PRETTY THINGS: tattoos

PRETTY THINGS tattoos via au pays des merveilles

123 – 4 – 56 – 7 – 8

I’ve explained to you before what my opinion is on tattoos, and I haven’t changed my mind.  I see a tattoo as a way to remember something, maybe to communicate a message with others or yourself.  A message that is valuable and important to you and by eternalizing it becomes a form of poetry.  So no fake tattoos for me, no too fashionable tattoos either.  I’ve been toying with a couple ideas lately but I haven’t made up my mind yet, so for now I’m just looking at pretty tattoos on others.  I’m in love with the work of Stanislava Pinchuk, a designer known as Miso, who tattoos her friends at home with delicate constellations and flora (as seen in number 1, 2 and 3) in exchange for a drawing, a dinner…  Other favorites are the skyline, a perfect way to remember a favorite city (as seen in number 4) and the literary tattoo that is part of Shelley Jackson’s Skin project (as seen in number 8).  This is a story published exclusively in tattoos, 2095 tattoos for 2095 volunteers.  It can never be read in its proper order, but the story exists out there.  It reminds me of the Human Rights Tattoo, a project where volunteers donate one square centimeter to a letter of the human rights declaration.  For more tattoo inspiration, take a look at my pinterest board.

PS. This post on Booooooom is really eye-opening on facebook and how facebook pages work, as many people who liked a page and want to receive its updates, won’t ever see them unless the facebook page owner pays money.  Despite the fact that this blog has over 600 followers on facebook, some posts only reach 6 people.  Less than one percent.  So if you want to stay updated, go to the au pays des merveilles page, click on “Liked” and select “Get Notifications” in the dropdown menu.  In theory you should receive all the au pays des merveilles facebook posts now and be able to stay up to date!

PPS.  I’m selling some clothes on Flemish facebookpage Louvintage, take a look at what I’m selling here.  It’s in Dutch and aimed at Belgian girls, but if you’re really interested in something you can always send me an email.

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THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

archiset by frederico babina via au pays des merveillesArchitect and illustrator Frederico Babina made this beautiful series of drawings based on movie sets.  Archiset represents the movie sets as cross-sections of a doll house, including characters and props from the movies.  (source)

Scolapianta by Mathery via au pays des merveilles

‘Scolapianta’ is a clever dish rack designed by multidisciplinary studio Mathery.  While you are doing the dishes, Scolapianta waters your plants and gives you an excuse not to dry the dishes.  Two thumbs up!  (source)

cakes by handmade charlotte via au pays des merveilles

Handmade Charlotte bakes the most beautiful cakes, and the animal cakes are my favorite.  Reminds me of the owl cake I made for my sister (another Charlotte) two years ago.  Lots of work, but the result was definitely worth it.

file_mon by escuderoandaluz via au pays des merveilles

File_món is a series of images generated on the computer desktop through the distribution of icons and files arranged over images, which
are downloaded from the internet and set as wallpaper. The computer screen is used as a canvas for a critical collage. It appraises the
potential of creating new images on the computer.”   Interesting series of work by Cèsar Escudero Andaluz and an excuse to pile on those files on your desktop.

lady planter by the sill via au pays des merveilles

How much fun are these ‘Lady Planters‘ by The Sill? They sell all kinds of plants, but these are my favorite without a doubt.  Unfortunately they only deliver in Manhattan and Brooklyn…  (source)

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PRETTY THINGS: notebooks

PRETTY THINGS: notebooks via au pays des merveilles

I firmly believe you can never have enough notebooks.  Where else will you jot down ideas for diy’s and blogposts or collect your favorite places in a city you’re getting to know, take notes during class or write down memories?  It gets even better when you have a collection of pretty notebooks to choose from!  I have a decent amount of notebooks lying around, quite a few still waiting to be used for the first time, but I wouldn’t mind adding these to my collection at all.

  1. Woodpecker notebook by tale, bringing the trees back to the paper.
  2. Notebook with geometric print, available at papier tigre.  They have lots of other pretty stuff (like number 6 on this list), so take a look around in their webshop!
  3. Notebooks with horseshoe print, handmade by Nightjarbooks.  This shop is closed for the moment, so you’ll have to wait patiently until March for this one.
  4. Forest notebook, handmade by dozi, who sells all kinds of stuff with pretty prints.
  5. Perforated notebooks, available at present & correct.  This amazing webshop sells pretty paper and office objects inspired by homework, the post office and school.
  6. Functional notebooks, available at papier tigre.
  7. Message postal notebook from Moleskine, a notebook that transforms into an envelope so you can send your thoughts instantly by mail.
  8. Sloane stationary sells bespoke notebooks:  you can choose a color and an engraving.  (Photo by Carmo)

PRETTY THINGS: notebooks via au pays des merveilles

Currently on rotation / waiting to be used: (from left to right) muji planner (customized with washi tape from ikea, labels made with hema label maker and baker twine), hema black leather look notebook (customized with gold dot stickers from school supply shop), black notebook from muji (customized with white paint marker), notebook with angular lines from marnix & ally press days, muji cardboard notebook, flying tiger cardboard notebook.

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SEASCAPES

seascape by Hiroshi Sugimoto via au pays des merveilles Seascapes is a series by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.  In 1980, he began to photograph the sea and its horizon all over the world, with an old-fashioned large format camera and varying exposures.   He describes his work as ‘time exposed’, a time capsule for a series of events in time, in this case up to 3 hours of sea in one image.  If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know I’m fascinated with seascapes myself (see a selection of mine on the blog here and on flickr here) and these images only add to my obsession.  I find it mesmerizing how water surfaces can look so different each time, how the light changes its colors and how something so beautiful can be so threatening at the same time.

seascape by Hiroshi Sugimoto via au pays des merveilles

seascape by Hiroshi Sugimoto via au pays des merveilles

seascape by Hiroshi Sugimoto via au pays des merveilles

seascape by Hiroshi Sugimoto via au pays des merveilles

all images by Hiroshi Sugimoto

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IMPRESSIONS OF HOME

via au pays des merveilles

It’s been 5 months since I moved into my new place in Antwerp, and I still love waking up to these views every morning.  The sunlight filtering through the curtains, the waterdrops on the window lighting up as if they were gold, the shadowplay on the walls.  Here’s another sneak peek of where I live, before I take you on a proper tour.

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PRETTY THINGS: DaWanda finds

PRETTY THINGS DaWanda finds via au pays des merveilles

With a lot of birthdays coming up in the next weeks, I’m already researching ideas for gifts.  I love giving something I made myself, but I don’t always have enough time on my hands.  When I’m buying someone a present, I still want it to be something unique and that’s when a website like DaWanda comes in handy.  This ‘on line design market’ is the home to many independent designers.  Here you will surely find something special for a loved one… or yourself!  To make it a little easier, I’ve collected my favorites below.

  1. Lasercut virgo necklace by Asymmetree, available in all zodiac signs.
  2. Wooden tripod by Renna Deluxe to give a classic clip lamp an update and turn it into a beautiful standing lamp.  (After all, how many pretty vintage desk lamps does one need?)
  3. Geometric necklace from SNUG, available in different colors.
  4. Stunning macbook sleeve by TheNavis.
  5. Pastel colored necklace in leather by Missismiss.
  6. Platter from SNUG, who you might know from this beautiful calendar (as seen on the blog before here) and number three above. They also have beautiful posters and cardboard vases, so be sure to check it out.
  7. Geometric earrings in silver by Danielle Vroemen jewelry.
  8. Origami birds from birdtoldme, available in different colors.

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LUIS KEVIN PARAÍSO

luis kevin paraiso via au pays des merveilles

About a year ago, Luis (someone I vaguely knew during my erasmus) asked me for some tips on getting started with analog photography.  Somehow I never got around sharing tips (instead we quickly became friends and decided to go on a roadtrip as seen here, here, here and here), but as it turns out he didn’t need any.  The photos he has made in the past year are stunning and I’m always impressed whenever a new image pops up on his tumblr (always accompanied by a beautiful quote and song) or in my mailbox.  It’s about time I shared my favorite images.

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THE DWARF EMPIRE

The Dwarf Empire by Sanne De Wilde via au pays des merveilles

As I mentioned last week, I went to Amsterdam for the opening of the exhibition ‘The Dwarf Empire’.  Sanne De Wilde visited The Dwarf Empire in the World Ecological Garden of Butterfly, a Chinese theme park that is home to 77 little people who present a song-and-dance show twice a day.  This empire, with its own capital, its own king, Ministry of Foreign Affaires, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Culture and its own army, was founded by a tall rich man as a way to provide work and offer a place to live to the little people.  Sanne De Wilde arrived in the park with ethical questions about commercialising social care. Is the park a form of social service, or a kind of modern human zoo? Are the little people happy?  All the answers are contradictory.  As a tall person with blond hair and blue eyes, Sanne soon became a photo opportunity as well and got to experience what it’s like to live in the Dwarf Empire and serve as a photo object, day in, day out.

The exhibition runs until March 14 at Vlaams Cultuurhuis De Brakke Grond in Amsterdam.

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ROTTERDAM & BREDA

via au pays des merveillesChassé Park Apartments, Breda, by XDGA

Right before I’m leaving on another short visit to the Netherlands (this time I’m going for the opening my friend’s photography exhibition called The Dwarf Empire, a tip for those of you who are in the neighborhood in the next weeks), I’m sharing these photos from Rotterdam and Breda with you.  Since this was a short trip with my office, we divided our time between eating and checking out architecture.  Not bad if you ask me.

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