Et Le Champion Est...

Loterie Nationale Tranche Speciale, 1937, Derouet

image; galerie montmartre

I think I may be the only Melbournian...or one of the very few...who doesn't really care for the major Australian horse racing event, The Melbourne Cup. Don't get me wrong, the chance to dress up and drink champagne all day is definitely appealing, but unless I can do it in true style (that is a corporate marquee) then I'd rather do something else....and yes, I am that shallow! Nope, this girl was at the movies (watching Woody Allen's 'Paris at Midnight', of course!) as the 'race that stops a nation' was run. How ironic then to hear that the winning horse, Dunaden, was French trained and the jockey's name was Christophe Lemaire. Felicitations!

Springtime Happiness - Ode to Melbourne

thanks for the image nine.msn

Honestly Melbourne, you have turned on some goodness today.

Everything seems so much do-able when the sun is out...

...today you really do feel like the World's Most Liveable City!

Giddy Up Horsey!

image; loterie nationale grand prix de paris, paul colin, 1966 available at galerie montmartre

It's that time in Melbourne again when that one horse race basically stops a nation. So strange to me, but then, I'm not a betting girl. I love an excuse to show a vintage poster, though, and the wonderful Paul Colin (go to our website if you want to know more about this revered French posterist) produced this dynamic horse racing piece in 1966. I love it's vibrancy and movement; so talented.

Anyway, good luck to all the punters out there - enjoy the Spring Racing Carnival!

The Horse has Bolted!

pisa hippodrome, anonymous, c.1940

loterie nationale jockey, savignac, 1973

loterie nationale horse and bride, lefor openo, 1956
all images; stephan t for galerie montmartre

It's hard to believe that Melbournians think so highly of their sport that there is a public holiday to celebrate, but that's exactly what happens for the Melbourne Cup - an annual horse racing event held on the first Tuesday of November. I thought a few vintage horse posters might be a nice way to finish what was a very successful day pour moi! (ie. I came second and third in the family cup sweep!)

Creative Women's Circle - Monique McNamara & Jessie Fairweather

image; gertrude st association - artist; ian de gruchy

image; measure by the foundry

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed drinking in the creativity of some very talented women at Creative Women's Circle on Saturday morning. I mean, I was sitting between some lovely creatives before anyone even opened their mouths! (ie. shannon, susan and tess, better known in blogland as aunty cookie, spin spin handmade and metremade)

Monique McNamara started proceedings speaking about her eco-design business Up and Up Creative...now, there is eco and there is ECO, and this woman is definitely the latter, having set up her business 12 years ago when she realised that her concern for sustainability and eco-friendly practices were not being met elsewhere. There was a million things she said, a million notes I wrote, but really, this quote pretty much sums up where Ms. McNamara comes from "This is why we're here - we're here to innovate." (Oh, and if she isn't busy enough directing her company she is also a founding member of The Gertrude Association.)

Jessie Fairweather is all the things in a person I tend to gravitate towards, because it is so far from who I am (!) - calm, considered, organised, determined and calm. (oh sorry, did I say that already?!) This girl had a dream and ran with it, studying graphic design in Europe before returning to Australia, writing her ideas for three months and then creating her company 'The Foundry'. 'Measure' seems like an extremely apt title for Jessie's latest project, written in five languages, it consists of every conceivable measuring chart from seasonal foods through to the lunar calendar. I am predicting world domination from her little space in Daylesford, quite frankly.

Well done, Tess McCabe on another great meeting, keep the inspiration coming!

Birthday Indulgence Hangover

craft victoria shop; pic from craftvic.asn.au website

bestlite table lamp; pic from icone.co.uk

native workers stool; pic from nativecollection.com



sylvie dress by leona edmiston; pic from leonaedmiston. com

It's so wonderful to take a day out to simply indulge yourself. I did that yesterday. I loved it. Flinders Lane is such a treat, that place has everything that rings my bells.

Starting at Craft Victoria where I saw so much handmade goodness, my head almost fell off, making my way to Corporate Culture staring at the beautiful shapes of the chairs and tables and my absolute favourite item, the Bestlite. I was enjoying the Native furniture series at Format furniture. And the Tom Dixon collection at DeDeCe. So many highlights.

The thing I wasn't expecting, however, was discovering Leona Edmiston's winter sale, as I headed back up Little Collins st. Now it looks like I have something very special to wear for my b'day dinner with L'Homme on Sunday night!

Happy Friday - Design:Made:Trade

After having my head in book-work for most of the day (blah...), it was time for some creative inspiration, so I walked down to the Royal Exhibition Buildings (only 5 mins away from Galmont) to look around Design:Made:Trade

I just love being around lovely creatives and I wasn't disappointed. I ran into Pene of the adorable Cottage Industry (thanks for my fingerless gloves, P!), as I looked around the Words and Pictures stand - finding myself some lovely little gift tags - and said congrats to the team at Mattt who are opening their new store in Gertrude st, I remember seeing their bags at the StKilda market many moons ago.

But, of course, it wasn't just the people....although the people part is soooo very important (!)....it was the products. I purposely didn't take much money, but, the little I had bought me a unique necklace made from vintage buttons from hello birthday which was calling my name from the moment I saw it. I laughed as I wondered which necklace suited me from the Layla Starr range - 'damaged goods'? 'dark horse'?! The feedaway also gave me a smile, as I know what it is like to attempt to feed a toddler in a public place, wriggling and squirming and ready for the next adventure - maybe one of these flatpack cardboard, portable highchairs is in order? Victoria Mason was very gracious, showing me her little 'morning tea' stack rings complete with a miniature biscuit and teaspoon. In fact, alot of the pieces included real humour, which was the perfect remedy for a slightly jaded book-keeping shopgirl, like my good self!

If you are after a daily dose of the State of Design festival, then you seriously need to check out The Design Files, cause young Lucy is breaking all records as far as attendance goes in order to keep us up-to-date with what's happening and doing a might fine job, I might add.

Enjoy your weekend!

NYC via Melbourne.

image; manhattan.about.com

Today was a glorious Autumn day in Melbourne - bright, blue sky; crisp, cold air.
It actually felt like a real NYC day to me. As much as I enjoy my life here, there are moments that suddenly have me pining to return to the city we once called home.
Today was one of those.

Happy Friday - Salon des Ensembliers; Foire de Paris

image; stephan t for galerie montmartre

Melbourne is such a fabulous place to be, especially in April, there is so much going on!

This weekend seems particularly busy, we have The Weekend Australian Art Fair (formerly Affordable Art Fair), the Home Ideas Show....and my personal favourite The International Comedy Festival. So, in celebration of all these celebrations, I've chosen this poster to share for the weekend - a little bit of art, a little bit of home and a little bit of comedy.

Have a fabulous Friday and I'll see you next week.

Creative Women's Circle - Lucy Feagins

image; Daily Imprint

image; The Design Files

You can blame the lack of posts this week - it is my intention to post every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - on the lousy flu that almost got the better of me...But I nipped that sucker in the bud and to celebrate my 'feeling better-ness' (!), I decided to go along to the Creative Women's Circle (started by graphic designer Tess Mc Cabe) this morning and listen to the lovely Lucy Feagins speaking about her creative life in set design/dressing and blogging.

The setting was Guildford Lane Gallery, a fabulous warehouse space in the Melbourne CBD, it was a beautiful morning and then to be surrounded by a group of inspiring, creative business women all thirsting for knowledge and inspiration was enough to tip me over the edge! Lucy was generous with her thoughts and spoke beautifully, answering all the questions and listening to comments raised. The walk back to Fitzroy via Gertrude and Brunswick St, was just as lovely, I dropped into a few of my favourite businesses (which you'll be hearing about soon) to say hello and generally felt a little giddy - maybe I just need to get out more!

PS. Be sure to check out Lucy's blog, it is becoming somewhat of a little Aussie Design hub, to say the least.