tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90574500281500071982024-03-13T12:12:01.311-07:00Nothing Elegant{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-91635602597845796302010-04-20T18:57:00.000-07:002010-04-20T20:05:05.869-07:00You'll Come Visit Me, Won't You?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S85bqIcBYlI/AAAAAAAAF-I/3QSGMIrlXeQ/s1600/010ece1829900544f067cb3da8e565f7f49b39eb_m.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462404177424638546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S85bqIcBYlI/AAAAAAAAF-I/3QSGMIrlXeQ/s400/010ece1829900544f067cb3da8e565f7f49b39eb_m.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">H</span>ere goes {deep breathe...}: this will be my last post here at <em>Nothing Elegant</em>. I know this might seem as though it is coming out of nowhere, but it is something I have been thinking over for the past few weeks. I have loved this blog so much-- it has given me much more than I ever imagined. It has given me new friends, a keener eye, a place for creativity and expression, and a stronger voice. But, as my dissertation looms, I feel as though I need to focus my attention more strategically. This blog has allowed me to explore and open up about all of my varying and divergent interests, but now I feel the need for something a bit more specialized. That is why I am starting a new website: <a href="http://thefindesiecle.com/">The Fin de Siecle</a>, devoted to late Victorian art, literature, and culture. I have a feeling that most of my readers here at Nothing Elegant will like the new site (I hope!). And I truly hope you will stop by, check it out, and visit often. I also have a new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Fin-de-Siecle/113193645368276">Facebook</a> page and <a href="http://twitter.com/thefindesiecle">Twitter</a> page for the site -- come visit me there, too!<br /><br />I want to thank all my readers and fellow bloggers who have encouraged me, inspired me, and made me feel like part of a vibrant, intelligent, creative community (you know who you are!). I truly hope you will follow me on my new venture....<br /><br />::Check me out <a href="http://thefindesiecle.com/">here</a> now! Tell me what you think. (And I will still be checking the comments here from time-to-time, too!).<br /><br /><br />Cheers!<br />Tara{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-78110508287159997102010-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:002010-04-20T15:06:09.307-07:00New Dress...New Blog?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462339105263520050" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gebv1CTI/AAAAAAAAF-A/LHgf74c30iQ/s400/park+pictures+april+2010+038.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gd36WcTI/AAAAAAAAF94/Fu5MdGxt_SA/s1600/park+pictures+april+2010+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462339095643975986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gd36WcTI/AAAAAAAAF94/Fu5MdGxt_SA/s400/park+pictures+april+2010+037.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gdUcAe8I/AAAAAAAAF9w/eDxYGyiJV7w/s1600/park+pictures+april+2010+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462339086121466818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gdUcAe8I/AAAAAAAAF9w/eDxYGyiJV7w/s400/park+pictures+april+2010+032.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gc7Ta-PI/AAAAAAAAF9o/ITWbnnq0x00/s1600/park+pictures+april+2010+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462339079374567666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gc7Ta-PI/AAAAAAAAF9o/ITWbnnq0x00/s400/park+pictures+april+2010+019.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gcPmjkLI/AAAAAAAAF9g/sIubP6H7deE/s1600/park+pictures+april+2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462339067643662514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S84gcPmjkLI/AAAAAAAAF9g/sIubP6H7deE/s400/park+pictures+april+2010+015.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">M</span>y dear, long-lost readers!! I'm certain by now you imagine I have been buried alive under a tumbling mountain of books. In fact, I just needed a bit of time off to think about life, writing, blogging, etc. I hope you won't be completely disappointed if I tell you that there are going to be some big changes...involving the start of a new blog and the end of this one. But, you must stay tuned until my next post for all of the details -- ha, the suspense!</div><div><br /><div>Just to give you a hint: my next blog won't be as "personal" as this blog has been...and it won't be as fashion/shopping related as this one (ok, there will still be fashion...I can't completely give it up!) So, I kind of wanted to leave off on a personal (and fashion-related) note by posting this series of photos that my sweet boyfriend took of me at the park today...showing off the new summer dress I got from <a href="http://eshakti.com/">Eshakti</a>. </div><br /><div></div><div>It has been such a fun, wonderful ride my dears! I think my new favorite dress is sort of symbolic of a new start -- I truly hope you will continue on this journey with me. </div><br /><div>::OK, over the two year span of this blog, I rarely did product reviews, but this is one I'm thrilled to publicly swoon over -- seriously, Eshakti is my new favorite place to shop!! If you haven't visited their site, you must check it out. The prices are reasonable, the dresses and skirts are so cute, and they make the clothes to order...which means they take your measurements and make the clothes to fit you! Genius. I also love the fact that their dresses are stylish and slightly vintage-inspired, without being overly trendy. And they have <a href="http://www.eshakti.com/clothsrpage.asp?catalog=Clothes&cate=caftans&pagecount=1">caftans</a> for poolside lounging!! Glamorous, darlings.</div><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-13665538518292765942010-04-01T11:05:00.001-07:002010-04-05T07:59:37.870-07:00Artist: Charlotte Mann<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3vCrg0vI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/KTLNFO0Afr4/s1600/huf-roomshot.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456664811081356018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3vCrg0vI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/KTLNFO0Afr4/s400/huf-roomshot.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3uqbOzxI/AAAAAAAAF9I/wdW5pKyQnQk/s1600/hampstead.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456664804570615570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3uqbOzxI/AAAAAAAAF9I/wdW5pKyQnQk/s400/hampstead.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3LvuZI_I/AAAAAAAAF9A/zKAkThTcrJI/s1600/cubewide.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456664204697740274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3LvuZI_I/AAAAAAAAF9A/zKAkThTcrJI/s400/cubewide.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3LTuX6BI/AAAAAAAAF84/VbGw-SdwsP0/s1600/something_02.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456664197181466642" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3LTuX6BI/AAAAAAAAF84/VbGw-SdwsP0/s400/something_02.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3KkNZtHI/AAAAAAAAF8w/dRBw-NZ58aA/s1600/india_02.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456664184426706034" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7n3KkNZtHI/AAAAAAAAF8w/dRBw-NZ58aA/s400/india_02.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">I</span>'d love to take up residence in a cheeky trompe l'oeil house decorated by artist <a href="http://www.charlottemann.co.uk/work.html">Charlotte Mann</a>. Mann specializes in life-size drawings, and her favorite place to draw is right where out mothers told us not to -- the walls! She creates charming living spaces complete with scenic window views, cheerful knick-knacks, framed pictures, floral curtains...even wallpaper. Living in one of her spaces would almost be as amazing as living in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXxMlIExpo">this video</a>...almost. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">::If you could have Mann design a space for you, what would you have her draw on <em>your</em> walls??</div><div align="left"></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-51164578298970631832010-03-30T17:26:00.000-07:002010-03-30T18:08:53.449-07:00Penhaligon's: The Anthology Collection.<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7KYU02fKfI/AAAAAAAAF8o/dBl1TC1B8d8/s1600/penhaligons+orange+blossom.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 360px; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454589582251076082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7KYU02fKfI/AAAAAAAAF8o/dBl1TC1B8d8/s400/penhaligons+orange+blossom.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7KXs_mOeoI/AAAAAAAAF8g/bMXWANm7D3g/s1600/penhaligons+eau+de+cologne.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 360px; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454588897940896386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7KXs_mOeoI/AAAAAAAAF8g/bMXWANm7D3g/s400/penhaligons+eau+de+cologne.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">W</span>hat's the one thing yours-truly likes more than high-heeled shoes, vintage dresses, AND red lipstick? Yep, perfume! One of my first jobs was as a salesgirl at a perfume shop at the mall. We didn't exactly have a lot of business, so most of my time was spent sitting around spritzing perfume on every area of available skin, mixing scents, and trying to figure out fragrance lingo {head notes, heart notes...I still haven't got it all straight}. These days, I still find it very difficult to walk by a department store perfume counter or pass by Sephora without wanting to try/buy something new. What I wouldn't give to pay a visit to London's lovely Penhaligon's perfumery! Their new re-released line of scents from the <a href="http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/shop/anthology-collection.html">Anthology Collection </a>features six scents from 1927 to 1976. I love the idea of wearing something that evokes a bit of nostalgia for a particular period. I also really love the fact that three of scents are from the year I was born {I can't believe I'm giving away my age}: the 1976 <a href="http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/shop/fragrance/shop-by-fragrance/night-scented-stock/night-scented-stock-eau-de-toilette-685768.html">Night Scented Stock </a>and the <a href="http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/shop/fragrance/shop-by-fragrance/gardenia/gardenia-eau-de-toilette-100ml-685767.html">Gardenia</a> sound amazing. Must have been a lush year !</p><p>::What are your favorite scents?? Have you tried anything from Penhaligon's?<br /></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-83027524303608335552010-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:002010-03-30T08:49:21.770-07:00The Magic of the Black Mirror and Other Optical Devices<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6geDgg9gxI/AAAAAAAAF6k/Aej_iqxaPF8/s1600-h/claude+glass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451640394548609810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6geDgg9gxI/AAAAAAAAF6k/Aej_iqxaPF8/s400/claude+glass.jpg" /></a>{A Claude Glass, or Black Mirror}<br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">M</span>y love for antique optical devices started with my discovery of the <a href="http://nothing-elegant.blogspot.com/2009/04/charming-peep-into-past-victorian.html">Stanhope</a>, and it has snow-balled into a mini obsession. The Victorians certainly found clever ways to fulfill their need for visual stimulation with a plethora of odd optical toys and fascinating illusionary devices. The names of the devices alone are enough to make me giddy with intrigue. For example, doesn't the Black Mirror sound like something straight from Grimm's Fairy Tales? Despite its sinister-sounding nickname, the Black Mirror {also called a Claude Glass} was a small pocket-sized mirror used by landscape artists in the 1700's and 1800's. The slightly convex mirror had a dark surface, and when held up, it would abstract the scenery reflected in the surroundings. The image would have a soft, slightly painterly quality, which the painter could then use as inspiration for his work.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTz_LD41I/AAAAAAAAF8Q/M8y83khwbSI/s1600/Camera_obscura.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454232776318640978" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTz_LD41I/AAAAAAAAF8Q/M8y83khwbSI/s400/Camera_obscura.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="left">:The <a href="http://brightbytes.com/cosite/what.html">Camera Obscura </a>{aside from being the name of one of my favorite bands} is an optical device that projects the image of its surroundings onto a screen using a hole. The earliest know account of a camera obscura being used was from 5th century BC. They became popular devices during the 19th century when they were installed at tourist destinations and seaside resorts -- a precursor to movie theaters!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTpnIzxVI/AAAAAAAAF8I/zvTRPuoVO64/s1600/Zeiss_camera_lucida.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454232598068053330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTpnIzxVI/AAAAAAAAF8I/zvTRPuoVO64/s400/Zeiss_camera_lucida.jpg" /></a><br />:Like the Black Mirror, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_lucida">Camera Lucida </a>was used as a drawing aid by artists. It creates an optical superimposed image of the subject being viewed on the surface the artist draws upon. A bit like cheating, no?<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTpXN1xII/AAAAAAAAF8A/Kk0iPZAVRS8/s1600/magic+lantern.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454232593794188418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTpXN1xII/AAAAAAAAF8A/Kk0iPZAVRS8/s400/magic+lantern.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div align="left">:The <a href="http://www.victoriana.com/MagicLantern/magiclanternshows.htm">Magic Lantern </a>was a very popular form of entertainment in the Victorian period. Magic lantern shows were the combination of projected images, live narration, and live music. Some lanterns had up to three lenses, which allowed for the creation of various special effects. I'm certain I would be totally mesmerized by this even today!<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTohkKAyI/AAAAAAAAF7w/leP1pBAEO9A/s1600/Phantasmagoria.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454232579392275234" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S7FTohkKAyI/AAAAAAAAF7w/leP1pBAEO9A/s400/Phantasmagoria.jpg" /></a><br />:<a href="http://users.telenet.be/thomasweynants/peppers-ghost.html">The Phantasmagoria </a>was probably as terrifying as it sounds...particularly to unsuspecting old ladies! This was also called "Pepper's Ghost Effect" and it was often used in theater productions during the 1800's. Victorians were notoriously obsessed with death and the supernatural, so clever theater managers began using a modified magic lantern to incorporate images of ghosts and skeletons into their productions. The projectors were mobile, so the operator could create the illusion that the ghost was moving around the stage.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://z.about.com/d/inventors/1/0/I/0/1/muybridge.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://z.about.com/d/inventors/1/0/I/0/1/muybridge.gif" /></a><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Zoopraxiscope_16485d.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Zoopraxiscope_16485d.gif" /></a><br />:The Zoopraxiscope was an invention by the photographic genius <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eadweard_Muybridge">Eadward Muybridge</a>. The zoopraxiscope projected images from rotating glass disks in rapid succession to give the impression of motion -- an early precursor to film!<br /><br />::If you find these objects as fascinating as I do, you really must treat yourself to a visit to <a href="http://www.dickbalzer.com/">The Richard Balzer Collection</a> to see an amazing collection of optical devices in action / And how about this fascinating tidbit: In 2001, artist David Hockney's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Knowledge-New-Expanded-Rediscovering/dp/B0018ZOAES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269915687&sr=1-1">Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters</a> argued that great artists of the past, such as Ingres, Van Eyck, and Caravaggio did not work freehand, but were guided by optical devices {<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_lucida">via</a>}. Shocking!</div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-53177599874235148532010-03-25T12:04:00.000-07:002010-03-25T12:36:29.142-07:00Book Crush: Persephone Press<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u4IqCFLEI/AAAAAAAAF7g/3E5Dnu8jTQE/s1600/persephone+biannual.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u4IqCFLEI/AAAAAAAAF7g/3E5Dnu8jTQE/s400/persephone+biannual.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452654232723598402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0hBHAv9I/AAAAAAAAF7Y/3JWljlUgUc4/s1600/019_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0hBHAv9I/AAAAAAAAF7Y/3JWljlUgUc4/s400/019_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452650253188644818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0gzxn5eI/AAAAAAAAF7Q/0KuNK3GTQvg/s1600/013_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0gzxn5eI/AAAAAAAAF7Q/0KuNK3GTQvg/s400/013_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452650249609274850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0giav5AI/AAAAAAAAF7I/FYork0ghEe0/s1600/011_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0giav5AI/AAAAAAAAF7I/FYork0ghEe0/s400/011_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452650244949926914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0gJ8KrhI/AAAAAAAAF7A/Ks90-R3vZ38/s1600/006_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0gJ8KrhI/AAAAAAAAF7A/Ks90-R3vZ38/s400/006_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452650238379208210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0f4ML7fI/AAAAAAAAF64/NbS-N4hyeSQ/s1600/002_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6u0f4ML7fI/AAAAAAAAF64/NbS-N4hyeSQ/s400/002_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452650233614560754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6uz0TdnWTI/AAAAAAAAF6w/gQYb59CON1k/s1600/001_endpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6uz0TdnWTI/AAAAAAAAF6w/gQYb59CON1k/s400/001_endpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452649485021174066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I</span></span> have a new book crush {do you get book crushes?}. Persephone Press is a London-based press that specializes in neglected and relatively unknown female prose and fiction writers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Their selection of titles is like a treasure chest of forgotten literary jewels. And each book is like a little piece of art work unto itself. The jackets are all the same from the outside -- a lovely understated gray, with classic cream labels. But, the interior of each title features a design that evokes the time and place of the words inside: Victorian, Art Nouveau, modern, etc. I want to read every single book in their catalog, from beginning to end...you know, in all my spare time...*wink*<br /><br />::Check out their <a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/index.asp">lovely online shop here</a>. They provide a brief biography for each of their fascinating authors, as well!{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-90515539344207096252010-03-22T18:58:00.000-07:002010-03-22T18:41:04.840-07:00"What are we supposed to do now? Everything is still night!"<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gSkMRw22I/AAAAAAAAF50/QN7rPnqWOkA/s1600-h/dasha+girl+with+light+behind.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451627761912306530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gSkMRw22I/AAAAAAAAF50/QN7rPnqWOkA/s400/dasha+girl+with+light+behind.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gNpcs6kzI/AAAAAAAAF5c/Iz_jP0SeiH0/s1600-h/david+sperring+creepy+woman.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451622354662363954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gNpcs6kzI/AAAAAAAAF5c/Iz_jP0SeiH0/s400/david+sperring+creepy+woman.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gNpOetcaI/AAAAAAAAF5U/en11TdQlGas/s1600-h/hannah+helisabeth+liquid+hair.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451622350844686754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gNpOetcaI/AAAAAAAAF5U/en11TdQlGas/s400/hannah+helisabeth+liquid+hair.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gLvvXqldI/AAAAAAAAF5M/Tyythf5LIY4/s1600-h/girl+and+boat+by+nomi+1984.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451620263729468882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gLvvXqldI/AAAAAAAAF5M/Tyythf5LIY4/s400/girl+and+boat+by+nomi+1984.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gSjgpyQRI/AAAAAAAAF5s/QKA3KY2wYmw/s1600-h/vanessa+kowalski+girl+and+curtain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451627750201901330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gSjgpyQRI/AAAAAAAAF5s/QKA3KY2wYmw/s400/vanessa+kowalski+girl+and+curtain.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gLvPzaUuI/AAAAAAAAF5E/-6YAfAELkyI/s1600-h/come+pool+by+almond+croissants.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451620255255909090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gLvPzaUuI/AAAAAAAAF5E/-6YAfAELkyI/s400/come+pool+by+almond+croissants.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gTBEWqxZI/AAAAAAAAF58/XLXDtNPfUVE/s1600-h/upside+down+cross+aimee+brodeur.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 440px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451628258001601938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gTBEWqxZI/AAAAAAAAF58/XLXDtNPfUVE/s400/upside+down+cross+aimee+brodeur.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">E</span>veryone seems to have a solution for fending off nightmares. When I posed the dilemma to a group of friends, I recieved so many varied responses -- some funny, some fascinating. Here are just a few I gathered:</div><ul><li>Drink warm milk.</li><li>Or...cut dairy from your diet completely.</li><li>Take a sleep aid, like Ambien or Lunesta.</li><li>Put a dream-catcher by your bed.</li><li>Keep a dream journal, and write down the dream as soon as you wake.</li><li>Abolish guilt {perhaps nightmares are a product of guilt?}.</li><li>Play relaxing music or a funny movie in the background.</li><li>Keep a glass of half-full water on your nightstand -- an old wive's tale.</li><li>Learn to wake yourself while dreaming, or train yourself to lucid dream.</li><li>Be grateful that your dreams, rather than your life, are nightmarish!</li></ul><p>I personaly like Nietzsche's bit of snarky wisdom on what to do when you wake up after a nightmare: "You ingrates! You should go to sleep again and dream better!"</p><div></div><div>::The images above are from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/coma/">Coma pool on Flickr</a>. Also check out <a href="http://www.c-o-m-a.com/">Coma Magazine</a>, to see more work from these amazing surrealist photographers...who seem to have a bit of experience with nightmares.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-68098543326457985432010-03-22T15:53:00.000-07:002010-03-22T18:38:04.581-07:00An Ode to Frida's Eyebrows<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S2o26ZBKybI/AAAAAAAAFss/NS1wY06c5yw/s1600-h/frida+by+iris+schwartz.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 396px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434216277152025010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S2o26ZBKybI/AAAAAAAAFss/NS1wY06c5yw/s400/frida+by+iris+schwartz.jpg" /></a> {by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/irisschwarz">Iris Schwarz</a>}</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">O</span>ne of Frida Kahlo's most striking features was -- without a doubt -- her full and fearless eyebrows. It always bothers me when I hear people say: "Oh, she would have been pretty if she had done something about those brows." What??? No way. Her eyebrows were a part of unique beauty, and honestly, I've been feeling a little jealous of her thick mane of of eye-hair lately. Alright, I would never have the confidence to pull off a full-on monobrow {nor does my hair even grow between my eyes}, but I could really use a little <em>oomph</em> in the eyebrow area these days. During my many years of plucking, waxing, and torturous string treatments, I never once stopped to consider the fact that one day thick brows would be back in fashion...and that all that hair pulling would eventually make them stop growing. I don't care about any of these new-fangled eyelash growth treatments, I want something that will make my eyebrows come back!<br /><br />::Where do you stand on the eyebrow issue? Is anyone having this dilemma?? What I wouldn't give to have <a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/americas-next-top-model14/cast/raina">this America's Next Top Model contestant's brows</a>! Oh well, Here is a bit of Frida to make you smile...<br /><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gGuy0dgVI/AAAAAAAAF48/dgkg3lOOGcA/s1600-h/frida_kahlo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451614749917544786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S6gGuy0dgVI/AAAAAAAAF48/dgkg3lOOGcA/s400/frida_kahlo.jpg" /></a>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-77884245603882438502010-03-14T08:10:00.000-07:002010-03-15T12:50:33.502-07:00Blogger Manifesto Project: Manifesto #3<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center"><em>My name is </em><a href="http://www.ondressingup.blogspot.com/"><em>Ana</em></a><em>. Tara has asked for my </em><a href="http://nothing-elegant.blogspot.com/search/label/Blogger%20Manifesto%20Project"><em>manifesto</em></a><em>. There are so many ideas and things I'm obsessed with; so many declarations I could have made. But here is the one that made it - the one that is most important to me. A manifesto on time. Care to spend a few minutes of yours with it? </em></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">T</span>ime is perception. It flies, it grinds, in very long work meetings it feels like it has suspended itself completely, trapping you like a fly in amber. </div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/4durt/3646234606/"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_FQlZDdw_ong/S5x5V1OUWAI/AAAAAAAAKqM/CxjBcrKWg0w/s400/1979%20-%202009%20%28Oh%2C%20Would%20You%20Look%20at%20That%29%20on%20Flickr%20-%20Photo%20Sharing%21%20-%20Mozilla%20Firefox%2014032010%2064749%20PM.jpg" /></a></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">Time is always measured. Seconds, hours, days, months, and years. It is a framework for our lives in which our language is even divided into past, present and future tenses. When you are stranded without a means of telling time, it makes you feel uncomfortable and uneasy. It can even amount to torture. The measurement of time anchors you to your life. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uwgbadmissions/3947916581/"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_FQlZDdw_ong/S5x5Rk3pA4I/AAAAAAAAKqA/7_F93qRoAvY/s400/3947916581_635e478491.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center">Time can obsess people. The anticipation of it, the keeping of it, the passing of it. Some plan their time out very carefully with calendars, alarm clocks, lists and five year plans. Others resolutely turn their backs on this and drift on by, declaring they have no mission and no ambition, that they are just content to see what comes. Both both approaches spring from the same source - the realisation that we do not have much time (therefore we need to plan it or as such we need to enjoy it while it lasts). </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithwoods/2495947415/"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_FQlZDdw_ong/S5x5OW_9KFI/AAAAAAAAKp4/1u3cjCTp3dk/s400/2495947415_f7cf0e098a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">And isn't that the rub? That no matter what we think of time, no matter what we believe, we all know that time will only ever leave us behind. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithwoods/371679572/"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_FQlZDdw_ong/S5x5PlVnI-I/AAAAAAAAKp8/KJ2z89uxOGQ/s400/371679572_e14da4a80e.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">And if we substitute the word "love" for "life", Yehuda Amichai still speaks true: <i>Love is finished again, like a profitable citrus season or like an archeological dig that turned up from deep inside the earth turbulent things that wanted to be forgotten. Love is finished again. When a tall building is torn down and the debris cleared away, you stand there on the square empty lot, saying: What a small space that building stood on with all its many floors and people.</i> <span style="font-size:85%;">(extract from <i>Love is Finished Again</i> by <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/125">Yehuda Amichai</a> )<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S56MykPVYLI/AAAAAAAAF40/KbtDk90Cchc/s1600-h/dad-reconstruction.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448947399514218674" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S56MykPVYLI/AAAAAAAAF40/KbtDk90Cchc/s400/dad-reconstruction.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S56Mx3o3kuI/AAAAAAAAF4s/wkTHGQVwK9c/s1600-h/mom-reconstruction.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448947387541721826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S56Mx3o3kuI/AAAAAAAAF4s/wkTHGQVwK9c/s400/mom-reconstruction.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Click on each picture for its source. For more, visit the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/lookingintothepast/pool/">Looking Into The Past</a> Flickr Group and Elliot Malkin's <a href="http://dziga.com/family/reconstructions/">Home Movie Reconstructions</a>.</div></span></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-34651206709109761952010-03-12T06:49:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:37:15.901-08:00The List: 5 Things to Get This Slimy Jellyfish Off My Head<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5pqEjAwy_I/AAAAAAAAF4k/IW10vDnD1VY/s1600-h/zhou+fan+artist+jellyfish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 395px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447783325608496114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5pqEjAwy_I/AAAAAAAAF4k/IW10vDnD1VY/s400/zhou+fan+artist+jellyfish.jpg" /></a> {image by <a href="http://www.zhoufanart.com/portfolio.html#">Zhou Fan</a>}</div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">F</span>olks, I'm in a hardcore rut {otherwise known as a funk} right now. I think this dilemma is fairly normal for people who read and write for a living. Does this ever happen to you? I start feeling guilty for not reading or writing the "right" things {i.e. for my dissertation}, so I just stop doing anything -- I feel guilty for not doing what I'm supposed to do, so I just stop doing <em>all</em> the things I like. What a bad idea! It's a bit like having a big jellyfish sitting atop your head and sucking all of the motivation out. Slurp! I think I need to change up my routine and try some new things for inspiration. One cannot go around bound by a sea creature. Here are a few rut-fighting activities I'm going to try:<br /><br />1. Costume movie night! After watching the Oscar's, I decided I needed to see every film <a href="http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nomineesByPicture.html">nominated in the costume category</a>. I am going to try and watch all of them over the next several weeks...and maybe write some reviews here? The nominees are: <em>The Young Victoria, Coco avant Chanel, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Bright Star, Nine</em>...and I'll add <em>A Single Man</em> for good measure.<br /><br />2. Eat at a new restaurant. There is a new Indian restaurant {<a href="http://kolamiic.weebly.com/">Kolam</a>} here I've been meaning to try.<br /><br />3. Go on a hike. If you know me, this might sound a little...out-of-character. But, seriously the weather is so lovely, and I'm just dying to wander through the woods. OK, so maybe it will be less of a hike and more of a <em>stroll</em>.<br /><br />4. Go to free yoga. <a href="http://theyogaroomtulsa.blogspot.com/">The Yoga Room </a>here in Tulsa has free yoga every Monday. Ask me why haven't gone. I have no idea!<br /><br />5. Write my F*cking dissertation prospectus! There, I said it. We all know this is the real reason I'm in a rut. My boyfriend compared my dilemma to the Clash's "Guns of Brixton" lyrics: "How you gonna come?/ With your hands on your head / Or on the trigger of your gun?" In other words: I need to decide if I'm going to come out fighting or just give up. The fighting option sounds much more exciting {and yes, my boyfriend makes strange, wonderful music analogies}.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Readers, please share, what do you do to get out of a rut??</em></div><br /><div align="center"></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-8919511989861663762010-03-11T17:00:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:38:53.192-08:00Rochas 2010: In the Mood for Love<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mZA-jVK0I/AAAAAAAAF4U/NG19K5mGlkQ/s1600-h/rochas+8.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447553466351561538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mZA-jVK0I/AAAAAAAAF4U/NG19K5mGlkQ/s320/rochas+8.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYMkQO-lI/AAAAAAAAF4M/pnsEPifSKNY/s1600-h/rochas+7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447552565938944594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYMkQO-lI/AAAAAAAAF4M/pnsEPifSKNY/s320/rochas+7.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYMIWD0rI/AAAAAAAAF4E/EtBymptW6w0/s1600-h/rochas+6.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447552558447186610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYMIWD0rI/AAAAAAAAF4E/EtBymptW6w0/s320/rochas+6.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYLyfLuRI/AAAAAAAAF38/0LQEKBCn7zU/s1600-h/rochas+5.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447552552579873042" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mYLyfLuRI/AAAAAAAAF38/0LQEKBCn7zU/s320/rochas+5.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXBDSdIzI/AAAAAAAAF30/drvYfQQpzjo/s1600-h/rochas+4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447551268599702322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXBDSdIzI/AAAAAAAAF30/drvYfQQpzjo/s320/rochas+4.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXA0MDYfI/AAAAAAAAF3s/qa6Oql84-Do/s1600-h/rochas+3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447551264546316786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXA0MDYfI/AAAAAAAAF3s/qa6Oql84-Do/s320/rochas+3.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXASZ2LLI/AAAAAAAAF3k/7k2lhCSUQ9w/s1600-h/rochas+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447551255477365938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mXASZ2LLI/AAAAAAAAF3k/7k2lhCSUQ9w/s320/rochas+2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mW_59AZYI/AAAAAAAAF3c/w6D93lKUyVU/s1600-h/rochas.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447551248913950082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mW_59AZYI/AAAAAAAAF3c/w6D93lKUyVU/s320/rochas.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">T</span>he new collection by Rochas is so beautifully nostalgic, yet so <em>quirky</em>, that I can't quite wrap my mind around it. Here are the elements that I <span style="color:#990000;">love</span> about the collection: </div><ul><li>Ladylike sheer blouses with vintage-inspired brassieres peeking through.</li><li>Floral belt accessories. </li><li>Adorable, summery boater hats. </li><li>Bright brocade.</li><li>Rich shades of mustard and spice.</li><li><div align="left">Retro cat-eye shades!</div></li></ul><p>Here are the elements that kind of have me <em>freaked out</em> {i.e. would look horrible on me}</p><ul><li>Flat sandals with ankle socks...yikes.</li><li>Straight, shapeless dresses -- not great for curves.</li><li>Knit swimsuit/onesies?</li><li>Baggy, potato sack pants...again, bad for curves.</li></ul><p>What do you think of the collection, dear readers?? Does it remind you a bit of the lovely Chinese film "<a href="http://www.wkw-inthemoodforlove.com/">In the Mood for Love</a>"? The ensembles have a very 1960's Hong Kong vibe...<br /><br />:See more Rochas 2010 images <a href="http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2010RTW-ROCHAS">here</a>.</p><p>::I might have to snap up these <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Stylish-ROCHAS-9305-WOMENS-Brown-SUNGLASSES-544_W0QQitemZ330383703770QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Sunglasses?hash=item4cec673eda">Rochas </a>sunnies on Ebay!</p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mbyfxr2qI/AAAAAAAAF4c/i2FcmiEryFI/s1600-h/in+the+mood+for+love.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 223px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447556516106984098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5mbyfxr2qI/AAAAAAAAF4c/i2FcmiEryFI/s400/in+the+mood+for+love.jpg" /></a>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-73632302652402729592010-03-10T07:49:00.000-08:002010-03-11T10:25:55.986-08:00A War to Remember?<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5g2e6QUbkI/AAAAAAAAF3U/AjPCk9UQJPU/s1600-h/Jim+Naughten+5.jpg"><img style="width: 240px; height: 350px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447163653966294594" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5g2e6QUbkI/AAAAAAAAF3U/AjPCk9UQJPU/s400/Jim+Naughten+5.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5g2elGYLJI/AAAAAAAAF3M/PwJoXbQwypU/s1600-h/post_war_tank_crew.jpg"><img style="width: 240px; height: 350px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447163648287452306" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5g2elGYLJI/AAAAAAAAF3M/PwJoXbQwypU/s400/post_war_tank_crew.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >U</span>ntil recently, I always found war re-enactors to be a bit...well, strange. They confounded my sense of living for the moment: why would you want to <em>pretend</em> to live through something horrible and traumatic from the past? After coming across artist <a href="http://www.jimnaughten.com/">Jim Naughten</a>'s moving portrait series of WWI and WWII re-enactors, I now feel I can relate a bit more sympathetically. These men and women step out of their daily lives to briefly become characters from a time long gone -- people who committed brave deeds and became a part of history in a tangible way. They give great attention to the details and nuances of costume and character. In a way, this is not so very different from what I do every day: it is the job of people who study and teach literature to keep the characters of the past alive. I guess I am more like a war re-enactor than I initially would have admitted! </div><br /><div align="left">And on the topic of fascinating characters {or real-life people with novel-worthy lives}, I was completely overwhelmed with pride and inspiration after watching the story of the WWII women fighter pilots {WASPS} on the national news last night. President Obama signed a bill to award them the gold medal of honor this week -- more than a decade after their service. It's about time!! I have officially decided that if I ever have a chance to participate in a WWII re-enactment, I will definitely be invoking the spirit of the classy, sassy dames from the U.S. Army Air Forces. See their amazing stories <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123773525">here</a>.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAphWhh0I/AAAAAAAAF20/Ft0Y3f2VL9c/s1600-h/wasp1.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447034093887915842" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAphWhh0I/AAAAAAAAF20/Ft0Y3f2VL9c/s400/wasp1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAMmp4ZBI/AAAAAAAAF2M/eXsfAJILC54/s1600-h/ww2+female+pilots+2.jpg"><img style="width: 315px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447033597095076882" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAMmp4ZBI/AAAAAAAAF2M/eXsfAJILC54/s400/ww2+female+pilots+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAO-pjyYI/AAAAAAAAF2s/eKNZROg3ocE/s1600-h/pilots300.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 309px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447033637895915906" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAO-pjyYI/AAAAAAAAF2s/eKNZROg3ocE/s400/pilots300.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAND74MFI/AAAAAAAAF2U/fo3bYUbJ1pY/s1600-h/ww2+female+pilots+3.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 317px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447033604955189330" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S5fAND74MFI/AAAAAAAAF2U/fo3bYUbJ1pY/s400/ww2+female+pilots+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-61221211368710772092010-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:002010-03-08T09:25:13.777-08:00The Blogger Manifesto Project.<div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="color:#000000;">Manifesto #2</span></div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="color:#000000;">Manifesting Darkness<br />By Seraph + Splendor /</span> <a href="http://chintz-of-darkness.blogspot.com/">Chintz of Darkness</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLRDLx90I/AAAAAAAABg4/2ICHTMk6KY0/s1600-h/Virgin+with+Corona+Olidon+Redon+1898.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLRDLx90I/AAAAAAAABg4/2ICHTMk6KY0/s640/Virgin+with+Corona+Olidon+Redon+1898.jpg" width="420" border="0" kt="true" /></a></div><br /><p align="center">{Virgin with Corona by Odilon Redon 1898}</p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">O</span><span style="color:#000000;">k, dear readers, we know that we are guests here so we will try to be on our best behavior. We will wipe our feet on the doormat upon arriving and turn off the lights when we leave. We will refrain from sharpening our claws on the sofa and promise not to root through Tara’s sock drawer or peak into her diary…With that stated, we must take up the glove and accept the challenge, which is to simply vindicate darkness itself… </span></span><br /><br /></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;color:#000000;">We believe in darkness in all of its many forms. Darkness is to wear the cool night upon your skin, to shun the sunlight, to crave the illumination of the stars. It is to drown ones senses in languid pools of indulgence, to drift upon velvet seas and feel the sting of satin…</span><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLWium4jI/AAAAAAAABhA/3xXrD9Twfls/s1600-h/Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="438" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLWium4jI/AAAAAAAABhA/3xXrD9Twfls/s640/Bedroom.jpg" width="640" border="0" kt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLbihqpMI/AAAAAAAABhI/fGfKLiM5ap0/s1600-h/Inferno+Franz+von+Stuck+1908.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="394" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLbihqpMI/AAAAAAAABhI/fGfKLiM5ap0/s640/Inferno+Franz+von+Stuck+1908.jpg" width="640" border="0" kt="true" /></a></div><br /><p align="center">{Inferno by Franz von Stuck 1908}<br /><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></p><br /><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Darkness is the language of crows and ghosts. It slithers through one’s mind whispering of forgotten realms and lords of old. One must listen for its eloquence in ice and stone and the rustle of wings, for darkness is fey and wild and belongs not to the land of now…</span> </span><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></p></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;color:#000000;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;color:#000000;">We enfold ourselves in shades of darkness and paint it upon our being. It is the shadow that accompanies us on our daily tasks. Darkness is the color that covers our walls and drapes our doorways. It is the obsidian stain that drenches our carpets and chairs in a swathe of inky blackness. It is an altar to decadence and a shrine to beauty…</span></div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLh7eZcuI/AAAAAAAABhQ/efmG_EkVFhw/s1600-h/Death+at+the+Ball+Felicien+Rops+1865+-+1875.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLh7eZcuI/AAAAAAAABhQ/efmG_EkVFhw/s640/Death+at+the+Ball+Felicien+Rops+1865+-+1875.jpg" width="356" border="0" kt="true" /></a></div><br /><p align="center">{Death at the Ball by Felicien Rops 1875}<br /><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLnAHIO2I/AAAAAAAABhY/rYhrSeo4WSo/s1600-h/James+Pryde+The+Derelict.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2Se8jibrAlM/S5MLnAHIO2I/AAAAAAAABhY/rYhrSeo4WSo/s640/James+Pryde+The+Derelict.jpg" width="488" border="0" kt="true" /></a></p><p align="center">{The Derelict by John Pryde} </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Above all, darkness is the taste of freedom, of turning way from society’s norms, to embark on the path less taken. Fear not the dark, dear ones, and take to heart the words of Albert Camus… </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night.”</span></span> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><em>::I want to thank S+S for being kind enough {and brave enough} to tackle the first guest manifesto. I am so thrilled</em> <em>to finally get things underway, and what better way to start than with </em><a href="http://chintz-of-darkness.blogspot.com/"><em>their</em></a><em> unique blend of the dark, strange, and surreal!? If you would like to learn more about this project, you can read about it <a href="http://nothing-elegant.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogger-manifesto-project-part-i.html">here</a> and <a href="http://nothing-elegant.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogger-manifesto-project-part-ii.html">here</a>. If you would like to participate, please don't hesitate to contact me.</em> <em>I look forward to the upcoming manifestos!</em><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-64840922027489656062010-03-04T10:40:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:22:46.815-08:00Spring Wishlist 2010: Better in the Nude<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/spring_nudes_2010/set?.embedder=310368&.mid=embed&id=16582387"><img title="Spring Nudes 2010" alt="Spring Nudes 2010" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFjlQcFNGcjBuM3hHaDdkX0Y2ZVgtOUEAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg" width="420" border="0" height="400" /></a> </div><p align="center">{click image for full details}.<br /></p><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >I</span>'m tired of denying it: spring is totally on my mind! I'm completely smitten with all variations of nude right now: pinky, peachy, beige-ish nudes. Here are a few items I wouldn't mind calling my own...<br /></p><div align="left"></div><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><div align="left">1. A fresh floral perfume-- the new Chloe fragrance is gorgeous!</div><br /><div align="left">2. A flowy dress that feels more like a nightgown.</div><br /><div align="left">3. A gorgeous nude leather satchel.</div><br /><div align="left">4. A wear-everywhere sandal -- soft, suede and strappy.</div><br /><div align="left">5. The perfect combination: black sequins and light pink chiffon.</div><br /><div align="left">6. A moody floral in a sexy tight pant.</div><br /><div align="left">7. A bright pinkish coral to make my lips pop.</div><br /><div align="left">8. A classic wedge with great buckle details.</div><br /><div align="left">9. The wear-everywhere tee: soft and slouchy.</div><br /><div align="center"><em>What are your wishlist items for spring??</em></div><div align="center"> </div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-55430769377813913942010-03-03T12:16:00.000-08:002010-03-04T07:39:26.951-08:00To-Do Lists: Works of Genius?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444795219637971634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S4_MZ41EKrI/AAAAAAAAF18/BQ7hW1zfe5I/s400/adolf+konrad.jpg" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S4_MaKhv7fI/AAAAAAAAF2E/eVR08-x6DC4/s1600-h/oscar+bluemner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444795224388791794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S4_MaKhv7fI/AAAAAAAAF2E/eVR08-x6DC4/s400/oscar+bluemner.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">A</span> detailed, color-illustrated packing list?? If I could draw worth a damn, I'm pretty sure this is the direction my obsessive list-making habit would be headed. For all of us who who understand the cathartic and relaxing effects of a good list, the new exhibit entitled"<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8537856.stm">To Do" at The Archives of American Art in Washington </a>is a revelation! Apparently we are in good company: Picasso is just one among a number of artists who were avid list-makers. Dare I say list-mania is a sign of brilliance? Despite the fact that some psychologists believe list-making is an illusory and pointless attempt to control our chaotic lives, I prefer to believe the words of the American abstract artist, Charles Green Shaw: "Real happiness consists in not what we actually accomplish, but what we think we accomplish {<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8537856.stm">via</a>}." I <em>think</em> I can accomplish a lot! Just let me live in this illusion for a while...{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-9694539999669929432010-03-02T19:27:00.000-08:002010-03-03T16:27:23.265-08:00Blog it Forward: What Inspires Me?<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43aaGeRC8I/AAAAAAAAF0E/-ikCovOHJTg/s1600-h/louise+ebel.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444247666509810626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43aaGeRC8I/AAAAAAAAF0E/-ikCovOHJTg/s400/louise+ebel.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43aUWqSDgI/AAAAAAAAFz8/jAnlX3_5Zkg/s1600-h/alex+from+cherry+blossom.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444247567775960578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43aUWqSDgI/AAAAAAAAFz8/jAnlX3_5Zkg/s400/alex+from+cherry+blossom.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center">French fashion bloggers! <a href="http://www.misspandora.fr/">Pandora</a> and <a href="http://www.thecherryblossomgirl.com/">The Cherry Blossom Girl</a> use fashion as an expression of their love of history, art, and their beautiful city -- Paris.</div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">I</span>t's time for the "Blog it Foward Mashup." This project was started by the talented <a href="http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/">San Francisco Girl by the Bay</a> as a way for bloggers to share what inspires them. It's a bit like a chain letter for blogs, and today it's my turn. Check out the links at the end of this post to see who is coming up next...I'm pretty sure you'll be addicted {like I am!}. Or, you can find your favorite bloggers on the full schedule <a href="http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/blog-it-forward/">here</a>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46MpMxRs2I/AAAAAAAAF10/iuUgigdiK2U/s1600-h/los+pozas+mexico.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444443638967939938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46MpMxRs2I/AAAAAAAAF10/iuUgigdiK2U/s400/los+pozas+mexico.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46Mo_RsIqI/AAAAAAAAF1s/iKloQlAIyCk/s1600-h/absinthe+museum.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444443635345793698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46Mo_RsIqI/AAAAAAAAF1s/iKloQlAIyCk/s400/absinthe+museum.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Traveling to strange, out-of-the-way destinations. I've visited some bizarre places, like the <a href="http://atlasobscura.com/place/los-pozas-surreallist-follies">Surrealist Folly Gardens </a>in Xilitla, Mexico, and the desert art communes in Marfa, Texas, but there are so many unusual spots I'm dying to explore: the Absinthe Museum in New Orleans and the Seti satellites in Puerto Rico are at the top of my list.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46HYE3db5I/AAAAAAAAF1k/JCDG3zFJOM4/s1600-h/tilda+as+casati.png"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444437847230476178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46HYE3db5I/AAAAAAAAF1k/JCDG3zFJOM4/s400/tilda+as+casati.png" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46HXxKnpYI/AAAAAAAAF1c/NswreuCEf2Q/s1600-h/anais-nin.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444437841942128002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46HXxKnpYI/AAAAAAAAF1c/NswreuCEf2Q/s400/anais-nin.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Strong, eccentric women with a flare for the dramatic. Tilda Swinton is always unflinchingly original {left, dressed as the Marchessa Casati}, and Anais Nin lived a life more fascinating than even her books reveal. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46FZRDyo1I/AAAAAAAAF1U/OH5mMFLSTPc/s1600-h/hayv+kahraman+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444435668660036434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46FZRDyo1I/AAAAAAAAF1U/OH5mMFLSTPc/s400/hayv+kahraman+2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46FY9QnKsI/AAAAAAAAF1M/nqvMH9F5L34/s1600-h/beardsley+venus.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444435663345101506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46FY9QnKsI/AAAAAAAAF1M/nqvMH9F5L34/s400/beardsley+venus.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Art, both new and old. The brilliant Hayv Kahraman is a recent discovery {left} and decadent artist Aubrey Beardsley is an obsession that will never fade... </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46DSg9yorI/AAAAAAAAF1E/zVIibZFSPL0/s1600-h/tin+drum+book+cover.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444433353647497906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46DSg9yorI/AAAAAAAAF1E/zVIibZFSPL0/s400/tin+drum+book+cover.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46DSftThcI/AAAAAAAAF08/ObkH7QQr7XU/s1600-h/nightwood+cover.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444433353309914562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46DSftThcI/AAAAAAAAF08/ObkH7QQr7XU/s400/nightwood+cover.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Books that move, challenge, disgust, and inspire in equal parts... these are two books that changed my perception of literature forever.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46CC1qkbbI/AAAAAAAAF00/X75q8iREyOk/s1600-h/strawberries+canelle+et+vanille.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444431984814484914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46CC1qkbbI/AAAAAAAAF00/X75q8iREyOk/s400/strawberries+canelle+et+vanille.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46CCeXuNNI/AAAAAAAAF0s/xtz5W8dhE1o/s1600-h/canelle+et+vanille.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444431978561418450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46CCeXuNNI/AAAAAAAAF0s/xtz5W8dhE1o/s400/canelle+et+vanille.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Eating...and cooking: the ultimate creative act. It inspires <em>and</em> nourishes. Since discovering my love for cooking, I have come to realize that making food can be as fulfilling {and filling} as making art...corny but true. {Images via <a href="http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/">Canelle et Vanille</a>}.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46AiNFyqAI/AAAAAAAAF0c/Fx-47JaHMVE/s1600-h/Hosiery.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444430324655368194" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46AiNFyqAI/AAAAAAAAF0c/Fx-47JaHMVE/s400/Hosiery.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46Ah4XXlPI/AAAAAAAAF0U/-zgb2J-Lmuw/s1600-h/murad+harem+girl.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444430319091946738" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S46Ah4XXlPI/AAAAAAAAF0U/-zgb2J-Lmuw/s400/murad+harem+girl.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Vintage magazines and vintage advertising. I would wallpaper my apartment with vintage ads if I could! I think vintage ad designers are truly forgotten artistic geniuses... </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">What inspires you, dear readers</span>??</div><br /><div align="center">And coming up in the Blog it Forward Mash-up:</div><br /><div align="center"><br />• <a href="http://www.notyouraverageordinary.com/">not your average ordinary </a>3/3 • <a href="http://occupationhousewife.blogspot.com/">occupation housewife </a>3/4 • <a href="http://www.ohhellologan.com/">oh hello!</a> 3/5 </div><br /><p align="center">• <a href="http://ohheygreat.tumblr.com/">oh, hey great </a>3/8 • <a href="http://ohmishka.blogspot.com/">oh, mishka </a>3/9 • <a href="http://beautifulpaper.typepad.com/">oh so beautiful paper </a>3/10 </p><p align="center">• <a href="http://www.oldsweetsong.com/">old sweet song </a>3/11 </p><p align="center"></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-2888253526687474382010-03-02T18:20:00.001-08:002010-03-03T16:11:01.749-08:00A Beautiful Mourning.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43PSb6DqOI/AAAAAAAAFzs/3Kfi_ZIbwxg/s1600-h/undertaker1.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444235440196659426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43PSb6DqOI/AAAAAAAAFzs/3Kfi_ZIbwxg/s400/undertaker1.gif" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 343px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444233238783915714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43NSTAW9sI/AAAAAAAAFzU/Syf8kY6Vsfk/s400/ladyinblack2.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43NTUSMAxI/AAAAAAAAFzk/TXSz3mZ5CTk/s1600-h/1898mourning.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444233256307000082" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43NTUSMAxI/AAAAAAAAFzk/TXSz3mZ5CTk/s400/1898mourning.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43NSkTUIWI/AAAAAAAAFzc/rkmn6EJ1aJQ/s1600-h/youngwidow_johnson.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444233243426824546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43NSkTUIWI/AAAAAAAAFzc/rkmn6EJ1aJQ/s400/youngwidow_johnson.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MdXaf94I/AAAAAAAAFzM/TyMVN3froG8/s1600-h/mourning.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444232329434232706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MdXaf94I/AAAAAAAAFzM/TyMVN3froG8/s400/mourning.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MdFFFE2I/AAAAAAAAFzE/htbUzYbMeS0/s1600-h/victintype.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444232324512551778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MdFFFE2I/AAAAAAAAFzE/htbUzYbMeS0/s400/victintype.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MDFsjt7I/AAAAAAAAFy8/VNQ_ufnsGqI/s1600-h/GothicP25b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444231878001538994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43MDFsjt7I/AAAAAAAAFy8/VNQ_ufnsGqI/s400/GothicP25b.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43KnSpR_bI/AAAAAAAAFys/JdzRmXtH_p8/s1600-h/mourning.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444230300929490354" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S43KnSpR_bI/AAAAAAAAFys/JdzRmXtH_p8/s400/mourning.gif" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span> </span><span style="color:#000000;">dose of mid-week mourning seems like a major downer now that I consider it. Oh well, I'm going with the theme anyway...</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#000000;">A</span> short</span> absence in the blog world seems like the equivalent of an entire year somehow, doesn't it? I've been so busy. I took on a freelance photo editing project last week for a book on medical forensics {a random assignment...not an area of expertise by any means}, and I had no time to pay attention to my beloved blog. I hope she {and you} will forgive me. Needless to say, I was up to my eyeballs in photos of decapitations, bullet wounds, and diseased organs. Yes, a bit <em>yuck</em>. But also fascinating. Needless to say, this got me thinking a lot about death: not in a depressing, teen-angsty kind of way, but in a morbidly romantic kind of way. And who was more morbidly romantic than the Victorians? I sort of wish we hadn't forgotten how to make death a beautiful ritual...</div><br /><div>::Check out Chrissy Piper's lovely Victorian <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissypiper/326843648/">mourning photostream on flickr </a>/ Learn about Victorian <a href="http://www.victoriana.com/library/harpers/funeral.html">mourning rituals </a>here / Have a look around this fun site that features Victorian low-brow art and objects, including <a href="http://www.madametalbot.com/24mori.htm">Memento Mori</a>...more goodies for my curiosity cabinet!</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-71229308456949867112010-02-18T07:19:00.000-08:002010-02-18T09:03:05.036-08:00Artist: Maissa Toulet<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31xshqiZHI/AAAAAAAAFyk/JXxfXO0UAVg/s1600-h/toulet2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439628934698394738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31xshqiZHI/AAAAAAAAFyk/JXxfXO0UAVg/s400/toulet2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31upILStjI/AAAAAAAAFx8/f4yUJ64W75M/s1600-h/61maissatoulet-cabinetdesorcellerie-lecomptoirgeneral.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439625577781966386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31upILStjI/AAAAAAAAFx8/f4yUJ64W75M/s400/61maissatoulet-cabinetdesorcellerie-lecomptoirgeneral.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31uoxdIpnI/AAAAAAAAFx0/UipM8ndUuIs/s1600-h/Maissa+Toulet,+cauchemar,+2007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439625571682788978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31uoxdIpnI/AAAAAAAAFx0/UipM8ndUuIs/s400/Maissa+Toulet,+cauchemar,+2007.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31tsVBRntI/AAAAAAAAFxs/HkBLjuL4cdU/s1600-h/maissatoulet-cabinetdesorcellerie-lecomptoirgeneral.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439624533257592530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S31tsVBRntI/AAAAAAAAFxs/HkBLjuL4cdU/s400/maissatoulet-cabinetdesorcellerie-lecomptoirgeneral.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">I</span> recently discovered French artist <a href="http://maissatoulet.fr/index.html">Maissa Toulet's work</a>, and I'm fascinated by her collections of trifles, reliquaries, and curiosities. Toulet assembles bits and pieces she finds in junk shops and antique fairs into mesmerizing displays. According to Toulet, placing these collections inside frames and in cases makes her feel free -- she needs the boundaries and limitations to express herself. The displays evoke a sense of the sacred, yet they also have an eerie quality about them, as if put together by a clever sorcerer with sinister intentions...</div><br /><div>::If you live in Paris {or, lucky you, are going to be visiting}, you should check out Maissa's show at Gallery Marassa Trois, going on now until March 6. </div><br /><div></div><div>P.S. These really inspire me to continue my quest to make my own <span style="color:#990000;">cabinet of curiosities</span>. I have collected a few things here and there over the years: stones, bones, feathers, strange little sculptures. Now I just need to figure out how to get my parents to part with one of their old glass apothecary cabinets!!!! </div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-38139256822379968702010-02-17T06:57:00.000-08:002010-02-17T07:56:49.063-08:00The Crisis Magazine<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wN_AuzGZI/AAAAAAAAFxk/2VrgYze6oMI/s1600-h/the+crisis+5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439237826135923090" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wN_AuzGZI/AAAAAAAAFxk/2VrgYze6oMI/s400/the+crisis+5.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMsYOdW6I/AAAAAAAAFxM/mj-lG-HSVoA/s1600-h/thecrisis.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 255px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439236406513589154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMsYOdW6I/AAAAAAAAFxM/mj-lG-HSVoA/s400/thecrisis.jpg" /></a> </div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMsCBD7AI/AAAAAAAAFxE/G0tVFvhKSiQ/s1600-h/the+crisis+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 298px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439236400551816194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMsCBD7AI/AAAAAAAAFxE/G0tVFvhKSiQ/s400/the+crisis+2.jpg" /></a><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMr59FJ4I/AAAAAAAAFw8/_a-b_EjlA94/s1600-h/the+crisis+3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439236398387636098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMr59FJ4I/AAAAAAAAFw8/_a-b_EjlA94/s400/the+crisis+3.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMrg3aeyI/AAAAAAAAFw0/U7j2QVIedCU/s1600-h/the+crisis+4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 280px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439236391652981538" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3wMrg3aeyI/AAAAAAAAFw0/U7j2QVIedCU/s400/the+crisis+4.jpg" /></a></p><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">J</span>ust thought I'd share a bit about a new project we are starting at my other-other-other job at the <a href="http://dl.lib.brown.edu/mjp/">Modernist Journals Project</a>: we have begun digitizing early issues of <a href="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAcrisis.htm"><em>The Crisis</em> </a>magazine, which was published in association with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People {starting in 1910}. The magazine was edited by the brilliant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._E._B._Du_Bois">W.E.B. DuBois</a>, author of the <em><a href="http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=DubSoul.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1">The Souls of Black Folk</a></em>. Du Bois campaigned against racism, lynching, and segregation in the U.S., and the magazine takes up these topics, as well as addressing women's rights, democratic ideals, and fair access to education. For me, the visual elements are always as interesting {if not more} than the writing, so I thought I would share some of the early covers with you...the ones from the 20's are incredible, and you can really see the African/Egyptian influences on the art from that period. I'm looking forward to browsing some of the earlier issues, as well -- most of which have been hidden away in archives for decades! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>::<strong>P.S.</strong> The <em>Crisis Magazine</em> is still being published today -- more than 100 years after it began! Check it out <a href="http://www.thecrisismagazine.com/">here</a>.</div><div></div><div></div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-22261872144554235272010-02-16T07:58:00.000-08:002010-02-16T12:24:41.106-08:00Bijoux: Necklaces from J Crew and Anthropologie<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rKERxyghI/AAAAAAAAFwU/V4UTSmCTF28/s1600-h/anthropologie+necklace.jpg"><img style="width: 268px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438881674843816466" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rKERxyghI/AAAAAAAAFwU/V4UTSmCTF28/s400/anthropologie+necklace.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rKEAxtq2I/AAAAAAAAFwM/0Bz0kNqO6IU/s1600-h/anthropologie+necklaces.jpg"><img style="width: 267px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438881670280096610" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rKEAxtq2I/AAAAAAAAFwM/0Bz0kNqO6IU/s400/anthropologie+necklaces.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />{via <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=JEWELRYACCESSORIES&navAction=top&navCount=110&isSortBy=true&pushId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&id=JEWELRY-NECKLACES">Anthropologie</a>} </div><div align="center"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 393px; display: block; height: 393px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438879777159299282" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rIV0WiwNI/AAAAAAAAFvs/aEgNNIhAAfA/s400/j+crew+necklace.bmp" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 393px; display: block; height: 393px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438884609408066194" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3rMvF4bYpI/AAAAAAAAFwc/3kuwYeUYIBM/s400/j+crew+necklace+2.bmp" border="0" /> <p align="center">{via <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/jewelry.jsp">J Crew</a>} </p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ></span><p align="left"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >I</span> am smitten by the pretty bijoux at <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/index.jsp">J Crew </a>and <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">Anthropologie</a> right now -- the necklaces in particular! They have a 1800's <em>French</em> feel about them. I imagine one catching me eye in a shop window as I stroll about the <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=paris+arcades&rlz=1R2ADSA_enUS342&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Ys56S8OCM4-wswPGjMC8Cw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CEoQsAQwCg">Paris Arcades </a>in my swooshing gown...</p><p align="left"></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-8359930296251288572010-02-14T08:33:00.000-08:002010-02-14T09:20:20.829-08:00Happy Valentine's Day!<div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I love you J.B.!!!! You have the uncanny ability to make even the smallest moments sparkle with laughter, irreverence, and fun... </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0Yvv0cL1DI/AAAAAAAAFlE/HN_goyL0H-Y/s1600-h/tennessee+017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424075299791557682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0Yvv0cL1DI/AAAAAAAAFlE/HN_goyL0H-Y/s320/tennessee+017.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvwVynQgI/AAAAAAAAFlM/sEtWTXx9hPM/s1600-h/tennessee+019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424075308744000002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvwVynQgI/AAAAAAAAFlM/sEtWTXx9hPM/s320/tennessee+019.JPG" /></a> </div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YrHfgmPCI/AAAAAAAAFks/kKMCoeD59gU/s1600-h/tennessee+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424070208931642402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YrHfgmPCI/AAAAAAAAFks/kKMCoeD59gU/s400/tennessee+009.JPG" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvuysZFFI/AAAAAAAAFk0/FqnDffeivJE/s1600-h/tennessee+013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424075282142794834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvuysZFFI/AAAAAAAAFk0/FqnDffeivJE/s320/tennessee+013.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvvQC9a3I/AAAAAAAAFk8/LdlR6MIqk74/s1600-h/tennessee+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424075290022079346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S0YvvQC9a3I/AAAAAAAAFk8/LdlR6MIqk74/s320/tennessee+015.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"><br /><em>"I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever</em>.” ~Amy Tan<br /></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-88271551877334349492010-02-12T08:30:00.000-08:002010-02-16T09:01:41.923-08:00The List: Erotic Poetry<div align="center"><em>And down his mouth comes to my mouth! and down<br />His bright dark eyes come over me, like a hood<br />Upon my mind! his lips meet mine, and a flood<br />Of sweet fire sweeps across me, so I drown<br />Against him, die, and find death good</em>. </div><div align="center">~D.H. Lawrence </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3NLfKTGLDI/AAAAAAAAFvk/NAeY1Dq0h3Q/s1600-h/rossetti+beauty.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436772173878799410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3NLfKTGLDI/AAAAAAAAFvk/NAeY1Dq0h3Q/s400/rossetti+beauty.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">W</span>hat better time to indulge in a bit of erotic-love poetry than Valentine's Day? I've always been drawn to poets who are able to turn the most carnal, bodily aspects of love into something utterly transcendent. Historically, erotic poetry has been able to stay under-the-radar and escape censorship in the western world, even when its contents were graphically sexual. Unlike the novel, which has seen its fair share of censoring, poetry seems to quietly evade accusations of pornography. I recently learned that beat poet <a href="http://sprayberry.tripod.com/poems/howl.txt">Allen Ginsberg's 1956 poem "Howl"</a> was one of the only poems brought to trial in the U.S. for obscenity. The charges were dropped, because the judge decided the poem had "redeeming social importance." How fascinating to think that what one person considers <em>smut</em>, another person considers an important expression of very human experiences...<br /><br />::Here are some of my favorite erotic poems/poets, and while they certainly seem tame to us today, they still manage to speak to us in a beautifully <strong>carnal</strong> way!<br /><br /><ul><li>Charles Algernon Swinburne's decadent "<a href="http://poetry.eserver.org/Swinburne(LoveSleep).html">Love and Sleep</a>."</li><li>The <a href="http://www.sappho.com/poetry/sappho.html#Please">erotic lyrics of the ancient Greek poetess Sappho</a>. </li><li>Walt Whitman's virile <a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1903.html">"I Sing the Body Electric." </a></li><li>D.H. Lawrence's sexy, rustic "<a href="http://www.web-books.com/Classics/Poetry/Anthology/Lawrence/Love.htm">Love on the Farm</a>" {one of my all-time favorites}.</li><li>ee cumming's ode to the act of love: "<a href="http://lovepoems.yu-hu.com/cummings/i_like_my_body.shtml">i like my body when it is with your body</a>."</li><li>The lesbian lyrics of {two women lovers with one name} <a href="http://www.sappho.com/poetry/m_field.html">Michael Field</a>. </li><li>The desperate longing of the late Victorian <a href="http://www.sappho.com/poetry/c_mew.html">poet Charlotte Mew</a>. </li></ul><p>**What are some of your favorite love/erotic poems?? Why not have a private poetry reading...just you and your honey??</p><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>Happy Weekend of Love, my Dears!</strong></span></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-75233757829715570302010-02-09T14:25:00.000-08:002010-02-09T18:11:11.265-08:00A Friend Who "Feels" You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3HBrpzvbeI/AAAAAAAAFvc/32UyBWBCymw/s1600-h/vintage+friends.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 283px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436339180914306530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3HBrpzvbeI/AAAAAAAAFvc/32UyBWBCymw/s400/vintage+friends.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">R</span></span>eading Daniel J. Siegel's inspiring new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mindsight-New-Science-Personal-Transformation/dp/0553804707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265746751&sr=8-1"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Mindsight</span></a>, I was struck by his notion that "feeling felt" emotionally by another person is crucial for healthy childhood and adolescent development. Everyone has their share of difficulties growing up {some more than others}, but Siegel argues that as long as we have a person in our life we feel a connection with, be it a friend or a family member, our chances of becoming strong, resilient, happy adults increase exponentially.<br />Siegel says: "Being close to someone early in our lives gives us the clarity to know how we feel, and the ability to feel close to others."<br /><br />This concept made me think of my oldest friend: Sara. I realized that in great part I have my precious friend Sara to thank for my relative balance and happiness as a "grown up." Sara and I both dealt with some rather difficult and traumatic experiences as teenagers, and I truly believe if it weren't for her love, support, and humor through those tough years, that I would probably be a terribly cranky, pessimistic, and downright antisocial person these days. I think I can safely say, more than any other person in my life {then or now}, Sara truly "felt" me! I hope I gave her at least a fraction of that experience, as well. Thanks so much dear Sara.<br /><br />::Tell me readers, who is the person who has made you feel "felt" the most in your own life?? <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">Don't forget to send them some love for Valentine's!!</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)">♥</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)">♥</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)">♥</span><br /><br />{And aren't these vintage lady friends super-cute in their jodhpurs??}<br /><div></div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-29507536225483570232010-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:002010-02-08T13:22:17.443-08:00I Wanna Be a Gibson Girl, and You Can Be My Gibson Guy<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S28JyVgUxrI/AAAAAAAAFs0/sAvP4jgy-b8/s1600-h/tara+hair.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435574035630311090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S28JyVgUxrI/AAAAAAAAFs0/sAvP4jgy-b8/s400/tara+hair.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A5FKMienI/AAAAAAAAFtE/5vubrifzdEU/s1600-h/gibson+girl+hair+007.JPG"></a><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">M</span>y hair is finally growing out {it's almost past my shoulders now}! My layers are practically gone, and my hair feels so thick. I'm recalling all of the fun things you can do when you actually have hair to play with. I have recently been experimenting with Edwardian/Gibson Girl styles: big, soft, feminine, and pouffy. Though I need to figure out how to get even MORE volume. I love the idea of offsetting this old-fashioned hairstyle with some very modern-looking clothes. Do you know who is an expert at the neo-Edwardian look {and insanely beautiful, to boot}? The lovely Harps from <a href="http://houseofharps.blogspot.com/">House of Harps </a>blog. I don't even begin to do her justice, but her style is SO inspiring! And speaking of inspiration, here is some more Gibson goodness for your Monday...</p><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_RAZMbbI/AAAAAAAAFuE/xNgdCUvGJU8/s1600-h/style+alchemy.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 211px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435914311632186802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_RAZMbbI/AAAAAAAAFuE/xNgdCUvGJU8/s320/style+alchemy.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_Q12aW2I/AAAAAAAAFt8/_4s8RSMXEuU/s1600-h/gibson-girl-hairstyle-01_fs.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 197px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435914308801944418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_Q12aW2I/AAAAAAAAFt8/_4s8RSMXEuU/s320/gibson-girl-hairstyle-01_fs.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">{via <a href="http://stylealchemy.com/ruminations/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/hair11.jpg">Style Alchemy </a>[left]}</span> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_Qjzp4JI/AAAAAAAAFt0/dobYQ0fAniY/s1600-h/style+alchemy+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 213px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435914303958540434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A_Qjzp4JI/AAAAAAAAFt0/dobYQ0fAniY/s320/style+alchemy+2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-4TqqcKI/AAAAAAAAFts/OmoNY0Pe7g8/s1600-h/gibgirl.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 295px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913887309000866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-4TqqcKI/AAAAAAAAFts/OmoNY0Pe7g8/s320/gibgirl.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-32sFxGI/AAAAAAAAFtk/MctGFMMj9tc/s1600-h/The%2520Gibson%2520Girl.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 226px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913879530357858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-32sFxGI/AAAAAAAAFtk/MctGFMMj9tc/s320/The%2520Gibson%2520Girl.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-3t9mIcI/AAAAAAAAFtc/IRSsK2WgXG0/s1600-h/girl2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 206px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913877187862978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-3t9mIcI/AAAAAAAAFtc/IRSsK2WgXG0/s320/girl2.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-3ZqddZI/AAAAAAAAFtU/NYqndBnRu-4/s1600-h/gibson+girl+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 170px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913871738893714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-3ZqddZI/AAAAAAAAFtU/NYqndBnRu-4/s320/gibson+girl+2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-26W4MxI/AAAAAAAAFtM/fPhVmeDsXUw/s1600-h/9586whipwoman.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 207px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913863335260946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S3A-26W4MxI/AAAAAAAAFtM/fPhVmeDsXUw/s320/9586whipwoman.jpg" /></a> </div>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9057450028150007198.post-75838824708351471792010-02-03T15:22:00.001-08:002010-02-03T16:33:34.681-08:00Girl Crush: Uma Thurman<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S2oFN5KliPI/AAAAAAAAFsk/qFu-dmu-02s/s1600-h/uma.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434161636617586930" style="WIDTH: 397px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lirt8srIYAI/S2oFN5KliPI/AAAAAAAAFsk/qFu-dmu-02s/s400/uma.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">I</span> originally saw the incredible series of Polaroids by Hollywood casting director Bonnie Timmermann on <a href="http://modelsown.blogspot.com/2010/02/before-they-were-famous.html">Model's Own </a>blog, and I was literally left breathless by this photo of Uma. This shot was taken at the very beginning of her career! I have always loved her -- lanky, sensual, and beautiful without being overly perfect. She is so sexy in her early films: <a onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/filmo/title-title/images/b.gif'" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096764/">The Adventures of Baron Munchausen</a>, <a onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/filmo/title-title/images/b.gif'" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099762/">Henry & June</a>, and <a onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/filmo/title-title/images/b.gif'" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/" name="actress1980">Dangerous Liaisons</a> are some of my favorites {probably because I saw them when I was young and impressionable}. And Quentin Tarantino was certainly justified in making her his muse: <a onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/filmo/title-title/images/b.gif'" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/">Pulp Fiction</a> is incredibly memorable, in part because of her quirky character; but, her role as "The Bride" in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/">Kill Bill</a> is just...well, killer. Have you heard there's a third <em>Kill Bill</em> in the works??</p><p>Enough gushing for now...<br /></p>{Tara}http://www.blogger.com/profile/00983868577862685234noreply@blogger.com14