Autumn happenings.......as seen thru the lens

A little busy this month so letting my camera do the talking for this post. Lots of colours and patterns from nature and my surroundings.  Blink and you miss some of it.   So I stop and admire it instead.....

Jamie's Mexican Street Corn salad - spicy and colourful

Just look at her!.....a beauty.

Kilim Rug dreaming.....the price tag brings me right back down to earth with a big thud!

Monocle L O V E ...my mind thanks you.

Birthday presents  ROCK!

yes....it tastes as delicious as it looks.  yum yum!  Monica's famous pineapple cake.

and this you ask?   why, its a thin slice of carrot.  Thank you Mother Nature. 

See you again Venus....somewhere out there.

Inspired by this amazing artist that I still cannot get out of my head

On my walk to work....i stop to admire the quiet work going on around me.

Lead up to Birthday week.....

Its been a big, busy, crazy emotional week.   Not only because that is how I usually get around birthday time (another year , more grey hair, what have I achieved?  where am I going? - you know how it goes)  but because I am also working on many projects all at the same time.  Its like my cook/gardener/DIY/crafty inner self is on autopilot (and on a time clock apparently) and wants to start and/or complete all projects I have going.   Crazy - I know.

No matter what I am creating, experimenting or doing, I always have my trusty pocket camera with me. A photographic diary of sorts.   I know one day I will look back and realize these days (the crazy busy ones) are my happiest.   So here is a photo diary of what is keeping me interested of late:

In the garden:: A tiny Echeveria plant grows out of what I thought was a dried up root.

From a friends well established edible garden - beautiful, nourishing beans.

Fabric ::  Watching mum create something gorgeous with this fabric (More to follow soon)

From El Mercado::  (Top) Organic Food Market free range VS  (Bottom) Supermarket free range.  The proof is in the taste.

From my Father::  Admiring his latest original, upcycled work of art.

From my Mother::  a beautiful crochet creation

Cafe::  Martino honing his skills.....

while I admire the cafe's refurb including these gorgeous mango wood stools.

From the sewing machine :: new fabric place mats, that are teaching me much patience along the way....

thats all for now.  Thanks for reading.

xox
a (nearly) older and (hopefully) wiser craftyclaudes.......

Art & About Sydney :: 23 September - 23 October - Get into i!

This month sees the start of Art & About in Sydney.  A month long celebration where our beautiful city becomes an exciting and colorful canvas filled with a variety of events, public art displays and outdoor exhibitions.   The focus this year is on after hours events, seeing places like the Museum of Sydney, Customs House, The State Library and the Art Gallery of NSW all opening their doors until late and hosting their own events.  A wonderful way to enjoy the city during a busy work week.  So grab some mates, have a drink and walk around the city enjoying such events as:

:: Tsunami 1.26. by Janet Echelman::

Location: George Street Sydney (Outside Townhall)

Dates:  23 September - 23 October

Cost:  FREE

Remember this post back in July?  Well can you believe the time is finally here!   Janet Echelman brings her "Tsunami 1.26 installation to Sydney.  Janet's piece drew inspiration from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s announcement that the February 2010 Chile earthquake shortened the length of the earth’s day by 1.26 microseconds by slightly redistributing the earth’s mass.

:: STREETWARE 2011 ::

Location: various (see link below for a map)

Dates:  23 September - 23 October

Cost:  FREE

Selected artists and collectives were invited to install artworks in the City's southern laneways and temporarily transform unused spaces into creative canvases to catch the attention and imagination of passersby.

Download a walking/cycling map to all the laneways here 

:: Sydney Life ::

Location: Hyde Park

Dates:  23 September - 23 October

Cost:  FREE

Ten years ago, the first Sydney Life exhibition captured our city in a series of striking large-scale photographic images, on show in the beautiful central walkway of Hyde Park North. A decade later, Sydney Life is a much-loved annual event bringing friends and families to delight in images that look beyond the iconic. This year, 22 finalists bring their own unique vision of Sydney to this stunning exhibition.

What is a Festival without a FREE FESTIVAL LAUNCH event?  Well come and see for your self as all this and much more kicks off off on FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER  5pm to 9pm in Martin Place.  Also if you get a chance, visit the Design After Dusk Artists Markets which will be on at the State Library of NSW from 5pm till Midnight.   


For more information, maps, event details - check out the SYDNEY ART & ABOUT site.

Sydney City ......we heart you!! 

xoxox

Clicking my heels, jetting away......

Maybe its the cold Sydney weather,  or the flu I have been getting over, or just the fact that there are no planned holidays on the horizon.....but I think I am suffering from a case of the 'post holiday blues'.  Sad. But true.   Travel is something I am very passionate about.  Lucky for me, Martino is the same.  Our passports are probably one of our most treasured possessions and the mere mention of someone, going somewhere gets us all excited.   Consequently this week, I have been doing lots of armchair travel (or simply adding to our ever growing "Places to Visit" list).

Like a true sign from the universe (via my email inbox) along came these stunning photos. 
 

Marble Caves - Chile Chico, Chile

Skaftafeli - Iceland

Norway,  Alesund

NY

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Petra, Jordan

Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada

Riomaggiore, Italy

Benteng Chittorgarh, India

While I patiently wait for the next holiday to come around, these photos keep me going.
For more spectacular shots check out this site and be transported

Gallery wanderings - Nick Bassett - Power Moves at Carriageworks

One day long photo shoot , 9 dancers (only 7 of which made the cut) and over 4000 images taken to get a dozen or so photographs to exhibit. 

Carriageworks really lent itself to the culture these photos draw inspiration from - raw, urban, exciting.

Its one of my favourite venues for art displays in Sydney and every time I am there, I cant help but look up.  A good thing - seeing that Nick's photographs were suspended from the ceiling.  This added to the magic that Nick captured in still.  Dancers suspended in air showcasing a signature move, seemingly effortless.

yep yep!

 

Nick's exhibition runs until April 9 at Carriageworks.  Its F R E E .  So throw on your flyest pair of kicks and head on over to check it out (and fight the urge to be a dork and do the robot like I soooooo wanted to do )


Carriageworks info here

Art Month Sydney /Platform Hip Hop Festival - Power Moves by Nick Bassett

Presented by CarriageWorks' Platform Hip Hop Festival

POWER MOVES is a photographic series which studies the form and sculptural quality of Breaking, or B-Boying as it is otherwise known. 
Shot in a controlled studio setting, Nick Bassett has captured a highly talented group of dancers right in the split-second moment of their signature moves. The series is a study in form, physicality and skill, not simply a documentation of the moves or how they are performed.

March is also Art Month in Sydney.  A time where studios, galleries and performance spaces throw open their doors and encourage people to follow their art.  With varied events and activities such as art cycle tours, Thursday night Art Bars,   a little Gardening, and art dinners.  As well as various photographic, sculptural and mixed media exhibitions - there is something there for everyone.


To check out the various events on offer until March 31 - visit the Art Month Sydney website

To check out Nick Bassetts photography exhibition as part of the Platform Hip Hop Festival visit the Carriageworks website.

Add caption

5 minute repurpose project - New dishwashing liquid decanter

Take 1 old Scotch Whisky glass bottle.  Remove the label with warm soapy water.  Replace the cap with an oil pouring spout and....

VOILA!!   A new glass (my fave) decanter for our dish washing liquid!   Stylish and Green (or brown)

Now to replace the hand wash and hand creme bottles  from plastic to glass......

 oh and I could not resist.....here is our little apartment all dolly sized!   Playing with our new camera before the trip and I simply love how teeny tiny our little place looks.  

don't mind the mess....and the brown chair awaiting its makeover!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xox
claudes