Wednesday, January 28, 2009

library lust


I'm having some serious library lust regarding these shelves pictured on The Selby. Arranged by color and everything! So very perfect. And of course with such a perfect library you must have perfectly wonderful books to put in it. At the moment I'm totally excited for this book...

After reading the actual Pride and Prejudice quite a few times I'm sort of having a nerd moment about reading the zombie version which Chronicle Books is putting out in April.

xoxo,
marion

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Green Fairy

photo by Zena Holloway on foto-decadent

Between my obsession with the early 20th Century Avant-garde and Kelly's obsession with pre-prohibition cocktails, we were bound to get into absinthe at some point. And that moment is now.

I have always admitted to being a sucker for good advertising, and the wonderful Art Nouveau images from early absinthe advertisements have always charmed me. I know it's a bit hackneyed these days, but I'm honestly just a huge fan of this whole aesthetic, and I'll admit that when it comes to the lure of absinthe I've bought the hype hook, line and sinker.
At the moment we are drinking Kubler absinthe which tastes absolutely delicious, but to my initial disappointment is actually a blanc. The liquid is clear, and when mixed with ice water turns a dreamy quartzy pinkish white. A blow to my romantic image at first but after a few sips I was enjoying both the color and the flavor.
photo by stuart mullenberg for imbibe magazine
Another lure of absinthe is of course the ceremony and all the delightful accessories. I was fortunate enough to inherit glasses like the ones pictured here, and this has been the perfect excuse to use them. We don't have the fountain yet, but we're saving up! I just love this one.
And of course looking at all these yummy photos just makes me want to dress all in green forever. And I'd start with these shoes by Everybody.

And while I'm at it I'm really interested to try Parfumerie Generale's number 23 Drama Nuuï.
It is described as a "bitter jasminade" and promises a note of absinthe which is meant to lend a dry and tart, almost bitter quality to the Jasmine. Usually I steer clear of Jasmin heavy scents as they tend to be too honey sweet for me, but this sounds just right.

xoxo,
marion

The oldest fabric takes on new life.



Felt is considered by many to be the oldest fabric but in these lovely designs from The Felt Gallery by Vaivanat it's given vibrant new life. I love the bright colors and dramatic statement that these pieces make, especially the neck pieces. I think the brooches might also make fun bridesmaids gifts!

xoxo,
marion

shop for these looks online at Etsy

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A Long Time Coming


We did it!! It's been a long time in coming, and I'm so over the moon today!

xoxo,
marion

Monday, January 19, 2009

Bright Blue Monday


Today is so-called "Blue Monday", but I must say that I'm feeling quite happy and optimistic. Maybe because it's also MLK day, and I can't help shed an inspired tear or two (or twenty) when I hear the I Have a Dream sermon. And not only am I listening to the heart wrenching words of Dr. King, but I'm doing so while planning a little inaugural breakfast to celebrate the swearing in of our first black president. What a truly amazing day.

If I was able to be at the inauguration I would want to be kicking up my heels in these...
Perfect blue suede party heels from Coclico.

And on a much lighter, but also wonderful note the much loved Polaroid film will continue to be produced!! Perfect timing as I just ran out! Thanks for the heads up Alyson!

Have a wonderful, bright blue Monday!
xoxo,
marion

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Jewlery Designer Allison Daniel


Native New Yorker Allison Daniel makes the kinds of jewelry you want to wear, and right now I'm really wanting to get my hands on this lovely gold cuff. I love the feminine touch of the roses! This is a piece that I could see getting a lot of wear out of.

xoxo,
marion

visit her online at allisondanieldesigns.com
find this bracelet at Tobi

Dark Beauty



This is one of my absolute favorite films. Gene Tierney is perfection.

xoxo,
marion

Monday, January 12, 2009

It's a Process





I'm still new to this idea of being a disciplined artist. In the past I drew when I felt like it, which was usually totally random at about 9 pm, and then I would work feverishly until I was either done or asleep in my chair. Now that I have to draw basically every day to complete assignments I am amused by how hard it is to simply get started. In typical fashion this is what happened the other day...
1. Get out of bed to draw.
2. Spend 15 minutes cleaning and rearranging work area.
3. Set-up drawing board and then promptly set it down again to get coffee.
4. Suddenly remember that there are art supplies from an old project that would help with this one... but where to find them?!
5. Spend 40 minutes looking though boxes of art supplies. Find some interesting stuff, none of it what I was looking for.
6. Realize location of supplies! (Not in boxes at all)
7. Settle down to work...
8. Get up to put on music.
9. Settle down to work...
10. Must sharpen pencils.
11. Enjoy look of pencil shavings, spend 15 minutes taking and uploading digital pictures of them.
12. Get up to dispose of pencil shavings.
13. Settle down to work...
14. Get up to use the bathroom (see step 3)
15. Finally sit down and begin to draw.

It was totally embarrassing and eye opening for me to realize that the cause of my not having enough time in the day to draw is due in large part to my amazing skill at distracting myself. I can't even blame Kelly, because he spent all of Saturday sequestered in the bedroom reading Hemingway! Ah well, live and learn, and hopefully improve.

xoxo,
marion

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Links à la Mode

A round-up of great blogs from this last week!
xoxo,
marion

Friday, January 9, 2009

Blog Heaven!

The two lovely bloggers Garance Dore and Joanna Goddard sit down for a little chat and about what makes french fashion so wonderful.
xoxo,
marion

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Bluebell Bliss





My favorite shop for vintage finds on Etsy is Gosia Korsakowski's store Bluebell Bazaar she consistently has such great and unique items, and presents them in such a way that makes you think about how they could look in a more modern space. She still has some things marked down in her Winter Sale, so be sure to check it out.

xoxo,
marion


Monday, January 5, 2009

Another Maritime Excursion






photos by carter smith for rogues gallery

I'm sensing a bit of a trend here in what is appealing to me at the moment. This time the rocky coastline is that of the other Portland, Portland, Maine. A very fitting setting for all the lovely maritime inspired fashions from Rogues Gallery. Kelly is a big fan of their stuff and has converted me. But what I really like about the spring line is the watery setting in which the lookbook photos were taken. Also it appears as though they will be introducing more womens clothes which is exciting.
hope everyone is having a lovely and productive monday :)

xoxo,
marion

listening to: Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago

Saturday, January 3, 2009

today we...




It's what I've always said...




These lovely photographs, taken in the Puglia region of Italy by photographer Roland Bello, totally confirm something I have long maintained... That the french sailor-stripe sweater is maybe the most perfect sweater you can hope to own! It's so timeless, classic, versatile and chic. I own three and am always on the hunt for more. Maybe because in some way I can imagine while wearing it that I'm on my way to a beach picnic in southern Italy, or off to sail the high seas, as opposed to my current, rather land-locked, Los Angeles life.

xoxo,
marion

p.s. Don't you totally want to go to Puglia now?!?! *sigh*

Friday, January 2, 2009

Look Around, Leaves are Brown



xoxo,
marion

A Toast to the New Year


Toast by marionberry

There is a heavy layer of fog over Los Angeles today, and that makes me want to wrap up in the adorable, eco-conscious fashions from the British brand Toast.

I also want split pea soup... ;)

xoxo,
marion