What Should I Read Next?

I'm in the middle of a few too many non-fiction books with not enough motivation to finish them.  I thought interspersing them with some fiction might help, but what to read next?  Currently I am reading Entertain Us by Craig Shuften, How to be an Existentialist by Gary Cox, Eden's Outcast by John Matteson, and School of Life: Volume 1 by Alain de Botton.

I have come across this great site called What Should I Read Next, where you type in the titles of books you love and it makes recommendations for you. Some of the recommendations it has made for me are books that I already love, so I think I might give it a go and trust it for a recommendation.

However, a week or so ago was the 50th Anniversary of the first publication of Slyvia Plath's The Bell Jar.  It was originally published in London in 1963 under her pseudonym, Victoria Lucas, before being published 2 years later in United States after her mother tried to delay it's printing.  The Bell Jar is one of my favourite books and I think I might re-read it as a nice break from my non-fiction.

Photo of Sylvia Plath

Brisbane Flood v2

Hoping everyone is prepared for the flood/possible flooding at today's King Tide.  We've been without power for 3 days and spent yesterday afternoon preparing for any flooding under the house.  We've had to be quiet inventive with our storage.

To stay prepared I've been following the QPS twitter, keeping an eye on the Brisbane City Council website here and here and have signed up for the Early Warning Network.  Fingers Crossed...

Walking in the rain, fallen trees everywhere

Being creative with our storage

The Brisbane River is murky and full of debris

Will Design For Money

Love this tote :) from the Minimalist 

Nasa Moon Phases Animation

NASA has recently released a fantastic animation of the different phases of the moon, found here.  Each frame represents one hour and shows the different aspects of the moon for the coming year, 2013.  NASA attributes the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for the high resolution terrain details that we now have of the moon.  The short video is definitely worth a watch (even if the soundtrack seems a little incongruent).

Design Workshops

I seem to have an insatiable thirst for learning but this year, I'm taking a year off formal study (although there is always mid-year entry).  I have however, signed up for a few workshops instead.  Hopefully, the fun and short nature of these workshops will be less stressful than full time study but I have managed to book in quite a few!

So far I'm enrolled in:

• 'Type by Hand' - Australian Type Foundry
• '1 Day Screen Printing Workshop' - Milli and Fink
• 'Watercolour 101' - Nicole's Classes
• 'Illustrator: Illustrating' - Nicole's Classes

Can't wait :)

Image  via  Australian Type Foundry

Amazing Historical Photos

Mads Madsen is the person responsible for these amazing photos currently doing the round on the internet.  He colourises historical, black and white photos that make them look really natural.  Most of the photos are from the American Civil War but there are some other historical people as well like Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.  One of the best things is, he has also posted a web tutorial and video tutorial to show you how it's done (I have also posted the video tutorial at the end of this post).  

Abraham Lincoln

Migrant Mother

Warmest 100

While considering my vote on the weekend for Triple J's Hottest 100, I came across the Warmest 100.  It is a social-media sourced prediction based on the votes that people have shared via social-media.  They currently have counted over 35,000 votes, which they estimate to be approx 2.7% of the estimated number of total votes.  An article on brisbanetimes.com goes through some of the statistics for those that are interested.  I wonder how many they will get right?

I had a look and what surprised me the most was how many songs I hadn't even heard of - starting to feel old!  The Warmest 100 website has set up the songs so you can stream them and most of the ones I didn't know are from genres I generally don't like.

Guess I'll just have to go back to listening to my CD copy of the Hottest 100 volume 6, (or online at triple j), *sigh*.

Quilts at QAGOMA

While I was browsing the QAGOMA website, I had a look at what's coming up.  They always have great programs, which is one of the reasons I'm a QAGOMA member.  From 15 June - 22 September, QAG is exhibiting, in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), 'Quilts 1799-1945'.  The V&A museum sell beautiful fabrics on their site and I'm hoping that the exhibition might bring some to the QAGOMA gift store.

The Rajah quilt, 1841, from the National Gallery of Australia Collection, Canberra.

To compliment the 'Quilts 1799-1945' exhibition, from 13 July - 6 October, QAG is showing another quilt exhibition, this time of a Brisbane local, 'Ruth Stoneley: A Stitch in Time'.  Ruth Stoneley had a quilting shop in highgate hill and the exhibition includes her quilts and also shows some of her processes.

Quilt:It's not all sweetness and light, 1983, from the Queensland Art Gallery Collection.

Can't wait for June/July to see them!

More Astronomy Time-Lapse by Knate Myers

The Knate Myers 2013 Calendar I ordered came this week and the shots are so beautiful.  He posted another time-lapse video this week, I would love to be able to take shots like this!



Snow Timelapse - Test Shot from Knate Myers on Vimeo.

Paintings by Beth Allen

Loving these painting by Beth Allen over at Etsy.

Painting, 'Color 1', by Beth Allen at Le Petit Cheval.

Pattern Wednesday #9

I found these AMAZING pattern rollers over at The Painted House on etsy.  They can be used on walls, fabric, wrapping paper, you name it.  My favourite is the deer pattern, cool eh?

Getting to know Brisbane with Google Maps

Google Maps is great for creating your own map of things you love.  I created this one a while ago with all my favourite places to eat and drink in Brisbane.  I had almost forgotten all about it but have now updated it (and have also added to my side bar). I will endevour to update it everytime I find somewhere new I like.


View Finding Brisbane in a larger map

A friend of mine also posted this great guide to Brisbane Op-Shops that she'd created.


View Brisbane Op Shops in a larger map

Lastly, here is at map of the Collingwood/Fitzroy area in Melbourne created by Pip Lincolne at Meet Me At Mikes.


View Meet Me at Mike's:: Pip's Fitzroy and Collingwood and City Faves in a larger map

2013

After taking a break for the holidays and for some kin time after a death in the family, I'm finally ready to start blogging for the new year.

For NYE we had some friends over for some locally brewed beer and a good Aussie BBQ.
Happy New Year's Everyone.