On Friday, Poseidon and I had dinner out, then on to a small art space to see an exhibition. After a brief stroll through the exhibit, we decided to head to one of our favorite bars downtown for a couple of beers. We haven't had a night out in a few weeks (due to that pesky surgery I had). It was a cold night, and this Swedish girl couldn't dig deep enough to find her inner-Swede, so we didn't stay out late.
Back at the ranch, pajamas on, we hopped into bed to watch a movie. As usual, Poseidon was asleep 90 seconds after his head touched the pillow. I watched the movie (can't even remember what it was) then, during the roll of the credits (I sometimes feel compelled to watch movie credits, even though I don't really care, I feel I have to satisfy some pointless need) I switched off the TV and tried to catch that next train to Slumberland.
I missed the train. More than once. I could not go to sleep. I tossed and turned for over an hour,
Source: http://sleephealthy.wordpress.com/
but then, unexpectedly, my brain switched into creative mode! Productive insomnia.
I had so many cool ideas for writing, art projects (making stuff out of dirt and paper), sewing projects, house remodeling, clothes I wanted to buy, self-improvement ideas, things I wanted to read about, etc. My bout of insomnia will surely pay off someday!
This interior monologue I was having was amazing. I've not ever experienced this. It was so much better than dreaming. The strange thing about this, to me anyway, is that I did this the entire night. I didn't want to stop. The last time I looked at the clock, it read 4:58 am! I suppose the Slumberland train circled back to Crazychickville to pick me up somewhere between 5:00 and 5:30am. I slept until 9:30.
As soon as I got out of bed, I went downstairs to my laptop and started jotting down all the ideas I had (the good, bad, and the ugly). If any of these ideas ever come to fruition, I'll let you know, or you might see my work hanging in the walls of the train station in Crazychickville.
Last night, Poseidon asked what I wanted for my birthday, and I said, "Hmmm, I dunno, I'll think about it." My birthday is less than a month away, and I assumed, being a Pisces and all, I would find something au courant, the newest wrinkle, to pass along to Poseidon (I'll pick it out, he'll pick it up--or have it shipped--and I'll open it with an open-mouthed surprised look on my face).
Well, not even 24 hours after Poseidon's question, and I know what I want for my 44th (God, can it be true that I'm really going to be 44?) day of existence: A doll house. Not just any doll house: This doll house! A coffee table/doll house, all in one!
I found this beautiful mod doll house, handmade in the UK by Amy Whitworth Design, on Qubisdesign.com today and I want it like mad. But, with a price tag of £400 (plus shipping of course, and that my friends isn't going to be cheap from the UK to North Carolina), I've landed safely again on planet earth, and will be happy with a new pop up book or whatever gift Poseidon deems all the rage.
I've never given dolls the boot. My twin sister and I had our Barbies and their houses and cars until we were 15ish (then we reluctantly gave them to a younger cousin), and driving and high school moved to the forefront. I actually have a few Barbies now that are hanging out patiently in their boxes, in a large, comfy closet, including this Versace Barbie (a Christmas gift from my sister several years ago), this Bob Mackie Sterling Silver Rose Barbie (also a Christmas gift from my sister), and the Japan Barbie (a Christmas gift from Poseidon one year, based on my desire to be a Samurai), to name a few. I bet my dollies would love to see the light of day every once in a while. That is a topic for another post...Poseidon complains that I never take those dolls out to play. I know he will demand a tea party, thrown by me, with every doll in the closet present, chewing on scones and gabbing about who knows what, before he accepts another doll (or doll house) into our home.
I can't help it. I am fascinated with dolls. In addition to Barbie, my sister and I have also collected porcelain dolls since the age of 7 or 8. These dolls too, unfortunately, are boxed away in the attic, planning their escape and my punishment. I rue the day they learn to climb out of those boxes. It will not be pretty.
In 1999, I started collecting Tyler Wentworth dolls. Tyler Wentworth is made by The Tonner Doll Company. I was (still am) in love with these dolls. I have several Tyler dolls, and rather than looking for specific photos of them to include, I'll post a link to this awesome Pinterest board filled with Tyler pictures...OK, here is one picture, Tyler Wentworth "Opera Gala" doll, one of my favorites from my collection:
Now it seems I'm turning my attention to doll houses, mostly the mod, contemporary styles, and I've seen some truly first-rate doll houses lately, but I have to admit, this Amy Whitworth Design, on Qubisdesign.com is by far my favorite!
I have no real point to this post, except that I love dolls and now apparently doll houses, and I can't seem to grow out of them, but I don't want to. One can never be too old to make believe, and this 40-something Gen xer is happy to be able to solder wires, use a drill like a champ, change my own flat tire (if I absolutely have to...I can call AAA now), but still gush over the prettiness of my doll's hair before her big night at the opera.
Two weeks after my neck surgery, and I'm going mad (more on all that later), but I do get to return to work tomorrow, so normality is within reach.
During my surgical recovery, I wasn't able to do much, including surfing and working with my laptop, but I did find some cool design work online today, and this is apropos because tomorrow, as I get ready for my first day back to work, I will be putting makeup on for the first time in 2 weeks (I've barely washed my hair and Poseidon has commented on my unshaven legs more than once), and caring about my appearance again, so I thought, "I'm going to put my best face forward."
This post is 100% fluff. Blue Christmas lights have always been my favorite. They are just so stunning against a nighttime backdrop. Beijing's blue fiber optic Christmas tree just made me say, "Pretty" out loud. B E A U T I F U L.
I know this sugar art isn't exactly "Christmasy" but in the Carolina's today, it is too warm to feel like Christmas. I think ice cream is currently more appropriate than soup (I don't really like either...too much anyway). I happened upon these artists (Pip & Pop) today, and it's brilliant! A good use for sugar if ever there was one.
If Poseidon and I had a spare warehouse or something, this would be the obvious thing for us to do. It makes my eyes and brain happy, so it gets a "What I Found Aesthetically Pleasing Today" post, so please--pretty?--enjoy it!
Images by Pip & Pop and Hannes Woidich
Images by Pip & Pop and Hannes Woidich
Have a look at this article from hifructose.com about Pip & Pop. Pip & Pop are an Australian artist duo, Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz. Their works, using dyed sugar and glitter are splendiferous (we don't use that word nearly enough).
Sewing. It calms me and annoys the hades out of me at the same time, yet it's a creative outlet that I will still pursue. 60's fashion. My other love. Perhaps I can combine the two? My sewing machine meets 60's fashion, on the dining room table (that is where my sewing machine currently calls home). Tonight.
My friend T posted this on my Facebook wall and my twin sister's Facebook wall last week and I'm digging the cat dresses! Hmmm, I'm already picking out the fabric in my head.
Do I tell my twin sister, or just make the dresses first? What say you, Mel? Oh, and who gets the head and who gets the tail?
Source: Getty Images - Woody Allen at the premier of What's New Pussycat in 1965. Gals in pussy cat dresses, maybe twins?
I should be working, but I'm surfing and shopping. I'm going to analyze myself here and say that I'm looking for a distraction because one of my coworkers is retiring today, and he will be missed, and I'm trying not to be sad. So, shopping it is! I found a funky clock that would make a great gift, then another funky clock, and another, and another, and now I have a headache. This Five for Friday edition is all about time management...in a cool way.
Oh, this is almost too terrific to share, and I don't think I've seen anything
like this before! From madeindesign.com, Coolheure Magic mirror Clock - Projected display. Make sure you look through all of the images of this clock on the website to really get the idea. This projects images of clocks on your wall! Want it, but the price tag is a bit high. 200.00 British pounds, or about $320 bucks! Perhaps if I win the next Powerball drawing.
A modern take on the cuckoo clock! Also from madeindesign.com.
Sleek stainless steel. This isn't just a clock, it's art for the wall, with an actual cuckoo. The design looks as the though the poor cuckoo drilled himself a hole in the steel to pop through. This isn't your grandmother's cuckoo clock, that's for sure!
The same clockmaker responsible for the design above just stole my heart with this
next one. Diamantini & Domeniconi Striped Cuckoo Clock (I found this one on the Rockett St. George site (all of these are UK sites so far...the Brits have an eye for design, no?), and yes it is pricey as well, 195.00 pounds. I can already hear the shopper voice in my head trying to justify the price: "But this would look amazing in the green room."
Poseidon and I recently saw a similar gear clock for sale in a local shop,
but I spotted this one on Etsy, made by pixelthis and it's affordable! The artist's creation uses a large recycled bicycle cassette gear, a recycled computer DVD and a new quartz drive clock movement. Up-cycled and recycled. It's cool with a conscience.
The Albero Cuckoo clock, first designed by Paolino & Fusi in 2008. Yes, another cuckoo
clock! I found this on a the momentoitalia.com site, and at $410.00, I won't be owning this one either, but I'm so excited by these cuckoo clocks!
I feel a tug of war emerging with my practical self and my I-want-it-now-Veruca-Salt self. I really want to see a bird pop out of a clock, and I'm oohing and ahhing over the stainless steel and the striped clocks. Poseidon will have to talk me down off the ledge.
Shopping for Christmas is one of my favorite things. The thrill of the hunt, finding cool junk that neither my friends nor family really need, is so much fun, I'm sure it's a sin. When I shop for gifts, I'm ashamed to admit, but , I do the "one for you, two for me, one for you, two for me" gambit.
Getting right to it, here is my list of 2012 fun gifts for fun, awesome women:
HOBBIES - Gifts
This is the lomography camera I have asked Santa for, and I'm told it is in his big bag of Christmas toys, just for me!
Photo from Lomography.com
Bird watchers out there? What bird would pass up a chance to feast at this mod house? This is a great Christmas gift for your female friends who like our feathered friends.
SOCKS - Gifts
I know, this year, the octopus is last year's owl, which was the previous year's bird, (Poseidon was a cephalopod fan way before they were hip), and those tentacled beasts are everywhere, but these socks are a great gift...oh, and the cardigan isn't a bad gift either:
Some people joke about getting socks for Christmas, but I am happy to get socks as a gift. Poseidon always buys me at least one pair of socks for Christmas. Socks are like a Linus blanket...to me anyway. These koi socks would have have been well received, but they are on back order. Frowny face. If you haven't noticed, I'm a fan of PlasticLand.com.
Alright, one more pair of socks before I move on to the next gift category. Something else I just noticed...I am definitely a Pisces, as all these socks have a 'water' theme.
TECHNOLOGY - Gifts
My old iPod nano died. I had to make a decision: Do I buy a new iPod or put all of my music on my iPhone? I know it isn't hard, but I like my nano, so I bought myself a new one. In red.
I was shopping for stocking stuffers yesterday at The Container Store. This store is an amazing place to waste spend hours and hours. Poseidon may get one of these laptop pillow thingys from Santa. It is called a Surf Pillow, and it is just as good excuse as any to go to The Container Store.
SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS - Gifts
I'm not sure why, but this year seems to be the year of the salt and pepper shaker set. Shakers have been a trend before, and eventually these will collect dust, or find homes in sad landfills, but for now, they are trendy and it seems every site I visited during the past few days...s&p shakers. Everywhere.
These are adorable and they are on sale (as of today at least):
These are hideous, (and sold out), but my grandparents had these, and they are taking me back!
JEWELRY - Gifts
What list of gifts for women would be complete without jewlery? I found a bracelet I thought might be nice, and I put it on my list to Santa. I've been underwhelmed by jewelry I've seen lately, but this black sheep brooch is worth a look!
ART - Gifts
Poseidon and I have art that we have yet to hang, display, dust, destroy, etc., but I'm always on the lookout for fun prints, like this (and they make great gifts for women)
...and this:
Awww, and this:
CLOTHES, BAGS AND SHOES - Gifts
Pretty, pretty shoes. Women (or many women) like shoes.
I WANT these! Anne Klein Plural Color-Block - I saw them at DSW two weeks ago:
I don't usually suggest buying clothing for women, unless you really, truly know their size, correct measurements, etc., but I'm in love with this dress, so I'll share it:
Just a note, if you are ordering from Mod Cloth, their sizes are never true to size, in my opinion, so read the reviews that others have written before ordering. I find the reviews helpful in determining which size to order.
I'm a fan of the Vero Moda brand on ASOS, and this wrap it dirt cheap and cute and would make a super gift:
This is a great looking bag...I asked Santa for one similar, but I think my camera trumped the bag:
MAKE UP, PARFUM and GIRLY STUFF - Gifts
One can always count on ThinkGeek.com for cool, geeky gifts for women:
Tokyo Milk brand - since Gwen Stefani's LAMB scent is no longer available, this is my favorite parfum:
BIKING - Gifts
I'll close with bike bells. Everyone fun chick needs a bell on her bike.
I also suggest FAB.com for gifts...you have to sign up in order to browse, but it's free. Just give them your email address. I get a headache wading through some of the pages, but you might find something that inspires. Happy shopping everyone.
Halloween? Done. Election Day? Over. What's next? And, no, it isn't Christmas, even though the malls and local stores might be trying in spectacular fashion to convince you otherwise. It's Thanksgiving. You know, turkey day, mashed potatoes, black Friday shopping, football, the obligatory list of things to be thankful for and all that jazz?
I was searching for November fashion accessories when out of the clear blue Google, these appeared! Throwing practicality out the door, then sure, I would wear these:
1. This first pair reminds me of a dream Poseidon had recently, and he shared it with me. In the dream, he was having dinner with some old band mates, and they were starving, and one of the bandies was cooking dinner for them. The meal turned out to be old pieces of shoe and denim, baking in the oven. Everyone knows that you don't serve shoe with denim, but Poseidon's dreams are often strange. Very strange.
Photo from shoetease.com
2. Honestly, with this pair, my brain said mohawk before it went to turkey. I suppose these might remind some of a turkey, but I'm seeing a Joy Division concert goer, waiting in line outside Pip's Disco in Manchester UK, 1978.
Photo from shoesmitten.com
3. Two fascinating facts I've learned about turkeys recently:
A turkey can run at speeds up to 20 mph when spooked
Turkeys can burst into flight at speeds between 50-55 mph in seconds.
Sadly, the turkey contributing to these boots must not have been in this sample group.
Photo from shoeblog.com
4. Yes, I know this is a peacock, not a turkey...oddly enough, when I Googled Thanksgiving fashion, I got the peacock shoe. Maybe some serve peacock instead of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner? Does peacock go better with broccoli, or asparagus?
Ever see a picture that sends little goose bumps up and down your arm (or in my case, the hair on my rather hairy arms stands at attention)?
I love the feel-good creepiness I experienced as a child during October, so I chose some eerie, spooky pictures/illustrations that take me back to that feeling. Ghoulies and ghosties, welcome to the table!
