𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓢𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓼

November 17, 2018

Art and luxury have gone hand in hand together forever.

Just like champagne and strawberries, some things are just meant to be paired. So there was no question when I decided to marry two of my favourite things; drawing and scarves that I would choose to immortalise these on cashmere.

A facet of my formal academic education is in Textile design, a medium I had moved away from in the last few years, leaning more towards fine art techniques and methodologies. Yarns, textures, embroidery, and fabric fascinates me and I find nothing more satisfying than being able to wear one of my artworks.

My travels through India, Kashmir, and Asia in 2017 culminated with my design ideas paring with new relationships in textile manufacturing. I was enraptured with the qualities of cashmere I could source, the traditional and modern textile application techniques I saw being used, the developments in printing that have happened over the last few years, and the vibrancy of the yarns and dyes I could work with. Fortified with vision, deeply inspired, and motivated to create a product of exceptional quality, I returned to NZ to create the masterpieces you can own today.

‘Moena Moxham’ scarves are uni-sex, transgenerational and very versatile. They can be worn as a dress, trussed or tied with a belt as a top, worn as a traditional scarf, shrugged on as a shawl or simply used as a blanket on long-haul flights or overnight excursions.

A statement on their own or to bring colour and pattern to a simple outfit, scarves have always been an essential item for the minimalist traveller and fashionista.

I am so very excited to invite you to view and purchase my new collection.

VIEW COLLECTION

SHOP THE SCARVES

Aroha and enormous gratitude to the following fine souls for their immense skill, professionalism and collaboration on the featured photoshoots. Photography: Bern Stock. Hair: Josh Brown | CHOP Hairdressing, Male Model: James Butters | AI Fashion, Rock: T.W.Pattered

♥

Himeji, Mt Shosha, Aminohashidate... & a FARKIN rad Photographer by the name of SEAN AICKIN

May 26, 2015

Move over Kyoto and Osaka, this blog is dedicated to the bright stars of the central and lower third of Honshu.... and one burning bright with the flash ON in Wellington, NZ.

For a map of my travels click HERE. A fraction is taged, but it's still an interesting geez- growing up with a Da who has instilled in me the beauty, functionality and wonder of maps- it's nice to know where you have been and where you are going- better get on and tag past the moon then too hehe

¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° ≥^.^≤ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

HIMEJI CASTLE & Mt SHOSHA- 円教寺, Engyōji Temples

Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World heritage site and has only just reopened on the 27th of March 2015 after extensive reconstruction. What was especially remarkable about this is that this was done using completely traditional methods. It is the largest castle in Japan and is featured in many films and movies. It is truly spectacular to visit and I was fascinated by the displays and information regarding the constructions and conservation- there are even videos you can watch on your iPhone when you go past certain media sites!

The grounds are amazing. The stonework walls, roofing tiles and landscaping are marvels- the attention to detail is mind boggling.

It's a helluva track up inside her with very steep staircases! Get that fan out and your nike free's on!

Often in Japan you find old sites or building have 'burnt' down and been reconstructed. The Japanese are meticulous in their assemblies and methodology, and in some ways this re-birth fits the Japanese mentality perfectly. This is the Land of reinvention yet protection. Like with ancient artefacts- associations, names and ideas are added or carefully assigned after long consideration and research- makes me giggle a bit if we have that toothpick as a priceless hairpin though...

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.02.35 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.02.56 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.03.18 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.03.33 pm.png

The castle is surrounded by stunning Japanese Gardens (rebuild 1992) where you can take tea and sweets in a traditional Japanese tea house without feeling like you are fighting with Time and the masses.

Making Himeji Castle Anko (red bean paste) sweets. Check out this machine! Recipe for paste is HERE. You can sandwich between pikelets for a tasty Eastern twist ;)

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 9.24.09 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 9.24.14 pm.png

Himeji City Museum of Art- currently superb Marc Chagall

Himeji as a city is eaaaasy going, has fantastic food and great creative sites to see in the city and surrounding area. I went up into the surrounding hills for a day to feed my love for getting out of the hustle and bustle and had a stunning experience at the Engyoji Temples where you can wander around the over 1000 year old places of worship with the birds, the talking trees and the stones that listen.

Amazing examples of Oshi-e or Kurumie (padded and layered pictures)

At the bottom of the ropeway at Mt Shosha is an INCREDIBLE (can I highlight this even further?!) museum called 'Shosha-no-sato Art and Craft Center' at the foot of the mountain. You will find artwork done by Kosho Shimizu who was born in Himeji and became the chief priest at the Todaiji Temple in Nara. His work is diverse, expressive, colourful and across many mediums (ceramic, paint, embossings and calligraphy- GO DUDE- & he had a wicked sense of humour).

You can also observe or participate in making traditional Himeji crafts such as leather products, spinning tops, masks, Kurumie and Himeyama dolls.

Shimizu's fantastic whimsical figurative pottery- love love LOVE, their facial expressions are priceless >-<

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.59.14 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 10.59.27 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.00.07 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.01.02 pm.png

¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° ≥^.^≤ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

AMINOHASHIDATE - Singing Sands Beach

Like a little Venice and Noosa wrapped into one with Oysters the specialty (BIG ones- like the SIZE OF MY FIST AND CUT INTO 5!!) and Fugu, the super poisonous Japanese puffer fish.

The water was warm, the sun hot, the sand sings(!), the food tasty and the vibe super chill- I could live here easily. You get a special travel ticket when you change onto the last train to get here that gives you free access around the area for two or so days too- boom! But trust me, as soon as you step off the train, it just smells and feels right- you are not going to be a rushin' :)

Screen Shot 2016-12-06 at 11.58.51 AM.png

Screen Shot 2016-12-06 at 11.59.06 AM.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.17.55 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.18.06 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.31.29 pm.png

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 11.31.39 pm.png

(⊙.⊙(☉_☉)⊙.⊙) - ⊙ ☉ ☉ ⊙ - (⊙.⊙(☉_☉)⊙.⊙)

One of my closest buddies, and phenomenal photographer Sean Aickin has just got his website up and for the world to see! FIND HIM...and buy him a beer when you do ;) x

His BLOG is here too (which for the record is seanaikinsux - he don't - he's megga un-sux-ing lol)

Funny Bumps and Travel Tips for Tokyo (+ a little domesticity)

April 17, 2015

I am a little in LOVE with Tokyo- it's kinda sneaked up on me, very quietly like, and then all of a sudden, I fully recognised how much I very much adore where I am. Cheeeeeeky!!

This blog post is about hitting travel in Tokyo and shares some of my tips for ironing out little road bumps to make things easy like ;)

First a funny wee story about crossing the road... No-one j-walks here- you do it once or twice, and then the feeling of a million eyes on you makes you tap into line pretty quick- although, sometimes it's nice to do it, just to remind yourself you can step out of line hehe. SO: Each time I would come to a crossing I would be waiting patiently for the red man to change to green. As it would flick over I, with my fellow crossing camaraderie, would take a step to move forwards. DOOF! I would nearly walk over the person in front of me! "Gomenasai!! Sorry, Sorry" I would say, thinking- what the hell?! I left plenty of space?! Finally it dawned on me, I was taking a good 5'9" sized step, but my fellow crossers were only 1/2 my height, so weren't travelling as far!

It's the funniest stuff that hit's you sideways here :))

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..

GETTIN' MOVIN! The tips you need in ONE place to get around Tokyo & Japan

Suica- your best friend for travel in and around Tokyo!

This is a re-chargable (most convenience stores and at all rail/ subway stations), pay as you go card for JR trains, Metro subway, buses and even buying stuff where the pass is displayed. BOOM easy!

Psst- between these, 100Yen shops and Lawson's, you are set for life... seriously.

Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 11.10.41 am.png

Cash Passport- it means you can load multiple currencies and not have to carry wads of cash on you. You can get cash out (without charges at ATM's located at 7/11 convenience stores (logo left)- which are located everywhere in Japan. (They are the only ATM's I have found though that lets you do this). You can pay for goods where credit cards are accepted and it works as a debit card by doing this. Reloading takes three days as you do a bill payment from your NZ account. Super convenient and stress-free, and they even provide you with two cards incase something happens to one of them! Heads up though- Japan runs on cash, so you need cachinga on you- especially for paying for accommodation.

The best app ever developed in my opinion for budget travellers! It GPS tracks you without having WIFI and allows you to download detailed maps of where you are, when you do have a connection. Without WIFI, you can search for all sorts of things lik… — The best app ever developed in my opinion for budget travellers! It GPS tracks you without having WIFI and allows you to download detailed maps of where you are, when you do have a connection. Without WIFI, you can search for all sorts of things like museums, post offices, atm's, resteraunts and clubs etc. This wee puppy has been A LIFE SAVER!

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..

HULA-JAMMIES and BADMINTON BAGS

So THE COOLEST thang a 7 & 11 year old can have in Japan right now is custom bags for your gear. There's this chick that likes makin stuff- so she's thinking- what better way to put those skills to use right?- cos little girls (just like grown up ones) need pretty things to make life cool ;)

Plus, who can resist sewing a cover for a hula hoop that is called a 'Hula-Jammie' ?! HEHEHE

Feel free to holla if you'd like patterns or pointers ;D

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..

"KUCHIKASEYA MOIRA" is Japanese Photographer. Fetish & Nard...

I went to an eye poppingly cool presentation by this Babette. Check out her photos HERE

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..

I love making things for others which remind me of home (click to enlarge) ^=^

CITRUS FUDGE

STRAWBERRY SHORT-KOOK

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..

Particle Fever is a 2013 documentary film tracking the first round of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva, Switzerland. The film follows the experimental physicists at CERN who run the experiments, as well as the theoretical physicists who attempt to provide a conceptual framework for the LHC's results. The film begins in 2008 with the first firing of the LHC and concludes in 2012 with the successful identification of the Higgs boson. I see strong parallels in Art, creativity and dynamic thought. I enjoy the way this movie illustrates Human curiosity about our world and why it is made the way it is. Science is fascinating, thought provoking and super cool. I love this stuff ^^

The art in using chopsticks... (check out the hand position and the finger placement) I thought I had it down, until a kind Otoosan (Pop's) gave me a few pointers to look a little more Eastern ^=^

..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..++..--..