Monday, 24 August 2015

Gorgeous Adornments & Chic Bolt Holes

Past the iconic Pellegrinis, I headed down a hidden laneway to my favourite, ever so chic Melbournian bolt hole....Blonde Venus.
Hayden was there...charming as ever.

I remarked on the colours, the textures, the designs, the beauty….a row of the blackest of blacks, punctuated with saturated colour….vivid fuchsia + vermillion stripes on black wool +  a single jonquil yellow sleeve on black wool jersey + midnight lace + some splendid refashioning of vintage Japanese silks.

Swoonful….in the extreme!
The designs were pure and flattering.....the cut, sharp and seductive….but as Hayden reminded me…."It's all about the fabric….it all starts with the fabric".  Indeed!
Who said Melbourne was all black?  
Pure gorgeousness at Blonde Venus, Melbourne
It was all exceedingly gorgeous so it was easy to succumb…..in fact, the 40th anniversary made it essential!

And then next door….to another chic 'hole in the wall', Gallery Funaki….exhibiting "PRIME", Warwick Freeman's  sculptural adornments.
Angled stone slices, spheres, cubes and delicate discs of jasper, lapis lazuli, and other ancient stones….solid stone chokers + 'painted' brooches + blackened silver cuffs coated with precious stone dust were displayed on a central white bench. Textural/smooth/spare/elegant….that was "PRIME".
Pure gorgeousness....Warwick Freeman's "PRIME" at Gallery Funaki


I think Peggy (G) would certainly have approved.... "painted" cuffs of ancient stone and silver!



It was a day worth celebrating….and so after a slow stroll under those Melbournian cumulous clouds....we sat back and let the beautiful  Cumulus Inc. people delight us!
Yes, it was a very fine day....under cumulus clouds et al.

Chic bolt holes + gorgeous adornments + Melbourne…..just fabulous!

Ciao

Robyn
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http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/the-art-of-being-unique.html

11 comments:

  1. Hi, dear Robyn! It's great to see you again, dear friend. How's the pup? I checked the map and it appears that Melbourne is several hundred kilometers from Brisbane. Was this a day trip or is your new home located much closer to Melbourne? Whatever the case, it is obvious that Melbourne offers many interesting opportunities for shoppers to burrow into boltholes and find treasure. Mrs. Shady and I would love to browse the shops and exhibits and enjoy that "eating house." Thank you very much for taking me along on this tour, dear friend Robyn!

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    1. Hi Shady, Lovely to hear from you. No, sunny Brisbane is still our home....but cosmopolitan Melbourne is a fabulous city that I have always loved. Much, much colder than Brisbane....quite a European feel I guess. Beautiful architecture, gorgeous gardens, hidden laneways, wonderful art galleries and fabulous restaurants everywhere!! A gorgeous place for a short break!!

      I've had a few dark clouds hovering lately with the passing of my mum....hence my break from blogging.

      But life moves on Shady....and it is to be celebrated. So should you ever plan to visit Melbourne or Brisbane...call me!

      And little Xiu Xiu has just had the day at the beauty parlour! He looks adorable....but I guess I'm biased!

      Ciao

      R

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    2. I'm very sorry to learn about the passing of your mum, Robyn. I was just thinking about mine earlier today and realized that she has been gone more than 20 years now, February 1995. My deepest condolences to you, dear friend.

      Please hug dear little Xiu Xiu for me and have a wonderful Wednesday in Brisbane!

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    3. Thank you very much Shady. That's very kind of you.

      Have a wonderful day yourself!

      R

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  2. Robyn I love clothing such as this - anything where the tactile property of a beautiful fabric looks and feels gorgeous, and draws my eye, is SO exciting. Growing up with a dressmaker mother in England spoiled me - we reveled in fabrics together and sewed up such lovely garments. Later my brother went into textiles and sent me beautiful lengths across the pond when I moved here - and I still sewed! Now I haven't the patience or eyesight - so look for places such as your Blonde Venus! I did find a few great pieces when visiting Australia a couple of years back - in Brisbane and, believe it not, a lovely eggplant linen top in a Broome boutique! I still want to visit Melbourne so your 'bolt holes' both for clothes, jeweled adornments, and good food, will be on my list!

    Happy week my dear.
    Mary -

    P.S. The peacock blue openwork fabric (a skirt perhaps?) is breathtaking!
    Seeing people in coats makes me anxious for cooler weather. I love outerwear and am thinking of stepping out of my usual neutral box and buying a light merlot red coat for Winter - I've fallen in love with an unstructured wool one I see online, sigh!

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    1. Oh Mary....that merlot red coat sounds divine!! I'd love to see it. I bought a gorgeous 'cape' at Blonde Venus...maybe I'll do a 'photo shoot' for the blog! Now that would be fun!

      You've said some things above that really resonate with me....I, too, have a thing for textiles and have so many gorgeous 'cut pieces' around the house! They are all used eventually....but I must admit I have an awful lot of 'cushions' around the house!

      Love 'eggplant'....it is one of my favourite colours! So....if ever you visit Melbourne then please call me....I'll love to tell you about all the great 'hidden' places....and there are many!

      So lovely to have you visit.

      Ciao

      R



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    2. Robyn - I ordered the red coat online! Hope it's beautiful and I will love it.
      Mary -

      P.S. I have friends in Broad Beach and Brisbane whom I've visited. Such a fabulous time spent there and I long to return - you might to look at my posts from the visit Robyn.

      http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-from-rainforest-then-heading-for.html

      http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2012/02/gold-coast-queensland.html

      http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2012/01/down-underits-not-all-surfing.html

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    3. Fantastic...thanks Mary. I'll certainly have a squizz.

      And can't wait to see you in 'merlot' on the blog!!!

      Ciao

      R

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  3. une grande diversité de couleurs... c'est surement exceptionnel!biz

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  4. No doubt Blonde Venus welcomed you with open arms Robyn....certainly a great colour play displayed on their racks....a feast for the eyes (& your wallet n'est pas??)....I imagine that you had to be 'dragged' from both of these fabulous bolt holes laden with treasures. Love all those amazing stones....and dining at Cumulus Inc....yum....they do lots of great functions up at Curly Flat apparently.
    As I've said previously.. Melbourne was a perfect 'pick-me-up' for you after the recent loss of your mother. Enjoy this week ahead. Jude

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