Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend
It’s been a while since we dropped by the Beauty Pageant Inter-Universe. High time to correct that omission. I would be delighted to introduce you to Misses Mecury (Chris Manroe, a fiercely patriotic pilot), Zerod (White TDove, her fair beauty belies her humble origins) and Comet (the dazzling, ineffably virtuous Diamond Jack).
By this time I was letting my imagination run riot, and the sky was not the limit. Having run out of planets in our own humble solar system, I was happily making up names for planets, new cereals, rearranging the reproductive cycles of entire populations, and creating an innovative cuisine entirely based on precious stones. Diamond and peridot drink anyone? It complements the topaz pie wonderfully.
It is the fair Diamond who takes home the prize though: she was awarded two blue ribbons and one red by the judges. Not by me however – she was a trifle insipid for my tastes.
Tune in next time to meet Misses Starr (a properly ethereal princess and part-time star), Moon (a Lunarite with wanderlust and a decided want of sartorial taste) and Amazon (a singularly capable-looking young princess with the bucolic name Edith May). Bet you can’t wait.
Shaping Up
A Papier Maché Adventure, Part IV
My papier maché masks are no longer sightless! I took to them with a scalpel and gave them life. They now have not only eyes, but nostrils – and suddenly so much character. I also trimmed the girl mask on the sides of her face, although she still looks a little square. Hopefully she’ll paint up prettier than she looks now. And my goateed little man had some surgery to his mouth to correct its off-centre position.
The next step will be the application of another slimy layer of tissue paper to smooth over the incisions, then a nice white basecoat of gesso before their faces go on. I’m still debating whether they should be attached to beribboned handles, or tied on with satin ribbons.
Read about the previous step here.
Mr Snippy
Marni, Vogue Nippon, Jul 2001
I first came across Michael Roberts’ illustrations in French Vogue, years and years ago. I had long lamented that the art of fashion illustration was all but extinct, and it’s been great to slowly see it come back in the last few years.
This book by Michael Roberts was actually published in 2005, but it was difficult to find at a reasonable price (if not impossible) in Melbourne; I finally bought it secondhand through Abebooks only a few months ago.
Prada, Vogue Nippon, Jul 2001
Although Roberts also works in other media (ink, watercolour, pencil), it is his collage paper cutouts that I find awesome. At first sight, one is taken with the wonderful medium – unusual today, but reminiscent of Matisse’s paper cutouts – and then the sense of humour and joie de vivre. There are mosaics, Bridget Riley style op-art effects, 30s style repeat patterns and great evocations of New York that recall the Jazz Age. And then too they exhibit such astonishing manual dexterity that one can only marvel and admire Roberts’ skill and patience. Amazing.
Scroll down for more images; click for larger versions. (Apologies, some of these have been trimmed as the book was too large for my scanner.)
Miu Miu, Vogue Nippon, Dec 2000
Miu Miu, Vogue Nippon, Dec 2000
No credit listed
Oliver by Valentino, L’Uomo Vogue, May 2000
Miu Miu, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, Ferragamo, Jil Sander, Vogue Nippon, Dec 2000
Yves Saint Laurent, The Telegraph Magazine, Sept 2005
Yearning to Breathe Free, The New Yorker cover, Sept 2001
Breaking Out in Spots, The New Yorker cover try, Mar 2001
Portraits of Portugal
The Rendezvous, Porto :: Tejas // Blanko Noir // No flash
On Friday the 3rd of June, after four and a half days in Barcelona, I flew southwest from that wonderful city to Lisbon, Portugal. My plan to immediately board a train to Porto, in the north of Portugal was foiled by a train strike, and I was forced to stay in Lisbon for a night. For a moment I baulked, but then I realised this was actually a good thing, because who wants things to go smoothly all the time? That would be boring! And leaves no room for adventures besides.
…who wants things to go smoothly all the time? That would be boring!
So I found a little hostel in the Alfama district with (almost) a view of the water and spent a pleasant day wandering around the city, endlessly clicking my camera shutter, indulging in nata (Portuguese custard tarts), browsing in quirky shops etc. I had to be up extremely early for my train to Porto the next morning, so the street festival outside my pensione was only mildly distracting.
What indulgence, wandering round foreign cities with no itinerary, and no idea what day it is. Can’t wait to do it again. Meanwhile, my travel photos instantly transport me back and I can feel the European sunshine on my face and arms again.
Hop To It
Image from Furniture Fair Online
I adore this little vintage-style bunny lamp! I’ve seen it in the windows of quite a few childrenswear stores, along with some very cute red and white-spotted toadstools. It’s a cross between cute kiddie lamp and sculpture; its plush shape begs to be caressed.
I’ve only gone past the shops well after closing-time – when it’s night and the lamps are lit up – so I don’t know if they are merely for display or if the stores actually sell them. The single online retailer I’ve managed to track down is Liberty of London, and then one would have to worry about the correct wiring for Australia. It might just have to light up my daydreams for the moment.