mieke willems

aalmoezenierstraat 28
2000 antwerp – belgium

MIEKE WILLEMS is a cute shop in Antwerp, Belgium, owned by Veronik Willems and Mieke Verbijlen.

I like what their “About Us” says,

- we like to wear braids in our hair
- we own a blue shop
- veronik likes drawing and cutting papers
- mieke collects all the nice things in the world
- veroniks feet are always frozen
- mieke has the nicest bike of antwerp
- we wish to welcome you soon at mieke willems

This immediately made me want to go there.

-N.

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In Holesovice Prague 7, in the year 1997, permanently parked in front of our building there was a Trabant. It was a beautiful matte burgundy colour with a vivid green plaid interior. Close your eyes and imagine a burgundy plastic car with a multi-green plaid interior. Someone made that, they looked at the burgundy and said to themselves ‘You know what would make a great interior…’.

Every weekend there was a man that would work on his Trabant like is was a Porche. He would polish it and vacuum it’s glorious interior, he would be beneath it with all sorts of tools. I heard some of the most creative swearing coming out from underneath that car.

I watched him for nearly a year and not once did he get it on the road. It was the most amazing display of determination I have ever seen.

Trabant, for the determined man.

-V.

(Above images via McLellansAutomotive.com : World’s Largest Selection of Automotive Literature)

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PICKPOCKET  Directed by Robert Bresson (1959)

-N.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness

(Endymion,  John Keats. 1884)

(Paintings by Lawrence Alma-Tadema)

-N.

I love this opening scene from Bright Star. The hands at work in the deep blue morning light, cutting and sewing the linen together, with the marvelous close-up of the needle and thread moving elegantly. The music is also just so exquisite.

Seeing the sketches of the storyboards (or any hand written material) is also something I appreciate as much as the actual films in general. I’m the type of person who would watch the entire special features on DVDs. Some people might say it’s boring or annoying, but occasionally I secretly enjoy watching even the entire film again with the director’s commentary on.  Well, I find it very inspiring.

All images via  Production Scrapbook of Bright Star.

-N.

“ Beauty is truth, truth beauty,

- that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

(Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats, 1819)

All images via Production Scrapbook of Bright Star, a film by Jane Campion (2009).

-N.

Roger Fenton (20 March 1819 – 8 August 1869) was a pioneering British photographer, best known for his pictures of the Crimean War, which were the first extensive photographic documents of a war. Fenton, who spent fewer than four months in the Crimea (March 8 to June 26, 1855), produced 360 photographs under extremely trying conditions.

After studying law in London, Roger Fenton trained as a painter in London and Paris. He exhibited his paintings and helped found a drawing school that gave evening instruction to working men in London. Active in the arts, Fenton corresponded with French photographers Gustave Le Gray and Henri Le Secq, which may have led him to pursue photography.

Fenton’s photographic career was brilliant yet brief. Although his subject matter covered a broad range, he was a photographer for just twelve years. He became one of the founders of the Photographic Society in London and photographed the British royal family. In 1852 he made what are believed to be the first photographs of Russia and the Kremlin. In 1853 the British Museum invited him to document some of their collections. His photographs of the Crimea in 1855 were the first large-scale photographic documentation of war. In addition, Fenton made landscapes, architectural studies of historical landmarks, Orientalist genre studies, and still lifes.

Although Fenton exhibited and sold his own photographs, he apparently grew disdainful of the increasing commercialization of photography. In October 1862 he suddenly gave it up, selling off his negatives and equipment and returning to the practice of law. (Via here)

-N.

*****

Strange face, with your eyes
So pale and sincere.
Underneath you know well
You have nothing to fear.
For the dreams that came to you when so young
Told of a life
Where spring is sprung.

You would seem so frail
In the cold of the night
When the armies of emotion
Go out to fight.
But while the earth sinks to its grave
You sail to the sky
On the crest of a wave.

So forget this cruel world
Where I belong
I’ll just sit and wait
And sing my song.
And if one day you should see me in the crowd
Lend a hand and lift me
To your place in the cloud.

Original song written by Nick Drake

“Cello Song” by The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez

-N.

Ice hockey is an incredible obsession for Canadians. They had a terrific day yesterday.

I’m not Canadian nor a hockey fan, but I had no choice but to enjoy the exciting moment especially when the Winter Olympics were here in Vancouver. Yesterday I could not be more thrilled to watch the men’s ice hockey final (Canada vs USA).   After Canada got the spectacular Gold win, the entire city just exploded. Blowing car horns and chanting noises immediately spread all over the place, and that easily pulled our curiosity to dive into the downtown madness (see the video clips).

Above is the very popular “Japa Dog” (Japanese style hot dogs). The line up was unbelievably long and Veronika and I couldn’t manage to get one. (not enough patience.)

I’m glad I got to experience the dramatic excitement in the city this time. Now very intrigued to see what the after effect would be like.

-N.

The tree I look at every time I step out from my hotel,

The store signs I see from the cab rides,

The Motown music they play at a cafe every morning,

etc.,

NYC is a very special place.

-N.