31.july.07

i found this piece of text in an old victorian book of manners and particularly love the first sentence- it's so visual i feel it reads like a narrative for a period piece film.  i wonder how and why we've strayed so far from having courtesies and manners. not everyone of course.  i've lived most of my life in large cities and it's sad that random acts of courtesy always surprise me.

"The true lady walks the street, wrapped in a mantle of proper reserve, so impenetrable that insult and coarse familiarity shrink from her, while she, at all times, carries with her a congenial atmosphere which attracts all, and puts all at their ease.

A lady walks quietly through the streets, seeing and hearing nothing that she ought not to, recognizing acquaintances with a courteous bow, and friends with words of greeting. She is always unobtrusive, never talks loudly, or laughs boisterously, or does anything to attract the attention of the passers-by. She walks along in her own quiet, lady-like way, and by her preoccupation is secure from any annoyance. A true lady in the street, as in the parlor is modest, discreet, kind and obliging.

It is proper that the lady should first recognize the gentleman. A gentleman will never fail to bow in return to a lady; but a lady may not feel at liberty to return a gentleman’s bow, which places him in a rather unpleasant position. Therefore, a lady should give the first smile or bow. She must refrain, at all times, from using the gentleman’s Christian name."

25.july.07

i find beauty in the strange and unusual.  i'm intrigued and continually fascinated with artists who marry the past with the impossible, with fairytales and mythology, with daydreams and symbolism, with nature and imagination....

Vanessa Valencia  is so inspiring- her writings, ceramics, collages, drawings- everything she creates has a touch of magic and whimsy to it. i love the three-dimensional quality of her work and layers of texture.

drawing on her inspiration and love of birds, old books, anthropomorphism, and anything victorian, Julianna Swaney creates intricate, delicate drawings of beauty. her attention to detail makes her work so exquisite.

art and ghosts is the brilliant blog and etsy shop of London based, Louise who creates surreal and ethereal stories through digital collages, paintings, photo montages. her range of work and styles is just brilliant. 

 

23.july.07

just finished making four hand-made journals.  i found a lovely book of illustrations that were begging to be used, so along with some vintage velvet ribbon, embellishments, distressing, stamping, old sheet music, and of course a certain amount of diamond dust i created these journals.  journaling is such a personal and special time for people that i think everyone deserves a special keepsake in which to record their thoughts.  the back and front of each journal is covered as well as a little pocket for special notes on the inside cover.  $14 each.  custom colors available.  (for some reason, these pics are uploading a bit distorted, better images of all four can be seen on my flickr link)

18.july.07

french artist, laetitia mieral, like many of us, has been inspired by fairytales since she was small. she creates elegant paper mobiles, grimoires, fairy paper jewels and puppets as well as writes her own magical tales. i find her work delicate and graceful and can visualize the stories behind her creations. they also look yummy enough to eat (!)                                                                                                                                                                                   

13.july.07