I Dreamed I Saw

I'VE MOVED!!!

2010-12-15T11:10:00.002-05:00

My website is located at http://www.idreamedisaw.com/ - this blogspot is closed. Please visit me at the permanent site!

The Bestattungsmuseum in Vienna (Funeral Museum)

2010-05-24T15:41:00.020-04:00

The Bestattungsmuseum in Vienna is a fascinating place. The Municipal Funeral Service of Vienna is solely in charge of death in the city and surrounding regions, and they perform all the functions from mortuary to burial. The museum collection is very difficult to photograph due to the darkness inside (how appropriate!), so the photos do not do the collection justice. The cultural anthropolgist in charge of the tours, as well as the designer of the exhibits, is named Vittigo and he is absolutely fascinating. Tours are available by appointment only but are solely in German.

I won't get into an exhaustive study of the history if funerals in Vienna - there are loads of resources on the web and books available. Suffice it to say, this is a collection worth the trip to Vienna alone, and I go there nearly every time I'm visiting, which is at least once a year! One benefit of being married to a Viennese!

Victorian Funeral "pearl work" wreath

Madame Recamier and the coffin designed for her which is foldable.

Funeral livery clothing.

Widow's wear (for professional mourners specifically).

Funeral livery hat.

Funeral pearl work wreath.

Contraption to ensure that no one was buried alive - a string was tied around corpse's wrist leading to a bell above-ground which would alert gravediggers when rung. If they didn't answer, a dagger was provided in the coffin so the unfortunate person could stab themselves to death.

More Victorian pearl work.

For an extra fee, mortitians would stab the body several times to make sure it was dead.

Victorian hearse.

Funeral jewels.

Funeral crown for the upper crust.

Funeral parade moving panorama for children (how I would have loved one!).

Death mask of Josef Haydn.

One of the famous Halstatt painted skulls. The current gravedigger, a woman, is in charge of painting all the skulls now.

Trapdoor coffin for partial bodies - families couldn't bear the idea of not having a full-size coffin for their loved one, so this was invented.

Decorations for a child's grave.

Child's burial gown.

Memento Mori box meant to be kept in your sight to remind you of the fleeting nature of life.

Funeral coach lamp.

For an extra fee, the coffin would be outfitted with a lock that only the spouse could use.

Victorian paper cut-out.

"One Way" promotional poster for the museum.

Victorian Holy Card options.

Painted metal sign for grave with quotations.

Cremation urns available today, including the 3 Jungenstil options in the middle.

A new option available - turn your loved one into a diamond! For several thousand Euros, you can have a diamond of up to 1.25 carats made from the remains of your loved one. The process is fascinating - a portion of the ashes are put into a sealed contraption and after at least 8 months, with enormous pressure inside the machine, a diamond grows.

The first attempt at cremation was done in Vienna - these are the remains of a horse.

Toy for children of the trolleys that carried several coffins to the graveyard at once.

More Victorian pearl-work.

Coffin (which was built on-site) being taken to a memorial service while we were there.

Facade of the Funeral complex now.

Postcards from the Vienna Kriminalmuseum!

2010-05-22T10:54:00.003-04:00

Kriminalmuseum, Vienna

2010-05-21T15:13:00.025-04:00

The Kriminalmuseum is located in the Leopoldstadt District, the old Jewish Quarter of Vienna. It is devoted to showcasing crime from the Middle Ages to the present. The house itself dates from 1685 and was owned by a former policeman who purchased the entire contents shown within from the police department and private citizens of Vienna over the years (the family still resides there). Once considered the pre-eminent crime solving body in the world, consulted by countries including the US to solve its hardest crimes, the Vienna Police Department had to disperse its forensic archives during WWII. All this evidence was stored in warehouses throughout the city to avoid detection by the Nazis, and after the war was never fully put back together. But as items surfaced, they were purchased for this collection. It is the largest private collection of forensic evidence in the world. Interesting to note, the Vienna Police were the first to develop certain crime scene and crime solving analytic tools, including taking molds of body parts of known criminals to use in identifying the perpetrators of outstanding crimes. They developed the first fingerprinting techniques, crime scene kits and the use of certain chemicals to reveal blood stains.

Now for my personal impressions. The rooms are dark and difficult to photograph, and all the information is in German (naturally). Having my own personal German-speaking tour guide (my husband) forced me to pay attention to the history of crime in Vienna rather than ogling the rather fantastic items within. Of particular fascination to me were the newspaper etchings of the victims of the crimes - surreal, beautiful, artful and yet unsentimental. Worth the trip alone and a nice antidote to the gruesome and nauseating items that fill out the collection.

Photos in order: Actual hair of murdered child; Nazi arrest warrant; first crime scene kit; hangman's toy; early ear molds to identify criminals; popular news sheet on famous crime of murdered woman; bloody handprint from crime scene; toy with crime theme; skull of murder victim depicted; skull of murder victim; packet of poison found at crime scene; dynamite box found at criminal's house; early bombs (next 2); skull of murdered twin; crime scene diagram showing location of body; drawings of crime victim for newspapers; drawing of crime taking place for newspapers; evidence found at crime scene; drawing of decapitated head of victim; next two - paintings depicting famous crimes of the time; sword with interesting hand details; torture mask; drawing of dismembered woman for newspapers; depictions of hangings.

All photos taken at Kriminalmuseum, Vienna by me, May, 2010.

This Blog's New Purpose!

2010-05-20T15:36:00.002-04:00

This blog will now be for my various musings that do not have to do with design...for that info go to: I Dreamed I Saw's other site...
I will be posting on this blog soon...come back!

I DREAMED I SAW HAS A NEW SITE!

2009-11-21T11:45:00.008-05:00

Change your bookmarks to www.idreamedisaw.com! This site, designed by House of Tears Design, is now up and running! Hope you like it!

"A Gentleman is Calling, Madame..."

2009-11-20T07:29:00.020-05:00

The deferential butler, the suitor, the undertaker...all presenting calling cards to announce a most-important arrival. I adore calling cards as much as I adore tight bodices and fainting women.
When I was little, I happened to open the door when someone knocked, and a man offered me his calling card to annouce his presence to my parents. I remember thinking, "Huh?" and then asking him to wait outside until I gave his card to my mother. She immediately said, "You should have invited him inside!" to which I said "What about no talking to strangers?" "Anyone with a calling card is not a stranger," she replied. So right she was, I have since discovered, and I myself have calling cards (OK, I've never used them, but still...). Maybe you are familiar with Edward Gorey's habit of putting a blank white calling card in one frame of every story, a haunting image. The lone card on the vast floor, dropped by a heart-broken guest who was NOT announced. The snub is unbearable if you have a calling card. So I learned.

Lucy in the Sky and Hummingbird by EnfinLaVoila; Call Soon by PalomaNest; Pink Design by Elaine Biss; Sea Creatures by artisjok; Lion by Pressa Russa; Snowflake by EnfinLaVoila; Rabbit and Hippo by happygirlgreetings; Parakeet and Buddha by artisjok; Birds by paperandink; Floral by mylittlebuffalo; Light Blue by vermilionstarpress; Deer by OhSmile; I'm Sorry by Gramskinpaperstudio; Typos by InvitedInk; Mums by SarahTams; Dots by modernemotive; Red cards by notepourri; Dogs by FuzzyMug; Design by Oh Smile; Farmer's Market by drenculture; Modern Squares by pixelimpress; Nautical by SiskaStudio; Typewriter by Naomi Lynn; Poppies by Michelle Brusegaard; Mod Trees and Berries by SiskaStudio; Mommie calling cards by Pretty Smitten; Marie Antoinette by Enfin La Voila.

Off With Her Head!

2009-11-18T15:21:00.047-05:00

When I was a kid my parents had this African head statue that used to scare the bejesus out of me. It chased me all around the house, appeared at the foot of my bed, whispered in my ear and in general terrorized me. Needless to say, it was valuable so my parents wouldn't put it away or get rid of it. When we moved out of the country, it miraculously didn't arrive with everything else. To this day I fear it will knock on my door and find me. I know it's looking.

Doll Head by Mark Elson Pictures; Vintage Head by Vintagesnapsandscraps; Doll in Shadows by DigDownGallery; Retro Doll Head by SimplyPictures; Ostrich Head on Opera Text by Crow Biz;
Broccoli Baby by Boopsiedaisy; Dolls by Candlelight by Barker Photo; Creepy Doll Parts from Midwest Design Imports; Blue and White head by Ah Xian; Baby Head , Girl Head and Pretty Maids by Sandra Evertson; Bird Heads and Lady in Owl Hat by Dear Dodo; Doll parts from Wings of Angels; Photo unknown; Ghost Babies by Floraartstudio; Baby Head Bank by ModernFx; Girl Head by Clayflower22; Little Joseph Heads from Generate; Cat Head Tumbler by Kiki Smith; Vintage Lady head and Vase by Artistic Design Studio; Baby Head Sculpture and Bookends by Cobaltmoonchild; Baby Head S&P shakers by ModernFx; Chihuahua head by KGrandey; "Unseen Beauty" print by ArtbyResolution; "Eyes on the Street" by GoldenSilhouette; Greyhound Whippet head cookie jar by Happy Hound; Victor & His Friends by TheRunnyBunny; Screaming Baby Head by Clayflower22.

Bring me my smelling salts!

2009-11-18T11:32:00.018-05:00

Fainting seems a wonderful thing. I remember in school in the Bahamas there was one girl who kept fainting from the heat and I thought it was so terribly feminine and lovely. I wanted someone to dab my forehead with lavender-soaked hankies and put smelling salts under my nose, so I could get out of the pop-quiz that came every dreadful Friday. We would get "strapped" (beaten with an old leather belt) by the Scottish Headmaster-psycho if we got anything wrong on the tests - questions like "What is Miss Hare's license plate?" and "Who was Queen during the Papal Bull of blah blah blah...?" Needless to say, every Friday was strap day. So to faint would have been not only welcome, but dramatic. However, if you DID find yourself flat on the ground, you had to beware of Black Window spiders and scorpions so you had better wake up fast! Still, your point was made.

First 3 images by Lewis Carroll; Next 4 images by Edward Gorey; Swan Recamier from Design Toscano; Paper couch by Gene McCall; Antique Fainting Couch from Emporium Indonesia; "Do not Faint" book by Tardia; Madame Recamier from FCL Style; Recamier from Vermont Wood Studios; Photo by Tokinowa Suremono; Next 3 fainting couches discovered by Apartment Therapy; Carbon Antoinette Fainting Couch and Antoinette Fainting Couch from Urban Outfitters; White Settee from Wisteria; Handkerchief by ArtfulBeginnings; White Garland by Poppylarity; Houndstooth Handkerchiefs by AvrilLoreti; Photograms by Bonnie Jones; Vintage Hankie Quilt by Mary McNulty Design; Woodland and Trees & Houses Hankies by HippieJo74; Vintage Hankie Garland by Poppylarity; Hankies by DownHomeAmy.

"I brought you something Mommy."

2009-11-17T12:34:00.014-05:00

Ahh, the creepy kid syndrome... Perhaps because we're not encouraged to think of children as anything but holy, the lure of seeing them as evil is too great. And the things they play with conjur the same creepy feelings as the kids themselves. Maybe I love them because they're outcasts, or because they see monsters everywhere hovering in shadows, but I find them comforting. Or do I need to be put away?

First 5 images from Edward Gorey's Gashleycrumb Tinies; Photo by way of Deviant Art; Retro picture by way of the Telegraph; 2 Children photos by Loretta Lux; Goldilocks sculpture by Chelsea Telephone; Sad Sweetpea by Carnivality; Coffin necklace by GhostLoveJewelry; Doll photo by smacshop; Creepy Doll by CreepyDolls; Doll with Hat by FrankenKitty; Doll part ornaments by CreepyDolls; B/W photo by pasha13; Doll head photo by Creeping Elm; Boy and Mother and Kids photos and Pair of Kids by Ravenwolf; My Little Darlings by PugPink; Digital Collage sheet by ltkupilli; Postmortem cigarette case by SweetheartSinner.

The Unwelcome Guest

2009-11-16T12:23:00.016-05:00

Salome - the ultimate bad hostess and John the Baptist, the ultimate unwelcome guest... the images have haunted for centuries and I for one have always wanted to give a Salome dinner party, the head being played by whomever annoys me at that point. I would need to wear the most seductive jewelry and serve on the strangest and most magnificent platters. Here is a start for your own Salome party! Let Oscar Wilde guide you in your endeavors.

Images of Salome by Titian, Andrea Solari, Maud Adams as Salome, Unknown, Guido Reni, Moreau.

Pendant by Olivia Moon; Photo by Imagine Studio; Art Print by Stiletto Heights; Print by Art by Resolution; Heart print by Meganzii; Art print by Stiletto Heights; Last Dance photo by risamay; Danse Macabre by Nico24;

Necklace by Clare Lupino; Bracelet by HappenstanceDesigns; Woven necklace by Glamorosi; Pearl necklace by TZTudio; Steampunk necklace by Nouveau Motley; Green necklace by Catrocks; Necklace by Eclettica;

Shell platter by DaisyChestnut; Say Grace platter by Laneyandtanner; Ceramic platter by ShapingLivesPottery7; Heart plate by FoldedPigs; Flower and Butterfly platters by DaisyChestnut; Cobwebs and Angel platters by John Derian;

Vintage images and final image of Oscar Wilde as Salome.

Grin and Bear

2009-11-13T11:46:00.027-05:00

Ever since I read "Little Bear" (Maurice Sendak), I have been a bear acolyte. Aside from tigers, I most fantasize about being curled up with a bear, nestled against their stomachs and playing with their little round ears. I would catch salmon with them (and hand them over since I hate fish), and I would sleep all winter with them in a cave in Tibet (no point in saying this would be impossible). Bears have that narcotic effect on me, and I dream and dream of their soft purring fur. I would join Little Bear in wearing a tin foil hat and travel to space, and look down on the world with awe. I highly recommend dreaming of bears.

Polar Bear by Citrus Tree; Can You Hear Me by Heroesandcriminals; Panda with Pipe by BerkleyIllustrations; Bear in Boat by Pamplemousseandbean; Bear on Leaf by TraceFace; Thanksgiving by CreativeThursday; Bear on Carpet by Pamela Klaffke; Chaperone by NaughtyandNice; Fight for the Forest by Studio Lyon; Polar Opposites by Hisss; Doreen by Heather Future; Garden Bear by Cordial Kitten; Bear in Boat by Pamplemousseandbeans; Bear under Tree by Heather Future; Polar Bear by Native Vermont; Homeless Bear and Pumpkin Pie by Amber Alexander; Polar Bear by Feaverish; Embroidery by marysgranddaughter; B is for Bear by Katie Viggers; Bear and Rabbit by Margaret Meyer; Ursa Major by Lisa Chow; Arctic Hare and Polar Bear by Creative Thursday; Be Good Bear by The Black Apple; Seduction by Hidenseek; Dancing Bear by HeatherFuture; Bear Party by Amber Alexander; Polar Bear by Julia Pott; Checkers Game by Marvelousa; Bear Pops by HamburgerPanda; The Encounter by Lamb Candy; Bears with Hives and Sleepwalking Bear by Oh My Cavalier; Bear's Tea Party by MarmeeCraft; Bear and Girl by Hidenseek; Bear on Couch by Amber Alexander; Polar Bear by Berkley Illustration; Masked Figure by TheLittleChickadee.

The Mouse Ran Up the Clock

2009-11-11T15:31:00.026-05:00

Oh, the weight of time! It ticks and ticks until you go mad. It judges you, mocks you, decays you...so why not have a fabulous clock? They make time less foreboding and noisy. They will, however, continue to make you feel guilty for all you're not doing, unless you make clocks.

Feather clock by Thorsten Van Elten; Catena wall clock , Butterfly clock and Cookoo clock at Unica Home; Crow Clock at Cafe Press; Bouquet clock at Fey Handmade; Floridium clock at W Hotels Store; Bike clock by 1byliz; Honeycomb clock , Ovaltime and Green Bamboo clock by Pilot Design; Harvest Moon clock and Queen of Hearts clock by CyberMoon; Painted record by KayleyHawthorne; Urban Tree clock by PinkBirdDesigns; Coffee can clock and Queen clock by Calmabiding; Bathtub by Deborahscreations; Drive Shaft by All15designs; Horse and Rabbit by DecoyLab; Block by geekinesis; NOLA by artbymags; Keys by CyberMoon; Tobacco Tin by Ticktocklers; Dandelions by Tansyandco; Doorbell by Karen Miller; Tile clock by ShaNYC; ABC by Woodstockclocks; 21 by RecycledTime; Girl Heads by TrixieandRadar; Bear by SmallNest; Lace bird by garbella; Body, Barbie, Toaster, Can Opener, Train Case by IMOTIME.

The Rivers of Lethe

2009-11-11T11:16:00.012-05:00

As a coinoisseur of sleep, I know what it means to sleep on impeccably stylish pillowcases. They improve your dreams a hundrefold! Since that is my entire purpose in life, I recommend you put your heads down and see if I'm right.

Venus & David, King & Queen by LoveAddix; Ships , Trucks, Trees and Bi-planes by BranchHandmade; Lady with Hat by Utilitarian Franchise; Jesus by RestintheWord; Compass by RoyalKane; Ducks by BlueSkyClouds; Movie Star by JoanJen; Zodiac by Magic1; Flower branches by KVenturaDesign; Twin Stems and Spirals by Maramiki; Splatter by fufluns; Houses by Ninuska; Custom Silhouettes by Plumageetcetera; Fork & Spoon by CrumbsOnTheSheets; Letter by ElizabethWren; Toy Trains by TheWhimsy; Skeleton Key by Itsastitch; The Prince by Vixter240; Scissors by Sugar & Fig; Tree by TheRusticHome; Butterfly and Initial by mbz28; Little Houses and Botanical Print by PonyBoyPress.

I'll Have the Tea and Crumpets

2009-11-10T11:51:00.012-05:00

Hand towels...I've had a complicated relationship with them. When parents of my friends would have them they would drive me nuts, falling off the bars, tri-folded and impossible to re-do without wrinkles, and usually of some very uncomfortable fabric. Like the possibilities of the atom, they have come a long way. They are works of art now, affordable and popping with personality. Come around to my way of thinking and wash your hands without fear!

Seahorses by HumbleCollection; Greek Bust by UtilitarianFranchise; Mix tape by Cyanide Stitches; Fruits by AnotherRealm; Birds by HandmadeBySima; Queen Anne's Lace by Lotta Helleberg; Silhouettes by Lucy Robinson; Bargello hand towel by Pomegranate; Chandelier, Retro towels and Rudolph by Vintage Lucy's; Lobsters by artgoodies; Cup of Java by MonkeyBeetle; Brains by girlscantell; Figgy Pudding by MrPs; Squirrel by artgoodies; Foxes by humblecollection; Frida Kahlo by babybeesboutique; Projectors by girlscantell; Cupcakes by artgoodies; Girls by cominguproses; Apples by Amandakindregan; Winter Beverages by NestaHome; Owl by theheated; Pin-up by 12legscuriosities; Stems by paulehewlett; Fish by TheHoneyPress; Kiss by handyjan; Roses by krispybanana.

A Trip to the Moon

2009-11-08T12:48:00.023-05:00

I had a dream last night about a rocket. It had red velvet interiors and swinging waitresses (a la Austin Powers). I looked out the window and we had not left earth's atmosphere yet, so I asked one of the waitresses why. She replied, "We're not going to the moon, doll. We're landing on the head of a pin." Hence today's post!

Rocket pillow by Brokesy; Apollo rocket by Cardboard Safari; Rocket burpcloths by Chloe Tate; Rocket card by Jennopolis; Onesie by Woobyandme; Security blanket by Klarson; Mouse card by DandyLionPress; Retro card case by Jetflair; Felt Rocket pin by FeltFarm; Rocket necklace by Jetflair; Belt buckle by kfarrell; Rocket hat by Heartfelthandworks; Iphone case by Squirrelsnest; Tin toy print by JohnWGolden; Exploration litho by Ambera; Moon print by Timothy Flood; Rocket Girl t-shirt by Urban Laundry; Necklace by jewelsvine; Rocket Earrings and Formation Earrings by fabuluster; Rocket necklace Cravejewelrydesign; Rocket pin by CosmicFirefly; Rocketship pendant by BADASSjewellery; Rocket ring by Karin Jacobson Designs; Glass rockets by Jesse Kelly; Rocket charm by Marty Magic; Necklace by Buy Olympia; Necklace by Pretty Little Thing.

Gifts: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous!

2009-11-07T11:39:00.038-05:00

Time to start shopping! Before you laugh at the animal art, I have a story to tell...I bought 2 monkey paintings for my 9-year-old neice and she shows EVERYONE! Such cute little paw prints and smudges, plus the money you pay goes to the upkeep of the little beasties! So, installment #1 of what you need to buy this year is HERE! Get going!

Titanic Ice Tray, Shoe Butter Dish, Valium Bank, Cupcake Kit, Saw Cake Cutter from Fred Flare; Embroidered Purse from Cambria Cove; Wallflowers, NYC S&P Shakers from Delight; Alexis Clutch by ao3designs; Twig Bowl and Eternity Necklace from Mosaic; Letter Boxes, Shoe Form, Feather Ornaments, Palace Glass, Tumbler, Letter Tray, Urchin Bowls, Shell Mirror, Suzani Pillow, Horn Tray from Jayson Home & Garden; Hollow Half Dollar and Cat Toy from Kiosk; Cup Cosy by Laura Bucci; Flower Ruler by Studio Note; Art by Elephants; Art by Monkeys; Art by Dogs; Art by Apes; Art by Mice; Orrery from Nautilus; Stalin Bust from KidRobot.

Oh My Bleeding Heart!

2009-11-06T13:00:00.030-05:00

Ah, Catholic iconography! No other faith can do pomp and circumstance like Catholics can, let's face it. The scary-beautiful aspect of it all is intoxicating. I love the morbid names of the churches, like Church of the Holy Sephulchre, Our Lady of the Bleeding Hearts, etc. We all know what it feels like to have a bleeding heart, so open your shirt and expose it!

Enamel heart by Solange Azagury-Partidge (I feature this a lot!); Sacred Heart necklace by birdznbeez; Anne necklace by gabriellalucretia; Two sacred hearts by boubelina2; Wooden Sacred Heart by 3bagsfull; Heart sachet by Miss Butler; Tattoo necklace by KrazedKraftsbydopey; Crow print by Crowspeak; Oil lamp by aOlive; Rosary necklace by SacredAdornments; Vampire heart by CustomCreature; Medal by RosaMystica; Pillow by SWStitchery; Stone heart photo by TravelingChariot; Onesie by bambinamia; Bib by Saaridesign; Wedding ring by RXVRings; Cross Stitch pattern by HexKittenDesigns; Collage by dollfacedesign; Cup by Circa Ceramics; Garnet necklace by robbieg; Silver brooch by SacredSilver; Pillows by BlueSharkCrafts.

Tiny Things, Big Party!

2009-11-05T12:33:00.035-05:00

Oh to be tiny and live in a tiny house and wear tiny petal gowns! To be astonishing but hard to find, transient but enduring, fabulous in every way! This isn't just a little girl fantasy, it's the fantasy of many trying to cope with the miniaturization of their living spaces...all hail to the tiny in all our lives.

Pete Nelson's 3 treehouses by way of NoStars.biz; 3 Tiny Houses by Tumbleweed Tiny House Co.; 3 Tiny Houses by way of TinyHouses.net; Princess play home, Lil Raskals Lookout, Olde Firehouse by Lilliput Play Homes; Marianne Cusato's Katrina Cottage by way of Inhabitat; Gnome door by Nothinbutwood; Fairy Door by Centaur1201; Fairy Homestead by WoodenTreasures; Rabbit Girls and Rabbit Queen by Zeng; Nicole Dextras' Weedrobes; Ballgown, Frock, Tortilla shoe by Rubblearium; Flower Girl by Zeng; Fairy Gown by campcactus; First Birthday dress, Audrey Sofia dress, State of Being dress by KarenSamNorgard; Night Stroll, Spring Flirt by byenner; 3 from Davina Zagury's Land of Lost Toys.

A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!

2009-11-03T12:33:00.026-05:00

When I was a kid, living in the Bahamas, I took riding lessons. I had imagined I would get some great, terrifying steed who would race me down the beach and throw me sky-high over a fence. Instead I got Harry, the one-eyed racehorse who had been put out to pasture. No one wanted to kill him, so he became a teacher. In fact, I was the only one who would ride him - everyone else wanted the steed (who was, naturally, skittish and nasty). Harry and I lumbered on the beach and I tried to compensate for his affinity for walking sideways, but neither of us were very good at our roles. So Harry and I would walk side by side, him stepping on my feet, me pulling him out of the water as he continued his rightward journey. The track where he had worked as a youth was called the Hobby Horse Track, which somehow suited him. I think about Harry all the time, knowing he's long gone but maybe still walking sideways.

Wallpaper by Now Voyager; Sculpture by Michael Zavros; Gold pin and antique horseshoe pin and Thoroughbred charm by Show Stable Artisans; Rocking horse by Kensington Rocking Horse Company; Lamp and bedding by Horse Lover Gifts; Cameo by Jamie's Horse Jewelry Store; Pillow and Tea towels by Humble Collection; Embroidery by Porterness; Lampshade by ZEDHED; Pillowcases by Branch Handmade; Table lamp by redsonjadesigns; Horse pillow by OtradaUSA; Cut-out card by RUBYrecycled; Notecards by Paperinstyle; "Godfather" horsehead pillow by Kropserkel; Horse lamp by Moooi; Photo by rumandrubies; Print by MCaplan.

Quit buggin' me!

2009-11-02T10:20:00.044-05:00

Several years ago a composer friend asked me to write a libretto for his opera, subject my own to choose. I wrote what I still think is the best thing I've ever written, about bugs. Bugs in love, tragically, of course, pinned to walls never to reach each other. The composer laughed and said with disgust "No one wants to hear about bugs! That's disgusting!" Within 3 months, out came "A Bug's Life," "Antz", and several other blockbuster bug-themed things. Hmph! I hold that over his head to this day.

Dead fly art (making its way around web); Insect wrapping paper, Honeycomb trashbin, Insect platter by John Derian; Tumblers, Pitcher, etc. by Laura Zindel; Moth lantern by Ted Muehling at Unica; Cake dish, Vases, Butterfly pulls by Ted Muehling at ER Butler; Pedestal bowl by Rebecca's Art; Animal plates by Pikahue; Flea plate by Nature's Cabinet; Bee dish by zinniadesignstc; Fly mug by montezumamudd; Roach plate by Folded Pigs; Beetle bracelet by Kolos Studio; Dishtowels by rustbeltfiberwerks; Entomologie notecards by Wicked Pen; Skep necklace by mamaslittlebabies; Honeybee t-shirt by Evolution Now; Bee card case by Cosmic Firefly; Diamond Moth pin by chinookhugs; Cricket notebook by BambooVillagePress; Locusts cardigan by ArtLoaf; Insect fabric by ShowPony; Embroidered cushion by RoxyCreations; Butterfly necklace by mamaslittlebabies; Bee ring by dillondesigns; Bugs on Ouija boards by KFCollection; Madame de Pompadour print by downanddirty; Cricket print by sheridesthelion.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

2009-10-31T15:27:00.003-04:00

Vintage Halloween images here...

Arms and Heralds

2009-10-30T12:04:00.037-04:00

I once had a dream about my father, who in this dream had died as a Knight and was buried in a knight's stone coffin above-ground. He had left behind on top of his coffin for my mother, sister and me each a pair of outrageous shoes he had designed for us to express his feelings for us. Each pair was so fantastical, with feathers and stitches and outrageous colors - some boots, some evening shoes of medieval variety. (I wish I had photos!) We were so taken aback by his creative expressions, we all put on our shoes and laughed. It was a wonderful dream, and I remember in particular the way our arms looked putting them on, so pale and ghostly and long. Since then, arms and crests and all things knightly have belonged together in my dreams.

Tattoo arm necklace by TheBrokenPlate; Disarming Smile necklace by NOOBOO; Grace necklace by Ghost Love Jewelry; Arm and Bullet necklace by Robins Egg Blue; Glass lens by Creeping Elm; Artfully Amputated necklace by Delectably Deviant; Arms photo by Honeytree; Victorian choker by DoctorMorose; Arm earrings by venussoberanes; Green Zombie earrings by XenaraesRoom; White as a Ghost necklace by spacepearls; Ghost doll necklace by dolldisasterdesign; Love is Within our Reach necklace by EKCreations; Pendant by Pinktophat.

Introduction to Heraldry picture by Evershot; Pin by yipestoo; Medieval Heraldic pin by Carl Lemke Unique Jewelry; Cufflinks by Wenchie; Crest ring by Seawear; Smith ring and Vetruvian Man ring by blindspotjewellery; Lion ring by dedalo; Intaglio ring by NinaGibsonDesigns; Wax seal necklace by RitzyMisfit; Silver seal necklaces by Underhercharm; Celtic ring by LvoffStudio; Sultan Seal ring by drndesigns; Fleur de Lys necklace and Wax Seal necklace by beadsss; Crest necklace by elissann.

Aw shucks! I didn't get YOU anything!

2009-10-29T12:56:00.052-04:00

I will once again pontificate on the joys of good gift wrap, tags, and boxes, etc. In my prior posting on gift tags, I discovered that I am not alone in this insistence, that wrapping is almost as important as the gift. My mother always says she'd love to go to a gay man's Christmas party because they wrap their packages so beautifully! Be that as it may, we can all be gay this holiday season! By the way, my name happens to be Gay!

Carpe Diem tags by PacoKeko; Envelopes by AdonaiJayde; Chandelier tags by PaperEclectiques; Mushroom wrap by paminboots; The Onion gift wrap at The Onion Store; Noel card by Pammero; Japanese gift wrap #1 and #2 by UGUiSU; Marie Antoinette #1 and #2 by PetitePaperieShoppe; Snow Bunny tags by StitcherScribbler; Dictionary butterflies by RoyalBuffet; Vintage girl tags by southernladysvintage; Holy card tags by PaperEclectiques; French ladies' tags by creationsbyminda; Girl on Sheep tags by LocalGringos; Lined card by PetitePaperieShoppe; Number tags by PaperEclectiques; Lavender and Lilacs tags by MothtoaFlameStudio; Birdhouse gift boxes by FayeHubele; Airplane tags by SepiaSmiles; Birdsong and Dickie tags by PetitePaperieShoppe; Dress tags by frenchcountry; Wild Things tags by amyelisedesigns; Sacred Heart tags by PaperEclectiques; Rose tags by mulberrymuse; Postcard, Bird, Deer and Merry tags by SeasonalDelights; Button tags by FreshLemonBlossoms; Zodiac tags and Gothic tags by Shorn Sheep; Tartan bird tags by greenwillow; Oh Nuts tags by SunshineandRavioli; Castle tags by BuncoBettys; Gargoyle, Native American, Dirigibles, Harley Quinn, Birdcage tags by ShornSheep.

Paper Flies Away!

2009-10-28T11:43:00.036-04:00

Paper flying away is a beautiful spectacle, unless it's from your desk. People underestimate the power of a paperweight, and it's time they got their due! Like giant raindrops sitting on your papers, which are no doubt as important as the Shroud of Turin, you get the feeling that something delicate can have more power than a brick. I like that. In the past, paperweights were treated like the Christmas fruitcake, met with dull stares and murmered thank-you's. No more! This is the age of the paperweight - the less paper people use, the more they need a paperweight (it works in my logic, at least).

Octopus , Scottie , Lovebirds, Kaleidoscope and Rabbit paperweights by PaperFlowers; Falcon by Rae Glassworks; Reflective Pool by Auberrygirl; Pebble and Flowers by BixlerandJohnson; Eggs by LelaBellArt; Postcard by partheniapapier; Woman by marykaiserstreasures; Rabbits, Veins , Jesus and Head by whygirlsgoastray; Risque woman by JuneandRuby; Postmortem by GoodMourningGlory; Snakes and 3 Spheres by BixlerandJohnson; Cutlery by ShopBelieveCreations; Hyacinthe by cherylmdiliegro; Book Inspector by Ephemeralogie; Kangaroo by Carolina Cottage; Fountain by RainyDayFix; Castle by Raeglassworks; Beetle by PaperFlowers; Cry Baby, Gentleman, Elephant, Flora by John Derian; Peacock head at Vivre.

Bring me the head of John the Baptist!

2009-10-27T11:29:00.060-04:00

Let's not even get into why you will need a number of plates and platters this season. Family is coming over, people you haven't spoken to in years, and all manner of humans traipsing through your home - why not have the china to talk about? Serve them anything, as long as the table is tasteful! Oh, and maybe serve some tidbits too...

4 trays by Kaas Collection; Ship tray by Rae Glassworks; Ferris Wheel tray by Gigi Phillips; Green tray by mediumstomasses; Eagle tray by Joysarts; Tapas tray by Tapas Trays; Council block tray and Seafront platter by Esther Coombs; Bird and Mouse plates by Laura Walls Taylor; Caviar tray and Tapas tray by Jill Rosenwald; Bee platter by Carriage House; Leaf tray by Lovely Mud Pottery; Child's hand ashtray by Emily Houtz; Fused glass tray by JSGlassArt; Flat tray and flat serving platter by TwelveOneDesigns; Flower bowl by onepetal; Melamine platter by Olive Manna; Grey serving tray by afabulousfete; Glass flower tray by WWooding; Butterfly tray by easttennesseegirl; Oval platter by Dishfulsofdoodles; Blue and Green trays by mediumstomasses; Ace of Spades. Moon and Snake trays by John Derian; Tray by Ella Doran; Real Estate Agents tray, Caravan platter, 7 Deadly Sins plates by Trixie Delicious at Toggle.co.nz; Tree tray by Cul de Sac Design; 3 Plates by Sarah Cihat; Man platter, Oval Platter, and Man plate by Esther Derkz; Airplane sick bags from Pure Austrian Design; "Biscuit" plate from Soop; Scenic platter from Trevally, Inc.; Shippo plates from Jongerius Lab; Silhouette platter and by Christopher Jagmin.

Reflections in a Mirror

2009-10-26T13:01:00.027-04:00

I love mirrors, especially the ones you can't see in. Something funny about that. Equally funny are mirrors that tell you in text that you are beautiful, stunning, the fairest of them all...let's face it, we never believe these sycophants. What I DO love about mirrors is their ability to multiply the world and stretch it endlessly over your shoulder so that you at once feel insignificant and part of a whole universe of wonder. Through the mirror, darkly or lightly, and you have found Wonderland.

Wow mirror by Boxing Bella; Wall vinyl by Single Stone Studios; Duck Mirror by David Dear at RISD; Sweeney Todd mirror at SUCK UK; Lily Mirror at Modern Dose; Heliconia Mirror at Hidden Art Shop; Mirror from AQHayon Collection; Coco Mirror from Ochre; Grandiose Mirror at Wisteria; Text Mirror at Generate; Mirrored placemats by Dransfield & Ross; Choe and Tomlinson Death Wish Self Portrait Mirror from Design Public; Balloon and Rat mirrors from Lightly; World Necklace and Postage stamp mirror from Up To You Toronto; Dress Mirror from Conran USA; Seek Love mirrored dish, Femme Fatale mirror, Collette mirrored chest, Baudelaire mirrored cabinet from The Paris Apartment.

Glowing Things

2009-10-24T13:07:00.030-04:00

There's something about things that glow - a light more gentle and seductive than direct light, more flattering too. It starts with fireflies in the summer, and grows into a fascination that things can actually GLOW rather than assault you in the face. Thus the appreciation of the subtle and mysterious becomes the adult's secret. Astonishing things are being done in the glow-world, as you will see below.

Light-emitting wallpaper by Jonas Samson; Glowing condoms from Condonia; Portable fireplace at Unica Home; Cage Light, French silk screen luminaire by James Plumb; Suicide Fireworks by Cai Guo-Qiang; Harry Allen light by way of No Smarties; Dandelion lights by way of Spotd.it; Baby Wonts light by Le Pelican; Lionfish light, Orchid light by Alex Earl; Moon Rock lights and Trophy light at Generate; Night Igloos by Tse-Tse; Shirt lights by Hector Serrano; Andromeda Light and Mirror from Andromeda Murano; Bouquet light from Bless; "Light Reading" at Generate; Egg-morphing lights from House of Rave; Halo pillowcase from Atypyk; UV tattoo ink from Chameleon Body Art Supply; "Light Sleeper" alarm clock pillowcases and Light reactive window blind and Sound-reactive wallpaper by Loop.ph.

"Ghost, mark me..."

2009-10-23T14:45:00.035-04:00

I have a fascination with photos of ectoplasm and ghosts - surely I'm not alone. It's a valid form of artistry to dress ghosts, create ghosts and see ghosts in unusual things. How lovely to be silken in form, puffed away in a breeze, haunting the moon and the little beasts. Adorn yourself in these ghosts, and grip your heart.

Cojoined dolls (sold) and hanging portrait by Kerry Kate; "Nightmare" tutu by Tiarastutus; Photo by Ambientstills; Doll by CreepyDolls; Necklace by Museum of Sleep; Ghost pumpkin by Janice Cordeiro; Ghost pumpkin by AppleHillDolls; Ghost minks at Kunstkammer; Ghost photos via Necropolis Now; Ghost on stairs by way of Elastral; 6 Vintage spirit photos on Flickr; Choker, and capelet by Raven Eve; Tempest necklace, Fortune Teller, Butterfly, Valhalla by Ghost & Lola; Photo by zuppaartista; Contemplating Ghosts print by ForestHills; Photo by JacqleenBleu; Ghost Bed by Rachelgertrude; Haunted House by DivineImages; Willows by JMulcahy.

Roman Profile

2009-10-22T11:02:00.041-04:00

I had another Roman dream last night...in this one, a man behind a stone Caesar mask said to me, "Men are born immaculate, they are not born clean." Then he set my head on fire, and showed me my face in a mirror - I have to say it was flattering! And it didn't hurt. The smell of cinnamon wafted through a hole in the ceiling, and a mink fell through the opening and wrapped itself around my ankle. Go figure that one out. But Roman beauty is undeniable, and you can never go wrong imitating it, as these artists and costume goofballs will agree.

Apollo bust planter by Statue.com; The Cold Girl, Alexander the Great, Leda and the Swan from Museum Replicas; Paolina by Italartworld.com; Hippocrates fand Caduceus from Ancient Sculpture Gallery; Coin ring, from Worldwide Store; Chess set from Talaria Enterprises; Coin ring, Gold and garnet ring from Ancient Touch; Roman coin bracelet, Serpent ring from Rome Gift Shop; Ceaser costume from Costume Craze; Roman sandals from Zoogster Costumes; Marc Antony from Annie's Costumes; Neoclassical art piece by Urban Accent Home; Corinthian capital from Unpotpourri; Ring by Bronzegirl1; Belt buckle from ChittamDesigns; Baby Roman sandals by Creationsbycathie; Roman Treasure ring by Marajoyce; Ring by Lvoff Studio; Mercury and Venus necklace by Averidesigns; Treasure ring by 360jewels; Diamond earrings and Wave ring by Onestonenewyork; Atia ring by gretchenvoneberstein; Cleopatra doll by UneekDollDesigns; Ave Maria ring by Jennifer Kaufman; Ring by Sevan Bicakci; Roman Warrior ring and Intaglio ring by Sally Dudmesh.