THAT [unreliable] GIRL

All I Want for Christmas

Saturday, November 29

So I've been trying to ween myself away from posting on weekends, but after a very uninspired week care of little to no sleep, I feel a bit guilty... I wouldn't want to let all 3 of my readers down, after all ;)

So this Christmas, what I would love more than anything is a year of flowers. Yep, new flowers every week! Or maybe every fortnight. Can't be too greedy! And for the very occasion when my little wish comes true (take note Mr. Unreliable!!), I'm absolutely loving this vase by Design By Them.

Simply called Posy, it's made of powdercoated aluminium and comes in black or white. If it wasn't for the price tag, I'd definitely be getting one of each!

And best of all, no matter how sculptural and modern the vases look on their own, they definitely look better with flowers. Just in case you needed an excuse to stock up :)

But back to reality, 2009 is going to be a frugal year if the Australian dollar stays down at its current subzero levels, and that means no Etsy for me! Well, maybe just not as much. But for these beautiful flowers, I might just make an exception.

This lovely little slice of floral goodness is the work of Heather Smith Jones Original Art, and is created with the painstaking pinhole method.

I love this little Hollyhock leaf too, and simply adore the packaging! Given my current white-on-white obsession, I just can't help but get excited about the prospect of these lovely little artworks in white frames on a white wall. And lucky for me, I have plenty of bare white walls to adorn!

And on that note, my naked little Christmas tree is demanding some decorations. Happy belated Thanksgiving to all my American friends, and happy weekend to all!

As Seen on TV

Friday, November 28

Will Coles isn't a household name just yet but many Sydney-siders are already familiar with his work, whether they realise it or not. Will has been sneaking around in the dead of night, placing his eponymous concrete television sets and remote controls around the streets of Sydney for the best part of the last decade, so I must admit I barely flinched when I noticed a new addition in my very own 'hood.

Will is somewhat of an infamous figure in Sydney art circles, and is possibly most renowned for his unofficial additions to the prestigious Sculptures by the Sea exhibition back in 2005. After his official exhibition pitch was knocked back, Will decided to make lemonade from the proverbial lemons. He cast a new series of concrete televisions inscribed with the word 'reject'd', and covertly installed four throughout the exhibition.

Will's efforts were foiled by clued in security guards and lasted little more than 24 hours, but headlines soon followed.

His 'silence' series has gone on to be widely published, with the sneaky little television sets popping up everywhere from train stations to the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Not one to shy away from controversy, Will went on to ruffle a few feathers when he openly declared that his art was unashamedly taking the p**s out of the Australian art crowd, who he thinks runs the risk of becoming little more than a humourless, back-patting exercise in champagne consumption.

And what better way to get the point across than a concrete television set that begs the question "But...is it art?"

Will's subject matter is fairly straightforward but thought provoking nonetheless. In his own words, he's exploring "the death of art, culture and pure creative pursuit", and while this all sounds a bit dramatic, his original pitch to the Sculptures by the Sea included a telling, insightful proposal - a television engraved with the words "seeing more but feeling less". He may be on to something.

Despite the heavy-hitting social commentary, Will maintains that his distinctive brand of readily accessible sculpture is largely his way of telling the art crowd to lighten up, and he's taking the message to the streets. More concrete remote controls, televisions (including new flatscreen models) and cell phones continue to appear around Sydney, many of them concentrated in the inner western Sydney suburb of Newtown, but it seems that Will is keen to spread the word far and wide, with my very own steps now adorned with an 'Isolation' remote control. And I'm in on the joke.

More at Will Coles.

Need I Say More?

Thursday, November 27

I haven't had a good nights sleep all week. I sure could use a bit of the above.

[My own Photoshopped version of Industrial Strength Sleep by Edward Ruscha, 1989, as photographed in the Centre Pompidou, Paris in 2003. Good times.]

Farewell Spring

Wednesday, November 26

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.

-George Santayana

[Image Credit]

Sweet Dreams

Tuesday, November 25

I've been feeling a little under the weather lately - I haven't been sleeping well, I've been having craaaaaaazy dreams, and I'm waking up feeling exhausted. So although I'm generally sapped of energy and completely lacking in motivation, I'm enamoured by lovely bedrooms and the prospect of a good nights sleep.

This one is my favourite, because who wouldn't like timber floorboards, high ceilings and a crate as a bedside table?! The cornices, the rug, the big fluffy white cushions...there's just so much to love!

This one is definitely a girly indulgence, although perhaps it's only the screen that gives it that feeling. Either way though, I'm sure Mr. Unreliable would be unimpressed if I started decorating in this style. He's even pickier than I am!

This one actually reminds me a fair bit of my own humble little bedroom, although my plants have long since been relegated outdoors because I always forgot to water them.

I'm pretty much in love with anything that features timber floorboards, but white floorboards are definitely the top of my current obsession list. I'm not too sure about the ex-animal rug thing, but this room has a really nice feel nonetheless.

More ridiculously high ceilings, this time broken up by an elegant, understated wallpaper. I think I'd like a grey throw for Christmas, just to break up the white in my bedroom.

I've always wanted a mosquito net. They don't sound like the most romantic of bedroom additions, but the soft floaty fabric certainly adds a touch of romance.

Yet more delicious wallpaper to add a splash of interest to a serene setting.

And last but not least, more beautiful floorboards, high ceilings and an ocean view! That's pretty much my holy grail. I'm quite sure this bedroom is a touch larger than my entire apartment, and although I'd do away with yet another ex-animal rug and the chairs that ominously watch over the bed, I could definitely settle in for a good nights sleep here.

No wait, I forgot James Merrell. HOW could I forget James Merrell?! I really must need a good nights sleep if I'm forgetting two of my favourite bedrooms of recent times.

From the super lavish to the super quirky, Mr. Merrell has taught me to see the beauty in my prehistoric little bronze heater, and to be brave enough to adorn a white room with splashes of colour.

This last picture isn't quite within my price range at the moment, chalets do tend to be a bit on the pricey side nowadays. But I can dream, can't I?

Speaking of which, it might be time for a nap right now. Sweet dreams!

[Images via Decorology, Design*Sponge, more Design*Sponge, Please Sir, Emmas Designblogg and James Merrell]

Monday Madness

Monday, November 24

I'm off to a very slow start this Monday after a very hectic and unexpectedly eventful weekend. So I'm sharing the balloon love and returning to my thinking pose to contemplate the meaning of life some more.

But enough about me. How was your weekend?

[Image: Tim Walker via Miss at la Playa]

Painting with Sorbet

Friday, November 21

In my quest to decorate my bare white walls, I've only managed to tackle two corners so far, and for a tiny white box, my apartment sure does have a lot of blank white space. So this Happy Friday, in a somewhat subversive attempt to inspire me to drag out my paintbrushes, stock up on canvases and do a little more of my own painting, I'm taking inspiration from people who actually have talent!

First up is the stunning art of Japanese born, LA based Misato Suzuki.

The colours are soft and the subjects are often whimsical, sometimes abstract and always delightful.

Despite my current obsession with birds, I'm actually most drawn to Misato's beautifully delicate abstracts. There's something strangely soothing about the compositions and the neutral palettes.

Oh to have a wall of Misato!

Next up is the decidedly retro abstract work of Jenn Ski. The New Hampshire based artist has been kind enough to offer us the choice between her original paintings, or the slightly more economical option of digitally reproduced prints.

Either way, her great eye for colour and bold compositions are a great way to brighten up any room.

And last but not least, I'm carrying on the mod retro theme with two beautiful prints from David Corbett. These are both available through 20x200 and would make a great addition to any collectors set regardless of the size of the edition.

The original paintings are created through the "calculated spontaneity" of layering poured paint, and the vivid colours and contrasts lend them perfectly to a print edition too.

So many tasty colours, I find myself craving sorbet! Looks like another weekend about to be spent admiring colours (and tastes) of gelato rather than actually painting. But anyway...

Happy Friday!

[Misato Suzuki via Beach Bungalo 8]
[Jenn Ski via ChicTip]
[David Corbett via 20x200]