grey days

with double digit negative wind chills. Something about this weather makes me crave grey and black cool. Maybe I believe the tough image could translate to a tough constitution...

Mayle silk and wool hardware blouse at Bird

Alexander Wang jacket with attached scarf. La Garconne

Oxidized silver Harakiri claws necklace. Reborn

The new classic, Alex and Chloe's oxidized silver inverted diamond

LD Tuttle's feather shoes. Creatures of Comfort

...and finally something affordable to go with all the black and grey, Mociun's impractical yet pretty scarf, on sale for $19! Refinery 29

feeling it

the photography of Chris Hornbecker...

cute as a button

Due to my short stature and lack of apparent cheekbones, I've been called cute more times than I care to remember (I was also called ugly during a tragically awkward stage in junior high, but we won't get into that). 

I always preferred vampy Veronica to perky Betty, but neither style ever fit. If I tried to look "sexy", I just ended up looking like a little girl playing dress up. If I tried to enhance my "cuteness" by wearing florals, pastels and/or ruffles I looked flat out ridiculous, like Little Bo Peep who lost her sheep (and her marbles).

What works for me are masculine styles with a feminine twist. Take leather buttons, for instance, the ones that your grandfather might have had on his coat. Love them. So I was quite delighted to score this cashmere blend leather buttoned $217 Charlotte Ronson sweater for $25 on (as usual) eBay:

and I would love to be able to afford Elizabeth Yarborough's leather button jewelry...

...but as that is not possible at this time, perhaps I will make my own version. Blacksheepyarns has a nice lot for $6.75:

as well as many other fabulous findings:

how does that grab you

 Nicole Hayden. Her titles make me smile...

Every Day I Love You Less and Less

How Does That Grab You

You can find more of her work here.

a brief blush

for just a few moments this morning, the sky glowed peach, then faded to grey...

it was nice while it lasted...

Ulla and Dolores...

were pen pals in the 1930s. Ulla from Germany, and Dolores from the United States.

Ulla stuck sticker stamps onto her envelopes and letters...

...and embroidered patches of silk flowers and glued them on:

She also hand cut silhouettes from velvety paper:

Ulla was cool.

One letter from her is in German, another in English. Here's an excerpt of her December 21, 1934 English one (grammatical errors included):

My love Dolores,

I would your written, but I had not many time. I go the last year in the school and I have very many work. I must work, then I will have good zensur (grades). In the school we make a theatrical performance. The girls from our class make a fine dance. This fest is for the "Winterhilfe". The "Winterhilfe" is for the poor people and the poor children...

I have a grand cat and a dog. My father had many hens and many ducks. Has you many animals. In my room I have a canary bird. He sings very fine.

Has you a brother or a sister? I have a grand brother but he is 26 year. We have us very love. I go with my brother in a cino. (?) This is very fine. The 3rd February is in Schmockwitz, a grand festival. We dance till in the night.

In my next letter I send your a picture from me. Replied me soon and I writed swiftly.

Now Goodbye my love Dolores. Ulla Stoebe

I wish I could have seen Ulla's picture. I wonder what happened to them all during the war?

your cheatin' heart

Hank Williams' Bed, Georgiana, Alabama

photo print by Scott Eiden at 20x200

and yes, the lyrics printed on the curtains are from Hank's "Your Cheatin' Heart"

outfit of the day

J. Crew cashmere sweater, found cheap on ebay, and a Sonya Ooten mohair and blister pearl necklace to jazz it up...

closer...

yet closer (and somewhat blurry in this gloomy winter light).

Maybe too much green going on...must remember this get-up come St. Patrick's Day.

patch nyc

When I discovered Patch NYC's debut collection in 1997, it was love at first site. Pretty! Sparkly! Handcrafted! And, uh, expensive. I admired them from afar until a few pieces finally went up on ebay. The sad thing is, I almost never carry them, as there aren't many places in Ohio where one can waft around in glittery whimsy without getting funny looks. So I hang them on my bedroom wall as art installations, taking them down for the occasional wedding. A couple of my favorites:

The founders of Patch, John Ross and Don Carney, have a sweet site which includes an inspirational (though rarely updated) blog:

winter solstice

Dan McCarthy is one of my favorite artists. He puts out a new print every month, and January's Winter Solstice is supreme!

It even glows in the dark!