Archive for April, 2009

• Fresh! New! Sydney street art …

  Date: 2009.04.30 | Category: street art & urban decay, Sydney | Response: 2

  Definitely new this week, wasn’t there when I walked past Sunday: there Monday. Really, really big, hard to miss. No, I’ve know idea what it means, what do you reckon?

  

  And round the corner, more! Different style, so maybe a different artist … or maybe not?

  

  And yes, I did enjoy the social commentary.

  

  Finally, my favourite: minimal, but cool.

  

  Haymarket, behind the ABC building, enjoy them before some punctilious person tears them down.

• Intarsia, 80s, WIP knit and my favourite type of knitting books

  Date: 2009.04.27 | Category: knit | Response: 0

  

  Intarsia.

  A first for me, although I’ve glanced through the intarsia instructions in how-to-knit books many times. Feels … kinda 80s? Not that I actually knit intarsia in the 80s, acrylic fluro orange/mint green dolls’ clothes were enough for me. Overalls, interestingly. They say the 80s is definitely undergoing a revival, and I know I’ve seen a few breathless fashion spreads for overalls (jumpsuits?). The 80s is the one decade that’s going to have to be heavily “reinterpreted” for me to like it … 70s or 90s or any other decade I never saw, fine.

  Anyway, intarsia’s just a technique: if it’s useful, doesn’t matter whether it’s fashionable or not!

  The pattern is “Striped Illusion” from Knitting New Scarves by Lynne Barr: Ravlink. I very much like this book, I can see myself returning to it again and again.

  I’ve been surfing for birthday present books (I love people who say ‘just let me know what you want, I’ll buy it for you later’ … they give the best presents!!!). I’ve decided the knitting books I like have rather fashion forward / avant-garde / interesting but still wearable garments, bonus points if they include novel techniques or unusual construction methods. Lynne Barr’s book scores pretty well on all criteria for me (not that the scarf I’m knitting is hard, it only looks that way!)

  Now, who can recommend a book of knit jumpers (US = sweaters) and jackets I might like? Please?

  * Oh, and because someone’s sure to ask, I like to theme my knitting photos. Paired with this scarf is a McDonald’s toy from Japan (Sanrio Cinnamoroll). Yes, I don’t hold with character merchandising or McDonald’s as a rule, but I knew we were almost home, so as a one-off (or a few-off) treat umm …

• Urban decay #001

  Date: 2009.04.25 | Category: street art & urban decay, Sydney | Response: 2

  

  What? A rotting fence; a man hole cover (ever used? unlikely…); pidgeon poo at the entrance to a park.

  

  Why? Because I look at these things; my eyes are drawn to them … since I was a child. Because I find them beautiful in their entropy, their brokeness, and the accidental patterns they make. Because if I don’t photograph them now, someone will tear them down, clean them up, take them away…

  And becuase they give me a sense of place, this is my Sydney … it takes time for your eyes to pick out these details, you don’t see them as a visitor, in a hurry: so if you’re not from here, I thought you might enjoy …

  

  Where? Back streets of Ultimo, NSW; along City Road, between Newtown and Broadway, N.S.W.

  When? I’m thinking an ongoing series … stay tuned

• Wow, so clever! (Scroll down to see how these wall hangings were made!) http://t.co/oh2Uuhci From Design*Sponge about 7 hours ago from TweetDeck
• Grey water RT @sarahfielke Colour of your pants + last thing you ate or drank = #yourbandname about 8 hours ago from TweetDeck
• This is what I miss about Japan: things that just fit back into their boxes, with no trouble, clear instructions which way up... *sigh* 07:55:05 am 04 February 2012 from TweetDeck
• #talknt Fabric travel is global warming worry, but Organic is still worthwhile > rivers, land near cotton fields not damaged by pesticide 02:24:45 am 01 February 2012 from TweetDeck
• Good question! RT @helishingly: why don't UFO's visit us now we all have camera phones? #AFPInvestigates 10:34:08 am 30 January 2012 from TweetDeck