drawing | matchbox

♪♫♫ learned how to get along ♫ ♪♪ has more to do with matchboxes than you would think at first hearing. let's start with the fact that the town i live in has a thing with matchsticks and matchboxes. like, a huge thing. CITE UNAL is an uptown area littered with comely scandinavian and belgian designed villas, at the time built to accomodate international union match staff. 


the area is a fine one to take a stroll in. i for one love climbing the winding path leading absolutely nowhere. but what joy to be peeking through luxurious blinds for just a moment, all while leisurely ascending. why the song though? when clubbing in the eighties, the belgian pop group scabs was big. big as matchsticks and matchbox cars. one of their biggest dance hall hits was called matchbox car

i'm not into matchbox cars, although i have a few favourite ones. they may however be a telltale more of my favourite city, than orchestrate a belated passion for miniature toys. turn this whichever way, matchboxes are terribly belgian. i bought a few vintage ones last year in a local thriftshop {image right below}. ofcourse you are familiar with the designs, you've held them, most probably. know that when you do, you actually hang onto belgian nostalgia pur sang, and i am breathing in your neck. ☻

geraardsbergen has its very own matchbox museum, no kidding. passionates around town owning thousands of boxes is no exception here. yeah, we're weird like that. last december t. sent me this tiny box, in which santa, a mouse and a bird delivering mail reside, snuggly pressed side by plywood side when alongated. it made my adult heart melt, both contents and box. let's try not to dither withal.


.. but simply add i happened upon laura stoddart's exquisite OFF THE BEATEN TRACK quotes book in my bedroom poetry section, as one stumbles upon proper stuff at the right moment. not always, last night i did. these honeys may not be sleeping in matchboxes, but imagine? the sheer happiness to extend limbs between crisp sheets? arrghghg. my above matchbox scene is a modest attempt at using an original matchbox for a far quirkier goal: showing off my nighttime man! eric, the hero, third time challenger. thxs!

16 comments :

  1. Love this and love that you loved it so much. It has been hands down the funnest gift I have ever given!
    xoxoxo

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  2. although you presented him with a very nice bed, he looks like counting sheep, no?
    i never get to 73 haha.

    oh yes so very belgian and often little graphic gems,memories....again.

    birth town music too...this post is a treat.

    thanks dear, you triggered the dc sense this time.

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  3. :):):) - "off the beaten tracks, a traveller's anthology" - this already speaks to me...Yes, counting sheep!:) Thanks for your wonderful post...and text! Thanks for joining. - eric

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  4. Very good work! with production and research on the subject!

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  5. My adult heart is melting too. Thank you. Lucia

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  6. Love the old matchbox covers. I collected some as a kid - easy then, as everyone seemed to smoke!! No idea what happened to them. And I had forgotten about matchbox toys. Thanks for reminding me.

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  7. Oh thanks for sharing. It would be great to see more pictures from that beautiful book. They look lost in that big bed. Great colours Nadine and lovely matchboxes.

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  8. such a fun post
    so many great photographs
    glimpses of life
    i wonder if there are a few professional match box artists, from long long ago

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  9. :) Camp safety matches YES! this was fun as always Nadine the tour of your world and I love the bed idea
    what is it that brings back made up miniature housing I find so compelling- a flash back to my own youth I suppose!
    Hope you've had a good weekend :)

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  10. Nice matchbox bed for the matchbox communities I love it, and great matchbox tune! Robert and I were bopping to it. Hope you have a HOT! week. :D big hugs

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  11. I enjoy the winding path your mind seems to take at times! It's always fun and interesting. I didn't know matchsticks came from Belgium. I like the first pic esp. and then the matchbox buses. My son had a nice matchbox collection. Mom would always have a new one for him when he went to stay overnight. They were quite cheap then.
    I really like the details of the minuscule slippers by the tiny bed.

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  12. great pictures and interesting details! Thanks for sharing with us!
    Katrin

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  13. What a wide range of matchbox thoughts you're bringing up, my dear! Wow! First of all I'm totally off the floor about the fact you're living in a matchbox town! Haha, I'd never thought of that! But beautiful indeed, those Belgian matchboxes, absolutely worth a museum! And matchbox cars...well, of course!! But I've always prefered Siku, because they are (still!) built in my hometown. Hehe. That's when theme circles close. ;-) Now I'll go and have a look into my matchboxes, maybe there's a nighttime man for me inside, too, who knows? Haha!

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  14. matchbox town...now that is a place I'd like to visit. great photo's.

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  15. HI, a matchbox town that is crazy in the nice way of crazyness. Very nice post and I wonderful little collection of matchboxes. Indeed I thought about the matchbox cars at first, because my older brother used to have them as a child.
    Nice walk!
    bee

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  16. I didn't know Matches could be impregnated! Now I know, thanks to you and this wonderful collection of photos. Your little guy in his matchbox bed looks like he's expecting company. xo

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