Sunday 28 October 2012

Deer hunting with Jesus and Vintage flowers

Deer Hunting with Jesus: Guns, Votes, Debt and Delusion in Redneck America 
by Joe Bageant.
I shall be reading this book soon.  I am fascinated by history, and studied the history of the USA with excitement at school well over a decade ago.  So I look forward to sinking my teeth into understanding contemporary USA.

 

In addition to reading this book I hope to insert more flora and fauna into my life- buy a plant for the office and buy flowers now and again to freshen up and beautify the spaces I live and breathe in.  I borrowed this book (image below) from the library a while ago and it is full of inspiring designs and ideas.




Garnet ring by Arik Kastan

My birthstone is garnet and I came across this ring by Arik Kastan- so beautiful and I fell in love straight away. At £810.00....  I'd like to own such a piece....

A garden of my own....




I'd be a happy woman with two things- a small library in my home and a garden.......






Saturday 27 October 2012

Bookish.....

I love books, I'd love to have a room dedicated to books  - my own library!

My favourite bookshop in London is the London Review Bookshop  http://www.lrbshop.co.uk/   14 Bury Place, London WC1A 2JL.   This bookshop has a nice nostalgic feel with books going up to the ceiling on a wide range of topics and genres.   The great thing is that they don't focus on mainstream popular books.  One is sure to find a treasure there while browisng.

There is also a sweet little teashop within.


Tuesday 23 October 2012

Vintage dreams- some tips

I'm really glad I came across Tales of Endearment website by Natalie Joos. She re-ignited my fire about vintage, lifestyle and style itself.

I have neglected my vintage clothes for the past year or so, they sit in my drawers and hang in my wardrobe unloved :(

Vintage isn't always easy to buy, one dress I got on ebay was terrible with holes and what appeared to be animal hairs....urghhh....so only buy from reputable vintage dealers or but from shops where you can see the clothes for real.  East London , UK has a good few vintage shops.

My favourite vintage dress is a little too big for me so I need to get it resized.  I thought I'd share some tips with you:

1) Buy from reputable vintage suppliers- check out their ratings on ebay and  reviews on their website and independent review sites where available..
2) Buy in person where possible as the best way to really truly decide is in person,  colours (on your screen) and even sizes may not be accurate enough. Plus there may be issues not disclosed on some websites- be aware!  Some retailers do take returns, read the small print.
3) Unknown labelled clothing can be just as beautiful or more so than a vintage Dior for example. Price tags are not everything.  I have no designer vintage but have been complimented so proof!!
4) Remember that the clothing from previous eras were designed to last and are likely to have good craftmanship and unique designs and motifs
5) Enjoy and look after your vintage treasures!

Polly xx

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Der Liebling necklace

I came back from my trip to Naples to find that my Der Liebling necklaces recently arrived in the post :)

If you like this type of jewellery explore:

http://der-liebling.net/


Banu Kent, who is based in Istanbul, Turkey is the jewellery designer and maker she is friendly and helpful -you can email her too.

Beginnings.....

Several years ago I was studying for a postgraduate diploma.  There was a summer school in Wye, Kent at a historical site.  We had a few evenings where we did creative activities like creating a bird which reflected ourselves using glitter, feathers, sequins, coloured paper etc.   This wasn't related to the course but was a way to socialise and discuss with each other.  Looking back it was a form of mild therapy.

I created a colourful bird with lots of bright feathers but without wings as I wasn't confident and didn't feel I could do well (hence the missing wings) even though I consider myself to be fairly creative and fairly well educated.   One of the things discussed was moving on and the facilitator said people often say they start a new life but we only have one life.

Yes... even after several years I know that no matter how hard you may wish to start a new life you are the product of your past and you can shape your future.  And yes everyone has wings.


Sunday 7 October 2012

Green & classic

Of those things which delight the senses (according to a Tradition of the Prophet) the chiefest are, 'water, green things & a beautiful face'.





Green, black and gold


Saturday 6 October 2012

Life changes.....

The last few weeks and to an extent years have been traumatic for me. My health and morale suffered heavily.   In a society where we live by work, life can feel meaningless, by work I mean working for a company. I often worked after work at home to sometimes to 10pm, weekends, even checking work emails on holiday leave and while on the move ~ but this was for free.  When you work for a company as an employee you can become part of it intrinsically and it feels like you are owned by them.

This is not true, you belong to yourself.  The past few years I felt trapped as my efforts and capabilities were not being recognised.  I sacrificed time, and even study time to think about work and dare I say it to gain recognition. This didn't happen.  I learnt the hard way is that it is best to look after yourself and your health and work in an area which you will enjoy.

I now hope to develop myself, to gain more confidence and learn new skills to work in a more dynamic field.

Friday 5 October 2012

Reinvention of a rose

The need to reinvent ourselves only stops when our personal growth and development stop.


This Chloe Lightweight Sateen shirt is pure gorgeous.....

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Break and relaxation- Magazines


As I am on a "break"  I hope to relax and also read and discover some new things, like new food places, books, magazines, films, music and London.

I recently bought Tank magazine and The Gentlewoman magazine from a news stand right by Temple tube station. It was perfect timing as I was musing about buying these two magazines and voila there they were right in front of me along with I am sure other many amazing magazines.


I have read the previous  two editions of Tank magazine and the reason I like Tank magazine is because it is full of fresh insights and opens one to ideas not just unique and strong brand fashion ( in shoots they have used vintage jewellery and vintage clothing sources e.g. Susan Caplan and beyond Retro respectively) and share reviews and interviews about style, culture, film, art and philosophies..

I heard that The Gentlewoman is a superb magazine and I thought I would buy one (no.6) to find out more.  The magazine not surprisingly from the name dwells more on the feminine sensibility (female: style, fashion, women in business) and with interviews with upcoming and already established female icons across many fields.  It is a refreshing read so far and I look forward to reading more.



I am keen to read no.5 which includes interviews with some inspiring and creative women like Olivia Williams and Sofie Grabol.

Monday 1 October 2012

by Mary Oliver


The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.