daisy bells & moons

As part of an ongoing effort to keep myself inspired and to keep myself making art, I've been cataloguing all of my favorite artists as of late. Some of these people are truly, truly talented, so much that it makes me want to paint and photograph and install non-stop, for the rest of my life. And with that being said, please excuse me while I get out my watercolor paints and stare lustfully out the window... (&, alas, though it is quite similar to many of these lovely photographs, I refrained from including David Hamilton's work in here, because I have been a fan forever and ever and I know he'll probably creep up in many more posts). x

Carlo Mollino x

Ellen Rogers (1, 2, 3) x

Australian installation duo Pip & Pop x

Sarah Moon (1, 2, 3) x

Jennifer Steinkamp's "Daisy Bell" installation (she is a professor at my school!) x

Erica Schreiner x

descanso gardens

This weekend my mother visited, and I took a small trip down memory lane; revisiting my childhood neighborhood. I hadn't been back since we moved when I was seven, and it truly is funny what the mind does sometimes. Everything we passed (my old house, the neighbor's house, the magnolia tree out front, the old brick wall that I used to climb, my school, etc.) seemed so small to me all of a sudden, when I remember that tree having very high branches and that wall being eerily tall. It all makes sense, of course, as I've grown a good three feet since then, but I was sort of sad to have my memories of living in a castle-sized mansion ruined when I saw our old modest little suburban home. We also visited a local garden, called Descanso Gardens (which was also, of course, much smaller than I remembered it being), and I adored traipsing around the still-blossoming rose gardens (that's one of the loveliest things about California) and through the woods.

The weather was perfect: just autumn-y enough that I got to wear my favourite fur-lined coat that evening...

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honey jars

Mustard-colored things, half-alive leaves, baking cinnamon cookies, that magical, golden afternoon light...

My autumn wishlist: (Bows & Bandits plaid mustard dress, Romwe pink swing coat, Marais USA mary jane bow flats, Le Lapin tote bag, Yves Saint Laurent deep red lipstick, ox blood wool beret and knee socks)

If anyone surprises me with one of these things in the post (especially that dress!), I will adore you forever. x

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vertigo (bouquets & the color green)

I watched Hitchcock's infamously brilliant "Vertigo" the other day, for the first time, and if I am going to be perfectly honest: it should have been the second time. About a year ago, I took a university film course, where "Vertigo" was one of the required films. I didn't skip watching it because of disinterest; rather, because I truly didn't have much time. And the essay I was supposed to write on it? Well, it obviously turned into a very different essay, as I was oblivious to even the plot of the film. But now, after seeing such a wonderful film... I regret not writing that essay, because I could go on and on for pages, analyzing Mr. Hitchcock's brilliance. I've always been one to adore finding symbols and motifs in literature and film, and, well, I know for a fact that if I had the opportunity, I would write a whole novel on the ongoing motifs of flowers, and the color green.

But, sadly, I didn't do my homework, and I missed out (for now) on that opportunity. At least I can revisit those two wondrous symbols, and that lovely film in general, through the wonders of screenshots... x

The Mission Dolores scene was stunning (though perhaps I am a little biased, as it is one of my favorite locales back home, in San Francisco). x

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Judy's dress (and hotel bedroom!) were perfection. x

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Flowers, flowers, more flowers... x

flea market

Two weekends ago, I had a too-hot-for-Autumn, terribly-blistered-feet-because-of-new-flats, starving-because-of-no-breakfast trip to the flea market. The Melrose Flea Market, despite its heat, the large amount of walking and standing involved, and its lack of decent food, is one of the lovelier place I've ever been, and I am absolutely willing to sacrifice for a good Sunday of hunting for vintage treasures.

And though I walked away with exactly the opposite of what I was looking for (read: vintage shoes, some dresses, and a leather backpack for schoolbooks), I don't regret a single one of my purchases, and now, it seems, I'm fully equipped to live in a 1920's or 1950's Hollywood dressing room...

I found two lovely vintage purses (the one on the left may very well be the most perfect purse in the world. I can't wait to use it this Saturday at a 1920's themed masquerade ball (!) that I'm attending... x

A vintage mirror & brush set (I've been looking for one for ages), and two lovely vintage horse-hair brushes. I haggled with the man selling these, and he ended up giving me the entire set for $20, instead of $15 a piece! x

Like I said, equipped for an Old Hollywood dressing room. x

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pretty men & women

This is it. That is, this is the very final time I'll say this, and the first time I'll mean it, truly - as in cross-my-heart-hope-to-die mean it. I shall blog on here, and I shall blog regularly. For the truth is, I read so many beautiful blogs, and I make so many lists and mental moodboards of things, that it simply doesn't make sense to not blog on my own. Laziness and procrastination are what keep stopping me, but I am hereby saying goodbye to those things and saying hello to organization, inspiration, and all-around loveliness.

For starters, my computer's desktop is becoming more and more cluttered, because I seem to be constantly taking screenshots of beautiful people. And, coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), nearly all of them are gorgeous sixties starlets.

I hope you enjoy these stunning girls, along with a dashing man or two. (A fair warning: if you don't like Brigitte Bardot or Catherine Deneuve, well, then I strongly suggest that you go no further). x

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(I apologize for the image-heavy post!) x

blousons

This post is over a month late (when I said I'd be blogging again, I meant it, I swear!), but sometimes real life gets in the way of things, and there's no way around that. Now that I'm settling back into the normal, slow-ish pace of life, I've finally had time to update my etsy shop, which was very badly in need of some sprucing up. My wallet will be thanking me for this (at least, fingers crossed!), and I know my once-messy closet is already thankful that a whole bevy of unworn items have now neatly been packed in "to ship" boxes and envelopes.

While my infatuation with lacy collars is a never-ending one, every now and then I have to learn to let go of some of my most precious items (it's a good way to perfect the art of not becoming too attached to people or things...). Thus, 'blousons' is now filled to the brim with the laciest of lacy collars, among other lovely vintage treasures.

Check out all of the items, here. xxx