Magazine Sneaky Peek - Real Living January/February 2011 Issue 62

Real Living January/February 2011 - cover

OK, trying to get back on track for my Magazine Sneaky Peeks, but not quite there yet. Here's the beautiful & bright cover of Real Living's Summer Issue which hit news stands today. Will post my favourite pics from the issue soon. The next issue isn't out ti the end of February as this is a double month issue.

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K - amazed that I remembered how to scan, crop, save & upload!]

I'm Back!

Well, well, well. Haven't I been a slack blog mummy? I have neglected my blog baby to nearly the point of abandonment. DOCS (Department of Child Services) was on the verge of being called.
Hopefully I will recommence the year, feeding, caring & loving my blog baby as she deserves. I seem to have gotten my mojo back. The end of the year always drains me & sends me into a funk both physically & emotionally - work just sucks the life out of me.

Anyhow, I'm excited to be back & boy, do I have a lot of catching up to do! I think I have at least 7 Australian magazines or possibly more to peruse thoroughly & dissect for you all before the new lot start arriving. I've even let all my subscriptions lapse, that's how bad the end of year has been for me! I usually take out two year subscriptions & for the past 18 years or so I have been a consistent Vogue Living subscriber (my longest subscription). Oh the shame I feel.

In recognition of my return & also for the amazing 32 people who, at the time of this post, have added me to their blog readers & stuck with me through my inconsistent posting, I am giving away two invitations to Pinterest. Besides the end of the year, Pinterest seems to be taking up more & more of my time. It is highly addictive. I am finding it so easy to collect images & organise them. It's a fantastic tool that has freed up a lot of space on my hard drive & also led to loads of new discoveries - blogs, people, products etc.

If you are interested in one of the two invites, just post a comment by Friday 21st January midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time). I will randomly draw two people for the invites. Please note, this giveaway is only open to my fabulous "fellow design aficionados" i.e. followers. Feel free to follow if you wish to be eligible for the invite giveaway.

Also, I'd love to get to know a little more about you all. If you have a blog, post the link in your comment. If you are already a "Pinner" I would still love to hear from you & would love to check out your boards, so let me know who you are on Pinterest.

Sandy K
[above logo via sfgirlbybay]

Covet Garden Issue 6

Covet Garden Issue 6 is now live. This issue takes a look at photographer Tracy Shumate's studio/home which is located within a converted factory. It's a minimalist space but has such a degree of flexibility that it allows Tracy to constantly change her surroundings.

In other news from this issue, the Covet Garden team is launching a blog. The Covet Garden blog will be up and running from the 15th January 2011. As yet there is no direct link to the blog, but I for one will be adding it to my daily reader as soon as possible. Can't wait to see more from the team.

Sandy K

[above pic via Covet Garden]

Blog Love: What Katie Ate

If you haven't checked out Katie Quinn's extraordinary blog, What Katie Ate, do yourself a favour & head over there now.

Katie has put together a phenomenal Christmas post in the form of an online magazine. Holing out at a whopping 495 pages, the What Katie Ate Christmas blog post/magazine, is a visual feast for the eyes with gorgeous pics & mouthwatering recipes from a host of contributors from all corners of the globe.

Wow, wow & wow.

Well done Katie!

Just brilliant.

Sandy K

[above images via What Katie Ate]

Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry
photo by Pej Behdarvand

Frank Gehry finally lands Down Under!

The 81 year old, Pritzker Architecture Prize winning architect has unveiled plans for his first building in Australia. Sydney is the lucky city that will have its' architectural landscape graced with a Gehry masterpiece.

The 11 storey building has been commissioned by The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) & will feature two distinct external facades, one composed of undulating brick, referencing the sandstone & the dignity of Sydney’s urban brick heritage, & the other of large, angled sheets of glass to fracture & mirror the image of surrounding buildings.

It will be named the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building after the Australian-Chinese businessman who has donated $20 million towards the $150 million dollar building. Dr Chau Wak Wing has also donated a further $5 million to create an endowment fund for Australia-China student scholarships.

University of Technology Sydney Dr Chau Wak Wing Building (east facade) by Gehry Partners, LLP

University of Technology Sydney Dr Chau Wak Wing Building (view north) by Gehry Partners, LLP

The building already has an unofficial moniker, "The Treehouse". As Frank Gehry has put it, "a trunk and core of activity &... branches for people to connect & do their private work." The building will provide teaching, learning, research & office accommodation for the UTS Business School. There will be extensive public spaces in the new building, including student lounges, cafes & outdoor roof terraces.

University of Technology Sydney Dr Chau Wak Wing Building (section view of west elevation) by Gehry Partners, LLP

Besides designing what I'm sure will be a remarkable building for UTS, the other major benefit of the association with Mr. Gehry, is that four architectural masters students will undertake internships in Mr. Gehry's studio in L.A. early next year. What a once in a lifetime opportunity for those lucky students!

The building will commence construction in 2012 with completion expected by the start of the academic year of 2014.

University of Technology Sydney Dr Chau Wak Wing Building (section view of west elevation) by Gehry Partners, LLP

University of Technology Sydney Dr Chau Wak Wing Building (west elevation) by Gehry Partners, LLP

Other examples of Gehry's impressive works include: 

Guggenheim Museum Bilboa, Bilboa, Spain

view of DZ Bank atrium from lobby, Berlin, Germany

Experience Music Centre, Seattle, U.S.A

Dancing House, Prague

Beekman Tower, New York City, U.S.A -  under construction & due for completion shortly

Sandy K

[image of Frank Gehry via Pej Behdarvand, all above images of UTS Dr Chau Wak Wing Building via UTS, all Frank Gehry building images via Wikipedia]