postcards from dreamland

life now

2011-09-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

wow! i can't believe it's almost been an entire year since i've blogged!
life has been going by at record pace (most of the time, that is). unfortunately, i won't be returning from my insanely long blogging hiatus, but you that doesn't mean we can't still be friends. :)
i miss you all so much. the blogosphere- the whole blogging community -helped me when i was at a low place in my life. i needed your support more than anything. i found an uncanny amount of friends amongst all of you, and i found out things about myself that would have been hidden from me had i not had the support of all my readers and fellow bloggers blogging about things that were new to me. i thank you all so much for that.
as for life now, i am happier than i've ever been. life is also more chaotic than ever, but i've found that chaos isn't nearly as scary when you're happy.
a lot of you who follow my blog know that i identified as bi for a long time. i didn't bring my sexual orientation into my blog all that often because i didn't find it prudent or necessary. i wanted to inform you though, that i came out fully in January and now identify as gay. a bonafide femme! ;)
obviously i haven't really changed as a person. i'm now just a million times more comfortable in my skin than i was before! :)

anyhow, just because i'm not blogging doesn't mean i'm gone from the interwebs forever (i'm too addicted for that!) and i regularly tweet silly ramblings about my life.

and feel free to email me at lenalulu@comcast.net

also, just 'cause i'm not writing about pretty things doesn't mean i'm not mooning over them. you can follow me on svpply and keep up with my materialistic side.

(to add to that list i occasionally Yelp about things...http://lenalulu.yelp.com/ )

so please lovelies, get in touch! this blog might be coming to an end, but my life is merely getting started. ♥

xoxo,
Lena

scarf shop

2010-10-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

i know i just posted about some amazing fall accessories, but how cool are these scarves?!? i am so incredibly in love with all of the different colors Scarfshop has to offer. the scarves themselves come in long + skinny, regular, big, and giant sizes. the giant scarf is a whopping 4' x 9' and bunches up absolutely wonderfully. these scarves are 100% cotton and not very heavy at all...so they're perfect for those days where you develop a slight chill as you're shuffling through the newly fallen leaves to the library. perfect for layering over that one cardigan with all of those funky buttons you love so much. these scarves just seem so very perfect for autumn.

(via Unruly Things)

10/5/10
taking a blogging hiatus. hope to be back soon!
xoxo

quiet girl

2010-10-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

i am a huge fan of postcards. it's obvious from my blog title and it's obvious by the random little things i like to post about. so when i stumbled across these illustrated postcards by Valerie Chua on Anna's blog (one of my favorites, you should definitely check it out) i almost squealed with glee. goodness, aren't they completely marvelous? these illustrations are the epitome of wistful. the girls' unsmiling faces and muted colors bring about a plaintive aspect to the otherwise gorgeous atmosphere that these postcards create. looking at these collaged portraits, the girls are seemingly begging for their story to be told. but in these cards, i think that part is up to you.

ps- check out Ms. Chua's photostream

six ways V

2010-09-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

six ways to escape. reality, albeit a necessity, can be tiresome. create your own world to escape to when you need some peace.

1. read a book. this is probably the most obvious method of escapism. you can travel the world without ever leaving your home.

2. play dress up. it doesn't matter if you look ridiculous, or if you end up looking fabulous and going out on the town. dressing up gives you an opportunity to be anyone you want.

3. take a hike. walk through the woods. go somewhere secluded and have a picnic by yourself. take a nap underneath the trees and against the moss.

4. movie night. make it a night all by yourself with your favorite treat and your favorite movie. or mix it up and have a movie night with the girls, it's very possible to escape with multiple people.

5. listen to music. listen to something that transports you to a different place, not just something you hear on the radio all the time.

6. daydream. sometimes it's as simple as gazing out of a window and letting all of your stressful thoughts melt away. sometimes it's simply a matter of letting go of inhibitions and using your imagination.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

etsy: yokoo

2010-09-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

i am in such a fall mood. i know i got a lot of my fall lust out a few posts back, but i am really craving sweater weather*. i'm a bit bummed though because i don't have nearly enough sweaters or cosy articles of clothing for when the days become really crisp and chilly. needless to say, i'm absolutely drooling over all of the lovely knits at Yokoo. my insatiable desire for all things snuggly is going into overdrive, and if i don't start knitting something soon i think i just might buy out the whole store!

*i've just been reminded of one of my favorite comics. it's called Sweaterweather and is one of the cutest things i have ever seen. i'll have to re-read it now!

deborah parkin

2010-09-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Deborah Parkin's photographs of her kids seems to eerily echo what goes on in the minds of children. she captures the conundrum that is naivety with a hint of knowingness that adults tend to forget or push to the back of their head. it takes me aback at how surreal it all seems, yet it's a little reminder that we should not take children for granted. it's a reminder of how we felt as kids and how we really were wise beyond our years at such a young age. perhaps subconsciously or in a different manner than traditional wisdom, but we were most certainly all wise once.

(via Please Sir)

etsy color: pink

2010-09-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: crown by Janine Basil; necklace by thief & bandit; print by jellybeans; coin purse by oktak; coat from Amalia Chimera; print by abby try again; print by Catherine Campbell; tattoo by Julia Pott; bloomers by Clare Bare

i adore pink, but it is one of those colors that i really only adore in small doses. pink is always forced into your face as such a girly color, and sometimes i just wish we could let go of the stereotype and let pink be pink. does that make sense? having said that, the items i picked are rather "girly" but i like them all for their perfect display of the color. the pieces are all rather artsy in their own way and none of them are too harsh or in your face. even that sparkly crown is nice and quaint. i've found that a little pink can go a long way...and just the right amount in just the right shade can make it appear as if you're housing the most wonderful secret.

i'm falling

2010-09-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

today is officially the first day of fall (my favorite season!) over here in the northern hemisphere. that means it's time to start putting sweaters and tights in the closet, getting ready to kick around newly fallen crunchy leaves, and finding little treasures of books to curl up with in big comfy chairs while drinking lovely steaming cups of tea. mmm...just thinking about the beginning of autumn makes me happy!

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ps- i think i might've gotten the date wrong...i think it was the 21st? regardless, it is now officially fall. i just felt like i had to add that in here. =]

a word

2010-09-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

by Emily Dickinson

A word is dead
When it is said,
Some say.

I say it just
Begins to live
That day.

photo from here.

sock it to me

2010-09-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

way back in February i blogged about Sock Dreams, an online shop that sells the coolest socks. Sock Dreams features a whole bunch of awesome brands, but i wanted to talk a bit about Sock It To Me. Sock It To Me is a female run company based in Portland, OR (yes, i see their awesome socks everywhere here). the label started with one woman's dream to bring the type of funky socks that she saw all over Korea to the States. i, for one, am super glad she did. you would be hard pressed to find socks any cuter than the ones from Sock It To Me.

my simple breakfast

2010-09-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

quite obviously inspired by simply breakfast. this is my favorite breakfast, although i didn't eat it this morning. it's a semi-toasted bagel with plain cream cheese and smushed avocado. i'm pretty sure i was drinking green tea (the dark kind?) because i usually put milk in my black tea. i finished that book and let me tell you it was a total trip. it was amazing. i'm not usually drawn to coming of age books, but i saw a review of it in one of my magazines (BUST, maybe?) and thought it looked good. i highly recommend it if you're in the mood for a heart-wrenching tale about being thrown into the world that is Teenagehood.

i hope you all have a delightful day!

♥♥♥

lissy elle

2010-09-17T23:37:00.001-07:00

i featured one of her photos in my "i do believe" post, and i simply had to devote an entire post to some more of her photos. all of Lissy's photography is amazing. i don't even own Photoshop (and i have pretty much no grasp on how it works) but i absolutely adore gazing at her edited pictures. especially those in her Let's Play Pretend set on Flickr. i'm completely failing at finding a better word to describe her photos than magical, so i'll just stick with that one. and don't you agree? isn't her work breathtakingly magical?

short films

2010-09-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

you all know how much i love short films...

i love them when they're beautiful, when they manage to evoke many different emotions in just under a minute.

i love them when they're thought provoking, when they have a message. i love them if you feel something creative pulsing inside yourself when you're watching them.

and of course i love them when they're simply adorable.

essie

2010-09-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

mesmerize, mint candy apple, licorice, pretty edgy, loophole, shifting power, bermuda shorts, bright tights, vermillionaire, knockout pout, fishnet stockings, main squeeze

i have a new addiction. essie nail polishes. okay, so i know it's a bit silly, but really. look how gorgeous these colors are! i've used a few essie colors here and there for the past few years, but just lately have i realized how amazing they are. they go on like butter (can one even use butter to describe nail polish?!) and the colors are unique and make me oh so happy! i just picked up mesmerize (i'm wearing it now) and i really want to buy fishnet stockings.
it's the simple things in life, yeah? =]

ps- nail polish color names crack me up.

claire coles design

2010-09-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Claire Coles sews some absolutely beautiful art. sometimes she sews on ceramics, but she is by far best known for her gorgeous wallpaper designs. using scraps of vintage wallpaper, leather, and silks, she pieces them together into dreamy and fantastical images for your walls. just imagine, if you had her wallpaper in one of your rooms, you wouldn't ever have to buy any art for the walls. your walls would be the art!

(via post grad hair cut)

i do believe

2010-09-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

we're surrounded by mythical creatures all the time. they're in books and in movies and when we were young sometimes we could see them or be them. i think it's nice to go back to that time when we could be anything we wanted to be, when one minute we were human and the next we were a fairy. perhaps we turned our cats and dogs into dragons or unicorns. whatever it was, it was magic.
the mystical part in all of us should never die. sometimes it's nice to just...believe.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

ps- i'm trying out a bunch of different blog headers/colors...so please be patient as i'm being quite picky haha. i actually just asked for permission to use a specific photo (of postcards), so i'll see soon if i'll be able to use it or not!

in dream

2010-09-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

by Anna Akhmatova

Black and enduring separation
I share equally with you.
Why weep? Give me your hand,
Promise me you will come again.
You and I are like high
Mountains and we can't move closer.
Just send me word
At midnight sometime through the stars.

photo source.

etsy: caitlin shearer

2010-09-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Caitlin Shearer's work is phenomenal. each image tells a story that i either want to be the heroine in or just read for ages. it's amazing how much emotion can come across in a painted portrait. some of her pieces have almost brought me to tears, while others are wistful and like a fleeting memory. her artwork achieves what i think all art should. the lovely Caitlin herself is a 21 year old woman who dreams of other eras and marrying Fred Astaire. she also dreams of going back as Fred Astaire so that she could, "go (to) a movie with Ginger Rogers and dance the night away wearing a shiny top hat and sequins." this is a woman after my own heart, for sure!

(quote source)

ps- Caitlin also has a blog. it's a super wonderful blog, but incredibly easy to get sucked into, so set some time aside before you start perusing through it.

pps- i'm totally kicking myself for letting this be my first official post about Ms. Shearer, seeing as she's only one of my favorite watercolor artists. in fact, my computer desktop has been one of her pieces for ages. this one to be precise.

satara fashion

2010-09-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

what's cooler than fashion that supports an awesome cause? not much, that's what. Satara helps underprivileged women in India make a start with their lives. these women are seamstresses, mothers, sisters, daughters, entrepreneurs, but most importantly inspiration. each woman's story is so inspiring, you can read the various stories here.

as the foundation aptly states: "Satara represents women for women, education for education, dreams for dreams."

i also enjoyed this paragraph on the site, it's the perfect summary of what they stand for.
"Satara strives for the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, most notably the eradication of poverty, the promotion of gender equality, and the establishment of global partnerships for development. Our specific path to this destination is in bringing together cutting-edge Western fashion design with the empowerment of talented but underprivileged women in developing regions."

what's even better is that the clothing is something i was drawn to before i even knew about the cause behind it. the soft color palette and dream-like essence the clothing gives off makes for an ethereal sort of effect. i adore it!

poketo

2010-09-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

1. i am truly, madly, deeeeeeeply in love with this tote. (first seen on Everything)

2. this feather dress is super eclectic and funky. i actually enjoy its tunic-like quality.

3. journals journals journals. i am an obsessive list maker, and traveling is one of my favorite things to do. it's the perfect combination!

4. one cannot ever have too many flowers or too many vases to put them in.

5. donuts + a mug = a very happy Lulu. coffee and donuts, anyone?

i'm sure most of you have heard of Poketo's recent collaboration with Target. i checked the stuff from the collaboration out and there were some really awesome bags, but i didn't particularly love everything else. however, browsing through Poketo's website yielded some absolutely great results. above are a few little gems i found and am now definitely drooling over. big time.

lena wolff

2010-09-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

i might be a little biased, seeing as Lena Wolff has the same first name as i do (and even my initials: LKW), but these pieces of artwork are genuinely gorgeous...no matter how you look at them. Lena uses a blend of watercolor, paper collage, acrylics, oil pastels, powdered graphite, and even hole punches and pin pricks. she has melded all these various mediums into bold, graphic designs that take your eye on a trip all over her meticulously detailed canvases. plus (call me a hipster all you want) i am in love with feathers. and i think paper feathers have just become a new favorite of mine.

six ways IV

2010-09-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

six ways to feel beautiful (i know all of you are gorgeous people, but at times one can just feel kind of...bleh...)

1. get plenty of sleep. the more rested you are, the better you'll feel about yourself.

2. make your own little spa. do a face mask, slather on body cream, and groom your nails. personally, if i put fresh polish on my nails i feel a million times more put together.

3. eat healthy food. it's true...you are what you eat. i notice that i feel bloated and lazy after stuffing myself with food that isn't all that great for me.

4. play with your hair! try something new, something different. it can be a drastic change (a dye or haircut) or a mild one (perhaps styling it in a way that's totally new for you).

5. exercise. i don't jog or go to the gym, but i love doing yoga. do something you feel comfortable doing, just as long as it gets you moving and more in tune with yourself.

6. dress in an outfit that you feel like yourself in; whether it's a little black dress, jeans and a t-shirt, footie pajamas, or a tutu. wearing something that lifts your mood is the most important part of getting dressed! =]

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

the perfect picnic

2010-09-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

...consists of a gorgeous blanket to spread out on, a book or two to read, a picnic basket to fill with yummy treats, an adorable outfit, and perhaps a bike to take you there (and on other adventures).
i went on a picnic today. =]

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etsy color: black

2010-09-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: pillow by The Utilitarian Franchise; print by Leigh Viner; chandelier by uncommon; earrings by Tilly Bloom; mug by Brookish; journal by The Black Spot Books; harness by Norwegian Wood; booties from Old Baltimore Vintage; print by Caitlin Shearer; bag by Sunflower Design

black isn't exactly a color. while white is the combination of all colors, black is the absence of color. and for something so "lacking" in color, it speaks absolute volumes. i don't feel like black is depressing or sad at all. i think it's sophisticated and chic, edgy and bold. black can also be incredibly elegant...but in a different way than white. black is mysterious. and when you wear it or decorate with it that bit of mystery is what gives black a little something that's hard (if not impossible) to pinpoint...but draws you in nonetheless.

farmer's market

2010-08-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

oh how i love farmer's markets (one of the many perks of living in Portland...there are farmer's markets everywhere). not only can you buy locally grown and organic food at them, but the people watching is amazing! my mother and i stumbled across one the other day while we were downtown. she grabbed her little wicker shopping basket from the car and i grabbed my camera and we had a great time exploring the various vendors' booths.

ps- those are quail eggs in the fourth picture, and in the fifth photo my mum is holding my homemade raspberry lemon soda (and drinking hers).

charlotte mann

2010-08-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

oh my goodness, speaking of home decor, i want Charlotte Mann to come and decorate my plain white walls with her sharpie. yes. sharpie. Ms. Mann is a British artist who uses black markers and a white background to create stunning rooms within rooms. she even did the backdrop for the Peter Jensen Autumn/Winter 2010 fashion show at New York fashion week. her work leaves me in awe. doesn't it look almost dollhouse-ish? i adore it!

room candy

2010-08-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

one: doesn't this just look cosy? two: as if i could ever be elegant enough to sit and get ready at a "dressing table".

one: brilliant! brilliant brilliant. click through to see how it looks in a room. it's magical! two: my books are dying to be put on this gorgeous bookshelf. it even has cute little drawers!

one: this rug is simple gorgeous. two: a postcard rug? this was made for me. yup. i think they should send me one just because i was obviously the inspiration.

one: ah haha this is ingenious. and it's colorful! i love the design. two: *droooool*

one: still totally in love with this. two: do i have to explain this? if you don't like spelling things on your wall with fun moveable letters, i don't know why you bother reading this blog. ;]

so, since i officially live in an attic (a mighty fine one, i must add) and the walls are super short and annoying (but oh so beautiful) all i've been thinking about are various ways of storing things and decorating rooms. Anthropologie is one of my favorite sources of inspiration when it comes to home decor (as is evidence in this here post. by the way, my bestie Lou totally bought me that mug. i know, she's the greatest.) so i've compiled a little wishlist of things i greatly wish were in my room.

ps- half these things wouldn't even fit into my room! oh well. i guess that makes not being able to afford them less depressing, right?

pps- remember this post? Lou also bought me the Sweet Dreams banner for my new room. i plan on putting it right above my window seat. perfect for those midday naps i love so much. ♥

i'm nobody

2010-08-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

by Emily Dickinson*

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd advertise — you know!

How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

photo from here.

*i am so in love with Emily Dickinson. i've already done a few poem posts with her poetry, but expect a lot more!

etsy: lamixx

2010-08-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

lamixx is all about beautiful minimalism. if you like simple clothing this is a shop i would highly recommend checking out. their pieces look comfy and basic...and in a super chic way. you don't just find t-shirts in this little store. the basics here are quite unique with fantastic details that set them apart from other plain basics. take for instance this tank top. it looks like a cosy tank in the front, but twirl around and the back has a beautiful halter top. wonderfully executed designs, don't you think?

olive & willow

2010-08-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Olive & Willow is the most marvelous shop. it's full of beautiful prints and stunning jewelry. i think their necklace charms are what sealed the deal for me. rainbows + animals + jewelry = an extremely happy moi. if only i had $126 to spare, i think i'd buy myself that gorgeous owl. but for now i'm content perusing the charms and prints. actually, looking through the prints is a lot more satisfying since they're hardly as expensive as the necklaces. maybe i'll get one for my room, they do involve animals. and i'm such a sucker for artwork featuring animals! (more evidence of my love for animal jewelry/artwork here)

ps- don't forget to stay updated with me, my blog posts, and my random (often very random) musings on .

smile

2010-08-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

a few photos from a shoot i did with my friend, Sonrisa, for her senior portraits. her name means smile in Spanish. ツ

pretty pencils

2010-08-22T01:33:00.000-07:00

miniature art always amazes me. i love tiny things. the lulu bird posted about these fun pencils the other day, and i fell madly in love. at first i didn't realize that there was anything at the top...i just thought they were colorful pencil stubs displayed in a row. but wowzers, i scrolled down and there was an itsy bitsy hammer carved perfectly into the top of one of the lead pencils! it was a delightful surprise, to say the least. =]

the song of the jellicles

2010-08-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

by T.S. Eliot

Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
Jellicle Cats come one come all:
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright--
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats are rather small;
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,
And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;
They like to practise their airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.

Jellicle Cats develop slowly,
Jellicle Cats are not too big;
Jellicle Cats are roly-poly,
They know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.
Until the Jellicle Moon appears
They make their toilette and take their repose:
Jellicles wash behind their ears,
Jellicles dry between their toes.

Jellicle Cats are white and black,
Jellicle Cats are of moderate size;
Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack,
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.
They're quiet enough in the morning hours,
They're quiet enough in the afternoon,
Reserving their terpsichorean powers
To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats (as I said) are small;
If it happens to be a stormy night
They will practise a caper or two in the hall.
If it happens the sun is shining bright
You would say they had nothing to do at all:
They are resting and saving themselves to be right
For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball.

photo origin.

retro future ads

2010-08-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

these retro future advertisements crack me up. they look so amazing! these "ads" are the perfect combination of witty and fun. but not only do they look good and make you smile, these posters also make you think. i mean, it's kind of insane how fast our technology has been progressing. we've come so terribly far in just a matter of decades. i wonder what will happen with the next generation. maybe they'll come up with their own retro future ads and make us look vintage!

(via here and here)

simply breakfast

2010-08-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

lots of thank yous to Post Grad Hair Cut for introducing me to the fabulous blog simply breakfast. i find it fascinating seeing photos of what other people eat for breakfast, and it inspires me to try new things if something looks particularly delicious or interesting. on a different note, i adore how the photos really echo the blog title and description. the pictures are simple. quite wonderfully and artistically simple.

ps- i'm in love with the fact that many of her breakfasts include books. who here reads while they're eating breakfast?

giveaway winner

2010-08-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

the winner of the Oh, Henry! giveaway is Linda. congratulations Linda, i'll be in touch with you soon, and thank you to everybody that entered the contest! =]

ps- i used random.org to pick a winner, but my computer is acting all funky so i can't post a screen capture.

pps- this is a pretty boring post, so i figured i'd add a fun music video on to the end of it. this song always makes me happy, plus it's fun to dance to. ♥

etsy color: orange

2010-08-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: print by Belafonte; dress from brown bag vintage; oxfords from margaret pearl; pillow by La Pomme; necklace by JewelEra; plush by Sara Carr; print by Zukzuk; print by sparkle power; print by Darling Clementine

this Etsy color post is full of prints! i didn't realize just how many prints i collected until i started typing out which shops i found each item in. every time i do a color post it's fun to see what's popular with each color. sometimes there will be a lot of clothing in a certain color, maybe lots of jewelry, or a plethora of prints (like there are now). i can easily see why so many people have prints in orange. orange is one of those colors that's instantly cheerful. it kind of has the same effect on me as yellow in that manner. so of course it makes sense to put orange in happy prints up on the wall. i want to frame as much happiness as i can! and let's just be honest here...i'm drooling over that first print (the girl). that one is hands down my favorite. =]

ps- want more Etsy? enter this giveaway to win a necklace!

meow

2010-08-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

if dogs are man's best friend, then kitties are woman's best friend! okay okay, settle down all you dog lovers, i'm not trying to get in the middle of a heated Dogs vs. Cats debate (i know you all have it in you). i love all animals. i really do. go to this post if you don't believe me. ;] kitties will just always have a special place in my heart.
and as far as the best friend thing goes...call me strange, but i'd take a warm snuggly kitty over a cold hard diamond any day. ♥

ps- don't forget about the lovely necklace giveaway.

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hello, i'm analong

2010-08-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

the ravishing Barbara from hello, i'm nice has just started a new blog! it's called hello, i'm analog and is a collaborative project about capturing everyday moments on film. so far there are only a few submissions (as the blog is still a very wee baby), but i'm one of them! since i don't have any film cameras available to me (save my mum's old SLR that i'm now feeling the urge to break out and practice using for something a little different than my beloved dSLR that i tote around everywhere) i sent in a photo from that time i bought a couple of disposable cameras. needless to say, it's not the best picture, but there is something so inherently magical about film that pixelated images just won't ever be able to replace.

ps- don't forget that you can submit a photograph of your own. it feels wonderful getting to share a snippet of your life with others. and if you do submit a photograph, i would love to know so that i can look out for it! =]

(photo by Barbara Franco)

inspiration pad

2010-08-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

this looks like so much fun! imagine how amazing it would look once it was filled up with words and funky doodles. i found the link via woolgathering & miscellany, a wonderfully kooky blog that brightened up my day as soon as i stumbled across it...which was actually only like three days ago. anyhoo, if you're not easily offended (and a kooky person yourself) you should definitely check it out. =]

ps- giveaway!

oh, henry! necklace giveaway

2010-08-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

♥ to enter this giveaway simply visit Oh, Henry! and leave a comment below ♥

this absolutely delightful giveaway is from Irena, the lovely lady behind the Oh, Henry! shop and blog. she is offering her Good Luck Charm necklace to one very lucky (no pun intended) reader.

as you all know, i'm slightly obsessed with color. big bold pops of color are a dream for me, and i adore this pink necklace. needless to say, i was quite excited when Irena contacted me about a giveaway and i saw all the gorgeous colors in her store, especially in her necklaces. this specific necklace is made with pink beads and pink satin ribbon. it's simple yet versatile, so you could think up oodles of ways to wear it!

for extra entries (one seperate comment each):

-follow my blog, or let me know if you already do!

-tweet about this giveaway, put @LuluDreams somewhere in the tweet.

-blog about the giveaway. leave me a link!

so thats a total of four ways you can enter! i know, i know, sometimes these giveaways can get kind of confusing what with the rules always being different and all. good luck to everyone!

ps- this giveaway will close on August 16th.

♥♥♥

full moon

2010-08-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

by Vita Sackville-West

She was wearing the coral taffeta trousers
Someone had brought her from Ispahan,
And the little gold coat with pomegranate blossoms,
And the coral-hafted feather fan;
But she ran down a Kentish lane in the moonlight,
And skipped in the pool of the moon as she ran.

She cared not a rap for all the big planets,
For Betelgeuse or Aldebaran,
And all the big planets cared nothing for her,
That small impertinent charlatan;
But she climbed on a Kentish stile in the moonlight,
And laughed at the sky through the sticks of her fan.

photo link.

etsy: nan lawson illustration

2010-08-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

my oh my, could these illustrations get any cuter? it's absolutely impossible to look through Nan Lawson's shop without chuckling to yourself and going, "oh i want that one! no wait...that one!" about a million and a half times. i rather enjoy the seemingly simpleness of it all. the simple lines, the simple colors, the simple composition. these components make for some, well, simply amazing pieces. my favorite little section in her shop would have to be either her "quirky characters" or her "typography", but i could easily put any of Nan Lawson's art up on my walls and feel quite at home.

diem chau

2010-08-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

i love the simplicity and elegance of these mixed media pieces by Diem Chau. i'm rather in awe of the way she embroiders organza with cotton thread and places it on ceramics. how incredibly unique! under the "about" section on her website there is a nice little paragraph that sums up everything perfectly:

"Chau combines common mediums and common means to create delicate vignettes of fleeting memory, gesture and form, resulting in works that combine egalitarian sensibility and minimalist restraint. Her work touches on the value of Storytelling, Myths and its ability to connect us to each other through cultural and humanistic similarities. Chau's current work drifts into new territory by exploring the periphery of the narrative, moments forgotten and faded, or too brief to retain."

blackberry campground

2010-08-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

i just got back from camping yesterday, and other than a badly infected toe from not wearing water shoes in the river (i know, i know, "eww" and "what were you thinking?") things went quite smoothly. i'm glad to be back but i'm a bit overwhelmed with the amount of photos i have to edit (this is just a random collection of photos that i've actually manages to get around to working on). do any of you ever have that problem? for as many photos as i get finished there seem to be twice as many for me to edit!

anyway, there are some photos that need explaining so i'll go down the list.
number 2: this is the result of my banged up toe. i went crawfishing (crawfish fishing?) with my father and caught about three dozen of these fellas.
number 4 & 5: i found some lovely "pigment" rocks down by the river and made some fun face paint with them.
number 7: my mother created a cute little shrine in a nook in a tree next to our tent.
number 8: haha after i went crawfishing i had fallen in the river so many times that i was soaked through. my mother had the lovely idea of hanging up my undies in the wooded area right by the trail heading down to the river...
number 11: i don't know these kids, but isn't the water pretty?
number 12: the inside my the tent my mum and i shared. we had an adorable little candle lantern hanging from the top, and a rug between our sleeping bags. it was quite cosy!
number 13: one of the many photographs my mother insisted on me taking of her on a hike we took.
number 14: the most shy little slug i've ever seen! and doesn't he look like a little hedgehog?
number 15: my mother also insisted on posing me in an array of awkward but semi-adorable poses for her to photograph me in. isn't family the best? ♥

to lulu

2010-07-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

this lovely postcard came in the mail a few days ago. i love my bestie so very very much. i hope she doesn't get mad at me for you guys finding out that her real name is Lauren, although i don't know why she signed it that way since all i ever call her is Lou. this really made my week. maybe one of these days i'll go to Ireland with her and open a bookshop there. but for now she is quite right, Portland fits me so well. oh Lou, how i love you. =]

ps- like my shoddy "trying to figure out how to erase my last name/address" skills? also, i have no idea why my scanner freaked out and scanned this all wonky. oh well.

pps- as you read this i will actually be camping (hopefully pictures to come). i won't be back for a few days, so i hope everybody's weekend goes oh so well! leave me some comments telling me what you did! i would love to hear about it. =]

family affairs adventures

2010-07-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

...When you wake from a nap amidst your garden's dahlia patch you decide to ride your white horse straight to Studio 54...

The Guineviere jumpsuit looks like a dress when you stand. Wear it with or without a belt. A golden bikini would look great underneath.

“No grownups could find us when we
Made our plans so secretly
To run away and fly to be
With the two birds of paradise„ -The Pretenders

...You are having tea with the Madhatter. Better hurry up and get your oversized sunhat!...

You will be the star at every garden party with this comfortable silk jumpsuit
“I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.„ -Edward Sharpe
...Feed the seagulls in Long Island and write new songs in the wet sand...
This cotton shirt dress with a Peter Pan collar comes with lovely anchor embossed brass buttons and pockets!
“I've been out walking
I don't do too much talking
These days, these days„- Nico

i came across the Family Affairs site on wishwishwish the other day, and i adored the way the clothing was supplemented with a cute little description about the "wearer" who might choose these outfits and what exactly to do whilst wearing them! it's like a little adventure is already prepared for you. a video lookbook is already playing in your head as you read the caption and look at the gorgeous clothing.

i've seen some other designers/clothing labels do this fun imaginative type of stuff, too. but i think that Family Affairs pulls it off especially well. the song lyrics are a rather nice touch. =]

pounding flowers

2010-07-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

today i helped host a summer workshop for kids with my mother. we learned how to pound petals and leaves into fabric by taping them in cool designs onto a sheet of plain muslin fabric, flipping them over onto a clipboard and paper, putting the clipboard on the ground, and hammering until the pigments in the leaves and petals started to show through the fabric we were pounding. i was awestruck as i didn't really know what was going to be happening in the class until i started doing it along with the kids, and i plan on doing this crafty project again and again at home. you have to hammer pretty darn hard for a little while so it's also a really great way to vent frustration. ;]

i found a few tutorials on the internet:
tutorial one
tutorial two
tutorial three
(note: i didn't use any of these tutorials, but they all look pretty similar to what i did. i'm hoping these get the picture across, because it's quite hard to explain exactly how to "pound flowers into fabric")

ps- what do you think, should i attempt to write my own tutorial for this craft one of these days?

daniel sean murphy

2010-07-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

these breathtaking paper sculptures were created by Daniel Sean Murphy. i've always been amazed at what people can do with merely paper, imagination, and a whole bunch of determination. i've been seeing a lot of paper cut-outs lately, but paper sculptures are entirely different. with their clean lines and elegant contours, these pieces almost look like three dimensional shadows.
(via See Hear Say)

ps- tweet tweet!

i am not yours

2010-07-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

by Sara Teasdale

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love—put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

image source.

etsy color: white

2010-07-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: map print by Karen M. O'Leary; boots from Marie's Vintage; mobile by The Butter Flying; print by Debbie Carlos; tee by The Petite Chouette; purse by morelle; wall decor from Monkey and Squirrel; frames from Vintage 50s Eyewear; necklace by Fox & Clover

okay, so technically white isn't a "color", but rather a tone (a sort of combination of all colors if you will). regardless, white is beautiful. i just painted my room white. there is something so fresh and virginal about it. it comes across like a blank canvas just waiting to be painted on. i think white can be both calming and stimulating. it's so very versatile. i don't wear much white since i tend to dress in bright colors and bold patterns, but oh how i enjoy it. there is nothing more elegant than white. and white lace is probably my very favorite type of white there is! ;]

lady petrova

2010-07-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

i blogged about Lady Petrova back in March when i had first stumbled across their Winter 2010 lookbook. i was pretty darn in love with the eclectic mix of patterns, textures, and colors that were featured. i didn't think that they could come out with a lookbook that i would like even more. i was so wrong it isn't even funny. Lady Petrova's Summer 10/11 collection (titled Peace Hotel) is the definition of gorgeous. the hair with wisps of bright colors braided into it, the pale makeup with magenta eyebrows and splashes of orange blush, the pastel Alice in Wonderland meets Grecian Goddess outfits (obviously the focus of the lookbook), the celestial background, the colors (oh, the colors!)...i can't even describe how much i am in love with every last detail. dear Lady Petrova, my oh my how you have stolen my tiny little heart.
(via spokes 'n' daggers)

lovely lippy

2010-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

i just got home from the dentist's office. i had to have a cavity filled! it's always a pain in the bum when you need to have work done on your teeth, but afterwards i'm always hyper-aware of my lips (mainly because i can't feel them for a few hours and it freaks me out). so i guess it goes without saying that i'm in the mood to look at pretty lipstick pictures. and who else here loves the feeling of putting on a brand new lipstick, straight from the tube? it such a thrill. ohhh, dearest dearest makeup.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

etsy: tsuru bride

2010-07-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

i have found the most wonderful things on blogs lately, but i keep forgetting which blogs i've seen them on and it's really truly bugging me! this adorable Etsy shop is one of them. i remember seeing Tsuru Bride's items briefly online before, but as i stumbled across the fun clutches and card holders a second time i knew i had to blog about them. i am a big fan of color (i wonder how many times i've actually said that on this blog, i know i've said it at least a kabillion times, but i keep on typing it out as if you guys haven't gotten the message yet...), and these purses do not disappoint. eclectic animal designs combined with shockingly vivid hues and metallic leather make for a definite eye-catching statement. carrying one of their purses around, you would have the perfect conversation piece at your fingertips.

little horsey eyes and ears

2010-07-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

yesterday my mother's horse (not pictured here) was scheduled to have eye surgery. we ended up not being able to go through with it because of an, unbeknownst to us, upper respiratory infection. so the surgery is scheduled for next month, and my mother is all in jitters so i'm trying to be supportive. equine surgery is quite risky, but i'm sure everything will be fine.

anyway, while i was at the barn a few days ago i took these photos of some of the horses that were out in the field. i love how expressive and wise the eyes on a horse look. and, well, furry ears are just cute. =]

a morning poem for anne

2010-07-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

by Virginia Davis

My body is an old wheelbarrow
standing in place
at the foot of the garden.
Weathered wood,
rusted steel.
It is what it is.

image source.

disposable camera part 2

2010-07-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

finally got around to scanning the pictures from the second disposable camera i had taken with me to Lilith Fair. i don't think this post needs much explaining if you read the first part. =]

now, these are the remaining photos from the actual concert:

and here (and that second one right above this line ^) are just some random photos from random places that i took after i was finished taking pictures at Lilith Fair. i know i know, i probably should've taken the time to use up the second role of film too, but i was so insanely tired!

the end! ♥

sara skotte

2010-07-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

i stumbled across Sara Skotte's website on a blog i was perusing a while back, but completely forgot which blog. i love the simplicity of Sara Skotte's pieces, especially her jewelry. porcelain makes for a delightful and slightly unexpected medium. the clean lines, beautiful shapes, and small dash of color on her budgie bird necklace make these pieces timeless. the fact that they're all in the shape of animals is what draws me to them, though. i have such a weakness for animals in jewelry!

ps- i'm sorry i've been such a slacker lately. i've been super busy and trying to catch up on my reading in my spare time. i'll try to post as regularly as i can, but i don't know if it will be daily. also, i'm sorry that i haven't been reading all of your wonderful blogs lately! i'll check my blog reader asap.

word book

2010-07-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

this is my word book. a collection of words. ♥

disposable camera part 1

2010-07-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

i finally got around to scanning my photos from Lilith Fair. i wasn't allowed to bring my DSLR inside, so i bought a couple of disposable cameras instead. i ended up only filling one of them and i just brought the other to the store to get developed (the photos on that one should be more interesting, as i let a two year old play around with the camera a bit) and i'll post the photos from the second camera hopefully tomorrow.
anyhoo, the photos didn't come out all that great, but i still kind of like them. i decided not to edit them, i just let them be imperfect. oh! and my dad took all of the ones that i'm in.

heh. playing around with the camera when i first got it...forgetting the fixed focal length and misusing the flash. oh well. you live, you learn. =]

okay now the rest is at Lilith Fair! that concert made me so incredibly happy. all of those wonderful female musicians playing together in one big celebration of womanhood....it was perfect. (and i got to see A Fine Frenzy. highlight of the show, most definitely!)

part two to come soon! ♥

etsy color: blue

2010-07-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: cup and saucer by vessels and wares; print by Michele Maule; knit tie by YesJess; print by Freya Art & Design; pouch by rennes; magnets by hollandsworth; yo-yo by something's hiding in here; print by groundwork; fascinator by Giant Dwarf

blue is such a calm color. it reminds me of the sky and the ocean...two big beautiful things that we take for granted on a daily basis. i've never been particularly attracted to blue as a color, i love it but it's never been a favorite of mine, yet somehow it still makes me feel grounded. it seems to pick up all the calming energy inside of me and bring it to the surface, much like the tide does with sand and shells. thinking about blue gets my imagination wandering...drifting off into it's own little land. and that's a good thing, because sometimes a little mellow daydreaming is exactly what we need in this crazy hectic world of ours.

a lyric a day

2010-07-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

A Lyric A Day is an everyday project by Luke Beard. he takes a few lines from a song each day and puts them to beautiful pictures and graphics. it's a really rather genius idea, and a good number of these pieces take my breath away. i adore the everyday projects that people are coming up with for 2010. here's the link to the last one i blogged about. there are some seriously creative people out in the world!

the big easy

2010-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

okay, so i fiiinally got around to editing the last photos i have on my computer of my New Orleans trip, and there's quite a few of them so i'm going to insert a jump break. i know i know, i keep spamming y'all with my photos, but these are the last ones from my trip. i promise. ;]

starting the photo tour...i bring you the (supposedly) famous cornstalk fence! my mum told me that i "simply had to take a photo of the fence" so here it is!

another stop that was one of my mother's picks was Hove Parfumeur. it's a really old perfumery and is absolutely a gorgeous piece of history.

after the perfume shop we went into a crazy photogenic witchcraft shop. all the hand written labels and bottles and trinkets got me drooling over the photo possibilities. (plus, it smelled great. like homey incense and herbs.)

we did lots of walking around (quite obviously) and i took a bunch of random photos of random places. it was raining for practically the entire day, and most of the photos you see here i took within about a two hour window when it was dry.

we also went into an cute bookstore (and managed to bring a whole suitcase full of books back with us...) and this last picture is of the sweet dog that came up to greet us as we walked through the door.

anyway, that just about sums up our trip to New Orleans! i miss it already, i've been craving beignets since i got home. hopefully i'll get to go back soon. =]

xoxo

clare owen illustration

2010-07-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

her name is Clare Owen and she enjoys cats, tea, ukelele, and all things french.
i think if we ever met we would get along splendidly. she has a blog and an Etsy shop. i am thoroughly fascinated by her simple, delicate, feminine pieces of art. just staring at them makes me want to spritz on lots of perfume and but on some ballet flats (and perhaps a tutu) and go about in a kitty mask taking photos of everyone. illustrations like hers bring out the girly girl in me, which really doesn't get out too much these days. go go check out here work. you'll be enchanted, i'm sure. =]

tumblr

2010-07-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

hi there, beautifuls! i'm back! i'm also being super duper lazy about editing my photos from New Orleans, but i should have a post with them in it soon. ♥
on another note, all of these photos are photos that i blogged on my Tumblr. i've been getting so much visual inspiration from Tumblr lately, that i figured i should do a post with some of the photos that have really struck a chord.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

etsy: thief & bandit

2010-06-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Thief & Bandit houses some absolutely beautiful articles of clothing and pieces of jewelry, all of which are hand printed. the bold geometric designs are gorgeously funky and rather pleasing to look at. i've always been a fan of things that seem to have Native American inspiration behind them, and i get a little taste of that when i peruse through the merchandise. the different colors and patterns are put together so perfectly...they're eye catching and have a modern yet rustic feel. simple yet intricate. homey yet striking. i guess to sum up the brand, all i would really have to say is that Thief & Bandit is a bundle of the most wonderful contradictions.

mermaid girl

2010-06-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

i'm so sorry i've been such an awful blogger lately, but i've just been so busy visiting family and getting some much needed sunshine on my super pale self. also, some exciting news...i got to take photos for my uncle's tie dye business, Eye Dye. my cousins and i went to a water park for the shoot and the photographer canceled at the last minute so i got to take over and some of my photos will be featured in the catalog! kind of random news to all of you but i'm really starting to think about becoming a professional photographer one day...and all these little steps are adding up nicely.

back to the actual subject of this post. i played around with my tripod and remote for the first time on my trip a couple of days ago, and these pictures are the result. it was exhausting, i must've jumped up and down the dock (that i had set my tripod up on, second photo down) a million times. but i'm quite pleased with how they turned out!

ps- i'm leaving for New Orleans on Monday and then i'll be home on Wednesday! so by Thursday i'll be back to my normal blogger self. i forget how much i enjoy blogging. it's nice to take a break from it every now and then, but you all provide so much support for me and so much breathtaking inspiration, it really is food for my soul. thank you! =]

a heron hello

2010-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

i was reading on the couch in the beach house i'm staying at. a heron came and perched on a tree branch outside the window so i rushed to get my camera and took a bunch of photos. i think i started to annoy her though...because she spread her wings and left after about ten minutes. what a beauty!

gray room

2010-06-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

by Wallace Stevens

Although you sit in a room that is gray,
Except for the silver
Of the straw-paper,
And pick
At your pale white gown;
Or lift one of the green beads
Of your necklace,
To let it fall;
Or gaze at your green fan
Printed with the red branches of a red willow;
Or, with one finger,
Move the leaf in the bowl--
The leaf that has fallen from the branches of the forsythia
Beside you...
What is all this?
I know how furiously your heart is beating.

photo source unknown.

new orleans

2010-06-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

i spent yesterday in New Orleans and it was amazing! i'll be back there before i fly home, and i really hope i can get around and sightsee a bit more since we had to drive to Pensacola yesterday as well. my posting is going to be sporadic at best due to lack of easy wi-fi access, and i won't be able to peruse all of your lovely blogs (which makes me sincerely sad, because it's one of my favorite pastimes) for about a week. sigh.
okay, that's enough whining/complaining for me. back to New Orleans! my mum and i stayed at a hotel that is super posh but i was far from pleased with the room we were in...so i broke their little stresser ball in half (heh, revenge is so sweet, even in small doses).

the next morning (yesterday) we went to Cafe du Monde and had amaaaazing beignets and coffee. i'd had beignets when i was younger, but man, i'd forgotten just how perfect they are.

believe me when i say it pays to have a mother who lived in New Orleans for part of her life and super close to it for an even bigger chunk of her life. even though i felt like a total tourist stopping and taking photos every two seconds, my mum navigated me around the city quite nicely and proved to be an excellent tour guide. we stopped in gift shops...

and walked around while i took photos of all the beautiful buildings and sights i saw.

i also got a few shots of the Joan of Arc statue, given to New Orleans by the people of France. she's called the Maid of New Orleans (or something along those lines).

so there you go, that was my 1/2 day in New Orleans. i miss it already, although i'm hoping to have some fun in Florida, too. i'll blog as much as i can, and it will probably be mostly (if not all) posts about my trip, so i'm sorry about that.

i hope you all are having a wonderful week! =]

xoxo

toms

2010-06-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

i am not a big sandal girl. i mean, i like them and i'll wear them, but i am practically attached at the hip to my low top converse and doc martens. needless to say i kind of came across a dilemma while packing (okay, so i'm stiiiill packing...) for a trip to Florida that i'm taking tomorrow. sandals! i'm gonna need sandals! and the cute kind, not my ugly (but oh so comfortable) brown slaps. so i searched and searched for a cute pair of sandals but couldn't find any. i'm way too picky for my own good, by the way. then i just happened to be in Whole Foods and i saw a rack of TOMS. they were canvas (breathable) and they were awesome. it helped that i already knew the story behind the brand, how for every pair of TOMS you purchase, TOMS will donate a brand new pair to a child in need. so now i'm happy with my new "sandals" and i got them in bright red to match my hair, so that makes me twice as happy. looking on the TOMS website, you can buy the classic kind (like i have) or a different style. they're really branching out! i think it's amazing. here are some of my favorite styles/colors. you should check them out if you haven't already ;]

ps- because i'll be traveling tomorrow and packing today i don't know how much time i'll have to blog. hopefully i'll be able to squeeze some time in, but it might end up being me just spamming you lovely folk with photos from my vacation. i guess we'll see. hehe

ruby red

2010-06-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

i got my hair dyed yesterday and did a little impromptu photo shoot when i got home. i just got a remote for my camera, so i'm super happy about that (it makes self portraits a million times easier)!

ps- i know that blue-ish picture doesn't really go with the set, but my best friend said she liked it so i thought i'd throw it in here.

belinda chen

2010-06-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

bright and beautiful collages and illustrations by Belinda Chen, an artist currently based in Berlin. this is another instance where i've fallen in love with the use of colors in an artist's work. third row down, those two paintings of women...those take my breath away. the bold strokes and striking hair against the busy background is absolute candy to my eye. and the photo above them makes for such a remarkable contrast to the bright and bold pieces, yet somehow the soft watercolor portrait fits right in with all of Chen's other work. i love it when artists use all different types of mediums and styles and yet you can still see their fingerprint, their personality in their work...such a beautiful thing.

etsy: for strange women

2010-06-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

okay...so i'd be lying if i said the name of this Etsy shop didn't have something to do with the fact that i chose to spotlight it in one of my posts, but regardless of that, For Strange Women is a delightful little place! Jill McKeever manages to make you feel like you're in a quaint boutique whilst you're browsing her online selection of goodies. i haven't tried any of her concoctions, so i can't vouch about the scent or feel, but i can say that i'm in love with the names she gives to her scents. Sweet Androgyny, Cleopatra, and Winter Kitty are just a few quirky and sweet examples. For Strange Women isn't limited to perfumes and oils, though. you can also find jewelry, lip balm, candles, and other various items all in nicely organized and visually pleasing categories. take a peek around Jill's store. you'll feel like you're walking into another worldly herbal shoppe, i guarantee it!

golden locks

2010-06-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

in all fairness, i probably should've done this post about red hair because i'm so enamored by it, but today i am in a blonde hair kind of a mood. golden hair can be absolutely stunning at times. especially when the sun reflects off of it in just the right way and it adopts an extraordinary ethereal glow. pretty is a word thrown about a lot these days, but sometimes it really is the perfect word to use. like in this case. pretty pretty pretty!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

studio mhl

2010-06-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

these are the cutest pieces of jewelry! and i absolutely adore the way drawings goes off of the brooch and into the background, creating a little world that you could just pluck up and pin onto your blouse. these beauties are from studio mhl which i discovered via the wonderful blog lushlee. everything about these photos and products are simply delightful. i'm smitten!

chie mihara

2010-06-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

color is such an important part of my life (which you probably know if you've been reading my blog for, well, any length of time). color in fashion has always been one of the simplest ways for me to express my love for all things bright and beautiful. shoes and accessories are sometimes the easiest way to throw on a splash of whatever color you're feeling like at the moment. that being said...sometimes shoes themselves are a wardrobe of brilliantly gorgeous colors. Chie Mihara manages to create absolutely stunning shoes that are just as good to your feet as they are to your eyes. Ms. Mihara worked at an orthopedic shoe store, where she learned all about foot anatomy and common foot problems. she uses this knowledge to create shoes that are specifically designed for a woman's foot. so in this case, you don't have to sacrifice comfort for fashion. and with all of the gorgeous detail put into each shoe and all of the wonderful color palettes, these shoes truly are a work of art.

ps- all of these photos are from the Spring Summer 2010 collection.

pps- watch this video of Chie Mihara talking about her shoe line. she brings up so many wonderful points about the shoe industry, and i always enjoy listening to the designers behind brands that i love. =]

ppps- last postscript, i promise! i just started a new tumblr. check it out =]

100 abandoned houses

2010-06-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

100 Abandoned Houses is a project by Kevin Bauman documenting abandoned houses in Detroit. here's a blurb copied off of the website:

"...as the number of images grew, and a documentary style emerged, I switched from mostly black and white, to color, and decided to name the series 100 Abandoned Houses. 100 seemed like a lot, although the number of abandoned houses in Detroit is more like 12,000. Encompassing an area of over 138 square miles, Detroit has enough room to hold the land mass of San Francisco, Boston, and Manhattan Island, yet the population has fallen from close to 2 million citizens, to most likely less than 800,000. With such a dramatic decline, the abandoned house problem is not likely to go away any time soon."

what interesting background behind the photographs. each photo seems to be telling a story, each house was once a home. this project gives the abandoned houses captured on film a personality of their own, an almost human-like history. to say these shots fascinate me would be an immense understatement! i wonder what it is about abandoned buildings that is so interesting, they've always been interesting to me. i remember living in rural Tennessee as a young girl and finding little abandoned sheds and houses in the woods and pretending to live in them. i created decorations out of dead leaves and berries and made beds out of moss and flat rocks. does anybody else remember playing "house" or "pretend" as a child? is anybody else fascinated with old and/or abandoned houses?

traffic warden

2010-06-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

David Tennant and Sophie Hunter star in this absolutely delightful short film directed by Donald Rice. this film had me smiling ear to ear through the last parts. watch it, it will make you incredibly happy! i found this film via my wonderful friend, Lou. thank you, Lou! you never fail to brighten up my day =]

etsy color: red

2010-06-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

clockwise from top left: shoes by Hydra Heart ; postcard by Heidi Burton; dress by Nadinoo; embroidery by Hare and Drum; bra by Hopeless; earrings by Tamar; pin by craftyFOLK; fox by everyeskimo; pillow by Alexandra Ferguson; little clay house by the little red door; print by Shira Sela

red is a bold color. sometimes i get completely obsessed with it and won't wear anything but red for days. although i think i'm kind of biased towards red because it seems to be the color i always end up dyeing my hair. there's just something about a nice rich red that screams, "look at me! i'm a confident color!". it's perfect for those days when you're feeling wonderful about yourself, and it's perfect for those days when you need a little help to feel wonderful about yourself. also, never ever underestimate the influence of red lipstick. red is such a powerful color...there really isn't that much else to it.

recipe tea towels

2010-06-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

wouldn't these lovely recipe tea towels from MOZI make the quaintest kitchen decorations? they're way too beautiful to be used in the traditional sense, but i can just see them looking wonderful hung on the wall with some clothespins and a ribbon. also, i'm itching to try out that orange & poppy seed cake recipe! it looks absolutely delicious!

at the barn

2010-06-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

so yes, i went a little camera crazy at the barn where our horse is kept...but i just loved how so many of these pictures turned out that i had to post them. looking back, i probably should've narrowed it down to ten or so, but psh, what's the fun in that? ;]
i hope all of you have an absolutely wonderful day!
xoxo

pain

2010-06-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

by Emily Dickinson

Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.

It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.

photo source unknown.

string of balloons

2010-06-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

driving home from the horse barn today (i took some photos there that i will post later), there were these awesome car dealership balloons floating in the sky...i couldn't resist taking a few snapshots of them! (and seriously, what is it with car dealerships and balloons?)