At the recent First Thursday I came across Ferrit’s pretty and precious handmade pieces. I did not buy anything at the time (mini dilemma – spend my pennies on cute or on cider?) but I picked up a business card. I’m so happy I did… look at how awesome her creations are!
From the cardboard frame brooches:
To the bouquets of flowers:
To Be Fri and St Ends declarations of love:
Everything is just really lovely:
“Once upon a time in a beautiful island called New Zealand lived a Ferrit. She loved to scavenge, search and fossick for interesting old things like fabrics, ornaments, books and clothing from around this island. Miss Ferrit loved collecting so much that her small home was filled with many piles of things she had collected over her years of fossicking. She had always dreamed of one day becoming a real crafty Ferrit and using all the interesting things she had gathered to create new things to share with others from around the island.”
You can often see the Ferrit scurrying around at Auckland’s regularcraftmarkets; or for those of you a bit further away, perhaps you could get your paws on something directly from her.
Once upon a time in a beautiful island called New Zealand lived a Ferrit. She loved to scavenge, search and fossick for interesting old things like fabrics, ornaments, books and clothing from around this island. Miss Ferrit loved collecting so much that her small home was filled with many piles of things she had collected over her years of fossicking. She had always dreamed of one day becoming a real crafty Ferrit and using all the interesting things she had gathered to create new things to share with others from around the island.
A little while ago I was lying in bed, having a nice daydream (probably about having a pet narwhal), when I abruptly remembered that somewhere in my boxes of ephemera I had a letter from Keri Hulme. I dug it out.
Hulme is the author of the bone people – winner of the Booker Prize in 1985. It tells the story of 3 characters, shifting perspectives and weaving their dreams, aspirations and fears together. From Amazon:“[It] explores the potential within families for both destruction and healing, as well as the great personal costs of the disintegration of individual connections to traditional communities and cultures – in this case, the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand.”
the bone people has been a a bit of a contentious book over the years, garnering both good and bad reviews. I recently reexamined it and found while the non-traditional shape of the book is deliberate decision, it would have perhaps benefited from a thorough edit. Positively, I found the exploration of Maori spirituality and language to be absurdly refreshing. (That said, it shouldn’t be, why isn’t this expression more common in the literature of this country?)
In any case, the letter my younger self received is so nice and generous I thought I’d share (and yes, I love the astrology references):
My request was for a barely remembered school project – an illustrated calendar with a different literary figure for each month. I also found it hilarious that I had clearly said to her “I want to be a writer”. Funny how things turn out.
My mother is a big fan of ‘reaching out’ to people, so as a kid I also had correspondence with British poets, a builder based in Antarctica and other amazing people.Have you ever connected with someone you admire?
Karen Walker has just released a new fistful of sunnies under her Karen Walker Eyewear range. The ‘Sun Gods’ collection builds on previous shapes (retaining the popular circular frames) and introduce a pretty coral colour. The look-book is golden too, a Ra inspired series shot by Derek Kettela, who is behind her previous years’ advertising too.
It’s the fashion equivalent of cuddling up to a SAD lamp! I just feel so joyful looking at these pictures.
Nicolas Henry is a filmmaker, photographer and artist. Usually based in Paris/Marseilles, he is currently working on a major photographic series – Les Cabanes de nos Grands Parents. This has seen him traverse the world from Marrakech to Moscow, meeting and engaging with all sorts of grandparents.
Henry travels to the home of each of his subjects (he says a friendship is sealed when you visit a home) and invites them to make a hut or play-space with their personal belongings. Inspired by their childhoods, the resulting huts are intimate glimpses into their strikingly rich and diverse lives.
Delightfully, Henry had the good fortune to meet and photograph my wonderful grandmother in New Zealand. As I understand it they met while she was volunteering at the local visitors centre of her seaside village.
Here she is in her much beloved but wild sub-tropical garden – click for a larger view. The picture above Betty’s head is one of her crocheted woolen blankets and a portrait of her as a young girl. Note the teaspoon collection in the back! I love this photograph so much.
Rhythm and Vines 2009… or What I Did For My (continuing) Summer Vacation. R&V, as it is ever so fondly known, is a 3 day music festival set amongst rolling hills and the green vines of the Waiohika Estate vineyard.
It’s a 6.5 hour drive from Auckland to sunny Gisborne (first place in the world to see the sun every day), which Duncan and I did at pace. The beautiful mural photo is from tiny town in-the-middle-of-nowhere that we stopped at.
In Gisborne we met up with the Wellington crew – Felicity, Jo and Thomas - at our 5-star villa accommodation (complete with friendly cats and vege garden). Each day saw us skip merrily towards town, a mere 15 minute walk away from the house, and catch a bus out to the festival.
Once at the festival it was all on – a magical vine smothered playground that was ours to explore. In order of awesomeness: the Vines Stage, the Cellar Stage, the dubby Vital Sounds at the end of the Avenue and the Rhythm Stage. Oh and bus converted into a stage.
My favourite act of the festival was Major Lazer; who cranked it with Diplo, dancers and Skerrit Bwoy. Swigging cider + mad tunes = dancing out of control. Pon de Floor was THE song of the festival, I can’t count how many times it started winding in other people’s playlists. Here’s the video – kinda NSFW, similarly not safe for breakfast viewing with your parents, but I digress.
I also loved Fake Blood! His set in the forest was definitely the highlight of Day 2 for me.”I Think I Like It” should be on your iPod now. Sad bit of day 2: I was super excited for LCD Sound System, however it was billed as a “Special Disco “. Despite my high hopes it turned out to be Too Much Disco and a super traditional sound.
The purchases of the festival included a Tiger hoodie and sweater respectively for Thomas and I, some mean glasses for Flick & I. Also of note was a free poncho (negotiated from $5 to nothing, score), and nommy samosas with chutney. We paid for VIP upgrades which was pretty good – a place to chill out away from the crowds and a free bottle of champgane. Let’s just say I can’t bear the thought of drinking any ever again.
All in all it was an awesome week and I was very content as I flew back to Auckland (master move for you there kids). The penultimate question… Will I go again next year? Well, it depends on the line up. A decent international on NYE would go a long way… But the fireworks, weather and people were amazing.
PS. Here are my shoes. I bought them new, and this is what happens when you dance for 3 days straight. They survived pretty well actually – it was dry and dusty. If it had been raining, well that’d be another story.
Going West is a books festival in New Zealand, and they’re going viral with video. The result is an animation of part of Maurice Gee’s novel Going West. It’s very delicate, intricate work, and simply beautiful. My favourite parts are the native foliage – cabbage trees, ferns and windswept manuka. There may have been 1000 paper cuts in the process – everything was made by hand – but it was worth it.
Glasson’s PR company Showroom 22 recently had a media day to showcase incoming collections for the A/W2010 season. By the sounds of it a lovely day was had by all.
A quick search of the CFS archives reveals I had seen it before. It was on sale at Greasy Waitress Vintage and I put a picture up for my online vintage shopping guide. First thoughts; well this puppy ain’t vintage then is it?
A quick google search revealed tens of other capes, variously labelled 70’s and 80’s. One of the sellers described the cape as having a “made in India” label. A very similar cape crops up at UK’s New Look, confirming all suspicions this article has been bought off the rack.
New Look, like many other UK/USA fast fashion chain stores, has come under fire for their dubious practices. In particular, hiring contractors and purchasing from manufacturers who utilise child labour.
In the article ‘The Hidden Face Of Primark Fashion’, The Guardian reported: “A major industry needing child labour is sequin and Zari work, intricate embroidery immensely popular in America and Europe. Children’s thin, nimble fingers can work quicker on intricate ethnic designs.”
Examples of this abound online. For example, in 2007 GAP was snapped using child labour for intricate beading work. They ended up recalling all the product after public outcry.
“Glassons is New Zealand’s most visited women’s fashion store, and has identified an opportunity for growth in the Australian market. Glassons is renowned for its fast fashion, vibrant stores, and winning value.”
Lovely! Growth, fast fashion and value. But at what cost?
I’m not saying that Glassons are involved in dubious market practices, but they are jumping into bed with some interesting company. I searched the Hallenstein Glasson site high and low but couldn’t find anything regarding their approach to ethical trade, or even a basic CSR policy (Corporate Social Responsibility). I’ve emailed them but as of yet have had no reply.
At the very least, New Look has a Ethical Trade document on their website and I remember that Primark made a big deal of talking about their ethical line in store through signage (vaguely because I was pretty much high on plastic fumes emitting from 12 quid raincoats).
Coming from a country that prides itself on being pretty ‘down with’ the environment and human rights, I’m surprised no murmers have come from the public yet. It seems everyone is still busy enjoying the new fast fashion new phenomena. In the last couple of years loads of stores eg. Supre, Glassons, Jeanswest and Max* have starting releasing weekly collections. (*Max do have a CSR policy on their site.)
Just because it is relatively novel to have on-trend garments available in New Zealand, doesn’t mean you can skirt the issues. So Glassons, despite all these sequins and shiny bits, what’s your policy?
Pauanui always makes me feel free. It’s a little seaside holiday community on New Zealand’s Coromandel peninsula – characterised by a sweeping white sand beach, pink stone roads, a bush covered mountain and the sound of private airplane landing at the local airfield. I spent the weekend there with some of my favourite people (thanks to Prasnaglava for the photos).
Some of the things we got up to: walking for hours around the rocks, foraging for kai (that’s the kina we harassed up there), building a big bonfire that we toasted sandy marshmallows on and watching some classic 80’s flicks (always gotta be the 80’s movies).
We also spotted a rare moonbow. No jokes, it was phenomenal!
Here, have some gratuitous shots of The Mint Chicks at the Vitamin Water fest that was the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. Yay New Zealand music! It was a good time to celebrate our local noise. The boys were very nice and played some Rock Band with us.
Anyway, the point of this really – apart from me being all “Hi, look how cool I am in these polished PR photos” – is to tell you that the Mint Chicks covered the legendary 1964 New Zealand and Australian number one hit ‘She’s a Mod’ in honour of Ray and the Invaders.
It’s rather snazzy little tune and you can download The Mint Chicks rendition here with all proceeds going to the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, which is the official charity of the New Zealand Music Awards. How nice indeed!
New Zealand Fashion week has been and gone. It was a massive flurry of activity and then poof, we are left only with pictures and lists of ‘must-buys’. This is my pictorial wish-list, all Stolen Girlfriends Club* all the time:
Welcome To Nowhere, is as if a troop of love children rolled down out of a wooded wilderness and came into town; plucking contemporary fashion fancies (leggings, hotpants) and adorning themselves with modern trinkets along the way. Everything is thick, fringed and over-sized.
The details are glorious – a triple threat of watches, cable knitted smalls, the mismatching boots and shredded velvet pants. I love the loopy woosdy madness of it all – it almost makes me want to fast forward straight past this upcoming summer into a winter woolen wonderland.
*Natch I liked some other designers too… Zambizzle, Kate Sylvester and Twenty-Seven Names were really good.
Last weekend I saw Kiwi electronic act Sola Rosa play. It was a great show; bouncing floorboards, meaty bass-lines, and they had the gorgeous Iva Lamkum in tow. She performed Turn Around live and it was excellent.
The video was directed by boy wonder Tim Van Dammen: “In November last year, Mr van Dammen got noticed for the video ‘Turn Around’ for Sola Rosa. Since then, he has been so booked up he has produced one music video a week, creating videos for bands such as Luger Boa, Smashproof and the Checks.”
Festive flags, bunting, whatever you want to call them – I love these decorations. Out in the wild, at events, on the wall at home. Daily celebrations.
Even better if you can adorn yourself with them, right? I adore Scout Holiday’s flag necklaces, made out of hand painted leather:
This Commotion tee would make my summer super sweet:
Deborah Sweeney’s new SS09/10 collection Gypsy Disco is plastered with flags – perfect festive fun!
The finalists in the New Zealand Vodafone Music Awards have just been announced and I am well pleased that my favourite songbird, Ladyhawke, is leading the pack in the nominations. So many in fact, she’s confidently coming back from London to attend the ceremony and play a gig ! I’m delirious with joy at the news… so I figured why not give her fab single – ‘My Delirium’ – an airing?
Featuring illustration from Sarah Larnach; this video is the entire package – both a visual and aural treasure. Watch Ladyhawke whizz straight past the ever amusing Mt Moggmore and fly through vibrant galaxies! Pip Brown can drive anywhere she damn well wants to!
