I know, I have been neglecting my role as a Yen contributor. But I have a good excuse and I am going to plug it now. I have been working as a Project Coordinator on a new, incredibly exciting mentoring program for young designers called Springboard. The program is for emerging furniture, textiles, accessories and homewares designers. It operates over two stages and is designed to give them the chance to develop their professional careers both here and overseas. It's a great program. It has some of the best people in the industry on board working as mentors and we are trying to spread the word to as many people as possible. So if this sounds like something that might interest you or any of your friends go check out the website and spread the word!  Applications close 10 March 2008.

                                
While keeping your hair curled and a picture perfect red pout may be difficult at the beach there are other ways to being a 50s bombshell this summer.

Swimwear label Jemma Jube has vintage styling and technological sophistication to the point that your next visit to the pool could lead to a full scale Hollywood number. 

All swimsuits are manufactured in Australia and hark back to the days when the bikini was only for the most daring beach babe. 

The cute as pie label is stocked in New York, New Zealand and around Australia.

For a peek at her latest range and information on where to find it head to www.jemmajube.com 

It's the Australian story, a youth or a whole lifetime spent travelling and living abroad. The
four photographers in Gaffa's latest exhibition IN SITU have all spent extensive periods away from home and this has led them to consider what it is that bonds us to places and spaces.

Check out how Renato Colangelo, Tim Kellner, Thilo Pulch and Ivan Buljan have responded to the experience of living away from home at Gaffa, 1/7 Randle Street
Surry Hills, Sydney, 7-18 December, 2007.

I received a postcard for a new shop the other day that was advertising 'vintage clothing 1950's - 1980's.
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't consider 1980's as vintage. Sure it is old, some of its pretty cool in a Wham! kind of a way and some of it is just downright weird, but does that make it vintage?
In the wine industry the word vintage means harvesting wine grapes and the application of the word depends on the climate of growth.
Maybe it is the same with vintage clothing, you might sort through a bin of juicy pieces and pull out a delectable 80's dress, something with big shoulder pads. Then it just depends on the climate of your area whether you call it vintage or not!

Beautiful lingerie might be a secret passion or a thing you lust after but seldom can afford, but whatever the state of your smalls, it shouldn't stop you from visiting Dirty Pretty Things.
The boutique is decked out as a Parisian boudoir fit for a lingerie Queen. Owner Melissa Gallagher has made lingerie from the pretty in pink to the delectably naughty her speciality. Labels include Roberta Glass, Willow, Chantal Thomas and Damaris. Shoppers can also indulge in swim suits with a vintage touch, the odd piece of burlesque paraphernelia and now book their own Salon Burlesque evening where they can sip champagne while learning the subtle art of lady like seduction!
Silk, lace, canapes, tease... That's no ordinary shopping experience.
Dirty Pretty Things, 225 Glenmore Road, Fiveways, Paddington. 

Andy Warhol had The Factory but the artists at Sydney's Artspace have something even better. They have... The Gunnery.
There are 12 artist studios on Level 2 of the Gunnery building. They are used by local, national and international participants in Artspace's residency program. These studios have been the site of some out there experiments and creativity with a capital 'C'. Now Artspace is inviting you to go along, meet the Artspace residency artists, view their working environments and hear them speak about their practices. Then you can pop out and enjoy a special Woolloomooloo style sausage sizzle down by the harbour. Artspace's Open Studio Day is on Saturday 24 November 2007, 12 to 4pm. For more info click here.