Cold!

I love this blog! - unhappy hipsters
[link via sfgirlbybay]

Blackout

Last night we were left without electricity for 4 hours.
And all of a sudden everything went very quiet.
We had a candlelit dinner and we played board games.
I enjoyed it.

_________

Predictably, I got the flu too - and a pretty nasty one. Last weekend the whole family was in bed.
I miss sunny and hot days in NZ!

Angie Lewin's new fabric pattern here

Nadia's new lamp here

and the fantastic work of Miso - very inspiring!

Crown Lynn

Did you think that while in New Zealand I would give up looking for vintage-thrift stores?
I discovered this great shop in Warkworth, Mrs Jones - and the world of Crown Lynn pottery -
The shop is filled with lovely things - I especially liked the cushions made with recycled linen teatowels and vintage fabrics.

Christchurch

We spent our Christmas days in Christchurch, and I loved it.
And how can you not love the Arts Centre?
I met a very talented tapestry weaver, Marilyn Rea Menzies - here's her website and blog.

he ao, he ao tea, he ao tea roa!

a cloud,
a white cloud,
a long white cloud!

The museum Te Papa is one of the must visits when in Wellington. I loved the art display on 5th floor, but unfortunately photographing was not allowed there. My favourite was an installation by artist John Reynolds - Clouds - 7081 white square canvases, 10cm x 10cm each, painted with a phrase or word from the Dictionary of New Zealand English. He used a silver oil paint marker, so when you move you can read some words but others are lost due to the silvery reflection of the text. You can see a video of the installation here

Kawakawa

Did you know that the painter and artist Hundertwasser moved to New Zealand where he lived until his death? I always loved his paintings and used him as inspiration for the Double Weave project when in Bradford, so of course we had to go and see the only project he realized in NZ, in the village of Kawakawa.

The project was, uhm, the public toilets. I love the glass panelling made with recycled bottles!