Here's a Before & After, in case you find such things satisfying (I do - because they are).
It was really only a matter of angling the couch back. Oh, and trading the chairs. But now I have a different view. This is important to life.
So is this:
I saw this "patch" of a gazillion different irises today. I died of bliss. ...This picture is also proof that I only show you the good ones. It looks mildly obscene, I look considerably dumpy... and it's all good. :)
I can commit to not collecting anymore because I have so much freaking stuff.
Granted, I've gotten rid of and will continue to get rid of a good bit of it. Nonetheless, if I get any more, I think I might as well give up on myself as a human being. I think if I am tempted, I should instate a rule of having to give up, say, two items for every one I bring home. Not a bad idea. But for all that, I just don't want to keep acquiring stuff.
Cleaning/thinning/purging/reorganizing seems to have taken up a good bit of my time the last few weeks. Perhaps it is the effect of spring, which accounts for "spring cleaning" - I'm assuming the phrase goes back to when there was gas instead of electricity and it was messy/sooty and it acucmulated on all the heavy wooden and velvety surfaces of the VIctorian-ish era, and by spring those poor people of antiquity were so inundated with grime they just couldn't stand it and went insane and had to clean everything. Or maybe the frontier folk had been so cooped up by, like, eight months of 2-foot-high snow drifts, living on hand-ground millet or whatever, burning copies of the Bible to stay warm, that they also went insane come springtime and burned everything in their house they were so sick of it.
Wait. What?
Well, somewhere in all of that, I can relate. I wasn't terribly cooped-up this winter, and the dust layer in my apartment isn't too bad, but spring - spring. It makes everyone want to shift gears somehow, more than just in enjoyment of the change in weather and scenery. My neighbor even mopped the vestibule with Pine-Sol the other day. Mixed nicely with the cigarette smell coming from their apartment. Oh wait.
Where was I going with this? Oh yes. Stuff. Well, the goal of my more recent clean-a-thons has been to make it so that I enjoy what I have, since I went to the trouble and (frugal) expense to get it all and arrange it in aesthetically- and functionally-pleasing patterns and forms.
The decorative equivalent to "shopping your own closet".
So I finished a room. My pink room. I call it my office but the truth of the matter is, I treat four rooms in this apartment like my office. This apartment is 2/3 my workspace. Heh heh HEH.
I excavated and reclaimed my desk, which I am typing on right now. Confession: the desk drawer is filled with junk. Reality: the drawer is broken, and even if it wasn't, it shakes the entire desk to open it, knocking everything around, so I don't give a crap about the junk. It's fun junk. Like lipstick-shaped pens, a vintage Chipmunk PVC figurine, a Hello Kitty banana-scented eraser. It's really my only junk drawer.
I tried to consolidate my children's books into the pink shelf. Busy, busy. Almost hurts to look at it. It's less overwhelming in real life.
Some of them remain in the dollhouse, but I opened up a good bit of the dollhouse to, um, house a kind of shrine to vintage beauty and perfumery. I am not, after all, going to do anything about Deltrice (matted photo mentioned in my last post). She is presiding over the shrine. Perhaps the shrine is to her.
And I relocated all of my fashion/textile design/jewelry books over to my "reading area". As well as all my catalogs and magazines from the 40's through the early 90's.
More than anything, I consider my books as well as certain knickknacks and paper ephemera to be resources for me, creatively and even academically. The contents of my record "bookcase" reflect some crafty (though not devious) tendencies, but even then, I could use some of this stuff for writing purposes. It's not all about product, though. Not by a longshot. I enjoy the process of beauty. Period.
I just don't want to overdo it. ;) Well. No. I don't want to constantly overdo it. Ok. Well. My threshold for overdoing it is higher than others', perhaps. Um... anywho. This is not an apologetic for my lifestyle. :)
It's really just to say, I so enjoy my pink room today. Indeed. #4 of to-do list: DONE.
...man am I fried. And of course, there are many miles to go before I sleep. (Thanks, Frost.)
Taking a little break from my jam-packed day of... writing. In a robe. Because. I've no reason to leave the house. Until I'm finished.
But I need a break. Need some style. This post has to start with writing, because that's what I'm doing. This is not a stylish picture, but it's one of my main writing views, at the library, with my high-class, low-calorie lunch tucked inside my LeSportsac houndstooth-print purse (can you see it?):
Now. Moving on. A little compendium of my week in style.
Styled by Bliss and crusading color. Rad. (But... "canary red"?!?)
Doll style.
Should take a tip from them and get my Victorian and can-can on. Preferably at once.
Her hair. Well, and her frock is kind of cute. I did actually buy a smock last week, white with blueberries and strawberries on it, to wear in the summer. With a belt.
Um, seriously, this is my style. And my first Barbie. Don't care much about Barbie - she's boring, vacuous, don't care if she's a doctor and a pilot and an astronaut or whatever - but she rocks some seriously awesome duds sometimes. Back in the day, at least.
I would wear both this outfit and this hairstyle (except in brunette, of course). It's like Glinda gone Blondie or something. My hair looks about this ratty right now. Time for a trim.
Man. This was in Vanity Fair. There is nothing about these garments that naturally flatter me. But they are so incredible, all the same. Inspiration.
Last weekend's antique-store purchases. Hinge bracelet: $1. Heart earrings: $5. Heart necklace: $8. Gold-edged purse: $8 (my Mom bought it for me. ;)
And some dressings:
A very casual Friday before spring break. Wearing my Mickey Mouse pajama top top underneath. It was raining. I busted out the London Fog and finally figured out what to do with the danged matching scarf. Raincoat: $10.
Been rocking the fringe boots because I'm trying to give my black boots a break. A departure for my standard writing-outfit shoes: Converse Jack Purcells. Wearing a half robe here, essentially. And my "Prey for Me" Threadless t-shirt and Billy Dee Williams Undeniable scarf and my 60's wool hat. $... varies. Nothing more than $20. (Sorry. Tired.)
Heh. This one was a good time, an unexpected good time. Recent-purchase 80's rayon jacket-blouse-thing with beading: $3. Beach Bum t-shirt. Bubblegum pink necklace (made it awhile ago) and socks, $3.50. Silver pumps, $4.
Am a big dork and wore this in the library all day. But I'm a big dork anyway. :) (Dorky picture.) (Sorry. I'm tired.)
Back to writing. My current view, with the addition of a beautiful silk scarf I found for $2. Matches my satin quilt quite nicely.
Was browsing Architectural Digest randomly and I came across this:
I do believe this is in Diane Von Furstenberg's office and/or home. Of course.
A Dali couch. I saw it and thought, hook me up, universe.
Then I realized that it was on the cover of one of my notebooks (from the Art Institute of Chicago):
Ha! I don't need an expensive couch! (Though it would be nice if I found one in a thrift store.)
These lips encounters reminded me of the pin I saw at the Dali museum in St. Petersburg, FL:
I would say I want this pin, but I doubt I would wear it - am bad about wearing pins. And, it's also expensive. But not as expensive as the couch undoubtedly would be. So I will just enjoy that it exists.
Petersburg, Furstenberg, la la la.
This picture of Frank Zappa and his parents from an awesome link reminded me of my great love of vintage decorating. I have quite a few vintage decorating books. I look at them... when I need comfort. And why not? Other people's nice houses are fun to visit. I like my apartment, but I like to imagine staying in other places. It's like going to a bed and breakfast... in my mind.
It's a nice vice.
Such things are comforting. Comfort is definitely my vice. I was looking through a lot of scans I made from these books, and I noted the MOST comforting rooms are the ones that might have a lot going on with them, aesthetics-wise, but not a lot of, well, media. I'm kind of oversaturated with that in my own life and I need a mental break in my little bed and breakfast land.
Apparently, I also need padded walls. ;) I am CRAVING walls with drapery.
And shag carpet. Why is shag carpet so comforting?!?!
But you know what is #1 in comfort? Period? Fireplaces. #2: warm lighting. #3: squishy couches.
(This picture above is what I thought of after seeing the Zappa one. Purple is underrated.)
#4: the 80's. I'm a product of my childhood. I'm also deeply in love with Joan Wilder's apartment in Romancing the Stone, and the above and below pics remind me of it.
But I'm also quietly obsessed with a hippie-esque aesthetic. This is a new thing for me.
Anyway. I think I'll watch Moonstruck now. Italian food and families and Cher also comfort me.
There are random sequins littering my floor. This is how it should be. All year, but especially now. Where do they come from? Well, boxes and bags of sequins, sometimes. But mostly, they shed from my clothes, shoes. I can't bring myself to sweep them up.
I think I need some confetti. I think I need some glitter. I will be extra-festive soon, once I hit some pretty heavy deadlines.
In the meantime, I keep finding a way to make my bright tree brighter.
(I know, I know, the green wires are so obvious - but not in real life. Please suspend awareness of them, for me?) I bought my favorite candy canes - cherry-flavored rainbow - and put them on the tree. I will be snacking on them come January, no doubt.
Love my tree. It's a lovely ritual to turn all the lights on (and light a candle) before I do anything else. It makes this deadline-tastic time easier to deal with. I'm not complaining - but I have a lot going on. (Don't we all?)
I did finish the teaching semester, though. *PHEW.* I tried to catch a picture of this amusing sign, on my drive home:
Small Dog, 59 cents. I keep thinking of lapdogs. I will take 1 pug, 1 "80's Dog" (Pomeranian), and a Pekingese. What a deal.
On a trip to the library, I saw this:
Buddy. Probably was 59 cents. I wonder how much a large dog costs. 99 cents?
I have been avoiding my library-room chair for various silly reasons (I go through cycles of wanting to sit in certain places, for one), but I finally sat in it yesterday, during the day, and enjoyed the view of this bank of houseplants, some new. (My fern is atrocious-looking but still clings to life.)
I would sit here more but then I can't see the tree.
Do you know what I CAN see? EVERYTHING. Because after a string of unpleasant experiences, I ended up demanding then having a string of extremely positive experiences at the aforementioned eyewear establishment - Lenscrafters.
I am not endorsing one thing over all others (I get my regular glasses from For Eyes, usually), but I have had positive experiences with Lenscrafters in the past, and was surprised that I kept finding myself dissatisfied. Longish (and boring) story short: they will make good. Of course they will. And now, I have what I want:
Brown Anne Klein sunglasses, plastic lenses, gradated tint, in a better prescription. And $20 than the best pair I found online. I am very, very pleased. Now I just have to get used to not having astigmatism anymore.
So anyways. This interlude is almost over, and I will make some food to last me through the next few marathon days, and I will write and read and write and read and possibly exercise and certainly shower and in all that, dream about these:
And maybe grab a box on my way up north to celebrate the holidays with my family. :) And celebrate meeting deadlines, of course.
Stay tuned: I will tell you about my upcoming production in Chicago....
Rad.
My view. When I write with the lights off. :) (I don't.)
I went kind of nuts and put stuff everywhere. By everywhere I mean in three rooms.
This embroidered/sequined/beaded felt tree is probably my favorite Christmas decoration, period. Mydear Val gave it to me.
I hung a few random vintage ornaments on my orange candelabra, such as Santa. And Frosty. And some birds. And a wonderful pink monstrosity. And my felt gingerbread house.
I probably should put the ornaments in the box on the right (in front of the Rudolph record) in a bowl. Nah. Maybe next year. :)
I realize large bulbs equal thick green-sheathed wires. I also realize my tree is pre-lit with small bulbs with white wires.
I do not care.
I love my tree. I love the lights. I love how comforting it is.
Perhaps I will curl up under it and read. (On my bedroll, of course.)
What a semester.
If you think this an obnoxious, dramatic self-photo of me, you're right. But man. I'm grateful for some upcoming relief from my schedule.
RELIEF, I say.
(...Why did Avon think this was a good idea?!?!)
Not that I don't know how to find it in other ways. ;)
(Yes, this is at Sam's Club. I was there with friends. I don't shop there. But if I did, you know what I'd buy.)
Tomorrow I will take these puppies in and figure out if I'm just crazy and not used to the new prescription, or if something else is wrong.
It's kind of bad that a pair of sunglasses not turning out can make me so upset. So upset that I take another obnoxious photo of myself. But, once I get them under control, I will feel extremely good. My sunglasses are a rather big part of my day. They ARE prescription and all. :)
It helps that it is the Christmas season. Even at my busiest, I love the novelty of it all. Especially this book tree.
But since I don't have one, for now, I will settle for books.
Like three Smithsonian Guides to Historic America. (I have one already. Thrifted for $8, total.)
I will also enjoy my own decorations, like my smaller Christmas tree.
And candy canes.
I kind of (totally) need to but a spending/thrifting freeze on myself. I know I've said this before. I'll say it again. It's kind of... out of control. (Not really.)
But it IS the Christmas season and now that things are sort of, uh, chilling out (sorry for the use of cold words) for me, responsibility-wise, maybe I will feel less need to get my thrift on. ...Except I am costuming my upcoming show (more details soon) and it will require much thriftage.
Anyways. :) S'all good. Some recent scores:
Gold-sequin and clear-beaded sweater: $5. The previous owner messed with it a good bit, to fit. I had to take out some seams so it would fit ME. It exposed some damage. I have a pile going for the next snow-day. I will fix anything that I possibly can, to save some $$$ on repairs.
I am continuing my 80's shirt kick but bringing it into the cold weather by finding long-sleeved ones. Also am bringing it into... the 90's. Gotta love Versace knock-offs. I paired this shirt ($3.25) with my lime green sweater-blazer ($6).
Pastel formal, $4. ...Yeah. Like I NEED another formal. This one I could pull off, though, on a regular day. It requires a scarf tucked into the décolletage, Jane Austen-style.
I was just messing around, here. The 40's-from-the-80's polka-dot dress is cool but I do need to drop a few inches here and there to make it truly comfortable. (Working on that.) I paired it ($6) with my pink 60's pumps ($40), pink 80's belt ($2), fur-trimmed cardigan ($12) and crazy pink Lucite bib necklace (made it myself, probably was $30 for the beads). If I had grey or bubble-gum-pink tights I would wear them with it.
Sigh of bliss. I'm really kind of over sweaters - I have a bunch that I love, but I don't need any more, and they're hard to find where they don't just add bulk - but this one. This one. Is The One. (And I thought to myself, this is slightly Michael Jackson-esque. And then I wore it out to dinner and my friend Jen said, that looks Michael Jackson-esque. YES.) Sweater: $3.
So anyways. Therapies. Looking forward to getting back to my novel.
Found this at an antique store (didn't buy it), but it reminded me of a lil' cosmic affirmation that I should press on: my main character is named Deltrice. And she makes cosmetics. Finding this out was a RELIEF. I tell you. :)
My bedroom wall, opposite of my vanity/etc., was bare.
I like it. It blows gently in the air from the fan.
It's how Picasso would've wanted it.
;)
