Archive: bracelets

When traveling I very often find unique pieces of jewelry. I have a little collection of bracelets, necklaces and rings. I try to find pieces made from materials indigenous to the country or one that are commonly used by the artisans of a certain place. These bracelets are made of horn and come from Tanzania. I love graphic pattern and their edginess. They look strong and bold -- just how I feel when I think of Africa.

Arusha, Tanzania, 2011

Gifts With Humanity

flower arranging

This weekend, inspired by this post from goop, I bought bunches of light, pink, and cheerful flowers and greens at my corner bodega. It is so nice to have fresh flowers placed around the apartment. They bring in color and life and always put a smile on my face. And it does not have to cost a lot of money to make the most of what you pick up. I made five lovely little arrangements with less than twenty dollars worth of flowers. And no special vases necessary; I simply utilized saved glass jars and a vintage canister to hold my buds. So easy.

Two bunches of inexpensive flowers along with some soft, lush greens. The jars I have saved and saved. They've originally contained everything from red pepper spread to olive tapenades.

So simple...and sitting atop the trusty china.

Bunched and cozied up into a vintage tea canister.

The lot of them...Now scattered throughout the apartment. 

Saturday

How I'm starting my day... Coffee, of course. Normally I brew up a big pot of Zabar's blend but I ran out last weekend. So I rummaged around my cabinet and found a bag of beans I picked up on a trip to the Dominican Republic. A classic blend (but not as good as my Zabar's!). And I am continuing to use my china since pulling it out last weekend. It really is nice having it back in sight. 

Love this book by Ines de la Fressange. 

And giddily enjoying Jazz Radio...set to Timeless Classics. It really doesn't get any better. 

    

Sargent + Matisse

These ladies look to be enjoying their weekend. I intend to do the same.

Nonchalior (or Repose), 1911,  John Singer Sargent

Girl With a Fur Coat, Yellow Background, 1944, Henri Matisse

More Sargent....at the Met

More Matisse....at the Met

Yesterday here in New York City, a piece by French artist Paul Cezanne sold for a healthy $19 million at Christie's auction house. The work titled 'Card Player' is a study for a series (1890-96) by Cezanne called 'Card Players' and depicts his Aix-en-Provence gardener Pauline Paulet. The painting, a watercolor, has been lost since 1958; art history scholars only had knowledge of the piece through photographs until is resurfaced recently in the home of a Dallas, Texas doctor. The painting was purchased by an anonymous bidder, and so, this may be the last we see of this special work for quite some time. Take a look...

The Card Player, Paul Cezanne

 (from the New York Times via Christie's)

The Card Players, Paul Cezanne

(from Paul Cezanne.org)

• To see more works by Paul Cezanne, click here.
• Take a look at the Cezanne collection living at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in New York City. Click here.
• Bring some Cezanne into your life. Browse the selection at ART.com.

One of my favorites...

A Modern Olympia, Paul Cezanne

Art History

Well, by now we all know how much I adore and obsess over ART. Here are just a few of the many beautiful art books I am currently lusting for. 

Degas and The Nude - works by the French artist Edgar Degas

Bruce Sargeant And His Circle: Figure and Form

SARGENT - One of so many great books on John Singer Sargent

George Seurat - The Drawings - stunning drawings by French painter George Seurat

Van Dongen - the works of Dutch artist Kees Van Dongen

  George Barbier: Master of Art Deco: Fashion, Illustration, and Graphic Design - the complete works of French illustrator George Barbier

Archive: elephant

This silver elephant is very, very small. He came from the Pink City in India - Jaipur - a beautiful city known for its silver markets. I love this little guy. He currently sits in my kitchen next to a slightly larger Owl from Argentina. 

Silver Elephant

Jaipur, India 2008

Edible Body Scrub

This luscious body scrub is not only effective but also edible. Admit it, you've thought about eating in the shower. 

I made this scrub from very simple ingredients - olive oil, raw sugar, cocoa powder and honey. It could not be simpler. It is also wonderfully effective for adding moisture to your skin. The olive and oil and honey soak in and make your skin feel amazing. The sugar exfoliates. The cocoa powder gives a little caffein kick to stimulate your cells. 

The smell is heavenly. 

Ingredients:

Olive Oil

Raw Sugar

Cocoa Powder

 Honey

Fill a small jar (12oz is a good start) 3/4 to the top with sugar. Add the olive oil slowly to desired consistency; add in cocoa powder and honey (approximately 1 tbls of each) to the mix. The scrub should be thick, not runny. But create to your own liking. Its yours, after all. 

Enjoy. 

Hair Powder + Root Coverage = Genius

This product by Bumble + bumble is fantastic. It is a spray powder that also covers your grays - brilliant. This dual purpose product soaks up any bit of oil in your hair as well as covers root growth or stubborn gray hairs. The powder comes in 4 shades - black, brown, blondish, and silver. Although my hair is brown, I chose the blondish as the tint was a bit less flat.
Not only does it work, but it looks natural. I have tried many similar products in the past and this is by far the best. The powder comes in 2 sizes, the smallest selling for $19 and the larger for $35 (Sephora). Honestly, it is worth it. It will save you an early trip to your colorist. Fabulous.

Pinterest

Connect with me via my Pinterest Boards. I have been filling my page up with images of art, culture, fashion, and beauty. You will get lost in the rabbit hole. Enjoy.

The Duchess

This gorgeous, lush painting by Italian artist Giovanni Boldini lives in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is one of my most favorite paintings and I visit it any time I step foot inside the museum. I love the saturated colors, the loving and relaxed expression on the faces of the Duchess and her young son, and "the swish" - the name Boldini's flowing technique was given. It is a beautiful piece that I could stare at for hours. 

Consuelo Duchess Of Marlborough With Her Son Ivor Spencer Churchill  

Consuelo Vanderbilt (1876–1964), Duchess of Marlborough, and Her Son, Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill (1898–1956)Giovanni Boldini  (Italian, Ferrara 1842–1931 Paris)

Birchbox

Birchbox is a subscription service that will send you a bright pink box filled with beauty products. I don't need it -- but I love it. Who doesn't like getting mail?

My April Birchbox selections...

Birchbox also has an online shopping site for purchasing full-size versions of the samples you receive as well as just about anything else that's fun and good. There is a blog, videos, and articles too. A terrific portal to jump into and lose yourself for a few minutes...or hours. 

Pretty in Pink

It was a beautiful weekend in New York City. Spring. It's official.

Repose

On a recent trip to Washington, DC I of course visited the National Gallery of Art. It truly is one of the most beautiful museums in the world. I could have stayed there all day. On my next trip, I just might do that. 

Nonchaloir (1911), John Singer Sargent

read more....

National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Cementerio de Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Argentina is one of my favorite countries to visit. The landscape is beautiful, the food is outstanding, and the people - passionate. A few months ago I was working in Buenos Aires and wanted to see the very famous cemetery where Eva Peron and her Duarte family are laid to rest. The beautiful La Recoleta Cemetery is located in the Recoleta neighborhood.

Eva Peron's final resting place...

Robert Rauschenberg at the National Gallery of Art

I have always loved the work of artist Robert Rauschenberg. This work at the National Gallery of Art was a recent discovery for me - I thought I'd seen it all. The piece, Wall-Eyed Carp/ROCI Japan, is large and vibrant, and inspiring. I couldn't take my 'eye' off of it. 

Read more here...

Pastiglie Leone

I love these little Italian 'candies'. The packaging alone is worth picking up a box. These are from a restaurant in Turin, Italy called Birilli. Fantastic food, by the way.

http://www.pastiglieleone.it/

Steve Jobs

Apple Store, Upper West Side, NYC

Trav'lin' Light

Anita O'Day. One of the foremost jazz singers of all time. She was the first woman to record for Verve, enough said. This woman's voice is incredible. I wish I had a pile of money so I could run out and scoop up every single one of her albums - on vinyl.

If you have never listened to her and are a fan of excellent jazz vocals - go out and get one of her albums immediately!! I am currently obsessed with 'Live in Tokyo 1963'. Heavenly.

One of my most favorite places that I have traveled to is Bariloche, Argentina. Located in the Patagonia region of South America this is a stunning part of the world. The Andes mountains, deep lakes, thick forests of tress, meandering rivers...Gorgeous. I found it to be very similar to British Columbia in that way. This intense, palpable sense of nature and life all around you. Now, I am not the most outdoorsy of gals, but I fell in love with this place. The food, the people, the scenery, the way of life. It was hard to leave.  

                             The Andes

My time in Bariloche was brief, only a few days, but it had a profound influence on me. I think about this place so often and have many little things in my home that keep me reminded of my time there. What made it most special for me were the people I met there. I had the pleasure of staying at a ranch outside Bariloche that was brimming with life. The ranch was owned and maintained by a family that was so kind and generous to me and the people I was with. They cooked our meals, made sure we were always happy, and left bottles of Malbec at night for us to drink before bed. It doesn't get much better than that.  

I loved being in Bariloche and at this very special ranch. I will never forget that family. 

 Sunrise, Fortin Chacabuco

Our cabin: the site of many good times.

 One of many lunches, served to me by the most handsome cowboy. 

The traditional, classic mate.