JOY makes ripples

ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.  REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE THE THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY ON THE 25TH NOVEMBER EVERY YEAR. JOYDAY.

Valuable Junk

TURN THE NOTION OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED JUNK UPSIDE DOWN AND START HAVING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT IS ON OFFER.  
OP SHOPS, GARAGE SALES AND LOCAL MARKETS PROVIDES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SOME GREAT LITTLE FINDS 
THAT WILL FIT PERFECTLY INTO OUR LIVING SPACES OR OUR LIVES.  
THIS EXAMPLE IS FROM THE 'REDWATER' MARKETS, WHICH ARE HELD ON THE 3RD SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH.  
THE MARKETS ARE FOUND IN REDFERN PARK. SHIFT A LITTLE.

Button Up

RECENTLY, I FOUND THIS AMAZING BUTTON STORE IN BRISBANE THAT LOOKED MORE LIKE A LOLLIE SHOP.  
THE BUTTONS FOR SALE WERE FROM EVERY DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY, UTILISING ALL THE RELEVANT MATERIALS OF THE TIMES, 
LIKE BAKERLITE ( A PROTO PLASTIC) FROM THE 30S AND CHROME FROM THE 70S.

EVERY COLOUR YOU COULD FIND IN A PANTONE SELECTOR.  EVERY SHAPE OR SIZE.  
A BUTTON'S FUNCTION IS NO LONGER SOULY FOR FASTENING BUT ARE MORE A FASHION DETAIL.  DON'T NELECT YOUR BUTTONS.  
LOOK AFTER THEM, KEEP A TRACK OF THEM, AND MAYBE CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL FROM THEM...
LIKE A LAMPSHADE AS SEEN IN SHIFTAZINE'S ARTICLE ' A BRIGHT IDEA' IN THE 'INTERIORS' CATEGORY. 

I'm thinking about Bill Eggleston....

A LONG TIME AGO I DISCOVERED AN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER CALLED BILL EGGLESTON.  HE CHANGED THE WAY I WAS TO SEE THE WORLD FOREVER MORE.  
THE ORDINARY WAS NEVER THAT AGAIN. 
INSIDE MY FRIEND PAUL'S SHED, THERE EXISTS A SERIES OF WONDERFUL STILL LIVES...
THIS IS THE FIRST IN THE SERIES. I CAN NOT SAY WHY I LOVE THIS IMAGE...I JUST DO.

A textured Love

JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF MIXING TEXTURES AND ELEMENTS AND COLOURS THAT HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING SEEN TOGETHER AND YET MAKE BEAUTIFUL AESTHETIC MUSIC. 

THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS KIND OF STYLING IS THAT WITH A FRESH OR NON-PREJUDICE EYE ONE CAN CREATE A BEAUTIFUL AND SURPRISING ENVIRONMENT.

Blossom frippery at GOMA

Recently on a trip to Brisbane to view the always AMAZING Asia Pacific Triannual at the equally AMAZING GOMA...
I observed many stylish, inventive and exciting fashion statements.  
Brisbane is the home of the best contemporary art museum and collection in Australia, but I now suspect its fashion scene is also on the creative rise. 
Brisbane rocks!

Street Intrigue

The street is a never ending source of aesthetics, delights, and intrigue.  
We will keep you posted on the outcome of this announcement...stay tuned.  
2013 here we come.

Memo to readers

Come rain or come shine

A month or so ago, Sculptures by the Sea, at Bondi and the coast walk near by, as usual took our breath away with the inventive and creative efforts of a disparate group of artists .  
So much money is invested in the pieces themselves_made from bronze, steel and marble.  
And yet it took a large plastic bag and an old chair (which had a grass seat) to trigger such a wonderful interaction with its surroundings.  
One morning was stormy with a soft grey light, the next morning, the light was golden with the dawn light.  

Different effects, equally beautiful. Just LOVE it!

Digging old stuff

THERE EXISTS A GREAT TROVE OF POSSIBLITIES JUST WAITING TO BE RECOGNISED, ADOPTED, ENGAGED WITH ON BOURKE STREET, WATERLOO, SYDNEY.  
THE PLACE IS CALLED ‘DOUG UP ON BOURKE’ AND IT PROMISES HOURS OF ADVENTURE WANDERING THROUGH THE FINDS, THE CAST OFFS, THE FORGOTTEN.  
TIN SIGNS ABOUND ON ALL THE WALLS. 
THEY ARE LIKE A VOICE FROM THE PAST AND THE CHIPPED ENAMEL, AND DENTS, AND THE RUST ON THEM JUST BRINGS MORE CHARACTER TO THE OBJECT. 
THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS TO GO  AND HAVE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.

DOUG UP ON BOURKE, 901A BOURKE STREET WATERLOO NSW CLOSED SUNDAY.

When is a jar not a jar...

A Jar is defined as a wide-mouthed, cylindrical container made of glass or pottery, especially one used for storing food...
But a single flower or a grouping of buds and blooms are all the more beautiful when placed in a simple every day jar.  
It may be an empty vegemite jar, or a jam jar, even an old lemonade glass bottle which gently holds and supports the sweet bloom. 

Of late jars and soft drink bottles have been popping up every where being engaged as vases, like my friend Fran, 
who assembled jars and old glass medicine bottles and placed just a single bud or stem in each one.  
The effect was beautiful as seen on page 1. 

Alternatively the inventive and beautiful mobile hanging floral tributes just like this one found at Orto Trading Co. 38 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia 
engage old soft drink bottles to create a focus to the cafe.  

Moral of the story...don't throw a glass jar out just because it is empty, 
fill it up with something else, like a flower and enjoy it some more.  Shift a little.

Shiftazine Issue No. 5

Open publication - Free publishing - More colour

The Joy of Pretty Dresses

Which part of this brings me the greatest JOY:  The colours just make you want to drive into them and drown in the hues of the rainbow; 
the pretty dresses, themselves, with the patterns and styles that are all so girl power enabling; 
or is it the fact that this store 'Grandma takes a trip' in Surry Hills, Sydney up-cycles clothes and fashions that have been thrown away by its original users.  
So many reasons to be delighted.  
JOYDAY is coming, 25th November.  
Remember to celebrate the thing or things that bring you JOY (even if its a tiny little thing).  
JOY is a powerful state to live in.