Curiouser and Curiouser

Milford Sound

2012-01-30T18:33:00.002+10:00

Milford Sound, originally uploaded by Eloise Claire.

One of my favourite photos I took from my recent trip to New Zealand. I love the clouds dancing!

On The Way To Paradise New Zealand

2012-01-12T16:46:00.001+10:00

On The Way To Paradise New Zealand, originally uploaded by Eloise Claire.

Found this spot by the road on the way to Paradise and Glenorchy from Queenstown in New Zealand from my recent holiday. The whole place is so spectacular, even the rocks are wonderful!

Zakka Linen 2012 Diary Project

2011-11-15T21:56:00.001+10:00

Faced with the prospect of either a pastel pink or khaki green diary for next year(kikki.k was quite disappointing), I decided to take matters into my own hands. Let the DIY begin!

As I love to be organised, having the perfect diary is ESSENTIAL FOR BREATHING! I love the elegance of writing things down. So here is my fabric book covering project.

Step 1:: Put on some really great music. That's the most important thing, I can recommend Friendly Fires at the moment.

Step 2:: Cover the book like you would contact a school book. Except use spray glue and card inside to cover your fabric edges up. I won't go into it much more than that cause it's really easy, just a bit messy.

And voilà! You have a cute-as-kick-butt diary. If you pick really pretty fabric like mine you can even use it for photo shoots and decorating. Something like this will give you joy all year round! That's a whole lotta joy! BAM!

Adventures Captured on Film

2011-11-11T19:18:00.001+10:00

Just thought I'd share some of my recent adventures taken with my Diana camera (yes real film!) That's how they popped out! So cool! I love the areas of the film that got exposed to light through the camera body. Shooting on films is tre expensive but OH SO fun!

Clint Eastwood Crush

2011-10-24T21:34:00.000+10:00

After watching Coogan's Bluff, I fell a little bit in love. There's nothing better than a stern look and a rustic beard. I think he was a little bit ahead of his time, that hair is so hot right now.

All About Alice. Alice In Wonderland.

2011-10-04T22:27:00.000+10:00

Get back in your book by Lissy Elle

Do you have a fictional character that you really identify with? You thought to yourself I get it! That's me! To me that's Alice. The light bulb went on when I saw the wonderful Walt Disney version of Alice in Wonderland, age 10.

Alice in Wonderland is an adventure like no other. The story has pretty much everything. Far away lands, evil queens, puzzling rabbits and intrigue. I can't think of another book that has so many original characters, poems, songs and adventures. Where else can you find a disrupted tea party, cheshire cat, talking flower and a smoking caterpillar all in the one place.

When I was younger and watched Alice with my younger sisters, we would always fight over who got to be the white rose, the 'Marilyn Monroe' of the talking flowers, because she was so pretty. My favourite parts in the Disney version are the singing flowers, the Cheshire Cat who always reminds me of a crescent moon and the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Poor Alice never gets any tea in the end. Whenever I watch the movie the first thing I want to do is drink tea, and the second is play a good game of cards, like 500.

In the 19th century Sir Walter Besant wrote that Alice in Wonderland "was a book of that extremely rare kind which will belong to all the generations to come until the language becomes obsolete". Alice in Wonderland was one of the first children's books that didn't have a lesson or a moral. It was just to entertain, get children interested in reading and excite their creative imagination.

The story is unusual because it proves a little bit of nonsense is alway fun. I think we tend to forget that today. The originality and creative ideas that flow out of the story is a joy. Stretching the imagination is something that needs to be done on a daily basis.

“The clue to the enduring fascination and greatness of the Alice books,” writes A. S. Byatt in the Introduction, “lies in language. . . . It's play, and word-play, and its endless intriguing puzzles continue to reveal themselves long after we have ceased to be children.”

Alice in Wonderland has inspired many creative people. There have been endless plays, movies, songs and art works based on Alice. Salvador Dali created an alternate book of illustrations for the story and The Beatles wrote the song 'I am the Walrus".

Everyone needs a hero, don't you think? Alice proved herself worthy by showing courage, an adventurous spirit, and a quest for fun.

She taught me that it's ok to be different. It's ok to think differently than others and have your own adventures. The adventures you hold in your mind are yours forever, no-one can ever take them away.

Alice was always questioning. She was always pondering and asking 'is this really the best way to do this', very down-to-earth. She wouldn't stand for nonsensical things like a children's book without pictures.

One of the core themes in the story is not to put up with being bored with your life. If you're feeling a little average, stagnant and mellow, just make a new adventure out of life. Make new friends, explore new lands, and face your fears. It's ok to get lost, if you're on the way to somewhere better, as long as you get there.

What would Alice be like today? If Alice was in her 20s she'd be wearing this outfit for spring.

1:: Fifi Lapin 24.99 Teacup iPhone Case, 2:: Emporio Armani Watch, White Ceramic Bracelet $610, 3:: TIBI Marble-print silk dress £262.50, 4:: Roberts Revival Radio $328, 5:: MIU MIU Patent-leather pumps £287.50, 6:: Tiffany Keys Heart Pendant $200, 7:: MARC BY MARC JACOBS Hayley leather tote £329.17

Some of Lewis Carroll's thoughts in the book have translated to modern economics and mathematics. One of the most intriguing passages in Through the Looking-Glass is where Alice is instructed by the Queen on how to move forward in life. They'd been running for what seemed like forever, but where exactly where they started. This passage is one of the most quoted parts of the book, usually referring to a rapidly changing political situation. Interesting right?

It takes all the running you can do,

to keep in the same place.

If you want to get somewhere else,

you must run at least twice as fast as that.

I love the subtle hints to mathematics in the book. As Carroll was a mathematician by trait, it's easy to see why his book is so complex and interesting. It has been thought that the book was an ironic take on modern mathematics emerging in the mid-19th century.

If Alice found herself if a reading room, hers would look a little like this:

1:: SPRINGBOK TROPHY $225.00, 2:: CLOCHES $78 - $225, 3:: DONNABELLA MIRROR $895.00, 4:: DEBORAH BOWNESS BOOKCASE WALLPAPER, 5:: HAWTHORNE WINGCHAIR $2,695.00, 6:: VIGO ROUND TABLE - LARGE $795.00, 7:: ACE OF SPADES TRAY $125.00, 8:: BRITAIN FLOOR LAMP / $995.00

Alice in Wonderland is a rare story that captivated me as a child. It is a story which is complex and interesting enough to be enjoyed as an adult. There are many stories that where amazing to me when I was younger but are best left as childhood memories, like The Never Ending Story, Astro Boy and Fly Away Home.

As one of the most well regarded examples of the literary nonsense genre, Alice will always be popular with children and adults for centuries to come. It will be one of the first books I read to my children one day and hope they will read to theirs. It will continue to inspire the creativity inside us all. Literary classics never fade.

Curiouser and Curiouser!

I can recommend The Annotated Alice (the best version!) via Amazon. It's got luxuriously thick old yellow pages with beautiful original illustrations. I loooove this book!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Lust

2011-09-30T22:34:00.000+10:00

I think I need to buy shares in Marc Jacobs, I love his work so much. I pretty much fainted when I saw these. Please someone take away my credit card!!!!

MARC BY MARC JACOBS

Pretty printed iPad case

£37.50

MARC BY MARC JACOBS

Preppy Nylon Natasha Bag

MARC BY MARC JACOBS

Warp Ikat iPhone 4G case

£25

Audrey likes the Indian Look, so do I

2011-09-30T22:11:00.003+10:00

We don't even belong to each other., originally uploaded by Brent Schoepf.

Oh Audrey, you'd look good in anything.

Get Bearded!

2011-09-20T21:02:00.002+10:00

He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man. -William Shakespeare

Have you got a great beard? Or merely hair on your face?

There really is nothing better than a man with a nice even full beard. I like to call it The Standard Trim. It's clean, trimmed, off the neck, and well maintained. It says I am man, look at my sexy facial hair in all its glory. Camping, dirt, earthiness, and manliness come to mind. I have to say most men look pretty great in this sort of beard. Dam I love a good beard!

via The Sartorialist

There is also the hobo chic beard. It's slightly longer than the standard trim. You can get away with it if you are an indie band member.

However a beard that is dirty, may contain traces of last weeks breakfast and is almost in dreadlocks is no ok.

So men, feel free to grow your beard! Girls really love it! Go on, get bearded. You know you want to! You'll look hot!

Great Nails! From NY Fashion Week

2011-09-11T17:44:00.000+10:00

Found these amazing nails From Me To You straight off the runway from New York Fashion Week. Love the look! So understated but interesting!

New Camera!

2011-09-09T19:32:00.001+10:00

I bought a new camera a few days ago! I just had to show you! Excited! Hello Canon 7D with 24-105mm f4 L lens!

I've had my old trusty Canon 500D (great camera) for almost two years and I knew my photography had grown up and so had my needs, so upgrade! Also got two new sweet pieces of glass!

I was just reading in a photography book that if you are serious about photography, it's one of the only hobbies where the equipment really matters. So I feel good about getting that big chunk of glass that weights almost a kilo! There is nothing better than an L lens with a red rim! Stay tuned for some stunning photos (I hope!!!)

burning house

2011-09-08T19:29:00.004+10:00

What would you take if your house was burning?

Yes it's quite a drastically sad thought. But more of a philosophical one, and the answer tells a lot about you.

To be honest I would be happy if just me and my family got out safely. But if a bush fire was coming and I had about an hour to prepare, I would take all the unusual things I couldn't replace. The most important things would be my computer (my giant iMac that didn't fit into the picture), camera and hard drive with photos (and old photo albums).

This photo shows the other things that I couldn't live without. It was taken to submit to Burning House which is a blog created by Foster Huntington focusing on this question. This blog is so original and a wonderful insight into a person's psyche. Check it out here.

Canon 500D and 50mm f/1.8
Tamron macro 90mm f/2.8
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5
Vintage Brownie
Vintage Hanimex light meter
Vintage Box Brownie ~1940s inherited from a great aunt
Jean LaFont glasses
Vintage skeleton keys
Vintage wooden 'E' for Eloise letterpress block, apple, ducks and jewelry box
LaCie backup hard drive
The Annotated Alice by Lewis Carroll
Old coins
Eel skin clutch purse
Vintage intercom bakelite telephone
Iphone 3Gs in CaseCrown wooden case
Electrician's vintage timing box
Red leather gloves
Basque shoes made from snake skin leather from 21st birthday
(and iMac of course)

What would you take with you if your house was burning?

Sweet Sounds Of Saturdays - The Strokes

2011-08-27T16:26:00.002+10:00

The Strokes are a band that my friends have always suggested I'd love, but have never listened to them, until now. Until Machu Picchu. For me to fall in love with a band, and I mean fall hard, obsession, want to buy ever album of theirs, its takes just one song. For The Strokes it was Machu Picchu. For Muse it was Knights of Cydonia. Grizzly Bear, Two Weeks and so on. It always happens that way. The first time I heard Machu Picchu, with it's solid, slightly 70s, original intro, I was addicted. Is it just me who falls for bands this way, or is it everyone?

So The Strokes. Well New York or course. And indie rock of course. If all your favourite bands come from New York, does that mean something? I've just realised all my favourite bands are from ny. Must be where creativity gets its name. Time to visit NY I think!

Their new album that was out a few months ago is called Angles. You have to listen to Machu Picchu, You're So Right, Life Is Simple In The Moonlight, Call Me Back, and Metabolism! I know its fairly similar to their older albums but something's changed. I'm still not head over heals about their older stuff, so perhaps they've changed directions slightly and found a slightly new audience. Almost every song on the album has one solid guitar rift that really stands out and holds its own.

This video's pretty cool. Location location location! And who says guys can't accessorize. Love that pocket watch brooch!

You can listen to the entire Angles album right here for free! Give The Strokes a try, you might find their new sound more to your tastes. Happy listening!

Skull Shelves - James Hopkins

2011-08-21T22:37:00.000+10:00

These skull shelves by James Hopkins are a real treat. James Hopkins has a very original body of work worth exploring inspired by optical illusions. The best one in my opinion is the bottom right. Every home should have a skull shelf, right?

Inspiration from Love-you-big

Nobody Tells People Who Are Beginners by Ira Glass

2011-08-21T19:12:00.001+10:00

Nobody tells beginners how hard it is to achieve greatness. This is a really positive video about why creative ventures are hard work. I've been through this myself with piano, I got to a certain level and started comparing myself to the likes of Chopin and gave up. I guess it all comes down to the 10,000 hours rule, you've gotta work hard at something in order to achieve greatness. Keep trying people. Don't give up!

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Giant Button Pot Trivet

2011-08-11T20:07:00.000+10:00

Don't like cork? Neither do I! I'm so glad someone creative has thought of how to ditch the unsightly cork.

Giant buttons are so much kitscher, don't you think (kitsch being cute). I do love giant things, especially buttons. I think a crafty house is a special house.

Jump on over to snugstudio on etsy to buy yours (I'm tempted to get about 10!)

The Alice Project :: Spoon

2011-07-24T13:17:00.009+10:00

The Alice Project :: Spoon, originally uploaded by Eloise Claire.

The Alice Project is a new adventure down the rabbit hole. It's a series of photographs I'm taking centering on a concept in Alice in Wonderland, a distorted view on reality.

The idea for this project all started while gazing into this spoon. The world looked different, more fun and warped. What do you see in the reflection, another you? An alternate future?

Did you know that Looking-glass milk doesn't taste the same as real milk? Mirrored molecules (or chirality) taste different- the chemistry is there.

Alice was right!

Now if you'll only attend, Kitty, and not talk so much, I'll tell you all my ideas about Looking-glass House... How would you like to live in Looking-glass House, Kitty? I wonder if they'd give you milk in there? Perhaps Looking-glass milk isn't good to drink?
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. Lewis Carroll

Curiouser and Curiouser!

A Cloud Getaway

2011-07-22T20:23:00.001+10:00

Can you imagine relaxing by the shore in a cloud? Whoever invented this is pretty awesome! I gotta get me one of these! New holiday house perhaps?

This Cloud is brought to you by Bruit du Frigo and Zébra3 / Buy-sellf, made of wood and plexiglass and sleeping up to seven people.

Dreaming of a pocket watch, dear rabbit?

2011-07-22T19:56:00.002+10:00

Dreaming of a pocket watch, dear rabbit?, originally uploaded by Eloise Claire.

He wishes he was white with a pocket watch I'm sure, just like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Still this little rabbit stole my heart a little.

Grey Nails

2011-07-11T20:42:00.000+10:00

I just made my nails look like this (well almost). How pretty are they!!!
From Lyndar the Merciless

Vintage Photo Finds :: Double Trouble

2011-07-03T18:02:00.000+10:00

An arresting look into the lives of people who have something in common; their outfits. These black and white photos are a little bizaar but an interesting insight into portrait photography at a time when people where starting to understand and invent different dimensions of photography.

1:: Nigel Bewley 2,3,5:: unexpectedtales 4:: Foxtongue

Pass The Baton, Tokyo Japan, A New Concept On Consumption

2011-07-03T17:25:00.002+10:00

Pass the Baton is a new store in the Omote Sando shopping district of Tokyo, Japan run by Masamichi Tohyama. Pass the Baton is essentially a consignment store but focuses on treasuring second hand or overstocked items that have a story behind them and are worth keeping.

east and west, north and south.

each region has its own cultural climate.

each country has its differences.

the modern marketplace contains a vast diversity of commercial products.

these can be both a blessing and a source of excessive competition.

why not discover the value of personal culture?

cultivated carefully over the years, it’s something to be treasured and shared.

creating something new is a wonderful thing, but taking good care of an object that is already there can be magical.

pass on your personal culture.

it's a new way of recycling.

'pass the baton'

From their website you can get items shipped to anywhere in the world. I love the concept of valuing something that was well made from quality materials that has a story, not just buying something mass produced and mass wasted. The man who created the store is so passionate and mesmerising.

I found a few great items on the website that I'm excited about, it's a wonderful collection. Here are some of my favourite things.

Vintage Sewing Machine

Artoria Limoges Tea Cup

Pin box
Video originally found on the Etsy Blog

Vintage Photo Finds :: In A Moment Of Mischief

2011-06-25T16:17:00.004+10:00

Vintage photos are pretty special. It's an interesting peek into the lives of our grandparents, and they're not so vastly different from ours today. These snaps have such a light hearted fun feel to them. Don't they make you smile?

Maybe this is what people did before the planking craze came along. Who knows, 'dry diving' might make a comeback.
1:: ADiamondFellFromTheSky 2:: hastingsgraham 3::unexpectedtales 4:: unexpectedtales 5:: unexpectedtales 6:: unexpectedtales

Kim Høltermand's Abstract Amazingness

2011-06-16T21:29:00.001+10:00

by Kim Høltermand

This belongs on my wall! I love the abstract, weird out of place look the rock has. How can a rock look this good?

Who's the man behind the photo? Kim lives in Denmark and loves taking photos of landscapes and architecture. He pays for his camera equipment as a fingerprints expert in The Crime Scene Unit of The Danish National Police. Nice!

I think I can hear Denmark calling my name....

Sweet Sounds Of Saturdays - Broken Bells

2011-06-11T20:24:00.001+10:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce you to Broken Bells.

This American collaboration between The Shins James Mercer and Brian Burton (or Danger Mouse) has burst onto my scene this week and they've enriched my musical soul. How can a band sound like the Beatles, Blur and Gorillaz?

Broken Bells are a little bit alternative, 60s psychedelic, indie rock and techno. The song Vaporize reminds me quite a lot of The Beatles, and the song The Ghost Inside is interesting with a techno rock, Hot Chip feel.

It's so refreshing to find a new band! Whenever I listen to Broken Bells, it brings back memories of my teenage years, that first love I compare all else to. It's amazing where music can take you. Don't just listen to one song though, it's important to hear their self titled album as a whole.

Listening to Broken Bells makes me feel lighter.