Something old is new again

Today I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside The Patch Lounge in Coolangatta, which reopens its doors this Friday the 13th August. 

Back in the day The Patch was the go to place for live music acts from all over. This time around not only will we be able to hear the sweet sounds of live acts but also get up close and personal with other emerging artists and designers, making The Patch almost a launch pad for talent in those fields.

One such talent is Joy French; who will be showcasing some of her work this Friday. I caught up with Joy to find out a little more about her work and inspirations behind it. 

Hi Joy, how long have you been designing and creating your art?

I have been designing and creating ever since I was a little girl growing up in the country with a very wide and wild imagination... but I did not start putting this into professional practice until my late teens, early 20s as a scupltureer in an art foundry then later years in 2006-07 art and fashion

What are your inspirations behind both your clothing and paintings? 

It was time for me to stretch myself creatively into other directions …people loved my art, and that evolved into an idea, that people could wear my work. I liked the idea of a living canvas, hence JOYFRENCH Collections.

Nature, music, colour, sculpture, art, culture, the history of multi faceted masks of humanity and non-multi faceted masks of humanity.  I have drawn my inspiration from combined luxurious natural fabrics with subtle advanced fabrics; again a lot of inspiration comes from people and humanity observing how we all choose to live....

Do you feel the pressure to follow trends?

Yes and No. Follow, No, observe, yes. I like to keep an eye on whats going on then work with what I am creating to make sure its unique simple and wearable, that isn’t going to be like other labels out there. The minimalist design aesthetic of sculpture.

For emerging Artists/Designers out there, how did you go about getting your name out there to the public, finding stockists for your label etc?

It all kind of just happened, I just kept putting it out there. People asked what I did, I told them, and they had a look and they liked it, as much to my amazement as anyone. People really are responsive, and the public really are open to new things. Its just having the guts to put yourself out there, but a lot of it comes back to having really great friends and family to support me, very, very lucky and blessed in that way. 

Are you an emerging artist, designer, musician, multi media sensation looking for a way to showcase your talents? Let me know because The Patch could be your opportunity to get the exposure you need early on in your career.

For more on Joy French go to,

http://www.joyfrenchgallery.com

PR Queen

I just had to blog about a woman who has been an inspiration of late. 

For those of you who don't know her name, all you have to do is google 'Kelly Cutrone' and you will be inundated with quotes such as:

"Look, this is an industry that perpetuates the concept of whoredom. I mean, you take some 16-year-old laying on the floor in chains like she’s been gang-banged by a bunch of Russian businessmen—that’s called an ad campaign. But when it happens in real life, we freak out. I mean, ‘Oh my God, a woman had sex for money!’ What about every [trophy wife] that goes to Bergdorf? We’re all hookers in one way or another.”

or...

"I work in fashion because the world is such a heavy place that I need to be in this industry that fights for five hours to get a dress."

What I love most about her is the fact that she says it like it is. In such a fickle business as fashion which is generally filled with fake friendships and air kissing, in comes Cutrone, donning black, not a scrap of makeup (she works long hours) ready to get the job done. 

When you first watch her on TV shows such as The Hills, The City and more recently her very own show Kell on Earth; the first impression of her is that she's a bitch. Once you get over the aftershock of her honesty, you start to rethink that term. After all, how many times have you told someone how great they look when in all honesty they'd probably look better in something else, or the times you tell your partner "I'm Fine!'. Really we are just setting each other up for failure if we are not encouraging each other to better ourselves right?!? I'm going off on a tangent here but you do see my point.

With one book already released and another on the way; Kelly Cutrone has certainly made her mark. She said herself that when she started in Public Relations that she lost a few clients who didn't like her honesty, but that really set her apart from the others in the game, and she ended up gaining more in the long run. 

If you want to read a book that will give you a reality check on life and steer you in YOUR right direction, run don't walk into your nearest bookstore and get your hand on a copy of:

And once you have read that, here is a possible title and cover for the second book:

For those of you who love a hit of reality TV; here is a non scripted peek into the business that is People's Revolution

Enjoy!

New Hot Spot

The Patch Lounge in Coolangatta is opening in a matter of weeks now, and I personally cannot wait!

Most people I know don't venture out much anymore due to lack of places to go. Yeah yeah there are the usual night spots in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach but I'm talking about somewhere  I WANT to spend the whole night at, somewhere I can share a meal with friends and enjoy a glass or two of wine, a place that supports live music, fashion and the arts...this my friends is where The Patch Lounge comes in!

On a recent trip to the Big Apple I frequented a great little wine-bar in the East Village, it had such a warm and cosy vibe that made me want to go back again and again. The Patch Lounge is going to be that place.

Expect a warm, Moroccan feel with an eclectic mix of furniture that brings the place together, a stage to hold a band and a smaller stage for an acoustic set or comedy act. The Patch Lounge is going to be our very own creative hub music, fashion, art all in one.

Mark Friday the 13th August on your calendars, you won't want to miss the launch party, featuring Funk/Jazz band G.A.S, artist Joy French, She J Sheila, plus a few surprise acts on the night.

Hope to see you there

One for the chocolate lovers!

I try not to make a habit of eating dessert, (excluding tonight, my mum has whipped up her famous apple and passionfruit dish for a family dinner) simply because I'm a lover of everything appley, chocolaty, puddingish...you get the idea, too much dessert = you know!

However...

I cannot resist this warm chocolaty treat. It is perfect for winter with a dollop of classic vanilla ice cream or a splash of double cream (I like ice cream as it melts over the top mmm). Now I admit that I have personally never made this myself but I have peered over Tim's shoulder eagerly awaiting to get my hands on it, and (no offence to Tim) it is bloody simple!

Chocolate Risotto 

What you'll need:

2 1/4 cups skim milk (cos we're watching our waistlines of course)
1 vanilla bean split (you can just add a splash of vanilla essence if you can't be bothered spending $10 on a vanilla bean)
1 tbsp cocoa
1/4 caster sugar
20g butter
2/3 cup arborio rice
60g dark/milk or white chocolate grated (the choice is yours) and you can use more or less
I C E - C R E A M

What to do:

~Heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 fan)
~Put milk, vanilla, cocoa and sugar in a saucepan and heat until just below boiling point, stir until sugar dissolves
~Meanwhile, melt your butter in an ovenproof saucepan (med-high heat). Add the rice and cook for 2 minutes stir it a few times.
~Stir the milk mixture into the rice, cover with a lid or some foil and cook in the over for 25-30 minutes or until it resembles a classic risotto
~Remove from the oven, divide into bowls and sprinkle with as much or as little chocolate as you wish topped with a scoop of ice-cream

This recipe is for 2 people but they are huge serves and it is filling so you could easily serve this up to four people or just double it to cook for a group.

Now I have to add that you should be super careful with the saucepan when you remove it from the oven as Tim has burnt his hand on 3 occasions (in the same night)

I really hope you give this one a try, it looks impressive and most people haven't had this before and it really is that simple...Enjoy!

Oneway Project

Living on the GC doesn't always leave you with very much to do on the weekend. Luckily for us Gold Coasters the last month and right through until the end of June we have had the Surfers Paradise Festival bringing us live music, food festivals, fashion, film and this weekend the Oneway Project.

The Oneway Project was buzzing with locals all keen to get out and see what all the noise was about. With live music at both ends of the festivals and fashion stalls scattered throughout, it was hard to choose where to look first. My pick was the graffiti wall that was whited out for local and international artists to create their masterpieces. Berlin artist Mymo was the headliner, she gave us a bit of colour and her quirky 'Monsters' that she is famous for (Adidas love her monsters so much that she has collaborated with them on more than one occasion). Mymo must have been enjoying our sunny weather as she said at home in Berlin her work is usually a lot darker, we must have bought out the best in her.

Although I didn't eat at the event there was a few local restaurants to choose from. With ample seating and chillout areas to rest the legs, the event seemed to be a success. I thought the caravan art galleries were a great idea and don't get me started on the skateboard deck artwork. There was so much talent on display. You missed out if you didn't get a chance to check out the Oneway Project!

I fed the people

Well I have found a new blog to follow. It is titled "Feed The People" and you can find it at www.foodbyjessica.com.au

I have browsed through Jessicas' posts and have come across some really great recipes. On Sunday night I attempted for the first time the Pumpkin Gnocchi. I will say that the recipe was easy enough to follow, I probably just need to practice :)

So for the foodies out there I think you may find this one interesting!

Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Benefit

Quite possibly my favourite of all Red Carpet events of the year. It is the event where the attendees are more adventurous in their attire. Chaired by Anna Wintour, this years benefit is celebrating the American Women: Fashioning a National Identity.

I was lucky enough to see the 2009 "Model As Muse" exhibition at The Met last year and would highly recommend going along if you happen to be in NYC.

Here are a few of my favourites from last nights event.

So here we have Alexa Chung and Phillip Lim wearing 3.1 Phillip Lim, Blake Lively in Marchesa, Zoe Saldana and Diane Kruger accompanied by Francisco Costa, wearing Calvin Klein, Camilla Belle and Jason Wu in Jason Wu, Carey Mulligan cute as a button in Miu Miu, Chanel Iman in Michael Kors, Chloe Sevigny (a personal fave) wears Proenza Schouler, with Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez, Coco Rocha in Zac Posen, Dree Hemingway wearing Calvin Klein Collection, Emma Watson in none other than Burberry with designer Christopher Bailey. I popped in Sienna Miller and Jude Law as I secretly love them as a couple, Sienna is wearing Emilio Pucci. Maggie Gyllenhaal in Louis Viutton, Sean Lennon accompanied by Sascha Pivovarova and Kemp Muhl, all dressed in Marni, SJP wearing Halston, Tom Ford in Tom Ford (duh!) and finally Zoe Kazan, in Peter Som, with the designer.

So those were a few of my favourites, I just had to add a few of the worst.

Ralph Lauren and Ricky look a little tacky, K-Stew looks awkward as per usual and don't get me wrong I love Grace Coddignton, but come on...she is a famed stylist after all, I am sure she could have pulled something a little more inspired from the fashion closet for the fashion event of the year!