Phoenix „Fences” / Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Annie „My Love Is Better” / Don’t Stop

Annie “Loco” / Don’t Stop

Mirrors “Into the Heart”

Two Door Cinema Club “I Can Talk”

Rain Machine “New Last Name” / Rain Machine

Rain Machine “Give Blood” / Rain Machine

Alec Ounsworth “South Philadelphia (Drug Days)” / Mo Beauty

Clap You Hands Say Yeah “Over and Over – Lost and Found” / CYHSY

Atlas Sound feat. Noah Lennox “Walkabout” / Logos

Animal Collective “What Would I Want: Sky” / Fall Be Kind

Atlas Sound “Sheila” / Logos

Atlas Sound “Logos” / Logos

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O wybranych płytach już wkrótce na blogu.

For the Girl Who Likes Blue

For the Girl Who Likes Yellow

These mirrors are a gift for twin girls who are three years old.  Children that age love to find things, especially on the ground when they are out walking.  Their pockets and rooms fill with rocks, sticks, shiny papers and such.  These mirror frames filled with colorful tiles, rocks, glass flowers, and tiny beads, enough to pique the curiousity of a pair of growing girls.

For a parent, the unquestionable first priority is the child- her health, her mental and spiritual growth, her opportunities in life.  Through their innate cuteness, babies make sure that they are their parents’ priorities and, when that fails, they force the issue through their loudness.  Parents usually put their own needs aside at least part of the time, in order to do what the child needs for them to do.   Having a multiple birth means that there are two or more tiny people each vying to be the most important element of their parents’ lives.  The parents are forced to figure out their priorities because no one can be in two places at once or do two things at once well.  If all goes according to plan, by the time the parents have raised the children, the young adults will understand that each person is not the center of the universe.  They will each understand how to put their own needs and comfort aside part of the time in order to serve the needs of others.

But, how do we learn to set our own priorites in a world that cries out for attention from every corner?  When we’ve reached the state of maturity in which our whims are no longer our dictates, how do we decide which friends to keep and which to let go?  Which activities to continue and which to let slide?  Which organizations to support and which to ignore?  Which of the world’s needs to fulfill and which to allow someone else to serve?  We had a young pastor at our church who repeated on several occasions the adage that we find our life’s calling at the intersection of the world’s deepest need and our greatest desire.  This is profound for several reasons.  Looking for the world’s deepest need entails setting aside thoughts of oneself and looking at the highest good for others, the noblest condition of our human souls.  And, examining ourselves and finding our deepest desire involves not impermanent emotions, but the most permant underlying structure of our being- our true talent and purpose.  So, thinking of ourselves not at all and simultaneously thinking very deeply on the subject of ourselves yields the fruit of human existence- the thing or things each of us is created to do and be.  It is the result of listening to voices- first, those of our parents and families, then, those of friends, then teachers, employers, and eventually the collective voice of our society, and learning to choose which voices carry weight, which deceive, which impossibly demand, which do not demand enough, and then learning to listen to that voice inside which is able to speak audibly only after the others have been put to rest.  I think that even the best and most discerning can spend a lifetime learning to find and listen to that one true voice that speaks out of the quietness and through the din, telling us our calling and urging us toward the best.

Here are some of our decorative mirrors, this is a raw peek, mind you!

If you take a picture of yourself and set it on your desk at least three things will happen: 1) some will wonder about the size of your ego and a few of the less disciplined will say something, 2) others will think “Well, s/he was hot once,” and a few of the less thoughtful will say something, and 3) a passel will wonder if you’ve ever had a meaningful relationship, and a small number of these will offer to set you up with their cousin who just got out of jail. Avoid all this by getting a mirror.

If you don’t need to look at yourself, you can use it to reflect the world in the window behind you.

Including frame, mirror measures 13.5 inches tall, 11.5 inches wide

I have to give serious props to whoever is doing the set dressing and styling on Lady Gaga’s videos. The sets on a couple of them are out of this world. To honor the upcoming release of Lady Gaga’s new album, The Fame Monster, let’s parse the interior design elements of “Bad Romance.”

Anyone who knows how much I love white can see why I love the video for “Bad Romance.” Add suspended diamonds, a baroque-modern mirror, plenty of Alexander McQueen-designed clothing and accessories, and a considerable creepy factor, and you’ve won me over.

This carved white bergère/wingback has me wild. I want one in every room. (Also, our first glimpse of McQueen.)

Bathroom remodel inspiration? (More McQueen.)

The amazing mirror. I’ll take three.

Mirror detail. Looks like the frame is more abstract than actual leaves, florets, and dentils.

Sparkly AND white!

Diamonds. Suspended. In. Mid. Air. I like to pretend this wasn’t done with CGI.

Diamonds on the dance floor … (Plus McQueen.)

Diamonds in the air …

DIAMONDS!

Head-to-toe McQueen.

White subway tile in a running bond pattern. A classic choice, and one of my favorites for bathrooms.

White mounted taxidermy (super trendy a year or two ago), white headboard, white bedside lamps.

It looks like the bedside lamps are Kartell Bourgie Table Lamps. Pretty expensive thing to torch at $460 a pop. (And more McQueen.)

For another way to examine the “Bad Romance” video, check out Gear Live’s 10 Gadget Sightings in Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance Music Video.

Check out the whole video below.

In a past life I knew a woman who had a salon. She aspired to be an actress; I aspired to not be a destitute student living in an unheated attic. On chilly evenings we’d gather; students and aspiring actresses, anthropologists, reverend’s sons, miscreants, tortured artists and petty thieves.

We’d discuss politics, art, culture, and the nature of God late into the night and some times the following day. Above the mantle of the bricked-in fireplace she had a grand old mirror which would reflect the candle light and our ghostly visages into the wee hours of the night. The first light of dawn would show the debris of the previous night’s activities, the wine glasses with the last dregs of cheap red wine, the ashtrays, the reference and sketch books scattered about.

The mirror would have nothing to do with this however. In it we were still the creatures we manifested during the night: actresses, anthropologists, ministers, intellectuals and successful in business.

This mirror is almost that good.

45 inches by 69 inches in an ebonized frame with ornamental details. The frame is solid but could use re-blacking. Originally designed to hang either vertically or horizontally it has lost one of the hangers, so now its natural orientation is horizontal.

Guaranteed to show your good side!

this is about a week late, but better late than never. wale’s attention deficit is my favorite hip-hop release of the year thus far. i couldn’t be more content with this album’s release – exceeding my expectations for the record is no easy task.

it’s a shame that the record company undershipped the album, but i think more and more people will begin to catch on to his movement. anyway, it’s 3 in the fucking morning and i’m way too tired to write anymore on the info. pick up this album as soon as you see it in a store.

review after the jump.

-grizzly

Artist: Wale
Album: Attention: Deficit
Record Label: Allido/Interscope
Release Date: November 10, 2009

After 2008’s captivating The Mixtape about Nothing, Wale’s quick-witted wordplay, go-go leanings and verbal finesse made fans out of the most pompous of bloggers. With the budding hype building slowly around the release of his debut, Attention: Deficit, fans were discouraged at the album’s delays and setbacks. Considering Mr. Folarin’s arsenal of thought provoking and topical song content, Jimmy Iovine and the Interscope machine undoubtedly would have a hard time deciding what songs would be right for an album that was unlikely to achieve success in the mainstream.

The D.C. native has stated several times in the past that Black Thought is his personal favorite emcee. Aside from the name drop in “Prescription,” the influence is apparent on Wale’s often double-timed and fluid delivery. His apt and fine-tuned storytelling ability (“Diary,” “Contemplate”) is comparable and held up to a standard of a Nas or a Lupe Fiasco of the freshman generation. With these talents on deck, it’s also safe to assume that it was troubling for him to overcome the pressures of having major label debut, keeping in mind that there is a certain number of sales that would be expected of him.

Finding a comfortable resting place between and pleasing fans of the mainstream and underground, a normally daunting task, seems nearly effortless at the hands of Wale. From potential mainstream crossovers like the Gaga-assisted “Chillin” and the anthemic “World Tour” to the fanfare of “Triumph” or the astute “Mirrors,” Attention: Deficit does a notable job of living up to its name.

At first glance of the album’s liner notes, it’s hard not to notice the amount of features on the album. However, most of the album’s cameos come from the soulful vocal stylings of some of r&b’s finest songbirds. Melanie Fiona, Marsha Ambrosius (of Floetry fame), Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michelle all bring a brooding and captivating aspect to the choruses that Wale would not be able to execute himself. On the flipside, guest verses from Bun B (“Mirrors”) and fellow Roc Nation signee J Cole (“Beautiful Bliss”) proved to be both a reckless and rewarding decision. Both emcees unquestionably lay down their verses with poise and arguably outshine Wale on their respective songs.

“Let it Loose,” featuring Pharrell Williams and the production of the Neptunes, isn’t composed of the stature it’s liner credits may suggest. Cheap production value and equally tried song content really halter the album’s flow. Couple that with the abysmal Gucci Mane verse on “Pretty Girls,” and you have the album’s only shortcomings.

Wale wasn’t as lucky as some of his peers, namely Kid Cudi and Drake. Both of the aforementioned artists had a Kanye West or a Lil Wayne coattail to help propel their career. Wale, however, has built a grassroots following and has been hard at work, releasing three of the more critically lauded mixtapes in the past few years. Aside from Wale’s organic approach to the music and the marketing, it’s that same approach that will allow his career in hip-hop to maintain the commodity that is scarce nowadays; longevity.

Grade: A

wale on myspace.

preview tracks from attention: deficit:

wale – “mirrors” f. bun b

wale – “world tour” f. jazmine sullivan

-grizzly

NOVICA offers incredible, unique finds from artists and artisans around the world. As one of their missions, NOVICA states that they wish to provide a global platform for artisans in developing countries to express their artistic talents and spur their creativity. In return, consumers are offered unique and hard-to-find items at great prices.

NOVICA features thousands of products, ranging from area rugs, mirrors, tablewear, jewelry, handbags, paintings, and carved chess sets. I have spent hours just browsing through all the merchandise, which doesn’t feel like wasted time at all. Instead, it feels like I’m browsing through art in a museum or gallery! Some of my favourite finds include a necklace made from rice that’s been covered in 24-carat gold, beads made from compacted recycled paper, hand blown juice glasses in gorgeous colours, and hand-painted jewelry boxes. One-of-a-kind finds! And perfect for the holiday season.

NOVICA is a National Geographic endeavour and is approved by Green America.

***
images from NOVICA.

Word.

There’s been a bit of a resurgence in my interest in proper horror films recently – saw The Exorcist and Paranormal Activity and had the shit scared out of me both times. I’m a bit pissed off though, because I like feeling scared and there’s so few horror films that are genuinely terrifying, and earn your fear, that I wind up going on a mission to find another one and eventually get stuck watching some slasher crap.

The films I can think of that have properly fucked me up as an adult are Don’t Look Now, The Exorcist 1 & 3, Ring, [REC] and the jury’s still out on Paranormal Activity but I did drink till I passed after having seen it so that any ghosts couldn’t do any shit to me. That’s six films. SIX. I’m sure if I sat and thought about it there’d be others I’ve seen that are just as disturbing, but compare that to the amount of shit horror any film buff could reel off instantly, it’s nothing. One that pissed me off a lot recently was Mirrors, there was me thinking Keifer Sutherland was taking a decent stab at a flashy horror film – ghosts are on fire, people are ripping their jaws off – then halfway through Keifer forgets what set he’s on and it all devolves to a point where Jack Bauer has a fight with a demon that’s like the fight Arnie has with Bennett at the end of Commando. He punches a demon! Punches it!

Photo not taken from 24

Dude, basically I just need you to tell me about any other proper horror films – like when you showed me Don’t Look Now and scarred me for life with a fear of midgets (or dwarves, whatever that fucker in the red coat was).

sowasred2012 / Nov. 18th

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Proper horror aint made any more – sweeping statement? yes. Infallible? well probably not, but generally the attention span, patience and intelligence associated with audiences up to the 70s does not really lend itself to our generation of horror audience – hence the theatres being absolutely awash with rubbish, “jumpy” thrillers, “horrorrs” and just plain gratuitous shite. SAW, HOSTEL, et al, obviously belonging to the latter camp -  for some reason these filmmakers feel the need to appeal to twerps who equate horror generics with close up, sick goings on – that’s not scary it’s just unpleasant – and you can see much worse than that, for real, at websites like Ogrish, LiveLeak and Rotten.com. A damn shame believe it. And I’m not just slagging off the peddlers of gornography either.

Let’s have a look at The Omen (1976).

Peck: Gravitas. Warner: Hair

Bold, operatic, an intensely slow burning shocker. Every frame literally dripping with dread – especially the sc enes that depict “normal” life – because the tension is cranked up so much you know something is going down somewhere soon. And the music – fuckin hell the music – absolute nightmare. played completely straight by everyone – Patrick Troughton as the babbling priest, Billie Whitelaw is frankly terrifying as the staannic nanny, and Gregory Peck imbues the film with the conviction it needs to pull off a, lets be honest, silly story. And there we go – Gregory fuckin Peck!? In a horror film about a mini satan running around on earth? It’s like Daniel Day Lewis agreeing to do Scream 4 – it just wouldn’t happen nowadays. Because back then horror films were for EVERYONE – I mean not like kids, but audience over 30 were considered, so they were made for ADULTS. People who could sit for over half an hour without someone being hilariously butchered in a tumble dryer/solarium/whatever. Story matters in horror, well, SHOULD matter. And the remake? To be fair Liev Schreiber had a good crack at his role, but the whole thing was too quick, jumpy and fleeting (for me).

Not that no modern horror films are good – some of them do stick to this antiquated notion of building suspense and character, and they are among the most effective made now. And please let’s define the difference between “jumpy” and “frightening”. Scream is Jumpy. The Exorcist is fuckin frightening. I accept Scream is awesome. and so is Friday the 13th. But they are jumpy films – you don’t carry on being scared by them after – and i reckon, Mason, that is what you are chatting about. Films that FUCK YOU UP. Don’t be disheartened, on this subject you just need to think a little laterally.  Horror films that are advertised as horror films nowadays are almost uniformally not horror films, as film lovers would understand the definition, in my humble opinion. In the spirit of this outside box thinking, what  about non horror films that are frightening? Zodiac? Cape Fear? Jaws? as if that aint a horror film anyway – what the fuck is not horrible about a massive shark eating humans?!

scariness in 70s cop thriller ZODIAC

Horror is regularly displaced to films that deal with horrible subjects!

So, if you are on about PROPER scary films, here are a few you should definitely watch, if you aint.

PSYCHO

DELIVERANCE

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

THE ORPHANAGE

INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS (1978)

THE THING

THE SHINING

ALIEN

THE DESCENT

HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER

THE OMEN

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

SALEM’S LOT

here’s a few contentious ones:

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

CAPE FEAR (1991, sorry Greg)

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

and the most terrifying film of all time

STEPHEN KING’S IT

absolute nightmare

I have probably forgot some, and for that I apologise – these are just a load of examples so feel free to rip me to bits on them – they all scared me anyway.

gantux/nov 20th

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The Orphanage! Fuck yeah, that was a good one – that bit when she’s playing hide and seek with the ghosts toward the end and she keeps turning around, first couple times it’s just an empty room, and the next time the place is full of ghost kids – brrrrr. THAT’S the kind of fear I’m talking about, when it properly gets under your skin and hits something primal.

Get this freaky ghost sprog away from me.

I get what you’re saying with Zodiac, Jaws etc but you’re always kind of aware of what the object of your fear is capable of, whereas with demon Reagan, demon Karras, Sadako, the Medeiros girl or those ghost kids in The Orphanage, you don’t even know what they want let alone what they can do. They might want to kill you, they might not, but they’ll fucking terrorise you either way.

The Omen is a solid attempt, but it didn’t resonate so much with me as The Exorcist (which I’m only comparing it to because they share similar themes and are around the same era) – maybe it’s the death scenes, the ones I remember feel very stuntish, like it’s a religious Final Destination.

IT was something I kept missing on TV and couldn’t convince my parents to buy when I was a kid, so my first exposure to that story was when I picked up the book a few years ago and thought the whole thing was a crock of shit, with space turtles and some ridiculous plan about connecting with each other by all the guys in the group having sex with Beverley in the sewers when they’re kids. And then when I finally saw it, knowing Tim Curry and his body of work didn’t help matters.

Actually, The Thing is another good one – I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s a better horror film than Alien. I still think Alien overall is the much better film when you look at it regardless of genre, but the film pretty much follows slasher film rules, whereas the Thing completely fucks with your head because you can’t trust the guy who’s already dead on the table in front of you not to have his stomach open up and bite your arm off, then let his head fall off and turn into a fuck off spider.

Might watch that this weekend actually.

sowasred2012 / Nov 20th

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Ivory yellow antique four drawer dresser with carved leaf handles. All the drawers are slightly stiff and have locks; we have no key. Mirror frame a paler version of the dresser color; we’ll call it sun kissed fresh cream. Silver backing on mirror excellent considering its age–fog seen in picture is only partially a result of the aging silver, the other part arises from a need to apply Windex.

Dresser measures 19.75 inches deep, 38.75 inches wide, and 40 inches high. Mirror (NOW SOLD!!) slightly wider, a lot shorter, and completely lacking in depth.

The use of mirrors may be one of the great trade secrets of interior design, designers have long utilized mirrors for years to reflect light and texture, to create interesting patterns, make a space feel larger, or simply to add drama to a room lacking in personality. The wonderful thing about mirrors is that they multiply whatever is placed in front of them; they enhance both natural and artificial light and actually add depth by reflecting textures. Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes, can be hung on the wall or even a ceiling, can be polished, antiqued, or distorted.

Feng Shui masters use mirrors to remedy many different problems presented in interiors, including hanging them over work surfaces where you could have someone “sneak” up on you from behind. This allows you to maintain a visual of the space directly behind you at any time. A mirror can also be used to bring nature in by being placed across from a window and reflecting the outdoors in. They can also be used to counteract design flaws, like a sharp angle that dissects into a space by being hung directly across from the flaw and reflecting it back.

Mirrors make an elegant finish for furniture, which continues to make a chic design statement. Mirrored screens can be used to brighten up a dark corner, or a mirrored chest can be used in a small space, like a foyer to make it feel larger. Mirrored tables of all shapes and sizes can enhance almost any décor.

A collection of mirrors hung on a wall create an eclectic look, frameless mirrors lend themselves well to more contemporary design and mirrors with heavy gilded frames are right at home in traditional spaces. To make rooms feel bigger, use tall mirrors spaced across the wall to brighten and therefore enlarge a space. Distorted mirrors, made from polished metal, create interesting reflections that will change with the amount of light within the room.

If lighting is insufficient for a space, mirrors can help to enhance the existing lighting. Placing mirrors in dark corners will both multiply the light and expand the space. Candle light is doubled by the reflection in a mirror and will create a festive environment, perfect for this time of year. With all of these, and many more applications for mirrors, designers can utilize them in virtually every space and every project.

Two weekends ago, I took part in the 48 hour film project. It was a hellish and great experience simultaneously.. it’s something that’s really valuable to go through, I think. I worked with an absolutely great crew, everyone was so devoted and ready to sacrifice their time, sleep, and mental health for the sake of our final product. Our film was directed by Stevie Day, produced by Emma Haarburger, DoPed by me, sound mixed by Shu Shu Zheng, 1st ADed by Dawn Lo, Assistant produced by Stacey Kwijas, Boomed by Laura James, Technically assisted by Lachlan Stewart, Continuityed by Malcolm Yeo.. the list goes on, I don’t have access to the credits list right now, but everyone was awesome.

Making a film in 48 hours is radically different to making one over the course of a semester. You cannot plan the film in advance.. not in a great degree of detail, anyway. You’ve got to be flexible and inventive on the spot, prepared for anything. There was no shotlist for this shoot, let alone a floorplan, and only a loose schedule of when we needed to shift locations. Hence it was daunting at first. I walked into our first location, a massive church that I’d never seen before.. and I have no idea where we should start. Do we light the entire church? Do we have enough power to light the whole church? Do we just set up for one specific frame and reset everything later? The clock is constantly ticking and it took me a little while to decide on what we needed to set up, equipment-wise.
We blasted a 2K fresnel from the entrance of the church, throwing a strong backlight on Andy (the father) and casting stark shadows over the walls (adjusting the intensity as needed with strong ND gels). We used the kino gelled with 1/2 CTO to act as a fill. On Johnny (our voodoo pimp), I placed a dedo behind him on each side, and crossed the beams in an ‘X’ shape for strong contrast and facial modelling. The ‘X’ system was a bit of a pain however, as whenever Johnny needed to move forwards, we needed to cheat the dedos forward as well and try to recreate the same angles and shadows on Johnny’s face.
Throughout the film, we ran the DSR450 white balanced at 5600K despite using millions of tungsten light sources.. Stevie and I liked the warmth it provided.. (very little was done to our footage in post-production. We blackened the blacks and slightly boosted the highlights.. colour-wise, 99% of our footage is exactly as we shot it, and I’m happy with the way it came out, considering.)

What did we mess up? Continuity between shots was the biggest thing, cinematography-wise I think. Each shot looked fine in itself, but we discovered numerous problems when we got into the edit and tried to combine them all together. One sequence in particular really pissed me off because we’d covered it as a 2-shot and twice more as a CU of each character.. yet in edit we found that our 2-shot was extremely different to our tighter shots. Dani’s hair was completely different in the closeup, and I’d adjusted the lighting angle in Andy’s closeup to get rid of a shadow.. bad move. Our wider 2-shot was thus unusable, the cut was jarring, so we had to use only tight shots. Hence there’s no sense of space between the two characters.. they could be 500m away from each other and we wouldn’t have a clue. It’s quite weird to watch without a master shot of some kind. Even worse, the framing of each closeup didn’t match. Andy’s CU was much tighter than Dani’s Cu, so it seems like Andy has a massive head for no reason. Sucks. It’s something I hadn’t considered before, not properly anyway.
On a more general note, that may have been the problem with our coverage in general. Not enough wides. Now.. I’m not a fan of wides. They can be messy, cluttered, far too colourful, everything’s in focus and there’s no room for a boom operator to get any good sound. But otherwise you’re stuck with ambiguous floating heads.. yes the shallow DOF is awesome, but there’s no sense of place and it looks so contrived and cut together. It didn’t help that the stripclub we were shooting in was covered in mirrors.. every single wall was a mirror, which severely limited our framing possibilities. Shots generally needed to be tight to blur out equipment and crew members you’d otherwise see in the background. Similarly in the church, wides were difficult because we were using dedos and a small kino on Johnny. These are small lights that need to be in close, and going too wide results in seeing them. I guess we could’ve pulled out redheads instead, but I don’t think it would be the same effect. Cheating the lights backwards would result in a softening of shadows, making everything seem flat.. not worth it.

So yes. Continuity, coverage and framing were the main problems on this shoot, but that’s to be expected given the time constraints. Something had to go wrong, obviously. And overall, I’m extremely happy with how the film turned out. Thanks to everyone involved, it was brilliant to work with you all. I’m going to shut up now and stick in some pictures.

Loves,

It is with great trepidation that we approached this week’s episode. Our set-up from last week was so magnificent that we were already apprehensive, and then we received word that the Great GaGa herself would be joining the cast. We almost sat this one out because, short of a 10-foot spun sugar statue– which is beyond even J’s skill and equipment– there may be no way to do proper reverence to the Lady through baking. We are humbled, poor beggars at the throne, and our offering, while in the spirit of the Gaga, is simply not enough. GG, you have bested us once again.

Dan’s play, like every episode of this show, is full of enchanted mirrors. So we made our own. Glass starts with sand: here’s ours.

So many broken things this episode: Lonelyboy and Olivia, Dan’s terrible play, Tripp’s marriage. And even Nate and Serena’s chain-mail necklace and shoulder pads combined can’t protect S from her latest bad romance.

We heartily approve of Chuck rescuing Jenny. Remember when he tried to rape her? Who knew he would grow up the fastest… If only she didn’t want so desperately to be homeless again. (Perhaps if waffles weren’t so big in the Humphrey household, she wouldn’t be so easily seduced by a Belgian druglord.)

Chuck knows. He’s been on the other side of the enchanted mirror, down the rabbit hole, through every magic doorway there is, and he came back. Lil’ J is his sister now, can she make the same return?

The Gaga will not be imitated. Her performance, coming after Hilary Duff’s pale impression of her in cabaret, was awing and gorgeous. It makes our candy shards look less like shards of broken, stained glass and more like abandoned aspirations.

We hope you don’t mind too much. Like always, we just want your love.

xoxo,

J & X

Hello lovelies! I hope your day is as beautiful as mine is. I am telling you, as sucky as having the entire month of October raining was, it has just made me enjoy the completely rain-free month of November that much more. It is BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL outside today. Sigh… but I am stuck inside. Thank goodness Tommy working all weekend is only a rare occurrence.

However, James and I had a very busy day yesterday. You know what they say: When life gives you lemons, make lemon cupcakes!

I have been looking at my book case in my bed room ever since we first put it in there, thinking it needed something more. Maybe a little height on top? The other day, I was in the garage, looking for something, when my eye was caught by my own reflection. That’s when I saw the mirrors we had left over from an old bar we used to have. It didn’t make it into this house because we had no room for it.

A quick lean against the wall, and I have to say- I am quite pleased with the results!

Then, I went and got a chair that had been in the guest room. It was my great-grandmother’s and I just love it. It’s new place of honor is beside the bookcase. Isn’t it just fun?

Even Oliver likes it.

This is actually something I did a while ago, but I have never gotten around to mentioning it. I made a no-sew table runner for my storage bench/coffee table. I cut some fabric to width, ironed it, and hemmed it using fabric glue. I stapled it to the underside of the lid to keep it from slipping around. It cost like three dollars, and well worth the ten minutes it took me to make.

I love that peacock wooden box.

Do you remember the silhouettes I made of our family for the living room? Well, they had been bugging me. They just seemed kinda blah. I was reading an article in the most recent issue of DIY magazinge about scrap book paper, when I had a great idea. Why not hang the silhouettes on scrap paper?

I tried to keep the papers green and brown to stay with the colors of the room. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but James’ is actually a very light green. The plaid on mine is brown with green and a very little pink in it. I like how the plaid picks up the plaid on the coffee table runner.

I didn’t like the way the top of the china cabinet was looking. I scrounged around the house, and found two pictures that belonged to my great grandmother that I just love. They are made out of bird feathers. How fun is that?


I am thinking this would be very easy to replicate, and probably very inexpensive. I am seeing Christmas presents in my mind!

And lastly, James and I decided that we needed some fall decorations around. So, we made a hand print wreath!

This is super easy to do. Just trace both left and right hands, and cut out about twenty of each hand. To make it faster, stack your paper, otherwise you will be cutting out digits for a while. Glue them together in a circle, and then fill in the the middle with the remaining hands facing into the middle. Hang with a piece of yarn.

I actually have a big project to tackle today. I hope you are all having a great weekend! Til next time, much love!

Sometimes I get all excited about doing some sort of art project and experimenting with different things.  Here are a few of the things I have created …

(Lack of) "Money is the root of all evil"

When the old 5c and 10c were taken out of commission I thought it would be cool to make something with them.  I have also got some English coins in there too.  So I suppose you could say this piece is worth real money!?

“Mirrors and Pebbles”

"Shells"

This one has  a caption written along the shell swirl that says … “Imagination is the beginning of creation.  You imagine what you desire … You will what you imagine … and at last you create what you will…”

"Mirrors, Pebbles and Sea Shells"

So me and my wonderful boyfriend played on my bed today. He lent me some mirrors that he collects for a shoot {didn’t really use them for the shoot her lent them to me for} but I know he wants them back… big meanie!
We where just laying in bed and I grabbed my camera and started to play. Here are a few of my fav from the shoot.
Thanks again to my wonderful man for being a great prop provider and mate.

Peace and Respect
Raven

Note: Fellow artist Leah Piken Kolidas recently interviewed Dr. Paris on her blog. You’ll find the interview here

Finding Strength In Mirrors

In Chapter 4, Dr. Paris begins to explain the three types of relationships that she believes are crucial to all creative types. Chapter 4 focuses on “mirrors;” those people who validate our strengths, our talents, and our uniqueness.

Chapter 4 begins with a relatively well-known quote from Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

It appears this fear of our powerfulness may stem from our childhood experiences.  According to Dr. Paris, many theorists believe people are born with a feeling of specialness. It begins when a baby cries because she is hungry and expects to be recognized, fed, and  nourished. The mother feeds the baby and the baby feels recognized.

As the baby grows into a toddler, a feeling of invincibility emerges. Remember playing the role of your favorite superhero? At this stage, the parent may support the fantasy and keep the child’s self-esteem intact. More often, well-intentioned parents try to protect their child from disappointment and tell the child that s/he does not have any superpowers. Now the child may hold on to the fantasy even harder to preserve his sense of power or the child may fear devastation of his self-esteem if he dares dream of being anybody special.

Can’t relate to the superhero scenario? How about this situation:

As a child you bring home a drawing you did in school and proudly show it to your mother. Mother is preoccupied with other tasks, doesn’t sense your enthusiasm about your drawing, and, in a disinterested voice tells you “That’s nice.” Or, as Dr. Paris adds, the mother finds fault with the drawing.

The mother did not mirror or reflect back the child’s enthusiasm. The child is humiliated for feeling proud and disappointed in her mother. Moving forward, the child decides not to show future drawings to her mother. In fact, the child tells herself that she isn’t very good at drawing which may, in turn, become a block to immersing in creativity.

Our need for validation, for reflection of our sense of greatness does not end with childhood. Our need for the admiration of others continues throughout life. Even the most self-confident person needs to feel validated by others.

At this point our childhood experiences and our lifelong history influence how we deal with current blocks.

Blocks and Fears

Dr. Paris briefly discusses the ability to feel special, the capacity to immerse and receive constructive criticism before discussing blocks and fears. The following are common blocks and fears that artists may face in the realm of feeling special and great.

Absence of Positive Mirroring in Childhood

In this situation, you may have grown up without positive mirroring from others and do not expect to receive this kind of affirmation. To work through this, we must begin to clearly ask for what we need from those around us.  Yes, that may not be as easy as it sounds. Aren’t we taught, especially women, to NOT ask for what we want?

Another alternative, if asking for what you need is not easy, is to visualize someone or an entire audience being appreciative of your work. Perhaps you can then begin to visualize asking for what you want or need to hear.

Fear of Exposure and Not Being Good Enough

I think many of us can relate to this situation. How often have you said to yourself “I’m afraid people will discover I’m a fraud” or that you’ll be “found out.” Or how about this one: “I would have done better if I had spent more time on it.”

Many of these statements stem from our fear of rejection or criticism. Rejection or criticism injures our self-esteem. Therefore we procrastinate, avoid immersion, don’t fully invest ourselves, and shield ourselves from a full creative experience. In some sense, we can’t live up to our own high standards or previous successes. We keep our selves from taking risks.

Fear of Success

This one is key for me. For the most part, I’ve moved past the fear of failure scenario. Nowadays, I tend to fear success. Sounds silly doesn’t it? And where does this fear come from? Fear of change.

Think about it. Success may mean a change in lifestyle; finances improve, new friends emerge, professional visibility increases.

Uh-oh. But I like my comfort zone.

As Dr. Paris points out the creation of anything new involves the destruction of something old, which brings considerable anxiety.

The Fear of Having Nothing to Offer

Ah, another one I can relate to; the fear of having nothing of value to offer or that no one would be interested in our gifts. Ever say to yourself “Who would want to buy this stuff?”

While we need to receive positive mirroring from others in order to be nourished, we also need to be able to provide nourishment to others. The give and take between self and others, or between self and creative medium, creates a mutuality of interaction that underlies our strength and confidence. When we experience being a capable and trustworthy provider to others, we may then feel that we have something valuable to offer through an artistic realm.

Guides

Dr. Paris concludes this chapter with the following tasks to consider.

• Dare to dream big. Take back your dreams of childhood and reach for them.
• Evaluate your support network. The presence of others in your life does not mean they provide the kind of support you need.
• Reach out for support. Be aware of what you need and be able to ask for it.
• Mentor or teach others. Self-confidence and strength are bolstered when we feel others recognize our skills.

Join Me

I invite you to join me as I read Standing at Water’s Edge. You can purchase the book through Amazon, Dr. Paris’s web site, or perhaps find it at your local library or bookstore. My goal is to post every 7-10 days a summary of the chapter and share any a-ha moments that occurred. I welcome your comments on this and successive posts. Share your a-ha moments and experiences while reading the book. You can join in at any time. If you have a blog and are also writing about your experiences with this book, please include a link to your blog in your comment. I’ll include your blogs at the end of my posts.

Book Outline

Standing at Water’s Edge is divided into three parts with 10 chapters as follows:

Part 1: The Secret World of Creativity
Chapter 1: The Secret World of Creativity
Chapter 2: The Light and Dark of Immersion

Part II: Relationships
Chapter 3: The Need for Others
Chapter 4: Finding Strength in Mirrors
Chapter 5: Finding Inspiration in Heroes
Chapter 6: Finding Comfort in Twins
Chapter 7: Connecting with the Audience and Meeting Deadlines

Part III: Stages of the Creative Process
Chapter 8: Approaching Immersion
Chapter 9: Diving In
Chapter 10: Coping with Disengagement and Reentry

A boudoir was once the term given to ladies’ private suite of rooms for bathing and dressing. Today the term boudoir describes Renaissance and French inspired bedrooms and even the white-washed modern ‘country cottage’ style bedroom. No matter what the size of your room, your boudoir should be a peaceful place to escape to.

Create a feeling of calm and airiness in your bedroom by installing pale neutral floors and painting the walls in a matching shade. You could make a small room appear larger by keeping shutters, blinds and furniture neutral, using accessories to add dashes of colour. Maximize the benefit of a calm neutral room by making sure it’s clutter free; it’s an instant room face lift.

Mirrors have the ability to open up a space, create a feeling of depth in a small room and allow more light in. Position mirrors opposite light sources to increase the impact of natural light in the day and artificial light at night.

Changing the lighting in a room can make a big difference. Ask your local hardware to show you a range of coloured lighting options; you’ll be surprised at the number of shaded light bulbs available, even in energy-saving compact florescent bulbs. Opt for warm shades that offer a flattering and calming lighting effect, perfect for bedrooms.

Protect your privacy and control light exposure with matching shutters and blinds. AMERICAN shutters’ range of shutters are manufactured from quarter sawn wood which resists warping and ensures tight closure to eliminate as much light as possible. It’s a small detail that makes all the difference to the quality of a good weekend morning lay-in.

Once you have the basics right, personalise your room with art and treasured objects that add interest, reflects your personal style and inspires relaxation. Follow these steps and soon you’ll have boudoir you’ll love spending time in!

last night i went to that huge shopping centre to get my self a pair of black winter shoes.

I searched for a specific shop and walked around for more than 40 minutes to find that exact shop…because…i have bought last year a pair that i loved and were perfect for me…they wore out…i looked around the shop for the exact pair or anything similar…i found none!

I asked the salesman about the pair i wanted…i talked passionately about it that he kept searching other branches and his storage room for a forgotten pair…he found it for me…but in brown…they were amazing…but i needed the back…since most of my outfits need black…i thanked him and walked away disappointed…i didn’t get the pair i wanted and i saw nothing else that looked remotely tempting among ALL the shoe stores in the place.

i walked around and checked many shops hoping to find anything close to what i wanted…i found none!

As i walked for more than one hour (and this is really not my type…i don’t hang out in malls…i know what i want i grab it quickly and leave)…people looked at me and i looked at them…girls looked nicely dressed…nicely groomed…rarely did i find one who looked pretty except two veiled girls who were very very beautiful…a thought of comparison passed by and i found no answer because for a little while i had no set picture of myself in my mind…i had no idea if i was even pretty…i passed by a mirror and i cared to check…i liked how my face looked…how my outfit complimented my eyes…and i spoted the defaults in my body and felt sick!

I walked away…faster…maybe some more power walking would melt some of the fat.

Again i focused on that pair of shoes i died for…and i was very annoyed by the fact that my visit to the most prestigious shopping place in Egypt didn’t get me even an empty bag…the thought of not finding anything that felt like it was suitable for me is weired…and made me think about my expectations…needs…opinions…factors of comfort i needed.

Am i real…should i stay convinced that being special and unique is good although it is not ordinary lots of the time?

Am i demanding?

Is it absolutely right to demand a personal preference?

Should i compromise and cope?

should i get any black pair of shoes that looked nice and let go of my favorite one?

I know…my problems…my own defaults in the mirror…i gotta know the answers all by myself and be fine with them.

Have a great day.