Simple Life, Busy Textiles?...

Blackwell (smart)...

I went to the wonderful Blackwell House in Windermere last weekend....designed by M. H. Baillie Scott between 1898 and 1900 it's a great example of Art and Crafts in the area. It's such a shame they don't allow photography in there, these pictures are just the ones all over google images, sorry they're not more inspirational and detailed.....it was the woodwork and pottery that really got me going......maybe I should try and make friends with them!!!!

The shop there is excellent too, will blog about my purchases later.

Fanny's Stylish Fur Balls...

Cats and dogs in ribbons and necklaces, what's not to love. I thought I would add in the lovely fluffy ball at the end...he is sad that his neck is bear! But don't fret dear thing.....these stylish beasts are sporting a range of goodies made by the all round creative that is Fanny Bostrom and they're available to purchase at Anthropologie. (Although you might have the cross the Atlantic as i couldn't see them on their .eu site.

Beyond excited to see this...

I've watched the trailer for Wim Wender's Pina about 10 times now and have worked myself up to schoolgirl levels excitement about seeing it. Trouble is I can't seem to find out where it's showing when it opens on the 22nd April, if you know where it's on in 3D please email me to let me know.

I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time in the cinema in the near future...I recently went to see one of the NT Live performances at my local Vue and that concept definitely works and now the idea of using 3D technology for dance  -  these advancements sure make living outside of London easier!

Fancying some of these...

I've been fancying some of these Olof Rudbeck prints for a while and I think they might be perfect for the new pad. I'm looking forward to getting in there next weekend and seeing if I what is in my mind translates!

Decorating with books...

I love the texture and colour books create when used to as a decorating tool. Just wish I had the space and amount to get this effect.

Chantal Joffe...

I'm up town getting my hair done this weekend and thought I'd pop in to see the Chantal Joffe at Victoria Miro as it's just around the corner from the lovely Whites and shuts in a week. Looking forward to seeing something with scale after a personal obsession with all things tiny for the past lord know how many years.



A weekend of packing...

I've a weekend of parties and packing ! Yippee...

Are her boobs smaller than you'd imagined too...?

Channel flicking the other week I got sucked a More4 programme about Marilyn Monroe which featured the above pictures, I couldn't believe I've never come across them before, especially as the story behind them turns out to be so important. They are from a 1962 Bert Stern shot and turned out to be the last ever pictures taken of her alive.

The story goes Marilyn Monroe agreed to pose nude for Vogue, with no make-up on her body, as long as the session could take place in LA. Rather than work in a studio, Stern decided to take a suite at the Bel-Air Hotel...

“I waited for her like a lover, like a bridegroom before his wedding, pacing the floor checking the ice in the Dom Pérignon 1953 vintage champagne, spraying the suite with Chanel No. 5.” Monroe arrived with Vicky, her hairdresser, five hours late. For 12 hours Stern snapped away, draping Monroe with necklaces, veils and two large roses, supplied by Vogue.
The Crucifix, one of the photos that Monroe hated and put a red pen through in the form of a thick cross. After the shooting, Marilyn Monroe rejected herself some of the pictures, marking them with a red pen (not lipstick), directly on the film.
“She hated the scar on her midriff from a recent gall-bladder operation, I told her it was beautiful. She was at a time in her life when she needed to re-invent herself, I think that’s why she accepted to pose for me, she drank gallons of Dom Pérignon, got drunk and fell asleep.” (Bert Stern)

In fact all the the defaced pictures above are from negatives that Marilyn draw on to ensure the ones she hated weren't ever published. When I first heard this on the telly I was a tad pissed off on her behalf, but they are so striking I totally understand the reason for making them public. The pictures hint at what we might have seen her look develop into as the new decade kicked in, one of the main reasons for her agreeing to the shoot was as a way to explore a new look and image for herself.

Sorry for the crass title but it's one of the first thing I thought of!!!