January 29, 2011

Classic Movie Inspiration: Lust for Gold & Mackenna's Gold

photo via here
photo via here
photo via here
photo via here

First up in my classic movie education: Westerns. I never thought I would be one for the cowboys and Indians genre, but as I mentioned in my last post, it's the classic film area that is exciting my honey most at the moment, so I'm going along with it. Actually, westerns aren't nearly as uninteresting as I thought they would be; I'm even finding myself enjoying them. But then you really can't go wrong with with guys like Glenn Ford and Gregory Peck, can you? And there's usually a little romance thrown into these old story lines to appeal to the ladies as well as the gents, with some gorgeous, tough leading broads, like Ida Lupino and Camilla Sparv.

photo via here

photo via here
I admit, I won't be doing movie reviews here; but for what it's worth, you can count on my liking a movie if I actually write a post about it. Watching Lust for Gold and Mackenna's Gold, movies that highlight the greed and unbeknown misfortune of the gold rush, sure got me lusting for a bit of gold in my life. Here are some gold items I'm coveting right now...

January 14, 2011

Love: Classic Movies

I'm so excited, we received our 2011 TCM DVD Catalog in the mail today! I've become a huge classic movie fan over the past few years and a TCM addict. Just this year I was able to convert my husband into one too - he favors westerns, but I can get him to watch just about any classic movie now.

buy yours here
We were both pretty stoked about ordering this catalog to expand our knowledge of movies. There are just so many great films out there for us to discover and with this catalog as our text book, so begins the year of our classic film education! Are you a classic movie fan? Do you have any must-see movies?

all images via tcm.com

January 6, 2011

What's in a name?

via Cafe Press

As William Shakespeare so bluntly put it, "What's in a name?" For some time now, I've wanted to create this space; this unknown nameless space that's been in my mind for months and months. I've been gathering images and ideas and products on my tumblr and pinterest in preparation, even though I wasn't entirely sure what it was exactly in preparation for. And even now, now that the step has been taken to make this space a reality, I'm still unsure what exactly it will become. I'm okay with that, as I need a little "unknown" in my life right now and the freedom that it provides to take this in whatever direction I desire.

But back to Shakespeare's infamous question and a name. With the intangibility of this "unknown", I wasn't sure how I would ever decide on naming this space. I suppose as all things meant to be happen, the name found me. Pouncing around Etsy one day months back, I happened upon this beautiful ornamental chromolithograph - it took my breath away. I immediately added it to my favorites and continued on to other things.

Persian No. 4A. Plate 47A via bananastrudel



Some weeks, perhaps months, later, I rediscovered this beautiful antique chromolithograph while adding things to my pinterest. Reading a bit more about it,  I learned that its a book plate from the famous 19th century work The Grammar of Ornament by the British architect and designer, Owen Jones. As an art history enthusiast, I was surprised I had not heard of this book before and immediately went in search of more background on it.

According to Wikipedia: "Jones gathered together these samples of ornament as ‘best’ examples of decoration in an attempt to encourage designers to follow his lead in examining the underlying principles contained within the broad history of ornament and polychromy. The Grammar was hugely influential in design schools in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and is still in print today, maintaining its relevance as a source of inspiration for contemporary designers."

Persian No 2 (plate 45), image #8 via Wikipedia
Not only did Jones concept of the book inspire me, but the name itself. It got me thinking, what is my grammar of ornament? What are the best examples of decoration in my home, in my personal style, in my life? And I realized that the answers to these questions are exactly the things I've been collecting and storing away in preparation for this space. So, it only made sense that I name this space My Grammar of Ornament; and in it, I do look forward to sharing all things that adorn and decorate my life; from food I'm cooking, to books I'm reading, to pictures I'm taking, to art I'm into and music I'm listening to, to items I'm buying (or wishing I could buy, as often is the case). I'm sure I'll touch on many things I wish my life was adorned with and hopefully one day will be adorned with too!

So welcome to My Grammar of Ornament! I hope some of the things I share with you will help you shape and determine your own grammar of ornament...

Figure 14 'Indian No. 4' example 11 via V&A Museums

To view a digital copy of The Grammar of Ornament online, including excerpts and images please visit the Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture.

January 4, 2011

2011: New Year, New Endeavor

by Jared Schorr via loveliness

2011. A new year and a new beginning of sorts. 2011. An odd numbered year. I like odd numbered years; they seem to work better for me than even numbered years. I'm not sure why, but our old friend Change seems to work his magic in my life in odd years. And I'm in dire need of our old friend Change after the hand 2010 dealt me.

Staring this new start head on with Change in my hand and in my heart, I'm creating this space. This space, that I've longed to create for some time now, is to me, my haven; my source for inspiration and exploration; my creative hope and outlet. This space, that I've so longed to create for some time now, is to you I hope, a haven of sorts, full of inspiration, room for imagination and new ideas.

I don't know exactly where Change will take me or this lovely little space in this coming year, but wherever it may be, I look forward to sharing it with you.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" -Anne of Green Gables
 

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