These cozy, gloomy autumn mornings are perfect for rearranging and hibernation prep, and out of these last few days came my new favorite little nook. For some reason I hadn’t been feeling very creative or inspired, so I was excited when I finally channeled some kung fu and got things settled.
I reworked our new PS cabinet into more of an office/key drop area in an attempt to be more organized. I liked it before with my heart bowls, but it wasn’t as functional as it needed to be, especially since it sits just inside the front door. The white tray used to house remotes and notes on the coffee table, but since we use the table so often we kept having to move the tray to another spot, and then back again when we were done. Finally I decided to give it a new, permanent home here and it’s perfect for pens and paper. And at the base of our note board it makes lots of sense. I like hiding keys and other weirdness in the little brass box–the things you use regularly but maybe shouldn’t be left out all the time. You know what’s in there? Nail clippers. Like, four pair because Andrew has some weird thing with nail clippers.
And I think my very favorite part of this new nook is a home for two of my most treasured pieces. I got these tiny little guys on a fourth grade class trip to New Mexico! These are ceramic pieces from the Acoma Pueblo outside of Albequerque and until now they’ve been scattered in random and obscure places. Seeing them everyday brings back happy memories of New Mexico, soppapillas with honey, and the trip home when Scott Wilson bought me a beaded bracelet and had Eddie Gleason give it to me but I was so shy and embarrassed that I hid it away. So yeah…find your old, favorite tchotchkes and get them out of hiding. It will make you happy.
After a few years of trying to add a few key pieces to my jewelry collection, I’ve finally realized that nothing will ever be as good as the pieces I stole from my mom, who had inherited them from my grandmother and great-grandmother. They just don’t make them like they used to, and even with a few missing beads and links they are my very favorite pieces. I suppose my message here is to raid mom’s jewelry box if the mass-produced modern guys just aren’t doin’ it for you.
Can you imagine being a teenager today? I’d probably die. I mean just thinking of the dynamics that social media brings to the hierarchy of teenage measures of acceptance makes me cringe. And basing my disgust at the current set of “role models” and idolized celebrities (ahem, the empire of shallowness that is the Kardashians) I often wonder where I’d fall along the line of today’s teenage standards. Yeah, I’d probably die.
Thinking of all this led me to these images, from a seemingly simpler time, and the dawn of the concept of teenager. From a LIFE feature in December of 1944, shot by photographer Nina Leen, these images focus on the carefree (despite wartime) world of the typical all-American teenage girl. Not to say that it was without drama (and then there’s the whole conformity thing), but still, there’s something very captivating about this life passed.
A great read check out the original feature and full gallery at LIFE online.
[Images via LIFE]
Check out these before and after pics of 1950’s Pin- Up girls. An early version of Photoshop where an illustrator would nip and tuck in the drawing room. It’s still very much an issue today, but the artistic license that was taken in many of these is pretty interesting; a uniform body-type and set of facial features.
I just adore the originals. More images here.
Steel waste baskets
I love the simplicity of these steel waste baskets, and I love even more that they’re not plastic. The retro vibe is legit (as opposed to feeling contrived), and for me it’s a total dose of sweet nostalgia. I remember these from my small grade school in Colorado…though those were missing the polish these have.
$34 each from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply, made in USA
Filed under: Nostalgia
Of course the holiday lands on a day that I already have off. Whatever. I have a day planned with the people I love most. Hope you do too. Listen to Marilyn, be safe out there.
See you on Thursday. Kiss!
[This and more great old-Hollywood pics here.]
Beatrice Rorke
The only thing better than ogling the latest street fashion photography is finding these images from the LIFE magazine archives…all the way back from 1944! Alfred Eisenstaedt (perhaps most well-known for the V-J Day Kiss in Times Square) photographed these ladies in front of Rockefeller Center as part of a series called Beautiful Girls in New York.
I have a small collection of vintage dresses that I adore and each time I wear one I feel effortlessly stylish and elegant, just like these lovely ladies do here. There’s something magical…even ethereal about vintage dresses that just can’t be duplicated with something new. And don’t you find it so interesting that each of these outfits is still completely relevant today? (By the way, I’ve got some great vintage shops to share if anyone’s interested.)
Oh, and can we talk about the hats, gloves, and shoes? Polished from head to fingers and toes!
Delma Byron
Eileen Moore
Ginger Sokoll
Iris Abel
[via Happiness is…]
In celebration of Freddie Mercury’s 65th birthday the folks at Google created this little feature. Absolutely love this; I know what I’ll be listening to after work tonight.
I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and a bit lost today so I think a Liz movie marathon may be in order for the weekend. I’ve always loved old movies, and for as long as I can remember I have been captivated by Elizabeth Taylor. I recall being mesmerized by her jet black curls and china doll skin when I first saw her small role in Jane Eyre. Did you know that a genetic “mutation” gifted her with two rows of eye lashes? Perhaps the last of the real movie stars and a true humanitarian, she was truly one of a kind.
I hope you have lovely plans ahead of you. Sending lots of positive thoughts and love to anyone that needs a little extra. Happy weekend!
[image via tumblr user Queen Ashley]
Ooh, my favorite! 