D is for Dahl

Roald Dahl is one of my favourite authors - I was obsessed with a fair few of his books when I was a kid, especially 'Matilda' and 'The Twits'. UK Vogue has recently created an amazing fashion spread based on his books... brilliance....

Totally Wild.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of Where The Wild Things Are...





One of my favouite movies as a kids - this one looks fantastic in the trailer, which you can watch here. Soundtrack by The Arcade Fire - second mention today - and filmed mostly in Melbourne, well worth a watch when it comes out.

Funny, Arcade Fire just seem to be coming up in everything today. Every one of my genius playlists in iTunes keeps coming up with at least one of their songs, I was talking about their arty-wanky DVD with my housemate, and a fair few bands I've been listening to sound quite similar...

Current Thoughts

Winter is starting to set in, and due to a number of circumstances, I haven't left my house since Sunday afternoon.

There's something so nice about lazy days at home in front of the heater, designing away and drinking lots of cups of tea.



In the meantime, I have been completely and utterly obsessed with the Australian TV show 'Love My Way' - Claudia Karvan is one of my all-time crushes, from her days on Secret Life of Us, and her role as the neurotic and totally lovely Frankie in Love My Way. I don't think anything will surpass the first season of this series, but it's an interesting journey all the main characters take - though sometimes I just felt myself getting too frustrated by their many flaws. All round, an amazing show that I'm sure I'll be watching over and over again - I did buy the DVD!



I'm also completely in love with The Middle East's song 'Blood' - reminds me of The Arcade Fire, one of my favourite bands. Lovely and delicate, and the ending of this song is brilliant. I'd love to see these guys - But they've already sold out their show at the Northcoate Hotel! Another time. I doubt they're going to be going anywhere soon.

And I'm still debating going to this festival in Bendigo this Saturday :

Fantastic lineup... though I have seen a lot of these bands live. I think it would be pretty good really, just wish it was in Ballarat instead!

Apparitions

Petra Nevistic Apparitions (detail) Image © of the artist

Apparitions: Recent works on paper by Petra Nevistic

I think I've got one of the best jobs in Ballarat.

The Art Gallery of Ballarat, on Lydiard Street, is in my (slightly biased) opinion one of the finest regional galleries in Australia. And I'm lucky enough to work there. Along with our fantastic, extensive permanent collection, at the moment there are some fantastic exhibitions on at the Gallery.

Apparitions, by local artist Petra Nevistic, is a fantastic illustration exhibiton, all fine lines and delicate imagery. From the Art Gallery of Ballarat website :

Obsessive fine lines (produced with a single paint brush hair) are intertwined with symbolic imagery, primarily from the natural world, that have been fragmented and then re-ordered into surreal re-inventions of body and nature.

Check it out while you have the chance, it finishes on May 24th.


Paul Signac, Fishing Boats at Lomalo (detail) 1923, watercolour, black crayon, touches of gouache. Gift of Col. the Hon. R.A. Crouch, 1944

Also on at the moment is a brilliant exhibition of rarely seen work from our collection, and recent acquisitions. Some amazing pieces there, really lovely illustration work, paintings, prints and one of the most diverse collections I've seen in a while.

Bits of my life

Thaw.

Thaw Magazine is an independent publication that I have the honour of being the Graphic Designer for.

Based, and entirely produced, out of Ballarat, Victoria, this little publication has grown from an idea between friends talked over a glass of red wine, to our upcoming fourth issue.

We started our little baby in Spring last year, and are now working on Winter 2009.

Thaw is about appreciating the good things in life, and about highlighting the bits of Ballarat and surrounding areas that we are so proud of. Art/Design/Phtography, Fashion, Food, People, Music, Events... it's a mish-mash of goodness.

You can now buy Thaw online, or at a whole lot of places in ballarat. Go to our website for more info : Thaw Magazine

You can buy Thaw at this online store - for only $12 you can have our mag delivered to your door, a one-year subscription for next to nothing.


A small preview of our upcoming Winter issue, on sale June 1st :


Cover Model : Freya Hollick , Photographer Rohan Anderson.

Blog Revival

So, it's been a while since I've made a post to this page. I've made a few changes and got it back looking shiny spankin' and new.

This blog was originally something to keep me entertained and keep boredom at bay while I was living in Bendigo. Now that I'm back in Ballarat, and have become inspired once more by this beautiful city and the amazing people living here, I'm going to try and get back into the blogging game...

... hopefully this inspiration and dedication will last!

- Sophie