Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Tattoo-ed darlings

Chatting today with a friendly shop assistant about tattoos with a retro/vintage twist, I got to thinking ....

While I don't like many of the cheap-looking, oh-so-obvious or boring tattoos that seem to gaining popularity these days, I do like the seemingly timeless link between pinup/retro culture and tattoo art. There are some gorgeous gals in Brunswick with fabulous vintage looks who are also brightly inked, and it looks great on the right people! I just don't think I'd go for it myself as I'm no longer a sprightly young thing (and muscle tone has become a thing of the past ....)



For a while I was inspired by the work of Dutch tattoo artist Angelique Houtkamp



 .... but oh dear, I was rather disappointed when I found an old magazine cover and realised that her designs aren't really truly her own ...



~ I'm pretty sure I've seen an Angelina version of this image too:



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(oh, now this is embarrassing .... I forgot to record the sources of some of these images. The first one was posted to a discussion board by a member of the wonderful Fedora Lounge, and I can't remember where the others came from. Sorry!)

Monday, March 22, 2010

Softly, softly ...

When taking Gus for a run this afternoon, I found a beautiful ring-tail possum lying under a tree, injured.


I gathered up the frightened little thing and placed her carefully in my bicycle basket, then peddled as quickly as I could to the Brunswick Central Vet Clinic.

Poor little possie .... she was so badly injured, the vet had to put her to sleep.


Sweet dreams little one.



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(Pics from here and here)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

He'd like to be a water bear

I was thinking today about people who seem to spread happiness and goodwill wherever they go, who radiate integrity, positivity and enthusiasm while remaining completely down-to-earth ....

Some of you may know, or know of, Mal Webb, a Melbourne musician who never takes himself too seriously (although he has some serious talent). Since the 1980s this man has continued to bring smiles to my face, get my booty shakin', and make my heart feel all warm and fuzzy -  he's a true inspiration (if you'll forgive the cliché)!


Mal's world is one in which countless small pleasures are celebrated; upbeat music, vocal gymnastics and engaging performances bring happiness and empowerment to people from all walks of life; and immersion in different cultures serves as a never-ending educational playground.

I found some snippets of Mal's musical escapades on YouTube today. You might like to check them out too:

Walkabout waterbottle

Mal doesn't want to advertise beer

Singing with Sistanative, in English, Yamadjira and Walpiri (two Aboriginal languages). These songs are so sweet.

Vocal warm up with Indigenous kids at Ti Tree school as part of the Music Outback Foundation program. Looks like great fun to me!

Sideways yodelling .... very strange.


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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sunny daze

.... another sparkling autumn day .... I'm focussing on happy thoughts


(pic from here)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Spinal trap

This is me:


A weekend of absolutely glorious autumn weather has been twinkling through my bedroom window, and I'm stuck inside again with major muscle spasms and acute disc pain.

So this is a grumbling post. I've been feeling very sorry for myself; I think I'm growing less tolerant of pain each year (must be turning into a grumpy old woman already!).

I'll write about something bright and cheerful when I'm feeling better.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Alexis Anne Mackenzie

These delicate illustrations are somewhat melancholy. But I think they're beautiful.


true love


 never be sad



it matters to me



dreaming is easy



cradle bed grave

butterflies up the spine


(via SC)

Monday, March 08, 2010

I'm with Razer

Those who know me might find it hard to believe, but sometimes I find myself lost for words....

If you're not easily offended by potty-mouthed prose, but are offended by the dumbing-down of women in all manner of contexts, you might like to take a peep at this article, written by Helen Razer for International Women's Day (that's today! Happy IWD, everyone!).

I don't know what has me more flummoxed ... is it Louis Nowra's arrogance, Bettie's New Pink Button, or the vajazzling trend???



Say it ain't so, Joe! Say it ain't so!

That's my kind of concept car!

Today I found some super-cool little thingummyjigs called Sketch-a-Move.

(from Today and Tomorrow):
"Sketch-a-Move is a project by Anab Jain and Louise Klinker. They actually did this a few years ago. It’s a concept for a toy car that allows you to explore the unique relationships between small surface doodles and actual physical movements. If you draw a circle on the top of the toy car, it will move in a circle. If you draw a complicated spiral, the car will move in a spiral .... it sure looks like fun."



Interactive Hotwheels? I'd buy them!

Non-believer

 
(image from this lovely archi-site)

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Well, we hoped for rain

We've had about 11 years of drought, and just a few days ago I was lamenting the dryness of our garden's soil ....

But this weekend Melbourne got a taste of the weather that has been ravaging towns up north.

To say that we got a bit wet is an understatement. In less than 30 minutes, the weather changed from being hot and sunny with a cloudless sky to a crazy hailstorm, flooding the city centre and causing extensive damage.

 

  

  

  

  

We stayed inside and watched from the safety of our little house, but I feel sorry for all the birds and animals that were caught in the storm. Imagine being bopped on the head by these!:

 

  

  

 
 
 

  

Note: it never snows in Melbourne. This is the hail that fell when the temperature dropped suddenly from a balmy 26°C (97°F), on a bright and sunny day in the first week of autumn. 
Weird! 


(Pics from here, here and here)

Friday, March 05, 2010

Snap!

As if you needed convincing ....

Here's a selection of original pictures from the different eras replicated so beautifully by Retro Atelier (for comparison).

 

  

  




  




  

  

 

  


  

  




  

  



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