The Sewcial Circle: December 2010

31.12.10

happy new year

i'm never quite good at making/keeping resolutions but i think this year, at least i'll make some goals instead of promises. trying not to make the list too long. one step at a time

one

send more postcards. i don't write enough, i know it. and i'd like to, mostly because i love getting letters in my postbox from far away places. one friend is famous for her poetic ramblings which i always look forward to reading and i should return the favour more often.

two

make time for art. morgan recommended this book course, the artist's way, to me a while back and i put it on the back burner, knowing full-well that i wouldn't find it in a budapest book store. now that i'm in canada i can pick up a copy before heading back. it's a writing/creating 12-week course that makes making time for expression a priority. i'm going to do it.

three

get into classics. i haven't read enough classics, i know it. i was browsing at chapters yesterday and was embarrased to think i've never read a jane austen. so this year, i'm putting these classics on my priority reading list (any more recommendations are very welcome):

the old curiosity shop - charles dickens

persuasion - jane austin

sons & lovers - d.h. lawrence

four

365 projekt. i've been following a few of you that actually did this and what persistence. now that i have a smaller compakt camera to take around with me, i hereby challenge myself to the 365 photograph challenge. (can i make one side note: i might at times substitute drawings for photographs because it is still considered "image-caputure", isn't it?), starting the first of january 2011.

now that i've written this out, it's a tall order isn't it?

at least two and four can be combined (cheating already).

what are your resolutions for this year?

**update (01.01.11): 365 under way at tumblr

30.12.10

chickens and a viszla

i'm pretty wowed by the miniature setting on this camera.

introducing widu, the hungarian viszla

and the gaggle of chickens at frogpond farm

27.12.10

good things come in three

between seasonal jobs, regular work and the pace of the holidays

// i've forgotten all about this.

there are a few little treasures i'd like to share

first: make us a brew

mr. scruff, a manchester dj, is also my favourite tea-maker

he spins vinyl by night and designs these incredible tea flavours (and their packaging) by day

have a listen to jazz potato here.

second: canon sd1400is

this little compakt takes hd video and has fish-eye and miniature settings

the perfect small addition to my camera collection. finally excited about having a pocket digi-cam instead of taking my bigger sx20 around here and there.

third: frogpondfarm ice wine

i've mentioned this n-o-t-l winery before and i was gifted a bottle of their 2007 riesling ice wine

golden sweet nectar, this bottle is coming to hungary with me next month.

14.12.10

eran hilleli [videos]

totally captivated by the animation in these three short films.
the first won an animation prize on vimeo and for good reason.
not too many words for you today, these moving pictures certainly deserve a better introduction. all i can say is,

enjoy!

Between Bears from Eran Hilleli on Vimeo.

Three and a Half Seconds About Life from Eran Hilleli on Vimeo.

Inside_Out from Eran Hilleli on Vimeo.

12.12.10

art gallery of ontario

an afternoon in the 'big city' turned out to be just what i needed after more than a month at home in niagara. my first stop (after being sufficiently caffeinated at the orange alert) was the a.g.o

it would be no stretch of truth to say that frank gehry is one of my favourite artists
his guggenheim in bilbao is a spectacular cathedral of lines and curves (not much credit goes to the collection housed inside it but that's another bone for picking)

gehry's piece in toronto is nice, simply. it fits but its one of the more conservative pieces he's done, using his fish motif on the dundas side, similar to his sculpture on the barcelona harbour

the curvaceous staircase did make me smile, like a snake coiling in and out of doors and through the ceiling //

[img 2] julian schnabel: big girl

i can't help take photographs in art museums and galleries, as i have studied art history, theory and the philosophy of the image and aesthetics, i like to bring home some of the paintings that particularly attracted me, ones i had an experience with. big girl was shot sneakily behind the back of the security guard from my pocket. a quick out, click, in without a notice.

do you do the same? how do you feel about no photography rules in musems and galleries?

one more info:
the ago is free to those under the age of 25 (score! since regular admission is $19) until april. take advantage of this again and again.

6.12.10

christmas spiced salt

using old magazines to make some cut and paste holiday cards but i came across this small project. the ingredients are super cheap and are great little tokens to bring along as a hostess gift for a friend who loves to cook.

// christmas spiced salt //

200g coarse sea salt

2 tsp red peppercorns

2 tsp crushed red chilli

4 star anise

sterilized jar*

the salt mixed with the red peppercorns reminds me of holly berries in the snow. the magazine article suggested using the spiced salt on steaks and roasted chicken. of course, as a vegetarian, i filled a pretty glass bowl with it and put it on the table, ready at a moment's notice when i need a dash of salt.

i filled a few jars up with it and tied rubber-stamp printed kraft paper around the tops for wrapping.