stormy sky to summer sea

Netherlands native Marinus {creator and curator of the blog Head Like an Orange} makes beautiful moving pictures out of stills taken from wildlife documentaries.

Below I've compiled some of his lovely work into a summer storm story, beginning on the plains of Texas and ending somewhere in an ocean.  

Enjoy.

{ i love that i recognize some of these scenes from nature programs i've watched.  all .gifs via }

The Butcher's Broom

There is a little shop called BUTCHER'S BROOM, born of Barbara from Italy, and there she sells her sweet crocheted jewelry and handmade accessories. 

Her work is lovely and well crafted, but it is the photos that initially caught my eye.  I love the use of mirroring, the earthy feeling and the contradicting elements of water and fire.

It's a witchy world, caught in glimpses at the sunset of a never ending summer...

"Wild Things leave skins behind them, they leave clean skins and teeth and white bones behind them, and these are tokens passed from one to another, so the fugitive kind can always follow their kind..."
(Tennessee Williams, 1959) 

" Once when I was living in the heart of a pomegranate, I heard a seed saying, "Someday I shall become a tree, and the wind will sing in my branches, and the sun will dance in my leavers, and I shall be strong and beautiful through all the seasons".....

... Then another seed spoke and said, "When I was as young as you, I too held such views; but now that I can weigh and measure things, I see that my hopes were vain".

And a third seed spoke also, "I see in us nothing that promises so great a future".
And a fourth said, "But what a mockery our life would be, without a greater future!".
Said a fifth, "Why dispute what we shall be, when we know not ever what we are".
But a sixth replied, "Whatever we are, that we shall continue to be".

And a seventh said, "I have such a clear idea how everything will be, but I cannot put it into words".
Then an eighth spoke - and a ninth - and a tenth - and then many - until all were speaking, and I could distinguish nothing for the many voices.
And so I moved that very day into the heart of a quince, where the seeds are few and almost silent. "
The Madman; Gibran, 1918 

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{ Below:  the wearable art of Butcher's Broom }

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{ visit Barbara's blog for music and poetry (in Italian):  butchersbroomstore }

PHOTO SHOOT Spring Fever

While there is yet quite a chill in our northern country air, the sun is shining, trees are flirting with the idea of budding, birds are chirping and it's beginning to feel a lot like S P R I N G T I M E!

As the chains of winter slowly loose their hold, we boldly march toward certain summer with our best faces forward.

Feast your eyes upon the wares, ladies and gents, and let the warm, tropical breezes sweep over you...

{ Extra! Extra!  Hot off the p-p-pressss it's a paper dress from 1967!  Originally used as promotional merchandise by the Yellow Pages, these crinoline dresses look and feel just like paper, so consequently not many exist today, and those that do are highly sought by collectors. }

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{ this little hat is so adorable!  has a lovely black bow at back }

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{ to die for!  antique sheer mesh dress in pin stripes with matching cape. }

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{ velour sun hat in lipstick red }

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{ above and below:  ruffle lace antique top and taffeta skirt in the palest pink }

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{ sweet bucket cloche with netting and appliquéd flowers }

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{ gorgeous pink cheongsam gown circa 1930s }

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{ serving up leg of ham in this silver lamé maxi.  features a zipper at the slit; ribbed for everyone's pleasure. }

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{ fringe for days on this antique rayon maxi.  circa 1930s }

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{ this sweet Edwardian blouse buttons alll the way down both sleeves! }

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{ antique satin and lace dress in lilac-grey }

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 { so hard to let go of!  this awesome vintage top with pussy bow has a very Klimt-esque print. }

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{ ENTER THE SHOP HERE }

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