food of love

A big thank you to Lisa, who has given me an award. It's something to do with my impeccable music taste (especially in the Radiohead-regions)

I have to pass this award to fellow blogger's who have love the same music I do.

Rules are:

1. You have to post a song that makes you happy.

2. You can tag as many people as you want, there is no limit.

3. Say at least one thing about each blog you tag, that will make them smile, something nice about their blog that makes you smile when you read it!

So my song for today has got to be this, as it's relevant to the last post I made. (Unfortunately you can't see the official video here, but you can go and look for it on youtube if you wanna see it)

and I'm tagging
Louise cos she makes me giggle, and she is a 'Head-head
Chunk of Choc cos she's someone I would love as my neighbour, we could pass records over the fence
Nath for her PJ, Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley and Bowie appreciation!

13

My tinsy little baby turned 13 the other day.
Yes, I know, you don't have to tell me, I really don't look old enough to have 3 teenagers!

It's funny; when you hold that tiny baby in your arms, you have no idea how their personalities will develop, how time will change their appearance, what will be their likes and dislikes, the friends they will choose, the talents they will have. Will they make you feel ashamed by their behaviour or make you feel proud of the person they become?
I am so very, very lucky. I have 3 healthy, happy children. They have driven me mad sometimes, overwhelmed with unspeakable love at others. Everytime I read a post on Sheye's blog I feel so much gratitude for the past 17 years.

Never, ever wish them grown up too soon.

So here is the fabulous Miss Smilla (who has a feeling for snow, actually) from fairy dress and no knickers to reading in our favourite picnic place, a quiet and secret olive grove. As ever, in her own little world, which I swear through her eyes must look as beautiful as she is.

So, a very happy birthday Milla!

(and congratulations to one her favourite singers, the fabulous Emily Loizeau for winning Le Prix Constantin yesterday, got my tickets for December, yay!)

Virginie Serre

I've just found this great french artist. Virginie Serre lives and works near Nice, making objects out of the leftovers on plates.
No honestly, I kid you not, these beautiful pieces are made from bones, skins, peelings, pips etc. Combined with paper, fabric and gesso. They remind me a little of the work of the wonderful, inspirational and downright all-round fab Cathy de Monchaux.



if you click on the image it will take you to her website, which also has an english version.

how many coats does a girl require?

While sorting out the barn on account of a) the biblical flood we are finally getting and b) the leaking barn roof, I realised what a ridiculous amount of unworn coats and jackets I have stored in there. Then I had one of those lightbulb moments: Why not flog some on ebay and help fund the dream iMac? (remember?) Only problem is, most of them don't fit me, so thank God I have a lissomely lovely in the house who never needs to be asked twice to have her photo taken.

Just wished she'd taken off the nail varnish first.

First up is a Lolita Lempicka 80s frock coat


2 vintage red wool coats (probably both 60s)



a 70s yellow swing coat that looks like Coraline's


Caroline Charles blue velvet jacket


and finally 80s Kenzo

Took us pretty much all day to sort them, photograph them and list them so I shall be hopping mad if they don't sell!
But I'd be daft as a brush holding onto all this unworn crap, along with my mutton-dressed-as-lamb phobia, there's not much call for Kenzo down our way.

good to be back

Just in case anyone noticed I was missing, we've been away for a few days staying with Ma & Pa in Charente (Up North).
Amongst eating, drinking, some more eating, snacking, sundowners (with nibbles) and a bit more eating I did manage to see a pretty good art exhibition in the Chateau de Montbron.
I really liked the work by photographer Juliana Musitelli.




Since I got home and had a good old look at her website, I decided I like these images even more.
They remind me a bit of the drawing I did of Alice stuck in the White Rabbit's house.


Also, they have very cute acorns 'up north'. Especially when they still have their little hats on. They remind me of a programme they all loved when they were little called Oakey Doake. I miss seeing them lying on the ground in autumn.



Oooh, and slightly exciting news: you know my post about cleaning up my workspace?
Well, it has been featured here on Akane Designs

Of course it's still spotlessly tidy
*nose grows*

and finally pinch punch/no returns! Haha, got you!

Tick, tick, tick.

Oreille, chapeau, cigare, originally uploaded by andrefromont/fernandomort.

Me and Romy (Romy and I? I'm never too sure what is the correct way, apologies to the grammar police) anyway, she and I had one of those idle conversations in the car yesterday. The one where she said now that she had seen Green Day in concert recently (I got the short straw on that one, but they actually weren't that bad. No. Really) that she could tick that off her list of things she had to experience. How easily satisfied a 15 year old is!
So she asked me the same question. What could I tick off, and what was still left on my list? Here goes.

My Tick Offs:
Watching the sun set over Manhattan from atop the Empire State Building.
Riding a horse through the breakers on the beach.
Seeing Radiohead 3 times, and finally getting to hear Street Spirit live. (Oh, the tears rolled down!)

Left To Dos:
Visit Kyoto and Tokyo
See PJ Harvey in concert, here in France.
Exhibit my art in Paris.

So what's on your 'done it' list and your 'yet to do' list of experiences?

Kumi Oguro

Whilst in Toulouse the other weekend, I was blown away by the work of photographer Kumi Oguro
Kumi was born in Japan, but now lives and works in Antwerp. Her work explores the relation between the still and the moving image, time and space and her photographs make you think of what is beyond. Often, a fragment of a body is shown - a lock of hair, hands that almost meet or feet dragging themselves across a floor. At the same time an event is suggested - a before and after that never is revealed.
Images that affect you for a long time after you have seen them, and really captured my imagination!

cleansing ritual

This morning I woke up with the best of intentions. My workspace (not even in the most enthusiastic moments could I call it a studio, it's a pokey bit at the bottom of the stairs that I share with the guinea pigs) needed a damn good clean, tidy and organise. Tasks which require skills I don't exactly have in spades. So in my usual procrastinatory(?) manner, I thought I best unblock my chakras first, and do a bit of yoga. Apparently if they are blocked you only use one third of your life force, did you know that? Unfortunately the dog had nicked the cat food this morning and his chakras kept unblocking too, and the cat kept coiling herself round me while I'm trying to fire breathe through my third eye........not good.
It did the job though, cos although it's taken me all day, I can now see my desk again and for the next week or so, I will know where everything is. I feel so clean!