IT'S IN THE STARS

I've been meaning to get to the Planetarium for a while. I have this romantic idea of a date night lying back staring up into the depths of the universe getting lost in the wonder of what's out there. I went about ten years ago, and yes on a date but i think i was so nervous that i didn't enjoy it.

Until I actually find the time to go, I'm ordering this baby then i can drift off into the milky way every night.

Available online here

Available online here

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

POOTLING

Who wouldn't like to be pootling along in the sweet sunshine on a little boat right now?  A few friends, a frenchstick and prosecco, slowly making your way through the day. 
 I must admit,  I dont really love big boats, i've had a few bad experiences, but what i do really love is a slow meander, hugging the coast of an island or even better the Cote D' Azur....or even better than that, time travelling back to the 60's to do so...c'mon lets pootle together in the sun... even if only in our minds...

Elvis Presley & Charlie Hodge Summer of 1968

Ah Marilyn..1941

The Norfolk Broads 1960s

SPRING FEVER

That morning when you wake up and feel Spring in the air is one of the most glorious moments of the year.  You're reminded that you're alive, you get spring in your step and come down hard with spring fever, it's truely wonderful.

Let's celebrate the birth of Spring 2011 with some of Wet & Wendy's favourite Springtime scenarios.

Cut Grass, It is the signature smell of Spring. Did you know that researchers have discovered that a chemical released by a mown lawn makes people feel happy and relaxed, and could prevent mental decline in old age? Read more on that here. 

Picnic! Always best with a few friends, some cheese & wine, your bike parked on a lovely patch of grass and an open Sunbrella. Bliss!

The Great Outdoors! Conversations start leaning towards saturday hikes, park days, beach walks and beer gardens. I cant wait to dust off the fishing rods this year and have a lazy Sunday trying (emphasise the word trying) to catch some fish in little red hotpants and matching heels.

rustandgolddust

Biking! Get your bike out, turn it upside down, give it a clean and a little love after the Winter, if your like me my bike riding has been on hiatus this Winter.
Make sure it's got a basket on it to carry your picnic and W&W Sunbrella to the park.

amandavanvoorhis

Rejuvenation! Whether it be a garden walk, a country drive or staring out your window with a cup of tea, you can't help but notice the blossoming flowers, spring lambs, and an uplifting sense that their  is something wonderful happening!

Lace Up Project by Prada

Colour! Pack away all that black and feel Spring in the Air with a splash of colour. Notice how people always comment on your outfit when your sporting a little colour? Colour changes everything.
Do this funny colour test for a horoscope style colour/ mood analysis-
I was just told that today, my communication skills are above normal. Anyone want to skype?

CLOUD WATCHING

worldofvieta

What a beautiful afternoon it is when the sun is shining and clouds are crossing the sky in little bundles with enough of a breeze to move the clouds along and cool you down at the same time.

This is one of my favourite memories, although I don't remember ever seeing anything really wonderful, I always wanted to see a tiger leaping or a rabbit with big ears, but I didn't. Maybe I will this year, but for now let's see what other lucky people have has the pleasure of seeing cross their way.

uncooped

Whatpoll

 

SPARROW- THE FILM

This makes me miss Winter already

SPARROW- If you want a dose of exquisite cinematography, a killer musical score and a gritty Chinese crime story. Watch it.

Check out the ins & outs here.

W&W POP-UP UMBRELLA SHOPPE NOW OPEN!

Come on down to the corner of swanston & lonsdale streets, Melbourne and visit me in my little place I'll be calling home for the next 10 days! And to top it all off it's just started to rain!

WET & WENDY POP-UP UMBRELLA SHOPPE SNEAK PEAK

THANK GOODNESS MY BROTHER ANTON AND MY FIANCEE JOEL ARE BOTH GENIUSES
I can't believe i'm saying this but...could the rain just stop for 30 minutes so we can get this thing up and get it set up!?
SEE YOU ALL FROM TOMORROW MELBOURNE! x

ICEBERG ALLEY

satellite image via european space agency

For Hundreds of years now, around May & June more than 1000 icebergs break off the glaciers of the westcoast of Greenland down to the eastcoast of Newfoundland, Canada, decorating the bays and often blocking the harbours. This is where the bergs enter the shipping lanes thus giving the area the nickname Iceberg Alley. 

The top picture here shows the Petermann's Ice Island which, when it broke from the Petermann's Glacier was four times the size of Manhattan.. when it arrived it blocked the harbour of Goose Cove NF. The satellite image shows the berg last year on it's journey (see it right in the middle?).

These  icebergs, in their silent glory are time capsules -- sealed thousands of years ago, when snow fell on Greenland and compressed into glacial ice.  One can only think *Global warming sigh.

ore than a thousand icebergs break off southern Labrador and northern Newfoundland

Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/12uDT)

ore than a thousand icebergs break off southern Labrador and northern Newfoundland

Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/12uDT)

MASTER OF BRELLAS

One day Wet & Wendy will have our own stores. We'll keep you covered whatever the weather, rain, hail or shine, we will have the most beautiful stores you've ever seen and we will have our own mending man, a gorgeous little old man dedicated to customising and repairing your umbrella's. He will be a master of his craft and will pass this trade down to a Wet & Wendy apprentice sitting at his side, taking on the legacy.

We have all got so used to this throw-away society where we are happy to by a cheap throw away umbrella and bin it when it's frame breaks on the second day, I dread to think of the land of lost and broken umbrellas.


One man is making a difference. I always pop by whenever I am in Hong Kong, he is so happy in his dusty little stall and it makes me happy to see him taking such care to fix umbrellas whatever the type, cheap or expensive, he is Ho Hung Hee.

After World War II, Mr Ho learnt his craft working at a Hong Kong umbrella factory, he then left to work at his one man umbrella fixing business where he works to this day. For over 55 years Mr Ho has fixed the cities umbrellas. He even holds the Guinness World Record for making the worlds most expensive umbrella. He made two from 100 year old German umbrella frames he found and Ox hides. He sold one for $2000 and the other he refused to sell, he donated it to the Hong Kong Museum of History.


Mr Ho please come to work for Wet & Wendy?

Ho Hei Kee, 74 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong; tel. +852 2778 4306.
Open Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sundays.

FUN IN THE SUN

All this glorious Winter sunshine is making us so excited or the new Spring Summer range!
Here's some stunning, sunning, pics of yester...

Varazze, Italia, 1970.  taken by Paolo Martinez

1950's Longboat Key, Florida.

Amazing, but unknown

Woman with Parasol in a Garden
Pierre-Auguste Renoir

IT'S GOING TO RAIN

"It's going to rain" A simply gorgeous animation by British design company Airside. This was created for a multinational European telecom's company as part of their internal communication. The client wanted music and sound design that reflected the hand made carousel. What an inspirational way to send your message across. Enjoy.

WHETHER THE WEATHER

Happy Friday, whatever the weather....x

THIS EVENING'S WEATHER BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Ahh Sigh. Weather readers of days gone by, Wet & Wendy would love to host a weather show, it would have cardboard cut-outs, hand drawn maps and a giant thermometer. We'd cover the whole worlds forecast and tell you what to wear- in pictures.

1950’s JUDY MARKS

1970's JACK SCOTT

1950's CINDY LINDT

1960's TRINA BROWN

WET & WENDY loves weather readers.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

An eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth so that the sun’s light is fully or partially blocked. A total solar eclipse is rare and spectacular and can be a little scary. I remember there was one when i was a kid and i was only allowed to go outside with a tea-towel over my head. Eclipse viewing attire has not really been a huge topic for discussion but the possibilities are endless. 

On November 13th 2012 there is going to be a total eclipse of the sun in Eastern Australia, it's going to last for four whole minutes and although it's over a year away, Wet & Wendy is working on your outfit. Watch this NASA animation to give you an idea of what when and where. HERE

In the meantime enjoy these...

Eclipse Viewers, by Francis Miller, 1963, Life Magazine, © Time Inc.

Tourists get ready to watch the eclipse. Easter Island 2010. Picture: AFP

Photo via Fox News

The Hermit Eclipse, this was a total solar eclipse which happened in India (and Asia) in 2009. It lasted a whopping six minutes and was the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century- and our lifetime.

WHATEVER THE WEATHER

It amazes me to think that all across the world today, there is every type of weather happening. From the blistering heat to the below freezing, the humid to extreme dry winds. Currently I'm cold, Im dreaming of Summer while my friends in Europe will not belive me when i say i am sitting at my desk, in a coat, with the hood up.

These images are all taken in the month of June 2011, from different parts of the globe for the 'Photo of the day' for National geographic. Same month- different...well....everything.

Matterhorn

Photograph by Verena Popp-Hackner, Wild Wonders of Europe, National Geographic

Cowboy, Cabo San Lucas

Photograph by Brooke Krall

Dawn, Hwacheon

Photograph by Sungjin Kim, Korea for National Geographic.

Autumn Woods, Germany

Photograph by Jonathan Manshack

Storm Clouds, South Dakota

Photograph by Patrick Kelley

Arizona Butte

Photograph by Rex Naden