In my sugar addled, ballerina twirling mind, all of these images share a common thread. Quite often lately, I've been quietly visiting these images for various reasons. This post doesn't exactly make a lot of sense if I try and describe it, so I'm letting the pictures be the narrative. I hope you enjoy them.
I don't know a ton about the Hindu religion and about their gods and goddesses. I find these pictures really lovely and serene and I had to include them. You can read more about some of these deities here. You can read all about Anna Pavlova, here. Whirling Dervishes, here. Versailles, here (post coming soon about the lost rooms of Versailles). The Wat Rong Khun Temple in Chaing Rai, here. I hope that these pictures inspire a little love, peace, beauty, and of course, sugar.
Oh celluloid, lesser stepsister of vintage glamour bakelite, I love you. I first fell in love with you a million years back at an Art Deco exhibit and sale when I stumbled upon a display of deco era swirly celluloid flower place holders. They were so pretty and tiny and I loved that their exclusive purpose was to finish off a gorgeous fancy fete worthy table. I had never seen anything like them before. I have yet to find those place settings again (and, of course, I've been searching high and low for them for years).
I was given one of those little cream floral place holders as a gift once from a nice man who owned an antique store specializing in deco pieces. He only had the one, and he was very kind to gift it to me. I had it for years. Sadly, it ended up suffering a freak accident falling into a lamp and turning into a fiery little ball. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement. Odd how you remember silly trinket mishaps of your past. Celluloid is highly flammable. Lesson learned. Have you seen Inglourious Basterds?
I adore old celluloid pieces. It's much more common and less valuable than bakelite, and I love that all sorts of figurines, jewelry, buttons, boxes, toys, and everything in between was made out of it. I prefer my celluloid pieces to all of my bakelite finds. It is much more delicate, the colors more faded out than bakelite, and I love how it ages so beautifully. Celluloid artifacts were essentially Depression era dime store finds, pendants and purses were picked up at Woolworth. I think that makes me appreciate these pieces so much more. I was reminded of my fascination of all things celluloid after watching the Wizard of Oz the other night. Munchkin Land is overflowing with giant dreamy celluloid blooms that I couldn't take my eyes off of. Wonderful Glinda's bubble would be made out of cotton candy pink translucent celluloid for sure.
In my pastry obsessed brain, I'm constantly drawing design inspiration from celluloid finds. Floral celluloid broaches and necklaces always translate to blown or gumpaste sugar flowers and filigree to me. They have always remind me of sparkly candy. Two of my favorite things. I have a million saved images and celluloid pieces at home that will eventually end up as edible adornments.
I know that one day I will find those dreamy place holders again. I'm crazy enough to pay just about any price for them, because they have such a lasting memory to me. I would even be happy with a picture of at this point. A girl can dream. I hope you find these little pieces inspiring too!
Thank you for checking out my blog. Although I haven't had much time to update it, many more pastries and pretty things to come shortly. Thank you for sticking around!
Our new website is underway! Lots of new flavors are baking too.
Next week brings us a kitchen. With four (count 'em!) ovens. We're going to be all around town with sweet treats too.
I recently cut off a lot of my hair to send it to the Gulf oil spill. I have new hair and I don't know what to do with it. I'm always drawn to puff and swirls, it's a bit reminscent of pastry. The idea of sticking bows and flowers (and whatever else I can find) in it seems fun now. Here are some images that I LOVE. What shall I do with my locks now?
It's no secret that my brain is ruled by anything that resembles cotton candy. I've always wanted light pink hair. I'm waiting for my hair to turn gray so I can dye it light and fluffy pink.
Or just leave it gray and style it like this. Only John Galliano can make me want gray pinned locks paired with giant rhinestones and pink bows.
Gorgeous Billie Holiday makes me want to pin giant flowers onto the side of my head.
If you have hair (your hair, your hair extensions, or your pets hair) that you would like to send to a hair boom project to help with the oil spill and to learn more about hair booms, please go here.
Who doesn't love Matroyshka dolls? These little painted folk nesting dolls were first made in the 1880's as educational toys for children. The colors and the expressions of these dolls are so fun, it was a treat finding these great images on the internet. Themes range everywhere from Russian peasants and religious figures, to political leaders and ultra modern alien like nesting dolls designed by Pantone. I plan on experimenting with a blown sugar version of these little dollies. Karl Lagerfeld designed a range of Matroyshka doll purses, jewels, and gorgeous textiles for Chanel's pre fall 2009 collection. Here is proof that these dolls can inspire even the snottiest of fashionista with their cheery whimsy!
You can read about the matroyshka dolls history here.
It's one of those movies I can watch over and over, the Gene Wilder version, of course. While it's probably considered a very insignificant moment, my favorite part of the movie is when Willy Wonka is singing and first takes a sip from buttercup teacup, and then takes a bite of it. I asked my husband if he remembers the teacup, and he looked at me as if I was a little bit crazy.
For me, this little edible, drinkable buttercup teacup was, and still is, very magical and inspiring. After first seeing the movie as a wee lass, I knew that I had to get my hands on that buttercup (Where could I buy one? What do you mean they didn't exist outside of Wonka's wonderland? But I want it NOW!!! I had a very justified Veruca Salt moment.) somehow, even if I had to make it...
There is something very Wonka's garden about this, don't you think? I need to keep practicing blowing sugar, so I can get my candy apples thin and translucent (like the apples in the Tim Burton version, naturally my favorite candy moment in the entire flick) instead of over blowing and exploding them (while dramatic with loud popping noises and shards of glass sugar splattering everywhere, not very fun). I love the idea of intricate sugar work, which takes tons of patience, practice, and tolerance of pulling 320 degrees of volcanic lava sugar ribbons. I think my little tree was a nice first crack at sugar work.
You can eat these, and I think they belong in Wonka land. My favorite aspect of being able to make things out of sugar is definitely making sugar flowers. I can happily spend hours on end creating them. I am certain this goes back to that buttercup. Expect sugar buttercup teacups from me in the very near future.
What kid (or adult) wouldn't be completely transfixed by Wonka's glorious candy filled garden? Edible candy apples, lollipops springing up in place of flowers, and of course, the flowers you can eat, is almost too much loveliness to take. The movie always makes me giddy and longing for the golden ticket!
Geishas I think, are among the most beautiful sight to see. I am beyond awestruck by their traditional dress, makeup, hair - the whole thing really. The colors, textures, and layering of prints (that I would never think go together but do brilliantly), are enough to make my head dizzy with fascination. A few years back, I attended a performance of the Geisha's traditional Sakura-Oban in Kyoto in celebration of April's cherry blossom season. Watching it felt like you were stepping back in time - completely mesmorizing. To me, the curves and intricate details of these hairstyles remind me of delicate pastry and I'm constantly inspired just looking at pictures. I love that many of the hairstyles are symbolic to the seasons, gorgeous fruit, youth and radiace, and social status within the culture. The traditional hair ornaments, Kanzashi, translate to pulled sugar celluloid and blown isomalt flower petals for me. You can read more about these hairstyles here.