the red thread

Gorgeous, gorgeous, just gorgeous!

30 October 2008

I've just discovered stylist, writer and photographer Pia Jane Bijkerk via Daily Imprint. Natalie has interviewed Pia as part of her Burst of Inspiration series. Read the interview here.

These images...
Oh.
My.
Goodness.

Image Source: Pia Jane Bijkerk

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Inspiration: Tania Hayes

Image Source: Tania Hayes

Last week while I was driving I heard the inspirational Tania Hayes talking to Richard Fidler on ABC 702's conversation hour. I got to my destination and sat in the car listening for another 40 minutes because Tania and her story are so compelling.

Tania is the ambassador for Carer's Week, which was last week. When she was just 22 her then fiance Warren was diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the time Tania was an aerobics instructor and Warren worked in real estate - they were young, fit, and in love, with the world at their feet. Following numerous operations, complications and mishaps, and more than a year in hospital, Warren became wheelchair bound and totally dependent on Tania. That was about 13 years ago. Since then Tania has been Warren's fulltime carer and now mother to their 2 year old son.

It is Tania’s ambition to inspire as many people as she can to stay strong throughout even the darkest obstacles in life and never lose hope. Her message is simple: no matter what may befall you, with love on your side, nothing in life is ever impossible.

Tania is the most remarkable, optimistic, vibrant and energetic woman, and her story is compelling and very humbling. She has recently written a book called Love Has No Limits. You can listen to the interview here and read more on Tania's website here.

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More on Advent Calendars

Following up on my post earlier this week about advent calendars I have found some examples that I hope will inspire you. Although the traditional paper and card versions can be nice - see the funky vintage example below - you can make something really fun if you think outside the square.

This vintage advent calendar is from dave at grain edit, via design*sponge. (These 2 blogs are amongst my faves and are daily reads.)

A sweet idea using baby's socks pegged on to a line. Instructions here.
Image Source: Martha Stewart

Various sized boxes pained, numbered and stuck to the wall
(Blu-tac would do the job without damaging the paint).
I like the concept behind this, but I'm not keen on the execution. A different arrangement of the boxes and colour palette could result in a stunning 'installation'.
Image Source: Martha Stewart

There is (of course) a Flikr creative advent calendar group, from which I sourced the following ideas.

I love this simple and contemporary idea of clipping a mixed selection of things to a coat hanger.
Image Source: carambatack, here

Deorated tins.
Image Source: spinningjennie, here

These homemade envelopes would be easy and quick to make.
Image Source: fishbowl fish, here

How divine is this?! Little slipper pouches made from beautiful fabric.
Image Source: Carla Alexandra, here

If you're planning to join me in making an advent calendar be creative with the format and materials and create something that's uniquely yours. Just because the concept of an advent calendar is very traditional - and often people's perception is that they are very, well... folksy - there's no reason why they can't be contemporary and cool, as evidenced by the examples I've shown. Think about using funky wrapping paper, scrapbooking papers, vintage books, maps, or even old letters. Fabrics could include vintage tea towels or tablecloths, felt, hand stamped or painted calico, etc. Take inspiration from trends in homewares and fashion. Look in magazines and on the internet. Get creative!

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Inspiration: Francesca Raft

29 October 2008

Over the weekend I saw an exhibition called Reveal by Francesca Raft. Francesca uses a muted colour palette and simple compositions that suggest vast landscapes and skies. Her paintings have a gorgeous soft glowing light about them.

Francesca says: "I am fascinated by the simplicity of light, colour and form... the landscape, the essence of nature... the resonating beauty that makes one experience the desire of longing and possibility... I strive to capture this in paint."

Reveal is on at the Depot Gallery II, 2 Danks Street Waterloo until 1st November. Catch it if you can.

Image Source (except gallery image): Francesca Raft

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Shakespeare meets Blade Runner

This beautiful necklace looks like the love child of an Elizabethan collar and a futuristic cog. The combination and layering of the soft fabric and the hard reflective acrylic is inspired. This Cait Collar Neclace is the work of Singaporean jewellery designers Vivi Masturah Lim and Aaron Kao of Vice and Vanity.

How would you care for such a sublime piece of jewellery? “No crocodile attacks, nuclear fusion or genetic experiments.”

As you would expect, the design of the Vice and Vanity website is also very cool.

Image Source: Vice and Vanity

Laser cutting, as used by Vice and Vanity, is huge at the moment and is being used to create everything from jewellery to homewares, art, and furniture. The materials that can be laser cut are as varied as the applications and include leather, felt, timber, bamboo, acrylic, stainless steel and cardboard. There were quite a lot of people selling laser cut leather jewellery at the design festival I went to on the weekend. I must admit that in my spare time (huh, what's that?!?) I have been sketching designs to have some laser cut jewellery made for myself. I'll show it to you when - or if - it comes to fruition.

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