Holiday Improvisation

Furoshiki - wrapping with scarves and fabric

Sufjan - Holly Jolly

Escape - Vintage Hustle and Bustle

in the mood for holiday shopping -
re-blogged from the cheerful LA blog - a bloomsbury life 

Not Bone nor Feather

Kate Spade Birds over Arches - ancient sea of indigo stencil + black birds on a modern shopper. "It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea." - Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

I Wonder Where She Lost Me?

The most wonderful time of the year brings out the tradition keeper in me and a holiday standard is to run around the house with double-stick and cover up our glass framed art with images of the virgin mary and her sweet babe. Since moving one year ago, I've no idea where I've have stashed the madonnas! My friend Lisa Hardy got me started when we were neighbors in Seattle and ever since I'm looking out for interesting or unusual madonna and child images to literally, slap up. After moving house every few years these types of rituals are more meaningful, keeping things the same for our family even though everything has changed (new house, new neighbors, new school, new life). Sometimes it IS about stuff. Etsy's abundant selection of madonna and baby has a style for everyone: Mexican, mid-century, medieval, and modernist madonna holding the divine infant.

Grace Archives, Jeanne's Vintage Greeting Cards, Heatherwood Art Prints, Transfer of Treasures

Hell A Times - So long Posh and Becks

Every so often since we moved to the LA suburbs, Guy says, "let's go see Becks and the Galaxy!' We never made it. The sexay couple and their kids are leaving us for europe's great fashion houses or Monaco or who knows where? Would have loved to see him "bend it", just once. 

Venice Dusk to Dark

it's not only the light of day that's so indescribable.

Sustainability - Chanel RTW 2013

photos byYannis Viamos via Style.com

looking ahead at these perfectly pretty looks for spring, then I remember that I need to order our turkey and prepare for the autumn feast. Can't help but look forward to spring! Karl has Chanel all in bloom with applique florals, pearls, metallics and graphic trim. I love crazy Karl's outlook, "Energy is the most important thing in life." will fashion, wind turbines and solar panels ever meet on the runway again? will life look like this?

photo by reuters via Telegraph.co.uk

Shopping for Hats

via nytimes

The Great Good Man

The Great Good Man

by Marsden Hartley 1942

via Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Sandy

Winter is idling here in Southern California where temperatures will reach 95 degrees today! It doesn't feel right as the east coast prepares for an incoming nor'easter right after the devastating Hurricane Sandy. Donate to the American Red Cross to aid citizens in need in the aftermath of Hurrican Sandy! The Red Cross is preparing to respond to this second frightening weather system while the massive relief effort is underway! 91 cents on the dollar of your donation goes directly to help storm victims escape the cold, eat a hot meal and get the latest information on electricity, fuel and recovery. Make a donation or make an appointment to donate blood here.

Jewel of The Month - Jules Accessory Design

Golden glowing cocktail rings pair nicely with a long bourbon/whiskey/rye by the fire. This big, sparkling modern cocktail ring is handcrafted luxury designed by my gorgeous friend, Jules Cechony! November's gem is this splendid faceted golden topaz, wrapped in 14K gold, set upon sterling silver! Jules is celebrating her 10th Anniversary and is offering special prices on her exquisite designs - visit Jules' shop here.
Happy November!

Happy Halloween

my favorite entry from the RSABG pumpkin decorating contest, painted and daring to be different.

Pom Wonderful

A simple, stylish handcrafted wedding featured on bash, please blog. 

The bride and bridegroom are Babs and Peter - I LOVE the names Babs AND Peter!

photos via bash, please

The Bard's Best Lady

Meet Martha Andresen, Emerita Professor of English at Pomona College, recipient of The Crystal Quill Award by Shakespeare Center Los Angeles and other honors too numerous to mention. Her enthusiasm for english literature and theatre is as impossibly lovely as she is herself! Martha addressed a lunch I attended for Curtain Raisers, a civic group supporting performing arts in my new hometown, Claremont. Martha discussed contemporary interpretations of the Bard's plays as they are pared down for the modern audience and the responsibility of directors/performers to maintain the integrity of the language of Shakespeare. I wanted to spend all day with Martha and be part of her world. Just like present-day interpretations of Shakespeare's work, Martha's style is stunningly chic and modern: the gorgeous shirt collar, the shape of her elegant sweater, and upswept hair are a real nod to her passion and reveal much about her reverence for the history and language of the Elizabethan world.

photo of Martha Andresen via The Claremont Courier

Coco Chanel in Ruff Collar

photo by George Hoyningen-Huene via Getty Images

Elizabeth I Ruffed up

Elizabeth I by Marcus Gheeraerts The Younger

Image via Physical Review Focus

Home Sewn's All Right

LA is so lovely and sunny, but I'm missing autumn a little bit. I want boots, skirts, jackets, and sexay woven tights. It's a little warm for all that "wear" even this time of year in this climate! Skirts are ideal for layering on warm november days and I found these gorgeous patterns in Burdastyle - check the Wanderlust collection. Gonna forget Free People and get stitching!

photos via Burdastyle

What's Your Vintage Style?

The Sartorialist explains that vintage lovers typically fall into one of two types: first, are the period dressers, often seeming in costume; second, rebellious youth mixing periods/textures and often lacking composure; and the rest, simply get it right - like the very pretty ensemble in the photo! Read more here.

photo via the sartorialist

Season for Loving

Our wonderful pals, Jody and Fritz arrived from Seattle and brought some chilly weather with them! Upon arrival they were expecting very warm weather and that was the case for the first few days. I was so happy when the temperature turned and we could show them around beautiful southern california in the clouds and drizzle. Truly felt like autumn!

Links for tea and happiness:

Gorgeous Clara's Tea and Shortbread

L.A. in Bloom: Warm Drinks

Mrs. Lilien Styling House - Hot Tea Cocktail

Geophysartist

"going to Iceland, be back never!", Solveig exclaimed when she saw the photo-fiber-fashion works of Mandy Greer. The images and installations created by Greer marry Solveig's passion for

art + earth = complete awe!
crater woman by mandy greer

For Artist's Sake

Hoping to get to the Getty Center to see the exhibit, Farewell to Surrealism: The Dyn Circle in Mexico. The Dyn Circle comprised of Wolfgang Paalen, (Austrian 1905-1959), Alice Rahon (French, 1904-1987), and Eva Sulzer (Swiss, 1902-1990) along with other artists and writers, who settled in Mexico City during the 1940's for the exploration of pre-Columbian culture. Those 40's, so stylized and the lives of expats are fascinating. Quiero ver más!

Un pez que llaman sierra, negative 1944; print later. 
Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002)

Gelatin silver printThe J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Gift of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser. 
© Colette Urbajtel/ Archivo Manuel Álvarez Bravo, SC

Thanksgiving Pallete

working up to a mojave thanksgiving - nature gray, egg yolk, sage and silver

Heritage Linen

Great grandmother Lilly Paulsen (above at her wedding to Hans Peter Madison) was a master story teller and documentarian. Later in life she curated three generations of artifacts and photographs of her family's life in Denmark and immigration to the United States. This is a diary entry about her grandmother Anna Katrina, the textile weaver. I took the photos of Anna's samples that Lilly preserved so lovingly for us. This collection and all of the additional objects (pins, buttons, linens, lace, cast iron, enamelware, flatware, clothes, aprons - too many to list) tell the story and in this case, literally, the fabric of our lives. 

Pine Club

Seamus and fellow Pine Club members planting natives and carrots

Sandee Rose and Jaime Garton

Peas and Beans

When worlds collide: the weather in Southern California is nearly flawless today and I love the fabulous mediterranean climate! Seamus is feeling pressure to join clubs/activities at his high school. Last weekend my volunteer efforts at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden met with his for a service project restoring the high school garden. I woke him up at 7 on Saturday to weed, plant, mulch and spend time with his classmates. We had a nice day together and I'm still shocked when I remember that the growing season is just beginning even though it's October.

The Huguette Clark

The Huguette Clark by inclovervintage 

sheer emerald dress, pointy toe pump, copper hair, animal ring, orange flower, spike earrings, clutch, autumn nail lacquer

Young Adult

We have some young adults on hand right about now and I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to the time when we would see our kids emerge into themselves. We are here. And, I'm happy to share that all is good - what a wonder it is! Oregon girl (Solveig) is just into her third year of college and after a year of living in our new sunny place, with all life unfolding - I worry plenty, but I'm made well by the sweet view of who she is becoming.

Cut It Out

Tom Ford Spring 2013 is glamour: black, patent leather, cutouts, gold and GO GO GORGEOUS! Inspiration from the past and a touch sporty!

photos via style.com courtesy of Tom Ford

Weekend Inspiration - Shopping with Ines de la Fressange

Today we are visiting the heart of Paris on a shopping trip in Le Marais with legendary style queen, Ines de la Fressange! Wishing you a weekend that is both good and beautiful.

Soft Map

Coming soon: Haptic Lab's DIY city map quilt kits! 

Which city to make first? Portland, Seattle, DC, San Fran or LA?