Little Bird

Daylight

2009-11-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

I'm back! I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged...more than a month! This school year has been flying by. I know it's such a cliche that your senior year goes by so quickly, but it really is true. And not because it's "the best year of my life," or whatever people say, but I've just been so busy with SAT and ACT stuff, and cross country. And my college applications are in :) But now I finally have time for the blog again, which is good because I've missed taking photos and spending time online looking at art and reading other blogs.

I just took this photo today as it was starting to get dark out. Daylight savings time is so weird to me, it's getting dark an hour earlier and it's so hard to adjust.

MxMJ

2009-09-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

I never really spend too much time looking at fashion show photos, and I've never been a big fan of Marc Jacobs' designs, but I am really loving his Marc by Marc Jacobs line! The clash of patterns is actually really appealing to me, something about it seems very tribal and reminds me of the photos my friend showed me of her trip to Peru and all the traditional clothes there. And I'm always a big fan of hair bows :)

Death or Glory

2009-09-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

(the title is the name of my favorite Clash song at the moment)

I just ran my first cross country race ever yesterday...it was very tough, but very fun. I'm totally new to the sport; I've been a soccer player all my life and I wanted a little chang my senior year. But I've fallen in love with running, and slowly it's getting easier. I find myself spending a lot of my money on running gear now, and less on more fashion-forward clothes, but that's ok with me. I did find these great racing flats, I love the print and I need a new pair, so maybe...

Some other things I want:

I love this pretty embroidered blouse from Anthropologie, it's very feminine and the color is nice for fall.

This cupcake hat from fredflare.com is so cute! But I'm not sure I'd actually wear it. It's one of those things that's awesome to have just to say you have, like, "I have a cupcake hat!" But in reality, I probably wouldn't buy it :)

Lessons learned

2009-09-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

Even though I haven't been working during the week, I find no time for blogging. I'm trying to soak up the last of summer vacation, in between cross country practices and a lot of volunteer activities, and trying to maintain a social life. But luckily I've also found time for some reading. This summer, it was my goal to read a lot of the classics. And I have - I finished The Bell Jar, Sense and Sensibility, and The Old Man and the Sea - all of which I loved, especially the last one. But I tried a few others, like The Scarlet Letter and The Lord of the Rings, which I could not get into and, to be honest, hated. It really annoys me when people force themselves to read classics, just for the sake of being able to say they read them. I guess that's kind of what I was doing though, even though I can tell when a book isn't for me, and I won't torture myself by trying to get through it. I did a lot of other reading too, though, especially historical fiction which is my favorite. The last book I finished was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was the only HP book I haven't read more than once. It was nice to read something I already know I love! Next, I think I might try a book my aunt recommended to me - Girls Like Us, it's a biography about Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon.

Sorry about the reading rant, I'm sort of a bookworm :) I felt like looking for some pretty photos today, here are some places where I'd love to read a good book.

photos from we heart it

Summer skin

2009-08-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

The end of summer always makes me sad. Although the weather will still be warm for another month, the end of my favorite season signifies to me the end of a youthful time, and the beginning of more responsibility. I actually wrote a poem about this feeling, somewhat inspired by Death Cab for Cutie's song "Summer Skin". This summer is especially sad for me because some of my friends who are a year older than I am are going away to college, which reminds me that I'll be doing the same in only a year.

photo credits: we heart it, ihatemondays.com, rosie hardy on flickr.

Lady sings the blues so well

2009-08-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my camping trip last month, that I finally got around to uploading this week. Believe it or not, I didn't edit these at all - the colors in the sky were really spectaular and vibrant.

And here are some photos I took on a campus visit to Vassar College. I told my parents I especially liked this school because parts of it reminded me of Hogwarts :]

Saturday morning

2009-08-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned her before, but one of my favorite photographers to browse on flickr is the girl who tamed the tiger. Here are some of her new photographs.

Eerie

2009-08-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

A couple drawings by Joseph Smolinski that I saw a while back at a gallery. I just like the creepy emptiness of it all.

Makes me feel smart.

2009-08-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

I kind of have this irrational love for National Geographic magazine. My friend gets it so I always like to borrow it, especially for the photography aspect of it, but the science-y articles are interesting too. I'm not a science buff by any means, I'm more of the artsy type. But I like reading the articles, they're pretty interesting and they make me feel smarter. I'm actually contemplating waiting until my subscription of Teen Vogue runs out, and then subscribing to NG. But anyways, I found these photos online from a previous issue that I loved. They're called "green roofs", and they are supposed to increase energy efficiency of buildings, not to mention they look so great in a city landscape. These photos are by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel.

I've seen these two sights in person! Both in San Francisco. The first is the roof of the California Academy of Sciences, which I didn't go into, but I saw the green roof from outside. It looks so cool, like rolling hills or something. And the next one is just the top of a bus stop, I think it's the only one in the city and it's to bring awareness about green roofs.

Wanderlust

2009-08-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

I just recently saw The Darjeeling Limited - such a great movie, the actors are so funny, but the plot is really interesting too. I'm kind of in love with Adrien Brody. Anyways, watching this film has made me really want to visit India. After Spain, India is probably the foreign country I'd like to visit the most. These photos are just a few from flickr user tripowski's India photo set, but there are so many great sets from all over the world, and they are all equally stunning. I highly recommend that you check them out.

I've been really busy lately, but it's good. I finally have a job (two, actually...), and I've been doing a lot of college-related stuff. But I'm enjoying summer, and I hope everyone else is too!

Beauté Naturelle

2009-08-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

from Mixte Magazine, photographed by Carlotta Mainago (I wish I knew who designed the illustrations). this is one of my favorite editorials to date, I just love the softness of it and the perfect illustrations. photo source: faking fashion.

Some inspiration

2009-07-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the slow-down of posting lately. These past two weeks have been really busy - I've gotten my wisdom teeth out, visited a few colleges, and I've been tutoring math a few days a week. And all the rain the east coast has been having leaves me with no energy! I'm going away for the weekend, but here's a couple photos of what's been inspiring me lately: the Minimarket S/S 09 collection. I love the bright color combinations, and the shoes are amazing! I definitely want a pair, but somehow I feel like I wouldn't be the right person to pull off that look.

first photo from elenita.no, second one...I forgot...sorry!

I want to ride my bicycle...

2009-07-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Somehow a bike seems to make everyone look more stylish. Photos from The Sartorialist.

Childhood memories

2009-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to seeing Harry Potter last night; I was pretty satisfied with it. I had just reread the book, so of course I had to notice everything that was missing, but for the most part I was happy with the film. I was also really excited to see the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are, which was my favorite book when I was younger. The movie looks great; the filming looks superb, the lighting is beautiful and very sunset-y, the music is nice, and the monsters look good too :]

Rabbit heart

2009-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I find myself fascinated by someone I see in photographs. There's just something about them that draws you in, and I'm finding myself in this situation after seeing all these photos of Florence Welch, singer from Florence and the Machine. Of course I love her music, but there's something about her...maybe it's her red hair, or her super pale skin (like mine!).

all photos from florenceandthemachine.net
I love this video for her single Rabbit Heart, her voice is so soulful and the aesthetic of the video is very ethereal. The rest of her new album Lungs is great as well.

Curiouser & curiouser

2009-07-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

I just found out about Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland, which is expected to be realeased in March 2010. Maybe I'm a little slow...but I'm still really excited! Especially the fact that Mia Wasikowska is Alice, she is beuatiful and I'm sure she'll be wonderful. And Anne Hathaway is the White Queen! She's one of my favorite actresses and I'm anxious to see her play this role. Of course, Johnny Depp is the Mad Hatter. I've loved him in every Tim Burton film I've seen, but I love this story so much that I feel like this will be my favorite of his. The film is going to be in 3D; I've actually never seen a movie in 3D so this will be a new experience.

Dressed in innocence

2009-07-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Lily Cole photographed by Carter Smith for Vogue Nippon, sometime in 2006

source: faking fashion

Manipulation

2009-07-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with some cool photo-manipulation sites like TiltShiftMaker and Holganizer.

This one I did on Holganizer, I took it in Chinatown in San Francisco.

These two I did on TiltShiftMaker. The first is the Bixby Canyon Bridge near Carmel, CA and the second is a marina in Monterey Bay, CA. They're supposed to look miniature, using blurring and focus techniques on the site, but I'm not completely convinced with what I did :) I like these ones from the TiltShiftMaker flickr group better (these are not taken by me).

P.S. I found this photo on The Sartorialist yesterday. Wow...this is the epitome of a great summer look. The red lips, torn jeans and quirky necklace are perfect. Usually I'm not too fond of fedoras (I'm pretty sure that's what this one looks like...) but it really completes this look for me.

The Sartorialist

Mind control

2009-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

I just found the work of artist Raphael Vicenzi. I was flipping through NEET magazine online, and saw some beautiful, bright illustrations and had to take a look. I love the texture and patterns in his work and the contrast between the bold lines and the dreamy watercolor.

See more here: mydeadpony.com

Calling a Karl Projectorinski...

2009-07-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

My top ten albums to listen to at the moment.

Rodrigo y Gabriela - I have fallen in love with this guitar-playing duo, I love their flamenco infused melodies. His quick fingerwork and her percussive beats make this one of my favorite new groups to listen to, and as a guitar player I can truly appreciate their talent. Check out the video of their version of Stairway to Heaven - not t sound cliche, but it really did take my breath away (I posted it below).

Audrye Sessions- Their single "Turn Me Off" has been playing a lot lately on the radio station that I listen to, and I've really been liking it. They have alot of depth to their sound but their songs are still light enough for easy summer listening; I really like "Julianna" too.

Janis Joplin - Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits- I bought this as a record, actually, and I must say that there is nothing quite like listening to "Me and Bobby McGee" from a record player.

The Beach Boys - Sounds of Summer- Perfect music for summertime, I've been listening to this in my car nonstop since I got it for my birthday, because it's 30 tracks long. It's good music to listen to when I'm running, I find.

Cage the Elephant - I first started listening to this band when I was in CA, and they actually played in San Francisco the night I was there, but sadly we had other plans. Anyways, I really like the southern tinge to this band's sound, and the video for "No Rest For the Wicked" is pretty cool.

Angelique Kidjo - Oremi - My mom got me into the afropop genre a while ago, and I really found that I liked Angelique's music. Her cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" is amazing, reminds me a bit of Beyonce's voice (I'm thinking that could be taken as an insult...but it's not! I like Beyonce), but with more African flavor in the music.

The Whip - X Marks Destination - I've never been a huge fan of techno, but this changed my mind. My friend from France recommended it to me, and I really like how it's kind of a mix of electronic and rock. "Sister Siam" is my favorite track off this album.

David Bowie - Young Americans - I found this record in my parents' collection. I love Bowie, and this has some great material on it. And he covers "Across the Universe"!

Memoirs of a Geisha Soundtrack - John Williams can do no wrong. Ever. This music is beautiful, there's nothing else that can really describe it. The score makes the film, and all the talented musicians that contributed to the music really bring the film to life. My favorite is "The Chairman's Waltz" - it's so sad but beautiful; I love music that is like that.

Regina Spektor - Far - I've finally gotten my hands on this CD, and each time I listen to it I discover something new, like I've remembered doing with all her past albums. To me, this album seems more free form and less strict than Begin to Hope. A fun track is "Dance Anthem of the 80's," but my current favorite (which should probably change next week) is "Human of the Year," where the title of this post comes from. I love the depth and maturity of Regina's voice in this song.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's version of "Stairway to Heaven"

I hope you enjoyed this post, it actually took a while to put together unlike some of my more recent efforts. As always, let me know what you're listening to because I'd love to hear it!

The color of it all

2009-07-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

just some photos I took yesterday. sorry my posting has been lackluster/nonexistant the past few days, I'm away from home but I'll be back very soon!

One by one all day

2009-06-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

I love finding new artists on flickr! Especially when I have nothing better to do.

_miniaturemouse

eika.dopludo

brettisagirl

I'm going to be away for the next week, I'm doing a summer college thing. So bye until then!

Perfect Saturday

2009-06-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day, I had no real obligations and just did what I pleased. I made a pair of cutoffs from my oldest worn-out jeans, and since I was a little slow on the shredded-tee shirt craze I put the same treatment on my shorts. I really like the results, I think I'm going to do more.

It's been so hot lately, it seems like the perfect place to read a book would be in a cool bathtub like Kate Moss here :)

My beginning-of-summer playlist

Pearl's Dream - Bat For Lashes
Fun Fun Fun - The Beach Boys
Trash - The Whip
Reckoner - Radiohead
Slow Hands - Interpol
Suffragette City - David Bowie
Montreal -40C - Malajube
We Are Your Friends - Justice
When Did Your Heart Go Missing - Rooney

"We're all laughing with God"

2009-06-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this photo spread of Emma Watson in Teen Vogue! For a while I was really not liking TV; their cover girls were all Disney stars and the editorials were seemed tired and uninspiring, but this was a good issue and I loved these photos. The clothes are so pretty, I'm definitely planning on doing a toned-down version of this look for fall. Personally I love Emma and think she's a great actress...from what I've heard other people say, she's one of those people you either hate or love.

Regina Spektor's new CD is out! I haven't picked it up yet but I'm really excited to hear the rest of her new music, so far I have been thrilled with the little bit of "Blue Lips" that I heard on iTunes, and I've been watching this video for "Laughing With" a lot lately. I love this song, it's still her usual sound but the lyrics seem more contemplative than her other albums, which is a good thing in my mind.

If any of my readers have other good music reccomendations, please let me know, I'm always looking for new music to hear and I like knowing what other people are into.

Inspiration

2009-06-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

My "inspiration" folder on my computer is getting quite full so I thought I'd empty it here and share with you all :)

photos from we heart it, style.com, the fashion spot, flickr, google image search and thecherryblossomgirl.com

P.S. I've been updating my Flickr page lately, check it out! I pretty much have no friends on there so feel free to add me - see it here.

The best part of summer

2009-06-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went strawberry picking, which is kind of a tradition in my family, and it marks the real beginning of summer for me (even if I have one more final next week). We made strawberry ice cream, and then shortcakes with whipped cream. Yum. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend so far! I'm going to a street fair today with my friend, I hope it doesn't rain like it has been this week.

El Flamenco

2009-06-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated by Flamenco. I've never been much of a dancer unless you count "creative dance" for a few months when I was four, but the flamenco music itself has always attracted me, as a guitar player myself. I actually just found this painting by John Singer Sargeant, one of my favorite painters, titled "El Jaleo." I love the light contrasted with the dark in this, there's something so mysterious about it.

Studies for "El Jaleo"

Watercolor study, "Spanish Dancer"

Bold

2009-06-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this photo from the Sartorialist - everything about it screams perfection to me. I love the combination of the bold patterned dress with the red lips and bag, it seems very modern but very classic as well, which is a look I always love.

Clean space

2009-06-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

These photos from The Selby make me happy. And I need all the happiness I can get right now, becase a) my math final is tomorrow, and b) I just started reading The Bell Jar and it is really depressing. Photos of Lucy Chadwick and Duffy's space in London. I love how clean and bright their home is, and the plants make it seem so alive. Seems to be a very refreshing place to live, which is so nice especially in the summertime.

My mom just found her old film camera that is actually about 22 years old, but still in really great condition, and I've been using it for the past couple of days. I'm not sure of the make of it but it seems to work fine. I'm excited to see prints of the photos I've been taking as I've never used film before, so we'll see how they turn out!

In the garden, again.

2009-06-14T12:14:00.001-07:00

I spent most of the day outside studying for my math final, but was distracted by all the blooming roses in the garden so of course I had to take some photos.

I've been contemplating buying a film camera, something small and fairly inexpensive to start with. If anyone has any suggestions of a good model to look at, please let me know, I'd really appreciate it! I'm kind of clueless when it comes to film photography, so I need all the help I can get.

The color purple.

2009-06-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Purple has always been my favorite color, and I was a little surprised to notice that almost all the flowers in my mom's garden that are blossomed are that color. I took these photos a couple days ago.

Some things you can't explain away

2009-06-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Two more Flickr pages I have been loving recently...the first set is from the girl who tamed the tiger. I love her polaroids and photos of polaroids. Her use of gentle lighting is so sensual and her subjects fascinate me.

The other user is Alison Scarpulla. I love her powerful photographs, they are a bit sad and each seems to evoke loneliness in its own way.

I also got tagged by Icon, so here it is. [The Rules: Answer the following questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention and add one more question of your own.] If you're reading this and would like to fill it out, consider yourself tagged!

What is your current obsession? I have been a little obsessed with fmylife.com lately...it's sort of an addiction. If you haven't checked it out, you really should.

What are you wearing now? I'm wearing a pair of brown linen shorts and a dark green flowy top.

What is on your desk? A lamp, my record player, 2 dictionaries, a thesaurus, a couple pages of sheet music, my SAT review book, and a lot of messy papers that probably don't belong there.

What would you like to learn to do? Speak French.

Name a song you are currently obsessing over: I wouldn't say obsessing, but the Clash's "Train in Vain" has been stuck in my head since London Calling has been playing in my car for a few weeks straight. But I'm not complaining, I love that song.

What was the last thing you bought? Ice cream, to celebrate finishing the SAT.

What one item are you currently wanting? A tie die maxi dress from Forever 21.

What languages can you speak? English and Spanish, to some extent.

What is the last book you have read? The last book I have finished is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But right now I'm reading The DaVinci Code.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I really don't know anymore. I used to know, but it's so hard to decide. I know when I go to college next year I want to minor in music, and probably major in international affairs, anthropology or journalism.

What are your favourite websites? Fmylife.com, as I previously mentioned, countless fashion, photography and art blogs, Facebook, and Flickr.

If you were to pick up a pen right now, what would be the first thing you'd write? Probably a list of the books I need to order from the library to read this summer.

If you you could be anywhere in the world at any point in time, where would you be? Right now I want to be somewhere very warm and sunny, because it's not here now and that bothers me.

If you could be an animal, what would you be? Definitely a bird. I would love to be able to fly and see everything.

What are you looking forward to in the near future? College. I know it's a year away and it's really stressful preparing for it, but I'm very excited to leave home and have new experiences.

Yum.

2009-06-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

Photos from death_by_cupcake's Flickr photostream. I love pretty photos of cupcakes and other confections...mmmm. I really wish I had one of these now, I've had a really bad week and I have to take the SAT tomorrow, and a delicious cupcake would make things a little better :)

Ethereal Romance

2009-06-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

shot by Will Davidson for Vogue China, sometime in 2008 I think.

Relief.

2009-05-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

I just completed a major art project for school, and it has been such a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I'm really satisfied with how it turned out, and it put me in a really great mood so I thought I would reward myself and just browse some of my favorite illustrators online. I found the site of Cedric Rivrain, an amazing fashion illustrator whose work is often in Nylon and Numero magazines. He really captures the color and movement in clothes and models, better than any photograph could. Here are my favorites from his work, but you can see the rest at cedricrivrain.com .

Time and time again

2009-05-14T15:52:00.001-07:00

My birthday is coming up next week...just a few things on my wishlist I'd thought I'd share. It's not too large of a list, because part of my present is going to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway this weekend!

PS Isn't this photograph so striking? I had found it saved away and just came across it, the model's eyes are so frightening and beautiful at the same time, just thought I'd share it.

photo credit: Starbucks and Jane Austen

Character

2009-05-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

There's nothing I love to wear more than jewelry, and vintage is my favorite - it has so much more character! I love finding my grandmother's old jewelry and thinking about her wearing it. These are some of my favorites from vintagejewelryonline.com .

I'm entering a photo contest in my region, so I'm planning on being out this week snapping some local photographs. If they turn out well, I may post some soon.

Happiness

2009-05-08T13:50:00.001-07:00

I'm in an unusually good mood today...the weather is so nice and I'm just sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and the flowers and loving life at the moment. Prom is tomorrow so I'm enjoying a stress free day before that. I just found these photos of Joni Mitchell, whose music I have been loving a lot lately. She has the greatest smile!

Cultural color

2009-05-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

While I was in California, I was fortunate enough to visit Lisa Kristine's photography gallery in Sonoma. I was absolutely blown away: her photography is stunning. She travels all over the world and captures cultures through her photography. Her photos are so colorful and bold, and I love seeing the different patterns and textures. When I did a little research I found that she insists on using natural light and often waits hours to capture her scene illuminated in the way she wants. The huge framed photos in the gallery were very out of my price range, but her work is so appealing to me that it is definitely something I would save up for in the future.

To see more of Lisa Kristine's amazing work, visit her website here.

Reminders

2009-05-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is a photo I took at this huge garage sale I go to anually with my aunt. I've been looking for the perfect pair of cowboy boots for so long, and garage sales are a great place to find them, but I ca never find them in my size so I have yet to get a pair. I love the look of cowboy boots worn with denim shorts or floaty dresses in the summer.

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, I promise I'll have some longer and more interestig posts coming soon! I've been busy lately but life is very good at the moment.

Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow

2009-04-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Coachella 2009

2009-04-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

photos by Hedi Slimane.

photos from hedislimane.com

I'm sad about missing this year's Coachella music festival...I've never been, but it sucks since I was in CA that weekend :( And this year's line up was great...MIA, The Cure, YYYs, and Cage the Elephant, one of my favorite bands at the moment. One of my life's goals is to hit all the major music festivals in the US. I can't wait.

Travels

2009-04-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Some photos from my trip last week...

the Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz Island

starfish on the beach

shop in Haight-Ashbury

houses in Haight-Ashbury

sushi!

beach near Monterey

steps up to Coit Tower in San Francisco

Monterey Aquarium

sunset in Monterey

In a dream.

2009-04-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've had this post ready for a long time, so I thought I'd set it to post while I'm away. Tim Walker's photography is always intriguing...sometimes I love it, other times I don't, but this old shoot from Vogue IT in 2005 was definitely one of my favorites. Lily Cole is perfect for the dreamy story being told in these photos.

Goodbye for now!

2009-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for California tomorrow, I'm all packed and definitely ready for the trip. I'll be taking lots of photos, so expect to see some of those when I return next week.

first photo by me, second photo from flickr user katiekathryn

My playlist for vacation...
Sheena is a Punk Rocker - The YYYs
I Get Around - The Beach Boys
No Rest for the Wicked - Cage the Elephant
Black Tambourine - Beck
Down to the Market - The Kooks
Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies
Once in a Lifetime - The Talking Heads
Brat Pack - The Rocket Summer
No Scrubs - TLC
Going to California - Led Zeppelin

Preparations

2009-04-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Just some street style inspiration for my upcoming trip to California...which reminds me, I need to pack :(

photos from the sartorialist, facehunter and style sightings

Uninspired.

2009-04-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Why is it that some days I am so inspired and filled with motivation to write and be artistic, yet on days like today when it is my job to be imaginative, nothing stirs my creative mind?

Mangos, Papayas

2009-04-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

Tiiu Kuik photographed by Camilla Åkrans. I love how Frida Kahlo-esque these are, and the clothes and headpieces are great!

On another note, my mom just bought the War Child Heroes CD I mentioned several posts back, and it is absolutely great! I highly recommend it, it's a great cause and the music is amazing.

April flowers...

2009-04-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Just a couple photos I took the other day. The bee in the flower was frozen like that! Spring has definitely manifested itself in my garden, I came home yesterday and the little purple crocuses had just blossomed. I'll have to take some photos of those and post them soon.

Karma police.

2009-03-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

I saw an illustration by Fumi Mini Nakamura in the February issue of Nylon, and since then I've been enchanted by her work. I think these pieces speak for themselves, so I won't say anymore :)

photos from Fumi's flickr page - click here to view

PS - Thanks to everyone who has been commenting recently! I won't have much time to get back to comments this week, but I will try to catch up eventually! And to those who wondered, the title from the previous post is from the Death Cab for Cutie song called "Crooked Teeth".

I'm a war of head versus heart.

2009-03-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

"This Side of the Blue" - Lula magazine, photographed by Yelena Yemchuk, from faking fashion.

I've got such a busy week coming up...rehearsals every day...I'm dreading it. Hope everyone has a great, relaxing weekend :)

Inspirations.

2009-03-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

The earth does not argue,
Is not pathetic, has no arrangements,
Does not scream, haste, persuade, threaten, promise,
Makes no discriminations, has no conceivable failures,
Closes nothing, refuses nothing, shuts none out,
Of all the powers, objects, states, it notifies, shuts none out.
-Walt Whitman

photos from Flickr, PermanentVacation.com and WeHeartIt.com

Quirky.

2009-03-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have recently fallen in love with Swedish illustrator Hanna Terese Nilsson's work. All her characters are lovably eccentric, and I love the different textures and values she can create with her pencil. See more of her work here.

Surrealism.

2009-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've always been fond of fairy tales. When I was really little I had this beautiful book of fairy tales illustrated by Tasha Tudor, and after reading Alice in Wonderland I've been obsessed with finding fashion editorials and beautiful photographs inspired by fairy tales. Some are very obvious as to which story was the inspiration, and others are more subtle and will make you wonder, but either way they are stunning to look at.

all photos from The Fashion Spot

Like diamonds in your hair...

2009-03-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

Just some things on my spring wishlist. Click to enlarge it and see all the pictures!

From top left: Kimono dress from shopruche.com, button shorts from Forever 21, Emily Dickenson poetry book, UO tulip skirt, Lanvin flats, UO sunnies, War Child Heroes CD, and a fern necklace from LeviticusJewelry.com .

About the CD; War Child Heroes is a compilation of songs originally done by music legends like Bob Dylan, the Kinks, Blondie, the Clash, and Iggy Pop, but covered by some of today's best acts including Lily Allen, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Kooks, Franz Ferdinand, Beck and TV on the Radio. Profits from the CD go towards the War Child organization, which aids children affected by war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other war-stricken areas. To find out more about this wonderful organization, click here.

I hope everyone is enjoying the second day of spring! I took advantage of the nice weather and went for a run today, it felt really good to just get out and moving.

Happy spring!

2009-03-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by the super-sweet Emily, so here it goes!

The rules are:
1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession?
Buddy Holly's music - I've been listening to it constantly over the past few days.

What are you wearing today?
skinny jeans, a Cake concert tee, and a feather necklace.

Do you nap a lot?
Not usually, I don't have the time, and I normally get a solid eight hours a night so I rarely need to.

Why is today special?
It's the first day of spring!

What would you like to learn to do?
Play every musical instrument that exists...but if I had to pick just one, I would pick the bagpipes.

What's for dinner today?
Moroccan couscous soup

What's the last thing you bought?
My prom dress! Yay.

What are you listening to right now?
Beck's cover of Bob Dylan's "Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat"

What is your favorite weather?
Warm-ish, clear and sunny.

What is on your bedside table?
My iHome, a book of Jane Austen's novels, a set of The Office DVD's, and a framed photo of my brother and I on my first day of kindergarten.

What's your style?
Pretty and feminine, but it changes often and some days I'll wear lots of black and menswear-inspired pieces, it depends on my mood.

What is your most challenging goal right now?
Finishing my junior year! With all the tough courses I'm taking and the SAT coming up soon, I have a lot to do before June and I can't wait till it's over.

Say something about the person who tagged you:
Emily is one of the sweetest bloggers there is. You can always tell that she puts a lot of thought into her posts, and her comments are always genuine. She is one of my favorite bloggers!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Either Montreal or New York City.

Favorite vacation spot?
the Adirondacks

Name the things you cannot live without:
My family, friends, books, musical instruments, my voice, and my independence.

What is the last movie you watched?
Office Space. One of my favorites!

What person would you like to have in your hands right now?
My grandmother. She passed away when I was about nine, but we were so similar and I would like to be able to talk to her at this point in my life.

What would you like to get rid of?
My self-doubt and negative thoughts.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
An amusement park on the west coast. I love ferris wheels!

Which language do you want to learn?
If I had to pick just one, it would probably be French.

Which countries have you visited?
Only Canada and Jamaica, but I would really love to go to Spain someday.

What are some of the things you like about where you live?
I like the quietness, and all the pretty farms in the area.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Content.

What is your favorite quality about yourself?
I'm curious. I always want to learn more and it drives me to discover new things.

Now I tag Icon, Kelsea,The Yellow Elephant, and Amelia.

2009-03-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been posting lately, I've been swamped with work and when I'm not busy, I've been soaking up the spring-like weather. Recently I found out that there's a really good chance that my family and I are going to California for a week next month! We want to spend a few days in San Francisco, go see Alcatraz, and maybe go to Yosemite Park and some vineyards. I'm really looking forward to it, especially seeing the iconic Victorian row houses in the city, like on Full House (which I used to be obsessed with when I was a kid!) I've been collecting these photos from Flickr over the past few days, and I don't have the exact credits, sorry!

It's Friday, I'm in love.

2009-03-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

photos from mixologies and foto decadent

Just some inspiring photos I've been collecting over the past week or so. I haven't had much time to post lately, I've been very busy with theater and it's been really stressful. I like looking at photos like these, they're relaxing. A big thank you to everyone who has commented on my blog, and I apologize if I haven't commented back yet but I will try to do so!

YES.

2009-03-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on the cover of Spin. They've been one of my favorite bands for a really long time, and I'm so excited about their new CD, "It's Blitz", which is coming out in April. I looked for Youtube videos of their new single "Zero," but couldn't find any. They also do a great cover of the Ramone's "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," you should definitely check it out, Karen O's voice does it justice.

EDIT: I just found this photo, and rumor has it that it's going to be the cover of the new CD. I love it!

They'll name a city after us.

2009-03-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

photos from stylesightings.com

Fashion time machine.

2009-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

My friends and I have been working on a project for school about the culture of the 50's, so I've been doing a lot of research on fashion, beauty and Hollywood & pin-up icons. I love looking at all the old photos, I have a whole folder of ones I've saved but these are some of my favorites.

sources: taschen.com, fashion-era.com, and google image search

Damn Yankees is one of my favorite musicals - I've seen it off Broadway a couple times and I di it with my theater group - the costumes were so fun! I've heard that Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaal are set to star in a new movie remake of it, so I'm really excited for that.

Wishful thinking.

2009-02-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

I took these photos of some potted ivy in my house today. I can't wait till warmer weather and spring, which means a blooming flowers and myriad opportunities to have long photo sessions in the garden. I hate to sound like a broken record but I am sick of winter.

One of my favorite things to do is make cards for birthdays and other special occasions. I like to illustrate them or just use pretty scrapbook paper. Here's a few photos of a card I made for my mother's birthday a couple weeks ago.

The Duchess.

2009-02-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

I just watched this film for the first time over the weekend and I can't get enough of it. The story of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire was so interesting that now I want to do a lot of research about her life! The movie was very similar to Marie Antoinette in many ways - especially the brilliant costuming - but it still stood apart in my mind. I particularly loved the music; it was all classical unlike Marie Antoinette and it added so much emotion to the sad story.

Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

2009-02-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the current state of the economy and how it has affected fashion - for me personally and for the world in general. At the moment, I've been into a minimalist wardrobe, with classic staples and neutral colors. Looking through the Fall 2009 collections so far, I think many designers and I have been on the same wavelength.

Abaete

Boy by Band of Outsiders

But then, after seeing collections like Diane von Furstenberg and Erin Fetherston, not to mention all the couture shows last month, I've been having second thoughts.

Diane von Furstenberg

Erin Fetherston

Christian Dior

Shouldn't fashion be fun? I mean, minimalism is good. I'm a huge fan of minimalism (the photos I posted above were some of my favorites from the simpler collections). But the best part of fashion is the whimsical aspect, the clothes that tell a story. And however classic and impeccably styled some of the shows were, they just didn't cut it for me. Sure they were wearable and "retail-ready", but they weren't very inspiring. Of course I am a huge fan of simple, classic design and I always will be, but I think I may have had a change of heart after seeing some of these exciting collections. Fashion should be exciting, especially in these times. I think this great quote by John Galliano sums it up: "There's a credit crunch, not a creative crunch. Of course, everyone is being more careful with their discretionary purchases. I am. But it's our job to make people dream, and to provide the value in quality, cut, and imagination."

2.17

2009-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

"The New Puritans" photographed by Baldovino Borani, from West East magazine, winter 2008
I saw this editorial the other day on Foto Decadent and I was visually blown away. I really love this, no matter how creepy or weird it is. I like things that are eerie, and this definitely tells an interesting story. Looking at the comments of the editorial, (click here to see all photos) it's most definitely one of those things where some people absolutely love it, and some hate it.

I plan to spend the rest of my day reading and doing a whole lot of nothing. I love vacation! Currently I'm reading I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. It's really great, very well written, and it's kind of a new thing for me since I never really read humor. Last month however I did read Are You There God? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler, and it was hilarious. I highly recommend it to anyone with a raunchy sense of humor.

Weekend Inspiration.

2009-02-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

sources: tfs, apartmenttherapy.com, octoberanniversary.com, weheartit.com, foto decadent

Some inspiring photos I've been collecting lately. I have no idea where I got the photo of the planet tattoos, all I know is that I want some someday. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day and is enjoying their weekend!

Spin.

2009-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

Lately I've really been wanting a record player, since I just found my parent's old collection of records. Urban Outfitters has some cool retro looking ones that convert tracks into MP3 files, so that would be cool, if only I have the money. My birthday is coming up in a few months though...hmmm...

Just a playlist of what I've been listening to this past week.

Lullaby - The Cure
Chemo Limo - Regina Spektor
Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
Electric Feel - MGMT
Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John
Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano
Cologne Cerrone Houdini - Goldfrapp
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Just Impolite - Plushgun

Let me know what you've been listening to! I like hearing about peoples' different tastes in music.

Dreamy.

2009-02-10T14:01:00.000-08:00

photos by David Standish, via Foto Decadent

These photos have such a dreamy quality to me, with the foggyness and muted colors. Lately I've been dreaming a lot, but I can never remember them when I wake up. I find this hugely frustrating! I wish I could record my dreams somehow, and then watch them, wouldn't that be great? What do you dream about?

Sgt. Pepper?

2009-02-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

I didn't watch the Grammy's, but I wish I had. This photo made my Monday slightly better. I kind of sort of really love these Sgt. Pepper jackets. I don't care what anyone says, this definitely reaffirms my love for Coldplay.

Saturday.

2009-02-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

I've been flipping through past issues of Lula online, and I stumbled across some amazing artwork by Jo Ratcliffe, specifically illustrations of designer sunglasses. I found many more illustrations by this artist, all equally amazing.

sources: flickr.com and jocandraw.com

On a slightly different note, I've been looking at the Proenza Schouler pre-fall collection. I love the designers' take on the edgy casual look. The corduroy pants, boots, and metallics are perfection.

Last but not least, here's a scan from the Fashion Spot of two articles about Sofia Coppola (her work on the Dior commercial and on her collaboration with Louis Vuitton, that I blogged about earlier this week) from Paris Vogue.

click to enlarge

If anyone would like to exchange links, please just ask! I will gladly add you to my list. And be sure to follow my blog, there's a link on my sidebar. Thanks for reading!

The redhead's got it.

2009-02-03T13:40:00.000-08:00

While taking a break from writing a Spanish paper, I took some time to look at some of my favorite street style blogs, and these were my two favorite recent looks...coincidentally both have red hair (which is probably the more likely reason for why I picked these two...I love red hair).

photo credit: Facehunter and the Sartorialist, respectively.

French Connection.

2009-02-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Marie Claire US editorial of Sofia Coppola's collaboration with Louis Vuitton handbags and shoes. I am such a huge fan of her work, and I was so excited to see this. From the photos and her past projects (the film Marie Antoinette and the Miss Dior Cherie commercial), you can tell that Coppola is a Francophile and has been extremely influenced by all things French, but I like how it still has a bit of her cool personality involved (like the fifth photo with the Rolling Stones vinyl case).

The Genius.

2009-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

Christian Lacroix never ceases to amaze me with his dazzling couture collections. This season's was no different. The jumbled use of prints, textures and proportions was perfectly crazy for me. I loved the details - the enormous earrings, jeweled clutches, huge stacked bangles, and my favorite, the colored hair that lookedlike it was a ribbon braided in (reminds me of Frida Kahlo). I also really appreciated the diverse looks of the models.

Lately.

2009-01-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Just a mish-mash of things I've been loving / wanting / thinking about lately.

From top left to right, clockwise:
I saw this headband on the Urban Outfitters website and fell in love with it. I
wouldn't consider paying their price for it, but I definitely want to try making my own.
I've been reading a lot of Jan Austen novels lately; right now it's Sense and Sensibility.
I love the idea of this Mayle trapeze dress for spring - it's light but the graphic black and white keep it interesting.
Eileen Donan castle in Scotland - I would love to plan a trip to see all the castles there.
I've been really inspired lately by Iris Apfel and her wonderfully eccentric outfits.
Franz Ferdinand's new CD "Tonight" just came out this week! It's great, I highly recommend it.
I'm lusting after this J. Dauphin necklace I found on lagarconne.com .

PS Sorry it's so small! Trying to fix that without cutting off any of the collage.

Back in time.

2009-01-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Back in time to one of my favorite editorials from Lula magazine, by the name of "The Childlike Empress," photographed by Nick Haymes.

photo credit: Mixologies

snowy day.

2009-01-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

photo by Rosie Hardy
It snowed last night! I love fresh snow, but after it gets dirty in a few days I begin to hate it. Sorry for the lack-luster posting lately, I've been busy studying for midterms and working on music and theater related things. But soon I should be back to normal, Februrary should be a relatively calm month for me. I'm hoping to have time to do an outfit post in the not-too-distant future.

child's play.

2009-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Susie Mashford, shot by Nicholas Lawn

Just found these on Mixologies. This isn't all of them, but these were my favorites. The lighting is so perfect, I love that it has the feel of a polaroid. It makes me nostalgic, especially the checked shirt and Converse, since I used to wear things like that when I was pretty young.

sunday.

2009-01-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by Emily to do the 4 Things tag.

Rules:

1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.
2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

I took this photo in Little Italy in New York City, one night in November of 2008. I was in the city with my friend and it had been raining all day. We had a fabulous dinner in Little Italy, and afterward it had stopped raining so we just walked around. I love the view down this street of the lights and decorations. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and get more of the detail.

I tag Michelle, Ana, The Clothes Horse, and Icon!

conceptual clutter.

2009-01-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

I just found these photos on The Selby - they're of Daniela Kamiliotis' office and workspace in New York. She's the vice president of the women's collection for Ralph Lauren, as well as a set & costume designer. I am in awe of all the inspiration that must surround her, all the books and vintage shoes and feathers; someday I want an office like hers.

christina's world.

2009-01-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

I've always been in love with Andrew Wyeth's painting Christina's World. I find it really interesting how people can get two different feelings from it - I've always thought it looked serene and nice but many think it's bleak and brings on feelings of terror.

I found this photo in a pool on Flickr of Andrew Wyeth-esque photographs; I think it's great how it captures the essence of the painting but with a different, sunnier mood (from Flickr user lori_an).

holiday remnants.

2009-01-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

Just some photos I've snapped in the past few days of the holiday decorations before they're taken down, which is usually soon after Epiphany. I always feel sad after the holidays; the dark days and cold weather begin to depress me, and I have midterms coming up soon.

hello.

2009-01-02T17:47:00.001-08:00

It's the perfect time to start a new blog - it's the beginning of a new year. I've had a blog before, but I needed a new start. I have a love of the arts, especially writing, drawing, fashion and photography, and I want to showcase my interests on this blog. I write and post mainly for myself; I like organization and structure and I'm an extremely visual person. So here I go.