The NighBluey Herald....(Life ~ in easy-to-swallow caplets...)

It's Goodbye (waves~~~)...

2010-07-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,
I have decided to give up on this blog....it's with a measure of personal disappointment that I have come to realise that I am at the end of this road - I am spinning my wheels and not progressing at the pace I have set for myself.

This has been an enriching and learning experience for me - I have enjoyed it greately but I am not feeling that way anymore and so it's time to move on...

I have met so many of you, loyal (but few) followers - and for that I am forever grateful!
Please stay in touch - you know where to find me if you want to and I will continue to "stalk" your blogs from time to time!
oxoxoxo AJ

Painted Wood

2010-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Isn't this sideboard stylish? Transform an old, much-loved piece into a newly-loved one with some paint and elbow grease - THE perfect weekend project!

photo credit: HousandHome.com

Aurelie Mathigot

2010-07-13T22:33:00.001-04:00

I have often wondered what artists' homes look like....here is one - the home of Aurelie Mathigot - "une artiste plasticienne..." - colour, texture and more colour....

Photos: marieclairemaison.com, aureliemathigot.com

PS: Alessi, I love you!

2010-07-13T07:10:00.001-04:00

Around for quite number of years now...

...and still delighting us with fluid, clever designs - Alessi!
Here's to making everyday objects a thrill to handle!
1. a nutcracker
2. a fruit tray

Photo credits: marieclairemaison.com

I am redecorating....bear with me!

2010-07-11T11:02:00.002-04:00

Happy Weekend, All!

ox AJ

(my lilies are baack!)

Check this Out!

2010-07-09T06:58:00.000-04:00

Gingham is baaack! (did it ever leave?) ~ I cannot imagine my living room looking like this but there are homes just made for this tidy check! June Cleaver would approve!

Officially dubbed a Design Trend for 2010!

Photo credit: HouseandHome.com

Cross-Pollination

2010-07-06T07:16:00.001-04:00

Cross-pollination: "....also called allogamy occurs when pollen is delivered to a flower from a different plant. Plants adapted to outcross or cross-pollinate often have taller stamens than carpels or use other mechanisms to better ensure the spread of pollen to other plants flowers." (Wikipedia)

Yesterday was one of those days when wannabees like me only dream of....A REAL artist, Rebecca Bogan of AbobeSol Designs, called me one....
What can I say: I am overwhelmed and very, very grateful!
THANK YOU, Rebecca!
I am a huge fan of AdobeSol myself and already own several of Rebecca's designs...here is a piece she did for me recently...
("K" is to the Big-K...)

(I am still bouncing in delight...tra la la)...

Photo credits: AbobeSol and AJJ

Mixing Styles

2010-07-05T05:37:00.000-04:00

I am baaaack from a little blog hiatus - full of verve and pep (or is it the other way around?)

Am very taken by these images of a home belonging to an interior designer (surprise surprise) which mixes two styles: Japanese and Scandinavian....who would have thought it possible? and yet, it is...

Adroit pairings of the natural and the synthetic, plenty of wood and brick, punched up with a little stainless steel...

Serene, calming surfaces and contemplative vistas...the kind of place where one would be inspired to write an opus...would it begin, perhaps, with "....she rented a house, away from the crowds - to be alone with her thoughts and to write that poem..."

Hope you are all having a smashing summer!!

photo credits: Marieclairemaison.com

Saturday Haiku~

2010-06-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

perched on a blade of straw

metallic skin taut

the Iron Frog

photo credit: Lon Fong (Flickr)

Fall Shmall....

2010-06-17T20:27:00.000-04:00

...but seriously, Summer has not even officially begun and I am already asking: "are YOU ready for Fall"???

You would be very much en vogue come this leaf-dropping-season in these jaw-dropping Celine creations (one of my favourite designers...4 photos above)....minimalist IS the look for Phoebe Philo, in her second season at this venerable design house....

And how about 'em boots ~ from one of my other favourites - Bruberry Prorsum - leather and stretch lace - now that is a vavoom combination....

Some think it plebean but I do like the look of brown and black together...with the right tones and textures...

All photos: style.com

Goodbye, Tobias Wong..

2010-06-16T13:55:00.001-04:00

Canadian-born, New York-based designer, Tobias Wong, was only 35

when he took his own life a couple of weeks ago...

Born and raised in Vancouver, he studied art and design in Toronto before moving to New York in 1997...

He was widely recognized as an artist who helped bring forth what is today taken for granted in contemporary culture....he shone a "tongue-in-cheek" light on what we consider obvious...

Goodbye, Tobias - your talent and sense of humour will be missed....

Above: 1. mirror puzzle 2. diamond ring 3. McDonald's (gold) spoon (became a staple among coke-heads) 4. smokers' mittens...
Photo credits: google everywhere....

Chateau de la Verrerie

2010-06-14T04:55:00.004-04:00

This magical place describes itself as a "Bed & Breakfast"...I call that "an understatement of the century...."

If someone were to try and soothe my currently-ruffled-soul in the Blue Room, I say I would emerge positively "charmante" and "sympathique"....

..and to make me positively "contente", on the second morning of my delightful and perfectly medicinal stay, that someone would move my suitcase into this Violet Room......(and don't forget the croissants, PLEASE!!!)

Pretty close to paradise in my book.....complete with magnificent gardens and the obligatory (and oh-so-indispensible) statues of putti....

All photos courtesy of www.chateaudelaverrerie.fr

Saturday Haiku~

2010-06-12T08:00:00.003-04:00

An oily summer lake

his feet are wrinkled

carefree abandon

photo credit: judo dad1954(flickr)

Time for Purple!

2010-06-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Yes, I needed a purple recharge!
Purple makes me whole..
Purple makes me smile..
Purple makes me..(fill in your own blank)~

Happy Tuesday, All!

Photo credits (in order of appearance): julesoflondon, wip-hairport, ragamuffinview,
cheekhoward, purpletree, birdman of el paso (all flickr)

Leafy Sea Dragons

2010-06-07T07:46:00.000-04:00

Sea dragons are some of my favourite creatures on this planet!
They are actually fish and siblings to another weakness of mine~seahorses
(I won't be able to resist a separate post about them)!

These magical creatures are found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. Their leafy protrusions are not used for propolsion at all - they serve as camouflage only - sea dragons are trying to pretend they are seaweed...

Female sea dragons lay 250 bright pink eggs - through a long tube, they deposit them on a male sea dragon's tail and he cares for them until they hatch...then, the male shakes his tail gently, including against rocks and weeds, to help the little ones leave their eggs....

Despite the fact that they eat tiny fish and shrimp, they do not have teeth!

Hello, Beautiful! You can come and live in my bathtub any time!

Photo credits: MikeJonesPhoto(2), KentSmith9, Matt Tworkowski, William Bullimore (all Flickr)

Saturday Haiku~

2010-06-05T03:18:00.003-04:00

What is beauty?
Spring garden in bloom
Poenies bow their heads

Photo credit: AJ

Sally's Sea Shore Home

2010-06-03T19:28:00.001-04:00

Who can forget the-one-and-only Meg in "When Harry Met Sally"??
~and here is she, some years later, still looking fabulous-darling and..
here is her fabulous sea shore home in Martha's Vineyard, the product of her work with Marsha Russell of Satinwood Ltd., an interior-design firm in Bedford, New York.

Who can be unhappy waking up to a view like this?

When Sally, I mean Meg, found this barn-like home, it did not look like the operatic aria she was able to achieve through sheer work and vision - parts of it had collapsed and the cedar-shingled roof was in need of desperate repair....Sally to the rescue!
She said of her find: "..the post-and-beam design is about seeing the skeleton of the house. I needed walls - I had to come in and add the skin."

Meg very skillfully maintained the open and airy aspect which can only come with homes of this height and structure..stunning!

...ahh, to dream in a tub like this....I am afraid I would never leave....

Photo credits: elledecor.com

A Part of Me

2010-05-30T08:50:00.000-04:00

Gardening completes me..it's very much a part of me...it's a creative process in which I have a partner ~ Mother Nature ~ she guides me and I surprise her from time to time, with cheeky ideas, colour combinations and notions....

I cannot draw or paint but my garden is my canvas. My symbiosis with all things green and growing is part of the reason I dislike the winter so intensly....

..so now you can see a little into ME!

All photos: AJ

Design Friday*

2010-05-28T06:16:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, the weekend is here!~enjoy, Darlinks!~

Literally thousands of Ontarians will be hitting the roads in several hours, heading for their cottages ~ some of them even in my neighbourhood (Kevin and I live in "cottage country" but in a real, grown-up house).

Many of these cottages are as modern as the incredible examples in these photos - lots of wood, glass and natural stone....an eclectic mix of rustic and modern..

Loove the overall fluidity of this design....the chairs off set the rigid, geometric edges of the rug, furniture and windows.

A stunning combination of wood and stone...the hues are warm, inviting and straight from Mother Nature...It's ok to mix wood types and finishes....I give you permission
(and so does the designer above, wink)

Now, I could really spend the weekend on this serene patio but wait, I have my own serene patio and photos of it are coming sooooooon!
Have a splish-splashy weekend, All (heatwave still here!)
ox

Photos: HouseandHome.com

Heatwave

2010-05-26T16:01:00.000-04:00

We are in the middle of one - HURRAY! and it's only the end of May - HURRAY again!
It's so hot, our cats are feeling around for zippers to take off their furry coats!
It's so hot, I had ice-cream for breakfast this morning!
It's so hot, we slept in our birthday suits last night! (wink)..
xoxoxox

Photo credit: Majdy (Flickr)

Hooked on the North

2010-05-24T10:22:00.000-04:00

My latest obsession are blogs from the North - Norway, Sweden, Denmark....I am preparing a longer post about them as, in my view, they are a genre all their own but in the meantime...on one of them, I learned about Tine K Home and fell in love...

AND Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria! (being celebrated in Canada today with a day off work, to play and read and garden, yaaay!)

Photos: TineKHome.com

Tickle your Senses

2010-05-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

An inspiring image, don't you agree? I want to reach out and touch it....
See more here...

credit: h.koppdelaney(flickr)

Magic by Karim Rashid

2010-05-19T15:39:00.001-04:00

Kurve Restaurant in NYC

Truly magical designs by Karim Rashid.
I love everything about them...the fluidity, the colour, the George Jetson-ness...

Prizeotel

The Semiramis - Athens

Jean-Georges Market Restaurant - Atlanta

Majik Restaurant

Silk Road Restaurant in Las Vegas

The Master Himself

Photos: courtesy of karimrashid.com

Maldoror Low Couture

2010-05-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Poland's Fashion Week just ended in Lodz (it's where I was born, by the way).
The shows were divided into two sets of presentations: Off Shows and Designers' Alley.
The Off Shows included Maldoror: - an up-and-coming design shop presenting their Asphyxiation line (F/W 2010). Vaguely reminiscent of Mr. McQueen's prowess, this design house includes the following statement in their manifesto:
(translated by me): "Real beauty lies in the unattainable".

Definitely raw and visceral, these creations betray a spirit of rebellion and non-conformism. They are not what I would chose to wear but I do appreciate them, and very much so, for their depth of vision, their form and play on texture.

The Asphyxiation line was presented in an old factory, further emphasising the organic, raw quality of its components.

Just a tiny sample of Poland's vibrant and talented design pool.

Photos: Maldoror.pl, google (Lodz Fashion Week)

Provence

2010-05-15T07:52:00.000-04:00

Some facts about Provence:

1. The rustic and incredibly beautilful scenery of this region of France inspired Paul Cezanne to produce some of his best works.
2. The inhabitants of Provence still speak its traditional language: Provencal, which is similar to Catalan or Spanish. Many street and landmarks are named both in Provencal and French.

3. Originally a Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis, this area of France was close enough to Rome to be referred to, over time, as "provincia", hence its current name.

4. The Roman influence remains visible even today, particularly in the region's architecture.

5. Provence is known for its memorable cuisine, with fish at its centre. Many dishes also feature the liberal use of herbs (including thyme, rosemary, oregano and basil), with local vegetables, all cooked in olive oil.

6. Provence is not uniform in terms of its landscape and themes. Here, you will find medieval, cobbled streets and Roman inspired arenas but also the almost-cosmopolitan bustle of cities like Cannes and the commercial business of ports like Marseille and even Menton.

7. Provence is well known for its vivid, purple lavender fields and the lavender industry is an important component of Provence's economy. I have resisted including photos of such fields because you have seen them before and I wanted to show you other, less known faces of this incredible region.

7. Whether you are looking for vibrant nighlife, quiet serenity, or incredible wines and cuisine, Provence will please. I have very, very fond memories of all my visits to Provence, whether spent travelling all over the region or settled in on a sailboat in Menton.

And now, I am nurturing my own little Provence, in my garden....My darling lavender plants whose still tender leaves are reaching up to the sun and gathering energy to grace my garden with purple deliciousness...

Photo credits:
(Flickr) Feuillu, CatChanel, duncansapien, Vince Arno, matzR, La Route
Collage: AJ

Lovely Lena

2010-05-13T07:05:00.001-04:00

Lena Horne - the epitome of beauty, style, grace and good-old sex-appeal! She lived to a well-deserved age of 92 and during her time of this planet, graced us with her incredible persona and voice, and forged the way for many black artists and performers.

Lena's stunning breakthrough and on to the silver screen began in 1943 when she performed in an all-black production of "Stormy Weather" - the title song became her signature for the rest of her life.

By the 1950s and having a series of movies under her belt, Lena became disenchanted with Hollywood, including as a result of its treatment of blacks and its relatively open admission that her measure of success a a black performer related to her very fair skin. She focussed on her nighclub career and experiences much success headlining for influential establishment across the world, literally.

Lena was much more than skin deep. Throughout her life, she remained an active voice in the Civil Rights Movement and later, in championing the rights of blacks in general. During WW II, the US Army would not permit her to entertain integrated audiences of black and white American soldiers. She refused to accept segregated audiences and ended up performing for a mixed group of Black American servicemen and white German POWs.

Lena had a marvellous sense of humour: she played herself on Sanford and Son, Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. She also appeared on The Cosby Show and A Different World.

A stunning, classy woman throughout her life...One of my style icons and role models....

Have fun up there, Lena!

Photo credits: Google "everywhere"

It's never too early in the morning for PR!

2010-05-12T07:24:00.000-04:00

I mean for Parmigiano-Reggiano! :) I just love it, any time of the day!
It's the most famous of the Italian "grana" (grainy textured) hard cheeses...
Its most famous competition, Grana Padano, comes from neighbouring Lombardy and while the two cheeses are made in a very similar way, Padano is sold much younger and therefore, its taste is milder and less crumbly.

First rule of buying Parmigiano-Reggiano: - always buy Parmigiano-Reggiano! Its imitators are precisely that and life is too short to drink bad sake (hmm, now that I think about it - is there bad sake?) and eat poor cheese! Unlike the real PR, imitations are made with pasteurized cheese and too much salt, and the aging process is limited to a few months and not years. Shaking sawdust out a cardboard container simply cannot compare to grating the real thing and by the way, I advise storing your PR in a chunk as the grated variety is prone to prematurely drying out.

The tradition of grating PR over pasta is long-standing. In fact, for centuries, pasta's only topping was cheese and spices - a tomato topping did not become popular until the 19th century.
Your chunk of PR, tightly wrapped in foil or plastic, will stay moist and crumbly in your fridge crisper for a few weeks. But even old, dried-out PR can be a delight - toss the rind on a grill for 20 minutes and then you can enjoy soft, warm PR over fresh bread!

I am sure you know this already but it's worth repeating - PR is named after the area of Northern Italy, around the cities of Parma and Reggio, where it has always been made.
But did you also know that this is the cheese the great English Diarist, Samuel Pepys, buried in an effort to save it from the Great Fire of London in 1666? And did you know that in 1914, the great Italian restauranteur, Alfredo Di Lelio, grated PR over noodles, cream and butter and presto! - Fettucine Alfredo was born!

YUM!
Have some PR tonight, or even this morning!

Photo credits: Thomarob, Chaxiubao (both on Flickr)

Forget-me-not....

2010-05-09T19:35:00.000-04:00

I am still here, still alive...bear with me, please, and come back soon....my "other life", of an attorney, absorbed all of my attention in the last few days...I so missed the feel of my camera in my hands, my morning blog posts and the delicious 20 minutes I spend each daybreak reading yours....

today, in a moment of respite from the rain, I crawled on the wet ground to take this photo, just for YOU!

ox AJ

Satoshi Saikusa

2010-04-28T17:52:00.000-04:00

I am a sucker for expressive photography....my latest find - Satoshi Saikusa....great range...fast, slow, expressive, colourful...

photo credits: Satoshi Saikusa at Jedroot.com

How many minutes have YOU been on this planet?

2010-04-27T11:02:00.000-04:00

...if you are dying to know, take a look at this fun Birthday Calculator....it will give you piles of other great trivia on your birthday!

I recommend it!

By the way, I am a 3!

Free Love meets Disco...

2010-04-26T03:41:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, on my way home, I found myself behind this groovy canary yellow VW Van....maybe the bearded young man behind the skinny white wheel thought I was a two-bit PI, snapping photos of his vessel with my Blackberry camera???? Well, that's a PI "cover" if I ever heard of one - a middle-aged woman wearing square-rimmed glasses, driving a Volvo with a plant sticking out through the sunroof (I had to put in on the passenger side floor and it was very tall)...

I have always been a sucker for these vans and one day, I know I will own one...
(for the moment, I am limited to my teal blue Volvo P1800, but that is another story, for another time)...

If I ever write a book (unlikely - I have nothing to say), it will have two of the characters make love in a VW Van. A green one. Not sure why - it's just an image I have in my head.
There is such a mythology associated with this brand and shape, literary and otherwise...still such a solid fan base, all over the world!

Almost toy-ish in appareance, when well looked after, these vans can appear to be made of plastic. In terms of colour palette, the world is your oyster! And what other van has "a face", now really!

Why "Free Love meets Disco"? because these vans were prolific in both the 60s and 70s and are commonly associated with both eras, in popular culture, music and pulp.

Wow, this one would help me transport all (or at least some) of my shoes from place to place!

And here's one in my favourite colour!

Here's to vans with personality (and free love and disco too! ~ wink)!

photo credits - in order of appearance:
AJ, (Flickr members:) Albert S. Bite, mazdamiata, tr33lo, cartype.com, hr wce, Bog Standard,

The Not-so-Mundane around us...

2010-04-25T04:12:00.000-04:00

At the risk of sounding cliche, I will say that you do not have to put on your shoes and go to the art gallery to see art and beauty around you. It's right under our noses, part of our everyday, busy lives, often altogether unnoticed and perhaps even considered banale.

I love the look and feel of coffee grinds, for example. I run them through my fingers, from time to time, to feel their grit and almost taste their rich aroma with my very fingertips.

..and weeds? who decided that certain plants are weeds and others are not? This young thistle is a work of art, don't you agree? How ingeniously constructed it is, how strong its will to survive - spikes, thorns and all....to me, an object d'art...

...and the simple apple? I think that it has one of the most fetching forms around and in so many varieties..this red delicious boasts a vivacious colour, a superb skin and a graceful stalk....

Appreciate the otherwise-considered-mundane around you today!

All photos by AJ

Pet Pic

2010-04-23T06:49:00.000-04:00

Dear Jan at Race of Style has told us about a new camera which will help pet owners immortalize their beloved creatures - it "recognizes" pet faces and makes good shots of lot easier to achieve.

The timing of Jan's post could not be more perfect - presenting (drumroll) a photo of our Elizabeth (one of our three troublemakers)...isn't she beautiful? I took it just yesterday...errr..tried to take it just yesterday...

HAPPY FRIDAY, KITTIES!! oxo AJ

Back to School!

2010-04-22T11:44:00.000-04:00

Did you study last night? Are you ready to be called to the front of the class to solve that math problem?

(you know, I hated math so much, I still have nightmares about writing math exams!)

My plans for this weekend? Cracking open that can of chalkboard paint I bought the other day!

I have big (and messy) plans for it - and who knows, I might even post some "post"-pics someday!

Aren't these super examples of clever uses of chalkboards? I just looove some of these...

credits: everywhere! on google

The Beauty of Form (not just Substance)

2010-04-21T06:36:00.001-04:00

Often, the "envelope" can be just as beautiful as the "message" inside..sometimes, even more so...

There are those who insist that noticing the "outside" of people, of things and places is shallow and passe but I do not agree!

Form can and should be appreciated on its own and for its own sake....don't we select so many objects which surround us in our daily lives precisely because of the way they look ? (which, I agree, may then make us feel a particular way). The point is that form does matter, it always has and it always will. I believe that form and substance can co-exist but they do not have to be in philosophical competition (one is not superior to the other). Each should be celebrated, on its own and today, I celebrate form!

Images from Traditional Home

Geisha Brides...

2010-04-19T19:23:00.000-04:00

I am enchanted by these old photos and their delightful inhabitants...

I found them on Flickr, in the treasure trove hosted by Okinawa Soba.

Where are these women now, I wonder? how old are they?

Are they happy?

..because sometimes, only pink will do!

2010-04-16T06:25:00.000-04:00

I have selected this photo as my "photo of the week".
I know, I know, we have seen lots and lots of photos of little girls but this one is special, don't you agree?
Her eyes are so genuine, innocent, expressive....her hair has that dreamy quality: silky and smooth - only kids have that hair....the hood of her little pink corduroy little double-breasted number makes her look like a fairytale drawf...and the pink! ~ this vibrant pink is THE colour for this little dreamboat....
I am sure she is the apple of her Daddy's eye...
Have a Pink, Happy Weekend!

Photo credit: big daddy k (Flickr)

Now open wide and don't forget to breathe!!!

2010-04-15T07:01:00.000-04:00

From time to time, we all feel overwhelmed...
..~we feel like no matter how wide we open, we won't be able to chew what we have bitten off~.....
It all passes, I promise! I realised in my 30s that there is absolutely nothing I can't get through....
it's just a question of breathing regularly and chewing patiently...
I am not posting this because I am feeling overwhelmed
-not at all-
I have just been thinking of those times when I was and how I got through them....

Super photo by NatureLover2007 (Flickr)

On a much lighter note...

2010-04-14T03:49:00.000-04:00

If you read this blog, you know I love zebras and guess what, I love black and white cows too! (I see a theme coming on, don't you?)......they are, in my view, perfect decorating accessories - wish I could have one in my living room and just move it around from time to time, like a bookshelf!

There are blogs which lead you to great fashion finds, offer advice on how to have shiny hair or a weed-free lawn.....
-my gift to you today: the following advice - when you are blue and feeling lost, take a "ride" through Flickr - just type in a word that comes to your mind and enjoy...stumbling onto your computer screen will be hundreds and hundreds of photos from around the world - interesting photos, sometimes touching, sometimes funny, sometimes unbelieveably beautiful...such "photo travels" can be very therapeutic and inspiring....Bonne Chance!

Photo credit: Eduardo Amorim (Flickr)

I am low on creative fuel.....*

2010-04-13T15:38:00.000-04:00

News from the place of my birth, Poland, has been very sad since Saturday and I am not my usual busy-body self, senses darting here and there....it's a quiet, introspective time....

I did, however, stumble on Pappas*Miron, a truly interest-worthy interior design firm of

Alexandra Pappas and Tatyana Miron.

This style of design truly speaks to me. It is fresh and almost minimalist but not quite - neither too much nor too little - just enough. The colour combinations are also modern and comforting.

Photos: pappasmiron.com

Tragedy in Smolensk

2010-04-11T06:02:00.000-04:00

TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN POLAND,

TO ALL POLES, YOUNG AND OLD...

My sincere condolences and may you find the strength you now need in yourselves and in God..

Wieczny odpoczynek racz im dac Panie...

Oh, and did I mention purple rocks?

2010-04-09T11:30:00.002-04:00

If you follow this blog, you know purple makes blood rush extra-happily through my veins!
Trust me when I say that if I could have purple, as opposed to rosy, cheeks, I would!

Purple comes in many shades - this makes it versatile and multi-faceted...

The combination of purple and black (one of my favourites) is modern and urban...

Purple can also be very romantic, feminine, gentle and dreamy....

I always smile when I see brave souls incorporating purple into their outdoors - homes, gardens and even cars! C'mon, give it a try!!!!!

I wish you ALL a memorable weekend! ox

Photo of dandelion by AJ
Credits go to the following, incredible Flickr members:
(in order of appearance):
tengtan
Ian Dinnebier
derene8187
KPieper
Pieter Musterd

Bucking the Trend - Freja

2010-04-08T18:16:00.002-04:00

Danish, 22-year-old model, Freja Beha (Erichsen) is one to watch, in my view...

Edgy and brooding, she was not afraid to cut her hair after establishing herself in the fashion industry, and despite promising her agent she would not do so - the rebel!

She also has 12 tatoos and an agreement with her agent that she can get as many more as she wants - the little negotiator!

I love her large, defined lips and her ability to be pretty waif one minute and fille fatale the next....

She was discovered while walking along a street somewhere in Denmark...

I love her angry look in this couture dress...

credits: google, vogue uk

Great Loves - One

2010-04-07T03:01:00.000-04:00

This post was prompted by my re-reading Simone de Beauvoir's Letters to Sartre, translated and edited by Quentin Hoare, a book with a permanent place of my bookshelf, acquired many years ago, and one which I re-read from time to time, as I age.

Simone and the love of her life, Jean-Paul Sartre (and she his), were both atheist existentialists, prolific philosophers, writers, theorist and Marxists. Sartre also wrote several plays (in 1964, he was awared the Nobel Prize for Literature, which he did not accept) and de Beauvoir's work, The Second Sex, is widely aclaimed as foundational to today's notions of feminism.

Whatever you think of their philosophy and politics (and I have a lot of say on that, very separate subject), theirs was a great love, perhaps in a version to which many of us would not subscribe (see more below) but without question, it was deep, enduring and intense.

Much has been written about Sartre's and de Beauvoir's union, in both kind and unkind words. Much of that praise and criticims followed the publication of their letters to each other, hundreds of letters literally, written sometimes several times a day. The majority of de Beauvoir's letters to Sartre were published posthumously and many opine that these letters shed a fresh and rather revisionist light on the image they cultivated, of themselves and of each other, during their lives. My commentary on such opinions is a subject for another day - for the moment, I wish to celebrate this objectively enduring union, multi-dimensional, complex and profound.

Sartre and de Beauvoir met in 1929 and remained together until their deaths in 1980 and 1986, respectively.

For them, "together" had a unique meaning - they lived in a philosophically and emotionally committed relationship but entirely open in a sexual sense. Sartre and de Beauvoir had lovers of their own and even lovers they shared (de Beauvoir was involved with several women during her lifetime) and they related to each other, including in writing, the details of these external relationships (for to call them simply flings would be unaccurate and unfair to their true depth. Some of these relationship had important emotional components). Without question, this openess added a challenging dimension to their union and while it would be easy to dismiss it as simply selfish and convenient for both and each of them, I think the truth of their influence on their love for each other is far more complex. Their committment to each other was so "essential", it was undisturbed by the presence of others in their lives, including sexually.

Sartre and de Beauvoir never married and did not have any children together.

Simone's letters to Sartre are prolific and they cover a wide variety of subjects but they are, most essentially "love letters". In fact, each of Sartre and de Beauvoir wrote to the other with tenderness, longing (when they were not together), and passion. Simone called their relationship the greatest achievement of her life and while many dismiss this statement as demonstrative of her inferior role in their relationship, I do not agree. Why take away from Simone the right and, importantly, the ability to make that assessment free of Sartre's or society's "undue" influence on her?

Sartre and de Beauvoir are buried together, at Pere Lachaise Cemetary in Paris. They were both ardent atheists so in their lifetimes, they might not have believed they would end up together, in heaven, but I am a sucker for a good ending (not to mention that I believe in heaven) so I do say: their love endures, up there, somewhere, up high...

credits: google, rue des archives, JPSDavidEScherman

Rebirth!

2010-04-04T10:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter, All!
Spring has come and my garden is putting on a brand new dress!
My camera is bursting with excitement and so am I....
ox
AJ

All photos by AJ - MNA Photography

Where have all the Mermaids Gone?

2010-04-04T05:17:00.001-04:00

We have had a veritable (and may I say delicious) warm spell here, in Ontario. It prompted my dragging shorts out of the closet and then contemplating my sad, sun-deprived body (when I was a child, we used to say "you have skin like a miller's daughter")....

.....and then, thoughts of bathing suits flooded my head and I had to run and hide in a corner for a while, like a child hiding from chores...alas, the bathing suits of 1910s and 1920s were so much less, how shall I put it, "engaging", "obligating"?

The photos range in date from 1908 to 1929. I adore these women, some genuinely thrilled to be on the beach, close to water, in a bathing suit?!! I love their knees and real-woman-thighs, their grins....

....here's to summer's carefree abandon and a different bathing suit for each day of the week !!!!!

photos: Library of Congress, State Library of New South Wales

.....

2010-03-30T10:18:00.000-04:00

Feeling sad and lost...heartbreaking anniversary coming up on Friday....

Anna - My Mother

July 3, 1937 - April 2, 2009

I love you, Mama...

Dale Chihuly

2010-03-27T07:29:00.002-04:00

I used to spend a fair bit of time in Miami (I am involved with an international sailing organization). So much so, that I became close with a local cab operator, Oscar, and I called him each time I was there.
One day in 2005 (so hard to believe it was 5 years ago!), I had three hours to kill between meetings and I asked Oscar to take me somewhere I had not been before....he turned in the driver's seat, looked me in the eyes and said: "do you know Chihuly?"...
"No", I answered....and the adventure began...

His trusted yellow cab sped to the magnificent Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, in Coral Gables, just outside Miami....there, the world of Dale Chihuly was revealed to me for the first time....

We walked through the Gardens, stunning in their own right, and marvelled at how Dale had "enhanced" them with his amazing glass creations. Trust me when I tell you that the photos included here do not do his work justice - you just have to see it to believe it!
Sometimes, the glass objects were so in tune with the surroundings, they were virtually impossible to spot.
This became a little game for Oscar and me, searching for Dale's tricks. At one point, I found myself standing under a giant, green glass cocoon - I had no idea it was there until Oscar pointed it out to me (he was standing further away)....it was made of twisted, glowing glass, as if an insect from outer space rested inside before joining us on this planet.

Dale is not only an amazing artist, he is a very, very interesting human being and I encourage you wholeheartedly to take a look at his website.
He exhibits all over the world (the photos here are only from the Fairchild).

I honestly did not want to leave this beautiful place....it's hard to explain but the glass objects had a certain mesmerizing presence....I am forever grateful to Oscar for taking me to see Dale's work.

Dale is currently exhibiting in Columbus, Ohio. If you have a chance to see his work, do not let is pass you by...you will be mesmerized....

Photos via chihuly.com
paulstravelpictures.com

The Magnificent Imagination of Kevin Best

2010-03-26T07:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I was cruising through Flickr looking for photos of zebras (which I adore and which are, I think, totally underappreciated animals)....and guess what I found??? - the photo above claiming to contain the image of a zebra...I looked and looked and there it was and I was hooked, on the incredible

photography of Kevin Best.

Kevin was born in New Zealand and has been widely recognized and rightly acclaimed for this incredible intepretations of the Dutch Golden Age, using the modern medium of photography. American Photo named him one of Flickr's 12 Superstars and he has exhibited throughout the world. He also does private commissions.

Over the years, he has learned the significance and intrinsic, often very subtle inteaction of all of the objects featured by the Dutch Masters but he has gone a step further - he has amassed an incredible collection of many of the original objects; glass, ceramics, cutlery, jewelry..what he cannot acquire, he makes himself!

Some of these photos take weeks to complete!

Kevin is very keen on quiddities, as were the Dutch Masters who inspire him....

The photo above is one of my favourite of Kevin's. There are soo many, I cannot show them all..I am just so taken with this work...maybe it has something to do with the fact that I have always looooved the still life of the Dutch Golden Age. I have been to Amsterdam several times and have never missed the opportunity to "visit" my favourites, including at the Rijksmuseum.

All photos courtesy of Kevin Best at kevsyd

It's Spring Again Giveaway...

2010-03-24T15:30:00.002-04:00

It's Springtime again, soooooooo glad!

I am bouncing off walls and digging in my closet and drawers for daffodil, hyacinth and crocus coloured clothing and accessories!

Vintage baubles in spring pastels are a super way to accessorize this time of the year....move from the flash and brash of winter holiday sparkle to soft pinks, grays, purples and aquas...

This vintage brooch is a Spring darling and I want YOU to have it!

All you have to do is become a follower of this blog and leave a post below!

It's THAT simple!

The brooch is approx. 1 1/4 wide by 2 1/4 long

Giveaway open for entry until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010.
Winner will be selected at randon.
And if you win, wouldn't this be THE perfect Mother's Day gift?
Best of luck to ALL!

WE HAVE A WINNER - the lovely Maire Dodd! (the draw was completely random, I assure you all!)
Congrats, Maire, and thanks for all of you for participating!!
xoxo
AJ

All photos by AJ

Small Possibilities

2010-03-24T12:02:00.000-04:00

Small, often elevated outdoor spaces can present quite a challenge ~ I find that those who take a little time to ponder the incredible possibilities and plan with the conventional and non-conventional of garden themes and accessories can (and do) create real magic, little gems..each one, a tiny oasis, sometimes up in the sky, often as if spilling the contents of tiny flats, apartments and lots into the open....

Marie Claire Maison, one of my favourite magazines, presents this fabulous collection of such little gems...

You CAN give your little balcony the feeling of lush, green abadon by using all manner of climbers....proceed to spice up your greenery with vibrant colour...here, the glass and metal accessories create a rustic, feminine theme...so cozy and comforting, don't you think?

Here, the illusion of height comes from a sort of cage built around the small space ~ cleverly, the cage is then used to suspend plant containers - this gives the space added dimension - as do plants of different height.

I love this space - in fact, I think this photo shows two separate gardens (sort of like allotments, :)...the one in front is modern, minimalist, zen...immediately to the right begins a more traditional, romantic little space with climbers and cedar partitions...

Wow, serenity and peace....the water features in the back (I have two in my garden, yaaaay!) provide soothing sound, I am sure...again, plants of different size, texture and shade of green provide virtually endless interest for the eye without being garish...

Now, go shapen your green thumb!

oxox

PS: Super giveway coming up - you will love it, promise!

All photos: Marie Claire Maison

Shoe Trees

2010-03-21T06:52:00.000-04:00

I worship shoes, I really do. Hence, my endless fascination with their role in our lives.

"Shoefiti", meaning the practice of throwing shoes, particularly sneakers (trainers, to you Brits), over power lines is fairly widespead by now and I see lots of powerlines in our part of Ontario dressed up this way.

But the shoe trees which the Big-K and I encountered about a 20-minute drive from our home are not as common.

If you really need to know why people do this, read this but frankly, it does not matter to me. These trees are a truly interesting site, particularly because they seem so out of place by the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere...

I have included photos of two trees - the first two are of shoes nailed to the bark - the last two are of shoes flung on with the aid of shoelaces....I see boots there as well...nails? staples?

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago - the grass is a lot greener now, yaaaay!
I noticed another such tree just the other day, in its "infancy", closer to our home - 8 pairs of shoes so far...I am desperately trying to think what I could add to the collection but I love my shoes too much, I am afraid..
ox

Mistaken Moniker

2010-03-18T14:08:00.001-04:00

I have a bulb in my office, a stunning plant which, amazingly, has now produced two incredible, large flowers; pink/peach in colour, with delicate, gossamer petals and fuzzy, yellow pollen (if you follow this blog, you know I love to photograph "the machinery" of flowers)...

....I wanted to share it with you and tell you about my "Amaryllis".

Alas, those bulbs we buy at the florist that bloom around Christmas, are not "Amaryllis" at all! True amaryllis, also known as Belladonna Lillies or naked ladies (arent' those great names?) are somewhat similar in appearance but their stems are slimmer and the flowers less pronounced and full. They are native to South Africa and now grow in California as well...

What we buy at the store in unpotted form and what is currently blooming in my office is called Hippeastreum.
So now you know and you can share this "amazing" trivia at your next dinner party! :)

All photos by AJJ

Private little Spring...

2010-03-14T09:21:00.003-04:00

Each year, I grow garlic chives in my garden. I start off by "playing Spring" inside my home..I give these little garlics a chance to nurse in here, in the warmth of the home, while waiting for the warmth of the sun and the chirping of the birds outside....

The weather has improved considerably and on yesterday's walk, I was thrilled to see signs of the approaching Spring but we are not quite there yet, including because the lake is right here and has a huge effect on the climate of the shore..it's still frozen solid and keeping a lot of the plants asleep for a little while longer...

...but I already have my own little Spring, inside....

Try using garlic chives exactly the same way you would use other chives....they are super!

I use them in salads, in sandwiches and on barbaque'd chicken breast and even burgers and fish...if you are using them with heated food, just wait until last minute to put them on!

This one is still just a baby but he will grow tall and strong....when the weather is warm and sunny, he will live outside for the rest of the season...

all photos by AJJ

Lovin' in BlogLand

2010-03-13T03:26:00.000-05:00

My life has been enriched immensly since I discovered blogging.

For one, I get to share with you what is inside me and often dying to get out.

The other, very important aspect of the experience is what I get to take in

and that is even more fun than "spewing".

A number of blogs have now become a part of my daily routine. Each day, I can't wait to read them - learn from them, laugh with them, marvel at their powers of observation, turn of phrase, sense of adventure, lightheartedness of approach, versatility of subject and delivery....

BlogLand has been good to me and it's time to give back!

"..and the Oscar goes to..."

Jan - of Race of Style!

Jan's entries inspire me, everyday! Hers is one of the most versatile blogs out there, in the sense that it informs, educates (not the same thing), amuses, leaves one thinking, challenges and plain-old entertains....

Jan is what I call a "story hunter". She shines a flashlight on stories which interest her and which she anticipates will entertain her readers. It's a subjective thing, I know, liking a blog (and I looove her blog) but objectively speaking too, Jan's breadth of interests and the variety of subjects she covers of truly marvellous. These make her

THE VERSATILE BLOGGER!

and she is so friendly to boot!

oxoxo AJ

Dog v. Cat

2010-03-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

I wish I could take credit for this but I can't.....as the happy owner of both dogs and cats,

I can definitely understand....

ENJOY!!

Excerpts from Joey’s Diary:

"8:00 AM - Dog food! My favourite thing!

9:30 AM - A car ride! My favourite thing!

9:40 AM - A walk in the park! My favourite thing!

10:30 AM - Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!

12:00 PM - Lunch! My favourite thing!

1:00 AM - Played in the yard! My favourite thing!

3:00 PM - Napped! My favourite thing!

5:00 PM - Milk Bones! My favourite thing!

7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favourite thing!

8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing!

11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing! "

=======================================================================

Excerpts from Minkie's Diary:

"Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards...

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event.

However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking ... I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move.

My captors have arranged protective custody for him in a private cell, some kind of elevated wire box, so he is safe... for now...."

Green is good for your eyes!

2010-03-12T02:30:00.002-05:00

Found under synonyms for "green":

apple, aquamarine, beryl, bice, blue-green, chartreuse, fir, forest, grass, greenish-blue, jade, kelly, lime, malachite, moss, olive, pea, peacock, pine, sage, sap, sea, spinach, verdigris, vert, viridian, willow

My dear Mother told me that when she was a little girl, her parents would take her and my aunt for long walks in the woods - sounds basic and natural for us today, doesn't it? Sure, except that in the 40s, when she was a child, such walks were connected with the belief that actually looking at the colour green was good for your eyes! Sounds silly if we take the superstition literally but let's step back for a moment - being surrounded by green, as in nature, IS good for us, so they were clearly on to something....

There are a thousand shades of green and, therefore, a myriad of possibilities when it comes to including green in your home decor...

~try a green accent wall~

hey, that dog could use a splash of green!

~Green cabinets are funky and fun...not to mention very au courant right now!
Green is synonymous with "eco-"....

I have always been a fan of blue and green together, in the right shades...here, an Ikea cabinet was given new life with the addition of a blue background...wonder if they painted the backboard or the actual wall behind it?

One of the hottest trends these days is mixing green with South Beach colours - here, a stunning Kabloom wallpaper works its magic in combination with vibrant aqua blue splashes of colour...

Another example of green+South Beach....

Gorgeous, luscious green, and good for your eyes too!

credits: HouseandHome
collages by AJJ

Mono No Aware (3)

2010-03-11T10:50:00.001-05:00

If you follow my blog, you know that I have previously posted on the philosophy and esthetic of

Mono No Aware

...sometimes described as the "aaaahh-ness' of things", the concept celebrates the ephemeral, passing nature of all that surrounds us and the bitter-sweet feelings which accompany the realization that nothing is permanent.

I identify very closely with this philosophy. Observing flowers, and their faces as they morph over time, gives me a chance to experience the esthetic and the feelings which accompany it in an accelerated state - the several days which represent the life-span of a cut flower...

I must admit that I have always had a very difficult time throwing away faded flowers - to me, they are still very beautiful (if a little smelly)....but returning them to nature is part of the process and I accept that. When the weather outside is warm, I often lay my faded flowers in the corner of the garden so they rest in a place they came from....

The photos you see here, all taken by me, are of tulips in the later stages of their cut life....

I think they are still very beautiful, in a mature, ephemeral way, don't you agree?

I think it's important that, from time to time, we look at the details, we bring our eyes and noses closer to the objects around us, that we experience the 'aaaahh-ness" of things....

All photos by AJJ

Like Mushrooms!!!! ??

2010-03-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

Another award!!! Yippeeee! They seem to be multiplying, all of a sudden, like mushrooms after rain!

(but who is complaining??? not me!!)

This one, translated "Cape Imagination", is from the lovely and very inspiring Patrycja of Lovely Home!

THANK YOU (Dziekuje!), Patrycja!

Pat is an interior designer living in the Polish city of Lublin - she is passionate, stylish and imaginative - visiting her blog has been part of my morning routine for some time now - a little peek into her life, her home and her imagination!

THANKS AGAIN, PATRYCJA!

Today, I'd rather be.....

2010-03-10T06:04:00.002-05:00

Brian in Alaska

Touring Rome in a double-decker bus, wearing a white hat and red nails....

Ewant

Eating ice-cream in Rome....

Dave Carswell

Window-shopping in Rome...

fonsico

...even walking in the rain in Rome....

...aaaand did I make myself clear (I would not want there to be any misunderstandings between us, darlings)...

I would rather be in Rome today!

xox Happy Mid-Week!

Bake at 350!...says Bridget

2010-03-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

I am bonkers for Bridget - Bridget at Bakeat350 that is!!

Her wares are not only stunning visually, I am SURE they are just as tasty (though I must admit I have not yet had the pleasure of tasting them..)

I have a giant sweet tooth (thiiiiiis biiig!!) and that keeps me on constant lookout

for sources of "gnoshing" material....

Bridget's website is not only fun and colourful but also full of interesting information and advice.....

Some of my favourite colours too!

Choooooocolate.................yummmmmmmm....

I love the pink of this cake against the red background...so punchy and unexpected!!

All photos come from Bridget's website (blog)...VISIT IT TODAY!!!

oxoxoxo

Gushing...

2010-03-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

My very first blog award! I am sooo excited I could jump out of my skin!

Darling Anya Caliendo, a super-talented modiste and an incredible inspiration to so many of us was kind enough to include me in a group of fabulous blogs selected and awarded by her...Hurrayyy!

Big and warm THANKS, Anya!

If you have not yet visited her blog (and shop) you simply must! Her art is so classic, so feminine, and her creations are truly unforgetable!

Anya, you made my day, my week, my month, my Spring! ox

Word association.......

2010-03-07T17:46:00.001-05:00

I love words and word games..
I play with words ~ a lot ~ they are like chess pieces to me....
Words are important symbols in my life - for me, they have not just meaning but form as well
(but more about that in another post).....

I am particularly fond of word association games...
What do you associate with the word "spring"?...here is my string of associations...

Spring = spring cleaning...

Spring cleaning = windows....
(I see her spring cleaning took a few days unless she did a costume change for each chore!)

Windows = Dutch windows, which I adore...

Stunning Dutch windows at Zaanze Schans .............

Holland = tulips! = Spring!!!

A field of tulips in Alkmaar, Holland...

Spring = JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

credits:
Flickr: Siebe, Allard One, cannong2fan, mobilohm, Zamm, robokow
thedayaftertheinconvenienttruth.com
pecorare

Aimez-vous mon beret?

2010-03-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

The ever-lovely Brigitte Bardot

Memories of my childhood always include berets. A wore them A LOT as a little girl, slightly slanted (or course). They were one of my first fashion statements and trust me when I say I considered them that....
I can remember at least three colours - black, navy and yellow. The last one was a perfect match for a navy "sailor" coat I had and that, in turn, went with yellow and navy patent mary-janes! Can you believe what a little fashionista I was back then??

Marlene Dietrich in "No Highway in the Sky"

I grew up with berets..they were on the heads of both my grandfathers and they also visited my wide-open child's eyes thought the flickering light of our black-and-white TV....I always thought of them as the quintessential French headcovering...in my young mind, intelligent women who were plotting something good but very secret always wore berets...a berets was more of a message than an accessory meant to beatify - a signal of non-conformism, if you wish...

Charlotte Rampling
The beret has a long and fascinating history. Ancient Greek soldiers wore berets but it was the Basques of the French and Spanish Pyrenees who are commonly credited with popularizing the beret. There is also a theory (which I do not accept, in case you care) that the beret evolved from the Phrygian caps of the
French Revolution. Naaahh..

Christian Dior Fall 2010

The original Basque beret was either navy blue or red and just like the Scotch tam, it was woven in one piece – no seam or binding (crocheted or knitted pieces are not berets!)
In the 1920s, Marlene Dietrich popularized the beret - she was the first woman to wear the “paysan” garb, with which she scandalized “good” society.

The modern take on the beret: G-Star Ready-to-Wear Fall 2010

By WWII, both men and women were wearing the beret and it was adopted in a variety of colours. The French Resistance, the Maquis, adopted the Basque beret and given its popularity among everyday population, they were able to operate covertly based on this identifying symbol without attracting undue suspicion. The illicit flavor of the beret was further solidified when it was adopted as gear for a number of special forces around the world – eg: the Green Berets, the UN Blue Berets etc. The beret then took a short and natural leap onto the heads of revolutionaries like Che Guevara.

Stunning photography by Elliott Erwitt of Magnum Photos

This is how both of my grandpas dressed! Just like this!

I have a black beret..just the way it should be, woven in one piece with no seams...I have worn it one-and-off as an adult ...I stumbled across it in my closet just the other day and it inspired this post. When I held it in my hands, it gave me a sense of comfort and familiarity..I will wear it again all Spring...

credits: independent.co.uk, style.com, TheSartorialist.com, magnumphotos.com

Open Up to Blue!

2010-03-04T19:04:00.000-05:00

~Beautiful Blue~
~Bewitching Blue~
~Bold Blue~
~Beconing Blue~

In some cultures, the colour blue is associated with melancholy, if not downright sadness...
but to me, it's a colour which can lift spirits and keep them up!
Who could possibly frown or be "blue" surrounded by such vibrant blue!!

Blue walls and accents, paired with white muslin, light cotton or silk, can invoke a breezy feeling....the open balcony door in this photo intensifies that impression, don't you agree?

This punchy blue kitchen is modern, funky and so 2010 urban! I can just see the couple and their two little tykes..eco-conscious urbanites with a sense of humour and fun!

The colour can be successfully incorporanted into just about any design theme : romantic, country, modern, urban, minimalist...

This royal, peacock blue is particularly beguiling......I am fond of peacocks although in some parts of the world, they are considered portents of bad luck - not in my corner of the universe!

Don't be afraid of blue - welcome it with open arms......beiges, taupes and brown are great, they really are, but they cannot come anywhere close to the rejuvenating and invigorating effects of COLOUR!

credits:
HouseandHome.com
MarieClaireMaison

Glorious Rain....

2010-03-03T19:46:00.001-05:00

Rain can be a relief...
...a respite...a portent of spring
~a super excuse...to stay home and cuddle and read a book and drink good tea...
..to paint your nails..

Rain is a thirst quencher for flowers...

..the best excuse to wear your rain boots...

...a stunning background to luscious greens....

..rain can make occasions memorable...

...rain can make us wonder (say aaaaahhh) at the profound beauty of nature...

Glorious rain...

credits: 1. Tapio Hurme (Flickr)
2. special (Flickr)
3. Shannonkristine (Flickr)
4. Burning Rubber (Flickr)
5. autoslub.net.pl
6. Ichiro Kishimi (Flickr)
7. Kittykatfish (Flickr)

Since you ask, Jan.....

2010-03-03T03:47:00.000-05:00

In my post on lanterns, our dear Jan of Race of Style asked about the pomelo, well.....
A pomelo is my "winter's delight"!
Learn more about pomelos here but in brief, a pomelo is a sweet-flavoured, mild citrus fruit related to the grapefuit - very much like it but without the bitterness.
It grows in South East Asia and fills our stores (in North America) over the winter (the height of its growing season).
It's skin is either a limey green or a lemony yellow and its flesh can be either pale cream/yellow(above) or bright pink (below).
I have loved it for years and when I met the Big-K, I told him about it. He asked, what is it like? and I quickly responded: "delicious moisture packages"...I know it's silly but that's what it's really like! Now he eats it all the time and agrees that my spontaneous description of it was accurate!

A pomelo flower in full bloom....

A fruit market in Singapore....Hey, Lenore, did you visit any?
A good, ripe pomelo can be really sweet, hence the name "honey pomelo" given to some varieties.

In South East Asia, it is sometimes eaten with salt for a sweet-and-sour flavour.

You see? I told you, "delicious moisture packages"...!

Do not eat the skin or connective tissue - they are quite tough but the flesh comes away easily and it is super in vegetable or fruit salads or just plain, on its own. A simple pomelo will yield a whole "pile" of flesh...great for snacking!

And this, Jan, is how to wear a pomelo rind on one's head...Isn't he delighful?

Pick up a pomelo today!

Credits:
Flickr: Andreea, Catherine, sleeping_princess38,
honeypomelo.com, wikipdia.com, southasianationalalbum.com

Mono No Aware (2)*

2010-03-02T20:04:00.001-05:00

I seldom blog twice a day but I wanted to share with you, as soon as I could, this photo I took today of a fading tulip....
~"the 'aahh-ness' of things"......

Photo by AJ

I dream of the soft glow....

2010-03-02T07:51:00.001-05:00

...of lanters in my garden......We love having people over for long, drawn-out, lazy summer evenings...I simply can't wait for the sun to go down so I can light up my garden....lanterns, candles, glass containers, whatever I can "set on fire"....

....last summer, the Big-K installed two fountains for me (can you believe it? 2!!!!) and one of them, a little pond with a soft-flowing, water-trickling ceramic pot came with a floating orb which is solar-powered and changes colours as it moves gently on the pond.....dreamy....

The above photo is from the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in China and Vietnam...an event in which I would love to participate one day..sounds inspiring and very fun at the same time (they wear pomelo rinds on their heads!)....

Paper lanterns are very versalite decorating accessories - they are cheap and can be very colourful. Seemingly endless varieties are available in Chinese and Vietnamese stores...I have seen them used at weddings, parties and at corporate events. A grouping of them can look very fetching hanging from a tree, in the corner of a garden, or just under the ceiling, en masse....

These solar-powered lanterns are called Solar Shoji Lanterns, learn more about them here..

....aahh...Spring seems so far away and I already dream of summer...

Flickr: Cali2Okie, manda,
bbc.co.uk, houseandhome.com, furniturehomedesign.com
lonereed.files.wordpress.com

Punctuated by Purple ~ One

2010-03-01T09:33:00.001-05:00

My life is punctuated by the colour purple...
~it makes me smile~
...aren't these alliums incredible? They grow from perennial bulbs and are related to onions! I am forever amazed at how resistant aliums are to wind and rain..it's as if their stems are secretly reinforced....learn more about them here...

Purple is not violet but it's ok - mixing up the two is completely acceptable ~ afterall, there are many, many shades of both colours and they both fit into the range between blue and red....
Purple is a super accent colour - it works well with a pastel hue, bringing some colour interest but letting you maintain a subdued palette.

My very favourite Vogue cover - August, 1957...

A home in Dublin, Ireland.....I am so glad that there are people out there who wear their love of purple on their sleeve or walls, as is the case here!

Lavender and purple work well together as well! ~ blue and purple are a romantic combination as well...

Mr. Depp is clearly a fan of my favourite colour and I am a fan of HIS!

Add some purple of your life today!

Grey and purple..a super-cool combo!

Dreamy, Italian-romantic purple..

If I had shutters, I would paint them purple..just like these folks in Alsace, France...

Magnifique!!

Purple? not quite but lovely nonetheless....I believe this is a bridal shop in Waterford, Ireland

(I googled it - wink)

credits: Flickr: farm1, Ben,
travelblog.org, jerisheyaphotography.com, decorpad.com, photothing.com, danheller.com, vogue.com, jaxrabbit.wordpress.com

Colour Anchors

2010-02-28T08:00:00.003-05:00

With age, I am better at verbalising what I like in interior design, at least I think I am...it's one positive quality of the aging process - understanding what we want, saying what we want and being more uncompromising in our quest to get it....

I like cool interiors, anchored together by colour...by cool, I mean the base palate is to be on the "Nordic" side, so to speak, white or pale grey, lavender or even blue/lilac (you know how much I looove purple)....
Colour is then inserted, like Cool Aid into a glass of plain water, to give the space bounce and punch...this allows the eyes to bounce excitedly from focal point to focal point....the word for the day - "bounce"
* I am being silly

Look at this incredible kitchen - that yellow is simply smashing! There is just enough of it to let the eye bounce....the proportion of colour to background is important, in my view...too much colour and the effect is lost...

Another excellent example of that I mean here...in this kitchen, a number of colours work together but in my view, the green is the anchor...
Kevin and I are in the process of painting our fireplace a cool ink colour. Our wood floor is a cool, dark brown and the walls are a shade of grey. With splashes of purple and fuschia, the look is what I call
"Modern Lounge".
All of the photos come from the fabulous Canadian interior design magazine, which I simply adore, called
Canadian House & Home.

Mono No Aware

2010-02-27T08:34:00.001-05:00

Mono no aware (物の哀れ) has been translated as:

"the pathos of things"

"an empathy toward things,"

"a sensitivity of ephemera,"

“the ‘ahh-ness’ of things….”

It is a Japanese term, central to the culture and aesthetic of Japan, denoting awareness of mujo or the transience of things and a bittersweet sadness at their passing.

The term was coined in the 18th century by the Edo-period Japanese cultural scholar, Motoori Norinaga, and used in his literary criticism of The Tale of Genji, a seminal, 11th-century Japanese epic tale. Norinaga noted that mono no aware is a crucial emotion which moves readers and while not limited to Japanese literature, it has come to be symbolic of Japan’s very essence.

The term derives from the Japanese words mono, which means "things", and aware, which was a Heian period expression of measured surprise (similar to "ah" or "oh"), translating roughly as "pathos," "poignancy," "deep feeling," or "sensitivity." Thus, mono no aware has frequently been translated as
"the 'ahh-ness' of things."

In Japan, the concept of mono no aware is perhaps best embodied in the Sakura, the Japanese flowering cherry, an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. The flowers bloom each year for no more than two weeks and the Japanese weather service tracks the blooming periods (including “best viewing periods”) for the entire country. Picnics of entire families under the blooming cherry trees are a common sight. The fleeting nature of the phenomenon is celebrated, if not revered.
Cherry blossom is an omen of good fortune and further symbolizes love, affection and re-birth.

Mono no aware teaches observation and sensitive thought. The concept also celebrates the mixed emotions of happinness at the existence of an object or process and the bittersweet sadness at its passing nature.

Mono no aware aesthetic considers beautiful not just a flower in full bloom but especially a flower which is fading and whose fleeting life can be appreciated and celebrated...

credits: Flickr - yumi, florian hoeltje, nonoCaptures
japantravelinfo.com
telegraph.co.uk

An Affair Weekend

2010-02-26T09:55:00.001-05:00

This weekend, I am going to have a long and slow affair with both versions of the Thomas Crown Affair...I adore both and plan on watching them over and over again...I have seen them so many times, I can pretty much recite the dialogues by now but, what can I say...I still smile at the stories they tell of man-woman magic....

Stylish, intelligent enough to entice and entertain but not stuffy at all, beautiful cinematography and beautiful people, of course...the perfect "when is spring finally coming" tonic for me!

And I will wear a hat while watching...no wait, I will change in and out of a number of hats..and I will drink a green drink....

Happy Weekend to you ALL, whatever your plans!

Buzi AJ

google.com

"Imperfect, Impermanent, Incomplete"

2010-02-25T07:21:00.006-05:00

Wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a comprehensive world view or aesthetic, rooted in the acceptable of transience. Practiced by the ancient Japanese and Chinese (and now widely adopted in the West), the aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".*
Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity, simplicity, modesty, intimacy, and the suggestion of natural processes.

I am very drawn to this aesthetic and without realizing that it had a name, I have practised it for years.
The modesty part - "not so much" (wink) but the other hallmarks are very dear to my heart and the objects and processes which surround me.

I simply adore imperfect metal, with dings and scratches, old paper and discarded objects which no longer serve their original purpose.

The desk in my office is made from an old cedar house door (not in the photo above).

My garden is filled with stones and rocks and bits of driftwood.

I am drawn to asymmetry and this often comes through in my designs.

Old, tarnished glass speaks to me and I could spend days digging through flea markets for old, imperfect photo and picture frames and watering cans.

The Secret Life of Flowers

2010-02-22T06:24:00.000-05:00

When the sun fills my garden with colour, I spend a lot of time listening to flowers and trying to capture their
beauty with my camera....
..they have secret lives, you know....I come very close to them so I know a little about them..
~they have personalities, strengths and weaknesses...joys and disappointments...when we are not watching, they engage in lively conversations....

Bring your ear a little closer...they may share their secrets with you too....

All photos by AJ

Of Habits and Tea.....

2010-02-21T07:02:00.004-05:00

I realised just the other day, and I suppose I should have registered this some time ago, that for years, I have had tea at my home from only one, English Fine Bone China teacup....

I cannot recall how I came to acquire it, it was that long ago. I has moved with me from home to home, through law school and I am trying to remember, I might have had it with me as long ago as graduate school....

I have used it so much the goldleaf has rubbed off on my lips..

Its style is a lot more romantic than the objects I surround myself with these days (putti? - it's an otherwise-putto-free household with Kevin) but somehow, I am convinced that tea tastes better in this little blue/lavender vessel. And the tea? it's my recent favourite - Lavender Earl Grey from the Lavender Barn.

all photos by AJ

Plaid Giveaway...

2010-02-20T16:38:00.002-05:00

I am super-excited to announce the latest giveway.....

from Jen at JDWolfePottery (thanks so much, Jen!)

~an eye-catching tumbler, 6 1/2" high and 4" wide~

and those colours - wow!

US$30 value (not including shipping!)

To participate in the giveaway, please leave a comment below...
....a winner will be selected at random..
Giveaway open until sundown (where I live) on February 28th!
If you have your own blog, please let your followers know about this super item!

WE HAVE A WINNER (using the random number generator at random.org)
~~~~CHRIS McCORMICK of Socalpotters.com
But guess what? I am awarding a second prize- a plaid sake cup - to Chrissy of Chrissy Ann Ceramics. There were technically 46 entries but two were from the same entrant so both Chris and Chrissy could be counted as the winning no. 8!!
Congratulations and THANKS to ALL for entering!
May I please ask the winners to contact me at aj7133@gmail.com
:)
AJ
all photos courtesy of JDWolfePottery

I ab zik today....

2010-02-20T12:56:00.002-05:00

My head hurts, my noze is sduffed'up and by body feelz lige I ran a barathon....
I am zitting here watching the Olymbics, in my Olymbic hoodie....

Piles of Kleenex around...

My goal for today is to baint my doenails with this happy, sparkly and HEADTHY hue....
but I am not sure I ab well enough to bend over thad much...
I might swoon!!

Led's all give Carolyn a warm round of abblause for giving me this beast!!

And now, a little entertainment....
Vieber discretion advised!
http://www.break.com/index/super-slow-motion-sneezing.html

The Rio Paradox

2010-02-19T05:53:00.002-05:00

Since my childhood, I have always associated Rio's (and Brazil's, in general) Carnival with incredible celebration, sultry abandon, heat, humidity, sparkles and feathers....those ladies sported their incredible, tanned and fit bodies (including their boobies, the rage!) well before anyone even thought of the skimpy costumes of Lady Gaga, Brittney or Pamela Anderson...and it was all good! There was an internal order to the universe...
The "west" caught on...slowly but it did.....

Now we have foisted upon us questionable attempts at photography with the apparent object being a celebrity's crotch while getting out of a car....why would I want to see that? but apparently, somone does....progress, I guess...we are catching up...Lady Gaga is wearing almost nothing at all and Heidi Montag just can't wait to show us those new DDs, clad in as little as possible!
BUT WAIT!!?

The pendulum is swinging - the other way - in Brazil!!!!
This adorable 7-year-old-girl, Julia Lira, was told (well, her parents were) that she could not be a Samba school queen because her bikini was too sultry - but how can it be??? she has no boobies and her body is not remotely sexual! She is a child!!
Many kids her age run around naked on the beach~Yes, she is dancing the suggestive samba but so is everyone else (this is Brazil!) and pretending to shield her from exposure to it is simply silly, in my view....
She won her court battle...

I say, let's enjoy this incredible, vibrant celebration while we can - who knows what comes next...

euroross.blogspot.com
rio-carnival.net
timesonline.co.uk
guardian.co.uk
lula.pl
funhunter.com
carnival-service.com

Un-Canadian Self-Promotion

2010-02-18T14:17:00.001-05:00

We, Canadians, are a self-deprecating, non-own-horn-tootin' bunch...
but the truth is: WE ROCK!
and once in a while, someone should just say it, so I AM saying it!!

Did you know Mike Myers is Canadian?

How about John Roberts (now of CNN)? I have had a crush on him since he was a V-Jay at a Toronto TV Station, and back then, he was known as JD Roberts..I think that, like Clint, he gets better looking with age....my kinda man...rides a motorcycle too...wrrrhhhhhmmmm

and Eric McCormack- he's a Canuck too!

And "Alex Keaton" - who can forget this lovable face, still so loveable....

ehm.....well...ya, she too!

And Kiefer, 24 hours out of every day - a Canadian!!!

And this is our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper...I think he is kinda cute, in a nerdish sort of way (but these guys can be real rascals behind closed doors, ya know!)...this is one of my favourite photos of all time - the dark background, the rain and his lips...

and this is another super cool Canadian - ME!

credits: swanpolitics.com, cnn.com,
imstartsaufeminin.com,kiefer photo by Nigel Parry,
esquire.com,fantasysfblog.com

Mermaid Colours

2010-02-17T20:39:00.000-05:00

I call these Mermaid colours...not sure why...I always have....
maybe, as a little girl, I imagined these are the hues a mermaid would choose to decorate
her ocean-bottom home...~~~~~~

These items, from some super Etsy sellers, truly spoke to me....and now I offer them to you!
Enjoy!
1. AllurebyJen
2. OldNewAgain
3. JDWolfePottery
4.BeckyRose
5.HollieLollie
6.GreenCycleDesigns

ChiCa Boom!

2010-02-16T17:15:00.001-05:00

those eyes..those teeth, those breasts....that Loren....a definite member of my Pantheon of Iconic Women...

(PS 1: people in the 60s we so much more forgiving, and it's not just a "European thing")

(PS 2: I am very lucky to say I am shaped like her - sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes it's a curse!)

via google (all over the place)

Hanoi Jane?

2010-02-16T07:28:00.004-05:00

I recently read Jane Fonda's autobiography and I have to tell you ~ I quite enjoyed it! If you would like my copy, email me your address and I will post it to you..(fcfs)
~anywho~....I know she has a sense of humour so she must chuckle at her overly "femme" persona in
Barbarella (1968)...
~no, it does not offend me...I think it's hilarious and in some way, very beautiful!

THOSE BOOTS! I loooove every pair!

The costume designers were Jacques Fonteray and Paco Rabane (aka Paco Rabanne)....
yawza - don't forget this is 1968!!!! I know we have seen stuff like this on our runways but 'cmon, this must have been pretty racy for its time!

Those green boots ~ I covet....

Come closer, Mister, or I will shoot....

credits: Thinkquinfiles.wordpress.com,Nohway.files.wordpress.com,Collider.com
Modculture.com, google.com

..and not of the rubber variety....

2010-02-15T08:19:00.001-05:00

Gloves, I mean, glorious gloves!

This post was to be about gloves but then who can resist Kate Hudson in this charming shoot for Harper's Bazaar (2007)..the photographer was Peter Lindbergh....

AND she IS wearing gloves in four of the photos so I guess - mission accomplished!

In my humble view (and what do I know, n'est pas?) long, satin gloves are one of the sexiest accessories a woman can own (and it helps if you actually wear them)...

via.harpersbazaar.com

Manolo who?

2010-02-14T14:59:00.000-05:00

Before Mr. Blahnik made so many of us palpitate as Carrie ran into the arms of Mr. Big in what seemed like a never-ending parade of delicious heels, there was Andre Perugia....

As if clairvoyant in terms of design, Mr. Perugia was well ahead of his time...can you imagine those fish shoes (above) were designed in the 1930s? and those delicious, round-toe orange mules (above) date from the same decade!

...and this was Mr. Perugia's design for Chanel, in the 1950s.

These incredible, metallic leather beauties date from the early 1920s!

Born in 1893 in Nice (France) of Italian parents, Mr. Perugia apprenticed at the shop of his father and by the age of 16, he had opened his own shop, selling handmade shoes. At the height of his career, which included projects for the most sought-after designers of his time, he had a shop in Paris, at Rue Faubourg St. Honore, one of the most prestigious design locations in the city. He died in 1977.

Mr. Perugia wrote a book entitled "From Eve to Rita Hayworth" in which he postulated that to understand a woman's personality, one should study her feet.

I once attended a church wedding and sat in the pew next to a stranger - a much older, very distinguished and handsome gentleman. About half-way through the service, he leaned over and whispered in my ear: "you have very beautiful feet". I reacted immediately by hiding them under the pew and then realized I was wearing, very sexy and somewhat revealing slingbacks. He smiled and said: "don't be alarmed....I am an admirer of good feet and my wife knows that" .....the woman he was with, his junior by about 20 years, winked at me and said, as we both leaned behind his back: "do not worry, he is harmless and that is a great compliment, coming from him". I have never looked at my feet the same way since...I appreciate them now, as much as I appreciate great shoes!

credits: batashoemuseum.ca, google.ca, abbeville.com

Dear Valentine....

2010-02-14T07:46:00.000-05:00

Even cloudy days seem sunny with you....and I love that we point out interesting-shaped clouds to each other and wonder at nature's and God's sense of humour.....

...rainy days are never boring when we are together...you told me when we met that you liked rainy days and now I understand why...

....I love that you kiss me in the most unexpected of places...that we hold hands even as we walk into your favourite hardware store....

...together, we manage to find amusement in what others might consider mundane....making a skating rink out on the frozen lake...my running madly into the house to get my camera when you found that tiny golden frog last spring, in our garden.....thanks to you, she waited for me to return and now we have a photo of our garden tenant....

...even when we are blue, we weather all bumps in the road together...

...and I am sooo glad you are not obsessed with tidyness! (yes, I really do use all those shoes and purses)...and besides, didn't you hear that messy women are better in bed?

.....I will always be there to help you with all those foreign words in our crosswords...

When we grow old, we will run away to a deserted island and live on love...we will wear bathing suits made of vine and coconut shells, but only when we want to....

...or to a primeval forest..with a sufficient number of meadows, of course, to lie in, stare up at the sky and...

...and we will count all of nature's love-signs around us....

Happy Valentine's, Kevin!

Happy Valentine's to you ALL!

credits: art.creative, lindernaute.com, nakedlunch.org, google.com

Februarius....

2010-02-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

This time of the year, I wish I was born in February ------lucky devils have Awesome Amethyst
as their birthstone!!!

all photos by AJ

Olympic Fashion

2010-02-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

There is always room for style and elegance, even in sport....for his 1960 gold medal performance, David Jenkins chose classic black and white. I sooo approve!

In 1998, Philippe Candeloro chanelled a neighbour, perhaps, to the north of his homeland, France...it garndered him a bronze medal....hey, what does a Frenchman wear under his kilt?

Ilya Kulin (Russia) won gold that same year, and despite his highly questionable attire choices, including this one..... did he dress in the dark?

In 2002, you either loved or hated the Apolo Anton Ohno "support beard"...who knows, maybe it helped sprinkle him with the "top of the podium" dust?!

Young Australian snowboarder, Torah Bright, is not afraid to wear rhinestone studded goggles...you go girl!! Let's hope we will see her on the podium in the next few days!

credits: google.com, chicagotribune.com

Shattered

2010-02-11T20:29:00.001-05:00

I am simply shattered by the news of Alexander McQueen's passing...

I am one of a legion of Alexander's fans.... I am an average, blend-with-the-wallpaper woman who is mourning the loss of a true creative genius, someone who saw the world from a perspective which I get to glimpse only once in a while, and usually through the eyes of others...

above: Alexander and his beloved muse, Isabella Blow

Such versatility of vision...

Goodbye, Alexander..I hope to have the priviledge of meeting you on the other side...

credits: telegraph.co.uk, style.com, justjared.com

The NighBluey Herald....(Life ~ in easy-to-swallow caplets...)

It's Goodbye (waves~~~)...

Painted Wood

Aurelie Mathigot

PS: Alessi, I love you!

I am redecorating....bear with me!

Check this Out!

Cross-Pollination

Mixing Styles

Saturday Haiku~

Fall Shmall....

Goodbye, Tobias Wong..

Chateau de la Verrerie

Saturday Haiku~

Time for Purple!

Leafy Sea Dragons

Saturday Haiku~

Sally's Sea Shore Home

A Part of Me

Design Friday*

Heatwave

Hooked on the North

Tickle your Senses

Magic by Karim Rashid

Maldoror Low Couture

Provence

Lovely Lena

It's never too early in the morning for PR!

Forget-me-not....

Satoshi Saikusa

How many minutes have YOU been on this planet?

Free Love meets Disco...

The Not-so-Mundane around us...

Pet Pic

Back to School!

The Beauty of Form (not just Substance)

Geisha Brides...

..because sometimes, only pink will do!

Now open wide and don't forget to breathe!!!

*On a much lighter note...*

I am low on creative fuel.....*

Tragedy in Smolensk

Oh, and did I mention purple rocks?

Bucking the Trend - Freja

Great Loves - One

Rebirth!

Where have all the Mermaids Gone?

.....

Dale Chihuly

The Magnificent Imagination of Kevin Best

It's Spring Again Giveaway...

Small Possibilities

Shoe Trees

Mistaken Moniker

Private little Spring...

Lovin' in BlogLand

Dog v. Cat

Green is good for your eyes!

Mono No Aware (3)

Like Mushrooms!!!! ??

Today, I'd rather be.....

Bake at 350!...says Bridget

Gushing...

Word association.......

Aimez-vous mon beret?

Open Up to Blue!

Glorious Rain....

Since you ask, Jan.....

Mono No Aware (2)*

I dream of the soft glow....

Punctuated by Purple ~ One

Colour Anchors

Mono No Aware

An Affair Weekend

"Imperfect, Impermanent, Incomplete"

The Secret Life of Flowers

Of Habits and Tea.....

Plaid Giveaway...

I ab zik today....

The Rio Paradox

On a much lighter note...