Friday, November 13, 2009
Discover Padang
Sunday, August 16, 2009
I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to go to Indonesia and film a few travel promotions. With a weeks notice before I'm due to fly out, and a bit of a panic attack with organising everything, my first destination was to Padang, West Sumatra for the annual travel fair. Being a Jaffa from Auckland with no knowledge of Indonesia at all, I was excited, rearing to go with absolutely no idea what to expect. Three flights later, my pal Andrew and I are in Padang, welcomed by a team of smiling faces, my first impression was wow! yes that's all I could come up with! leaving the crisp chill of the beginning winter months in New Zealand, to be exerted into the 33 degree heat of Indonesia was incredible. There is a unique sweet smell in the air of Indonesia, that I couldn't quite place at first. Andrew tells me its the the cloves they mix with their tobacco, who would of thought.
You don't have to look long to see a smile here, the traffic is chaotic, almost everybody owns a motorbike and, your not unlikely to see 3 or 4 people on one bike, but nobody seems to mind. I was quick to realise that Indonesia is a far more tolerable nation than New Zealand, when it comes to traffic. I was surprised why everybody wasn't in fits of road rage. There is a constant and strangely peaceful sound of horns beeping . They beep when they pass you, and stop if somebody pulls out, its just the way it works there.
We stayed at Pangeran beach hotel, just out of the city centre of Padang. The service is second to none. It sits right on the beach, with a gym, a pool that is great for a refreshing morning swim in the Indonesian heat. A fantastic restaurant and bar, serving delicious traditional and European food. With all the comforts of home and more as well as a warming buzz of culture I would definitely recommend Pangeran Beach Hotel to anybody. Our first night we spent exploring the streets of Padang and talking to the locals. At night when all the shops close, many little carts come out selling all sorts of delicious foods from satay chicken to martabak manis (a huge crumpet filled with chocolate and walnuts mmmm) I really couldn't believe how cheap it was. You can expect to spend $1.50 NZD on dinner, and find your self in some very interesting conversation with the locals.
Our first day we spent on Sekuai Island, just out of Padang, a beautiful Island with nothing but a small resort on it. Life there is like a never ending tea break where you could spend all day kayaking, snorkeling, reading or planting Coral. Its the perfect escape. (for my fellow twilight fans, its just like Isle Esme, and I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble finding a Indonesian Edward Cullen either, there are plenty chivalrous boys there, it was really hard to get used to people opening doors and wanting to carry your stuff )
Culture is alive and breathing in Padang, with many different influences from Dutch colonialism, Minangkabau traditions and many more work together harmoniously, providing a tr
eat for any explorer. I found I could just stand in the middle of the markets with a camera all day, the people are so fascinating and I don't think they even realise it. Any good cook knows that the secret to life is butter. And the butter of Indonesia is the people, their hospitality, generosity and constant smiles are infectious. Life there really makes you reconsider how we live here. Therefore my approach to making a travel video for them was to capture the essence of Padang, the people, the day to day lives and culture, not make another fake and glossy video that shows only what we want to see. Padang has a tremendous 
amount to offer, only a short travel takes you to the white sands and clear waters of Sikuai island and Bukittinggi known for its shopping, to the vibrant atmosphere of the traditional markets, delicious foods,traditional weaving, performances, Minangkabau architecture and more. After leaving Padang I only left wanting to explore more of what Indonesia has to offer.
I would like to thank Allan for all your efforts in organising our trip, Pangeran Beach hotel and The Hills for hosting us, and to all the beautiful people I met while I was in Padang. Thank you for your incredible hospitality I cant wait to visit you soon.
Saya mengucapkan banyak terimakasih untuk uda Allan, untuk semua yang uda buat dan atur perjalanan kami, terimakasih juga untuk Hotel Pangeran Beach dan The Hills yang menampung kita dan tentunya para kru yang baik hati selama saya di Padang, terimakasih untuk kerahmah tamahan kalian untuk kami. Saya tidak dapat menunggu menggunjungi kalian segera.
For more information on travel to Indonesia, visit http://www.bali.co.nz/
NFC Technology's New Website
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Designing the artwork for NFC Technology's new website.
NFC Technology | Logo | Icons | Banners | Products | www.nfc.co.nz
Dip my fingers in
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Self advertisement for Anne.
My Brooch and Necklace Combinations
My brooches 'Annie', 'Poppy' and 'Rosey' sitting on a mirror so you can see the underside
Gillian Deery's work
We thought our works complimented each other.Last night was the opening night for my jewellery exhibition at Fingers Contemporary Jewellery gallery, this was the outcome for the award I won at M.S.V.A, a fellow recent graduate Gillian Deery also is exhibiting as she won Unitec's equivalent. It was a good turn out of people for such a small place and I want to thank all the people who came and had a geez. I've already sold two pieces - Yay! So that was a total bonus. I'm still on a high from last night actually, seeing my work next to the likes of Lisa Walker, Octavia Cook, Fran Allison, Joanna Campbell and the godfathers of contemporary New Zealand Jewellery; Warwick Freeman and Alan Preston. So if anyone wants to go have a look its on from 13th to the 25th of July. Opposite the Auckland Art Gallery on Kitchener St or on www.fingers.co.nz - there are detailed images of both works.
La Buena Vida - The Good Life GOING LIVE!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Alphalayer is proud to announce that
La Buena Vida - The Good Life will be airing on
Triangle Television on
Friday 12th of June at
8pm
La Buena Vida is a show produced by Interview no.7 and we were lucky enough to make the Logo Animation for the series.
So tune in, and keep your eyes open!!
kraftbomb.first experience
Monday, April 27, 2009
Hello hello,
Our first Kraftbomb has been and gone. Sunday was fun, and a wee bit of an eye opener. Sold a few things, but have heaps of ideas and strategies for selling more stuff next time...hopefully we were good enough for the lovely organisers to let us back in! Heres Kraft and Candy first stall ever.YAY! Long Live Kraft and Candy. xo
Kraft Bomb
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Alphalayer is SUPER PROUD to announce that our Kraft department Anne fann fann & Madamelle will be at Kraft Bomb Sunday April 26th at the Grey Lynn community centre. We are Super EXCITED!!!! It is an AWESOME day filled with Krafty goodness to warm the cockles of your heart. So come along and check out the little delights we create in our workshops that are ready to be unleashed on the world..........and could be yours!! Look forward to seeing all you Krafty cats out there.
Kraft and candy
Anne fann fann & Madamelle
La Buena Vida - The Good Life
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Below is the Logo Animation we have created for Interview No.7.
Their new show La Buena Vida - The Good Life is due to air in New Zealand Triangle TV in May 2009!
Keep and eye out for it!
Idea books
Friday, April 10, 2009
When your a maker get this irresistible tingling feeling and you have to make, Know the feeling?? 
I needed to make, so one day I thought about how I really love textures and patterns, material and ....typography! And theres something incredibly exciting about felt type stitched onto yummy material. mmmmmmm candy!
Something else I love is a really cool visual diary. I think it started at the end of my second year at uni when I could only use black ink pens to write with because they looked neater and there was a consistency. Then I would stencil titles every where and do random drawings every where. By the time I was in my last year I was covering the inside selves with cool patterned paper, material, ribbon wall paper, whatever floated my boat at the time. A fellow student said to me, you know you don't get marked on that right. I knew, but I really didn't care! When I was bored and annoyed, staring at the wall because my work just wasn't working this is what I did, and then I found playing around with decorating my visual diary made my work, work in a strange way, it became a part of my creative process. So I've started making idea books for my friends, books to jot down those secret family recipes etc who knows where they will go but here you go hope you like them, if you would like one flick me an e
mail or txt. 
Logo Animation
Friday, April 3, 2009
We have recently had the opportunity to work with Interview No.7 on a new show called Buena La Vida translated to mean The Good Life. We have been designing an animation for their logo which we will be putting up on our site very soon.
The programme is due to go on air in May 2009 on Triangle Television, New Zealand.
We will give you the exact dates when we know!
Keep your eye out for it!
Project : Design Me Identity 2005
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Design Me Project Investigating Identity - 2005
Have a laugh
The Art of Selling
Monday, March 23, 2009
Hello,
Just a quick note to say there is a seminar on at the Corban Estate Arts Centre on the 26th March 2009 (thats this Thursday) 9am- 12.30pm and its about selling your art works. Im going so if you want to come you can come with me! Theres morning tea provided and its only $25 ($15 with a valid student I.D) and features Ben Hurley, Esther Lamb (founder of toggle - an awesome craft website) Jana Lyn Holly, Margaret Lewis and Naomi McCleary. Go have a look at CEAC.org.nz for more info.
Guinness commercial
Friday, March 20, 2009
I was really lucky to have had the opportunity to work on the art department of the latest Guinness commercial. It was an awesome experience and I met a lot of awesomely nutty people. I worked with the fabulous people at Gyro constructivists for a day, making a rocket ship for the commercial. The theme of the commercial was ''creation'' well that's what we were guessing anyway. The rocket ship was made to look like a little boy made it from spare parts in his back yard. I've got to say that the rocket ship looked amazing! I only made an extremely small part of it, which took me ages! I'm not sure if it even made the final cut, I was such a little baby snail in comparison to these awesome prop makers who have at least 25 years + experience under their belts, and can whip up anything in a matter of two minuets. The workshop at gyro is very cool with a large wood work area, a metal room and resin room....mmmm candy!
For the rest of the time on the commercial I worked on the grass. It was a pretty huge and tedious job of two 8 by 4 metre pieces of ashtro turff hung from the ceiling and about twenty or so of us on either side cutting holes and threading longer pieces of grass through and gluing the back. The aim is that it would look like wild uncut grass.
Although this part of the job was a weee bit tedious, its amazing who you meet working in art departments, I even bumped into old buddies from art school and had a good old yarn whilst discussing our process to getting as much done in a day as we could. Mine was slice, thread a small patch, then glue, then thread another patch while waiting for the glue to dry on previous patch, then cut ends off glued patch and repeat, while having an awesome conversation with anybody, sometimes everybody, about anything really.
Its safe to say that we left everyday with multiple fingers bandaged from these "processes" of ours, but it was great!! I would highly recommend art department work if you can get any, it really makes you aware how many people are behind the scenes gutting their fingers on any film work. Also how pressing the time frames are to get your bit done on time, to get it to the next department and so on.
A Past Life
Friday, March 13, 2009
Hello All,
Unsure about the general consensus with my fellow bloggers/uni mates but I for one am going mental because I am not creating much stuff at all! After leaving uni I have found that it is harder than it looks to keep the creative process up and running. So I have decided to post up all my older works in an effort to inspire myself and maybe some of you guys to get back into it! Just make stuff because you want too! Or go back to your old lecturer and ask them to mentor you. Or apply for an art grant or exhibition coz that'll force you off your ass! Remember how fun it was to make? I think I am saying this stuff more for myself really, but if you wanna do it to, whats stopping you?
Ok so this was for a multiples brief I did in 2007. We had to make jewellery which could be repeated if need be. It introduced us into the manufacturing aspect of jewellery. These are moulds of cacti and succulents. I've made them out of brightly coloured resin which ends up looking quite strange and alien like.
These are my 2008 (Year 4) 1st semester works. Put simply I was trying to create souvenirs of a house, which didn't quite work out. Although the context didn't come through I think some of the objects ended up to be quite beautiful. Like the last on the right - the wall paper poop brooch as I call it. This series of work was a prelude to my birds and cages (which was my 2nd semester year 4 work) shown below.
The images below are of an exhibition I was in at the Papakura Art Gallery in January 2008. It was the first exhibition I had been in so I was quite excited! Vivienne Hohaia from M.S.V.A had set the whole thing up with the gallery which was pretty lucky and almost all the jewellers in my year had a spot in it. Amy Li, Sandra Khang, Vivienne Hohaia and I
There were 6 pieces to this work, 3 pieces of jewellery and 3 books. The books are meant to go along side a specfic piece of jewellery and offer a narrative to it. I wanted to visually show the idea of how any piece of jewellery comes with a story of its own and also gets overlaid with ones own memories and stories when you get involved with it. Although the jewellery pieces themselves aren't amazing I think my books are beautiful! my favourites being the plug and teacup books. My favourite piece of jewellery would be the set of teacup rings - one empty and one full of coffee and flowers.
Im sure Ill dig up some more images of my past creations so I'll post em up too!
Happy Friday the 13th!
Interchange Band Promo DVD
Sunday, February 15, 2009
This is a Promo DVD the Alphalayer Team did for the band Interchange at a recent private function. The band played all night, but we extracted and mixed together several of their chosen songs.
Great exciting gig, we had fun.
Footage is just under 7 min long.
May take a while to load. (Due to making loading time and playback smoother, Video and Audio quality has been lowered)
Jewellery Found In A Shoe Box, In The Back Of A Wardrobe
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Once upon a time a girl called Anne became a jeweller, she made lots of little delights, gluing, sticking, soldering, riveting miniature narratives together, telling all sorts of wonderful tales. Then along came a girl called Lynette, she was a bit of a nutter and did all sorts of things. Some times they would end in jewellery, or animations or even photography. Together these two girls just loved to make, tell stories, and play. Their creations are made and let go into the world, those that stay behind are boxed away, these were found in a shoe box in the back of a wardrobe. 
