In Search of Mickey - Manicures...

I am a hand person. I just am. Always have been.

My Granny has Barbara Streisand hands. Yup. "Like Butta!" She, at 93 is always coiffed, designer dressed and impeccably manicured. Because of her fastidious way of keeping herself up for, ahem, nearly a century, there are certain things that I have picked up from her.

Sure I love art (Gran), and dogs (Gran) and I'm being as modest as possible here, I love a good game of cards as in, I'm quite the shark (Gran). But, perhaps the weirdest thing I picked up from Fay (gorge name, right!?) was her love of a good set of fancified 10's! Oddly, It's one of the things that I was so attracted to my husband for...his hands are really attractive in a masculine but not callused way!

I am going to "The Happiest Place On Earth!" on June second and I got a manicure yesterday. I had a design all planned out and figured it would be easy enough to do. But, nooooooo! Here's how it went. I told "Kimmy" about my trip to Disneyland. I picked my colors (Ink Gels in Barbie Pink and Dark Glitter Grey) and told Kimmy to paint all nails the pink except my accent nail which I wanted grey. Then I explained to her that I wanted my accent nail to have a silhouette of Mickey's head on the accent nail in the pink. She tried hard enough. But it was a no go. So, I looked up other Mickey designs to see how hard it is to get this done or to see if anyone else had done something similar. I found a great blog that has all kinds of excellent nail designs, not just Mickey Mouse...

If you're interested in some spicy nails, the place to visit is Holy Manicures! Margaret is a manicure maven. She is uber talented and clever to boot.

Following is her rendition of the Mickey Manicure. It's delightful! I wish I could tell my manicurist how to do the Mickey silhouette on my finger! I've written a note to Margaret so perhaps she can help me?!

And I found a few others on her site that i really liked...

How does she do it?!

Here are some other Mickey/Minnie nails...

Mad Mani's

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I'm going to publish this without the mickey on my accent nail...bummer. But it is my aim today to get a pink Mickey on there. And when I do I'll edit in the new picture with the complete nails!

Yeaaaay! Finally! I got my Mickey...I got it at GG Salon on Alhambra. A woman name Heidi did it for me. I feel complete...and gues what? I leave today (June 2nd) for the mouse with sissy!

M-IC-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Vimeo Film Awards

Do you guys visit Vimeo? I, myself am a member. Infact I'm not sure I could live without it! I have featured several Vimeo movies from various film makers here and one on La Bottine too. It's voting week for the Vimeo Festival and Awards. Please be sure to go over there and check the films out if not just to support these independent and talented filmmakers but also to choose your fave!

Here is an example of what you'll find...





This film is by Everynone and you can see more of their films here!

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Bubbles - Waiting for Spring

In an effort to patiently wait for Spring, I watched a Doris Day movie last night and began to think of this post. I promised Kelly from Little Paper Planes that I would post a song for her. I got the inspiration from a tweet of hers where she said, "Where is my head?" It spurred a knowing smirk from me and comfort in knowing I'm not the only one.

As I lay on the couch with my feet freezing despite the fact that it is, ahem, Spring, I scurried to the kitchen to make some bubbles. Hoping to warm my feet, solidify this post in my mind and create some fun all at once!

Here is the recipe:
1 Tablespoon dish liquid
6 Tablespoons water
Mix well and dip fork into mixture (or pipe cleaner or wire hanger or beading wire)
Blow...It's sort of magical!

Spring, Spring, Spring...get on it already mother nature!

Charles Edward Wilson
"Blowing Bubbles"

Thomas Couture
"Bubbles"

Ch. Chaplin
"Blowing Bubbles"

Bubbles - A Track List
1. Where is My Mind - Pixies
2. Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins
3. Paris Collides - RUFUS
4. Rumour Has It - ADELE
5. Daniel (Death Metal Disco Scene Remix) - Bat for Lashes
6. Animal - Miike Snow
7. Breaking It Up - Lykke Li
8. Stand and Deliver - Adam Ant
9. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
10. Sugarbush - Doris Day and Frankie Laine

Bubbles from poppiesandpaperbacks on 8tracks. Painting Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin "Soap Bubbles" 1733

Art Nouveau

When I was in college, I studied art. I was so intrigued by the creativity of others, I thought I would try my hand at developing some creativity of my own. Never feeling wholly satisfied with my own creations I collected a handful of art movements to study - one in particular - such music, such richness, was Art Nouveau. The era went from 1890-1914 and produced some of the finest designs seen still, even today. Some of the greats include Alphonse Mucha perhaps the most popular, Gustav Klimt,  Aubrey Beardsley and Rene Lalique.

Today's post is a simple collection of beautiful pictures by the greats of this intriguing art movement.

Enjoy!

"Dance" by the famous Alphonse Mucha, Czech by birth educated in France and perhaps the most popular of the Art Nouveau movement.

I love this drawing! Aubrey Beardsley was famous with ink on paper. His lines are as straight as an electronic device could make and his cleverness cannot be emulated. Look at the money and lest we forget her boobies! The title "Lady with a Monkey" seems obvious enough.

As an art student, Judith and Holofernes is thrown in your face daily. I think I have perhaps seen at least 150 different images of the same 'couple' from about 26 countries spanning several centuries. But this version of Judith and Holofernes is by far my favorite. Judith has just slain Holofernes the leader of the Assyrians. The best part of this painting is the indignant look on her face. She was the first feminist! If you ever have the opportunity to see this in a museum it is more than worth the live viewing. She speaks volumes in her silence! 

I cannot find where I got this image. My apologies. However, please look how stunning this pendant is . Rene Lalique is most noted for his glass sculptures but it is often forgotten that he made the most spectacular jewelry. I want her!

Frabjous Finds - Little People Project

Sometimes you come across things that are so great you just have to share them with the rest of the world. I tend to be one of those people, duh. I have a blog after all!

I found the Little People Project when I was trying to figure out how to switch this blog off this email and onto another. Obviously, I got a little sidetracked! I want all of these photos. For crying out loud, Iwant to have begun this myself. It's so clever and so charming!

Slinkachu has a book. "A frivolity to spend your hard earned cash on!"

Look at these...! I giggle every time I see them. I need to start a Pinterest page just for these teeny street people.

Tourists

They're Not Pet's, Susan

Wet 'n' 'Wild

Paddington Doorway

Winter Day

Compost Head

I'm feeling a bit dark today as I'm sure you can see. You must have a sense of humor for these. If you don't, forget it, don't watch them.

"Vincent!" Tim Burton's short film - 1982

"The Tale of How" by The Black Heart Gang. I chose this for it's Boschian qualities. It's also as though Gorey, Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman collided. Also, it's a visual feast. You must listen closely to really get it though. 

A good one By Edward Gorey - "The Beastly Baby!" (This baby is Stewie before there ever was a Stewie) Warning, quite irreverent. Any decent person shouldn't think this is funny, but I do!

Pink Touches

This came from Fresh Home  but was first introduced to me by Sharona Design. It's a wonderful Pied De Terret near Barcelona. 

Heart - The Shape of Love

Some people do not like the shape of love. Why?

The shape is linearly pleasing and it's symbolism even more so. Especially when you consider there is only one more week until St. Valentines Day.

Look at these. Anything made from a fork has got to be cool, right?
And this. It's so wee and sweet!
And what's not to heart about this?
I want!

 3D!

Useful! And they rhyme. Bonus!

Looks good enough to eat!

Yes! Please.

Love is right!

Jan Masny - Photographer

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 These are amazing. Enjoy! So much movement. All photos by Jan Masny.

Wallpaper - Flat Vernacular

For sometime now, the trend in home interiors has largely been paint. You can do gads of things with paint that's for sure. Tons of colors, lots of texture and even a few effects. But, long thought marginally passe has been wall paper. Paint's over! Get these!

You've got to check out Flat Vernacular! You've never seen the likes of this! The company was started by Payton Turner and her partner Brian Kaspr. They are ridiculously talented! - So unfair!

Conceptually, their designs are fresh, colorful and choc full of amusement. They have a line of wall paper catalogued under "custom." Yup! custom...STICKERS!

Remember all the stickers you saved and collected in albums in 4th grade? Well, those little geniuses have devised a way to actually use them. Gawd! Why wasn't it me? I mean, why the heck did I go to art school - oh yeah - because it was fun! After all, I'm trying to be a writer - so let me write about other artists today that have pinkies and toes full of rad!

While I love the stickers, they also have other creative wall paper designs, like "Pheobe" that are meticulously thought out and even more expertly executed!

Bonus: Both Brian and Payton are super accessible as well! So while they are rock stars...they are not unapproachable. And, of course, they're in New York. It is, after all, the center of the universe!

Phoebe

*Incidentally, Payton is Howard Cosell's grand daughter. The late Mr. Cosell is, still, perhaps the most recognizable voice in sports announcement.