Floating Away

Do you have some weeks where you want to stick your head in a cloud and float away?

To not worry about all the tasks, jobs, chores to be done?

To just be? Hiding, in your thoughts, in your own time, in your own little place?

I wanted to be this guy this weekend ...

You'll be pleased to know that this guy is not a real person. It's a sculpture and I found over at Anthology Magazine. Called 'Sentient Orbs', it is by Glasgow artists Craig Little and Blake Whitehead - or littlewhitehead as they call themselves (seriously!) - and was part of an exhibition called Grey Matter at a UK gallery, Talbot Rice Gallery, a couple of years ago.

I like.

Do you?

Japanese Paper Vase

Everyone knows how the Japanese are queens of paper art but who knew just how many different ways paper can be used.

I bought this Air Vase, as it is called, in Tokyo. Designed by Torafu Architects, it is a 'paper bowl that envelops air. You can freely change its shape.'

It starts out flat.

And ends up like this.

Turns out Torafu Architects do some pretty modern, funky architecture too - as I have just discovered looking at their website (see here). It's reassuring to know that the face of Tokyo is starting to change and its new buildings are a far cry from the old.

P.S. The best news this week is that we got council approval for the decking louvred screen which means we don't need to deal with Knucklehead Neighbour over our house again!

Drawing of The Brick House

Artist David Oberdorf has finished the pen and ink sketch of The Brick House and I'm pleased to be able to show it to you. The detail is amazing and it will be a lovely reminder of the history of the property and the house once it is no longer. I think it will be even better framed and on our future hall table against the planned sandstone wall. What do you think?

There is a pig in my garden and a pug dog on my side table

Yes, my girls have done it again! Papier mache magic to brighten the house.

It's amazing what a balloon ...

some paper ...


and lots of glue ...


a bit of ingenuity ...

some paint and sparkle ...

can do!

Enjoy the weekend folks.

Light Lust

Everyone who knows me knows I've got a thing for lights. I can't help it! Everywhere I go - whether it's a restaurant or shop or website-surfing - I am drawn to the lighting. And, quite frankly, why wouldn't you be, when there are SO many cool lights around that can not only add a beautiful atmosphere to a room but are like works of art themselves.

Now that we've got four quite different lights in our rather small living area - two standing and two table that range from driftwood beach-style to ostrich feather to industrial metal - I can honestly say that you can never have too many lights! (Or am I just biaised?).

And now I've found even more. So indulge me, here, please ...

So cute - the Lucellino light by Ingo Maurer from Space Furniture designed way back in 1992.

Elegant pendant light - imaged styled by stylist Camilla Julner. Image courtesy Desire to Inspire.

And another by Camilla Julner - love the feathers! Image courtesy Desire to Inspire.

Stunning table lamp offset beautifully by the white walls and furniture and the lime green shelving. Image courtesy Belle Maison.

Quirky and original 'Favourite Things' pendant light by Swedish designer Chen Karlsson as shown at Stockholm design week. Image courtesy Emmas Blogg.

I call this the 'squiggle' light for all writers who like to doodle! From E-Architect, the Biscuit house in Lyon by architect Pierre Minassian.

Warlu Art

Am loving the work by the artists of the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in Yuendumu in the Northern Territory (from where we got our beautiful desert dog, Ruby).





On behalf of the artists, workers and volunteers, I'd like to show you a little of what they do that can be purchased via volunteer Sandra from PAWS Rescue who has recently brought some of the canvases and jewellery down to Sydney to sell for the community and is doing so solely for charity.



Here is an example of how some of the smaller canvases can look when hung as one artwork from the owner of "White Home" in Woollahra. They are 30 x 30 cm and come unmounted but can be easily stapled to a canvas and she is selling them for $90 (which is pretty good considering the new ones on via the artists' website are for $120). All the paintings come with Certificates of Authenticity as well.

Plus she has brought back a huge selection of necklaces (which range in price from $35 to $60) and bracelets made by the women. The photos don't do them justice ...

Email Sandra if you'd love to see the wares @ paddopetals@optusnet.com or check out the art gallery on the Warlu website to see more.