JUST A SHAPE

Umbrellas are one of those objects, one of those shapes that is so recognisable. They have their own character, every one. Some are wide and strong, some tall and curved and some flat and lifeless. What I love is how strong the character is even in silhouette.

http://lolidno.tumblr.com/

Michael Reichmann via luminous-landscape.com

Dance In The Rain by *Marinshe

Gentleman silhouette from the early 1800's

RAIN ON FILM

I've always been fascinated with rain machines and have always wondered what a film set actually looks like when one is in action. Then one day, as i was wandering the streets of Paris, I turned a corner and right in front of me was a crane with an arm almost the size of a street block, pouring rain down on a group of actors. It sparked many wine fueled conversations with a very good photographer friend of mine and we have been dreaming of rain machine shoot ideas ever since.

There are so many film scenes with pelting rain and drenched actors, these however are top of my list.

BLADERUNNER

THE ROAD TO PERDITION

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS

MATCHPOINT

POINT BREAK

THE TRUMAN SHOW

 Wet & Wendy loves rain machines.

YOU LIGHT UP MY SKY

With these recent photos of the most incredible lightning action within the dust cloud of the erupting Chilean Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano, I thought it wise to give you a bit of a 'lightning heads up' for your post work beers converstions this friday.

1. Lightning bolts travel at speeds of up to 60,000 miles per second.

2. A flash of lightning can pulse as much power as there is in all the power plants in the United States in that split second.

3. About 71% of all people struck by lightning still survive. Ouch.

4. Lightning is not confined to thunderstorms. It's been seen in volcanic eruptions (like the chilean volcano), extremely intense forest fires, heavy snowstorms, and in large hurricanes. ...You know I thought it was so strange when I saw lightning across the sky in London the day the blizzard hit last December, I thought I was seeing things.

5. The irrational fear of lightning (and thunder) is astraphobia.

6. The earth is hit by lightning about 100 times per second.

7. Scientists are still to this day debating how lightning is initially formed, it's agreed that besides atmospheric pressure,  ice inside a cloud may be a key element in lightning development and may cause a forcible separation of positive and negative charges within the cloud, thus assisting in the formation of lightning. Ice, Ice Lightnin...

 8. Lightning CAN strike the same place twice, it would just be very unlikely...& unlucky.

9. Roy Sullivan currently holds the world record for lightning strikes.  Between 1942 and 1977, the U.S park ranger was struck by lightning on seven different occasions.

10. Hands down, best sweaters to be wearing in the unfortunate event of being struck by lightning are these. Make one yourself by reading here

WILD WET & WENDY WEATHER

TODAY'S FORECAST
MELBOURNE
AUSTRALIA

Max 13
Scattered showers, 
mostly this afternoon with local hail and thunder. 
Winds westerly averaging up to 40 km/h.

LOCAL RAIN AND HAIL ALRIGHT!

A perfect afternoon for product testing, and guess who's doing it?!

WASHED OUT COLOURS TO LOVE

LOVE THE RAIN

Put your head on your desk and close your eyes...

If you have trouble viewing then CLICK HERE.

WELCOME TO WET & WENDY

WEBSITE NOW LIVE

ONE DAY TO GO

LOVE FROM ABOVE

Wet & Wendy AW11 Folding Umbrella in Silver Grey/ Pale Blue.

With only one day to go before the launch of the WET & WENDY Website & Flagship E-Store I thought I would treat you to a few minutes of inspiration behind the brand and the season's collection.

The debut range for Wet & Wendy is titled; LOVE THE RAIN and in watching the opening credits of this undeniably beautiful film Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) you will understand why the love of umbrellas floods my heart.

You will be able to purchase umbrellas from tomorrow with raincoats following in two weeks time.

Remember, LOVE THE RAIN.
(if you have trouble viewing the video, watch it HERE)

DID YOU KNOW YOU NEEDED ANY OF THESE?

1. THE GREAT SLEEPING BEAR

Doh! you can't buy it but i couldnt resist putting this on the list, could a sleeping bag manufacturer please make these? 

By Artist Eiko Ishizawa, see the works HERE

 

2. TENT WEAR

I'm not sure if you knew that you needed one of these or not, but i'm thinking you probably do.
SEE IF THESE GUYS WILL SELL YOU ONE.


3. SANYO ENELOOP RECHARGEABLE NECK WARMER 
Yep, does what is says on the tin.  If you dont want the medical neck brace look, get it in black.  

BUY IT HERE

 

4. THUNDERBOLT PRO  

Number 1 Item on the Wet & Wendy hot list right now is the Thunderbolt Pro.

This storm and lightning detection system uses several warning and message screens. The display continually provides updated information about detected storm and lightning activity in the area.

It even tells you how long you have to clear the area before the storm hits. Sweeet! 

BUY ONE HERE.

5. I-FAN
Cooling down on the go has never been so achievable.
It's not suprising that this beauty comes to you from Japan.
BUY ONE HERE.


6. WATERMELON COOLER/
Who wants to eat hot fruit? Not the Japanese that's for sure. I originally thought OMG, but on closer inspection and establishing that this little wonder also has a heating function for the winter warming treats like hot donuts & mulled wine, i'm now thinking BINGO!
BUY ONE HERE


7. THE ULTIMATE STORM SURVIVAL HANDBOOK

This book covers surviving  all forms of severe weather, including snowstorms, tornados, ice storms, hurricanes, and more. In addition to practical advice on preparing your home, avoiding dangers, and creating action plans, it also features special chapters on pet care, post-storm dangers, children, and phobias. I guess you should consider getting this for the phobias section if you think you're considering buying the Thunderbolt Pro? they go hand in hand.

BUY IT HERE

YELLOW UMBRELLA CONCERTO

Sometimes there are books that are ageless, indeed Yellow Umbrella is one of those books.
The front cover makes me feel like im looking at the first Wet & Wendy photo shoot, taken from above on a city street.

Yellow Umbrella is a wordless illustrative book written and illustrated by Korean Jae-Soo Liu, it comes with a CD in which Dong Il Sheen has composed mesmerising piano music to transport the reader into their own interpretation of the story. When the umbrellas pass over a bridge, the music changes to the pinging sound of rain falling on metal,  transporting you right into the pages of the book. It's so wonderful.

BUY IT HERE

You can also see Shanna Sweeney's adaptation of the book here and get a taste of the original music  too. Click here, this is great.

FLASH FLOOD

Dear Umbrella Flash Mob,

Please come and perform outside the Wet & Wendy HQ.
Email me and Ill send you the address,
We'll be here waiting for you rain hail or shine.

Love
Wet & Wendy 

AND NOW THE SHIPPING FORECAST...

I love the romanticism that comes with fishermen and their stories, I love watching shows like 'The Deadliest Catch'. The simple, functional weatherwear is an inspiration to Wet & Wendy. Weather Utility at it's best....If only I wasn't afraid of boats.

These photographs taken by Corey Arnold catch a personality you don't often see in imagery of the great sea-fairers.

COREY ARNOLD as described on his personal Bio, is a photographer and Alaskan commercial fisherman. From 2003-2010 he worked as a deckhand on the Bering Sea crabber f/v Rollo and more recently, runs a wild salmon gillnetting operation in Bristol Bay, Alaska.  The off season is filled with travel, gallery exhibitions, magazine and ad photography assignments with a bit of backyard gardening, cat maintenance, and skateboarding in Portland, Oregon. He is currently working on a life long project entitled FISH-WORK which chronicles the commercial fishing lifestyle throughout the world. See Him Here.

VERY SUPERSTITIOUS

A few of us got talking last night about superstitions. Im one of those who grew up never putting shoes on the table, always throwing spilt salt over my shoulder and my mother would have a fit if she heard the click of an umbrella indoors.

I have opened a lot of umbrellas indoors lately.

I have found that this superstition dates back to the Ancient Egyptians.
Umbrellas were used by Egyptians to protect themselves from the sun, and opening an umbrella indoors was seen as an insult to Ra the Sun God who it was feared would punish you with terrible luck.

And so, for thousands of years, the panic and guilt of opening an umbrella indoors has been passed on by the types of grandmothers we can all relate to. I am fortunate enough to be in the umbrella business myself, and with samples flying around all over the place needing to be opened,  I am now exempt from any such bad luck and removed this superstition from my memory, it's very liberating you should try it.

POTICHE

Set in 1977 in a provincial French town, POTICHE is a free adaptation of the 1970s eponymous hit comic play. Catherine Deneuve is Suzanne Pujol, a submissive, housebound 'trophy housewife' (or "potiche,") who steps in to manage the umbrella factory run by her wealthy and tyrannical husband (Fabrice Luchini) after the workers go on strike and take him hostage. To everyone's surprise, Suzanne proves herself a competent and assertive woman of action. But when her husband returns from a restful cruise in top form, things get complicated. 

This is set to be Wet & Wendy's film of the year.

BLOW OF WIND

Like Wet & Wendy, French artist Sandrine Estrade Boulet aims to put a smile on your face. She sees fun and positive narrative in everyday and sometimes mundane streetscapes. Aren't we lucky that she created her work; coup de vent  as she saw the halarity in this discarded brolly?

All her artworks are doctored images which she creates on her computer, she even encourages readers to send their images to her to create a little scene.

Check her out here.

WHERE FOR ART THOU SEASONS?

I feel very different as each season kicks in, I have a definate love/hate relationship with Winter, I feel whimsical at the onset of Spring and Summer I'm probably at my peaceful peak.

I thought I'd share my seasonal moods through various artworks.


AUTUMN

Autumn is the only season where there is a change in something tangible, the leaves change colour and fall off the trees and we all know its Autumn. Maybe when the seasons merge even more we will call the season No Leaves.

Georgia Okeefe painted Pedernal My Front Yard Autumn 1941 many years before I was born, even with all the weather changes since it still perfectly sets my Autumn tone.



WINTER

In Winter my head feels heavier. Is it full of stormy seas or just a bad curly hair day? The weather is a bit smudgy and all over the place.
I love thinking that this beauty doesn't even need an umbrella.

Albin Brunovsky, worked from 1955 - 1990. Check to here his other works.


SPRING

Dutch Artist Santtu Mustonen captures my springtime awakening with all his colour and texture.
It feels like something great is about to happen and that there is still dirt and grit underneath all this sunshine. More amazing awakenings here.


SUMMER

The gush of Summer is the reward I get for all the dark clothes and endless nights in during the Winter.
Summer joy is not having to check the weather report because you just know the sun will shine in heady warmth tomorrow.

Matthew Brandt's photography is the perfect mix of old and new, I love the way his recent portraits have the esscence of the 1800's as opposed to the vintage 60's- esque you often see. This series 'Lakes and Reservoirs' feels like the sun was so hot it burnt the image and maybe even the artist's picnic lunch.
See more here.

ELEMENTARY DEAR WATSON

This was the explanation that Sherlock Holmes gave to his assistant, Dr. Watson, when explaining deductions he had made.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson dressed for the weather and their love of weatherwear is duly noted here at Wet & Wendy.

"As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney".- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Guernsey, England has recognised the 150th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes with a new issue of stamps. Designed by Keith Robinson in the style of Sidney Paget who illustrated Conan Doyle’s original works, the Guernsey Post is also sponsoring the writing of new mystery story called Sherlock Holmes and the Curious Case of the Alderney Bull.

You can buy the whole set here at the Sherlock Holmes Stamp Website

A bit about Doyle himself.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born May 22, 1859. His first collection of short stories, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, was published in 1892. The last of his series, The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, was published in 1927. Conan Doyle received his knighthood in 1902 and lived to the age of 71, passing in 1930.

Doyle was friends with the famous American escape artist and magician, Harry Houdini.

Like Holmes in real life, Doyle helped free two men who were wrongly charged with murder and other horrible crimes by investigating the cases personally.

Awwh I want to be a detective so bad, but for now I'm going to invest in the Sherlock Holmes Handbook, you know carry it around under my arm. Buy here

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD

SUNDAY, RELAXING SUNDAY

LET IT REIGN

Photo Source: telegraph.co.uk


 

photo source: ihazhoumous.wordpress.com

In England you learn to not trust the weather reporters too much, not until the last minute anyway. Well, sorry Waity Kaity but the last minute is here and in true England style, it is forecast, my dear queen-to-be, to rain on your wedding day.

It's so exciting! I can't wait to see the royal umbrellas come out! and to think of the hundreds of thousands of umbrellas which just might line the royal streets of london tomorrow. Fingers crossed X.

Showers are forecast for the Royal Wedding, but when the sun shines it should feel very pleasant with less of a breeze and temperatures hitting 19 or 20 Celsius, 68 Fahrenheit.
The day will probably start with cloudy skies and maybe a light shower. There's a good chance that skies will brighten up during the morning and it'll feel quite warm in any sunshine. However, showers are possible especially from late morning and through into the early afternoon. Source: Isobel Lang of Sky News

ROYAL FEVER

I am missing London this week more than ever.
The Royal Wedding, all that sunshine and champagne everyone seems to be having.
But what will the weather bring on the big day?

God Save The Umbrella Queen.
Never afraid of a matching ensemble, Queen Elizabeth II.

HRH battling it beautifully in 1953.

Prince Charles with Princess Diana on ­holiday in Nova Scotia wearing matching Burberry in 1983.

Rain, hail or shine.

LET'S TAKE A MOMENT

Ok so this is the weekend of rest & relaxation, let's take a moment, no need to think too much, let's just appreciate some wonderful illustrations of days gone by which inspire Wet & Wendy.

 Rene Gruau's Illustration for a ladies raincoat 1966/67

 Frederick Charles Herrick's street poster for the London Underground 1925

 A family is protected from the rain by wearing their Suralo raincoats 1940

GILES DEACON'S 'THE ANGRY CLOUDS'.

In between managing his own Ready-to-Wear line, serving as Creative Director for the French label Emanuel Ungaro and other collaborative duties, Giles Deacon had time to make clouds his focus for  "The Angry Clouds" Fall 2011 Giles jewellery collection.

Numero uno on my wish list this week, although they are yet to blow into stores.

The Cumulus shaped rings, bangles and pendants are cast in gold with black enamel and Swarovski crystals.

You will soon find them online HERE very shortly, be sure catch them before the storm blows over.

WET & WENDY