Monday, January 31, 2011

~*Sleeping on Snow*~

So I put together a treasury on etsy.com today 
(as I often do when I am bored and trying not to leave the house so that I don't end up spending $$$).
It was inspired by my husband and I's weekend trip to Sudbury to visit some friends who had recently moved there.

It was soooooo cold there.
We walked to and from the bar on Saturday night.

Walking there wasn't so bad.

Walking back however we proceeded to get a little lost and practically froze to death...


The treasury was not just photographs but it could have been.
Etsy has so many talented photographers.


I was going for the icy cold atmosphere that you get when capturing the haze of a winter snow storm.


I think these first four photographs capture that feeling completely.
If you live anywhere cold you probably want to curl up in bed just from looking at these.


But they also illustrate how BEAUTIFUL winter is.
I've said many times that, I have no tolerance for cold so I really don't like the winter....but I think aesthetically it is amazingly pleasing.


This photo (above) captures the stillness that can come right after a heavy snowfall stops.
Everything is blanketed with snow as though mother nature is putting the world to bed.


This photo (above) has a totally different atmosphere than the previous ones.  
I had to include it though just because of how amazing it is (click to enlarge).

The more you stare at it the more amazing it gets.

All of these prints are available to purchase. 
Just click on the links below each one.

Happy Winter Everyone.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

*ALEXANDER MCQUEEN* A void has been made...

So as I mentioned before in my 
post, my favourite designer of all time is 

(March 17, 1969 – February 11, 2010)

So naturally I would like to feature him this week so that we may all remember the complete genius that he was and the tragedy of his no longer being with us.


"Alexander McQueen shows are known for their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity. An openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander's collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing."



"In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001."




"In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director. Collections include women's ready-to-wear, men's ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance (Kingdom 2003 and MyQueen 2005). Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles."







"The following awards have recognized Alexander McQueen's achievement in fashion: British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designer's of America (CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE) by her Majesty the Queen in 2003, GQ Menswear Designer of the Year in 2007."







His creations were just out of this world.  
He had an unparalleled imagination.


I love the avant-guard quality to all of his pieces.



It's as though he took inspiration from everything that is spiritual or whimsical.
Heaven and Earth
Angels and Demons
Nature and all of her Creatures...



He had a unique way of making something appear to be 
dark and angelic at the same time.


Unfortunately he was found hanged in his apartment early in February last year.  His mother, whom he had a close relationship with, had recently succumb to cancer.

He tweeted days before: 
'Sunday evening been a ****ing awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGELS & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'





Maybe his struggle with these angels and demons are what help him see through this world and into another.
And from this world came his inspiration.

So then I ask this question:
Do we all have to be a little crazy, unstable, tortured...whataver you want to call it, to create something truly original?

I don't know the answer to this.  But what I do know is:
 Alexander McQueen's death has left the fashion world with an unfillable void.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I will have a RETRO KITCHEN.

While I was daydreaming today my mind wandered off into the subject of kitchen decor....

So naturally I started googling
 RETRO KITCHENS


I will one day have a aqua and red retro feeling kitchen.
I don't want it to be as though I ripped a kitchen out of the 50s and inserted it into my house.  

I'd rather have a modern retro feel.  
Definitely from the 1950s though.


There is just something so classic about the 50s aesthetic.
Maybe it is because it was the era of the "happy family unit"?


I'm only speculating of course.
I didn't exist in the 50s.

Neither did my mom.



The colours are just so cheery.
 Everything seems so polished and perfect


I know that you will pay more these days for appliance that are a throw back to the 50s but I think it's worth it.

Your appliances are the biggest thing in your kitchen other than your cabinets so they would have a huge impact on the overall feel of the room.


I particularly like the colour palette of the first pic and the pic above.  
They are that perfect shade of aqua or robins egg blue.


I think either the cabinets or the walls with wear this soft colour.
 Then I will use punches of red as the accent colour.

Not the most original colour palette in the world, I know.
BUT 
Ever since I bought a retro clock that was in these colours, 
I knew I would one day design a kitchen around it.

Now I just need a kitchen.

Monday, January 24, 2011

RED? Yes, please. But what shade?

OK So I am getting sick of maintaining my 
bright red hair with MANIC PANIC.

It gives a great colour but it fades almost instantly.

This is the colour of bright red that I had 
and would love to have again,
BUT
I want a colour that I can maintain a little easier.


So, I have come across box dyes that are permanent that will give me the colour below.
BUT
It's more of an auburn.


What I'd really to try pulling off is this bright copper colour (below)
BUT
I can't seem to find a box dye (that I trust) that looks 
like it will result in this fabulous colour.


I could try and find something lighter and more natural like the pics below 
but I feel like as those colours would fade they would become very lack-luster....


I'm not sure yet which direction I'm going to go in.


The lighter coppery colours are the more practical choice 
because they won't be as obvious when my roots grow in 
(which will be dark blonde)

BUT

I'm partial to having brightly coloured hair.  
I love the look a good saturated vibrant colour.  
Why must that be so hard to obtain and then maintain?

The whole wig idea is getting more and more appealing.

SUGGESTIONS ANYONE?

Pictures that make me smile. Part 3


"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.
 Nothing would be what it is, 
because everything would be what it isn't. 
And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. 
And what it wouldn't be, it would.

You see?"

~Alice.











Splendid.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Existing Amongst the CLOUDS.

I would love to visit this exhibition that I came across on 
which is a great place to check back for interesting finds.

I love their "slogan",

The Cure for Eyeball Boredom

Genius.

CLOUDSCAPES by Transsolar and Tetsuo Kondo Architects


"As children, we often dream of flying up and touching the clouds; looking skyward, they seem almost within reach. Now, through a collaboration between Japanese architect Tetsuo Kondo and German climate engineering firm Transsolar, that dream has become reality. By using three different levels of air with different temperatures and humidities the team has successfully created a cloud that hangs like magic on the roof of the space. Visitors to the 800 square meter room at the Architecture Biennale Arsenale exhibition travel up, through and above the clouds on spiraling ramps. It’s as if they’ve been given wings."

Source: visual news




Now you can have your head in the clouds...
LITERALLY.

For more on this exhibit on display in Venice, Italy, 
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