definatalie.com » fanciful friday

Attractive people, fancy headwear and blooming boots.

Natalie — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:04:51 +0000

I always love coming across this photo, Club Allegro Fortissimo by William Klein. From my years of musical training (cough, makes me sound more knowledgeable than I actually am!) I think that translates to Club Fast and Loud, which is badass. I have been busy/ overwhelmed in the past month and haven’t organised another Aquaporko in Brisbane, but this needs to happen again and soon! Why am I so terrible at organising things, uhhh!

Boots and flowers totally go together, yes?! I am sensing a strange urgency to acquire a pair of stompy black boots and put fake flowers all over them. Reminds me of this post on Outsapop, I’m loving all the foot accessories!

HELLO floral sunnies, get on my face. Janz & Cooper‘s online shop is still under construction, and I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to afford these anyway, but I looooove them so much.

Camille Roman’s Le Tour De Force label is full of stunning pieces with clever and intricate fabric manipulation, and her latest headpieces are gorgeous. I like this piece because it performs dual functions as a mask and fascinator. Perfect for the Spring Racing season in Melbourne when you drink a bit too much and need some kind of disguise to get you home unrecognised…

The fabulous Marcia, as photographed by Advanced Style, is a perfect style role model. I need swathes of purple and big sunnies and head wraps like stat! That purple is beyond royal, my eyes enjoy it very much. :D

ALSO!
I am doing a regular guest post for Dangerously Luxe each week where I redraw a look.
Go over and check out my Badgley Mishka/ 3.1 Phillip Lim redraw!

Minaudières: because it’s a nice looking word.

Natalie — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:01:33 +0000

I’m always in awe of artists who can master pencils the way Marco Mazzoni does. I don’t know much about this artist but I was really affected by this piece when I scrolled down Google Reader and found it posted on Phantasmaphile.

This is a page from the world’s most mysterious document, the “Voynich manuscript“. It’s a completely hand written and illustrated book that has remained largely undecyphered to this day. The illustrations point to it being a book about medicine and herbal remedies but the subject matter seems to cover quite a lot of ground including astronomy.

Olympia Le-Tan is a French artist who hand stitches these wonderful handbags and minaudières. I am shamefully monolingual so I had to look up the definition of a minaudière:

min·au·dière
n. pl. min·au·dières A small ornamental case for a woman’s cosmetics, jewelry, or personal items that is often carried as a handbag.

Please don’t ask me to pronounce this with my broad Australian accent! At any rate, Olympia makes gorgeous things. I particularly love the colour scheme of these bags but Susie Bubble shot a bunch of photos of Olympia’s other wonderful pieces and you should take a look!

Before we got our trusty old colour wheel a bunch of hardworking colour scientists sweated bullets trying to figure out the best way to document colour systems. I am very partial to this infographic (1769 style!) by Jacob Christian Schäffer, yes the fancy frames do have my vote! You can read more about the fascinating history of colour charting and documentation on Imprint.

One of the things I like about flying is seemingly defying the laws of gravity and not crashing. I also like looking down upon farmland and seeing a patchwork of colours laid underneath me. So I think these rugs by Florian Pucher are particularly clever because I can enjoy the aerial views from a height of 175cm and only have to worry about tripping over the corner. You can buy these in colour schemes inspired by Europe, Africa, Netherlands and USA but since the wool is from New Zealand wouldn’t it be fitting if there was an New Zealand or Australian design?

Cakes, puzzles, potions and ladies

Natalie — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:22:11 +0000

I’ve seen images like this around for the past few days but it wasn’t until I visited Kent Rogowski‘s site that I understood that he’d actually made a series of combining different jigsaw puzzles. Apparently you can mix different puzzles within the same brand together because they’re cut using the same die… the more I know!

I’m sure I’ve posted the lovely work of Vessels and Wares before but when I saw this adorable cake stand I knew I had to include it in this week’s fance. I love how you can thread your own ribbon through the holes in the stand and match it to your cake decoration!

With the benefit of lots of time distancing me from this era, I can look at this photo and do a little air punch because it’s a pretty rad sight. But in reality, were these women just sideshow spectacles? I can’t find any info on this photograph through Tin Eye so I’m going to recognise the potentially problematic past while still admiring these fabulous women.

Slang from Chaos is one of my new favourite blogs because it’s just a barrage of awesome looking images. This awesome looking image in particular is fabulous because I love old packaging, especially on potions and lotions!

Let’s not tarnish this incredible moment with words. All you need to know is that Ginger Williams created this, for you.

Fance on Friday

Natalie — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:57:36 +0000

HELLO CAKE. Be in my mouth, like right now! Smitten Kitchen is one of my absolute favourite food blogs, and having had the chance to make a few recipes from the site I can almost guarantee this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake will be made of deliciousness.

I would ultimately love an overgrown backyard full of greenery, but I adore the city and hate gardening. This deck of a Swedish apartment is an ideal compromise! I’d add more potplants, take away the magazines and it’d be perfect for working and relaxing. You have to go see the rest of this apartment on From The Right Bank, it’s fabulous and has the white walled crispness I so desire.

Book art fascinates me, even just old school bookbinding is stunning, and so when I come across an artist who combines both with a rad style it’s a bonus. I’m so happy to have found Dianna Frid’s work, it’s just so interesting to look at with a bunch of stuff usually happening on each page: embroidery, foil, drawing and typography.

This typewriter is intensely gorgeous. I’ve never been into the typewriter thing… I learnt to type on one of the damned things so I guess I don’t connect with the whimsical/ nostalgia/ “idyllic era gone by” element because of that. But this machine is incredibly good looking and very much in line with my overly decorated aesthetic. You can find out more about antique typewriters over here!

I haven’t posted anything Art Nouveauish for a while so I figure it’s time for a dose of lovely organic line work! This is by Georges de Feure, whose real name was Georges Joseph van Sluÿters but I guess it’s not as fun to say as Georges de Feure*.

* I don’t know how to properly pronounce either name without my broad ‘Strine brogue corrupting them (i.e: JAW-jes dee FEWray… so ‘Strayan!)

In a modern faery queen’s world

Natalie — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:16:13 +0000

When I came across this photo on Tumblr I loved it at once, probably because it reminds me a little of Kate’s work. Han Jin looks as though she were a faery queen, I love that pose. I might try to sketch it! See the rest of the Spring Breeze editorial from Vogue Korea.

Even though I’m a fan of overblown, ridiculously detailed design work I yearn for light, white open spaces. Our kitchen was born in the 1970s, and the brown and muted orange and darkness really bothers me, but we rent so there’s not much we can do about that! Photo credit: Samantha Pynn via decor8.

Practically, having a room like this might be a nightmare (depending on how much space you have available and how often you like to dust – i.e: never for me) but it’d be an awesome set up for taking outfit photos. Susie Bubble posted these photos of the Townhouse Escape in London a few days ago, I’d love to stay there.

This is a plate from The Harmonia Macrocosmica, you can buy prints of some of these beautiful plates from Transmission Atelier Inc.

The Harmonia Macrocosmica is a star atlas written by Andreas Cellarius and published in 1660 by Johannes Janssonius. The first part of the atlas contains copper plate prints depicting the world systems of Claudius Ptolemy, Nicolaus Copernicus and Tycho Brahe. At the end are star maps of the classical and Christian constellations, the latter ones as introduced by Julius Schiller in his Coelum stellatum christianum of 1627.
via Wikipedia

It’s nice to randomly come across an image and find its creator is Australian. This painting is by Deidre But-Husaim, an artist from South Australia who scours through photos of models daily in order to find the perfect reference material for her floral tattoo makeovers. See more of her work.

It’s still Friday somewhere in the world

Natalie — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:41:35 +0000

One of my favourite artists is Alphonse Mucha, and if you thought this poster looked a lot like his work you’ll be interested to know about Manuel Orazi – the designer of this poster. I love the detail in this, particularly the jewels on the neck of her dress. Gorgeous! Art Nouveau cigarette posters are so beautiful, I’d really love to buy a few prints to hang at home.

This comes from Vogue Girl Korea, and other than that all I know about this photograph is that it’s part of a shoot for the magazine and features this plus sized model surrounded by food. It’s an image that causes conflict in the old brain hole because
a) yay cupcakes and plus size modesl!
b) heyyyy… we’re still stuck in that stereotype :(
It’s a gorgeous photo at any rate.

Dream home porn time! I’m all about gardens that impose on living spaces and this room is right out of my fantasies! I can so imagine sitting on that bench and sketching things or reading books. Apparently this home and garden belong to Michael Trapp – you can see more pictures at Desire to Inspire.

I think Kelly Osbourne is terribly cute, especially with that hair! Grey hair fascinates me, and even though I’d love to try this hair colour I don’t know if my poor old follicles could handle all the bleach. I do love it though. I hope lots of people go and get grey hair, it’s hot!

Birds and paisley and embroidery! I do have a soft spot in my heart for all of these things. I have done a little embroidery recently but I hope I get more time to practice because this is really inspiring. This piece was posted by sarah the pirate whose grandmother actually embroidered it.

You may have noticed…

The site looks a little bit different! I’ve changed the layout a tad and made things a little cleaner (in my opinion!) If you’re reading the feed, come over and take a look.
:D

Friday Fance: A jumbled assortment

Natalie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:22:22 +0000

Tassels. I’m totally thinking about tassels lately. Flett Bertram’s tassel dresses (seen on Style Bubble) remind me of my Nana’s house and how she’d have these tassels hanging from the old keys stuck in the doors of her display cabinets. I actually have one of those display cabinets now, and a long tassel dangles from the old key!

The YFF Conference took place in New York City over the past weekend and I was sad that I couldn’t make it there, because the ladies looked like they were having so much fun! My ego was suitably assuaged when I saw the girls on live chat and they said they missed me :D

I really like the work of Kelie Bowman, and was kind of weirded out to see how similar some of her new work is to some of my old work (particularly Riddled with Paisley).

I’m sure Helen Furber‘s sustainable shoe designs have done the rounds in the last fortnight but I couldn’t not post this! I love the stalactite style heel, especially when it’s encased in clear material.

My friend Pete shared this gem of an “Inspiration Pad” on his Google Reader shared items. I can’t read French but I think the pad was designed by Marc Thomasset – you should go see the other spreads in the pad too!

I’m checking out this new image collecting community called Pinterest. Are you a member? I’m over here! If you’re not a member and you like the look of Pinterest, I have five invites. First five people to comment will get an invitation! (You need to make sure your email address is included in your Disqus account though!)

Friday Fance: Resourcefulness Boom

Natalie — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:37:28 +0000

Pip at Meet Me at Mikes posted some of Lo Bjurulf’s interior styling work and I was in love. I’m a fan of mismatched, childish, chaotic things and I think being invited to this dinner party would be a lot of fun. Sometimes we are so taken with what we ought to buy and posses as Proper Adults to impress other Proper Adults, especially when it comes to etiquette and entertaining, and we forget that spending time with people we like should be honest and loving and not furnished with things bought specifically to impress. We are so impressive to our loved ones anyway, without all that stuff.

Herriott Grace are a daughter and father business and they have an adorable story behind their web store that you should go read. Everything has been sold out in the store for ages, but it’s worth a look just for the styling – and these cake flags are totally on my To DIY list. I’m very interested in getting that tall cake cover in the picture. Very.

It should be no surprise to you that I adore craft that uses wasted objects, especially when a masculine object is embellished with a traditionally feminine craft. This piece is called “Way of Roses” and it was made by Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė.

Fulfilling my need for at least one example of vertical garden per each Friday Fance is this wallpaper that is formed by cultivating designs in moss. Check out this Design*Sponge post on Oki Sato‘s house, featuring this ingenious moss wallpaper designed by his partner, Asami Kiyokawa.

Rifle Paper Co.’s recipe boxes are lovely and made by local craftspeople using locally salvaged hardwood, and that’s all very nice but I really want to get my hands on some wooden cigar boxes now and doodle on them!

Friday Fance: as yet unnamed

Natalie — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:56:27 +0000

Rachel O’Neill‘s velcro pieces are so playful and give me lots of ideas for DIY projects! She creates beautiful pieces on commission for events, but I’d want a large light fitting like this for keeps.

This photo is from decor8, and it’s supposed to be about the wallpaper by Turner Pocock BUT it’s really all about THAT CHAIR. Want. I have a thing for distressed velvet chairs.

My dream car is a Volkswagon Karmann Ghia… look at that gorgeous badge!! This photo was taken by artistic pursuits.

Hello Matt Preston, I love you even more for speaking out against homophobia. This is Oz is a site that promotes diversity and acceptance of GLBT people in Australia. It’s very moving, and I love that football players have stood themselves up and been counted against hateful attitudes!

Dutch photographer (yes, not a painter!) Desiree Dolron’s work is flawlessly stunning. Her portraits are beautiful but you should go to her site and see some of her other work… I’m amazed.

Friday Fance: By the seat of my fance

Natalie — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:27:15 +0000

The Design Files posted photos of Scott Weston‘s gorgeous home and work. The colours are stunning and there’s even a wallpaper by Florence Broadhurst, be still my beating heart.

Beautiful sketches by Frank Frazetta, who passed away recently. If I had to write anything about these drawings I would probably die blushing, so I will let them speak for themselves!

How amazing is Grace Jones in this ad for a Honda scooter? Hugely.

I love when artists cut right through to the truth of the matter, and Laurel Varian hasn’t put a foot wrong in outing all the popular themes on Etsy! This illustration is called “It’s Etsy”, natch.

Another piece of uncredited loveliness adrift on the internet… I found this and I want more! Basically this could be a manifestation of my dream home. I can imagine how cozy it’d be inside!