Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2019 i frankie Magazine

Meteors streak across the sky; reckless text messages are sent, often followed by deep regret; creaks take on a hostile vibe they wouldn’t have had during daylight hours. Once, I was roused by the sound of retching, only to find my poor pooch coughing up a pair of fluffy pom poms. (He was totally fine, thankfully, but the cushion he tore them from wasn’t so fortunate.) Then there was the time just a couple of weeks back when I woke in the morning to the sound of my alarm. Reaching across to groggily switch it off, I realised there was only empty space where the bedside table had been – instead, my half-read books, reading lamp and phone were on the floor in a neat pile. But where was the…

Madeleine Dore is busy. So busy that sitting down to write – and colour-code – her epic to-do list actually has to be scheduled in and of itself. As a freelance writer forever brimming with ideas, the Melbourne lass juggles editorial and commercial commitments with a string of out-of-hours side hustles. Oh, and sometimes she finds time to sneak a bit of shut-eye, too. “I feel like Goldilocks,” Madeleine says of her ‘try a bit of this and a bit of that’ attitude, which has seen her launch interview project Extraordinary Routines and begin penning her own book. But flirting with side ventures while committing to something stable that pays the bills isn't an easy task. “It can be frustrating,” she says. “Especially when my personal creative work falls to…

The letters come every six months, yet they still surprise me. Despite the fossilised nest of Domino’s vouchers that devours the rest of my mail, I can always spot the blue real estate agent envelope in my letterbox. It’s an unwelcome beacon, sent to remind me that it’s that time again: inspection time. Nothing confirms your life is at the whim of another like the descent of a 20-year-old agent in a poorly fitting suit, reeking of sex-in-a-can deodorant, into your personal space. Swinging their own set of master keys like a prison warden, they scan the surrounds, passing judgment on your inability to exorcise the mould on the shower grout, even though it pre-dates Federation. (It’s a well-known fact that all rental inspection agents live with their mums and…

What is your earliest musical memory? My mum was and still is such a music lover, so I grew up going to all her friends’ gigs. One of the first ones I remember was Paul Kelly – maybe at the Gympie Music Muster festival – and I think he was playing with Kev Carmody, as well. That was pretty wild, and at that moment I was like, “Yep, this is definitely what I want to do; I want to be like them.” My granddad used to listen to the wireless really loud early in the morning, too – there’d be Slim Dusty on, which I loved. What has making music taught you about yourself? I almost think I’ve learnt everything about myself through music. My last two singles, “Clumsy Love”…

I’d expected swimming to be transformative. I would emerge from the bleach-scented water as someone new: shoulders square, legs strong, my back holding the freckled imprint of sports-cut bathers. A suburban mermaid. Or even better, one of those sporty girls in ’90s adverts urging you to eat bananas. The reality was different. After a few laps, I was left gasping; lying half in, half out of the pool; sure I was going to puke and trying to avoid eye contact with the lifeguard. I was no mermaid. No banana girl. At best, a marooned fish on the edge of death, choked by a too-tight Speedo onesie. Eventually, I managed to drag myself to the change room. In school, these were horrific spaces where you’d wrestle to get wet swimmers off,…

Jingles have been around ever since people have tried to sell things to other people, because nothing makes us hand over fistfuls of dollars faster than a catchy tune – ideally one sung by that triple-denim-wearing sex-hound Justin Timberlake (more on him later). Even the Ancient Greeks had jingles. Back then, when you weren’t gathered around Socrates copping a load of insight, or having a squiz at the first Olympic Games, you were being accosted by a salesperson who would sing out ditties such as: “For eyes that are shining, for cheeks like the dawn / For beauty that lasts after girlhood is gone / For prices in reason, the woman who knows / Will buy her cosmetics from Aesclyptos.” Modern jingles – the kind with recognisable melodies and hooks…

BOUQUET DAY IN A SENTENCE: A brand spanking new online flower delivery service in Brisbane // WHAT WE SELL: Colourful, fresh flowers and treats for all occasions, with same-day delivery. We select seasonal flowers – you just pick the bouquet size and delivery day // PRICE POINT: Bouquets range from $45 to $125; other goodies, $8 to $20. (All orders over $45 get free delivery!) // WHAT MAKES THE SHOP SPECIAL: We use sustainable materials to wrap the flowers, so the environment gets a little treat, as well as your special someone // FIND US: Online at bouquetday.com.au ORIGINALS LAB IN A SENTENCE: Accessories and art that takes you back to your favourite childhood memories // WHAT WE SELL: Cute little resin and enamel studs and necklaces in the shape…

Hello! Who are you and what do you do? Hi there! I’m a mixed-media artist and my work is a mix of photography, embroidery, beading and wax. I spent my early life growing up in Coffs Harbour, but while I was in primary school my family moved to Brisbane, where I still live now. Describe your art for us, please. It’s very delicate, quiet and dreamlike, while still having a sense of certainty. I like to use beautiful colours and leave a lot of breathing space around each figure. What kinds of materials and techniques do you use? Each artwork is quite a journey. It all starts with a beautiful piece of found fashion – I visit my local antique shops to find just the right piece. Next, I create…

The other day, while browsing my second-tier procrastination websites, I discovered that the new wellness trend is drinking half a litre of celery juice in the morning. Yeah, celery, the vegetable with precisely three legitimate uses: as a vehicle for peanut butter; a garnish in a Bloody Mary; or mixed with onion and carrot in a ‘mirepoix’ – the diced veg mix that forms the base of all good stews. Celery-pushers are claiming all the usual benefits: clear skin, increased hydraulic torque, a smug aura of divinity. These people aren’t even trying anymore. At least healing crystals are pretty. I thought, I could come up with at least five better, more viral wellness trends. So, here they are. (I’d like to thank celery juice for my keen concentration and creativity.)…

Dear frankie, Despite having bought almost every copy since your entry into the world, I’ve never written to you. But Trish O’Loughlin’s article “Right in the Feels” made it impossible not to show my gratitude for the many life experiences you’ve helped me through. I’ve recently had a baby and ended up with many issues, which have led me to cry even more than usual. I’ve always felt embarrassed and fearful that my immense empathy and subsequent tears would have me labelled ‘overly sensitive’. However, reading Trish’s article in a busy cafe, I felt vindicated and right at home in my sensitive soul, and proudly let my tears flow in public without wiping them away. Forever grateful, Kali xx Dearest frankie, I wanted to say thank you for always making…

I drive right on the speed limit. I never run an amber light. I check the rear-view mirror, look over my shoulder and inspect the side mirror, then repeat the process before I even consider switching lanes. I am the type of cautious driver your mother would spend her superannuation on, paying me to be your personal chauffeur forever. In life, though, we’re taught to present the very best of ourselves, which is why I’m here to offer the out-and-out truth: those who choose to be a passenger in my secondhand Honda Jazz (nicknamed Jane Honda) are taking a risk. You see, I’m the world’s worst parallel parker. I’m not telling you this to elicit sympathy. I’m not telling you in the hope you’ll offer me free lessons, and in…

Life would be a whole lot easier if everyone realised how awesome you are and just gave you everything you desired. May I have this wheel of French camembert for the price of a peelable cheese stick, good sir? Sure thing! Look, I want this car, but I only have half the asking price. No worries, here are the keys! In reality, negotiating can be really hard, and may make you want to fold yourself up inside a suitcase and sit on an airport baggage carousel, going round and round forever. Hopefully these tips will make it a little less terrifying, though. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Start by gathering lots of information. If you’re asking to finally be paid what you’re worth, make sure you know what that is, based on…

What is the concept behind your series, Formations? Formations is a broad overview of the shifting landscape of Central Asia. It looks both at the region as a whole, and how each individual country has formed a nascent identity in the quarter-century after the fall of the Soviet Union. I travelled through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, mostly between urban centres, staying a week or two in each city. What drew you to photographing this region? My most direct connection is that I’m from there. I’m originally from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, but grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan. More broadly speaking, however, Central Asia was a nomadic region that lacked large-scale ethnic cohesion until it was colonised by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Fearful of the difficulties of controlling…

Hey Cyan! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’m the founder of a chocolate social enterprise called Hey Tiger. I’m also the mother of two boys and started a technology company called Envato with my husband Collis in 2006. How and why did you switch from technology to chocolate? I’d been working at Envato for 12 years, and the business had grown from a startup to a company with over 500 people. I’ve always enjoyed the early stages of business when you’re creating something from nothing, and wanted to return to my startup roots. I kept coming back to the idea of chocolate and merging it with a business that resonated with women – that eventually became Hey Tiger. Why was it important for you to start a…

You’d be forgiven for not paying much attention to the political situation in Kosovo. A Balkan micro-nation of 1.8 million people that only came into existence in 2008, it’s famous mostly as the scene of some fairly nasty massacres in the late 1990s, when simmering tensions between the region's Serbian and Albanian populations erupted into the Kosovo War. For the Albanian people of Kosovo, long subjugated by their Serbian neighbours, this grand tragedy marked a dramatic turning point towards their own independence. Kosovo staged its first elections in 2001, and in 2008, with the backing of European and American allies, they unilaterally declared their independence from Serbia. A nation was born. For performance art collective Haveit, this was more than a moment of national pride – it was a chance…

THE COLOUR CURATOR We’re a textile brand specialising in upcycled materials in a medley of colours and patterns. We make earrings, necklaces and brooches, with wall art launching soon. Each design is a wearable piece of art, created from op shop and market remnants.thecolourcurator.com.au SARAH’S SOAKS As a naturopath, people often ask me for help with stress management and sleep, so I created an affordable mix of bath salts (featuring botanicals and essential oils) that helps soothe and calm. Find me on Instagram @sarahfehlbergnaturopath or @sarahs_soaks sarahfehlberg.com.au DOLCE ORGANICO Sweet tooths ‘til the end, we make a range of delicious, natural vegan meringues that taste exactly like the real deal. Our nutritionist founder makes sure our products are safe for coeliacs and inclusive of as many dietary conditions as possible.dolceorganico.com…

búl aw19 Inspired by Australia’s southernmost capital city, the AW19 collection from búl presents adventuresome, classy and ever so slightly quirky threads worthy of strolls by a scenic harbour; down tangled, wood fire-scented laneways; and through moody underground art galleries. Featuring utilitarian shapes, whopping big pockets and thoughtful button details, it’s enough to make anyone want to board the next boat, plane or bus and hotfoot it to Hobart, stat. bul.com.au blowing in the wind Well, this tissue box holder is a bit cheeky, isn’t it? Made by the clever types at South Korea’s Lufdesign, it’s designed so a gentle tug on a nose rag is enough to send the flapper’s skirt all a-flutter. Oh my! Now to empty the contents of our shnoz into her hem. Deck out your…

Like all good origin stories, Würst Nürse’s began after a few too many beers at the pub. In 2016, the five long-time friends (who also all happen to be nurses) were shooting the breeze in Melbourne, venting about a shitty day at work, when someone piped up: “How funny would it be if we started a nurse band?” As it turns out, pretty damn funny. Show up to a Würst Nürse gig and you’ll be treated to a ripping set of scatological wordplay, alongside satirical tunes about being horny for hot doctors. (“We were sick of being sexualised, so we flipped it and sexualised a guy,” drummer Abbie Laderman says.) On stage, the punk-rock band is unapologetic about its repertoire of “dumb music” and social commentary (which takes aim at…

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN // TAPHEPHOBIA Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairytales are dark as hell. Did you know the Little Mermaid actually dies at the end, rather than getting married to the handsome prince? Sorry for ruining your childhood, but it’s true. RIP Ariel. Andersen was a pretty grim guy, and this was reflected in his taphephobia, or fear of being buried alive. In his final days, he begged his friends to cut his veins open once he’d stopped breathing, to make sure he wouldn’t be stuffed in a hole prematurely. To be safe, he also had a note beside his bed reading: “I only appear to be dead.” THOMAS JEFFERSON // GLOSSOPHOBIA Thomas Jefferson – third President of the United States and co-writer of its founding document, the Declaration of…

I was 24 when I met my ex-husband through disability sport. I was playing wheelchair tennis. He’s an amputee, and I’ve used a wheelchair for most of my life – I had an accident when I was very young. He was a really nice person, easy to talk to and we got along well. I invited him over to my place for dinner; within a couple of months I was pregnant and he’d moved in with me and my son from my first marriage. It wasn’t until about six weeks after the birth of our son that things started to change, and the sexual assault began. I put a lot of blame on myself – I thought, “It’s been a while, maybe that’s why he did it,” instead of admitting…

OK, so here’s the deal: I went to Chadstone because I love Chadstone. It’s the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere and it has everything, including a cinema with a candy bar so huge it’s actually a candy department (true). Once you’re in, you’re not coming out without doing at least 1000 steps. So I don’t know why I wore high heels, but I did. Presumably, I thought I would look sexy while pondering my pre-cinema candy options – instead, as is often the case when I wear heels, I just ended up wanting to cry. But no matter, because I was at Chadstone, and Chadstone has everything. Not just shoes, but every shoe – shoes made of candy, if you want. I didn’t want candy shoes; I wanted…

Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi! My name is Elleni and I’m a bit of a fairy princess – but the rebellious kind who never wanted to be a princess. I’m a tea enthusiast who loves food, colour, dogs and anything peculiar. Brisbane-born, I’m currently based in London, missing the sun but loving the sandwiches. How did Elleni the Label come to be? I’ve always adored fashion and known I was weird, quirky, colourful and creative. I’m not me unless I’m creating something, so Elleni the Label was a little inevitable. What made you choose a beret as your canvas? I wanted some colourful berets to wear and simply decided they were too plain! I made a couple to style a small clothing collection I’d created, and they took…

Ask Rui Peng where the idea for his social enterprise Critical. came from, and he’ll tell you a story about how “neighbours became good friends”. When Rui was in his early 20s, he and some social worker mates decided to move to a shared flat in Mount Roskill – one of Auckland’s most socio-economically disadvantaged suburbs. “Our intention wasn’t charity, but to open up our doors to our neighbours, share our lives, and find creative ways to tackle injustice,” he explains. The flat’s spare bedrooms became places of respite for young people in need of emergency housing and others who were struggling. Rui found friendship and mentorship in the most unlikely places, and became set on providing opportunities for the under-employed and unemployed in his community. He decided to put…