Imagining the Best

I'm in Chicago, just a little over 2000 miles away from my home in Northern California, and I just saw the most beautiful display of cultural appreciation. An African-American man and his Tibetan wife were wearing Indian saris pushing their I-want-to-eat-you-up crazy cute brown baby down Michigan Avenue in a baby stroller. And it looked so natural.  My imagination (as usual) is working overtime and I made up at least 10 stories about who they are, where they're from and where they are going all before I made it back to my hotel room from dinner at China Grill just now.

I do realize that there are some people that find it odd, unusual and maybe even insulting to see people wearing clothing from a culture that is not their own; however, I find it most beautiful. I really do.  And while I know I've probably asked this before (on my Facebook page for sure), I am yet again curious: What articles of clothing do you wear from a culture other than your own?  Do you consider it a celebration of culture to see - for example - a Latina in a kimono, a Caucasian woman in African attire or a Black woman in a sari? Without knowing the person intimately, it's hard to determine a person's motivation, isn't it? Maybe My Beautiful Chicago Family was born and raised in India? Maybe they're on their way to an Indian wedding. Or maybe they're like me, and they just love beautiful fabrics and clothing. (And yes, I own several saris.  In fact, my husband even wore the one I got him at our wedding.)

When I see beautiful cultural displays such as the one I've described, I choose to believe that there is some type of celebration going on. Truth be told, I want to go wherever they're on their way to or wherever they've just come from. But because that would be considered stalking (LOL), I choose instead to imagine the best...and not the worst....and that's simply because it makes me feel good.

the Un read

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they're stacking up.

this was last week.

& after a week of reading emails, blogs I mentally see the stack increasing-
granted some remain from last year. some are being read again. some have to be referred to-here and close by.

now reading Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey. just what I was looking for. I am hooked on the first few pages.
ongoing- Diana Cooper's Autobiography.


what do you really think of the Stieg Larsson books? Having read the first very recently, I thought not to read the second. Since a friend read it and loaned me a copy- I will go forward with the series. It is disturbing. Yes, I know that is the intended reaction, but still.

Have you read BLEAK HOUSE? No light Dickens- that.
If you have read any in my stack-tell me if it's worth it.

how are yours stacking up?

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Simone de Beauvoir: that Face

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I found that the first question that came up was: 

of what significance was it to be a woman?

I thought I could quickly extricate myself from the question.

I never had any feeling of inferiority...

(later) I had a revelation: this world was a masculine world,

my childhood had been nourished by myths forged by men...

photograph by the incomparable Irving Penn
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Fur Necklaces or Pearl Necklaces with Barbed Wire

Dana Lorenz is the pretty-punk jewelry designer behind Fenton/Fallon and J.Crew's most recent collaborative jewelry collection. Trained as a painter, she started out creating necklaces for herself and friends, layering strands of pearls and Swarovski crystals with spikes and chains. Her jewelry has since appeared on the necks of a slew of A-listers and celebs (including Michelle Obama herself, last year). 

Fenton Jewelry

a bit gritty -reprise

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" I believe I will dip my pink and white body in yon Roman tub. 

I feel a bit gritty after the affairs of the day." 

W.C. Fields

I've started hallucination,
fantasizing really-

about a new bath room.


something like this-

 or this-

Philippe Model's Bedroom 

photographer Deidi von Schaewen

it all started with this-

I have a start with this-

1st image my own old movie still
2nd image Country Houses of France
Model image from ICONS PARIS STYLE (excuse the poor quality-the small book's binding has pulled apart here)
4th image my own
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Innovative Folding Homes- Watch Tonight on DIY

Blu Homes with mkD has come up with an innovative wood/steel hybrid folding design which allows construction of the home in the factory, then the structure is folded and affordable transported to the site. The home unfolds quickly onsite as a complete house. 

This video shows this fascinating process unfold.



Explore this innovative process more tonight with Blu Homes on the DIY Network Channel at 8pm. It will be featured on the premiere episode of "This New House". 

Or,  if you are near their factory in Massachusetts, they will be holding an Information Seminar on August 8, 10-12 and have a Factory Open House Tour 12-4

Vintage Porsche Brochures

You are probably familiar with the stunning posters designed for Porsche by Erich Strenger (1922-1993). If not, go immediately (after reading this post) to see them at grain edit. Less familiar, but equally stunning, are the many brochures Strenger designed. A native of Stuttgart, he worked as a graphic designer for Porsche from 1951 to his retirement in 1987.

Porsche literature expert Charlie White has a most impressive collection of everything Porsche. At his website, you will find even the most obscure technical manuals and service bulletins. You will also find info about his comprehensive books for the 356 Porsche. Many thanks for his permission for use of his images.

White met Erich Strenger in 1983 at the Ozarks '83 PCA Porsche Parade at which time Strenger signed many of the brochures you see here.


The 'Rainbow Convertible D' brochure from 1958 with excerpts ...

Porsche power is no paper fiction

… it is a car that worthily ignites your pride of possession.

It turns on a dime, parks in a wink and corners like a cat.

New convenient roll up windows have
been added to this youngest member
of the famous Porsche family.
And windshield washers are
standard equipment too!

turban 8

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2 turbanned 

Mica Ertegun & Chessy Raynor

"When she was having chemotherapy, well, nobody wore a turban better than she did," says Kenneth J Lane. "I said to her, 'Chesbrough, you should always wear a turban.' And she said,' Don't I know it.' "
                                                                                  from Amy Larocca NEW YORK 

&

Sister once begrudgingly said of the pair as they entered the design profession ''Chessy is a nice girl. And Mica does not have to work.''
                                        read more  here about Chessy Rayner from Mitchell Owens in the NYT


image from the TIMES magazine
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Summer Reading - Photographer's biogs in my beach bag

This summer I am taking the lives of other photographers with me on holidays! Call me mad but when I am not taking photos I love reading about others who are snapping or have been. So many wonderful insights are gained through the experiences of others. It helps with the struggle to know that those that have been there before you have made it out the other side with flying colours. Here's what I've just bought and will be with me at the sea-side.

The photo of Snowdon with his Hasselblad proved irresistible for me!! I flipped over to the back cover and bingo the bookshop had a sale. "How did a photographer who was a relentless playboy, un unashamed womaniser and a leather-clad motorcyclist marry the Queen's sister and become the Establishment figure Lord Snowdon? The brilliantly talented Antony Armstrong-Jones often humiliated Princess Margaret, yet he was compassionate to the causes he cared about. Now in his eighties, Snowdon still hasn't escaped the limelight, as more and more is revealed about his wild and intriguing life".

This isn't a new release but a goodie all the same. Helmut Newton is one my favourite photographers!and I have read his autobiography a couple of times. There are some interesting insights into his life and the way he worked and of course I was fascinated with his relationship with Alice Springs (June Newton), an Australian he met whilst working in Australia. Helmut lived in Australia during the war and started his career in Melbourne so for me he holds a special place in my photographers heart. I am taking it just to go over the chapters I love and hope some Helmut magic will rub off on me and my pics!

I love Diane Arbus and  her stunning photography that is often disturbing. I also  loved the film Fur that was loosely based on her life. I have this booked tucked in my suitcase for the holidays and I am looking forward to learning more about this trailblazer photographer.

Treehouses: A new style of living, part 3

This time, it's not a house perched on a tree but an airplane !!
If you have fantasies of living like the Swiss Family Robinson or even the characters in Lost, this rainforest resort near Quepos, Costa Rica may be just the ticket. Situated on the edge of the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Costa Verde Resort features an incredible hotel suite set inside a Boeing 727 airplane. In its former life the airplane transported globetrotters on South Africa Air and Avianca Airlines, and it now serves as a two bedroom suite perched on the edge of the rainforest overlooking the beach and ocean.

Click to see more on Treehouses: A new style of living, part 1, and Treehouses: A new style of living, part 2 

heavens to Nancy

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How many times does she appear on these pages?

as often as something wonderful is happening in Nancy's Mitford World-

© The Mitford Archive

used with permission

 &
without the help of

Beaton
&
Megan
&
Heywood Hill Ltd

where would I be without a little help from my friends?

 drawn by Beaton

 the Season of 1933

Cecil Beaton photograph of Nancy Mitford and friends 1933

&

translated by Megan Wilson  

for cover of Mitford's novel

THE PURSUIT OF LOVE

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&  

Heywood Hill Ltd Book Sellers 

& 

With a little help from the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, we have arranged for special boxed sets of the recently re-issued Nany Mitford novels to be on sale at Heywood Hill. The five novels fit snugly into a beautiful blue box, with "Love from Nancy" printed in gold on the top and on the back of each. (from the Heywood Hill site)

this has to be the "get" of the summer!

I hope you do.

From now until September 10th* Heywood Hill Ltd. will celebrate their most famous alumna in an exhibition LOVE FROM NANCY- Special things from the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire- Deborah Mitford, Nancy's  sister...

Heywood Hill, described by Evelyn Waugh during the war years as a 'centre for all that was left of fashionable and intellectual London,' employed Nancy to work in the shop in 1942. Now married, Mrs. Rodd would walk to the shop from  miles away Blomfield Road to Curzon Street.

excerpted from Harold Acton's Nancy Mitford A Memoir: 

"Many used the pretext of seeking a book for the pleasure of seeing Nancy. A brief chat with her would brighten the rest of the day for them. Among the habitues were Evelyn Waugh, Lord Berners, Sir Osbert Sitwell and Raymond Mortimer,and the very books seemed to join in the laughter during their exchange of gossip. Nancy's laughter rose above theirs in a carillon that was almost operatic, a specimen of coloratura."

The last day of the exhibit the Dowager Duchess will be at Heywood Hill to sign copies of her memoirs.

&
Highly recommended reading The Bookshop At 10 Curzon Street: Letters Between Nancy Mitford and Heywood Hill 1952–73

nancy mitford.com here ( the site designed by Megan Wilson)
more my bookcovers here

the 5 books in the set from Penguin , see the other books & more about the exhibit here

HEYWOOD HILL, 10 Curzon Street,London W1J 5HH

 

 

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