Terrariums

Terrariums appeal to me for 2 reasons. 1: They are easy to maintain. 2: They look whimsical. If a tiny fairy happened by, she may be tempted to rest for a bit here.

Today I made my first terrarium at Artemisia, a lovely shop around the corner that specializes in indoor gardening. It was surprisingly tricky to pick, choose and place my objects, but the end result was totally worth it. And made a great birthday gift for Emma.

So long sweet summer

I'm not really ready to let go of summer, but the rain is making it VERY difficult to hang on. In my futile attempt to delay the inevitable, here is a picture that represents everything summer: the beach, a bathing-suit, sun, laughter, friends, toe-nail polish, happiness. The model is my Grandma Edie circa 1939.

Movie of the Month: An Education

An Education stars Carey Mulligan as Jenny, the bright school girl who blossoms into a sophisticated (though somewhat naive) young woman, with the guidance of David, her charming, much older seducer. Oh lord, where to begin? If there ever was a film that made me want to be a costume designer, this is it. Every dress, shoe, tie and button are to die for. Happily, the acting and cinematography are just as stunning.




This film really resonates with my inner dreamer. As a teenager I longed to be sophisticated, to be in Paris and drink wine by the river. But as Jenny learns, adulthood is not something one can simply jump in to. In one of my favorite moments of the film, Jenny asks her school mistress, played by the brilliant Emma Thompson, if she thinks of Jenny as a ruined woman. Her reply? "You're not a woman." Touché, Ms. Thompson, touché.

Old School

This has been a big month for birthdays. My favorite gift purchase - if I can pick a favorite - was a clothbound copy of Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics). So beautiful. And heavy, like books ought to be.


(Anthropologie)

One Year Older

Wrapping paper that was almost as exciting as my presents.

Movies Al Fresco

Tonight I'm headed downtown for an outdoor showing of Sixteen Candles and I have to take a moment to be thankful for the resurgence of outdoor cinema. Drive-In Theaters are a dying breed. But outdoor movies are all the rage in parks across the nation. We may not have the privacy of our own car or the 1950's nostalgia, but I am more than happy to munch on popcorn in Pioneer Square (for free no less).
(Image courtesy of this site)

The Great Outdoors

What summer would be complete without camping? My girlfriends and I spent the past weekend at Lost Lake, a gorgeous campsite at the foot of Mt. Hood. Before we left I pulled out this photo of my Grandma Kathy (2nd from left) and her girlfriends, circa 1943.

Today, nylon tents and handy-wipes are necessities for the modern camper, but it's surprisingly easy to give your camping trip a vintage feel. Handkerchiefs, plaid-shirts and rolled jeans are timeless staples that are easy to pack. A handmade banner or flag adds a little classic flair. We also did plenty of campfire singing (to the delight of our neighbors) and s'more making.