Cost: $40.00 (redeemable against purchase of any BECCA product on the night), includes a glass of bubbles and deliciouscanapes.

Face the New Year with beauty tips from the experts at Hare House.

Want to perfect your pout?  Need to know how to apply the latest eyeshadow colour?  Or is it simply time to update your look with the latest trends in colours and textures after using the same products, colours and combinations for too many years?

The Hare House, Beauty & Store re-opens in Moss Vale on November 29 and invites you to attend a makeup presentation evening with internationally acclaimed hair stylist and makeup artist, Glenn O’Reilly.

O’Reilly, currently owner and lead hair stylist at The Grooming Lounge located in Bowral’s Gibraltar Hotel, says: “We are delighted to re-open The Hare House in Moss Vale and what better way to share the excitement and offer local ladies a little glitz and glamour in the lead up to Christmas…plus a glass of bubbles of course!”

“The evening is all about finding the perfect lip colour and application, choosing the right foundation and working some magic using the latest products,” he said.

O’Reilly who has worked in salons in some of the major fashion capitals of the world and consulted with leading fashion and style magazine titles can create a runway look in just a few minutes.

“Sometimes a new look is as simple as changing your foundation shade and updating the way you apply eye colour.  We can show everyone how to work the hero product to create a whole fresh, new look.”

The Hare House is the exclusive Southern Highland stockists of BECCA makeup, an all Australian product range focussing on creating natural, flawless looks and suitable for women of all ages and skin types.

“BECCA makeup can help you create a look for the home, office or a glamourous evening out,” says O’Reilly

“I believe the look at the moment is definitely a return to ladylike, clean makeup with pulled-back hair and a look that’s fresh again is also popular with the younger set. makeup is more whimsical and colour is a great way to update your look.  Our makeup night  will be fun and educational. ”

To make a booking telephone (02) 4861 2341.

When & Where: Tuesday 29th November and Tuesday, December 6, 2011. 6pm-8pm,

The Hare House, 565 Argyle Street, Moss Vale.

Cost: $40.00 (redeemable against purchase of any BECCA product on the night), includes a glass of bubbles and delicious canapes.

Monique Germon has launched a new collection of tales, images and treasures at STORY. Chapter one is named Cloth, Manor & Fable. Here we share a preview of the richness you will find on this extraordinary retail site –  Daniela Miotto’s Tale of Generosity from the STORY site:

Here is Jackie. She is tall. Her hair is bobbed and her teeth are dull coloured with a tip made of gold in the front. When she talks about her husband she calls him “Fuckin’ Pete”. Often her chin is placed in a permanent shrug. This makes me wonder about her thoughts. I never know what’s happening inside her, but I never worry about where she’s at. I like Jackie.

She was my mother’s true friend.

Here is Kay. She was my mother. She killed herself in August 2006. On the day she died I thought I could feel the ground shaking from the body weight of all of those who loved her falling to their knees in disbelief upon hearing the news of her violent fate.  We were gutted and knee-capped. We still are.

On that day Jackie came to my house. I sat shaking my head. She kneeled holding my hand. We couldn’t even cry.

This death caused a shattering and scattering of people. I’ve heard this is common when death-by-self happens. Near no one from my mother’s life came to our aid. Near no one could place their grief and shock aside to come to the aid of their friend’s orphaned adult children. Jackie though. She did.

She followed me around for weeks. I barely remember her face or voice from that time.

Her gift to me was presence. She placed her broken heart behind mine.

She didn’t tell me what clothes to choose to bury mum in. She stood behind me while I ripped clothes out of her cupboard and threw them all over the room … scattering and shattering. When I finally I chose, hours later, she muttered “Good job” and carried the bag of clothes and my heart to her car ready for another trip to the funeral director.

When I had to choose a box for burial, she was there. When I had to choose to view the body or not, she was there. Silent. When I, when I, when I and then. She was there. Silent. Tall. Bobbed. And likely to have been “Fuckin’ Kay-ing” under her breath.

Five years later she is still there. Now though she chats, we laugh and she bakes us bread. Still though in her silent way, she pays homage to her friend Kay by placing her children’s pain in front of her own. And for this act of love and faith to my mother and generosity of self to me and mine I will be forever grateful.

Jackie is tall.

© 2011-12 Daniela Miotto

MANINGRIDA – New works from Arnhem Land (NT) by internationally renowned Aboriginal community.
Saturday 4th June, 4 – 6pm
Exeter Road Exeter NSW 2579
www.galleryecosse.com.au
02 4883 4466
Open thu – sun 10am – 5pm
Opposite Exeter General Store & Cafe

Jill and Nick at Foodpath tours are finalising a new tour for Winter – A Day in Canyonleigh. This is likely to be in July. Get in touch via the link if you are interested. We expect these spots to go quickly.

Did you know this is an area with a different micro-climate to the rest of the Highlands? It is warmer and drier which is good for growing Shiraz. The Highlands is made up of different micro-climates which they will explore with you.

On the Canyonleigh tour Jill and Nick hope to visit a couple of vineyards, an olive farm and an alpaca farm. There are no cellar doors in this area but the General Store sells all the local wine – so you will have lunch and a wine tasting of the local wines at the Canyonleigh General Store (which SOHI hears has the most incredible burgers in the Highlands!)

Milk Thieves Art & Design is moving! The only store in central Wollongong that specialises in handmade and independent Australian design is moving to a more spacious store – with window frontage! Moving to shop 9, 157 Crown St; the grand re-opening of Milk Thieves is Tuesday 31st May, from 10am – 6pm. There will be giveaways, free sweet treaties and the first 20 customers to spend $30 or more will get a special Milk Thieves tote bag to carry their purchase.

The new store is easier to find, located just at the top of the stairs of 157 Crown St, in the mall (stairs located next to Flightcentre). The added space will allow Milk Thieves to stock more handmade goods and independently published craft, design and art magazines and zines.  “I’m really excited about the potential the new space has – it means I can extend my product ranges and even give customers lovely warm cups of tea while they’re browsing” store owner Emma-Lee Crane said.

The first feature artist for the store is the talented Caitlin Shearer.. Shearer paints sultry and fashionable ladies – sometimes dressed to the nines, other times lounging in the nude – but always beautiful. Caitlin’s work can be viewed and purchased at Milk Thieves until the end of August (sample images above). Additional work can be viewed at: http://www.caitlinquiet.blogspot.com/

Milk Thieves Art & Design is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am. For current opening hours and regular stock and news updates anybody can follow:

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/milkthieves or sign up for the newsletter online at www.milkthieves.com.au

Resident SOHI craft editor Tamara Maynes has launched a new kit and if you have ever needed a kick up them bum, then this one is for you! It’s called well crafted threats, containing an alphabet of ransom-like letter charts so that you can threaten yourself or loved ones in style. It brings to mind Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher’s Learning to Love You More project which you can see here. If you need some encouragement shouted at you from your wall, you can buy the kit here. The kit is suitable for beginners. But remember our warnings: cross stitch is highly addictive!

March, 2011

Sunnataram Forest Monastery, Bundanoon

Entering the gates of the Sunnataram Monastery, I spot two monks in the distance. An out of the blue observation arises, regarding their probable lack of internet addiction. I laugh out loud. Once again, my mind attempts to sway me from meditation class. For God’s sake, you’ve been trying to get here for two years. You’re HERE – just do it.

I walk towards the buildings and see a sign that touches me with its quaint & simple instruction: ‘BE MINDFUL & SMILE’

Following its lead, I relax and remember how good this stuff used to make me feel. I sit and wait for the bell to ring, thinking about the importance of time out for all of our ‘selves’. I smile at the monks for in regards to time, they have it ‘sussed.’ No meat, no drugs, nothing bad in temple – check check check. I put my hair up just in case.

Suddenly, I am greeted by a charming host with beautiful blonde hair and am shown into the meditation hall. Other punters arrive and there are warm smiles all round. Going well and yep, happy I came. Love that guys tatts. Love Aussie blokes who come to these places. Traditional Buddhist monks sitting with you beaut, Boonie-lovers; most certainly my kind of wonderful.

Next thing the resident cat takes a liking to me and purring ferociously, settles in my lap. Even better – check it OUT. Perhaps this will lead to investigations that I am chosen to birth the next incarnation of His Holiness. I can’t believe you just thought that – you are serious hilarious.

Though I like to think of myself as somewhat ‘practised’ in Buddhist methodologies (I have even met the man himself like most good-little-seekers), this is not the sect I have spent time with and all ‘prostrations’ are different. I ask the woman next to me if she would please show me her best prostration and she kindly hits the floor, faces the giant golden Buddha, places her hands together, touches her head, heart, hands to floor and she’s back up again. I am reminded of old adventures, passing pilgrims who do this for hundreds of miles. My heart opens a little. Even more glad I came. I want to hug the woman for smiling so sincerely to a stranger but realise this is probably inappropriate & manage to contain my affections.

Soon after 6pm a door opens to my left and three monks walk in. We all bow towards them, they to each other and then everyone prostrates like crazy to the Buddha. Thoughts begin to arise such as; Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this, blah blah blah. Oh hello Ms Ego – it’s been a while since you & I have hung out.

Ding dong, we chant for half an hour and then embark on meditating for forty-five minutes. After a total of five I may as well be a freshly opened bottle of Doctor Pepper, rattling to the boom bass of a Whitesnake set. I want to be here and I don’t. My head thus begins a crescendo into The Cuckoo’s Nest.

Bloody hell, my head is like a SCRUM, a giant footy scrum that spans all of Exeter oval! This is bad. My mind is fucking nuts! I should never have neglected this stuff. (God – YAWN, like we’ve never heard that before). Ok then, just drop the tiara you try-hard Tenzin. It’s fine. Nuh-uh, are you kidding me?! This is NOT FINE, NOT FINE, NOT FINE! What the fuck was I thinking? Do you realise that you’re swearing in a temple?! Nice one. You may as well have been wheeled in on a giant pig-on-a-spit wearing a G-string.

It all gets a hell of a lot worse when I realise that I am, tragically; Elizabeth Gilbert. Even sadder than this; I think I am Julia Roberts! Will you listen to this voice over going on?! Does my MIND now have an American accent?! This is precisely what happens when you are raised on vegemite soldiers and The Cosby Show. Oh America, you were our HERO – what on earth happened? All these 2012 end of the world predictions must mean the fall of the U.S for sure. It’s a shame, the Donut King days were kind of fun. Yet, behold, China is check-mating The States & we can only thank our love of cheap labour for it. I really should learn Mandarin. I wonder if anyone has addressed the link between karma, physics and economy? Anyway Ms Eat Pray Love; your movie could have been SO much better. I wonder if you regret opening your insides to the masses. The editing was appalling! I really do love Italy and am due for a European adventure, but I haven’t yet been to Bali and oh Javier…………..

Ok – SHUT UP.

But wait a minute! Isn’t it bloody awful what the new age movement has done to dolphins, crystals and pan flutes? How insane is it that dolphins are now somehow daggy, that owls have pretty much had their day and that beards are the new owls?! You-are-officially-bonkers – who on earth are you talking to?!

Alright seriously, CUT IT OUT – you remember how to do this, I know you do. Suddenly, something drops and I am transported to a parallel place consisting of a horse, a cart and two options. 1. Pull the reins in on these thoughts or 2. Drop them and let your mind run wild. Well THAT’S a trick question for sure. You know what The Dalai Lama would say, ‘Just drop it. All of it. No horse, no cart, no reins.’

And you know what? For a moment in time – I do. Something falls and it’s like the back half of me disappears. I am aware with all my senses of the night forming behind me as well as the space which hovers over Morton National Park. I feel a deep kind of circular peace and am equally moved, enamoured and grateful.

Of course, this feeling comes and goes again for the remaining forty minutes. I go about mindfully writing random moments and future triumphs. I enjoy epic Wonder Woman fantasies of castrating billionaire mining executives and triumphantly abolishing greed from the planet. I regret not doing yoga every single day of my twenties as well as not having yet written an opera but amidst all of this – somehow, everything feels perfectly ok. And as a friend of mine would say, ‘Oh my God Shut UP – you have that moment.’

And it’s true. I do now have that moment and a simple & deep breath takes me straight back to a perfect combination of feeling thoroughly inspired, as well as completely and utterly at ease.

Monique Germon is a writer, art director, photographer & proprietor of STORY as well as a regular contributor to SOHI Magazine. She also enjoys the occasional role of ‘doula’ to our SOHI Editor in Chief, Rebecca Wolkenstein.

Photo credits

1. Photography & Styling: Maynes / Germon

2. Monique Germon

Sunnataram Forest Monastery holds meditation evenings every Tuesday at 6pm.

Cost is by donation. For more information go to: www.sunnataram.org

]]> http://www.sohimagazine.com.au/2011/04/01/a-horse-a-cart-two-options-by-guest-blogger-monique-germon/feed/ 0 http://www.sohimagazine.com.au/2011/03/31/dont-throw-it-rethink-it-by-guest-blogger-lisa-madigan/ http://www.sohimagazine.com.au/2011/03/31/dont-throw-it-rethink-it-by-guest-blogger-lisa-madigan/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:12:57 +0000 admin http://www.sohimagazine.com.au/?p=1345

With sustainability at the forefront of many of our minds it’s a time when creativity can truly shine in a new light. Rather than the constant consumption of mass produced items we’re starting more and more to support artisans and craftspeople, opting for items with character over being compelled by sheer quantity and slashed prices. We’re following the line of production and caring about where things are sourced from and that all those involved in the production process are being fairly treated. It’s a wonderful and exciting time!

We’re also looking at how we can apply a sustainable ethos to our own homes, to the things you already possess and in our attitudes. Which brings me to – don’t throw it, rethink it…

It’s amazing how when you bring in a weathered old wooden ladder that’s sat outside hidden amongst garden tools and vines for years it can come into it’s own as a gorgeous interior highlight. Holding anything from gorgeous scented candles like the divine range from Palm Beach Collections, to little dishes for your favoured jewels. I have one ladder that’s a staple piece in our bathroom to hang towels from, and recently placed one in the bedroom { that came from the garden } to hang my ever rotating scarf collection, along with some smaller odds and ends on the top shelf. They’re handy and they hold a silent story and I love that.

One of my current irresistible interior impulses is to use vintage bottles to hold my favourite cuts from the garden, feathers, dried foliage and twigs. I’m also hooked on giving flowers a second form, allowing them to dry naturally like the hydrangea below, they’re exquisite and are just as stunning mixed with fresh cuts in vases of different shapes and sizes.

Or why not take a second look at an old piece of furniture. A cherished chair of mine was a roadside find, maybe there’s something hiding in your shed or garage or cupboard that you can take another look at with fresh eyes, perhaps it’s not longer fit for it’s original use, so get creative. Something as simple as an old crate can be flipped on it’s side to create a book shelf or a chair that no one could ever sit on could be a beautiful tableau as a bed side table.

I admit the raw look may not be for everyone, but there are many ways that we can begin to appreciate what we already have and looking to items that have soul and a bit of history rather than the latest lifeless tv unit. I’m not saying all new is bad, quite the contrary, there are some amazing products being produced with integrity and skill, and it’s these that I love to support wholeheartedly and mix in with all of my lovely weathered old bits.

It’s all about balance and harmony a contrast and diversity in textures and form, each piece contributing to the whole.

Supporting our future and acknowledging our past.

Sustainability most certainly is now.

Lisa Madigan is an artist, stylist, online retailer and creative all-rounder. She styled the cover story of the current SOHI Magazine.

Friend of SOHI Susan Buret is showing at Loft Gallery very soon! You may remember Susan’s work and home from our 2010 Spring issue. we have uploaded the photo album including our studio visit shots. Click here to be taken to our Facebook album, shot by the lovely and very talented Todd Sutherland.

loft gallery presents

SUSAN BURET
flight dreams
loft Gallery,
upstairs, 8 Banyette Street,
Bowral. Ph: 02 4861 3214

Exhibition to be opened by Andrew Ford, presenter The Music Show, Radio National, Saturday 2 April 3:30pm. Exhibition continues to 30 April 2011

“I don’t often have flight dreams however, many dreamers describe the ability to fly in their dreams as an exhilarating and joyful experience. For others flight dreams occur during waking hours and reflect the desire to be liberated to a place free f rom fear and hunger. Using map fragments cut into shapes of fighter planes and flying creatures and textile and mosaic patterns that decorate home and the built environment I reflect on the flight dreams of those for whom escape is imperative.”
Susan Buret, 2011

Susan Buret sources map fragments and geometric patterns used across cultures, meticulously deconstructing and reconstructing the material and imagery in order to explore ideas of identity, diaspora, displacement, and the search for refuge. Using pattern and geometry as the primary visual focus, oriental carpets, screens, textiles, mosaics and gardens serve as inspiration in the examination of inclusion and exclusion and the concept of ownership either by drawing a border or applying personal decoration in order to possess space.
The paintings…are heavily patterned and highly decorative. Intricate linear designs, punctuated by solid geometric elements cut from coloured paper, are precisely laid over delicate washes…they seem overtly feminine, domestic, safe and pretty. Yet, closer inspection reveals that Buretʼs collaged paper shapes are cut from maps, and her linear designs, reminiscent of Islamic patterns, are frayed at the edges and prone to mimicking barbed wire and chain-link fencing.
Nothing innocuous here…they are actually asking, “Can pretty patterns also be political?” Itʼs a rhetorical question…yes, they can. Buret is drawing attention to our current cultural conditions. She highlights the near hysterical obsession politicians have developed over patrolling national borders and their determination to draw a firm line between ʻusʼ and ʻthemʼ.
Catalogue essay extract by Tracey Clement, artist + writer 2010

Contacts
Susan Buret
p 02 4886 4478 m 0425 269 826 e susanburet@iinet.net.au www.susanburet.com
Bella Hazelton
loft gallery, p 02 4861 3214 m 0422 530 409 e bowralartsupplies@hotmail.com