I Love Saturdays

Documenting Saturdays and a love for bridges.

2012-01-30T20:34:00.001+10:00

Weekends exploring my town. The beaches and city streets, its harder to see all things exciting and new with stale eyes. So I've been attempting to take my normal routes with my traveller set of eyeballs, point and shoot + pen and paper. A little documenting always turns out harder and longer than expected.

Photos and doodles taken in the following locations, in no specific order all in my hood of South East Queensland Australia. Rainbow Beach, West End, Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Woolloowin Train Station, Kings Beach Caloundra, Stanthorpe Winery + region, Manly, Redcliffe, South Bank, Central Train Station, outside Gallery of Modern Art, my lounge room and here are my favourites > under the Victoria Bridge, on the Kurilpa Bridge, near the William Jolly Bridge and all time super favourite, across from the Story Bridge (second from the top)

Im a little excited to be heading to the hills of Ubud in Bali Indonesia in March, on a celebratory birthday trip. My traveller eyeballs are so ready. I miss getting on planes and ready for some new scenery.

If you have holiday or travel images on your blog / flicker / website - please leave your address ... my holiday is not close enough. I need photo eye candy!

Huzzah for holidays!

Brooch collectors, photo lovers unite! Instagram love.

2012-01-03T22:28:00.000+10:00

Above: brooch collection documentation images taken via instagram for the iphone.

Hello and happy new year to you! Yes, a little belated, but I haven't touched a computer in over 10 days and how fantastic that actually feels! I have been dirty, haven't brushed my teeth or hair in quite a while, although that may be too much information. It feels great.

So, after some resistance, I finally got an iphone, something that brought my closest friends and colleagues some serious gruff. They just couldn't understand my resilience. I just wanted to remain separate, I just didn't want the internet in my palm. I work in the digital and web industry, constantly working on and designing for a computer and ipad screen, on my down time I much prefer the distraction to focus on paper, pen, camera, pencil. Feel separate for a moment from the online stream.

To be honest what really broke my decision, to lay it all out ... WAS FOOD. I needed a phone that could hunt, find recipes, my favourite food, favourite restaurants on the spot when I had the urge! That is what tipped me. My designer friends and colleagues gave me even more gruff when they found I finally got the iphone so I could basically have an avenue to find my fave food!

Moving on, I am now actually loving it mainly for the instagram app. I am loving watching strangers pics, fave moments in their day, I adore watching seeing pics filter through from my favourite places on earth while I reside here in Australia, but long to be back there ... Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Germany, France ... I need more!

So accessible, no matter what your skill, I love seeing people love photography, what scene strikes their eye.

If you have the instagram app - shoot me your instagram name via the comments section or email me joannethies(at)gmail.com so I can follow you - or you can follow me!

Search 'ilovesaturdays' in the app and you will find my account.

If you don't have it - download it via itunes > http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/instagram/id389801252?mt=8

I found its very handy for documenting my brooch collection, some sample images of some favourite collectables above. Here goes!

Happy Merry Christmas to you, the lovely!

2011-12-20T16:51:00.001+10:00

A little festive doodle for you! Happy Merry Christmas to you!

Over the year, I have had some very lovely words written by you reader and seriously, I thank you.

For me, Christmas spells family, beach, eating food, lots of food, cold beers, dreamboat, sleep, food, drawing and time, flexible, abundant time! What are you doing for christmas? Tell me all!

I am going to miss my buds overseas in the cold cold cold - please think of me sweating up a storm here in steamy Australia. See you in 2012 hurrah!

Lennox Heads & The Cliff Face

2011-11-10T15:31:00.001+10:00

Saturday plans.

Beach, swim, get dirty.

That's it.

No wait, let's be honest. Beer + afternoon food delights.

I recently visited Lennox Heads, NSW and took some snaps of the lovely little sea side town! Above snaps also feature some illustration offcuts from a collaboration I recently tied up. More to come.

Lennox Heads is just south of Byron Bay. What a town. Probably best not to really say too much, I don't want to 'out it' in fear it will be more known. There is no kids play park, no big car parks, no fences on what may seem dangerous cliff faces. No gigantic mansions, no leather backs or gold jewellery, just lots of beach shacks, open cliffs and headlands, natural paths to explore, corner stores and space.

I crossed paths with 2 snakes, saw lots of whales in the sea and an eagle circled just above our heads (which turned out to mean something, but I can't say). If you want a quite beach trip. Do it! What the heck are you doing on Saturday - I need some more Saturday inspiration!

Spooked in Sintra & the Pena Palace

2011-10-16T15:04:00.001+10:00

A little Portugal revisit - I couldn't resist uploading these pics. I recently watched a snippit of Return to Oz for the first time in my adult life (when I saw it as a kid, it traumatised me just a little bit). The film took me back to a recent trip to Sintra. What a creepy and beautiful place.

The town sits at the foot of the Sintra Mountains - the Palace's and the Moor's Castle were basically free from people, no lines or tourists, just the creepy silence, space and smell of old.

The Quinta da Regaleira is the closest you will get to being in a fairytale from hell, scenes reminiscent of the labryinth, Return to Oz or Lord of the Rings. The estate is so magical, gothic, huge and exquisitely creepy. I got lost in the forrest, trying to find my way out I thankfully found the coolest thing I have ever seen and explored, EVER! The Labyrinthic Grotto. There are underground caves, lakes, secret doors and a myriad of hidden pathways and entryways. There are hidden symbols and so much strangeness. It was such a shame to be on my own - there was no one to share my excitement and console me when I lost my wit, I was with my brother, but we lost eatchother.

I got scared. I panicked when I couldn't get out of the underground pathways and later in the day I literally ran out of the palace into the day light. I had a cat in the forrest appear and approach me, with a dead mouse in mouth, it dropped it at my feet. Very weird.

The Moor's Castle and Pena Palace are also delights!

Farewell Sintra! I must get back to my Sunday. Gah I love Sundays - coffee, more coffee, soon hopefully a beer, a very very cold one. x

Haus der Kulturen der welt. I got lost amongst the lions.

2011-10-07T09:58:00.000+10:00

Berlin you are a beauty. Tiergarten is one of my favourite parks in the entire world (after Munich s Nymphenburg Palace and Spain's Maria Luisa park) I explored the Tiergarten on my bike all day, still couldnt find the Bauhaus. I so gladly got so lost. I ate my first meal entirely wearing my knitted mittens. There is still mustard and tomato sauce embedded in the wool.

Germany has such a little warm home in my heart.

My posts have been a little sporadic lately, I have been collaborating my little butt away! I am currently working with a couple of creatives, photographer Tricia King + stylist Alicia Coleman, feels pretty good to be doodling and drawing on someone else's pictures other than my own. These girls are a pair of talented ladies, so I'm very happy to be included! Will upload some sneak peeks shortly.

Enjoy your weekend, I hope its full of cupcakes, cold beers, wild German bears and sleep ins. Horray!

The home of I Love Saturdays.

2011-09-01T14:49:00.003+10:00

This is for my beloved friend in London town, you cannot visit me so far away so I have brought my humble abode to you! Do you miss me? You would shriek at my actual lack of visitors - but I know if you were in the country you would be dropping over all the time and making me laugh and drinking beers on my red rugs. Miss you!

Photos taken in my abode > 30D cannon

Granada, amongst the runaways.

2011-08-22T14:45:00.002+10:00

in complete contrast of my last post featuring the Luisa Rossitto colour explosion - the crispy white lonely streets of greens, blues, greys, + the afternoon sun in Granada Spain. One thing became really obvious to me not long after I arrived. The place is full of runaways.

A Little gorgeous town full of secret streets and alleyways in hillsides. Walking the steep, steep cobbled stone streets and looking back to see the Sierra Nevada mountains basically from any view was such a delight. I didn't get hassled at all and felt so comfortable walking around the runaway dreadlocks and smelly punks. they made me feel actually at home. I miss you Granada.

When the waiter brought me that tidbit of surprise tapa after every every glass of beer I purchased ... I had to act normal and hold the excitement. I thought this would be previously impossible. I have never experienced such food ... good spanish food brought to me by handsome creatures to accompany my locally crafted beer? Literally my 2 favourite things, delicious food + good beer, hand in hand. It was hard to grasp and felt like there was a catch. But there was none.

I bought earrings for my sister and still waiting to see her wear them. I love you Granada. You won't need to change and hope you don't.

Luisa Rossitto & the jungle fever.

2011-08-04T19:35:00.009+10:00

A few Saturdays back, Luisa invited me into her studio to do a little documenting. She paints in waterolour. They are so very lovely. She had a large painting stolen right off a gallery wall at her last show - she took it as the best compliment. Her work drove an individual to steal .... from the wall of the gallery.

I adore her, she is an interesting, full hearted odd ball of dreamboat beauty. The clashing pastels and neon colours in this body of work really drew me. I look at her works and see her. She loves karaoke, showed me some R-rated portraits she did, keeps all her visual diaries, plays a red ukulele and occasionally has afternoon naps on the floor of her studio.

When she invited me to take some snaps, I felt all warm inside. To edit and select my favourite pics was a tedious job for me to upload to I Love Saturdays, I wanted to post so many photos, I had to stop somewhere. I began to feel like an obsessed lover, over thinking and looking too long at pictures of her face, her artwork, pictures of her working and moving and showing me the things she loved, collected and letters she wrote to her twin nieces. She keeps things.

There is so much detail and surprising little secrets hidden in her works ... your eyeballs just want to explore and find all the treasures! Every detail in the works mean something and come from somewhere. Pictures of the nazi youth generation on pogo sticks jumping through layers of colourful delight! Gorillas holding shot guns and a portrait of Tori Spelling in a bikini. A pink kangaroo and a sexy brunette. There was so much to document. I hope you like my pictures Luisa.

It was really hard to take snaps and hang out with her at the same time, the small space bursting with her work + dealing with how hilarious she is - I nearly couldn't multi-task the job. It was a total relief when she shouted me a post studio beer at the pub - I could look at her and actually interact like a normal person. It felt nice.

Her show 'Jungle Fever' kicks of tomorrow night in the valley at Ryan Renshaw Gallery (137 Warry Street Fortitude Valley QLD) 6 - 8pm. If you are in town, GO! Your eyeballs are going to love it.

Thank you so much for inviting me in to your studio Luisa + thankyou for my little special treasure that arrived in the post. Its beautiful.

Luisa's Website http://www.luisarossitto.com/

Ryan Renshaw Gallery http://ryanrenshaw.com.au/

Good night! I hope you dream in jungle fever tonight.

Poland, my love. I entered the Royal Castle all alone.

2011-07-18T22:19:00.004+10:00

The Chandeliers of the Royal Castle, Warsaw. So much history gone, rebuilt + not the same. I have so many pictures of Poland to share, but I feel a bit protective. I almost want them for my own eyes. Poland was so strange + lonely but infectious. I think about Poland often. I have a lot of stories too, but not sure who wants to hear them, so keep them quite.

Who doesn't love researching and watching documentaries of places before and after a visit. I just watched a documentary on the Warsaw uprising, it has prompted me to start here - a quick visit to the roofs of the rooms in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. There was not many people around, so I took photos ... lots of them.

Frankie's true doodles, time well spent.

2011-07-01T12:42:00.005+10:00

So a little while back, the Frankie Magazine blog sent me a Field Notes book to fill. The little note book arrived all wrapped up carefully in blue tissue paper and floral sticky tape (just like christmas!) with a sweet little hand written note by the lass' at Frankie … a very welcome, (and pretty) beginning to my little project indeed! I decided I would do this correctly. I took my field notes with me everywhere, always sitting at the bottom of my bag amongst a variety of red and pink pens. I doodled only when the time was right. At the Laundromat (sigh), when I arrived home in my car from work and didn't feel like getting out, waiting for the bus, doodling during Eurovision (only to stop for the really great trashy euro numbers). All was going ahead lovely until I drowned the poor thing on account of my water bottle flooding my bag (another object which I am never without). Pages and pages of line work and doodles were actually ruined, the paper had just disintegrated.

I adopted a replacement book for a few days and just replaced some of the pages. Good as new. I photographed some of the pages above for reference, I got the urge in a friend's backyard … laid down my Polish floral red scarf + neon Laos bag on the dirt and wild grass, and got a picture takin'!

So dear Frankie I'm sorry I have taken so long … my doodle book is on its way home to you next week. I promise.

Im a little sad to send it away, I have become so attached to you my little doodle book. Farewell to you my sweet, sweet doodles, hope to see you at your new home on the Frankie blog soon.

View my favourite submission so far.

Hurrah!

Porcelain, it's lonely in London.

2011-06-20T20:31:00.004+10:00

For a porcelain skinned lady with a lover named Si. For a massive overcrowded city, London sure would be lonely without you, you are right at home. Miss you + all things oddball.

Alcazar walls + pink sighs of relief.

2011-06-01T22:30:00.005+10:00

Best things of Seville are, the geo tiles, the orange trees, the effortless search for beer on tap which is calling from ever street. CHEESE. Streets lined with lights and feasts for the eyes. The Plaza de España and the protests that took place while there. MARIA LUISA PARK. I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU. I love you I love you I love you Maria Luisa, be mine? I did fill pages and pages of nervous, anxious worry in my notebook during my time in Seveille - I was worried about someone. I don't like those pages. But, in the end I heard the best result I could hear. My worry was replaced with delightful Spanish colour, jewellery shops with brooches ...so many brooches (I bought a kick ass silver art deco brooch, im too scared to wear it!) narrow streets and geometric lines!
Oh and it turns out the Spaniards don't like it when you put your camera in their letterbox hole during siesta. Don't try it.

Doodles, pen on paper + photos. Seville, Spain.

Secret spots found in Sevilla. Night night to the NoDo's.

2011-05-17T22:26:00.002+10:00

Obsessively finding NoDo symbols in Seville, embedded into the buildings, tiles, bricks, gates, door knobs, windowsills, everywhere ... fed me with the same excitement felt in finding those secret letters hidden in the pages of childhood illustrated book > Animalia. (I never found them them all, it drove me mad). I explored hard in Seville and got tired from the searching. So I stopped regularly and doodled. Here are some. What a beautiful city. My city Brisbane has no secret story like the NoDo and it's meaning, I have a sad feeling all Brisbane romance died with our Grandparents.

Night night to you and all the unfound NoDo symbols! x

Pen on paper doodles + photographs. Seville Spain.

Illustrations in Seville guide me home.

2011-05-06T15:50:00.002+10:00

I didn't use any of my pocket maps to find my way around recently in Seville, Spain. I had some magical internal guide showing me the way. So impressed with dyslexic myself. I Love you Seville, be mine?

I used little doodles to help me guide my way home. All pen on paper.

Happy weekend reader - draw me a doodle won't you? HUZZAH!

My eyeballs first fell out, then in love, at the Gallery of Modern Art.

2011-04-30T12:25:00.005+10:00

Im a bit sad to say I visited this show on the very last day. In true style on my lonesome. Wish I had gone a little earlier ... give you, reader, some kick in the ass enthusiasm to go too! But everything is always so much more pretty, interesting and meaningful when in retrospect. On Tuesday, I went to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. This is what I saw.

‘21st Century: Art in the First Decade’ exhibition highlights the Gallery’s extensive contemporary collections, and showcases works acquired over the past decade from Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North, South and Central America, Asia, The Pacific and Australia. Here is the exhibition blog which GoMA launched just for the exhibition : http://21cblog.com/

Highlights include:

Yayoi Kusama’s installations Narcissus garden 1966/2002 and Soul under the moon 2002. Every Yoyoi work is kick ass!

(For local Brisbane readers, if you remember in the old Gallery, the Narcissus garden was installed into the interior pond. I will never forget seeing 3 adults and 1 child accidentally walk into the pond with all he steel sphere's. Funniest thing I have seen. I sat and watched the exhibitor for hours that day) I know now why they re-installed it in GoMA, without the water.

Stockholm-based artist Carsten Höller’s installation of two spiral-shaped slides in GoMA’s foyer. The slides allowed viewers to participate in the work – sending them hurtling from the Gallery’s third floor to its ground level. It was pretty rad to see the oldies get more excited about the slide than the kids. The kids just got scared and cried ... sweet baby jesus why isn't there more fun thinks like this in public spaces for us adults? God I love interactive art in galleries.

Oh and an artist that I adore, Chinese Australian Ah Xian. his life castings are ah -mazing. His work has been popping in and out of Galleries that I have been visiting ever since i was little annoying teenager. I want to marry, or meet him.

So If you are coming to Brisbane - put this gallery on your itinerary - http://qag.qld.gov.au/

Follow GoMa on twitter > here

Oh and Starting yesterday until 5th June > Let their Be Rock http://qag.qld.gov.au/cinematheque/current/let_there_be_rock > showcasing a whole bunch of rock documentaries and feature films. Looks like a gem!

contact me if you require an artist credit list for all the images > joannethies {at} gmail.com

Now i'm off to crack my first coffee for the day then hitting the sunny streets in the most floral of floral dresses!

Enjoy your Saturday! x

Anzacs + Easter Eggs.

2011-04-23T18:38:00.001+10:00

HUZZAH EASTER TO YOU READER!

Australia has an unheard of 5 day long weekend. Its due to the Easter break and our Anzac Public holiday all falling in the same spot! The day the Australians landed on that beach in Gallipoli in the 1st world war was my Grandma's day of birth. I'll never forget it. I read a story today about a Brisbane man who was shot down and fell to the ground in the occupied French Village > Villers-Sous_Prenyin. The local French baker and grocer found him and hid him. The French were so wonderful to him. That seems like such a long time ago, but is only 3 generations away ... not long at all.

The break is for eating, drinking, sleeping in, hanging with the fam and friends, chocolate, constructing chicken kebabs for the bbq, drinking more beer and various other things, all good things. Its probably the first break I have had in about 2 years where i wasn't on my way to somewhere else, or somewhere strange and new. So it's nice to spend the time with no plans .... at all.

I did these little doodles in my not book while waiting for a lift today. Have a sweet weekend! HORRAY! x

Thunder in the heart up on Castle de São Jorge.

2011-04-15T15:05:00.003+10:00

No more Portugal pictures, I need to stop. I have too many and need to stop somewhere, so this must be the last. I could post on Portugal for months and months. My very last highlights here of Lisbon include finding a gun in Belem, spotting the best postcard I have ever seen (the dog smoking a cigar in a sailors outfit), Lisbon city lights and derelict delights in the daytime ... and oh my god the undergarments. The plethora of undergarments wafting in the wind filling the alleyways! I will miss you.

While I was at the Thieves market in the morn, a burly hairy man yelled at me in Portuguese, his fist shaking in my direction after he spotted me taking pics of his collectables and wares (spot the blue blanket full of treasures!). I got a little scared. But I actually ended up buying a blue and white ceramic bowl from him for my mum. He turned out to be quit lovely actually. Gave me a sweet deal.

So, farewell my modest Lisbon lover!

Happy Weekend to you viewer! While I dream about my days in Lisbon, I'll really be sleeping, taking some snaps and drinking cold beers ALL weekend. HUZZAH!

Red lights mean you're leaving.

2011-04-07T11:03:00.006+10:00

More of Lisbon, dirty reds in the late afternoons and evening time.

Pictures + layered doodles done while waiting, so much waiting.

All taken by point + shoot + Cannon 30D + pen on paper.

I love you Lisbon.

2011-03-28T15:25:00.000+10:00

Oh My God how I freaking love Lisbon, Portugal. Days getting lost in the street and riding the No. 28 tram. Handpainted tiles and walls and walls of pastel colours. I love you Lisbon, Marry me?

If you reader have a chance, go to Lisbon. So modest and lovely.

All photos taken by point + shoot and Cannon 30D with doodle, illustration overlays done on the tram, or on the street while killing time.

Manteaux de fourrure et regard seul ...

2011-03-25T14:53:00.000+10:00

Lonely In France with fur coats. So many Fur Coats. This woman in the fur coat in my pictures above was the only person I saw that afternoon, I said bonjour she scoured at me and kept walking. It felt like she had popped up from the past ... mean old French ghost of Marie Antoinette.

Things Lovely + Wasted Time

2011-03-23T16:09:00.000+10:00

Wasting time on paper pages and all things lovely.

Pen on paper doodles + all images taken with Cannon 30D.

The farthest away and I succeeded, stalking in Paris.

2011-03-10T21:29:00.005+10:00

Being alone in Paris meant I met alot of strangers. Mostly ... ones I didn't want to meet on the street late at night. I decided to make them feel uncomfortable in return, so I told them to smile for me while I took a picture of them ... all of a sudden, they stopped following me! Worked a treat. Mostly. See above, I chose 2 men ... these two men hassled and followed me. These portraits got them off my back!

I Drank lots of coffee and lots of exploring. I did my best not to draw attention to myself, so did some sneaky photos. I ended up unfortunately with alot of sets on legs. Here are some amongst some back street gem finds. Yael Neim describes the city so well. I think I enjoyed stalking the basketball players from behind a bush in the Eiffel Tower Park, they caught on ... and starting showing off. It was the BEST!

I enjoyed watching the happenings in the park much more that being under the the actual Tower. No one was permitted to climb the tower. The workers were on strike. Fine with me, I would much rather support the workers for better pay. Farewell pretty Paris. x

It only took a week ... and now, you're all mine.

2011-03-03T16:21:00.003+10:00

It only took a week, and now ... you're all mine.

After the snow fell, everything looked so glowing in white, pink & pastel. Clear skies, coloured doors and freezing air. This day I found the Dali Museum and explored the sights and empty back streets, did some spying and followed some people. It's not really stalking, more documentation. I got into a bit of trouble but won't get into it. These images are exactly how I will remember my time in Paris, all blushed and lovely. Did you notice the pinkish cupcake desert in the window? I ate it. It was amazing.

Paris is burning, all night long. Bonsoir Lovely!

2011-02-22T16:33:00.011+10:00

These street side snaps are from my midnight jaunts mainly around the back streets of Montmartre, Paris. Day time snaps will come next week - i'll keep my thoughts on Paris in my sleeve until then.

All I can say about the night time is that it was really hard to get my snaps, empty handed I seem to attract the crazies, but with camera in hand it gets out of control. The nights were freezing and I ate nothing but blue cheese, savory pancakes, and spied on the bevvies of handsome men strolling in and out of the sex shops alone - left with nothing but wonder. Everyone dresses so amazingly ... it hurt my head just to keep people watching.

Every second in Paris was such a delight I was bursting with such excitement it was hard to look casual. It snowed while I was there. The locals seem to freak out when it snows, everything stopped - it felt like a war was going to break out. It didn't. Bonsoir to you Frenchies ... see you again very soon, I hope.

Boros Bunker Berlin!

2011-02-15T15:52:00.001+10:00

The Boros Bunker Collection. I jumped on my tredley on that freezing German morning in Berlin and raced to my appointment at the Berlin Boros Collection Bunker. (only to stop and adore the fixed cement table tennis table that is in the middle of the court yard across the road ... making me 5 mins late) I only had time to put on one glove ... it was painful. Other than the stinging left hand ... I had one of the best exhibition experiences of my life.

If in the Mitte area in Berlin - freaking go. This blocky massive building has quite a history. Storing the Nazis, Soviet Army, Fruit and Veg, Famous hardcore Techno Club, Textile Factory and now the most impressive collection of artwork I have ever experienced.

The S & M strobe lighting room was pretty memorable .... I wish I had jotted down ALL the details, I have nothing to share but these pictures - no names ... work titles. Just know you reader should go. To be honest, Im not quite sure if Mr Boros would be too impressed with my pictures. But Mr Boros can call me anytime to talk about it. I would love to share a cup of tea with this man, preferably in the penthouse suite of the bunker. So get your skates on you Germans!

Blankets bring people together.

2011-02-06T14:27:00.003+10:00

Here we are! Side by side on the street - two little strangers. Joao and I. A Porto local and a Australian ... far from home. I couldnt' help but blur our faces ... just a little bit.

A meeting of 2 artists arranged by a third stranger (Thanks Bec from Blanket mag) I mentioned this a few weeks back thought it was time I added it on I Love Saturdays. I hope to keep in contact with Joao and his partner in love and crime (Maria Helena who I unfortunately didn't meet = but I love her illustrations - check them out here!). Im keen to get back to Portugal one day. I did a stack of illustrations on the Train from Lisbon to Porto to mark my strange stranger meeting! Here they are. My brother and I waited on the street for Joao, I was so weirdly nervous ... made eye contact with every dude that walked past - odly exciting and weirdly uncomfortable. But it was super cool to meet and talk shop.

I made Joao hold one of my illustrations (which felt really dorky to ask) and I took a picture (I didn't include it because we are both making silly faces) Awesome.

So, if you reader are headed to Brisbane, Australia. Look me up. I'll show you around ... on one condition. You do a little doodle for me!

Thanks for Bec constructing the meeting - you are doing just what you wanted. Super rad!

VIST:
Joao Bento Soares - here
His studio, two dot two - here
And .. Blanket Magazine

Never liked Port much, too sweet. Porto is a modest pastel love.

2011-02-05T00:06:00.010+10:00

Porto is a different story. A one night stay. I loved the place. A modest Lisbon. The buildings, so old, in tatters amongst gorgeous art nouveau and gothic delights. It felt empty of tourists and full of only locals. I met up with the blind artist-date stranger Joao here and spent my limited time exploring what I could, taking pictures when I remembered! I was a bit too busy walking and finding ... trying to stay awake as much as I could while knowing I was headed to France the next day.

My little heart was bursting with anticipation. All images here taken from my 2 days in Porto. I had a home cooked pizza with capsicum, talked too much to a Norwegian stranger while cooking dinner, spent some time doodling some doodles to mark my meeting with Joao. Next post will explain all. A memorable stop was to the Lello bookstore (opened in 1906). What a gem.

One of my favourite images is of the Lillo roof and floor side by side - the roof and the stair case just Aaaah-mazing..

One other few things. The pastels and the reds, greens, blues. Holy crap the colours. How can my home town be so in love with metal, steel and the brand new packaged plain. Portugal is such a visual delight. Oh, the seagulls, it's weird being in this little city with seagulls, watching your ever alleyway move, swooping and screaming at you. It was kinda nice. And really weird.

Another favourite is the old chandelier hanging in the stinkiest, dirtiest foyers I have seen! I wans't sure if it was a hotel, brothel, squat or what! I had to go in ... I looked up and found this amazing thing hanging down at me. I want it. I NEED IT! Farewell Porto. Im hoping my good friend get's her scholarship in Portugal. Best excuse to return.

Tea and scones with the Lovely Lady Melbourne

2011-01-24T16:52:00.005+10:00

A pastel coloured thankyou to Lady Melbourne for featuring I Love Saturdays in her most recent weekly newsletter. Lady Melbournes fashion blog is a delight for all things beautiful, fashion and fallopian.

She is quite the babe and also has a kick ass header on her site. Who did it? Someone tell me, I LOVE It.

Visit Lady Melbourne + subscribe to her weekly inbox delights here!

Follow the lovely Lady (not is a stalking way)

FB Lady

Black Swans + Summer Snow, a Day in Versailles.

2011-01-19T15:31:00.008+10:00

I very recently got delerious in Versailles. It was all frozen lakes and empty forest. The gardens and The Palace of Versailles made me all warm and familiar inside, I explored the grounds all day and rarely saw anyone. Looked hard on the walls and behind doors for little secrets, perhaps some scratches or inscriptions! It was lonely, scary, weird but beautiful in the grounds. Actually beautiful is a plain way to describe my day. Hours of exploring and my feet hurt so bad. I got lost and it got dark on me, the last photo was the last photo i could take in natural light ... this gives you an idea how much further I had to walk. I got the kind of scared you feel when you keep looking back ... imagining monsters slothing out of the woods. My drawing doodle book down the back of my pants, my point and shoot in one pocket, my mind in the other!

All photos - taken on the grounds in the Palace of Versailles Paris on my hand point and shoot.

Fingers Crossed for you my friend Queensland.

2011-01-12T16:24:00.001+10:00

Not in the mood to draw, doodle, edit photos ... being evacuated with lots of time of my hands, there is not much I can currently do. Most of the state is in evacuation mode and at a stand still. Brisbane is currently in serious trouble. Queensland is a disaster zone. My town is flooded and getting worse. My recent post highlights our beaut Brisbane city ... but basically everything you see HERE is underwater, gone, drenched! Water is rising. Be safe Queenslanders. Fingers crossed for a new pink, pastel, dry, safe new day soon.

Myself and family are safe and dry, however there are alot of people across the state are in serious trouble.

Donate to the flood relief here.

The new year doesn't stay new for long. Huzzah to you reader!

2011-01-06T22:16:00.005+10:00

I've been absent for a little while. I have been away on my little adventure ... where every day was a blooming Saturday! Im finally back in my spot. Arms reach from my technic best buds and super ready for another whole year of Saturdays! I hope your Xmas and NY was full of festive fun.

My time away was bursting with adventure and good ole times. Memorable moments include getting delusional while alone and lost in the massive Gardens of Versailles. I saw a swan on the frozen lake and it was hilarious. It tipped me into delirium. I Spent a memorable time with a beautiful family in Wachenheim, Germany. We took Ronja the Giant Schnauzer walking every night at 10:30 though the snow covered forest, wine fields and town centre. Imagine the aesthetic, walking this giant black dog in the pristine white snow.

Another was a meeting with a stranger in Portugal, a talented designer doing good things ... a meeting constructed by Blanket Magazine Editor ... (reference: http://joannethies.blogspot.com/2010/10/oh-blanket-magazine-you-keep-me-warm-at.html) more on this in an upcoming post.

I locked legs longer than necessary sitting across from a very handsome French man on the metro In Paris (dont tell dreamboat). One I cannot help but mention was the night I was fiercely lost in Warsaw, Poland ... with leather wearing large muscle men that smelt like Salami following me through the labriynth of streets. I was so lost ... but finally I found someone who could point me in the right direction ... a Polish woman about my age with black hair, pale skin and red lips, she spoke little english ... so she walked me all the way home. She saved my ass. I hope to return the favour to some stranger. One more comes to mind, receiving a surprise package in the post. A story. Reading it under a doona in a tiny carpeted flat in Kilburn, London. The story warmed my shrunken little heart.

The new year doesn't stay new for long, so thanks for visiting and sorry for that disappointing feeling you get when you click onto a site only to find it hasn't been updated in months. Its the worst. Anywho.

This is just a little bridge post ... just so you know I am not dead!

See you next Saturday! x

From top, all images taken on my adventure - point and shoot + Cannon 30D:

Doodle on notebook, France.

Red Fabric, Inside Palace of Versailles, France

Chandelier in Gothic abode, Portugal

Vintage Fabric, Portugal

An open letter to my brooch collection.

2010-11-05T16:43:00.000+10:00

pen on paper - illustrations - Joanne Thies

So my little pretties, im going away for a little while. I cannot take you with me. You will stab me, possibly break, crack under the pressure. Im leaving you at home. I love and will miss you.

Im so excited to next week be jumping on a plane. Godamn I love planes! Every day is going to be like a Saturday! The language barrier does get hard. I feel so little and stupid trying to order a coffee in a foreign language - but it still feels so good. I hope to find lots of little treasures along the way. Im taking both my cameras so I won't get lonely. My friends - I cannot wait to visit you and meet lots of strangers. HORRAH! Dreamboat + my family - Ill miss you too

I wont be posting while away - Im back in January. BUT ill do my best to collect lots of eye ball drool worthy delights. A cold, weird, scary lonely, perhaps odd Christmas is actually something Ive dreamt about for a long time but was just to scared to go beyond my comfort level. So here I go. HAZZZZZAH!

A Weekend in the City. The cool wind and the confusion!

2010-10-21T19:53:00.004+10:00

Gallery of Modern Art, glowmesh, knitting needle bridges, cripsy halumi and cold beer. What a weekend in the city! Out and about on my lonesome trying to see Brisbane in the same eyes as my 7 year old self ... when a trip to the city was all excitement in my best corduroy brown knickerbockers , although the few the trips were mostly to the hospital for my brother .. and then in later years for me. The prospect of the city during those times were so exciting. The cold wind and the confusion!

So, I set off for a walk through the city, bought a brooch, actually a replacement brooch ... the original fell off while walking around Dove Lake in Tasmania. I hope someone finds it. Like a real treasure. I had to buy a replacement, was happy to find a replacement! ... it looks like a Beatrix Potter bunny! In the city, the wind nearly blew me over. Then GOMA, with the intention to visit the Valentino exhibition - after a little thinking - I realised best not to go own my own. Who will I 'OOOHHHHHH' with ... point at textures and colour with? I would just look like young hobo making perhaps cringe and excitable faces. So, I checked out the Douglas Kirkland photographic exhibition instead - the Michael Jackson documentation makes it WELL worth it! A must see.

Another must see is the GOMA building itself. My favourite modern building in Brisbane. Thank you thank you thank you Brisbane for her. She is adorable, wonderful and exciting. GODMAN I LOVE YOU GOMA.

Had another close look at that big black slick sculpture out the front of the original gallery. Its been there... gee... since the 80s. I love it. The white out graffiti love heart on it looked shit. Why kids... why do you have to do such bad graffiti!

I had a nap on the slanty sloped green grass by the river and after listening to the sweet, boozy, scanky sounds of the party boat do a few laps of the river ... then set off for a snack and cold beer in West End at the Archive Beer Bar. What a treat this place is. Say hello to a stranger ... If they don't say hello back ... just keep moving. There needs to me more casual hello's in Brisbane. I miss you stranger hello's. I then shared a cold one with a little beauty by the name of Benita. Bought a brand new brooch from the Hi Fi markets. And walked. Walked and then walked ...

... then home time.

Doodles, pastel pinks and wallpaper. Its Sunday.

2010-10-17T11:10:00.002+10:00

There are soo many things I don't miss ... like i use to.

Is a Sunday morning. Godman I love Sunday mornings. I have the whole place to myself, which entails a little obsessive compulsive pink pastel - ing and doodling in a flanno in bed conjuring the existence of that strong coffee that should be by my side. I have the quite ive been wanting for for so long, only thing missing is the dreamboat ... who is actually on a boat somewhere else right now.

Its all calm and quite, blue skies outside, bad breath, highlighting bits from travel guides by the bed and thoughts of what to do today. After scourging all that pastel imagery down, I feel like getting out in the sun to see some bright colours.

Im going to put my best brooch on and head to the Gallery of Modern Art for the Valentino Respective show on my lonesome - update next week. No cameras allowed ... Ill try out some photo ninja styling and see how I go - come home and make scones in the afternoon.

First I need coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Godamn I love coffee.

HORRAH Sunday to you! I hope you will make the most! What are YOUR Sunday plans?

Pictures taken various locations + pen on paper + illustration overlay.

Oh Blanket Magazine, you keep me warm at night & on such rainy days like today

2010-10-11T10:56:00.003+10:00

Sending a huge, busting thankyou to Bec from Blanket Magazine for including me in the the Landscape Issue, #24.
As Blanket puts it ... "IN ISSUE 24 WE ARE EXPLORING THE POWER OF A LANDSCAPE AND HOW IT CAN BE MANIPULATED, CHANGED, RE-CONSTRUCTED, SHRUNK OR VIEWED FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE."

This issue is RAD. I love this magazine ... so to be included really warms the little pockets in my heart.

I am, and so is probably every other artist featured in the issue - obsessed with what we see. Need to document. Over and over. Im loving every other landscapes that are featured - one my fav's is by Mark Payne ... page 131. Check it.

Im positively beaming to be positioned next to Portugal Artist João Bento Soares - coincidentally Im travelling to Portugal in 4 weeks time. Maybe Ill cross paths with the landscape João has featured. OR maybe even João in person. We will stand next to eachother like our artworks on the Blanket Magazine page - and not even know.

Cradle Mountain & the Geometric was feature in I love saturdays a few weeks back. Oh, Cradle Mountain. Oh Geometics. I love you.

DOWNLOAD BLANKET MAGAZINE HERE

Check out João Bento Soares from Two Dot Two - multi-disciplinary communication studio. We are neighbours on paper now ... so I can call him a friend. http://www.twodotwo.com/

The more I think about it, the bigger it gets.

2010-10-07T16:29:00.006+10:00

A few posts ago, in response my 'what are your 3 fav things right now' a follower of mine told me her 3

favourite things right were Autumn, Hammock & Ease. I couldnt stop thinking about it. ease. The word is stuck ...

- - - - - more please - - - - -

Benita asked - behind a photoshoot.

2010-09-24T12:19:00.008+10:00

All photos taken on location at Vue Appartments, Brisbane.

So I was asked to take some photos for a shoot. Her name is Benita, and she has a project to manage - a photoshoot. My first thought was ..what? you want WANT? Me to photograph ... people, actual moving models? As the panic rose, she promptly finished her sentence with 'behind the scene photos, your type of photos... like on you blog'. Silly me. Relief washed over me like a wave.

Here are some of my favourite images I took from the afternoon/evening.

The day started with awkward stranger silences, straight backs & darty eyeballs. We all left exhausted, satisfied and keen to see the images.

Benita handled the project wonderfully. Kept her calm. She is cute as a button - which is to her detriment I believe at times as I think some people don't see past her cute as a button face ... the mature, intelligent quirk that she is - because she is so adorable, and pocket size. She still gets carded in her mid twenties. Hope you like the images Benita. You champ you.

Project manager: Benita Eldridge

Models: Lauren and Felicity
 Make Up: Kathryn Rose Hair, styling and clothing: Lexi Wittke of Label Evelyn Curtis
Kate Rampling was the official photographer. She too was cute as a button. A talented button.

This is my future. Or parts of it.

2010-09-19T21:49:00.001+10:00

So this is my future, or how I will see it.Geo future goodness! I imagine myself fading ... looking back on some of my days in faded geometrics, layered and fuzzy.

illustration overlay on photographs - various locations

You, me & the quiet. What is your top three?

2010-09-06T19:47:00.003+10:00

Someone recently told me their three favourite things at the moment were going to the cafe for breakfast, eating sushi and sleeping. This is my favourite thing right now. Just the one thing.

What is your top three?

Pen on Paper

Liebe ist für alle da, especially when its all flesh pink and geometric.

2010-08-24T15:37:00.001+10:00

An old friend reminded me of such a German quote. There is love for all. I'll be back in Germany in December. Im going to explore a forest. I am dying to photograph and document everything that is different with my daily landscape. Save it all and look at it later. Everything actually looks rosey with a pending trip on the mind.

All doodles on photos

All images taken from various locations, on the way somewhere and the return trip. Cradle mountain, Halong Bay, someones backyard, someones front yard. Looking out to the sea at Burleigh and looking up at the sky at my stupid bus stop on Gladstone Road. Time getting somewhere doesn't feel so wasted.