As a child, I was a nerd. More specifically, a book nerd. And thus, as book nerds are wont to do, I read many books. Several such books included the Little House series, which my mama, one loving mother of a nerd, read along with me.
From the get-go, Laura Ingalls Wilder had us hooked, regaling us with touching family tales set in America’s developing heartland. All was going swimmingly, until we stumbled upon Farmer Boy.
Not only was the content objectionable (”No!” I remember my mother shrieking. “First, you ice, and THEN you apply heat — not heat first!” [Though, in fairness, looking back, it WAS summer, and in days pre-Frigidaire, being THE 1860'S AND ALL.]), it was downright boring.
For weeks we tried to plow forward, stubborn and insistent upon just. getting. though. this. cursed. book. Over time, Farmer Boy became in-house vernacular for something so unbearably monotonous it brought on the snoozles.
Needless to say, we didn’t make it. But despite never finishing it, we could not bring ourselves to remove the (much-beloved, may I add) flat plastic neon yellow googly-eyed snake bookmark that nestled within the tedium, marking the spot where we simply gave up. We were too strong, too proud; prairie women were we, through and through.
Thinking it all over, I believe that one of the secrets to Farmer Boy’s abysmal failure (for us, at least) was the absence of chickery (no Laura, Mary, and Carrie — aka the Girls Gone Wilder). And then, most glaringly, the lack of details on domestic dwellings.
For all the horehound candy in the world, I could not tell you the plot of On the Banks of Plum Creek. But I can recall being enraptured with the dirt dugout the family lived in, until Pa built a proper above ground house for the gang. It sounded so cozy, so bunnicular; truly fantastic. Screw the restored Victorian house I was growing up in, with its six bathrooms, antiques-laden parlors, original stained glass picture windows, and optimal sled-trail backyard. Just dig me a hole in a hill and I’d be in heaven.
As can be gathered from the images featured in this here blog, some lucky besterds finally have that chance. Coming atcha straight from Vals, Switzerland (what, you haven’t heard of it? Guess you’re not one of its 1,049 inhabitants) is the chicest rabbit hole this side of Alice’s golden afternoon. (Leave it to the Swiss to put holes in things and make ‘em great…)
And so, I must ask you: Would you like one mountainside manor of your very own? START DIGGING.
Love,
Allison
The past few years, I started to grow my hair out. Now I’m quite attached to it, all however many inches it is (am I supposed to measure it?), and fear for even the teeniest bit of its removal. So my haircut this past Saturday was sort of a big deal.
While my hairdresser was sudsing my mop pre-snip, we had the standard Q&A exchange: How often did I wash my hair? (Every 4 days.) Did I want conditioner? (Yes, please.) Did I blow dry it? (I try.)
And then, the money question: Did I wish to continue growing it long?
“I think so…” I replied with hesitancy. I was fully prepared to be shut down. I was still reeling from last summer, when my mother told me the Rapunzel look wasn’t working. That smarted. And this woman was a hair care professional. The stakes were much higher. (For one thing, she was wielding scissors.)
But, she didn’t shut me down. Instead, she wanted me to grow it long — really long. Like just above the butt-hump long. Longer, actually, than I’d like. Way longer. So long that, save place-of-employment dress codes, I mightn’t need upper-body clothing coverage from July through September. That I might start dreaming as Alanis Morissette. Or Cranston.
But I wouldn’t be alone. I’d be joining two of her other clients — her special clients. Her show-pony clients. Her *STAR* clients.
“They both have hair down to [pointing at a spot far down on her back] here. And it’s healthy! And it looks beautiful! And they STAND OUT!” She was getting excited, and fairly animated. A little crazed, even.
Then I entered her orbit. Did I want to stand out? Those two other girls were blonde. Did I want to join them, but as a dark-haired addition? WAS I IN?
Her spiel entranced me. I felt like I had been selected for inclusion in a glamorous girl group, like the Carrie Nations. And if we got a redhead — imagine the possibilities! (It may also have been the first time I was asked to be a part of something? But we don’t have to get into that right now.)
The other thought that sprung to mind was: this was my moment. Brunettes represent! Barbie and Skipper were on the move. They had it goin’ on. Was Midge ready to step up and join them?
In the end, the whole discussion was inconsequential. I was going for a haircut, after all. Guess what? My hair got shorter. Will I grow my hair out longer than it was before Saturday’s splicing? Only time can tell.
In the meanwhile, and following up on the Mattel tip, check out these Barbies all done up like Lady Gaga. Righteous! Tiny styling rules.
By the way, I’m Allison, the newest Moose blogger. I was born in NYC and now reside in Boston, Mass. I suppose I enjoy the Eastern seaboard, but I am also very excited to be virtually “here” at Moose HQ in Australia. Till next time…
I am totally fascinated by Michael Johannson’s work at the moment, it totally appeals to the OCD organisational monster that is lurking within me.
In his own words:
I am fascinated by flea markets. Walking around to find doubles of seemingly unique, though often useless objects I have already purchased at another flea market, is not only an inquisitive activity for me but part of my working process. Despite the fact that I did not have any use for most of these objects in the first place, the unlikely ness of discovering them twice in two different places makes the desire for their possession irresistible. The unique and the unknown origin of the object increases my wish to own its double. The rules compelling me in selecting things at flea markets are also central to my art practise.
Christmas is just around the corner but before you let that constricting feeling in your chest take hold and start to reach for your inhalers, take a deep breath and use our handy gift guide as, well, a guide.
For the Somewhat Quiet Niece Who is Sort of Adorably Awkward at Family Get-Togethers and Social Events:
Kearnsie Knitwear Bangles ($35)
For the Rambunctious Nephew Who Needs Something to Pass Out on After His Overload of Pavlova:
Lisa Max Kitty Cushion ($38)
For That Cousin Who is Studying Something Arts-Related at Uni But You Forgot What Exactly:
Portfoli-Oh! Grey A4 Portfolio ($48)
For Your Girlfriend’s Mum Who’s Good Books You Are Desperately Trying to Get Back Into Since She Walked in on You Kissing her Daughter:
Andrea Smith “The Bird is the Word” Print ($50)
For The Husband Who Never Takes a Relaxing Tropical Holiday but Might Sort of Need a Gentle Reminder That There are Some People That Might Quite Enjoy That:
Flatland & Flagship Palm Tree Figure ($32)
Stay tuned for volume two in our helpful gift guide for this holiday season, and remember if the idea of wrapping all these great gifts makes yo feel squeamish, Moose has it covered! Just send us a little email with your purchase and we can wrap everything up so all you have to do is grab a delicious mug of eggnog and sit back and wait for the postie!
I know it was nearly two months ago but I love love love what Eric Testroete made for his Halloween costume.
How amazing is this?! In his own words: “I made this as my costume for Halloween 2009. It was kind of inspired by big-head mode seen in videogames. I really wanted to get the faceted geosphere look with wireframe.”
I wish I had the time and patience to pull this off and also the guts to just wear it on an every day basis.
Summer in Perth is wonderful time of year. Our fair city seems to be at it’s most appealing and functional when the barometer is cracking 28 celcius before 10am (in my opinion anyway.) To kick off the Summer celebration, and snap up some great local artwork just in time for Christmas, head down to Little Creatures for: SUMMER!
Ten emerging Australian artists and designers interpret the theme ‘Summer’ at an exhibition opening 6pm on Tuesday 22nd December at Little Creatures Brewery in Fremantle.
The artists cross multiple disciplines including digital painting, photography and illustration.
Collaborations from Forks Open Doors, and Mitchell & Dent will be showcased alongside new works from individual artists, photographers and designers including Simon Boxer, Rebecca Lee, Jessica Singh, Nick Lowe, Luci Everett and Yolanda Stapleton.
All artworks are available for sale.
The exhibition is sponsored by Little Creatures and Fitzgerald Photo Imaging.
More details at http://facepocalypse.com/summer
Location: Little Creatures Brewery, 40 Mews Rd, Fremantle
Opening Night: 6pm – 8pm, Tuesday 22nd December 2009
Exhibition Dates: 22nd December 2009 – 1st February 2010
Price: Free
If there is one thing I am addicted to, aside from great artwork and products, it’s home renovation and design blogs and websites. I think if I didn’t have outside, real world responsibilities I could quite easily while away hours and hours perving on new wall colours (dark, charcoal grey is numero uno right now), garden planters made out of cinder blocks and how many rolls of personalised wallpaper I have to order before it is counted as free shipping. Does anyone else have this problem? If you do here are my favourite places to go at this current moment in time, but be warned, this may cost you hours, possibly days, in internet reading time!
The Brick House
Apartment Therapy
Style Files
Desire to Inspire
Get to Fixin!
Door Sixteen
Although summer is quickly approaching here in Perth Town, I still love to look at all of the wonderful fall and winter items being brought out on our northern hemisphere neighbouring sites, even if it induces an immediate downpour of sweat to see people adorably rugged up online on a 40 degree celcius day. My latest obsession is Gradient Nails. I don’t know if this is what everyone else calls them but that’s how I choose to describe them. Basically it is this new nail painting style where you get the manicurist (or yourself if you are good at doing this sort of thing and like me, buy nail polish in almost the exact same colour but only a few shades difference) to paint each nail in a colour roughly one shade difference than its predecessor, so it’s like, well, a gradient. Just look at the picture okay, you’ll see what I mean.
(Via Sophie Robson)
I also love the idea of different nails in different colours, as seen here:
(Both images via Park&Cube)
I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with winter but I think that coffee cup in the last image made me want to snuggle up under a blanket with a big book and some chocolate. It made sense at the time okay? Plus, NAILS!
The Perth International Arts Festival is fast approaching and whilst browsing through the line up this year, our hearts gave a little flutter when we saw the words “An Evening with David Sedaris.” That’s right Sedaris fans, a whole 2.5 hours with the man and his stories! Tickets were quickly purchased by the team and now the count down has begun. Some people have advent calendars at this time of year, we have a Sedaris Calendar. Although having said that, have you started your Christmas shopping yet? If the stresses of crowds pushing and shoving give your heart more than a flutter, why not peruse our
trusty catalogue? We will even gift wrap and include a little personalised note to the receiver if you let us know what you want to say in case you accidentally leave it too late to get to the post office yourself (We understand, you are focusing on Sedaris tickets.) Just send us an email after you purchase, easy as pie! Isn’t the internet awesome?
Here at Moose HQ we are amused by many things on a daily basis. The whimsical imagery of Milan Rodriguez, the adorable designs from Lisa Max and pretty much anything cat related. Cats are actually one of the most hilarious animals you could ever possibly hope to live with and one person who has a perfect understanding of this is Simon Tofield. His animated series (Aptly titled “Simon’s Cat”) has us laughing with glee every time we watch. Over and over again. Enjoy!
