My apologies to overseas and interstate readers – this story isn’t going to be much help to you, but I couldn’t resist this one. It’s so hard these days to find original, quirky and PRICE FRIENDLY gift ideas, that when I stumbled across RED PROJECTS, I knew I had to do write a story. Especially with Valentine’s Day around the corner.
For those who might be able to make it to St Kilda, it’s definitely worth a visit. I was walking down Acland Street – deliberately to buy one of those amazing sugar-free yoghurt treats I mentioned on Tuesday – when I stopped to read some amusing metal signs featuring astrology traits, which were sitting outside a shop.
In fact, it was the Aries description that caught my eye, (you can buy both negative and positive versions for each star sign) because that’s supposed to be about Fletch. Which clearly it isn’t. Self-centred? Bossy? Never. There’s only one word that applies and that’s probably Too Much Information. (guesses welcome in the comments section)
Next to the star signs was a canvas that also appealed. I was looking for something masculine and neutral for Tom’s bedroom, and wondered whether the Melbourne locations board might suit. At a sale price of just $75, I thought that was pretty good value so decided to check out what else was inside the store.
And there I met Carolin, who said she’s had Red Projects for about seven years. She started up in Port Melbourne but moved to St Kilda when the rent became too steep.
‘It’s a smaller space,’ said Carolin.’ But I live in St Kilda and I love it here, so it’s great to live and work in the same suburb.’
The shop might be small, but it’s jam packed with hidden treasures. Carolin says she never buys anything for the shop that she wouldn’t buy herself.
Her love of St Kilda is reflected in the shop’s wall mural, painted by local artist Greg Irvine, which highlights all the local landmarks.
Given Valentine’s Day is just next week, I asked Carolin what her best suggestions were for gifts. There’s plenty of jewellery to pick from – an appropriate piece for next week being these sterling silver heart pendants – designed by Carolin herself.
Carolin says she loves being in the gift business. ‘ I love to shop. It’s great because I get to go to the trade fairs and it’s like shopping for myself, except I get to buy multiples in every colour!’
These bells are also a popular gift, (and very economical!!) but Carolin says they don’t come with guaranteed results.
I asked Carolin how she deals with difficult customers who don’t know what they’re looking for.
‘It is a challenge and it’s difficult,’ she said. ‘But if I really can’t find something for the customer myself, I leave them to look on their own and generally they always find something.’
It would be hard NOT to find something that suits. Carolin is also big on SIGNS. There are signs everywhere – wooden, metal, big small – all featuring quirky sayings or pearls of wisdom. One set of smaller wooden signs comes from a couple that live in the country and make them by hand. Mostly they’re about pets.
As for QUIRKY, there’s plenty that fits the bill here… How about a Phrenology head or china palm-reading hand???
But the weirdest ones of all are the Vegetable Pets. I’m not sure who would actually buy them, but there are fascinating… and quite ugly. I mean, a Cauliflower dog? Seriously? At least they’re cheap…
Cabbage fish and sweet potato guinea pig- both $15
VINTAGE
Carolin is also keen on vintage designs. If you’re looking for extra special gift cards, these classics are priceless. Made by an artist in Byron Bay, they feature vintage images on balsa wood, which is then pasted to the card. Beautiful!
But no. I need to grow up. Learn the great lessons of life and bestow that wisdom upon my children. Luckily there are dozens of different wise owls hanging around Carolin’s shop so I browsed and I browsed….
Sometimes I wish I’d done an official computer course. The longer I write this Blog, the more I’m finding out about how websites operate and how much I NEED to learn!
For instance, after meeting with my lovely website consultant a few days ago, I only just discovered how the ads on my OWN website work… Pathetic, I know.
I just thought they sat in the side bar, so that people could look at them and know where to go if they wanted to follow up on something. Like a billboard that gives you something to look at if you’re stuck in a traffic jam on Punt Road. (Which happens all the time…)
BUT I learnt that if you actually CLICK on these ads, they give you a lot more information, by taking you to that companies actual website. Durhhh…
SO, for instance, if you want to go to the Guns and Roses concert, you just click on the ad on my Welcome page, or when you’re reading a story like this one, and it takes you straight to the place you need to go to buy tickets.
If you want to enter the Australian Grand Prix Run on March 10th, click on that ad. Or if you’re needing a fab haircut, check out the glamorous Salon Golightly salon ad and book in with Justin.
There – just thought I needed to share that with you.
And another thing. So I can attempt to make a living from writing, there will be more ads appearing shortly on this Blog. This is good news because it means the Blog is growing rapidly in popularity and I now have great figures to justify ads. But I promise NEVER to EVER allow any of those nasty, loud, in-your-face, POP-UP ads that drive people insane. Me, in particular. I HATE those. They’re scary…
If anyone is interested in placing ads on our website, please contact Kelly at youguys@catacombcreative.com for a quote.
When I told our 15-year-old-son what we were doing this week, he rolled his eyes with all the worldly scorn and condescension only a teen his age can muster. ‘Are you serious?’ he scoffed. ‘Someone has actually called this The School of Life? Don’t they know how ridiculous that sounds?’ Before I could even attempt to explain, he snorted derisively and walked away.
It may sound ridiculous to him, but the school’s founder – philosopher and best-selling author Alain de Botton – appears to be right on the money when it comes to finding a popular social concept.
The Swiss-born British writer, now living in the US, opened his first School of Life in London in 2008. There, you can take part in social events and short courses designed to offer ‘good ideas for everyday life.’
It’s all about people getting together to discuss deep and meaningful philosophical issues for entertainment, rather than going to the local pub for the three-thousandth time and getting inebriated with your mates to the point where you have little recollection as to the night’s events. It seems people must be tiring of that exercise, because de Botton’s courses are in high demand and most often sold out.
We know this because de Botton opened a School of Life here in Melbourne only last week. Fletch is a big fan of de Botton’s work, and has studied philosophy academically, so suggested we might like to try a session or two. There’s nothing he loves more than an all-consuming philosophical debate. And I love new ideas for a night out – plus it’s something we can do together, (rather than Fletch’s current passion, golf, which I still find a tad dull) so I readily agreed. But by the time we managed to look at the calendar and choose an event, we’d go on-line only to find it had been sold out. And this happened not once, but several times.
There’s plenty of engaging topics to pick from. Things like ‘How to Balance Work with Life’ (yes please!) ‘How Necessary is a Relationship’, ‘How to Make Love Last’, ‘How to Find a Job You Love’, ‘How to Face Death’ (not yet, thanks…) and ‘How to Fill the God Shaped Hole’. Just to name a few…
The London school sums it up on it’s website as “services concerned with how to live wisely and well. We address such questions as why work is often unfulfilling, why relationships can be so challenging, why it’s ever harder to stay calm and what one could do to try to change the world for the better.”
All pretty worthy issues to ponder, don’t you think? The one night we did manage to score tickets for is called “A Dinner with Epicurus’.
I’m pretty happy about this as apparently the sign on Epicurus’ garden gate read: “Stranger, here you will do well to tarry; here our highest good is pleasure.” I’m all for pleasure – bring it on. Apparently we’ll be seated in the comforting ambience of the North Fitzroy Star, with not only a feast of food, but plenty of conversation stoppers on the menu – mostly about appreciating life’s most important pleasures.
Leading us through the discussion will be renowned philosopher and writer, Damon Young. He’ll help us explore topics such as ethics and religion, and friendship and happiness. If all goes well, I should leave with a satisfied tummy AND a revitalised understanding of the pleasures of living wisely and well. Hip hip hooray.
The only bit I’m not clapping about is ‘the chance for in-depth conversation with a number of other guests.’ That could be a bit TOO intense… Can’t I just listen?
In case you need reminding, Alain de Botton’s most recent best seller ‘Religion for Atheists’ topped Australia’s book lists for the large part of last year and has been critically acclaimed by most – apart from one bloke from the new York Times, who had this to say:
“Many of us would rather live frustrated in the company of the believers than fulfilled in this flatland of the atheists. The atheists know what they don’t believe in, but they don’t seem to know what they don’t feel. This is a gap that has existed for centuries, and de Botton doesn’t fill it.”
Hmmm, that’s food for thought for another blog altogether… keeping in mind we’ve always been taught the two things NOT to chat about are religion and politics.
Which brings me to the one course the School of Life repeats over and over, which is ALWAYS sold out – ‘The Art of Conversation’. Now, anyone who knows me would probably agree I’m not usually stuck for words when it comes to having a chat. Nor am I what you would call a ‘shy and retiring’ type. But I would like to know what The School of Life considers a good conversationalist. I’m intrigued as to the advice offered. I’m determined to get in to this course, whatever it takes. I need to know. What if I’ve been getting it wrong all these years???
There’s many a fashion guru out there who scoff at that old wardrobe essential – leggings. I’ve been known to join them in that catch-cry you scream in your head when you see someone down the street, wearing leggings the WRONG way.
But leggings ARE great when you realise that mini-dress you used to wear is now WAY too short, but could be a nice top if worn over leggings. And what about the long-jumper-with-boots-look over leggings? That can look pretty cool, worn the right way…
Then I came across this look the other day, from one of my favourite overseas stores, All Saints.( It’s one of those seriously cool stores you imagine someone like Johnny Depp might stroll into.) They’ve managed to incorporate a skirt into the legging – making it an all-in-one piece – the perfect solution for those of us concerned we might commit a fashion sin. These are foolproof! You CAN’T go wrong!!
There’s even a cropped version, although I think I prefer the full length style, myself.
Sadly, All Saints hasn’t opened a store in Australia yet, but you can order on-line at http://www.allsaints.com
A warning – it’s dangerous, as I just know you’ll be tempted to buy more than just the leggings. And don’t forget the price tag is in POUNDS – so it’s almost double in Aussie dollars.
This was another piece I fell in love with – the Blaize jumper dress – so simple and versatile, yet uber stylish. Not to mention that necklace… Love it!
If there are two things in life that are certain – death and taxes – then I’d like to add to that list. Two things that certainly NEVER get finished – housework and emails. When life gets busy, these two everyday, necessary chores are the bugbear of my life. Increasingly so…. And they both have a lot in common.
They can be ignored, but they pile up, weighing on your conscience. And the longer you leave tackling them, the bigger and more daunting they appear.
I used to be much more responsible on both fronts. When I worked at Ten, I had a set period of time where I would deal with emails and because I had a routine, I managed to deal with them all. But then I was juggling only one job. Now, wearing several hats, the email input is busier than ever and life has less structure in terms of dealing with it.
I became weary of being the one person I knew who emailed everyone back ‘straight away’. It became a reflex. Even at home. Hear the email ‘ping’ on your phone, and there I was, tapping away a reply instantly. I became frustrated if others didn’t do the same. So now, I’ve decided to be like everyone else and take my time. Not do emails on the weekend, because hey, everyone needs a break, don’t they?
I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Right now I can see 109 emails in my inbox… Perhaps I should go back to being ‘Responsible Jen’?
Emails are also like housework in that they both invoke a feeling of Groundhog Day Syndrome. As soon you THINK you’ve finished, sit back smiling with a wine in hand, the computer pings or you spy a cobweb in the corner and it’s time to begin all over again.
It’s just like Joan Rivers says. ‘I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again.’ Okay, so I don’t leave it six months between the washing up cycles, but it feels like every day the list of chores in my head grows longer and more tedious.
Like housework, emails don’t care if you’re going through a busy patch. They don’t stop and say, ‘Hang on, Jen’s under the pump. Let’s lay off a bit.’ Oh no, they just keep growing and growing, turning into a bigger, dirtier pile than ever that you have to deal with once that other busy stuff is done.
We used to have cleaners, but more than a year ago decided to ditch that idea. With me not ‘officially’ working, it seemed indulgent, especially when they took such long ciggie breaks outside, turned up late and there was the constant pressure of having to ‘tidy up for the cleaners’. It just wasn’t worth the trouble.
To his credit, Fletch does more than his fair share of the household chores. Ever since I started this Blogging caper, I’ve been scampering upstairs to my office, pronouncing I have a ‘very important’ blog to write and letting the housework slide. He’s picked up the slack without complaint. But as I tap away and hear him washing the dishes downstairs, I do start to feel guilty. He doesn’t lay a guilt trip on me either, which makes it worse. He really needs to develop a few flaws.
To combat the guilt factor, I actually pulled out the vacuum this morning and decided a full spring clean of the bedroom was required. I’m talking vacuuming BEHIND the bed-head and getting on a ladder to dust the light fitting!! Impressed? I was.
And the funny thing was that as I cleaned away, slightly resentful of the boring tasks at hand, I was hit with some fab blogging ideas.
So perhaps there is an upside to this housework burden after all? Perhaps cleaning can be a source of creative inspiration? I might even tackle the rumpus room tomorrow. If this keeps up, I’ll be Australia’s answer to Martha Gardner before the week’s out. Watch this space.
