Serge Bloch Genius

image found here

image found boston.com

image found amazon books

muddy photo one taken on the i-phone late at night (!) but too important for me to leave out;

the text that accompanies it says 'i can't wait....to play with my kids'

muddy photo number two says 'i can't wait....to show them the world' - you'll get there l'homme

When Petit-Petit was born 2 and a half years ago, he was given a book which I fell crazy in love with. It was the kind of thing I wished I'd written such was its simplicity, creativity and power. Over the last eight weeks, I have been drawn to books, texts and illustrations that inspire me and leave me feeling that there is hope. So, of course, I turned to my little friend 'I Can't Wait' by Serge Bloch and Davide Cali. Each page has one line of text, a pen illustration and a red tapestry thread used in a variety of ways - a bow, an umbilical cord, a frilly collar, blood in an IV drip, a scarf; you get the picture. This little book had me smiling, crying and knowing that everything is OK with the world. So I was so thrilled that this talented illustrator has a blog that can feed me beautiful images on a regular basis and help me feel good about the world and the way it turns.

Michelle Belle continues to guest post over at The Design Files, please go and check it out. Today we are seeing the tiny arrondisement known as Montmartre through the eyes of our Gen Y wonder.

Something lovely happened over the weekend.

images; stephan t for galmont

So maybe the pictures aren't that pretty, but the sentiment is sooooo gorgeous.

L'Homme was met by this little scene as he got to Galmont on Sunday morning. It appears that a sweet cherub had read one of the books from our Community Bookshelf and returned it by leaning it against the door. (Or maybe they took a book from the bookshelf and were replacing it with a pre-loved book of their own.) Whatever the story, there it was waiting for us.

When I started this little project about a month ago, I never dreamed it would be the success it has been and these pictures symbolise that for me.

I feel so proud of the Fitzroy community.

Galerie Montmartre Community Bookshelf

Tues - Sun. 11 - 6pm.

197B Brunswick St. (enter via Moor st.)

Fitzoy, Vic. 3065

Galerie Montmartre's Community Bookshelf

galmont's community bookcase in action

setting up - ready.....

..... get set.....

.....go!!

the sign says 'please feel free to browse and take a book home - replace or swap it with a pre-loved book of your own when you can'.

I am soooooooo excited about this! As a result of reading this post by Holly over at the inspirational Decor 8, I knew that a community bookshelf would completely work at Galmont. Fitzroy is a diverse, energetic, inner-city hub think East Village if in NYC or Surry Hills if you know Sydney - a little bit grimey and proud of it! I knew that this idea would be simple to start up and add to our 3065 postcode at the same time. Thanks to the gorgeous Philip Graham for the shoerack/bookcase.

Within minutes of putting it all together, a young student came by elated that he didn't have to buy a literature text, Ibsen, was waiting just for him. Someone else asked L'Homme if he had read the Faulkner book, because she had heard it was a beauty. And we were greeted by the squeals of a very excited woman on Sunday who had finally found a text she had been looking for all her adult life! I could sit and watch people interacting with that bookcase all day.

Good one, Fitzroy, I knew you could do it!

I'm going to speak to a few more Fitzroy lovely creatives in the future to see if they want to jump on the Community Bookshelf wagon and make our little 'burb the book swapping capital of Australia!

Let's hear it for...

all images; issues 7, 5 & 17 covers courtesy of dumbofeather

After a delightful day with Ms. G and then attempting to draft an important document back at Galmont, I returned to Chez Trbuhovich a little low on energy. However, that quickly changed when I noticed the latest issue of Dumbofeather waiting on the doorstep in all it's recycled glory!

I love a story, particularly in relation to lovely creatives; I'm interested in what makes people tick, where they come from, where they're going, what's important to them, the development of their area of interest - with Dumbofeather, I meet five people who give me a good yarn. It may be an artist, a midwife, a charity worker, an entrepreneur, a teacher; I don't care, I just love their stories!

I am grateful to Kate James for switching me onto this publication, after reading my first copy cover to cover, I immediately back-ordered the 15 odd 'mooks' (is it a magazine? is it a book?) I had missed. I try to read a story every couple of days, as I find it's like a little battery charger for the soul. So, dear ones, it is time for me to immerse myself in Issue Twenty-one - Ahhhh!

PS. Of course, The Design Files has interviewed Kate Bezar, Dumbofeather's founder, check it out here.

PPS. Have just noticed that Deb's blog (for Real Living) has also posted about Kate Bezar here.

Books Galore!

personal library; coffee table books galore with vintage posters as the topic du jour

....and more....

books and vintage posters, enought to make this girl swoon!

We love books at Galmont, we have an extensive personal library and lots of goodies for the people who come to our retail space. I thought I'd take a few photos of the books we have hanging around after being inspired by the work of Victoria Reichelt on the Inside Out blog this week - check it out here.

(....and the community bookshelf is nearly ready....stay tuned!)

Mr Chicken Goes to Paris by Leigh Hobbs

arc de triomphe - can you spot mr chicken?

versailles


river seine - mr chicken being very inconspicuous again

mr chicken enjoying the sites from the eiffel tower and getting his portrait painted at montmartre

all images; leigh hobbs photographed by shelley t

We have loved this new addition to our book family. Witty, informative and colourful; what more does a kid with an interest in the world and words need? Judging by the amount of times we have read the story so far and the smiles on Petit's face, I would say, not much.

Galmont and The Age Good Food Guide 2010

Church St Enoteca
527 Church St.
Richmond, 3121
9428 7898
Fine Italian Cuisine
15/20
One chef hat
Surrounded by vintage posters in an art-deco setting.....need I say more?!

all images; church st enoteca

Weekend Weblog Wanderings... (4)

image; holly becker at decor 8

...I am so pumped by the idea of a 'community bookcase' - Holly has a couple in her new German neighbourhood - Galmont will definitely get in on the act. I have found the comments so interesting regarding people thinking that it wouldn't work in their neighbourhoods; I think if it could work in Fitzroy, it could work anywhere, and can't wait to give the idea a go at the front of our retail space; I am so sure our local community won't let us down with graffiti, vandalism or stealing. Anyway, read the fuss here...and I promise to let you know the developments of our own little experiment...

image; angela at three buttons

....and the lovely Angela over at Three Buttons has given us a glimpse of her gorgeous noticeboard, encouraging others to take photos of their own and she will feature them on her site, read about it here. I daresay this will be enough to get Kimberlee more than a little excited, she loves an inspiration board, even featuring Galmont's on a recent post which you can see here.

Eiffel in Love!

image; Taschen books

I can still remember arriving in Paris and spotting the Eiffel Tower for the first time.....oh, be still my heart - it was love at first sight! And almost twenty years later, the affair continues, which is why I was so excited to read in the March edition of Australian House and Garden that Taschen has produced a book in honour of her (surely something as elegant and classic as the Eiffel Tower is a her?!) 120th birthday this month. So now I can add to my all-things-French collection and have images of the Parisian beauty with me without leaving my living room.

Joyeux Anniversaire, mon ami!