Sub-Continental

I was asked the other day if they still teach students ‘cursive’ in primary school. Stumped I assumed so, but it got me thinking about when I was little and my mother thought I – as the first born – would carry all of her dreams and ambitions for her children to fruition. Rude shock that the gifts of fine pens, calligraphy and elocution lessons fell by the wayside when I realised my boho/hobo/soho self.

Loosely tying back to the post, I stumbled on the latest offering from the Byredo and M/M (Paris) partnership.

The nice thing about M/Mink Eau de Parfum is that it came about due to a role reversal. M/M (Michaël Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak) called Ben Gorham of BYredo to their studio and presented him with the concept and creative direction. Based on a large, solid block of ink purchased in Asia, the idea was bolstered by a picture of a Japanese master practicing calligraphy and a large utopian formal that had been drawn on traditional Korean Paper.

From there, the idea seed planted, the group worked up the fragrance as a derivative of these three elements of inspiration – composed with incense, and a base of patchouli leaf, clover honey and dark amber – the adoxal top notes open up with a serious whiff of ink, before letting go, into the heady scent of an idea which started from the heart.

M/Mink Eau de Parfum
100ml Eau de Parfum - 1400 Swedish Kronor(approx $210 AUD)
50ml Eau de Parfum - 950 Swedish Kronor(approx $140 AUD)

Print Advertising done by M/M, Paris, France
Creative Directors / Art Directors / Illustrators: Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak
Photographers: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Sydney3: x 3

Those afternoons, mainly Thursdays, when it's not quite the weekend, but the week has kinda petered out. And all you want to do is watch the November sunset over the city, slightly stinging your eyes as you yawn and slump further into the stained wood seat, as a cool wind blows, across a pretty little roof top bar.

Pop-up bar The Doghouse is quite the place for that. The outcome of the Drambuie "The Premise" competition, The Doghouse was fitted out by Adele Winteridge of Foolscap to be reminiscent of the 20's and is the brainchild of Melbourne cats Rob Dumaresq and Hugh Gurney. Open Thursday - Sunday for a limited time, visitors can get a taste of the casual cool that speakeasy bars stood for. Environmentally sustainable materials were used for the fit out - the stained plywood tables (that can be folded into the walls) are as per the original secret concealed spaces that the 20s bars were about. Vintage furniture is set out, to flow around a central birdcage, and bottles are used as decor, hoisted by a jute rope and pulley system.

The perfect place to stop pre-post art exhibition or simply to melt the weekaway. Shh don't tell - but its located at The (East) Village - 287A Liverpool St, Darlinghurst. Thursday - Sunday 6pm to 12am.

Wood you PIC-1000?

My answer is an obvious YES! I truly luuuurve that the new Polaroid instant cameras (PIC-1000) unveiled at the CES (Consumers Electronic Show) are partly - you guessed it -cased in wood. Available in 2010, the new instant cam's will cost less than $100 use classic Polaroid Color 600 Instant Film to produce the brand’s classic white border instant pictures. LOVE.