little monsters

I confess, I have always had a fondness or a weakness even, for early 20th century French pin-up postcards. I collect and post these type of images constantly on my tumblr page and have thoroughly enjoyed their use in the advertising campaigns of St. Germain. So it may come as no surprise that after recently stumbling across an article in the New York Times I was thrilled to find out about artist Georges Hugnet and his Spumifers for the first time. His overpainting on scantily clad Belle Époque ladies of leisure creates a surreal, modern twist to beauty and the beast. These whimsical, colorful creatures add a comic element to the lusty lasses and was an original artistic concept decades before Brooklyn-based artist KAWS started altering Calvin Klein ads. Hugnet's work is now showing in a collection of some 30+ pieces titled "The Love Life of Spumifers" in New York City at the Ubu Gallery until January 28th. Catch it while you can.

dames

Good grief! I can not wait for this documentary, Advanced Style, to be released. I am an avid documentary watcher and this preview has certainly caught my attention. These women should be an inspiration to women and men everywhere, of every age!

a day at the museum

This past weekend I had the pleasure and privilege of going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the Zoe Strauss Ten Years exhibit and discussion panel.  The discussion felt a little underwhelming and left me wanting more Zoe and less blabbering and self-promotion from the other panelists. Fortunately the retrospective collection of Strauss' photography was a perfect 10. The subject matter of these photographs is intense, at times confrontational and tragically beautiful. They are also simply a vivid reflection of what she sees in her home town and mine, Philadelphia. In addition to showing at the PMA, Strauss' photographs have been enlarged and posted on 54 billboards in and around the city. I recommend seeing this provoking, refreshing and modern installation before it's run is over.

If you have time, be sure to check out the exhibits at the Perelman Building Museum annex across the street. I initially went in to check out Tristin Lowe's Lunacy and was also charmed by the other current exhibitions.

salty & sweet

This lovely quote, that I couldn't agree with more, comes from the Baronness Karen von Blixen, who, under the pen name Isak Dineson, wrote Out of Africa. A fascinating woman that I did a bit of research on and now have a strong need to get my hands on a biography of. I also need to work the baroness thing into my own repertoire.

organizing, part 2

This week I finally am getting around to more sewing projects and while in the spirit I have gone through my bundle of vintage patterns. I really treasure these crumbling relics. The delicacy of the tissue paper patterns, the fashion illustrations, the design possibilities!

While sifting through I found the pattern that started it all for me.

Oh yes. I bought this Very Easy, Very Vogue number to make my senior prom gown out of at least four yards of deep red suede cloth. Velvet, my first choice, was too expensive and unseasonably warm for mid-May. This was my first full blown pattern project and turned out amazingly well. As always, I had a vision. I was going for a 1930's/40's film siren, all glamour and style and mystery. Right down to my finger waved, pin curled hair, matching handmade, hand beaded purse, opera gloves, red pumps and don't forget the dramatic bunch of lilys.

It's been a while since I've gotten down on the floor with the pins, papers & scissors but after looking through all those jazzy silhouettes, I've got the fever. If you are a crafty lass yourself, have ever wrestled with a seam ripper or just like reading witty commentary you must take a second to peek over at Pattern Junkie. It is one of my favorites.

on repeat

Toro y Moi's Underneath the Pine is on constant rotation this week. Thanks goes to my musicphile brother for this, one of three excellent vinyl choices I received as Christmas presents.

errands

A few days ago I took a brisk walk to the drug store, the coffee shop and the liquor store. It was a bit on the chilly side but a perfectly clear, sunny, winter day. Here is what I saw:

greenery

 After yesterday's operation fern rescue I decided to tend to some neglected potted plants that were drying out around the house. I think I may have saved a fading begonia and managed to replace two other plants that didn't make it with some new greens. Surrounding myself with plants indoors is a slight comfort to not being able to enjoy the back patio for the next three to four months.

new year sweep

Today was spent cleaning and organizing my work space, which can easily be a favorite way for me to spend an afternoon. After a few feverish days in there before the holidays working on presents, projects, and other gift goodies, I created quite a disaster area. That process was a good one. Not only did it get my creative juices flowing, it forced me to reorganize the space for better usage and see what I needed or didn't need. I finally made the time today to wade through the mess. In the process I rescued a fern from my back patio that was succumbing to the freezing temperatures we've been having. I couldn't bear to see it go so I found it a winter home. It's actually very lovely having it in the house as it is giving off such a strong scent of greenery. Here's the end result:

storage for my crafting, beading, 1970's Singer sewing machine, Chinese calligraphy set, plants and of course, framed photographs

desk area & dress form. still need to work on procuring a better desk chair.

inspirational & required reading

hanging mid-century lamp & large window make for lots of light in this tiny space

old friends

inspiration board

fern & cameras-check. new calendar-still in the works.

The past few weeks haven't been all about me wandering around beach towns in southern New Jersey. I have been also seeing many other projects to their completion. I finally got around to creating a space for a guest room. I carved out a corner of my dressing room and set up an inexpensive but comfortable Swedish army cot that I found online. I dressed it up a bit by adding a velvet bed skirt that I adorned with fringe.

I warmed up the nook by adding some of my favorite pillows, some cozy blankets and a selection of prized prints on the wall. I just recently added some side shelving for books, magazines and a small lamp.

Another project I finally got around to was framing pressed clippings from this past summer's garden. I only wish that I did more of this so that I could have made everyone one of these as a gift this holiday. They came out better than I imagined.

And finally, since dusting of the old Singer, I got around to some tailoring and mending. I still have a few more things to take care of but most importantly I adjusted an old gown into a fun mini just in time for New Year's Eve.

a week in winter

A collection of post-holiday snapshots from the last week of 2011 spent at the New Jersey shore.