209/365 History, Secrets, Memories... | Bangalow Beauty

I'd love to know all the stories from this gorgeous entrance on Bangalow's main street...
What do you think?

Amber. XO

153/365 Bangalow Skies

7:45am. Bangalow skies. 

p.s. I have a new facebook like button at the bottom of each post! 

Can you see it's lil' blue self there? Please click on it and share the love :) 

Merci beaucoup! xx

111/365 Night Vision

We are staying on the Sunshine Coast to attend the Voices on the Coast youth literature festival.

And even though we have only been home - and back living the country life - for a month, it's already exciting to stay in an urban environment again for a few nights.

Bright lights. Big city.

Well, not exactly ;) more like bright lights, quiet coastal strip! But still a contrast... and fun.

70/365 Hobart

Jackmore & McRoss Bakery. Hampden Road, Battery Point. Hobart. 

69/365 The MONA Bar

We went to MONA. 

T had been before but I hadn't. This is my first trip to Tasmania and I'd been waiting to get to MONA for what felt like forever. Or at least since 2011 ;)

If you haven't heard of it yet, it's an über-cool privately-owned world-class art gallery here in Hobart. MONA stands for Museum of Old and New Art and the story goes that collector David Walsh (who describes MONA as a "subversive adult Disneyland") funded it all with his hard-earned gambling profits!

I have more to post, but here's a taste for my #photoaday2014 challenge. x

Sydney | On The Harbour

Today we leave Sydney and fly on to Hobart.

These images were taken on the Manly Ferry; passing the Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, the city skyline, a multitude of yachts and out along the Heads.

Sydney, you are world-class... and SO breathtaking. Miss you already

64/365 City Lights

Sydney. I like the frame the hotel window creates.

62/365 Skydive Splashdown

Our new digs has a pretty sweet high-rise / sky-rise pool.

Home for the next four days :) Helloooo Sydney!!

17/365 Dubai

Dubai skyline by taxi.

We loved Dubai! What had started as a quick 2-night stopover in Abu Dhabi shifted to Dubai when we learnt about the complimentary Etihad shuttle that would take us directly from our flight. And it didn't take long to discover that we could have happily stayed a full week or more.

Even the trauma of losing my camera's memory card on our second night didn't sway the appeal, as devastating as that was and still is. Dubai was exactly what we were all needing. Shiny, modern, exciting and fun. We had been so immersed in ancient ruins and the street-worn reality that is Rome and it had somehow only amplified our own tiredness. This was like a shot of pure energy.

We "hung out at the mall" (that would be Dubai Mall aka. The World's Largest Mall) and cricked our necks  admiring the Burj Khalifa (yes, that would be the World's Tallest Building. I instagrammed it here - well, the top of it at least) and frolicked in the Persian Gulf at Jumeirah Beach Park.

T went to a film (he had been waiting to see August: Osage County ever since missing the play in Sydney last year) and I took the boys to Sega Republic (indoor theme park) and Goal (indoor soccer). The soccer was super-cool; a new game starts every 15 minutes, they have an on-field referee and an electronic score board and anyone can play (for a fee) so you just turn up and you're on!

Fun. 

We definitely plan to go back. Hug wants to go out into the desert next time. And me....? I might just need to bring along a little shopping money ;)

p.s. We stayed at the Premier Inn Silicon Oasis (the boys had really enjoyed the Premier Inn at Gatwick). It's not close to the centre but the price was certainly right and they have their own city shuttle service.

11/365 Eternal Grandeur

Blue-sky love atop the Trevi Fountain. Rome. 

Brutalist Architecture and Character Development: a juxtaposition

I mentioned yesterday that we went to the Children's and Young Adult Writer's & Illustrator's (CYA) workshops and conference in Brisbane over the weekend. CYA is aimed at both emerging and established writers and illustrators.

I'll put myself and the boys in the emerging category :)

Tagging along with T who was presenting we were delighted to get to sit in on some of the action.

Can I just stop here to say that I am a bit obsessed with severe architectural design at the moment. 

Alongside the Queensland Art Gallery, Museum and Performing Arts Centre (as well as the National Gallery in Canberra) I have now discovered the beauty of the Brisbane TAFE building where the conference was held. Love. Please indulge me and my love of concrete walls and stairwells.

Wikipedia wants to call in Brutalist Architecture. If you must. Although, that sounds a little brutal perhaps. Ah hum. Where was I? Ahhh, yes...

In an art studio. 

Listening to Judy Horacek give a masterclass on Cartoons and Characters. Fun!

Lovely and Hug were the only kids in this session but they really enjoyed it. 

Judy got us all doing quick 2 minutes sketches and then fleshing out characters.

"I want a gorilla. I want an ice cream. I want a cat called Mr Whiskers" (says one of  L's little guys).

Can a stack of art paper be brutalist? I think so. 

While I was distracted by the little details around me, Hug was absorbed in the serious business of cartooning.

Draw an angry face. (This is too cute)

In the afternoon the boys attended another character development session - this time with author illustrator James Foley -  that utilised sketching and paper clay modelling. Hug was thrilled to head home with some original sketches James kindly gave him. Apparently they bonded over a love of Asterix.

Meanwhile, I went to see Jackson Pearce talk about Social Media.

It was a nice change from life-with-munchkins to be in a room full of people interested in talking about blogging and facebook and twitter.  An American YA author, Jackson Pearce had flown in for the conference. Apparently she was looking for her socks ;) and she had lots of insight into the art of forging a successful social media profile. You can follow her sock adventures on twitter. Do.

Eventually it was time to go fight some invisible Star Wars baddies (I gather from the pose that's what Hug is doing here. Paper tube = instant light saber. Of course.)

We had had a great day.
Four happy, tired people. Freshly inspired by character, art and architecture.
With a social media buzz. 

Young Architects in our Midst

Does anyone have Kapla blocks?

We don't. But we have been lucky to stay at a particular hotel twice now that has a big set in the foyer for kids - and adults, I'm sure! - to play with.

I have to say that they are a HUGE hit with my family.

What a cool way to foster early engineering and architectural interest and skills. Through play.

How high can your design go?

Like father like son :)

Oh oh!

And they all came tumbling down. The end ;)

Well not quite the end. Rather, the beginning... play can be one of the most formative experiences in our lives. Hug already has an interest in architecture, design and engineering. The TV show Grand Designs has long been one of our family's favourite shows and Hug has watched it since he was very little. He's also always shown signs of strong visual-spacial awareness. So, playing with blocks like these adds another layer to an already piqued interest. And who knows were that might take him...?

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world".- Maria Montessori