Find It on Film: Grey Gardens

Even more than films, I adore documentaries and Grey Gardens is among my very, very favorites of all time. Fashion, poetry, dance, song, design, architecture and, of course, gardens--it's a near-perfect piece. Because of this, I have to admit, I'm pretty skeptical about this new version of the musical (Drew Barrymore? really?) and I'm probably not going to tune in (maybe you can convince me!). But, that said, all the talk of the movie has brought about some great remembrances from those who knew the Beales, their home and style, and I'm reveling in it. Especially these photos from the current owners of Grey Gardens. As Little Edie says, "It's all embedded together. Believe it or not, the past is part of the present and the future is here with us now."

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: 3 Photographers

These shots from 3 Photographers are making my day--so charming, so glamourous! That cameo shot especially moves me. All the lucky Brooklyn brides-to-be, wow! Just imagine the wonderful vision you could put together with these talented folks...!

Ahh, Paris in the...Winter?

I admit, it's a bit kitschy but I have an Eiffel Tower webcam on my iGoogle page...each time I open my browser, no matter how many emails I need to reply to or how big the deadline is, there is Paris! Often there's the blue sunset or the Tower is lit up with jubilant lights, all lovely, but for some reason I thought today's rainy shot was especially romantic as we're having that same blustery weather here today. All the delightful dreariness makes me want to leaf through the books of all my favorite French photographers...Doisneau, Brassai, Lartigue...oh, of course, all in black and white! It's been ages since I visited and I would love to get back--what are some of your favorite Paris memories and snapshots?

(Doisneau photographs from here--click images to enlarge, each has a sweet couple sneaking a kiss!)

History of Heath

Beautiful shots by Laurie Frankel from an American Craft article on "one of the most celebrated, slighted and generally misunderstood workshops to emerge from California’s studio pottery movement," Heath Ceramics.

Home Is Where the Art Is: Twinrocker Paper

One of my very favorite artisans is Twinrocker Paper, makers of handmade paper and letterpress printmakers (and Martha loves them too!). Learning about book arts in college in California, I dreamt of their watercolor papers for illustration--each piece is simply the best of the best. Little did I know that later on I would live fifteen minutes away from their storefront shop in the tiny town of Brookston, Indiana. An American craft legacy. I mean, traditionally crafted handmade paper--just imagine the wedding invitations! Not to mention, their paper has been used to create some amazing fine art books, including this one by 21st Century Photography with the work of Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison (if you haven't seen their work, it's amazing stuff--imagine the wish you could make with a dandelion puff of that size!). Needless to say, I keep a couple pieces of the beautiful paper around for rainy day inspiration!

Baubles & Blush

One of the new Anthropologie catalogs showed up in our mailbox and the shots in the jewelry section are heavenly. The sweep of color above the eye--it's just ethereal.

Pretty Primer: Fashion Photographer Toni Frissell

When I first saw Frissell's work, I became intrigued by her compositions. All the waves, ripples, wrinkles and reflections--it's all poetry. The Kennedy wedding shots are stunning. For all the tradition of their event, I think Jackie's off-the-shoulder neckline, short gloves and her carefree hair--it's these details that just take the cake. The Frissell photographs capture these aspects perfectly. Being a writer myself, I love the story: she's fired from her caption writing job at Vogue and picks up a camera. Doesn't it seem that sometimes these turns in life happen and we learn what we really want to do? What would you try out if you found some new freedom?

(Images from the here, here, here and here.)

Great Wedding Blog: Our Labor of Love

Oh, silly special wedding photos, how I love thee! I'm a hugehugehuge fan of Our Labor of Love's photography (as I've said before) and they have completely outdone themselves with these fancy shots from the UK. I highly recommend browsing all the shots. I think I said awww a half dozen times and more.

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Photo Play

Wandering around American Memory, I found these black-and-white lovelies--Texas and Colorado, turn of the 20th century. Our fabric 'photobooths'--clearly not a new thing! I'm thinking some wedding photos with some richly patterned rugs casually arranged could be pretty beautiful, too. Or something for a little state fair or boardwalk fun (what do you call those funny boards you pop your head through?). Does anyone have plans for some fun candid portraits?

(Color photos from Whitley Goodman via Snippet & Ink, Cayton Photography and Nibs.)

As We Speak, Read and Write

Right now, I'm here: an English teacher with reams of paper to mark up and an ominous amount of dishes to wash....

But I'm dreaming about falling into here, here, here and here...




...just a couple more days until vacation!

If you haven't checked out Roland Bello's work, I highly recommend it. Even that bag of Lays looks hot!

(First seen on Kim Gray's just plain awesome blog.)

Travel Diary: Down a Dusty Red Hill Road

One of the best things we did on our New Mexico roadtrip was return to Georgia O'Keeffe's Abiquiu home. I lived in Santa Fe for a few summers during college and one of my best memories was visiting Abiquiu with the O'Keeffe Museum and one of their girls arts programs--such an inspiring time. S had never been and I wondered what it might it might be like to make another pilgrimage to this remarkable place. The choice didn't disappoint. I was completely moved and refreshed. I have so much to write about having seen the home with new eyes. Every artist, poet, designer, gardener and naturalist should take this tour. Look to the balance of colors in the bedroom. Take note of the garden rainwater irrigation system. Memorize the handwriting on Georgia's 'good tea' in the pantry. The home is the ultimate sanctuary.

(Photos from the Monroe Gallery. The O'Keeffe house proprietors respect the Abiquiu community--photographs are not allowed. It only seems appropriate that visitors have to look closely and remember. Painting from the Eiteljorg Museum: Georgia O'Keeffe, Red Hills Beyond Abiquiu, 1930.)

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Looking Back

Allison Garrett has done it again! The first shots of our wedding are back and she has blown me away once more! The girl is good. Really, really good. I mean, really!

The top two are from our ceremony held at the Sunken Gardens here in Lincoln. We completely lucked out on the weather and place--dappled sunshine, perfect temperature, flowers blooming everywhere. Just right for all the flowery dresses of the wedding party. The top right photo is my grandmother and S's mom (my new mother-in-law!) releasing monarch butterflies at the end of the wedding. These little creatures have always reminded me of my mother who couldn't be with us. I can't begin to say what it meant to me to have these two very special people send them off into the gardens and up into the sky. My grandmother is wearing a sun hat I had made for her by Kathi at Hat-a-tude. You can't see it in this shot but the hat has three big beautiful roses on one side. Needless to say, my babci (Polish for grandmother) was really working it.

The bottom two shots were taken just before the reception held at our home. We just love our neighborhood (we have block parties every few months) and, well, we're writers so we're homebodies--it seemed the perfect thing to do. The photos also show two of my favorite details of the whole weekend. In the bottom left photo, the sweet monogram sign was made by Laura of TextStyle--more here in my previous post. She sent the piece all the way from Alaska--which rhymes with Nebraska but is much, much farther away! In the bottom right photo is the perfect hair flora from Kelly of K. Autumn. More on the hairpin here and here.

Can I just say again how amazing Allison is? We were so happy to get to spend the day with her. I can't wait to work together again soon!