mason jars...an interesting but completely useless fact

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all...thank you for your sympathetic responses about my weekend of working. Believe me, it's not something I like to make a habit of. This is in lieu of a <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/my%20creative%20space">'my creative space'</a> post this week, because as we know, damn it, the aforementioned weekend of working meant I didn't do anything remotely creative. Not even <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-creative-space-one-use-for-broken.html">glueing anything together</a>. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, having complained twice in the one week I'm going to drop it now. Possibly. Instead I'm going to talk about mason jars. I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f you're anything like me, and are quite the fan of a bit of useless information...read on.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGk6F-YoHV3415aNGdF-dQ2j_SsMXPSQ8VWGMNSI-NOp1qyT4f16sdkX5RIANsNnriT4suRZ8BdhLui80gXmJ5_8jTWR2QLO2T0MS0UaOQKJWwHmDHTei_v6LpuehtyiGhap85yYb2B8S/s1600/mason+jar+weheartit.comentry1034205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGk6F-YoHV3415aNGdF-dQ2j_SsMXPSQ8VWGMNSI-NOp1qyT4f16sdkX5RIANsNnriT4suRZ8BdhLui80gXmJ5_8jTWR2QLO2T0MS0UaOQKJWwHmDHTei_v6LpuehtyiGhap85yYb2B8S/s1600/mason+jar+weheartit.comentry1034205.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/1034205">source</a></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see these jars all over bloggy world...there's no end to their uses... storage for one...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAHdVVAQdUSgJM_0_ACsiTohzis9PIwo-B4C2YMqXlgRqP8ZBpOrz44EG3JZdvYlfANq9R2IeYPtxUKHCHTM8eLizg2lRdgHVld9QHgp3GeG8eUaW0bBvW-3aFtNqPinRxGtCD__qW9Dw/s1600/mason+jar+from+pinterest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAHdVVAQdUSgJM_0_ACsiTohzis9PIwo-B4C2YMqXlgRqP8ZBpOrz44EG3JZdvYlfANq9R2IeYPtxUKHCHTM8eLizg2lRdgHVld9QHgp3GeG8eUaW0bBvW-3aFtNqPinRxGtCD__qW9Dw/s640/mason+jar+from+pinterest.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/">pinterest</a> (which I am still resisting!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lighting...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuKtjGwtkrZwSC5TVRrdaoiEFHUnggq8_9Ct6PY27jD8ThfU4blHf2QDjlcrZZTRtJ1lmFcPWAv8a0uZgQ2MWD8VZr3DGp0tiTkHR7ToiQWD5dts6dpcYp_58YSvEFoVjMpdR4iZ036Ow/s1600/mason+jar+via+small+acorns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuKtjGwtkrZwSC5TVRrdaoiEFHUnggq8_9Ct6PY27jD8ThfU4blHf2QDjlcrZZTRtJ1lmFcPWAv8a0uZgQ2MWD8VZr3DGp0tiTkHR7ToiQWD5dts6dpcYp_58YSvEFoVjMpdR4iZ036Ow/s400/mason+jar+via+small+acorns.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://smallacornsnz.blogspot.com/">small acorns</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they're even quite nice when being used for their original purpose...heaven forbid...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7ktkPlB8TwqCi4JIAUO9E2-e5bqIJvGz2mzFvIZMbt-ZCrEP3NZ0ULGgVRNQDzR-1_PvgDMoGRnVbAwtibOEl8IORmvChf8Cfi-GkK0GLonnRTxWNgas1xTiT9edAu5WOA9CWR0FYC-y/s1600/mason+jar+and+preserve+from+simply+recipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7ktkPlB8TwqCi4JIAUO9E2-e5bqIJvGz2mzFvIZMbt-ZCrEP3NZ0ULGgVRNQDzR-1_PvgDMoGRnVbAwtibOEl8IORmvChf8Cfi-GkK0GLonnRTxWNgas1xTiT9edAu5WOA9CWR0FYC-y/s400/mason+jar+and+preserve+from+simply+recipes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/">simply recipes </a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...but did you know that John Landis Mason (who solved the preserving problem by patenting the threaded glass jar with a metal screw-on lid thereby making it possible to preserve all kinds of foods that would have spoiled without the benefit of said jar)...you can take a breath now...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_A2tuHSrIvc6TDTo1jELvYeWffDH1L4-l_BRRhbfSoiFN36yUJmDfvL2J_zMDX6OIE_DIP-_neYYpgTIa9oUu6QDyJ9QR7ITzTJkyOCnVdkJVtc6F2Gh7e2czXo9nHKgGuzh_Vw5ZRZm/s1600/mason+jar+pink+patent+mary+janes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_A2tuHSrIvc6TDTo1jELvYeWffDH1L4-l_BRRhbfSoiFN36yUJmDfvL2J_zMDX6OIE_DIP-_neYYpgTIa9oUu6QDyJ9QR7ITzTJkyOCnVdkJVtc6F2Gh7e2czXo9nHKgGuzh_Vw5ZRZm/s640/mason+jar+pink+patent+mary+janes.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://www.pinkpatentmaryjanes.com/">pink patent mary janes</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...did you know that he sold the rights to his patent for a very modest amount of money so he could concentrate on inventing other things (a folding life raft, self draining soap dish, case for cigars) that he thought would make him rich but didn't. As all his other inventions failed he "withdrew into a semi demented poverty (and) died alone and forgotten in a New York City tenement house in 1902". Did you know that? No? Me either. In fact before I started blogging I don't think I'd even heard of a mason jar, let alone its inventor.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And how did I know this? By reading this book. Not that I've had time to finish it....too much work to do! I did say possibly :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZomWS3XpR16f98mpCSSZ1BQ3SzIOE7RSVSBDqHhs4CTbtRDlAHHuUbx82OVY2ZBVpKvDVALkb4ePKZ82QMygU0e-XIp8BcuGw96znvJQ_4tO_2xRQFKbcSCUvpWu2AbAKehhJ6d_mdM3m/s1600/book+cover+at+home+bill+bryson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZomWS3XpR16f98mpCSSZ1BQ3SzIOE7RSVSBDqHhs4CTbtRDlAHHuUbx82OVY2ZBVpKvDVALkb4ePKZ82QMygU0e-XIp8BcuGw96znvJQ_4tO_2xRQFKbcSCUvpWu2AbAKehhJ6d_mdM3m/s400/book+cover+at+home+bill+bryson.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll catch you next week...after what I hope will be a really relaxing weekend. Enjoy yours and thank you for dropping in whenever you have the chance. I will try my best to do the same very soon :)</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

mason jars...an interesting but completely useless fact

First of all...thank you for your sympathetic responses about my weekend of working. Believe me, it's not something I like to make a hab...

Read more »

Custom calligraphy

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmePja2Uy6U_DjgvjoyFeXlxCnC9n87-nD434gIcDhMDZ1cOOeahtLTDolrjs1X-AmcsksbYWwKpxsHYmI_Tpmom_kWTR98PsOjBtO-Mf8G1myztk-N93qiDQZpXem5xlexI3J8sRoWdA/s1600/TABLETOP.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605123826142641554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmePja2Uy6U_DjgvjoyFeXlxCnC9n87-nD434gIcDhMDZ1cOOeahtLTDolrjs1X-AmcsksbYWwKpxsHYmI_Tpmom_kWTR98PsOjBtO-Mf8G1myztk-N93qiDQZpXem5xlexI3J8sRoWdA/s400/TABLETOP.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Recently while reading through my daily bloglist, I saw a post on <a href="http://www.mattersofstyleblog.com/">Matters of Style</a> mention a local etsy crafter who did custom stamps in calligraphy. I thought this would be a great idea to do a small stamp of my name on the front page of the books in my library. It came in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ti3ON7hQ14wGQ15OEzwPTKqqIUiBtz7SyKbDrR7JFhXozFmyvI5rfN69vUf_-DZXqnoYb-Raf_fKgI3EakflTDkNXxIDwnwW8VT4RPrq_lmoA8DOYMfDavkB6TY8uDTdoi75t4GqirE/s1600/RUBBER+STAMP.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605123825804245970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ti3ON7hQ14wGQ15OEzwPTKqqIUiBtz7SyKbDrR7JFhXozFmyvI5rfN69vUf_-DZXqnoYb-Raf_fKgI3EakflTDkNXxIDwnwW8VT4RPrq_lmoA8DOYMfDavkB6TY8uDTdoi75t4GqirE/s400/RUBBER+STAMP.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I dealt with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/trialbycupcakes?ref=pr_shop_more">Trialbycupcakes</a>, who was so easy to work with and let me create the stamp sans address. Thats one of the great things about etsy, you're generally dealing with people who work out of their homes as a small business and they can help you get what you're looking for. I will probably use the stamp for other uses as well, but now time to head to the store to get an assortment of different colored stamp pads!</div>

Custom calligraphy

Recently while reading through my daily bloglist, I saw a post on Matters of Style mention a local etsy crafter who did custom stamps in c...

Read more »

The season of second chances

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Rxno0z8t8RZLxJMcojf66BmTOOGzAu_vNlCjcw7hNoM-TodwAl_T8lFJQvx9yPqHRy4uebl55UZmPj2gHVEiEVxibNyc3zoBaCicAp5GhiCVIBGAbzlFllwJwTjhIBa666U5vzWg-o/s1600/DianeMeier.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603065779007201954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Rxno0z8t8RZLxJMcojf66BmTOOGzAu_vNlCjcw7hNoM-TodwAl_T8lFJQvx9yPqHRy4uebl55UZmPj2gHVEiEVxibNyc3zoBaCicAp5GhiCVIBGAbzlFllwJwTjhIBa666U5vzWg-o/s400/DianeMeier.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Recently, I was asked to review a copy of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Season-Second-Chances-Novel/dp/0312674112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304566749&sr=8-1">The Season of Second Chances</a></em> by Diane Meier which just came out in paperback. I wasn't really sure what to expect but the premise from her PR group really sounded up my alley. A middle aged college professor decides to take a chance by moving to a small town from NYC to begin a new chapter in her career and renovating an old Victorian house. I figured if I didn't like the book, I wouldn't be out on much, right?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouZwTXDcntUdDpQD1QHnQ9jl4LIgaMyeBSZUXDzRpgxFG__TUdHri3S1EJmd8N8sHMdjExZMp_lF0fPJ3aDO6VlTNNIrJRtfYul7q71yxwEREg_TLoFc0G8YZhDAxe1NDIDW9aeneYSw/s1600/second+chances.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603065773198550114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouZwTXDcntUdDpQD1QHnQ9jl4LIgaMyeBSZUXDzRpgxFG__TUdHri3S1EJmd8N8sHMdjExZMp_lF0fPJ3aDO6VlTNNIrJRtfYul7q71yxwEREg_TLoFc0G8YZhDAxe1NDIDW9aeneYSw/s400/second+chances.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 365px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> After a slightly bumpy start (mostly because I don't read much fiction) I quickly became engrossed and found Meier and I spoke the same language. Within the first dozen pages, a haircut was described as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxfield_Parrish">Maxfield Parrish </a>mural, a hotel was compared to the namesake in the Astaire/Crosby movie "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Inn-Special-Bing-Crosby/dp/B000I0QL82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304566247&sr=8-1">Holiday Inn</a>" and when house shopping in a small town as opposed to a rural area she wrote,</div><br /><br /><div><em>"Lets go there - now! My heart ran ahead. Let's leave the arena of wild bear and rabid raccoon and crazy men with axes, for the safety and comfort of a neighborhood, for the aroma of blueberry pies cooling on the kitchen windowsills, for little front yards and the idea of biking to work. The concept of biking to work should have given me the hint that I was getting carried away. And why was it priced so far below all that we'd seen, and what did she mean by "white elephant"? "</em> </div><br /><br /><div>From this passage on, I was hooked. Don't ask me why it took me 9 pages-did I hear a bit of myself in her voice? I would recommend this book to anyone and to pass along the pleasure, I'm giving away my copy of the book (free to me, free to you). Please live in the United States and leave a comment by Sunday, May 8th (Mothers day!). I will notify the winner and send it off immediately so you can hopefully enjoy it as much as I did. Good luck!</div>

The season of second chances

Recently, I was asked to review a copy of The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier which just came out in paperback. I wasn't reall...

Read more »

my easter promise...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have made a promise to myself...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC63-2U8T3nS9rj0hxKquZp8EFn0mKYgGNHHGHM8u_j2wD4mM4eT99r9Je7Qrj0IMRETfqQz11FIqY0tqs9k0oGH2E-nNiOlVitBOAuZayyZvPE0XcIkJT_uPHNlB0B50ULfif8DyMC0b2/s1600/promise+weheartit.com-entry-7602434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC63-2U8T3nS9rj0hxKquZp8EFn0mKYgGNHHGHM8u_j2wD4mM4eT99r9Je7Qrj0IMRETfqQz11FIqY0tqs9k0oGH2E-nNiOlVitBOAuZayyZvPE0XcIkJT_uPHNlB0B50ULfif8DyMC0b2/s640/promise+weheartit.com-entry-7602434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">[i know this picture has no relevance except that it has the word 'promise' in it...but I loved it...so I used it]</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that over the easter/anzac day break...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAhbczLDKGb9Jt7jXF7xH7FLs3_ZmP6Rm3ed9JkaRDas7zjIeDbcnQaz0aRNqXObk0fcpntKhXYZrwlVn6dclqBwNLwMaw1i2UeZQS7jTfpkB5V_aBiyi7XqtRIDDgEeZbektxsZNogcY/s1600/easter+egg+we+heart+it+8833534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAhbczLDKGb9Jt7jXF7xH7FLs3_ZmP6Rm3ed9JkaRDas7zjIeDbcnQaz0aRNqXObk0fcpntKhXYZrwlVn6dclqBwNLwMaw1i2UeZQS7jTfpkB5V_aBiyi7XqtRIDDgEeZbektxsZNogcY/s640/easter+egg+we+heart+it+8833534.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will do a couple of things.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qr5UGkblQvjOx1mbLP7ybqVIIB-Df2xpdixQ7UgJ9Tpw7cuzzTp9nFm4YhdAvnlQMRP_IfVASQLhXlB-EKS23RkVc9bh9V4oIpBD7L2kJ8oBCA6Uo9iZpAhOGBIox2RZfpg1zESQD3Og/s1600/to+do+list+we+heart+it+6148216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qr5UGkblQvjOx1mbLP7ybqVIIB-Df2xpdixQ7UgJ9Tpw7cuzzTp9nFm4YhdAvnlQMRP_IfVASQLhXlB-EKS23RkVc9bh9V4oIpBD7L2kJ8oBCA6Uo9iZpAhOGBIox2RZfpg1zESQD3Og/s640/to+do+list+we+heart+it+6148216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 1 - some serious navel gazing. I overwhelm myself with stuff, things I 'have' to do, obligations to others, wanting to try a whole heap of things, saying yes when I should say no, thinking I can fit in more than is reasonable or realistic...you know how it goes don't you? I need a better plan. Scrap that...better plan implies I already have one. I just need a plan full stop!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mSmP6hTg6CdUOtALv5CTTak9VdiU29RoG7X7AQJlRcaN5fN9LIaKiieIUWjfNiF8A5tmcz6QgVIp5fX3e1FHtDWg4UYtVQcYhUAcylp5gSg1kF_-7o0UO553fw2Drsfxse4RpjyRfwO8/s1600/thinking+we+heart+it+8905477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mSmP6hTg6CdUOtALv5CTTak9VdiU29RoG7X7AQJlRcaN5fN9LIaKiieIUWjfNiF8A5tmcz6QgVIp5fX3e1FHtDWg4UYtVQcYhUAcylp5gSg1kF_-7o0UO553fw2Drsfxse4RpjyRfwO8/s640/thinking+we+heart+it+8905477.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 2 - some serious reading time. I've been neglecting my reading. Which feels like cutting off my right arm. I have a pile of unread magazines I can't jump over. Many still in their plastic wrappers. Seriously. That's just ludicrous. And a stack of books that taunt me every time I look at them. READ ME they yell!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk98aoWN3oOkCLHFqgreGnx5WH_evyLd17wDwUp-lOa84i8LXNa22IJ6C7Ht2mMM7ivwsGyxSwMuc9VPct5ctlo-r1U4T2hi287-Il19-ZAxHLmrbl7QUzdwIbXvuE1jg3Aih7Q6fNQU_/s1600/books+we+heart+it+8931211.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk98aoWN3oOkCLHFqgreGnx5WH_evyLd17wDwUp-lOa84i8LXNa22IJ6C7Ht2mMM7ivwsGyxSwMuc9VPct5ctlo-r1U4T2hi287-Il19-ZAxHLmrbl7QUzdwIbXvuE1jg3Aih7Q6fNQU_/s640/books+we+heart+it+8931211.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">[my pile is much bigger than this but not as pretty]</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, when the break is over I will come back to you with my plan...how I'm going to make my life easier, more productive, less challenging, more fulfilling, less manic, more organised, less ...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if you believe that you might quite possibly be the easter bunny :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTuCbCbBsII_mSIrX3QD78-RyZe3Psh8nlPAwDqQV-bjitDgCql0hbY_nLV3aArJC3EyOVwbLaqyEmvPLkdw2fSzPLiHRxVhbIBfOOMK_XwFBSLpt2kJ9l8pob-1_k-VR7VrQGMkyyjTv/s1600/easter+wishes+we+heart+it+4618631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTuCbCbBsII_mSIrX3QD78-RyZe3Psh8nlPAwDqQV-bjitDgCql0hbY_nLV3aArJC3EyOVwbLaqyEmvPLkdw2fSzPLiHRxVhbIBfOOMK_XwFBSLpt2kJ9l8pob-1_k-VR7VrQGMkyyjTv/s640/easter+wishes+we+heart+it+4618631.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to try though. It'll be good to give it a go.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very happy easter break to everyone...and bless xx</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope someone gives me some chocolate :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">all images from <a href="http://weheartit.com/">weheartit</a>: entry nos 7602434, 8833534, 6148216, 8905477, 831211, 4618631</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my easter promise...

I have made a promise to myself... [i know this picture has no relevance except that it has the word 'promise' in it...but I loved i...

Read more »

what I read in march 2011

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hanging my head in shame...I didn't read anywhere near as much as I would have liked!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutbCfVChjScNs-Oaj_wOIlurQfLx0Be4_TuwxA6iCJxy6qiO0QKzKDcN815d0Q-cdA0pjz9Otm5lOZ8Izr8gciTYQEggQMvF2AsA48Yqz3AcF7xay_-lxbOOvJAjggPF-expP1ocAHxKf/s1600/book+list+march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutbCfVChjScNs-Oaj_wOIlurQfLx0Be4_TuwxA6iCJxy6qiO0QKzKDcN815d0Q-cdA0pjz9Otm5lOZ8Izr8gciTYQEggQMvF2AsA48Yqz3AcF7xay_-lxbOOvJAjggPF-expP1ocAHxKf/s640/book+list+march.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...despite the fact that I spent many hours trapped in a tin can over the pacific ocean and north america!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what I managed:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean - fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Good as it Got by Isabel Sharpe - fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hector and the Secrets of Love by Francois Lelord - fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...oh yes, a deep and meaningful reading month that was! I'll try to do better in April...after all there's an Easter break perfect for lounging about reading. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't rave about any of these books although I suspect I might have been more inclined to do so about Hector etc if I hadn't had to read it on the iPad. No matter how hard I try I can't embrace this way of reading. But I'm going to have to...I've downloaded some real goodies and they MUST be read! I'll need to get over my aversion to snuggling up with a bit of technology as opposed to bits of paper.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the reading was more than a bit light on...I did see six movies! What a pity I can only remember five! Again, courtesy of QANTAS...they were...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-4iX5AW0RxZvxThPkhcsDFncB33mi1oQFWE4NbfyqPxJJigMh5-iEMGag-BtwLb2AXhXg3fnOpGqbcDPlfztN8au66Bz9-FkRDGP36NZTX95wP0jZfdw28yZRSiqj8HO9pHt3r2rdO-z/s1600/movies+collage+march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-4iX5AW0RxZvxThPkhcsDFncB33mi1oQFWE4NbfyqPxJJigMh5-iEMGag-BtwLb2AXhXg3fnOpGqbcDPlfztN8au66Bz9-FkRDGP36NZTX95wP0jZfdw28yZRSiqj8HO9pHt3r2rdO-z/s320/movies+collage+march.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed Red. Who doesn't love Helen Mirren. I mean, really...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

what I read in march 2011

Hanging my head in shame...I didn't read anywhere near as much as I would have liked! ...despite the fact that I spent many hours trappe...

Read more »

A Writer's Refuge

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xrhrxbT7SDA/TXemSKtAQjI/AAAAAAAAGT0/G8vE_gPma7Q/s1600/Picture+31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xrhrxbT7SDA/TXemSKtAQjI/AAAAAAAAGT0/G8vE_gPma7Q/s1600/Picture+31.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where does a great storyteller and writer get inspired? What feeds the minds that shape new environments and situations? Writers give us part of our history, education, and entertainment, and sometimes even change the world with their words.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entire process of writing is very intriguing to me. Of course, as a designer and pragmatist; I find myself also wondering about <b><i>Where</i></b> a writer works when creating something new. I believe that the environment we choose for ourselves can affect our thoughts and actions. So, when I saw <a href="http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/email/famous-writers-small-writing-sheds-and-offthegrid-huts-140587"><i>Re-nest's photos of famous writers' work spaces</i></a>; I almost jumped out of my seat! They are fantastic!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yEo-91wwYmw/TXemeC_05mI/AAAAAAAAGT8/t7Djjf05Ts0/s1600/Picture+32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yEo-91wwYmw/TXemeC_05mI/AAAAAAAAGT8/t7Djjf05Ts0/s1600/Picture+32.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The pictures above are of <a href="http://www.roalddahl.com/"><i>Roald Dahl's</i></a> hut. Why is it, that the yellow door and cozy clutter are just what I would have imagined for the creator of Willy Wonka and the fantastic Mr. Fox?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oHcmv5uTn44/TXemlFtWfZI/AAAAAAAAGUA/Xdr3WOIJpVo/s1600/Picture+33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oHcmv5uTn44/TXemlFtWfZI/AAAAAAAAGUA/Xdr3WOIJpVo/s1600/Picture+33.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.cmgww.com/historic/twain/"><i>Mark Twain's</i></a> space. He is my personal favorite. No matter how many books I read or how old I get, I still love none more than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn"><i>Huckleberry Finn</i></a>:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S0zKyoCNNoE/TXempMSt4SI/AAAAAAAAGUE/62t4qxSMpeU/s1600/Picture+35.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S0zKyoCNNoE/TXempMSt4SI/AAAAAAAAGUE/62t4qxSMpeU/s1600/Picture+35.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau">Thoreau's</a> cabin at Walden Pond. I thinks this proves that living with simplicity allows the mind to think clearly. Talk about an environment that inspired world changing words!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TDkj9I-C_sA/TXemtURxs4I/AAAAAAAAGUI/tRhfiPGGHa0/s1600/Picture+34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TDkj9I-C_sA/TXemtURxs4I/AAAAAAAAGUI/tRhfiPGGHa0/s1600/Picture+34.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw">George Bernard Shaw's </a>"London". Haha! Love the back story behind that name.</div></div>

A Writer's Refuge

Where does a great storyteller and writer get inspired? What feeds the minds that shape new environments and situations? Writers give us par...

Read more »

Books as Tables: Blargh

I don't know about you, but I grow weary of the repeated suggestion in design magazines, books and blogs to take a stack of books, plop on a glass or vase and call it a table:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Christiane Lemieux in Family Circle- March 2011- DwellStudio " height="738" src="http://www.dwellstudio.com/media/upload/image/FamiltCircle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dwellstudio.com/blog/family-circle/">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="101708_books01.jpg" class="mt-image-center" height="458" src="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/la/101708_books01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="540" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/inspiration/inspirationmaking-your-books-functional-066826">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObJjW6I94XwsIVcd68Y27YH0psOQ3mOQbIlSNUlnfss1jLJ5g4h1mNzx6mro7YfaeC56Wti8o8kOYB-CLyqxU2ZkYXUR_-nUSkfHN9fesP_aWVZbbko3CcKUHp-kh8wz-oXtREDYCYSs/s1600-h/books+side+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObJjW6I94XwsIVcd68Y27YH0psOQ3mOQbIlSNUlnfss1jLJ5g4h1mNzx6mro7YfaeC56Wti8o8kOYB-CLyqxU2ZkYXUR_-nUSkfHN9fesP_aWVZbbko3CcKUHp-kh8wz-oXtREDYCYSs/s400/books+side+table.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littlelovables.blogspot.com/2010/01/books-glorious-books.html">Via</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a class="imgLnk" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="showMyLayer('http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2009/04/p_101332123.jpg')" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green living room with book side table" border="0" height="400" src="http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2009/04/ss_101332123.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/budget-decorating/cheap/free-decorating-for-every-room/">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I loathe to be a hater, but I really like my books on a shelf or on a table.  Off the floor, in general.  Granted, the ones below are kinda cool, but they are tables made out of books, not a stack of books <em>acting</em> as a table.  But maybe I'm just crabby today.  I'm nearing the end of my timeline for my comprehensive exams and I'm just sick of books in general.  Can I just order my PhD online?  Does etsy sell them?  <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/teeny-tiny-valentines-day-gifts.html">That might break the seal</a>.  What are your thoughts on books as tables?  Have you done this with fantastic results?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvDDWVonfCJZQxilQbi_AmX6x-qgndYCmo510PRoytDC224cF1Xet1FjPiwutkDBqe1yUpj7G5Dpm1XNVLow-oOQF81grml9hOCSpITHioeurBOWNuFmduu_aHyAsAvKGIDaLlC39pfQ/s1600/books+as+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvDDWVonfCJZQxilQbi_AmX6x-qgndYCmo510PRoytDC224cF1Xet1FjPiwutkDBqe1yUpj7G5Dpm1XNVLow-oOQF81grml9hOCSpITHioeurBOWNuFmduu_aHyAsAvKGIDaLlC39pfQ/s400/books+as+table.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://interiordesignhouses.com/tag/tables-of-books">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl09lMc9PcKOi2NLFHQZSHsGucdrQ5Nc9b3-IIPfJXXvFr4MmFB5lrjV1snc0sktVRGMLWgDb9WOB4qDPKc9Dl4_fFGLlYzOsKK5MDiHjvVnuap9U9GXWD34XK64zWrv4GBomvkG2APf0/s1600/books+as+table+II.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl09lMc9PcKOi2NLFHQZSHsGucdrQ5Nc9b3-IIPfJXXvFr4MmFB5lrjV1snc0sktVRGMLWgDb9WOB4qDPKc9Dl4_fFGLlYzOsKK5MDiHjvVnuap9U9GXWD34XK64zWrv4GBomvkG2APf0/s400/books+as+table+II.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.toolgirl.com/toolgirl/2010/01/tables-and-counters-made-from-books.html">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEt6tavsTfmnSFYgXRdPqv1NmbNA3bmfZ0kcwxJqLoUHvM3hmbLdOlQoynLKeQAT2ejGDsWiDovk3gCifLZQ9oUU4dhsMz14ptJqIqk94Aa8vx9dNoO8zGHOj-VqVlMwxCmry38JhsYY/s1600/books+as+table+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEt6tavsTfmnSFYgXRdPqv1NmbNA3bmfZ0kcwxJqLoUHvM3hmbLdOlQoynLKeQAT2ejGDsWiDovk3gCifLZQ9oUU4dhsMz14ptJqIqk94Aa8vx9dNoO8zGHOj-VqVlMwxCmry38JhsYY/s400/books+as+table+III.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.modernests.com/2010/01/phone-book-table.html">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />P.S. This, I love.  I too have the ubiquitous Ikea Expedit, in dark brown (see <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-office-before-in-progress.html">here</a>), but I just love how <a href="http://alannacavanagh.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-heart-my-expedit-bookcase.html">Alanna Cavanagh styled hers</a>.  Do you have an awesomely styled bookcase that could draw me out of today's funk?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsc1BL35rRu_VGscKuf5ADWc8MafZz84rurEl1wXyFsWhwUIstu9Lb9I9fESBWdLTIWO9FulTkv3dm1TbMndBe0ck_Ot05mbi0JoIE14_O3KA4wJXYqcxfN3ZzWIOfc1nK-FZdXb5WBs/s1600/alana%2527s+expedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsc1BL35rRu_VGscKuf5ADWc8MafZz84rurEl1wXyFsWhwUIstu9Lb9I9fESBWdLTIWO9FulTkv3dm1TbMndBe0ck_Ot05mbi0JoIE14_O3KA4wJXYqcxfN3ZzWIOfc1nK-FZdXb5WBs/s400/alana%2527s+expedit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alannacavanagh.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-heart-my-expedit-bookcase.html">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8N65tTMlr5IgnQW6jaDmJNp_acMn3CSbB8HBsC2fLCNCaUFAHJQQuCDKXJvqHkNsVoGUL_UqMrmGDhDwJoVxlmMvkeIYdouY-Bz1G6u5X6CLbq9psIZE0meS5HZF4Wg4-nnFKtJRQGY/s1600/alana%2527s+expedit+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8N65tTMlr5IgnQW6jaDmJNp_acMn3CSbB8HBsC2fLCNCaUFAHJQQuCDKXJvqHkNsVoGUL_UqMrmGDhDwJoVxlmMvkeIYdouY-Bz1G6u5X6CLbq9psIZE0meS5HZF4Wg4-nnFKtJRQGY/s400/alana%2527s+expedit+II.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alannacavanagh.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-heart-my-expedit-bookcase.html">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

Books as Tables: Blargh

I don't know about you, but I grow weary of the repeated suggestion in design magazines, books and blogs to take a stack of books, plop ...

Read more »

Hayley - North London

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrzxxZ7wkI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ZMPgTBFebhA/s1600/IMG_3709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrzxxZ7wkI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ZMPgTBFebhA/s1600/IMG_3709.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrz2fOhkYI/AAAAAAAAA2s/xMBL_P75E_k/s1600/IMG_3687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrz2fOhkYI/AAAAAAAAA2s/xMBL_P75E_k/s1600/IMG_3687.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrz8Q0cq7I/AAAAAAAAA2w/ihuJAwCjQdU/s1600/IMG_3683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUrz8Q0cq7I/AAAAAAAAA2w/ihuJAwCjQdU/s1600/IMG_3683.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUr0AoT6WlI/AAAAAAAAA20/KK6QSgzDXBI/s1600/IMG_3698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUr0AoT6WlI/AAAAAAAAA20/KK6QSgzDXBI/s1600/IMG_3698.jpg" /></a></div>Hayley is a food lover, and a <a href="http://www.murakami.ch/main_7.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Murakami</i></span></a> obsessive. She is a digital researcher for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.channel4.com/t4/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>T4</i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">, and runs her own rather good blog,</span> <a href="http://digitalrinse.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Digital Rinse</i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">.</span></span> Hayley shares her light and airy flat in Holloway with her friend.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">She says, “I like my bedroom to be a bedroom. I don’t like clutter, well not in the bedroom, anyway. I want somewhere I can relax and not be distracted by stuff. My last bedroom was tiny – everything was everywhere and it did my head in.” She laughs and then says, “That’s why the clutter I do have now is under the bed. Style over substance, that’s me. In fact that’s my mantra.” <br />When I asked Hayley what she’d save if her bedroom were on fire, she said, “My footstool that I reupholstered. And my books, I’m a big reader and I love <a href="http://www.murakami.ch/main_7.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Murakami</i></span></a>. His books make me want to go to Japan - I'm fascinated by the place. I can’t wait to see the film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqiYXmpb41I"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Norwegian Wood</i></span></a>, based on his book.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUr0TJYkp4I/AAAAAAAAA24/sR5SVHr1xa4/s1600/IMG_3695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eI1SrlS42zM/TUr0TJYkp4I/AAAAAAAAA24/sR5SVHr1xa4/s1600/IMG_3695.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Find Hayley on Twitter </b><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MissMcCool"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>@MissMcCool</b></span></a></div>

Hayley - North London

Hayley is a food lover, and a  Murakami obsessive. She is a digital researcher for T4 , and runs her own rather good blog, Digital Rinse ....

Read more »

what I read in january 2011...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Yasi update:</b> I'm so relieved to say that I've just heard from my peeps in Far North Queensland and they are all well and relatively unscathed.  I can breathe out now :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading is like breathing to me. Absolutely necessary. But since this whole blogging palaver began I have been doing less and less...but not anymore! I've started a new monthly 'series'...doesn't that sound grand :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvXfKe8YJ-4cQLXKnElTkgsX_GNrkebIL5Ow99xd5BUqpxViqSjBwiZeMnEWFKe8w1bAGkbGlUxqelN7qQdmT_LauUdU92D8HrXkNJez4eL-jACFH65kXLh_AJL8XplOVBAAcsUcHptXl/s1600/books+with+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvXfKe8YJ-4cQLXKnElTkgsX_GNrkebIL5Ow99xd5BUqpxViqSjBwiZeMnEWFKe8w1bAGkbGlUxqelN7qQdmT_LauUdU92D8HrXkNJez4eL-jACFH65kXLh_AJL8XplOVBAAcsUcHptXl/s640/books+with+heart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have promised myself to get back to where I once was...devouring books by the bucket load.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsv5aGXMcZceWO10AQ6dsi1o6ZXyi3-l-3VHFDYX5CNi5kC4SdICirkDbzjlzNKOnhUltTXFaxmtIfxRRDQkNbHsyma9zbfrKTuII2rU3ERhRnjVuvsdCObO_kyBEr-ZyFTPJh-ddDIyj/s1600/books+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsv5aGXMcZceWO10AQ6dsi1o6ZXyi3-l-3VHFDYX5CNi5kC4SdICirkDbzjlzNKOnhUltTXFaxmtIfxRRDQkNbHsyma9zbfrKTuII2rU3ERhRnjVuvsdCObO_kyBEr-ZyFTPJh-ddDIyj/s640/books+couple.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And to keep me on the straight and narrow I thought I'd do a monthly round-up of the books I've read.  I won't be reviewing them in any detail (because quite honestly, neither you nor I have the time for that now do we) but I will tell you about the one I liked the best.  So, this month (remembering that I've been on holidays so the list is impressive...even if I do say so myself!) I've read...in order...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iFIZmOwtu76ucyFTsflUDVIgnUIg17u4f_pqqifkWbXGYr_Rfs8i_4Ps4N1H1fm07ebECYLIPgCVtqbVIJt7Pz1y8yQc8hpuoPPdDj0wjDtpXg1rrbkYbe83Ve-HTJwY8facYiQN6Cu7/s1600/book+list+january+2011+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iFIZmOwtu76ucyFTsflUDVIgnUIg17u4f_pqqifkWbXGYr_Rfs8i_4Ps4N1H1fm07ebECYLIPgCVtqbVIJt7Pz1y8yQc8hpuoPPdDj0wjDtpXg1rrbkYbe83Ve-HTJwY8facYiQN6Cu7/s640/book+list+january+2011+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moral Hazard by Kate Jennings - fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Villa Fortuna by Geoffrey Luck - memoir</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs - crime fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beloved Homes by Ikea Family - design</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - historical fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos - fiction </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The King's Speech by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi - non fiction based on Lionel Logue's diaries</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knitting by Anne Bartlett - fiction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali - non fiction/memoir</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed all of these although The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet was extremely difficult to get in to and if it hadn't been for Book Club I might not have persevered! Glad I did though.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nomad was unputdownable and more than a little bit disturbing. I've given it to a friend to get his perspective. I haven't read the first of her books Infidel, but I will...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdQPW_uxA41i5j-KtqGrRxw-LvvM63qGMLAaj36VKMDhjbq1DysNDiNz34nWX9KOTZHfLOyGUxEm06oKcqi1V1APETfBJyAHDsLQIqW0QjS8d-0pIlg-9aUISYk1M78lpfrAPxPMXErdT/s1600/book+cover+love+walked+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdQPW_uxA41i5j-KtqGrRxw-LvvM63qGMLAaj36VKMDhjbq1DysNDiNz34nWX9KOTZHfLOyGUxEm06oKcqi1V1APETfBJyAHDsLQIqW0QjS8d-0pIlg-9aUISYk1M78lpfrAPxPMXErdT/s320/book+cover+love+walked+in.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one that touched me the most (and which I enjoyed the most) was Love Walked In...which was recommended by <a href="http://mostlyolderthanme.blogspot.com/">Julienne</a>. Thank you Julienne, you sure got that right. When I told a friend I was reading a book called Love Walked In she wanted to know if it was a Mills and Boon...honestly, as if I would! It does sound a bit soppy but it is anything but. The story of Cornelia, a cafe manager in Philadelphia...looking for something but not sure what...and Clare, a lost 11 year old reaching out for her father, and a mother who has suddenly disappeared on her. Their paths cross and it's beautiful. The writing is lyrical, magical, literary but easy. It's like a conversation. This is a book you can have a relationship with...better than some of the men I've had relationships with that's for sure ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a sequel. I'm on to it :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">images 1 and 2 from weheartit</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

what I read in january 2011...

Yasi update: I'm so relieved to say that I've just heard from my peeps in Far North Queensland and they are all well and relatively...

Read more »

ballets russes at the national gallery...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been to textile and costume heaven.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ewi7GUhsDRMCMyrJPwqgYF77gsvsKNTOvRxnIZ_IRJGS5glXdUXcIyPVilhsT57mYxyqie_O2Pg3E2xX0Pa1NTOnBAYS7df36-fkRYfC-W2B7cAlyJ8YJOhyUp5P49HiNQkwCR1IJY9w/s1600/le+mariage+d%2527aurore+overdress+from+costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ewi7GUhsDRMCMyrJPwqgYF77gsvsKNTOvRxnIZ_IRJGS5glXdUXcIyPVilhsT57mYxyqie_O2Pg3E2xX0Pa1NTOnBAYS7df36-fkRYfC-W2B7cAlyJ8YJOhyUp5P49HiNQkwCR1IJY9w/s640/le+mariage+d%2527aurore+overdress+from+costume.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Friday I treated myself to a leisurely afternoon at the <a href="http://www.nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm">National Gallery of Australia</a>...one of my favourite places in this here national capital of ours :) Actually, one of my favourite places in the whole wide world.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the new facade...pretty spectacular don't you think?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3edExpxGfs35p6sXUs9xrCJbHSbX50Ok5si7Q4fJDN4nZ9RL8IIfjGB9mAv5pGqMvBA6Z_l7R_0XimiTtt-m5Z3SzhFp-q3Srf5Pcx9O176UrMmBDOCumRHdVO0UJKfRFf4vaqElMQdIC/s1600/nga+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3edExpxGfs35p6sXUs9xrCJbHSbX50Ok5si7Q4fJDN4nZ9RL8IIfjGB9mAv5pGqMvBA6Z_l7R_0XimiTtt-m5Z3SzhFp-q3Srf5Pcx9O176UrMmBDOCumRHdVO0UJKfRFf4vaqElMQdIC/s640/nga+building.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was my first visit since the grand re-opening of the gallery with its new spaces last September and I wasn't disappointed. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new indigenous galleries are just superb. I've always loved the totems and they look so wonderful in their new space.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9byEkhhnYJ4L96mOkI9dxwJz8QrcCyo3A6FwjwzQd7S2Tw2UImuQbF34lg8puAg63OIpj_RE-GbIs_QHYKhYJnDGVooyzi1or_GJXZhIM6RJbjYBU5MTI2ROLmwNuYvacyyZChGFOrYm/s1600/indigenous+gallery+nga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9byEkhhnYJ4L96mOkI9dxwJz8QrcCyo3A6FwjwzQd7S2Tw2UImuQbF34lg8puAg63OIpj_RE-GbIs_QHYKhYJnDGVooyzi1or_GJXZhIM6RJbjYBU5MTI2ROLmwNuYvacyyZChGFOrYm/s640/indigenous+gallery+nga.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I went to see the Ballet Russe exhibition. The NGA has one of the largest collections in the world of costumes and other bits and bobs from this ballet company, founded by Serge Diaghilev in Paris in 1911.  Here's just some of the fantastic costumes...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_7QnLJ4p7zO6yaeRW7mgEs2opVSIxRUyLThTfCXbJisW9ZCeK8IKhoCpuQKAxCwgDG5ZWWAJLlTfIfQCH34_nuxfVRijDw0spKwjSLWBt1P92921sCl2zZr-Vf26iL9tEYEsg8YybYSv/s1600/Blue+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_7QnLJ4p7zO6yaeRW7mgEs2opVSIxRUyLThTfCXbJisW9ZCeK8IKhoCpuQKAxCwgDG5ZWWAJLlTfIfQCH34_nuxfVRijDw0spKwjSLWBt1P92921sCl2zZr-Vf26iL9tEYEsg8YybYSv/s640/Blue+God.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This one above was my favourite and is actually a male costume...who would have guessed...I'm going to have a crack at painting it. It will look lovely on my new white walls if I can do it justice :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhX9la4UGd_rd2yTzLdrtw0O9BU5lbX6ffYlwNnKzh66t8-WIwMEqNyMYJ-FPOS3Fa2AuHghP4PlvXUxN6iNBpruV-GdxhvcAfmkmgNSLGu88-bUuJue0WYXDAuVbOfaU-LggwHTsMVjP/s1600/l%2527apres-midi+d%2527un+faune+nymph+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhX9la4UGd_rd2yTzLdrtw0O9BU5lbX6ffYlwNnKzh66t8-WIwMEqNyMYJ-FPOS3Fa2AuHghP4PlvXUxN6iNBpruV-GdxhvcAfmkmgNSLGu88-bUuJue0WYXDAuVbOfaU-LggwHTsMVjP/s640/l%2527apres-midi+d%2527un+faune+nymph+2.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't these look modern even today...nymph costumes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pjmIrvbmb6LNHlb96gQgd5R_5a44UcXXRjQcUjieU_X71561N2M97d9tGt2A8OEj1ApCryfP_TTrgZHjVdb_YRxjtzB20UCw1Ede5uKn12uVQzgV-PSgso6IU_UhVT0xumYVVxT_lyGq/s1600/l%2527apres-midi+d%2527un+faune+nymph+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pjmIrvbmb6LNHlb96gQgd5R_5a44UcXXRjQcUjieU_X71561N2M97d9tGt2A8OEj1ApCryfP_TTrgZHjVdb_YRxjtzB20UCw1Ede5uKn12uVQzgV-PSgso6IU_UhVT0xumYVVxT_lyGq/s640/l%2527apres-midi+d%2527un+faune+nymph+3.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">second favourite coming up...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzYHMTxy5EyD4IUL5kyMYQtHzjAXYB23Dvyu17bLA1CL9c8TzHvNL0JzxEojYKyPzNdl33_IHuaT6KkY3rUlGcSom_cqv_TEqeOVIaPdFK_2hCgKQdfJ_IlpLJOM4CGZC9CQDo1yruWR7/s1600/le+chant+du+rossignol+costume+for+a+mourner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzYHMTxy5EyD4IUL5kyMYQtHzjAXYB23Dvyu17bLA1CL9c8TzHvNL0JzxEojYKyPzNdl33_IHuaT6KkY3rUlGcSom_cqv_TEqeOVIaPdFK_2hCgKQdfJ_IlpLJOM4CGZC9CQDo1yruWR7/s640/le+chant+du+rossignol+costume+for+a+mourner.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always when I go to the Gallery, the exhibition blew me away. It is such an incredible place...and a ten minute drive from home...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOoz74qKLyuqLqx0ZS6kkGovJkmFrmFGYVffcXJ6L5alCgSA_0kegK7Vy0SdOd33bc6g290Z9NgTt5nAKNIl_IJ2lQ9kcE-CSwq4Ocd0-VFS6H2sID1xKaY1thNC27I_aH56PbYvKvewX/s1600/le+coq+d%2527or+costume+for+peasant+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOoz74qKLyuqLqx0ZS6kkGovJkmFrmFGYVffcXJ6L5alCgSA_0kegK7Vy0SdOd33bc6g290Z9NgTt5nAKNIl_IJ2lQ9kcE-CSwq4Ocd0-VFS6H2sID1xKaY1thNC27I_aH56PbYvKvewX/s640/le+coq+d%2527or+costume+for+peasant+woman.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjZLdzB4yxfoKfXlhmYcFZzOucvdfr3XcH7wghKD4mFk9E0sAlzGmonK01EmXwDF1YsODV3_PM3j2SBfu4_6IHRAaP7cpK6CVblCfoUhcyFMeB2KESGYUgf-pWScWN6VT1b6kxxq3Okmh/s1600/sheherezade+chief+eunuch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjZLdzB4yxfoKfXlhmYcFZzOucvdfr3XcH7wghKD4mFk9E0sAlzGmonK01EmXwDF1YsODV3_PM3j2SBfu4_6IHRAaP7cpK6CVblCfoUhcyFMeB2KESGYUgf-pWScWN6VT1b6kxxq3Okmh/s640/sheherezade+chief+eunuch.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMveWalptxzoiB-C3cMcvDzgR82CKvGTRs38NqRQ6Xnhv5KyPcGTRDcUAx8ziYMVI3_Iy-3geI75PNDnxaC4ojAvIWhMKMpsJ6Dc7h4r5gvnH7nHqrmMb2qDo8XgBeQhxvwn9czubL22Xm/s1600/sheherezade+shah+zeman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMveWalptxzoiB-C3cMcvDzgR82CKvGTRs38NqRQ6Xnhv5KyPcGTRDcUAx8ziYMVI3_Iy-3geI75PNDnxaC4ojAvIWhMKMpsJ6Dc7h4r5gvnH7nHqrmMb2qDo8XgBeQhxvwn9czubL22Xm/s640/sheherezade+shah+zeman.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much awesomeness...but how in the heck did they dance in these? They must weigh more than the dancers...even when they're dripping wet (the dancers not the costumes...ballet is hard work or so I'm told)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMX7WVx3FCjAVzORer6QVlFouSplJ5mGIQf7-sws0tFIgBCWkjVu6vbsV14vOUymXm2J1m29mafbYyc6airNzBsdtx2rYsXn08yGZDTR8YvkmftD-AR46IIWb9HmV2cdUdJqLEm4CCSA3/s1600/thamar+costume+for+a+friend+of+queen+thamar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMX7WVx3FCjAVzORer6QVlFouSplJ5mGIQf7-sws0tFIgBCWkjVu6vbsV14vOUymXm2J1m29mafbYyc6airNzBsdtx2rYsXn08yGZDTR8YvkmftD-AR46IIWb9HmV2cdUdJqLEm4CCSA3/s640/thamar+costume+for+a+friend+of+queen+thamar.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZUPYWgfAqmhjeKH7ThB4ItLRW93TQJswzGBm0CNZa4B74eqEkPuv_5Daa3oF0WLXuBYiEBTpG9_-3rZgQ45e-d2dDBYNQoKmMBkTZ39SDXNt3jIwKc5G0Jm5iOzrd1TepBWTf_63az7p/s1600/the+sleeping+princess+costume+for+a+lady+in+waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZUPYWgfAqmhjeKH7ThB4ItLRW93TQJswzGBm0CNZa4B74eqEkPuv_5Daa3oF0WLXuBYiEBTpG9_-3rZgQ45e-d2dDBYNQoKmMBkTZ39SDXNt3jIwKc5G0Jm5iOzrd1TepBWTf_63az7p/s640/the+sleeping+princess+costume+for+a+lady+in+waiting.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvcrUum_V4EJD0h91qtQnbpRUMI51-HqO0dLczV0OVZHYp7P5V7IX5rBp2E1Je_eeDlwwnHGcAHgf_ZrKwLsUSwHNW90HcrnwT9NeEPF1X0ElxwmQtaO10a_RNRNvK32L5hkzZDF2lGjE/s1600/the+sleeping+princess+costume+for+a+page+to+the+hummingbird+fairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvcrUum_V4EJD0h91qtQnbpRUMI51-HqO0dLczV0OVZHYp7P5V7IX5rBp2E1Je_eeDlwwnHGcAHgf_ZrKwLsUSwHNW90HcrnwT9NeEPF1X0ElxwmQtaO10a_RNRNvK32L5hkzZDF2lGjE/s640/the+sleeping+princess+costume+for+a+page+to+the+hummingbird+fairy.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And outside the gallery (oh how I wish you could take photos inside...why can't you I wonder? You can in the Louvre)...there is a major installation called <b><i>within, without</i></b> by James Turrell...it's hard to describe</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXVMmU5BJ2Aj61ZzAdAENfLeEoRll6tGTF9VKNVi41m174jgW5kwsGOspSJVbhfwfMEdujBVqIqDWACykjvpnKjpbqVqLlmDwtW_aKfeDi_9KutsIaJHir-1Yzl7s68cCkYm2ZvX193IF/s1600/within+without.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXVMmU5BJ2Aj61ZzAdAENfLeEoRll6tGTF9VKNVi41m174jgW5kwsGOspSJVbhfwfMEdujBVqIqDWACykjvpnKjpbqVqLlmDwtW_aKfeDi_9KutsIaJHir-1Yzl7s68cCkYm2ZvX193IF/s640/within+without.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...you walk into it...the photos don't do it justice...well mine don't anyway :) </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8RPjxSMG_F4CgVwWTb7AyeGqnoaw7oK3aj8K0QXEXWTYaEky3BxIZ67Qg8Ux4gfMq6kblpk9kUrSEKmVSaUmqEkcEY__ScVm4VWt8lPiON48lx0-yxUqI7B5sd5I6QSMMUcnC2hGGn4G/s1600/within+without+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8RPjxSMG_F4CgVwWTb7AyeGqnoaw7oK3aj8K0QXEXWTYaEky3BxIZ67Qg8Ux4gfMq6kblpk9kUrSEKmVSaUmqEkcEY__ScVm4VWt8lPiON48lx0-yxUqI7B5sd5I6QSMMUcnC2hGGn4G/s640/within+without+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and of course I had to buy the book didn't I? It has the most beautiful close-ups...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8C_04STxlss5DJ3hitQ5fh9ynx3dDdr60HHW_bnuRyVER6ZkEQ0-QAKjBxVl9okA-HMFUXWEq-bUKEkod93E0SSqzefE3-btD3qYg5_hNVQyBzHcwm6BuvxqooXoGj-2tpecMTl8atfw/s1600/ballets+russe+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8C_04STxlss5DJ3hitQ5fh9ynx3dDdr60HHW_bnuRyVER6ZkEQ0-QAKjBxVl9okA-HMFUXWEq-bUKEkod93E0SSqzefE3-btD3qYg5_hNVQyBzHcwm6BuvxqooXoGj-2tpecMTl8atfw/s640/ballets+russe+book.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and perhaps I bought a few other things as well despite the year of living frugally (I put them under the category of 'learning stuff')</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go <a href="http://www.nga.gov.au/Exhibition/BalletsRusses/">here</a> for more fabulous images from the Ballets Russes exhibition and explanations about the ballets and costumes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">all except the last two images are from the <a href="http://www.nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm">NGA</a> website</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

ballets russes at the national gallery...

I have been to textile and costume heaven. Last Friday I treated myself to a leisurely afternoon at the National Gallery of Australia ...one...

Read more »