Exclusive to Brisbane, this exhibition is going to impress! Fashion lover or not .. I think Brisbane is pretty excited about this one.

Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future’ is a major exhibition exploring the work of the celebrated Italian fashion house Valentino, known for its sophisticated, timeless design and glamorous clientele. GoMA will be the exclusive Australian venue for this major exhibition, developed by renowned institution Les Arts Décoratifs, Paris.

The exhibition encompasses haute couture from the first collection designed in 1959 by the house’s founder, Valentino Garavani, through to work from the Autumn/Winter 2009–10 creations by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli – appointed as creative directors (more…)

Funky Fabrix www.funkyfabrix.com.au boast Australia’s largest range of contemporary retro fabric, and they post to Australia and worldwide daily. Although I interpret “contemporary retro” as a complete oxymoron, after browsing Funky Fabrix vast collection of textile goodies it is quite clear that the products they offer are impressive because of their vintage aesthetic, but have been fabricated (pun intended) by creative ideas that are ahead of their time. I’m especially loving the divine French Provincial florals by Annette Tatum’s www.annettetatum.com “House Fall” range for Free Spirit Fabrics.

Funky Fabrix also have an envious range of patterns and books available online. The range starts at bag/tote patterns, clothing patterns, quilt patterns, home dec patterns, and the end isn’t anywhere in sight. The One Red Robin www.oneredrobin.com patterns are absolutely  charming, and will bring to life soft toys and dolls that any child will love to bits. Thank you Funky Fabrix, I can now add recovering my Singer sewing machine from the chaos in my mother’s basement to my never ending to do list.

Keep an eye out on the Funky Fabrix blog: www.funkyfabrixonline.blogspot.com, or follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FunkyFabrix, as some excellent competitions might just pop up! Or if you live close by in the real world visit them at: Shop 5/40 Blackwood Street, Mitchelton QLD 4051.

- QH guest blogger Michaela Tam

Experience your first look at the city’s most exciting new venue, The Laneway. Leading Queensland Architecture and Interior Design firm, Arkhefield, have contributed their designs to one of the first laneway transformations in Brisbane City as part of the ‘Vibrant Laneways and Small Spaces’ program. The Brisbane City Council initiated the program through the City Centre Master Plan to convert some of the city’s forgotten spaces to vibrant meeting, retail and dining destinations.

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View of the elevated restaurant, Centenary Pool, Brisbane. Photo: James Birrrell

Weekend walks along the Brisbane river allow you to get a sense of just how much the city is changing. Walking from Toowong to the City Botanic Gardens (aim for breakfast at the City Gardens Cafe), watch out for the Hale Street Link at Milton and the Tank St pedestrian and cycle bridge link being constructed from the city over to GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art).  Along with all the construction happening there are some great exhibitions over at the Art Gallery and the State Library. Hurry and see the American Impressionism and Realism exhibition at the Art Gallery (not GoMA). It closes on September 20. It not only showcases paintings from The Metropolitan Museum in New York but famous Australian works as well. While over at the state library next door,  Modern times: the untold story of modernism in Australia examines the Modernist movement comprehensively in Australia across a range of art forms and creative practices. (more…)

The latest range of gorgeous rugs hit the floor at the Designer Rugs showroom recently with the Brisbane launch of fashion label Easton Pearson’s rugs. The locally based design duo attended the launch of their rug collection at the Designer Rugs‘ Fortitude Valley showroom. The rugs, made from New Zealand wool, viscose and silk are scene stealers.  Their ‘Snow Drop’ design is featured in the Winter edition of Queensland Homes (out now) but you can see the whole range by visiting their new showroom at 628 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, which is now open seven days a week.

‘The China Project’ is a three-part display that considers contemporary Chinese art practice. ‘Three Decades: The Contemporary Chinese Collection’ presents around 140 extraordinary works by 40 contemporary Chinese artists from the 1980s to the present, drawing primarily from the Queensland Art Gallery Collection. 

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