random beauty

Do you ever stumble on something that you find just undeniably beautiful but you can't explain why you are so drawn to it?

For example, I came across on this collection of paper frames at some point on ebay (though I have no recollection as to what in the world I must have been searching for when I found these) and think they are just absolutely beautiful. They don't seem to have been photographed for the sake of their worn loveliness or were meant to be considered something other than material for scrapbooking or for a child to make use out of in her play. Whatever the intent - I wish I bought these little decaying frames (or could even find the link to them) - they are just so lovely to me.

snail mail bear hugs

How great are these letterpress, die cut, grizzly bear hug cards by blackbird letterpress? They just won one of the Best New Product awards at the National Stationery Show.

I want to order up a whole slew of them to have on hand to mail out for all of those "Congratulations!", "Get well", "I miss you" occasions. They are the perfect way to say so many things. Who wouldn't want to open up an envelope and find this inside?

Images courtesy of blackbirdletterpress

a favorite: Annette Messager's sweatered birds

image via VVORK

The installation art by contemporary French artist Annette Messager, is, without a doubt, intriguing. However, her 1972 piece titled "Mes pensionnaires"("My Borders") is one of my all time favorite art works ever. Yes, it is a collection of dead birds wearing handmade wool sweaters, but there is something so incredibly touching and disturbing about it at the same time that I can't look away.

Here is an excerpt from a great interview with Messager from the "Journal of Contemporary Art" that touches, I think, on the appeal of this artwork for me:

Interviewer: ... "Freud said that toys were the child's first contact with artworks. Your dolls and birds and effigies have a very particular status. "Mes pensionnaires" (My Borders, 1972), your little stuffed birds with wool clothes or "Mes Petites effigies" (My Little Effigies, 1988), stuffed toys attached to the wall with texts, are not toys. You are not working in a nostalgic mode nor in a childlike world....".

Messager: ... "I will place a photo or a word on the doll, a sentimental value which will give more of a charge. I invest the doll with another content, like African voodoo effigies, the kind of emotional charge people usually consider negative, a strong sentimental content. With "Mes petites effigies" ridiculous little dolls somehow become disturbing."

a favorite: required weeping

I watched a REALLY schmaltzy Hallmark sponsored tv movie last night. Why, you ask? There was nothing else on tv (which also means that I was too lazy to turn off the tv), but also because I needed a Hallmark commercial fix. They are just the BEST commercials to watch if you need an instant and easy weepy moment on the couch sandwiched between your eye-rolling husband and sweetly sleeping cats. Here is a favorite and I dare you not to tear up:

a favorite: the perfect tote

via ArtSlant

I can't deny it: I can be greedy for pretty things. However, despite the number of cute totes out there in the world - I am here to celebrate the one I got from Lorelei a couple of Christmases ago.

Designed by artist Louise Bourgeois, it's the perfect fabric, size, and so darn cool. I love it as much as you can love a little ol' tote bag. How about you, dear readers - do you have some little pretty thing that you'll be happy if you never have to replace or update?

a favorite

This is one of my favorite photographs of all time. Thought you'd like to know. :)

"Saint George and the Dragon" by Lewis Carroll (June 26, 1875)

{via The Getty}