« October 2010 | Main | December 2010 »
I have a zillion files on my computer of dreamy internet finds. I'm also notorious for saving images and not crediting them, if you see a picture that is yours and would like me to credit it, just send me an email and I will gladly credit you. This is a silly post of a few things that I'm loving right now in no particular order. Enjoy!
(I just won this beauty on eBay.)
This morning while speaking to my fairy godmother, Raleigh, I was asked if I had lit a candle today and made a wish yet? I didn't know what the significance of this day held so I asked her.
She had let me know that on the Wednesday of the fortieth week of the year, you are to light a candle (I always enjoy a good reason to light a pretty DL & CO candle), make a wish for prosperity (I threw in wishes of good health to my loved ones), and blow out the candle. This is a tradition in Kabbalah mysticism. So if you haven't already, light a pretty candle tonight and make a wish friends!
My uncle Billy is a bit of an eccentric. He is an avid antiques collector and has filled his tiny Hollywood apartment to the ceiling (literally) with highly covetable treasures. The words Baccarat, Louis XIV secretaire, Cartier, Elsa Peretti, Hermes, Nouveau Eqyptienne, etc. were part of the language of fancy goods that I grew up surrounded in. It was decided that as an adult that I should make sure buy serving plates from Sevres in the same pattern as Marie Antoinette had chosen, and fine silverware with a royal pattern created for Queen Elizabeth I by Towle Silversmiths. The most paramount information of all was that I must invest in a Fornasetti screen. I think I found this important life fact out at age twelve. If memory serves, Billy has the second screen below.
Fornasetti screen? Fornasetti screen in the Greco-Roman style, no less? I've gone thirty plus years without a Fornasetti screen and have been alright so far but, I admit, I do love that screen covered in pretty hot air balloons. I had seen pictures of those black and white face plates, but I had no idea who or what Fornasetti was. Apparently, one could simply not exist without a little Fornasetti in their lives.
Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) was an Italian painter, interior designer, and engraver. Over his lifetime he had created over 11,000 items, making his productions amongst the largest of the 20th century. His son, Barnaba, is now at the helm of the company, reviving the Fornasetti design house.
This magnificent Luna baby cradle can almost sway even the most adamant of people who do not want to have a child (me). I've never seen anything like it. I find this cradle so cheery and whimsical. Even the Mr. loves it.
I wanted to do a little blog post of to celebrate this designer so that we could all have a little Fornasetti in our lives. It is paramount, after all!
The holidays are upon us and the mail seems to be overflowing with holiday catalogs. Admittedly, I don't really pay attention to any of this mail clutter, except for the Barney's New York catalogs. Yesterday, I received their "Have a Very Foodie Holiday" and was instantly smitten. Of course everything in the book is decadent and gorgeous and you crave all of their lovely offerings. The food styling is heavenly, to say the least. Towards the middle of the book, a fold out segment is featured. The photographs in the segment were shot by none other than the notorious Nobuyoshi Araki. The first beautiful image that I posted is of Japanese actress, Kiko Mizuhara, from the catalog. So so lovely.
I had first found out about Nobuyoshi's work from a documentary that was suggested to me from Netflix. After seeing a portrait of him, I was a tiny bit creeped out, although mostly intrigued and was left to wonder "Who the hell is this guy with winged hair, wearing horns, and holding a plastic lizard?"
Turns out, Araki is quite a polarizing figure in the art world. Some people revere him as a visionary who pushes the boundaries of social and cultural norms, and others, well, he has his share of detractors. He has published over 350 books with photographic themes ranging everywhere from love and marriage, death, cats, flowers, fruit, and lizards, to restraint (shabari is a common feature in his photos, as you can see above) and strong sensual and sexual imagery.
I so love Araki's work. With so many books documenting his creative vision, perhaps it can be said that there is an Araki book for everyone? I saved my all time favorite Araki picture for last. I believe the photo below is among his most famous. The photo is of his new bride (who passed away some years back. He published a book in memory of his time with her until her passing of cancer) on their honeymoon, napping on a boat trip in Japan. She is beautiful and serene and I think this is such a touching image.
To read more about Nobuyoshi Araki, click here.