Welcome to our Artist-in-residence Journal instalment, for Autumn.
Emma Read is one half of Read & Hall, the dynamic sisters of everything interiors, styling and hosting.
I met Emma years ago through this magical platform Instagram that seems to find all your “people” and bring them together. Can we call this the ‘friend algorithm?’ And we went on to work creatively on a signature scent for her Love & Mutiny beach shack (pictured above, as captured by Charlotte Ree). I have to tell you, she also had this amazing Danish flag in her vintage collection (the size of an entire wall) which I hands-down had-to-have, having just learned I have part Danish-heritage. So she posted it to me with so much love and care. Then there was that time that we chatted over food in a busy restaurant south of Adelaide. What I thought was a 15 minute conversation, was actually hours… and it was then I realised that Emma is one of those people that you feel like you have known for a lifetime. But you want to know for a lifetime more.
There is a genuineness and authenticity to her full-spirited nature – and I was absolutely thrilled when my next gift from Emma arrived in the post. There is a limited edition print of Emma’s ‘One’ painting with every Rewild Co order placed in Autumn. It is glorious by every measure – and so fittingly placed with one piece of sticky tape above my bedside table. A reminder ‘Do not live against yourself’…
So without further ado, I am so pleased to bring these words. A thoughtful conversation about being ‘one’, experiencing ‘one’ and what that all means in this moment.
[Amanda:] “What is ‘one’ thing that someone did for you, that you have never forgotten? Something small but profound?”
[Emma:] “When I was in the midst of trying to establish a new life, transitioning out of my marriage, my sister would sit next to me while I made phone calls to the lawyer, to the bank, to the accountant, to all the people that are somehow required when you’re embarking on such a thing as this.
She just sat next to me. She would find the next phone number I needed, and waited while I made the call and the next and the next. It was so calming, such a profoundly simple thing that really helped boost me to the next place where I could stand more solidly on my own feet.”
[A:] “What is the ‘one’ lesson in life that you learned, that you would like to share with others in the hope that it changes their life too?”
[E:] “That we must choose ourselves. At any cost. That everyone is better when we do that. That not allowing yourself to have the things that your heart yearns for is doing a huge disservice to everyone around you. The right people enter your life effortlessly when you’re in the slipstream of your own life. It will absolutely cause commotion for a while but then everything settles into its rightful place and there is ease because you aren’t fighting yourself anymore.”
[A:] “If you had one do-over in life, what would you do differently?”
[E:] “Absolutely nothing. Everything has led me to right now and I think it was all really valuable.”
[A:] “Name one thing that should be experienced as a ‘one’?”
[E:] “The giddy delight of laying in bed alone in the middle of the night and knowing that you’ve got yourself. It is the most joyous thing I have ever experienced.”
[A:] “Name ‘one’ of the most defining moments in the past 2 years for you”
[E:] “Making the choice to leave someone I loved very much to embark on a solo adventure of life.”
[A:] “Name ‘one’ book you encourage everyone to read. And why.”
[E:] “Joan Didion forever and always. Because ‘The Year of Magical Thinking ‘is perfect.”
[A:] “What is the ‘one’ thing you are most driven by?”
[E:] “Uncovering more and more of myself to live the truest life possible and encouraging others to do the same.”
[A:] “When was the last time you tried something new?”
[E:] “A lot in the last year! I’ve been jetty jumping with my kids a lot lately. And I started needlework lessons! I met up with a stranger and we went on holiday together. Oh and I’m learning to recite Japji, I wouldn’t have predicted that a year ago.”
[A:] “What life lesson did you learn the hard way?”
[E:] “I feel like I’ve learnt everything the hard way.”
[A:] “What is ‘one’ thing you are eternally grateful for?”
[E:] “My relationship with myself. I really love it.”
A World of Art – with our Autumn in-house artist, Emma Read
Emma Read is one half of Read & Hall, the dynamic sisters of everything interiors, styling and hosting.
I met Emma years ago through this magical platform Instagram that seems to find all your “people” and bring them together. Can we call this the ‘friend algorithm?’ And we went on to work creatively on a signature scent for her Love & Mutiny beach shack (pictured above, as captured by Charlotte Ree). I have to tell you, she also had this amazing Danish flag in her vintage collection (the size of an entire wall) which I hands-down had-to-have, having just learned I have part Danish-heritage. So she posted it to me with so much love and care. Then there was that time that we chatted over food in a busy restaurant south of Adelaide. What I thought was a 15 minute conversation, was actually hours… and it was then I realised that Emma is one of those people that you feel like you have known for a lifetime. But you want to know for a lifetime more.
There is a genuineness and authenticity to her full-spirited nature – and I was absolutely thrilled when my next gift from Emma arrived in the post. There is a limited edition print of Emma’s ‘One’ painting with every Rewild Co order placed in Autumn. It is glorious by every measure – and so fittingly placed with one piece of sticky tape above my bedside table. A reminder ‘Do not live against yourself’…
So without further ado, I am so pleased to bring these words. A thoughtful conversation about being ‘one’, experiencing ‘one’ and what that all means in this moment.
[Amanda:] “What is ‘one’ thing that someone did for you, that you have never forgotten? Something small but profound?”
[Emma:] “When I was in the midst of trying to establish a new life, transitioning out of my marriage, my sister would sit next to me while I made phone calls to the lawyer, to the bank, to the accountant, to all the people that are somehow required when you’re embarking on such a thing as this.
She just sat next to me. She would find the next phone number I needed, and waited while I made the call and the next and the next. It was so calming, such a profoundly simple thing that really helped boost me to the next place where I could stand more solidly on my own feet.”
[A:] “What is the ‘one’ lesson in life that you learned, that you would like to share with others in the hope that it changes their life too?”
[E:] “That we must choose ourselves. At any cost. That everyone is better when we do that. That not allowing yourself to have the things that your heart yearns for is doing a huge disservice to everyone around you. The right people enter your life effortlessly when you’re in the slipstream of your own life. It will absolutely cause commotion for a while but then everything settles into its rightful place and there is ease because you aren’t fighting yourself anymore.”
[A:] “If you had one do-over in life, what would you do differently?”
[E:] “Absolutely nothing. Everything has led me to right now and I think it was all really valuable.”
[A:] “Name one thing that should be experienced as a ‘one’?”
[E:] “The giddy delight of laying in bed alone in the middle of the night and knowing that you’ve got yourself. It is the most joyous thing I have ever experienced.”
[A:] “Name ‘one’ of the most defining moments in the past 2 years for you”
[E:] “Making the choice to leave someone I loved very much to embark on a solo adventure of life.”
[A:] “Name ‘one’ book you encourage everyone to read. And why.”
[E:] “Joan Didion forever and always. Because ‘The Year of Magical Thinking ‘is perfect.”
[A:] “What is the ‘one’ thing you are most driven by?”
[E:] “Uncovering more and more of myself to live the truest life possible and encouraging others to do the same.”
[A:] “When was the last time you tried something new?”
[E:] “A lot in the last year! I’ve been jetty jumping with my kids a lot lately. And I started needlework lessons! I met up with a stranger and we went on holiday together. Oh and I’m learning to recite Japji, I wouldn’t have predicted that a year ago.”
[A:] “What life lesson did you learn the hard way?”
[E:] “I feel like I’ve learnt everything the hard way.”
[A:] “What is ‘one’ thing you are eternally grateful for?”
[E:] “My relationship with myself. I really love it.”
Follow more of Emma’s journey at @emmaelizaread and @readandhall. Emma’s beautiful watercolour is a gift to you, with all Autumn Rewild Co purchases.