the burning house.

"If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question." - the burning house project.

the seashells // the iPod // the  lotus flower // the perfume // the elephant // the pocket knife // the journals // the magazines // the chest // the worry dolls // the books // the sunnies // the pile of pictures // the pendant + ring // the dog // the camera.

i. the shells - i gathered this jar of shells at jalama, a camping site on the beach in america. the shells were twinkling in the sand, the sea was rushing, and jalama held so many memories, i just had to take a piece of it home. i filled an old jam jar with sea water and shells, and have slept with it near my bedside ever since.

ii. the iPod -  the first object more expensive than twenty dollars i ever bought, my iPod contains my songs, and i couldn't go without it.

iii. the lotus flower - bought for me by my grandma, it illustrates one of my two middle names. 

iv. the perfume - a mix of vanilla and rain, light and perfect, i wear it almost every day.

v. the elephant - this elephant was bought at a bohemian shop called Tree of Life, it is made out of heavy red stone, with intricate engravings. when i feel upset, i love to press it against my forehead and breathe in the stone.

vi. the pocket knife - engraved with my name, i received my pocket knife on my thirteenth birthday.

vii. the journals - i've written all my secrets three times over in my journals. they've been with me since i fell in love with words -- since i was nine. at the moment, i write a beautiful leather bound journal, with real petals woven into its rough paper, and my favourite stone: the tiger eye in the centre of the cover. 

viii. the magazines - frankie and yen are my absolute favourite magazines. ever. photography/travel/art/writing etc. etc. 

ix. the chest - this old-fashioned case was also given to me by my grandmother, and holds all my little secrets.

x. the worry dolls and my teddybear -  for obvious reasons.

xi. the books - i would actually die without my books; some of my favourite being: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Wildwood and Why We Broke Up

xii. the sunnies - two-dollars and my love.

xiii. a pile of pictures - my favourite being a scene bathed in late-afternoon light representing my mother, myself, and my little sister in her lap. there are so many details in this photo.

iv. the pendant, ring + friendship bracelet - three objects very dear to my heart, the friendship bracelet i bought with Olivia, the pendant a gift I've had since I was very young and I bought the ring in Bali and always wear.

v. my dog - he's a kelpie-cross and i love him. that is all.


oh, and i almost forgot Iris, my Nikon D3100, who helps me capture everything around me.

what about you? what are your most valuable possessions?


have a nice beginning-of-week, :) x
lotus m.