12.26.2011

I can't lose five verses!

The following quotations are from an interview Tom Waits did on NPR at the end of October. A friend caught it and told me about it, and I was able to find the entire thing online. I love Tom Waits so much, even moreso after listening to the interview. He has a permanent spot on my "ideal dinner party" list.

[She asked if he ever saw himself as being a husband and a father.] "No, no I didn't. But I do remember disciplining imaginary children in the back seat of my car."

"They say that life itself is really just the dead on vacation."

"I would take a tape recorder, and I would put it in the trash can - the ones that are on wheels, you know - and I'd turn it on, and then I'd roll around in the yard with it, and then play it back and see if I could hear any interesting rhythms that were just part of nature. I tell you the best snare drum on earth is a trampoline in like, November, when all the branches have landed and they're heavy and they're wet, and when you jump on the trampoline they all lift up and come down at the same time."


<3

things I like this week, vol. 21

They showed me a block of calligraphy ink, which was very specific: it was one of the traditional ones that the Japanese and Korean artists use. I loved the way it smelled, it was very unique, and I said, ‘You know, this could be a good idea.’

The entire interview with Ben Gorham, a perfumer, is on Into the Gloss. it's absolutely one of my favorite websites - the interviews are fun, and I enjoy hearing what products actual people use. This particular one was probably my favorite out of all of them, though. I love reading about people who are doing something intensely creative, and doing it differently than everyone else. Plus, perfume in particular is something I've been pondering for awhile.

. . .

I finally ordered the samples Frederic Malle recommended for me after I filled out their online survey. They advised Lys Méditerranée, Portrait of a Lady, and Une Rose. Lys Méditerranée is by far my favorite, which is ironic, since although it was the one they most highly recommended for me, it was the one I was least interested in from the description. Portrait of a Lady is too formidable for me to wear, but it (also ironically) smells great on Colin. And Une Rose, which was the one I was most excited about getting, is quite nice, though not totally "me."

When I called the store to order the samples, the phone was answered by a woman with such a French accent that I thought I'd accidentally somehow dialed the Paris boutique - and my brain did that flip where it tries to remember French and fails. I think she must have just been saying the name of the store, though, for when I began to speak in English, I understood her replies just fine, and it was almost a treat to get to talk to someone with an accent I've always loved.

. . .


This post from Slim Paley is full of beautiful images (no jokes about my affinity for ice), but these dresses from Armani's S12 collection were my favorite. And they almost made me wish we'd decided to do a cocktail party New Year's instead of a pirate theme . . .

. . .


This is the first of two posts on craft process by Style Bubble. This shot is from the post on Smythson bespoke stationary, which was fascinating (the gold leaf!) and also slightly absurd, as I went on the website and figured out that if I got personalized cards they'd be at least $600 for 50 of them. Worth it, I suppose, if you have that sort of money, but since I don't, I'll stick with my animal set that I won from PaperInkPress a few weeks ago.

Incidentally, she has a set of 15 personalized cards for $37.50 that are quite nice.

The post also brings up the question of handwritten thank you notes - do you still do them? I'm horrible about them myself, but I've been having Joley do them religiously this month, and she seems to be enjoying the process. Having cards with her initial on them helped.

. . .

The second process post. Apparently it is possible to have custom made Dr. Martens, which sound fantastic. I love the ones she chose, too, and the process shots are fascinating.

. . .


Tyler candles fill the room without being overpowering, and the fragrances smell luxurious despite being cheaper than, say, Yankee Candle (whose scents I usually find rather tawdry). They're available locally at Paloma Art Gallery and Grand Central Clothing (I think), though the fragrance selection is better at Paloma.

. . .

StyleMint.com is somewhat of a guilty pleasure, specifically the mystery bags. I got one for my birthday, and loved it, even though I only got a bracelet, a shirt, and some coupon codes. $30 for one tshirt is more than I will usually spend, but I can justify, essentially, $15 each for a shirt and a piece of jewelry with the chance of additional gifts. The shirts are soft and well designed, and so far have been quite sturdy.

This mystery bag is unavailable after midnight on the 27th, so get in on it quickly if you're going to. They'll sign you up for the service, but you can opt out of getting charged pretty easily within the first five days of the month. They send you emails with the new monthly collection, so you don't have to worry about remembering to opt out.

12.24.2011

so he took his dog, Max, and he took some black thread . . .

. . . and he tied a big horn on the top of his head.



Happy Holidays to you and yours. <3

(photo cred goes to my sister)

12.18.2011

things I like this week, vol. 20

There's something about this time of year I really enjoy. The weather was perfect today; not too cold, but crisp and damp, and the clouds were thick jagged strips of cotton that partially obscured the mountains. We ate a egg and bacon croissant with fruit in a small bakery near our house; I've put up most of the Christmas decorations, with pine branches spread over the wood mantle, silver stars speckling the green, and white lights on our tree.

I have sipping chocolate and wine, and we had a rich dinner, and friends are over and we're writing with the rain dribbling down outside. And even though I still have inches left of papers to grade, I can feel the end drawing near, and it comforts me.

. . .

I love the drama of platinum hair. And her attitude about organic vs. big guns - I'm sort of similar. I'll do what's healthy/organic/responsible only up to a point. Although I'm almost contemplating following a gluten free diet for awhile and seeing what happens.

. . .

Give it your best. All anyone can ever ask for, and a perfect book inscription.

. . .

Unhate.

. . .


It's a shame that I only found out about McQueen after he died. His aesthetic is one that I adore.
. . .



Totally unconcerned.


. . .


I am in love with macabre jewelry, although I still really just want Keith Richard's skull ring.

. . .



It's a great concept, but this is the only photo whose composition I enjoyed.

. . .

Love the atmosphere of this print, and of several of his others.

. . .

NG's picture of the day.

. . .


My current favorite off her new album.

. . .

Red baubles in white snow. <3

12.10.2011

things I like this week, vol. 19

So apparently I've been saving up things for this post for the last month and a half. Not going to do it all in one post, though. That'd be crazy.

. . .

So surreal.

. . .

I don't remember who the designer or the museum was, but Andre Leon Talley curated the exhibit somewhere in the south, and I really want this dress.

. . .

Not very trashy, for a Suicide Girl. And I love her tattoo.

. . .

The Library of the Future.

. . .

Awesome cat.

. . .

Love the concept, not sure about the execution.

. . .

via Bookshelf Porn.

. . .

Damien Hirst.

. . .

"There are no black flowers in this world. Only flowers that appear to be black."

12.08.2011

lying up

The other day, as a joke, I told my students I was turning 40 today.

(The little smart things that they are came back immediately with, "Really? We thought you were older." Zing.)

But it got me thinking . . . the stereotype is to lie and say you're much younger than you are, which has always seemed perfectly silly to me, especially once I realized that if people believe you, they're very likely going to think you look a little haggard for your age.

How much more intelligent to lie up instead of down? Then people think you look fantastic, and endow you with assumed wisdom and experience to boot.

I think I'm going to be turning 40 for at least the next five years.

12.04.2011

snowy evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


I'm not a big Frost fan. His poems are so often bandied about (and beaten to death in high school literature classes) that they've become cliché.

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," though, has never lost its appeal to me. The simple use of repetition to create the underlying metaphor always, always resonates - and the imagery is so clear and lovely it makes me long for snow and winter.

I miss the northern part of the state very much, especially around this time of year.

12.01.2011

love poem on a rainy evening

Madrigal Written in Winter

(English Translation)

In the depths of the deep sea,
in the night of long lists,
like a horse your silent
silent name runs past.

Lodge me at your back, oh shelter me,
appear to me in your mirror, suddenly,
upon the solitary, nocturnal pane,
sprouting from the dark behind you.

Flower of sweet total light,
bring to my call your mouth of kisses,
violent from separations,
resolute and delicate mouth.

Now then, in the long run,
from oblivion to oblivion the rails
reside with me, the cry of the rain:
what the dark night preserves.

Welcome me in the threadlike evening,
when at dusk it works upon
its wardrobe and in the sky a star
twinkles filled with wind.

Bring your substance deep down to me,
heavily, covering my eyes,
let your existence cut across me, supposing
that my heart is destroyed.
-Pablo Neruda