Five Alive Friday

Image: Share Some Candy

It's Friday so you know what that means...five new links to get you closer to the w-to-the-end!

1. The hidden posters of Notting Hill Gate are the best time capsule I've ever seen.
2. What's new pussycat? Check out Paul & Joe's new lipstick range that have putty tats etched into them. Do you think they're the cat's meow, or are you not so convinced?
3. He might have brought sexy back, but JT's directing debut for a tequila ad is comically bad.
4. The funniest notes to thieves ever written is sure to put a smile on your dial!
5. It's ok to stare when it comes to Style Like U, a enthralling collection of personal style stories from today's cultural influencers.

1 + 1 = Wonderful

Images: Fashematics

Fashematics

Mathematics? Leave me out.

Fashematics? Now you're talking!

This gem of a site is a runway equation that adds up to a whole lot of wonderful.

Forever and Ever

Images: 1, 2 & 4, 3 & 5.

The Forever Shop

Flying in the face of fast, disposable fashion is The Forever Shop which recently opened at Selfridges. Celebrating a tightly edited collection of classics such as the Burberry trench, black Doc Marten boots, Ray Ban Wayfarers and Levi's 501 jeans, this pop-up shop gives a whole new meaning to buy now, love forever. Plus, there is a smattering of modern interior design icons and diverse literary masterpieces such Harry Potter and Lady Chatterley's Lover.

What classics would you stock if you owned a Forever Shop? My vote's with a Breton striped top.

Open 12 July - 15 August at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London.

Do You Want Malaria With That?

Images: Dirty Water Project

Tap Project

Thirsty?

So are more than 900 million people around the world with no access to clean drinking water. Plus, a heart-breaking 4,200 children die of water-related diseases everyday.

Last week, Unicef rattled the cage with their Dirty Water Vending Machine which they dropped in downtown Manhattan. For a dollar a pop you you could get a bottle of water in one of eight flavours of disease.

Makes you think, right?

To donate visit here.

Five Alive Friday

Prada Fall 2010 illustration by Kris Atomic

Hurry-up 5pm! Here are five links to bring on the weekend. Enjoy!

1. Imke Klee is a stylist, phtographer and trend analyst at Li Edelkoort in Paris. Her sublime colour-coded pictures of 'things' have made my week.
2. Everyone is saying it - macaroons are the new cupcake. NPR has a great rationale for why this is so.
3. The only thing better than the cat's-eye glasses from Prada's Fall 2010 collection, is Kris Atomic's illustration of them. Meow!
4. You don't have to wait for Movember to get your tash on. For the other 11 months of the year, lurk around Beard Revue and enjoy their choice selection of art, apparel and ephemera for beard and moustache enthusiasts.
5. Small is always beautiful over at love.living.small a site choc-a-block with design tips, inspiration and resources for spaces 1,000 square feet and under.

Image via.

Do You Want the Good News First?

Organic Makeup Range from Kjaer Weis

The good news:

Newest makeup-brand-on-the-block, Kjaer Weis, totally gets it. This high-end organic makeup range is 95% certified organic (yeah!) and comes in super slick refillable packaging that has been designed by Marc Atlan (hell yeah!).

Form. Function. Clean formulations. Fully recylable packing. Kjaer Weis ticks all the boxes.

The bad news:

Kjaer Weis is so brand spankin' new that at the moment it is only available in Europe from SpaceNK Apothercary. Our American friends will have to wait until 6 September to get their mitts on it. And as for us Aussies...unfortunately we just have to admire from a distance for the time being.

Sigh. I guess, sometimes you can't have it all!

Is there a Doctor in the House?

Fashion Doctors at Alice Euphemia

There may be life yet for those garments you just can't get to work...

For this Saturday only, bring three pieces into Alice Euphemia for diagnosis by their expert 'medical' team. The Fashion Doctors are clever, avant garde crafty and deft with a needle and thread! And their advice can transform your, "I like it but it's just not right" piece into a fashion favourite.

Sorry, no house calls!

Saturday 26 July, 12noon to 5pm

Alice Euphemia

Shop 6, Cathedral Arcade (cnr Flinders Lane)

37 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 3000

To make your appointment, visit the store, email cathedral@aliceeuphemia.com or call 03 9650 4300

Creatures of Habit

Image: Oh, Snap!

Daily Routines

Another day is dawning - and how much of your waking hours will be governed by routine?

For a fascinating read hop on over to Daily Routines which looks at how writers, artists and other interesting people organise their days.

What one routine always finds it way into your day? Mine is waking when the house is still and dark to tap away at this blog! It's the only time I have to myself each day and is made all the sweeter this time of year with the blackbirds singing their morning song...

Beauty Sleep

Images: Click for Art

Limited Edition Art Pillows by Camilla d'Errico

Last night I found it hard to sleep. My mind was whirling so much that I wished I could place it on the bedside table until the morning.

I tried counting backwards from 100, concentrating on my breathing and even had had a stab at meditation. Maybe what was missing was one of these art pillows by Camilla d'Errico. Surely having one of these little beauties tucked under your noggin would guarantee 8 hours of beauty sleep - right?!

£39.00; available online from Click for Art.

Welcome...

Image: Heart Felt

This afternoon our extended family was blessed with the arrival of a beautiful bonny boy! Since I heard this news I haven't stopped thinking of dear, sweet Frankie starting out in this world.

Frankie - You already have my heart. Every fibre of my being is tingling with excitement at the prospect of meeting you tomorrow. Until then, I give you these words:

May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you

Guide you all the way on.

- An old Irish blessing

x

Five Alive Friday

Painted sticks by Ginette Lapalme

Another week down and we're already halfway through the year. To tide you over to the weekend, here are five links to bring on 5pm. Enjoy!

1. I don't do Vitamin Water, but I'm mighty intrigued by their newly released Vitamin Schtick.
2. Your mumma always told you to stop staring. But when it comes to Martin Schoeller's complex and captivating portraits of female bodybuilders, I defy anyone to not become a mad starer!
3. Forever 21, the US equivalent of Sportsgirl, is launching a new line of maternity wear called love21maternity. This range will only be available in Arizona, Alaska, California, Utah and Texas. Surprise, surprise, but three of these five states have the highest percentages of teen pregnancies in the US. I'm not sure which part of this range offends me the most...
4. My new favourite term - Gypset
5. For a dose of morbid beauty it's hard to go past Polly Morgan's taxidermy delights.

Image via.

Hairy Maclary

Drown in a Blossom

Flying Sofa Brooch

Rabbits Sharing Tears

Endless Sleeves Scarf

Sausage Festival Brooch

Images: Hairy Sock on Etsy

Jewelry by Hairy Sock

Bad hairy:

The winter 'coat' I'm currently sporting.

Good hairy:

This range of playful and whimsical jewelry by Hairy Sock.

Hairy has never looked so good!

From US $16, available online from Etsy.

Porte de Vanve Comes to Paddington

Images: Design*Sponge

The Society Inc Fleamarket - This Saturday

Drats! I hate missing out - especially when it's something this good....

This Saturday genius interior stylist, Sibella Court, is hosting a flea market outside her store, The Society Inc. Given Sibella's impeccable bower-bird cred, you can be sure you'll find oodles of treasures and not one piece of trash. Just look for the pre-loved goods, textiles, porcelain lamps, ephemera, tableware, cutlery, small furniture pieces and other flotsam and jetsam displayed on the grassy strip outside her store.

Now, this is one 'garage sale' worth rising at sparrow's fart for!

Saturday 17 July

Weather permitting - 8 am - 12 noon (Please text 0438 229 923) if dark clouds are visible.

Corner Alexander and Stewart Streets, Paddington, NSW

Love It or Loathe It: Two-Tone Lips

It's hard to miss all the hoopla leading up to last week's release of /\/\/\Y/\, M.I.A.'s third album. First her latest video was banned from You Tube. And then came a scathing New York times profile piece by Lynn Hirschberg emphasing the contrasts between M.I.A.'s political pronouncements and now-comfortable lifestyle. M.I.A.'s response? Well, she just couldn't let things slide so she posted Hirschberg's phone number on the net.

I still love her guts though! She's provocative and audacious, but perhaps M.I.A's greatest charm is her refreshingly unique visual sense - like the two-tone lips she's rocking on this cover for Spin.

Image: Things We Heart

Last year, everyone was buzzing about this multi-colour lip look after Tom Pecheux for M·A·C Cosmetics created it for an Emanuel Ungaro show.

Images: Glamour

The trick to making two-tone lips look modern (rather than nutty) is to wear colours that aren't too contrast-y. You should also pair them with a bare-looking face otherwise you'll enter into Kath & Kim territory!

So, what's your verdict? It's hardly the type of look you'd wear to the milk bar but isn't this what makeup should be all about? Bold. Fun. Utterly frivolous.

Update: When it comes to two-tone lips, the lovers have it with over 70% of you giving this look the thumbs up!

Love It or Loathe It: Two-Tone Lips
Love It Loathe It
	Results

Five Alive Friday

Painting by Abbey McCulloch.

So it's almost the weekend and you're busy at work...or should that be...working at looking busy! To help you in your quest, let me introduce a new weekly column - Five Alive Friday. The concept is pretty simple. Each Friday I'll serve up five bite-sized links to keep you amused until 5 pm rolls around! Enjoy...

1. Let Awkward Family Pet Photos help you decide who's more awkward - dog or cat people?
2. Cabin Fever, Abbey McCulloch's latest exhibition of sublime, colour-saturated works is currently showing at Helen Gory Galerie (25 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, Melbourne).
3. Andre 3000 covering the Beatles? I think just died and went to heaven!
4. The latest cover of US Cosmo is another hilariously horrid example of over zealous Photoshop work. It features Britney Spears, whose body and head were shot separately and then pieced together.
5. You don't have to be a book worm to appreciate Bookshelf Porn!

Image found via The Vine.

On the Road Again

Images: Pete Dungey

The Pothole Project

Artist Pete Dungey was sick of getting a bumpy ride on Britain's pothole-ridden roads. So he decided to do something about it. Rather than taking the bitter-and-twisted approach of putting together a petition and writing letters he set about creating beautiful gardens in the holes.

Sometimes the softly sweetly approach gets noticed more, don't you think?

Smart or Stupid?

Images: Diesel

Be Stupid by Diesel

Diesel's latest outdoor ads, Be Stupid, have been banned in the UK for being too racy and encouraging bad behaviour. Interestingly enough, this campaign was also awarded the Grand Prix Lion at the recent Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

So, what do you think? Is Diesel's Be Stupid campaign...well...seriously stupid? Or is it awfully smart because it has everyone talking?

There's no Such Thing as a Small Act of Kindness

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

- Scott Adam

Little did I know that when yesterday dawned it would knock the wind out of me.

On our morning walk, our dog was attacked by another dog. It lasted for three minutes and was one of the most vicious and terrifying things I have ever witnessed.

As I screamed and screamed, people come running to help. And it is fact that I am choosing to remember from yesterday. Even in the midst of such a horrifying moment, we were shown tender kindness.

There were two mums with their babies who helped take our little boy our of harms way. Pete the street sweeper who leaped from his truck without a moment's hesitation to help restrain the other dog. Another man who ran to the nearest cafe to get a pen and paper and then chased down the other dog owner to get his details. And a mother and daughter who consoled me as I waited for my husband to come and drive our dog to the vet.

There were no small or random acts of kindness yesterday. Just beautiful, generous, selfless gestures which created a ripple. And that ripple turned into a wave which roared in the face of such a harrowing morning.

Ps: After a visit to the vet and lots of TLC, our pooch is already healing well.