Amethyst, pyrite, rhodochrosite, barite and bornite. I am simply smitten with Carly Waito’s oil paintings of minerals. Her blog is delightful too.
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September 2010
1. Line and shapes on Cross Street.
2. & 3. Crossing the motorway into the neighbourhood of Grafton.
4. & 5. Newton street art by one of my favourites, B.M.D.& some macro spray.
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My two secret musical passions – Katy Perry and Snoop – came together in what was one of the Northern Hemispheres’ singles of the summer. “California Gurls” is snappy, toe-tappy and has an unbelievably rotten video. I mean, it’s awesome. I wish I could embed it.
Last night I spent some quality time watching the Making Of “California Gurls” video. Excellent viewing – it offers insights into how the evil gummy bear army was animated, points out the Capitol Records pancake stack, and demonstrates that Snoop’s dice were made out of real sugar!
Despite those cool tidbits, the most intriguing part for me was discovering the work of the project’s aesthetic sugar daddy, Will Cotton. He’s a New York based artist who uses oil paint and sculpture to bring his candy-land visions to life:
APPENINE, 2009.
CANDY STICK FOREST, 2005.
PASTORAL, 2009.
COTTON CANDY KATY, 2010.
Dreamy. I’d love to frolic on a cloud, or at the very least, have one of Cotton’s sweet pieces hanging on my wall.
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In an attempt to break the record number of people I can fit into my apartment at once, I am planning a dinner party. 3 guests + me. It might be tight! I want it to be special, so I’ve been scheming hard. Here are a what I think are the essential elements of hosting a great dinner party – scalable to any number of guests:
- Formal invitations are important (as in don’t just say “Hey wanna come ’round sometime?” – get specific). Create a sense of importance, anticipation, and give people ample time to work it into their diaries. I think two weeks is good notice as far as invites go.
- Choose your company wisely. Just because so&so is always welcomed by other people doesn’t mean that you’re obliged them to have them at your house. That said – don’t be afraid to introduce new blood! Mix and match friends. Invite someone who fascinates you that you haven’t gotten to know well yet.
- Lots of booze and a good mixture of it – wine, beer, spirits – with fresh garnishes, like lime etc. Jugs are a classy way to serve cocktails (Pimms, Mojitos, Sangria). Individual bottles of ginger beer or limonata are a lovely touch for non-drinkers. Make sure you have ice.
- Friendly lighting. Nothing too bright/eye-gouging. I always think overhead lighting is the enemy – so turn your lamps on and the ceiling lights down. For romance, add candles. For whimsy, add fairy lights (especially for outdoor settings).
- Brian Eno mused once on music choices: “If it’s bad, nobody talks – but if it’s good, nobody listens”. I definitely agree – choose something less intrusive than metal, like jazz or blues and play it at a conversational level. My dinner party albums picks: Ernest Ranglin’s Below The Bassline and Oh No’s Dr. No’s Ethiopium.
- Mandatory: make sure your bathrooms are clean. Seriously, put that in the cupboard. And buy some toilet paper.
- Don’t buy a bunch of stuff – simply use what you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to use mismatched silverware or cups, or use the vintage lace tablecloths you’ve been saving forever. Let high and low work together. Sure, put in the effort to make things special, but pay more attention to the people than to the things.
- Ensure the host stays relaxed. That’s you, baby! Keep it simple for yourself by buying two, and making one e.g. cook the main course but buy the snacks/entrees and a plate of macarons for dessert. Also plan to take time out before your guests arrive by putting your feet up for a second or have a glass of wine. Breathe. Smile. Have a good time.
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The posters for the four books we’ve read so far at Book Club For Drunks! This is a mostly-monthly book club I host for people who enjoy the fine combination of reading and drinking. As this combination sometimes impairs memories, we provide notes for each meeting detailing the author’s life, cocktail recipes, how the book starts and key liquor infused quotes. (If you’re interested in reading a PDF of these notes please email me.)
Up next is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby:
F. S. F.’s a bit of a babe, don’t you think?
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I feel like the key to feeling settled in a place is not only cramming my belongings into every corner, but putting pictures up on the walls. The latest addition:
A dreamy castle collage by Jonas Besson called Glam Rot Glow. I already have another piece of work by him hanging in my apartment; it’s called Haircut.
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Exit Through The Gift Shop is an excellent film – full of charm, wit and talent. I definitely recommend you go see it. Be warned however, it may ruin the romantic fantasies you harbour of becoming a) a street artist, or b) a documentary maker, and possibly even c) a French vintage store owner.
From my trip to New York last year:
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I spotted this owl sweet mug with matching coaster/cup warmer yesterday at Auckland store Iko Iko. Want it? Yes! Strictly necessary addition to my kitchen? No. I had to march myself swiftly out of the store. But maybe you’re in need of a fine new vessel? I found it online at Cloth Ears… Please buy it and I will live vicariously through your consumerism.
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I’ve been hanging out in various parks with my favourite person and making friends with the fauna.
Limoncello update! I made up another batch this week – note how much colour the first bottle has developed in such a short time. With the remaining pith I made a simple lemonade syrup – sooooper refreshing when mixed with sparkling water, garnished with mint.
This is the view from the interior courtyard of the big rusty building I photographed the other week. There’s a new curry house there, I sampled some delicious Paneer Makhani.
Wearing the tigger sweater today. Reow!
Coffee love…
Hope you all have a fantastic week!
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- Need a hit of inspiration? Check out some playful graphic design from IdN’s magazine’s 100th issue. Included is work from Eboy – of Pixorama fame. If you’re in Auckland you can pick up one of his posters at The High Seas.
- Awkward but hilarious. The four levels of social entrapment, illustrated. Please, make it stop!
- I want to visit this Brisbane cafe – Flamingo.
- Choosing the right moment to click the button and capture the shot.
- Big Sometimes Friendly Giant – an excellent little primer on Roald Dahl, storyteller and benevolent sadist.
- Ryan Freitas offers up 35 lessons he’s learned in 35 years of living. Young but wise, right?
- They Draw and Cook – tasty recipes drawn up.
- Lucky Scent offers perfume recommendations according to your astrological sign.
- Youngna Park’s blog is great and her photography is gorgeous. And – as featured on SwissMiss recently – she created some incredible handkerchief wedding invites.
- Real Groove points out that everything sounds like Neil Young to the Herald:
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Bee-eater. Kowhai Squadron Letterpress Print by Walter Hansen. Inspired by ‘the love of making model jets as a kid and tui’s’. It comes in a fancier edition – a 3 colourscreenprint on plywood – but the embossing on the 600 gsm art board has me weak at the knees.
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I am really loving the aesthetic of nose rings at the moment. They impart a certain air of nonchalance. Evoking thoughts of wild creatures that can’t be caged. I’m not sure a nose ring would be the right look for me. Tempted though. Hmm…
Feel free to chime in here, Mother.
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That’s a portrait of Charlotte Bronte – isn’t she a nineteenth century doll? Inspired by my recent visit to the Peaks District – where Char and her esteemed siblings grew up – I have just finished reading her 1847 novel Jane Eyre
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