what to post?

Well it seems that I'm at a loss for something interesting to post. I've been busy taking care of house stuff that needs taking care of. In between the repairs and sorting and filing I catch occasional whispers in the distance. A whistful voice. Calling.

It's my little bloggy....Come and post something new it says. But nothing seems to come to me. Inspiration hovers close by but just far enough beyond my reach.
I think I'm stuck.

I've been escaping in books lately and maybe that's it. My brain is on a book binge. A dear friend recently recommended Water For Elephants and I absolutely loved it. Had no clue it was made into a movie coming out next month! Now I can't wait to see it. The trailers look amazing.

I'm also reading Bel Ami, the classic by Guy de Maupassant. And yes I know Robert Pattinson is in the film version too. That's how I came across the book. There's no release date for the movie yet although it seems to be done. I have to admit Robert Pattinson looks perfect for the part!

Another movie I'd love to see is Jane Eyre. This newest version stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Alice in Wonderland). It looks beautiful, dark and haunting, just how I remember the book.

And just so I don't get too dark and serious I picked up and started reading Larceny and Lace at the used book store this weekend. I confess I have a fondness for chick lit. Especially one with a paranormal/witchy/vintage/mystery twist. Pure fluff but oh so fun.

Don't forget there are more adorable embellished bags to see. Click on the March Artful Bags link on the top of the right sidebar. And if you haven't tried the Artful Bag Challenge yet there's lots of time left to play this month. I'll be back with more art soon...I hope.

Hope you're having a great week so far.

witches witches everywhere

Can you believe we're nearly halfway through October? It just goes by all too fast! There's lots of witchy magic in the air here in my little world. I'm so excited about the Halloween Party at A Fanciful Twist this Saturday. My post is almost ready and I've been rummaging through my carpet bags for my favorite pair of strippey socks.

It's witches witches everywhere! I finished up a few ATCs for my swap at The Great ATC Witch Swap. I also made holders for them which is something I started doing for all my ATCs.

When my cable and internet went out the other day I popped in a dvd of one of my favorite witchy shows. Do you remember the series The Worst Witch? It was based on the books by Jill Murphy and is believed by many to be the predecesor to Harry Potter. It's about a magical school (in an old castle) for young girls/witches. Sounds a little familiar?

The original pilot movie starred Fairuza Balk who went on to star in the movie 'The Craft'. And the series version starred a young girl named Georgina Sheridan. The series went on for several seasons and was filmed in Canada.

My favorite part was actually the set. I love the cozy look of the ageing English castle (I guess they're all ageing!) and the staff room was my favorite in particular. It was obviously a set and nothing like the grand scale that Hogwarts is in but it had a charm to it and I always thought it would be enchanting to be a teacher there. I personaly relate to Miss Bat the best. It's also been said that the Potions Mistress, Miss Hardbroom, might have been JK Rowling's inspiration for Pf. Snape.

There are loads of videos on YouTube if you search and some of the episodes are available on dvd. Here's the intro with the cute little song that I actually know by heart and will sing whilst doing a rare bit of housework every now and then.

victoria & practical magic

There's a new Victoria Magazine blog party launching this week and although I decided to opt out for now I thought I would share my most favorite issue. I started getting Victoria the first year it launched so I have a huge collection since I kept every single one of them. It's a lovely romantic and nostalgic magazine and although my style has changed a bit since then I still find lots of inspiration from it. I'm glad they brought it back and I still pick up an issue now and then.

I like to keep my magazines nice and neat so almost all my copies look fairly new except for one. I carried it around so much that I eventually had to order an extra copy. That was the October 1998 issue and it was the month the movie Practical Magic came out. Victoria did a story on the house that was created for the movie. By the time I went to see the film I was absolutely in love with the house.

I know I'm not alone because I've seen entire websites and blogs dedicated to the Owens family Victorian mansion. It looked like a wedding cake and the interior was decorated in a very Pottery Barn / Shabby Chic sort of style. This was new back then since films about witches usually had them living in dark and dusty old houses.

The production designer Robin Standeffer still used dark woods but paired it with golden tones, sage and lots of creamy whites. I loved everything about it and for years this was the same palette I used in my house. I tend to get obsessive about  films that inspire me so I actually went and decorated my house in the same style. Even today I have lots of touches from that time because I love that film.

The movie itself never got rave reviews. It's much different from the book it was based on (which I loved as well) but because of all the visuals (house, garden, Sally's shop and the Aunt's fabulous vintage costumes) this is up there with my all time favorites. Twice a year I get into the mood to watch it. October, for my Halloween mood, and Spring, because most of the the film was set in Spring. There's a part in the film when Aidan Quinn's character mentions the date March 8. He used it because it happened to be his real birthday. Well it's also mine! So I always get a kick when I hear it.

The kitchen was my favorite room. It had creamy white paint and tiles, an enormous Aga stove and that long farmhouse table where they danced around during the tequila lime in the coconut scene. This kitchen is the reason I have so much white dishes and pottery and started collecting bell jars! I still love it and one of these days I'd love to live in an old Victorian with an attic at the very top where I can have my own studio and paint, collage and craft the night away. And maybe sip a midnight margarita or two!

There's a nice post here about this kitchen as well as the production designer, Robin Standeffer.

Update: I can't believe I didn't mention the soundtrack (thanks Angie)! It's my absolute favorite and I have 3 copies as well! I have the original one that came out right before the movie release and the second one because they eventually made changes to the final score. I still love to listen to it in my car. As soon as I hear that opening guitar on 'If You Ever Did Believe' I can picture that big Victorian house in a heartbeat!

frida kahlo

About a week ago I borrowed these from the library. Although I always knew about Frida Kahlo and her significance in the art world I wasn't too familiar with her story and her body of work. I started to notice that many artists were doing Frida inspired creations so I decided to learn more about her. What was absolutely uncanny was that I didn't have time to watch the videos until yesterday which was to my surprise, Frida Kahlo's 103rd birthday!

One video is an excellent PBS documentary which includes lots of interviews with people who knew her including some of her former students. The other is a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek as Frida. The film's cinematography is stunning. It captured the bold vivid colors of her world and had lots of references to her art. I thought Salma Hayek was beautiful as Frida and she and the film were nominated for Best Picture and Actress. What I also really love was the movie soundtrack. Haunting and lyrical Spanish guitars and also festive Mexican pieces. I think I'll see if I can find it on Ebay.

Frida died at the age of 47 and in her too short life created such a prolific body of work. Her art, which was so personal it was shocking during her time (and perhaps still is), was almost always inspired by her personal experience with pain, love and loss. It was at times disturbing and horrific yet brutally honest and hauntingly beautiful. She was such a fascinating passionate soul. Her relationship with her artist husband Diego Rivera was tumultuous yet profoundly romantic. I understand now why she continues to inspire artists, rebels and romantics. Happy Birthday Frida Kahlo.