Scarves…

Tags

America's Top Model, Art, beautiful, Beauty, Design, Fashion, Fashion Accessory, Khrystyana Kazakova, Lauren DiMarco, Miri Ekshtein, Photography, postaweek2011, Scarves

© Miri Ekshtein – detail

Scarf – an article of dress of a light and decorative character.

I have a penchant for beautiful scarves! My favorite silk patterned ones were purchased at flea markets in Lisbon, Santa Fe, and San Francisco. I drape them around my shoulders mostly but have never had the panache to wear them in the dramatic way shown above.

I did, however, buy a crimson suede-fringed scarf on vacation in Morocco that seemed very chic, but once I got home it looked more like Davy Crockett meets Little Red Riding Hood and I never wore it.

© Miri Ekshtein

Models – Lauren DiMarco and Khrystyana Kazakova

English Teapot…

Tags

beautiful, Beauty, Design, Photography, postaweek2011, Teapot

© Joan Currie - Teapot

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. – Tien Yiheng

I have a collection of well-used teapots given to me by various relatives because the pouring spouts were cracked or broken at the tip. I still enjoy them for their interesting shapes, floral designs, and the memories of all the tea parties we had together.

You may also like:

Time for Tea

 

Rose Metalwork…

Tags

beautiful, Beauty, Design, Metalwork, Photography, postaweek2011, Roses

© Joan Currie

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted. – Henri Matisse

My daughters were very adept at making Lego sculptures. One spray-painted her masterpiece in gold and this vase from Copenhagen reminds me of that creation.

Act of Creation…

Tags

Art, beautiful, Beauty, Design, Dress form, Fashion, Photography, postaweek2011, Sewing pattern, Zac Posen

© Joan Currie

I design thinking about the kind of woman that I would be: intelligent, powerful, and eccentric. – Zac Posen

There is nothing like an old fashioned dress form to help create an innovative fashion design.

My first overly-ambitious sewing project was a gown for my grade twelve prom. I chose a sky blue velvet fabric and a Butterick pattern with an Empire waist. Since the fabric was so delicate, I decided to sew the full-length back zipper in by hand. I was terribly pleased with my creation and imagined all the lovely gowns that I would make in the future.

My date, stunningly handsome in his tuxedo, liked the dress so much, he insisted that we stop at his house to take some photographs before the event. Unfortunately, when I extended my hand to greet his parents, the zipper ripped out from the back seam and his mother and I spent a good part of the evening trying to sew it back into place. My humiliation was so great that I have no memory of the prom itself.

Tiny Teardrop…

Tags

Airstream Bambi Travel trailer, beautiful, Capitola, Design, Photography, postaweek2011, surfboard, Teardrop camper, Teardrop trailer, Vintage

© Joan Currie - Teardrop

A typical teardrop is 4′ wide, 4′ high, and 8′-10′ long. Some are as big as 6-1/2′ wide, 5′ high, and nearly 12′ long. – www.teardrops.net

This Teardrop trailer spotted in Capitola, complete with surfboards, is reminiscent of my favorite Airstream Bambi Travel trailers. This trailer sleeps two and the hatch in the rear can be used for storage or an eating area.

Berkeley…

Tags

beautiful, Beauty, coffee shop, Design, London Plane tree, Photography, Pollarded trees, postaweek2011, Pruning, reverse image, Sproul Plaza, UC Berkeley

© Joan Currie

I captured this reflected photograph sitting outside a coffee shop at the University of California at Berkeley campus today.

© Joan Currie

The pollarded London Plane trees at Sproul Plaza fascinated me. Here is a reverse image detail of one of the trees.

Handmade Gifts…

Tags

Beaded necklaces, beautiful, Beauty, Ceramics, Crafts, Design, Fashion Accessory, Gifting, Jewelry, Photography

© Joan Currie - Necklace by Lauren Currie

The only gift is a portion of thyself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knowing that I appreciate handcrafted gifts, my daughters love to make me jewelry and ceramics for special occasions. The very first offering from my eldest was a necklace fashioned from plaster of Paris cylinders painted red, blue and yellow and strung on a red shoelace. The necklace still graces my bureau and every time I look at it, I am transported back to that tender time.

Over the years, all my daughters have created unique presents for me. The jewelry has evolved in both materials and design from simple single strand beaded bracelets and necklaces to more complex ones with silver wraps and Murano beads or pearls and organza ribbons.

The first ceramic and pottery gifts were primitive tangerine pots and sky blue vases, but they, too, became more interesting featuring multiple colors, textures and new patterns. I continue to wear and use their gifts because they are beautiful, but also to show how much I value them and honor the artistic effort that went into their creation.

I am particularly delighted when the creations serve as touchstones for my daughters’ childhood memories. We have wonderful conversations about how their interests and preferences have stayed the same or changed over the years. They are astonished when they find clues in their early art that inform who they are today.

© Joan Currie - Plate by Caren Currie

Beautiful Collections…

Tags

beautiful, Beauty, Design, Glass paperweights, Paperweights, Photography

© Joan Currie

Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. – William Morris

My mother gave me my first glass paperweight over twenty years ago and has continued to surprise me with new ones for special celebrations.