Copenhagen they're constantly looking 25 years forward, instead of only realising now in 2011 that urban sprawl, a focus on macro instead of micro, the lack of useful and inspiring public spaces, and a heavy reliance on cars is not only unsustainable but makes for a dead city.

A visit to the old Carlsberg Brewery (accompanied by a great podwalk which you may be interested to listen to anyway) blew me away. An enormous, once-industrial space quite close to the city has been abandoned, and will take 15-20 years to redevelop into housing. We have a similar situation here in Adelaide with Bowden. Yet while Copenhagen works out exactly how to best develop it, it has opened the entire space up to start making people feel comfortable and at home in the area. Interactive artworks like the ropes; well-thought out street furniture that carefully considers the way people interact not just with the space, but each other; and a continuous stream of festivals and arts events means that by the time housing starts to spring up in Carlsberg, everyone will already feel completely at home there. Place making at its very, very best.

I also picked up a great study on cycling in Copenhagen and was fascinated by the statistics. 68% of Copenhageners cycle at least once a week, and up to 50% use cycling as their mode of transportation to work or study. Meanwhile, when you take into account transport costs, security, comfort, branding/tourism and health factors, the net social gain of cycling in Denmark is DKK 1.22 per kilometre (20-25 cents). The cycling culture is making Copenhagen money! Comparatively, for every kilometre driven by a car, there is a net social loss of DKK 0.69. You can download 'Copenhagen: City of Cyclists' here.

2011-11-21T11:27:00.000+10:30

From my notebook on this day: 'Is there any better place to be in the world than Copenhagen in late summer?'

2011-11-20T22:56:00.000+10:30

I always avoided doing touristy things the first time I was there, and always regretted not visiting Møns Klint. I left Copenhagen early one morning and travelled south by train. The train went through Roskilde, my old home, and strange as it was to be reliving that train trip, I felt very little. After that, I decided not to visit my old house on Københavnsvej, despite thinking of it every day since I left it behind. I think it is best to let at least something remain in the past.

Once off the train, I caught a bus to the island of Møn. I then hired a bicycle and rode 20km to the cliffs. It was sunny, breezy and perfect. Riding alone through the gently rolling countryside and the tiny towns, stopping sporadically at bakeries and antique stores, and finally cycling up through the forest to the cliffs was the freest I've ever felt. No one knew who I was or where I was. It's such a powerful feeling to feel completely disconnected from the realities of life, yet at the same time feel so incredibly happy and content.

2011-11-20T10:45:00.001+10:30

'Loppemarked' is one of my favourite words in Danish. (Flea market!)

I'd been dreaming of the indoor garden at the Glyptotek for years. I usually have little time for non-contemporary art, but I could live in that gallery forever. So beautiful.

(I can feel myself drawing this sharing process out. Because once it's done, then it's really over. Although maybe that's what I need).

2011-11-09T08:26:00.000+10:30

"Every morning you wake up and know that the city will be a better place." -Jan Gehl on living in Copenhagen

This exact sentiment hit me like a truck during this visit to Copenhagen. I could just wake up enjoy the city for the wonderful, progressive, design-oriented, people-friendly place that it is. I didn't have to work hard to make things happen. I didn't have to try to create something out of nothing. I didn't have to settle for anything less than joy and wonder. And in realising that, I realised just how well suited I am to Copenhagen, and Copenhagen is to me.

If you're a city nerd like I, you might like to listen to Gehl's recent talk in Adelaide on 'Cities for People'.

I know Adelaide is trying really hard at the moment, but my own enthusiasm for it is waning. I hope it picks up again soon.

2011-11-07T08:05:00.000+10:30

Tracey Emin, The Perfect Place To Grow, 2001

"…to lose that unconditional love is a greater loss than actually losing my Dad, because it's something that I've always had, whether he's been around or not. So it's more like I've lost a feeling, which is very strange. It's left a big hole somewhere."

I watched the Artscape interview with Tracey Emin last night and was blown away. Tracey is not only a brilliant artist, but a wonderful and warm speaker who has lived more lives than I ever will. Over the years she has developed a beautiful, logical wisdom that resonated so very strongly with me. A truly fascinating woman.

Danica also recently saw it, and she writes far more eloquently than I on Tracey and her work. Go here.

2011-10-29T19:04:00.001+10:30

Lately: The Tallest Man On Earth (just magical live. I definitely came away with a bad case of 'swollen heart'. Thank you Earth Station!), Lemon and Coconut Brownies, Katie Paterson's direct line to Vatnajökull (listen here), Ray Harris' AEAF exhibition, roses. I bought some for myself this afternoon, because you know what? I deserve them.

I have plenty more of my own photos to come. Thank you for your kind words so far.

2011-10-29T13:00:00.000+10:30

Things I remembered: where tiny button for the doors on the S-Tog was, to put the barrier after my groceries at the checkout, to take a ticket, everything. I was so scared of feeling like a stranger. In actual fact, I've never felt more at home.

2011-10-28T21:27:00.000+10:30

Be still, my heart.

2011-10-18T18:00:00.000+10:30

'You went to Bang og Jensen, right?'

Yes. The most certain, happiest, satisfied 'yes' in the world.

2011-10-17T18:00:00.000+10:30

In Copenhagen I caught the end of 'Metropolis - festival for art and performance in urban space' - hello, festival made just for me! I saw the intriguing No Known Cause, which was a brilliant night, even if I was by myself.

I'm not sure if I was more excited by the set up of the show (we were led through a series of rooms, always returning to an ever-expanding corridor), the performance itself (a dynamic and engaging story of a man who loses his mind after a car accident), or the location (in a warehouse at the old Carlsberg brewery site).

(If you look very carefully, you might spot me in these photos.)

2011-10-16T18:00:00.000+10:30

I've decided that being able to find the heartbeats of a city in record time is my special talent. Five minutes after getting off the plane I became aware the Antony and the Johnsons were playing at the Koncerthuset with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra that weekend. Antony and the Orchestra put on a stunning, moving performance in perhaps the most beautiful, cavernous venue I've ever been in. (Keep in mind I had just been to Perth, where I had said the same thing about their new state theatre a week earlier!) I also fell a bit in love with the conductor, who is not only a frequent collaborator with Antony but also with Sufjan Stevens. Whatta guy!

Photos from Koncerthuset's Facebook.

2011-10-16T11:26:00.000+10:30

I have no idea where to begin with this. I've been all over the place since returning - in mind and body (Hello, Newcastle! Hello, awful virus!) - and I wonder if this blog is perhaps not the best place for all the thoughts that are in my head. I would like to get them all out though. So perhaps I will write elsewhere.

Copenhagen turned on its very best grey weather the day I arrived. It was perfect. Breaking through the clouds over the Øresund and seeing the bridge, the wind farms and the familiar flatness of the land was such a heart-poundy, hand-shaky moment. I know how silly this sounds and how much I had built this up for myself - to constantly yearn for a place that that I cloud with nostalgia, to make it seem like such a monumental thing when really it's just 20-or-so hours away by plane... and yet, it IS still so far away. So out of reach.

But as soon as I was on the Metro heading into the city, I knew I was home. Everything came back, and it was like I had never left.

2011-08-28T11:57:00.008+09:30

I guess it's over and out from me for a while. Leaving one great city for another. Feeling like it's a good thing to do. Looking forward to switching a lot of things off and having the best time. See you in a month.

Things I will be sad to miss out on while I am away:
Desiccated Magic
Absolute Boys and Circular Keys
No One Wants To Play With Us
Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Ghoul and Steering By Stars
Poster by Chris Edser.

2011-07-31T17:36:00.005+09:30

Doe, OUI! from Jack Sheridan on Vimeo.

Steering By Stars - Collision from SteeringByStars on Vimeo.

Something I could watch all day (Doe, OUI!) and something I can't watch - but maybe you'd like to (Steering By Stars, Collision).

2011-07-19T21:04:00.006+09:30

I've done something so ridiculous.

Up until last Monday I had no plans whatsoever to travel. On Tuesday I arranged leave from work. On Saturday I booked my flights.

I'm going back to Denmark.

I don't even know how or why or what made me do it. It's not for long - three and a half weeks - but I feel amazing. I'm so happy to be going back. I leave at the end of August.

I'll also travel through Sweden, hopefully visit Oslo, and swing past London on my way home for a few days.

Please email me if maybe you'd like to say hello, or have tips (regional Sweden? I'm lost...) I'm particularly interested in splashing out on an apartment in Copenhagen, but I know Danes are also great with renting rooms in their houses/flats. Maybe you can know of someone who does this?

Photo by Ali Withers (of course!)

2011-06-26T11:34:00.003+09:30

Last night my beautiful bike was stolen from a bike rack I had locked it to while I was at a gig. I think I'm probably a bit more devastated about it than I've been letting on.

I know I'm not the first, nor the last this will happen to. But it still sucks.

2011-06-19T18:53:00.005+09:30

Fell in love with twelve million looks at Koshka today.

1. Tsumori Chisato 2. Tsumori Chisato 3. Jazz Katze 4. The Dress and Co 5. The Dress and Co 6. Tsumori Chisato

2011-05-17T11:45:00.004+09:30

In her photographs of Copenhagen, Ali Withers captures exactly what I see every time I close my eyes.

I find it so hard to fathom that once upon a time, this was life was not someone else's lived vicariously through pixels, but my own. I'm well aware of how often I say this. Ali, your beautiful photographs keep me connected. Thank you.

2011-05-17T11:27:00.001+09:30

Like we need any MORE excuses to lust over wunderbar deutsch apartments. All via ArtSchoolVets' Faces & Spaces.

Thank you to those who commented on this post before Blogger went down.

2011-05-08T12:29:00.008+09:30

Alain Resnais' Last Year At Marienbad seems to be a film that divides audiences. Some find it incomprehensible, but I adore it.

A man and a woman are reunited at a chateau a year after first meeting, but she does not recall who he is. Or does she? Did they ever even meet in the first place? Around every corner of the chateau and its grounds, one is waiting for the other. Or are they?

The way the film has been shot and edited means that geographically the chateau and its gardens make no sense whatsoever. Characters remain inexplicably still, and the woman's signature expression is a blank stare. Time and space are nonlinear, almost nonexistent. The entire film is built on repetition and disorientation. It is beautiful and surreal, and the immense weight of the overarching confusion, ambiguity and melancholy is thrilling. Aesthetically it's stunning, with moments of over and underexposure only heightening the disorientation, while the woman's costumes - of which there are many - were designed by Coco Chanel. Those with a keen eye will note the references in Chanel's SS11 collection. Blur also managed 'recreate' the film for their clip below. It's eerie how spot on it is! The whole film is on YouTube here.

2011-05-07T16:57:00.000+09:30

Some of my own, taken in February/March. They developed very strangely, and scanned with this weird pastel wash-out. It's grown on me, though.

2011-05-03T08:06:00.006+09:30

POE breaks every rule in the book (er, double denim? Tights as pants? Head to toe print?) but somehow it all seems so right. See and read more at The Blackmail.

2011-05-01T20:06:00.003+09:30

Máni's pictures from her trip to Iceland are seriously making my heart skip multiple beats. See more on her lovely blog.

2011-04-17T19:46:00.005+09:30

My friends Mike and Anny have released some new music under the name of Glisk. Think Beach House x m83 with a tiny touch of something more pop, like Au Revoir Simone. (I'm terrible at comparing and reviewing music. It's really lovely.)

Their EP Servants Heart is free from here; I'm finding a hard time choosing a favourite song, but for the moment I'll say Emlin. Recognise the cover photo? It's courtesy of yours truly.

(OK, no more Adelaide music for a while. Wait. While I'm here, Doe is the third band I'm crushing on at the moment. Alright, done.)

2011-04-14T14:16:00.005+09:30

Obligatory quarterly 'OMG, Steering By Stars!!!!!' post. This is starting to get awkward.
(It's OK if you want to skip forward to the 2min-ish mark.)

2011-04-10T22:00:00.001+09:30

1923. Looking south down King William Street, Adelaide from North Tce. That's the Rundle/Hindley intersection in the middle.
Women at work during wartime. Just stacking practice bombs, painting timber, farming in a skirt, the usual.

All images from the fascinating State Library of South Australia's flickr stream.

2011-04-03T21:45:00.001+09:30

Photo-tours appear to be flavour of the month on the interwebs right now. These studio tours at Founders and Followers are particularly nice.

2011-03-27T10:25:00.002+10:30

The Art Bus Project from ArtRebels on Vimeo.

Denmark, you're killing me. The ever-amazing ArtRebels x Dansk Designskole x Københavns Kommune. Full article (in Engelsk!) here.

2011-03-24T11:05:00.009+10:30

People I want to be #9,726,248: Hanna and Sofia of Byggstudio.

Discovered through Brian's post on pot plants.

2011-03-23T15:48:00.004+10:30

Cape Cruisers from Ashleigh Marie Parker on Vimeo.

When I was in Melbourne last year I fell in love with these cycling capes by The Vallentine Project. I made a note to look up the maker when I got home, but could never find any sort of website. Last week I stumbled on this video, but still no website! In one way it's nice that they are real-life-only and are not proliferated across the internet; but on the other hand, without an online contact point I seem to have no chance of ever enjoying them in real life.

2011-03-20T00:37:00.002+10:30

Ines' photos of Denmark are so beautiful, it breaks my heart. Her flickr is well worth a look, if you have a moment.

2011-03-19T23:54:00.001+10:30

Things are calming down a little now post-festival season, which is nice.

At the moment life is including all the usual things: Format, Renew, Brink (my day job) and also a new(ish) position as Associate Editor at FiveThousand. Hurrah!

I haven't always been forthcoming about my identity on here, although I'd expect that most of you have some idea of 'who I am'. In any case, I've now popped my email address up in the sidebar should you wish to contact me.

It's also not often that I acknowledge those of you who come here. From what I can tell it's a small but reasonably dedicated bunch! Thank you for reading and sharing. Your comments are always very much appreciated, and I particularly love finding new blogs through new commenters. Much love x

2011-02-13T20:52:00.007+10:30

My friends Lara and Laura are building a life-sized snow globe at Format on Tuesday. I completely intend going along dress like this. One night only folks. (PS the exhibition downstairs at the moment, Adam Synnott's Light Interrupted, is amazing. It's a screen in a dark room that responds to touch by creating light patterns and sounds. Incredible!)

This girl has my dream hair cut. Via here.

Dreaming of oversize and drapes. Via here and here.

My wardrobe is in desperate need of an overhaul. But I can't find anything that takes my fancy, anywhere! Not even Etsy. Do you have a secret webshop go-to, or hidden Etsy store I may have missed?

2011-02-11T07:51:00.016+10:30

Eep, our festival begins TOMORROW. I have no idea how we are so calm/prepared (or maybe we aren't?) You can see from the program that there is a LOT on... I'm particularly excited for the four square championships, the 'Hipster Ghetto' exhibition (which somehow I'll have some photographs in... uh oh...) and the Zine Fair. If you are in Adelaide you must come along. I'll be the quiet-ish girl with he short hair flapping around making sure everyone's having a good time. Say hi!

Format Festival
12 - 27 Feb
15 Peel St, Adelaide
format.net.au

PS Have you seen the Festival's Avant Card? The lovely folks there let a whole bunch loose across Australia last week. The image on the front is mine. So surreal to see it in a stand and to know that people are picking it up!

2011-02-08T20:28:00.003+10:30

Oh you guys, enough already!

Amazingness at Boy by Band Of Outsiders via The Thinking Tank

2011-02-02T20:45:00.004+10:30

I saw Sufjan Stevens at the Festival Theatre last night. I cannot put in to words how amazing it was. What a talent. One of my friends took to writing notes every time something more incredible than the last happened, just so she could remember. I would list them, but they would seem absurd. Individually they do seem absurd, even bordering tacky (think fluro face paint, aluminium foil headdresses, back up dancers, ribbon twirling, balloons and glitter falling from the roof...) But they were just so right in this context. He is amazing, his band is amazing, his influences are amazing, his music, particularly from this latest album, is nothing short of brilliant.

I don't know that the gig will change my life in the way the infamous Interpol 2008 one did, but I can honestly say it was the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. Yes, better than Interpol.

PERTH he is playing for you on THURSDAY 3/2. BUY A TICKET. If you have never heard of Sufjan Stevens before now, BUY A TICKET. You cannot miss this performance. Please don't.

2011-01-25T10:30:00.002+10:30

Curiosities from October.

2011-01-24T08:30:00.001+10:30

Summer. I love the colours of this strange ol' country so much. Plus the endless sky, the endless water and the endless land.

2011-01-23T09:50:00.000+10:30

Things that have taken my fancy this week:

Cosmic Wonder via 01 Blog.

This Bodkin dress, also via 01 Blog.

This picture Johanna took in Tel Aviv. Israel has never featured highly in my 'must see' destinations. Maybe that is changing.

This Jeff Ramsay tote (via Wolf Eyebrows) seems appropriate for me/this blog.

Layers on Hel Looks make me dream of cooler climates.

Ashley wrote about the German word 'waldeinsamkeit': the feeling of being alone in the woods. I'm fascinated by words that are not easily translated into English. They often seem to relate to feelings, which makes me concerned about the limited nature of the language.

PS. I never received an arrow in my driveway, but I've now heard that arrow trails do pop up every now and then around here! I would love to one day meet this dear person. I'm sure they'd have an amazing story to tell.

2010-12-19T16:38:00.005+10:30

Yesterday I was minding my own business, pushing my bike through the mall when a woman suddenly made a beeline towards me and threw a Christmas card into my basket. Thanks for riding your bike and making the city great, it read. Then later on in the afternoon after I came out of the markets, there was another exactly the same tied around my lock.

Today I discovered arrows made from flour on the footpath outside my house, and being curious about things like that, I decided to follow them. At first I thought that perhaps they were for a child's party. But they kept going for two or three kilometres. Sometimes there would be four arrows pointing in different directions and I had to ride down each of the different streets a little way to find out where the trail continued. Then they went around the back of the Julia Farr centre, and I thought they might be for some underground gig or whatnot. But they still kept going. Through parks, down side streets, onto main roads. It began to rain and I was worried that I wouldn't find the end in time, until finally I was just down the street from my house again, and I saw a slightly open gate with some spilt flour and buckets inside. I rushed home and wrote a letter. Hello, Were you the creator of the arrow trail? If so, please leave an arrow in the driveway of [the address of my block of flats] at your earliest possible convenience. I very much enjoyed the trek. x

Now I'm waiting for an arrow in my driveway. I'm not sure what I'll do if it comes - perhaps write another letter?

What a strange weekend.

2010-12-08T22:44:00.006+10:30

Globes. (See what I did there?)
Etsy and Arik Levy via Design Boom.

Gin and tonics.

As much as I like categorising things by words, this series is a challenge. I'd love to hear your favourite things starting with G, if you'd care to share?

2010-11-16T21:43:00.004+10:30

Freunde von Freunden. Let's just all take a moment to reflect on how totally amazing it would be to live in a third floor apartment with large windows that let the sun stream in onto the mismatched pot plants, parquetry floors and white walls that are perfect for casually leaning artwork against. Oh yeah, and all that, but in Berlin.
A notable mention goes to For Me, For You. Man, that girl never gets it wrong.

2010-11-09T19:22:00.005+10:30

Efterklang. They do silly things like wear funny hats and play with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. (I'll never forgive myself that I was in town when they did this, and didn't see it). I love their music to pieces, but had never seen this video until today. It's an emotional one for me to watch - it was filmed here. Such a long, long time ago.

Essimar. Lovely things with my favourite medium of all time: paper.

2010-11-07T14:49:00.004+10:30

Don Draper. But I do. But I don't. But I do. But... oh man, why fight it?

Dresses. Flouncy, ballerina, verging-on-ridiculous ones. (See also: Don Draper, Mad Men)

2010-10-27T19:22:00.000+10:30

Copenhagen Streetstyle (Copenhagen in general - but we already knew that)
Cables by Steering By Stars
Good things like cream cheese and cinnamon and ohmygoodness I need to bake these

2010-10-24T20:41:00.009+10:30

Bizarre Love Triangle (but not the 'extended dance remix' or the official video version).

Bows (but not too girly).

Banana Bread (no buts!)

2010-10-24T19:06:00.008+10:30

It's been a while, hey?

I've wanted to come back. But the longer you leave things sometimes, the harder they are to start up again. I know I'm sporadic with this. But that's just the way things are. I think I accept that now.

Here begins a collection of lots of things I've seen and heard and love to pieces, beginning with 'a'. It's not comprehensive. It's just what comes to mind right now.

Amy Borrell (a long term love!)

...and fittingly, All The Mountains
The most beautiful pictures of Austria by bawkbawkbawk
All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone by Explosions In The Sky
Anna Karina. I have a friend who looks just like her!

2010-08-21T10:10:00.003+09:30

Back in Adelaide, I finished the roll that was in my camera. The map shop across from Format has an atlas in the window and the page changes every day. We went on a 'retreat' to a forest in the hills. Tannon recently moved house and now not only does he live with some super-nice housemates, but if you squint through his window you can see their overgrown red shed with white trimmings - and it's ALMOST like a Swedish summer house.

2010-08-21T09:50:00.003+09:30

We were in Sydney to see Jónsi, which was of course absolutely magical. I gave film a try - I shot some in similar conditions last year at Deerhunter that worked OK - but alas, there was little to salvage from the 35mm photos especially after the processing place cut them all incorrectly! We both fell a little bit in love with both Jónsi and his amazingly handsome bass player, Úlfur.

2010-08-21T09:27:00.005+09:30

Sydney, from a few weekends ago. I used my AE-1 for the first time. Needless to say I need to a) use better quality film and b) work on my exposure. Some are quite lovely though.

2010-08-14T11:42:00.004+09:30

People I want to be #652: Owen Gildersleeve.

(Via Pillar Box Post)

2010-08-10T21:02:00.004+09:30

Mia Nolting keeps me amused for hours. What with her questionnaires, free stuff and art school money making scheme - which totally sounds like something we'd do at Format.

Now she's selling envelopes of 'stuff' and I am totally buying one. She also makes really nice pictures. With nice hand drawn type. Did I mention how witty and whimsical she is? Yeah. I kinda want to be her. (Just like I want to be Hattie Newman. Perhaps I should write an entire blog post about people I 'want to be'.)

I can't wait to see what I get in my envelope.

2010-07-06T17:49:00.004+09:30

Photographs that were taken a long time ago but have only now been developed.

2010-07-02T23:54:00.005+09:30

Renew Adelaide is another project I've been working on these past six months or so. Last Friday we finally opened The Reading Room and Workshop. This Stateline story validates all of the hard work we've put in (and yep, that's me - fleetingly - in the second to last frame - black dress and bouncing around like a dork. Ha.)

Amazing. Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved. We're going to do something about this city yet.

2010-06-30T22:21:00.004+09:30

Also, at Format we're at it again! This time it's a Christmas in July market, complete with a forest of plastic christmas trees! Facebook event here- do come! Email contact@format.net.au to book a stall!

My little Swedish horse looks so at home in the diorama.

2010-06-30T22:07:00.004+09:30

I'm relieved more than anything that this is finally out. It's been a few months of hard work, but it's good, it's finally looking good. It folds out all pretty, it's got lots of layers (like the music), it's really something special.

It's called Rewind The Fall, it's by Box Elder, and it's available in person for $5, or via Bandcamp ($3 if you grab a code from here).

This is my favourite song on the EP.

Box Elder - Microdots

2010-06-18T15:37:00.003+09:30

Kate's had me spying on backpacks lately - and indeed, I've bought not just one, but two! This one, however, ticks a lot of boxes.

2010-06-10T20:52:00.004+09:30

Steering By Stars - Closer from SteeringByStars on Vimeo.

Look, I don't want to gush about this, but... Steering By Stars are are little bit amazing. I think everyone in Adelaide has been waiting for this clip, not to mention the album due out in July.

Sure, the vid ain't all sunshine and rainbows but there is something so compelling to watch about it. It's also always nice to recognise places, and the dark-rainy-night aesthetic is just perfect.

2010-06-01T13:07:00.004+09:30

Oh boy, I think I have found the best tumblr in the entire world. And OH-MY-FREAKING-GOD, they link through to the foundry page. Genius. (Although slightly delayed for those of us in the 'future'!)

2010-05-24T21:42:00.005+09:30

Oh! Danica found this little gem via Nearness of Distance. Nadja à Paris, 1964. Perfect for both the francophile and the ex-exchange student trying to put a finger on that niggling feeling of restlessness. Check and check.

I discovered a world without problems, a simpler world, more typically French. It really helped me let go of the superficial things in my life…

...I don’t intend to stay of course, but I hope I never lose touch with Paris. My stay here will leave its mark on me. That’s not surprising, because this just might be the most important period in ones life, when one shakes off past influences and one’s true personality is formed.

Her wonderful hair also makes me feel better about my awkward little crop! Apologies for the average screenshot... parts one and two.

2010-05-11T17:34:00.003+09:30

Hello Hattie Newman, I would very much like to be you. Even your 'about me' is amazing.

2010-05-11T11:10:00.003+09:30

Oh no! While at the moment I'm not blown away by their latest release, it is quite upsetting that Carlos D has left Interpol. Sigh.

2010-05-08T16:37:00.007+09:30

Melbourne. A city lucky enough to have En Route available year-round.

It's tough to describe, but En Route is a walking tour like no other. Highly recommended to do as both either visitor or a local (I have now done both and can't decide on my 'favourite'); and if you're alone the experience is even better.

2010-04-24T11:23:00.004+09:30

We're having a BAKE SALE! With craft! And maybe even music! Want to book a table, or just want to come along? You can find the details here.

*I was so excited to be able to put my well developed flour-writing skills to use for these posters.

2010-04-19T16:46:00.005+09:30

There is something almost haunting about this photo. So simple, so seemingly carefree, and yet she was MI5 agent and the photograph was taken to make a bunch of documents seem 'more authentic' during WW2. The documents led to the eventual allied victory, after they were found with a body that washed up on a beach. The body and documents were a British plant, but I wonder what happened to this girl?

2010-04-07T14:38:00.009+09:30

Bits of my past month, a la Kate's 'Bits of my weekend'. Format Festival was super-successful - I was there every single night bar one (when I went to see Pavement!) and it was a brilliant two-and-a-bit weeks. My special involvement was the running of a mini-cafe, with cakes, slices, tea, coffee and toasted sandwiches!

Life hasn't slowed down since finishing with Format and ending work at the Fringe - I've moved on to another arts job, spent a few days cycling around the wineries of McLaren Vale, and officially graduated. I am also still in the Zine shop (Mondays, do visit!), helping with Renew Adelaide, writing, and am off to Melbourne (alone!) for another little break this weekend. Can't wait for the endless wandering, browsing and coffee drinking.

dreams.

2010-03-23T21:11:00.003+10:30

Last night I dreamt that I was back visiting Copenhagen, for just one day. It was insane just how realistic it all felt. I remembered every street by name, by building, by basement cafe, by cobblestone. I was wearing colourful tights and a warm jacket, and was still freezing - but I loved it, and I was happy. I skipped from one nostalgic place to another, filling my day with amazingness. By the end of my dream, I was seriously considering a permanent move back to Denmark.

I'm so content in Adelaide. So happy with what has transpired these last few months, despite how much it has taken out of me. So ready for the future.

But sometimes I feel such a pull back to that funny little country.

festivals.

2010-02-25T19:44:00.006+10:30

This time every year, Adelaide goes a little bit nuts. The amazing Adelaide Fringe takes over every corner of the city, while Format Festival fills the nooks and crannies. Both make my schedule very, very full with attending shows, zine fairs and general festival fun times. This year, I'm working with both (one paid; the other I pay for in time and love). I think I'm starting to go a little bit insane from it all, but I keep telling myself that it's just one month - I've got the rest of the year to sleep.

Format gets bigger and better every year and the program is looking pretty darn good! Perhaps you've seen us around? We've kind of taken over Australia with our postcards, and we even got a tiny mention in Frankie.

I'm doing something kinda secret for the whole of Format. It's not secret as in you'll have to look hard - it's just that it's not in the program. You have to actually come in to find out. And when you do, you should say hi.

Format Festival runs from March 27-March 14
15 Peel St
Adelaide 5000

busy.

2010-02-07T12:00:00.001+10:30

Busy, busy, busy! I've been flat out working two jobs, volunteering in the Zine Shop, helping to plan Format Festival, assisting with Renew Adelaide, turning 21, writing for FiveThousand and handmaking gig 'posters' for Box Elder. This month is only going to get crazier.

a letter.

2010-02-07T11:19:00.004+10:30

Dear Laneway Festival,

Thankyou ever so much for disallowing my camera into your event. Had it been allowed in, I may have actually enjoyed the half-hearted festival you put on in Adelaide, and therefore may be inclined to continue attending your festival in the future as I have religiously done so since you came to my city. However, your complete disregard for what I would have thought was your prime target audience - people such as myself with a 'more than just a point and shoot' interest in photography but without media passes - has severely disappointed me. My camera is hardly 'professional'. It is entry level with a kit lens. Sadly, it will take nothing less than a sublime lineup to ever get me back.

Sincerely,

Stephanie.

new year, new...

2010-01-15T12:50:00.003+10:30

...festivals.

...places to explore.

...lazy days in beach houses.

...job! It's not a long term, but I'm extremely excited. It's just perfect. Yay!

copenhagen x board games.

2010-01-14T22:48:00.003+10:30

Oh my goodness. I need to get my hands on this. I love board games. Shotgun being the Christiania bike! Via yay everyday! and design:related.

bright star.

2009-12-28T17:42:00.006+10:30

"I almost wish we were butterflies, and lived but three summer days. Three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain."

Beautiful and aching. It meanders a little, but Campion makes sure every scene is visually captivating.

også...

2009-12-26T17:07:00.004+10:30

Some of my photos were put up on Random Got Beautiful. It's a lovely site and it's not difficult to submit. You should submit too! Mmm, colour. See also: white, pink, orange.

christmas.

2009-12-26T16:59:00.005+10:30

Jeg lærer dansk! Hooray!

Hope you had a lovely day.

looming.

2009-12-14T13:23:00.005+10:30

It's official - I'm really not a Christmas person. Probably the only thing I like about it is the joy other people get out of the whole shebang. But me? I'm not into red and green, am horrified by some of the 'decorations' and other Christmas paraphenalia that gets around, don't really want/need anything (and would much prefer to receive nothing than something I REALLY don't want/need), and find going anywhere near shops a tedious and irritating experience.

I felt displaced last year, and even more so this year for some reason. It felt odd having a northern hemisphere Christmas, but now I long for the cosiness of it all as opposed to the gaudiness that seems to be abundant here. As a remedy, I've baked some pebernødder (thanks for the recipe, Katrine! It's perfect!) and have wrapped the presents I've bought so far whilst listening to Jose Gonzales, something I used to do during the dark-at-4pm days. But I'm tired of festivity already. Oh dear.

Pebernødder were almost the death of me last year. Well, if I had no self control I would probably have died a long (but painless) sugar-and-spicey death. It is impossible to just have 'one or two'. They're super tasty on their own, fantastic dipped into tea and amazing with a warm cup of mulled wine ('gløgg'). I think they'd also make cute gifts packaged up in little bags and tied with red and white ribbon. (Just because I don't like Christmas doesn't mean I don't like making things pretty!) I'd definitely recommend them, and Katrine's recipe is spot on.

Also, my new camera is making photography feel good again. I'm very happy with it.

hair + camera + etc.

2009-11-22T20:10:00.004+10:30

Well, I finally solved my long/short hair dilemma. I went asymmetrical. I'm still lusting after high buns, but I do quite like the boy-short aspect! I've never had it this short before. It's not quite as amazing and unruly as this lovely lady's, but hopefully as it grows out it will get there. My hair is ridiculously thick, so here's hoping!

Apparently pneumonia is the hot new illness to have (Nicole Richie, Fifi Box, I'm looking at you*). But let's get it on the record: I had it first. Including a four-day hospital visit. Which kind of gives me an excuse for not posting in a while. Sadly, I was too ill for my 'HOORAY, UNI IS OVER' trip to Melbourne with the Uni-girls... but in the meantime (and with the money I 'saved'), I think I have finally decided on a new camera:

The Pentax K-x.

It's a fairly recent release, but if anyone has happened to use it or has any other advice for a entry-level DSLR please do share. Maybe you've had a bad experience with a Pentax. Maybe you've bought a different camera and have found it's the love of your life. I'm in desperate need of a new camera though... I feel totally uninspired to take pictures, or write, or do anything at the moment. Now I have too much time on my hands, and very little to do. Oh dear.

(*I feel like any semblance of street cred that I had just vanished, but I guess that's what being laid-up in front of daytime TV for two weeks does to you.)

peek-a-boo.

2009-10-31T12:59:00.003+10:30

I'm still here... just hiding.

I'm not really that busy, although there is plenty on my plate... something new that I'm doing is FiveThousand. It's launching properly next week. I'm so insanely excited about it, I've loved ThreeThousand etc since forever. It's pretty much my dream gig. Hooray.

I finish my degree in a couple of weeks. It's a relief to be able to put Journalism behind me, but I'm not quite sure if the big bad world is ready for me yet. (Truly!)

I have lots of things I want to do during summer. Read a lot. See a bunch of films. Give some time to the bands I always say I will, but don't. Maybe even hang around here a bit more.

And possibly build a fort. That would be a little bit awesome.

need.

2009-09-27T18:18:00.004+09:30

It is taking all of my willpower to not spend seven hundred dollars on a raincoat. Oh my goodness.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I was technically 'working' today, when I fell in love with these. But that raincoat... ohh dear. I've never been so in love with an item of clothing.

From the totally amazing Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair.

songs.

2009-09-26T19:31:00.006+09:30

Songs are lovely. I first saw them with Deerhunter in Melbourne; last night they came here, and played at my favourite venue in Adelaide, the Metro. I think 'intimate' is a good way to describe it. From the outside it's very unassuming, but weave your way towards the back and you will almost always find a good mix of people and highly underrated bands. Adelaide is having a bunch of great bands come through in the next few weeks... I'm looking forward to the Vivian Girls and Love of Diagrams.

In a completely unrelated matter, I am so disappointed with the grand final result. Who would ever have thought this could be a football blog? Nowadays, it's a hidden passion... I just don't have the time for it like I once did. I am so proud of the Saints though, but also so devastated that they've fallen short once again. It's a heart-wrenching ride.

the bell jar.

2009-09-11T16:50:00.005+09:30

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig-tree in the story.

From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and off-beat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out.

I saw myself setting in the crotch of this fig-tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet."

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Never before has a book spoken to me like this one. It's quite depressing, but ever so enlightening.

monday.

2009-09-07T15:51:00.001+09:30

So much to do.

words, pictures.

2009-08-30T20:15:00.005+09:30

I have some words and pictures in a quasi-publication. It's nothing too ground breaking, but at least it looks fab. I think I have a new type crush.

I say 'quasi' because at this stage, it is not actually real and will never be printed. But fingers crossed the kids involved impress all the right people and we see their lovely-looking mag on the streets sometime soon. You can see the whole thing online, for free here.

a tiny piece of denmark.

2009-08-24T17:12:00.003+09:30

I often ramble on about my favourite cafe in Copenhagen - Bang og Jensen - but let me elaborate a little for you.

It's in an old chemist, or in Danish, Apoteket, and in the summer it's difficult to get a table outside on the footpath. Steps lead up to the heavy double doors, and a long wooden bar greets you inside. In the front section, there are raised tables with stools, and a long red booth-style lounge along the right wall. A couple of stairs lead you to the back section, where cosy lounge chairs nestle against green patterned wallpaper, while round tables sit snugly under interesting lampshades and against big windows that let a bit of natural light in. All of the furniture and light-fittings are that wonderfully retro, typically Danish-style. The same boy sits in the back tapping away on his Macbook day after day. The same couple enjoys the delicious brunch every weekend (highly recommended - a 'must do' in Copenhagen). They have the best coffee deal in the city - 18kr for a glass of 'refill' coffee, which is still much cheaper than a single latte elsewhere. It's easy to waste an afternoon - or more - in here. A circle cut into the wall lets you see from the back area down to the bar, while finally, at the front again, the far left wall is covered in numerous pictures of the same man - an old fisherman smoking a pipe. Some are paintings, some are tapestries, some are large, some are small, some are facing left, some are facing right.

Bang og Jensen was my favourite place to be. I felt so alive every time I went there. And I was always intrigued by those funny little men on the wall. So you can imagine my delight to find, in darling Adelaide, a tapestry of the same man. It says on the back the name, address and phone number of a framing place in Denmark, so I know that he is authentic. I'm not sure of the history of this image though, or it's name - but I gather it is common in Denmark. Perhaps someone can help me with this?

He's so beautiful, and I will treasure him forever.

*The wonderful images of the cafe are sadly not mine; they are by Kieran Lynam, on flickr.

cph fashion week.

2009-08-19T19:13:00.005+09:30

I'm not usually one for high fashion, but looking at these outtakes from Copenhagen Fashion Week has made me all nostalgic (really? that's unusual). My goodness, the Wood Wood show? What a wonderful, wonderful street. And the Henrik Vibskov show in the woods? Genius. It looks a bit like here... perhaps it was? All photos from here.

ooh, yes!

2009-08-17T14:34:00.004+09:30

I have to do an internship in September. I will totally be rocking looks such as these.
(via Oh Joy)