grey

Rainy days around here. Think I'm starting to feel the gloom from it, starting to feel very indoors, and could do with a few days of sun to warm up and defrost. We had drought for so many years, I've forgotten what is a normal amount of rain. This seems like a lot!

pink & blue

montage pop-up shop

Have you been to the Montage Pop-Up Shop on William St yet? Oooh, you really should. Loads of clothes, jewelry and crafty things, all gorgeous, and all locally made. It's only on til the end of July, so you have to get down there next week!

orange & purple

I bought myself a new mug for work. I've had my current desk mug for years and years. I even had a conversation the other day with the friend who gave it to me all those years ago, about how it's traveled with me from job to job. I'm a big fan of Rob Ryan and read he was producing mugs and vases and things, but hadn't actually seen any in real life until the other day. As soon as I saw this, I knew it was time for a new mug. I would have bought just the box. I know for sure my friend will understand the mug she gave me is retiring from duty. It's time for a fresh start with this new building, and only working part time. It's a new era... so... a new mug!

pink & yellow

grey

A lady I spoke to in the lift said these lace things on the side of the building are representative of that fact there used to be lace factories in the area. That's nice. She also said they rattle when the wind blows and drive everyone nuts.

So it's now nearly the end of Week Four in the new building - that went fast! My last update (see it here) was at the beginning of Week Two and I was really knackered/delirious. The time in between has been filled with ups and downs - yes, eventually it came to tears - but I am really feeling like things are calming down and I am actually getting used to heights. What? What's that now?

Over the 4 weeks I have learned which things that stress me out, and therefore to avoid them if possible. This has included a) going too close to the windows, b) looking down, c) constructing elaborate fantasies in my head about how I get trapped in the elevator and end up stuck on level 19 and no-one can get me down again, and d) unnecessarily pondering the skills and work ethics of the people who built the thing, no doubt over schedule and budget, and therefore under extreme duress (...I'm sure it's fine. Ha ha. That window's not broken its just got a crack in it. Ha ha. Why are there five men in hi-vis jackets holding tools and staring at our ceiling looking worried? Ha ha. It's nothing.)

One of the downsides of the building is that its not finished. This means drilling and hammering and the works going on around us, said hi-vis men everywhere doing... things. I got in a lift on Monday that had just been refurbished, and it did not have any lights in it. This isn't something you notice until the doors close and the light outside goes away. And you are in a dark box. Going up, you think. This is super fun when you are already a bit nervous of the lifts!

This week they installed blinds for us, and by blinds I mean they have sticky-taped some plastic sheets over the top half of some of the windows. This is excellent for me because it makes me feel all cosy and enclosed, and less like I'm dangling off a precipice, and because they aren't actual blinds, no-one can fight over if they should be up or down - score! So this week, whether it was plastic sheets on the windows or just that I am getting used to it, I felt a big drop in anxiety about it all. Basically, I feel like I am at work, not on Mars. This is much better than I expected!

H.

pink & grey

A sneak peek from a shoot of some beautiful people... but you'll have to stay tuned to see more soon!

I did a two day photoshop course last week. It was pretty full on, but very good. I don't even have photoshop on my computer, one of those things I have yet to get round to doing. So none of the photos you've seen here to date have been photoshopped. Not one. I do edit them for colour and contrast etc., but that's all. Maybe I crop some of them.

I'm really excited about getting photoshop and getting into it, so excited about all the things you can do, but am nervous too at how much time its going to start taking up - meaning that I expect that I will become even more finicky (I didn't say obsessive) about choosing and editing photos. Take this photo for example. Now I have a better understanding of photoshop I am thinking: what is that thing on the ground behind her skirt? I want it gone, damn it, gone! When before I would have thought that is a nice photo, now I am going to be driving myself to make perfect photos. Oh dear. That's what I mean by time consuming.

I have no interest in faking photos, like taking one bit from one and adding it to another, but I concede there may come a time when I start doing this. I like taking photos to capture what is there, that moment, that scene - not manufacturing a piece of graphic art by assembling different elements that look good together. But that's just my taste, my style, not saying one type of image is better than another.

Right now I can't wait to get hold of it and get going, to take out stray leaves and play with colours. It'll be like a new toy!

H.

orange, pink & brown

New mural by Tim Rollin, Grand Lane.

pink & grey

blue & red

On the weekend I painted something blue. Then I painted something red. Then I spent ages photographing some string, and this little arrangement fell into place. True story.

The reason I was photographing string was because I had an idea for a new blog header, which I have just uploaded. If you are viewing this in a reader, drop by the blog and have a look here. Have I made any spelling mistakes? Because you know, when you look at certain words for too long they stop making sense, "colour" and "photography" being examples.

The string by the way was a very thoughtful gift from my friend Linda who, when it came round to my birthday, recalled a random conversation we had where I said "if you ever see that stripey string in a shop, ever, buy it and I will pay you back". And she ordered it on the internets and everything! The shop is called The Twinery if you need to get your own, and I completely understand if you do.

H.

orange & blue

sarah (2)

I don't usually gush much about my own photos, or much at all really, but I have to say I really like these. I am really pleased at how they turned out. They are some of my favourite pictures of recent times. And I can't really think of any other way to express that!

H.

P.S. Among other interesting things, Sarah makes great collages and sometimes puts them on the internet. In her words "I glue paper together and post really stupid crap." Have a look here.

sarah (1)

Meet my latest model, Sarah. I'm loving the velvet cloak against the velvet chair. And oh my god - the eyes! Amazing. Thank you so much for modelling for me!

H.

B&W

Pretty things, and lots of reflections, in the window of the Montage pop up shop. Its at 224 William St, for July only. I have only peeked in the window, but it looks lovely. Lots of crafty things by clever local folk. Go and check it out!

H.