Food on Paper

In working on last week's watercolor post, I came across this series, Food on Paper by illustrator, Elizabeth Graeber and was totally smitten.

Elizabeth is the talent behind An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails which you have probably seen gracing the shelves of an Anthropologie near you sometime over the last year. (sadly it's no longer available).

Her great sense of layout, punchy colors and quirky line work make these original pieces so much fun. I would love the whole collection, but if I had to settle for just one, it would be sriracha.

Gratitude

A message I need to take to heart as I want a more house, more free time, more money, more more.


quote by Melody Beattie, image source unknown

Wedding read

Hope you'll read this beautiful story over in the NY Times Vows section... but have a tissue handy.

Via The Hairpin

Best Dressed Guest

I have a lady friend who is attending a fancy family wedding in the coming months. We don't all go to a lot of weddings, in fact, I've only been a guest at two outside my own, and the weddings we go to are typically sundress affairs where you can typically pull any simple piece from your closet, add a wrap and go. 

This wedding is a little more... her BF is wearing a tux (given he is a groomsman) it's at a yacht club and so it's formal. But at the same time it's not black tie. What to do?

Maybe those of you living in cities outside of DC have closets full of cocktail dresses, where as we have plenty of suits and shifts and sheaths. So the hunt is on for something formal but not fussy, sweet but not overly sexy and definitely not something that could be mistaken for a bridesmaid. 

Here are some of my ideas...

J. Crew's Sinclair Dress in Silk Chiffon. Why? The chiffon, unlike tafetta, is not too bridesmaidsy, the color is punchy and fun and the neckline is sexy without being revealing. I also feel like this could make other outings to cocktail parties or date nights.

The Vivacity Shift from Anthro's wedding shop, BHLDN. The ruching and ruffles are sophisticated and add interest to a simple dress. The effect is very grown up and glamorous. 

Kate Spade's Jane Dress is very ladylike, prim, proper and perfect for impressing the parents. Still the full skirt and bright color keep it fun. 

And then there's long; I can't get enough of this Adelaide Dress by Tory Burch. I saw it in person on a woman working at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, and my god, was it glamorous on. She looked like some sort of 1930's summer confection. This is a perfect dress to strike the balance of formal and effortless.  

Same designer, similar style Tory Burch's Leandra Dress subs sheer chiffon for the retro silk floral in the Adelaide Dress. Could the ties at the shoulders be anymore romantic?

The scarf-tie neck keeps this BCBG gown fresh and not overly formal. With fancy flat sandals it could take on an even more relaxed vibe. From Bloomingdales.

Back to short, rose lace, a flippy full skirt and keyhole back make Tracy Reese's Mariposa Dress flirty and fun. From Anthropologie.

Cute cap sleeves and a skirt that begs you to spin. Melia Dress from Reiss.

The bold graphic skirt on the Kate Spade Celina Dress could go either way, dressed up with jewelry and fancy heels or down with a blazer and ballet flats.

Silky stripes and a sexy, off-the-shoulder neckline make the Talent Show Dress from Nanette Lepore a more off-beat choice.

Finally, a whisper grey chiffon mixes sheer and opaque stripes with knife pleats for a graphic effect that's very Gatsby. From Asos.

Walls filled with watercolors

Turkey feathers by Amber Alexander on Etsy

I keep being drawn to dreamy watercolors inspired by nature. Loose and whimsical with a cool air that I'm so attracted to on these muggy summer days. Now if only we had more wall space...

Seahorse from Created by Storm on Etsy

"Coal" bird by Amber Alexander on Etsy

By Serena Mitnik Miller

Ampersand by Calamari Studio on Etsy

Little white rabbit by Francina Maria on Etsy

Rosy-cheeked Deer by Gabrielle Elle on Etsy 

Avocados by The Joy of Color on Etsy

In living color

Homesteaders, Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940

These full color photographs of the 1930's and 40's pulled from the Library of Congress Flickr page offer an incredible view of the past. The fabrics, the signs, everything comes alive. I love them.

And the few below are just scratching the surface. Well worth taking a look yourself.

At the Vermont State Fair, September 1941

Tenement District, Brockton Massachusetts, December 1940

Girly Show Performers at the Vermont State Fair, September 1941

Bayou Bourbeau Plantation Louisiana, August 1940

Juke Joint, Melrose, LA, June 1940

Mississippi circa 1940

Chopping cotton, Georgia, June 1941

Distributing commodities, Arizona, October 1940

Community laundry, Texas, January 1942

Children in an FSA Labor Camp, Texas, January 1942

Square dance, Oklahoma, 1939 or 1940

Farmers, Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940

Quilter, Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940

Dessert Table, Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940

Welder, Chicago, December 1942

Pearl Harbor widows at work in Corpus Christi Texas, August 1942

Typhoid vaccine, Texas, April 1943

Carbon factory worker, Texas 1942

Woman in front of Union Station, DC 1943

Fredrik Odman

I love these truly macabre "composed animal" pictures by photographer, Fredrik Odman. In Odman's own words his images "explore and uncover an enchanted world. The pictures take the viewer on an extraordinary journey into the borderland between dream and reality. The meeting point between logic, imagination and madness." Odman was born and still resides in Sweden. His fantasy photography is created through a combination of pre and post work; from painting props and conceptual sketches to manipulating images digitally and splicing different elements together.

Creepy and cool.