October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween

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

October 29, 2012

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

October 26, 2012

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


October 25, 2012

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

October 23, 2012

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

October 22, 2012

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:



October 16, 2012

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

October 15, 2012

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

October 14, 2012

Thanksgiving Pallete

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

October 9, 2012

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. 


October 5, 2012

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.

October 3, 2012

The Huguette Clark

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.

October 2, 2012

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