Inside Mad Men

Photograph by James Minchin III

We've really been enjoying this season of Mad Men so far. It was a treat to see these behind-the-scenes shots from the set in Rolling Stone. It's amazing how convincing a world this television show has created. It's kind of shocking to see some of the actors out of character. Cooper is hardly recognizable! And how out of place does that Mac look?!

Picker Sisters

Have y'all been watching Picker Sisters? I first saw the previews for the show while watching an American Pickers marathon and I was a bit dubious about a show trying to be too much like American Pickers but just switching out Frank and Mike with two girls in short-shorts. Theses gals better know what they're doin', I thought. So far I've been pleasantly surprised. Although at times I want to yell at them to just get in there and get their hands dirty, their genuine friendship and love of all things rusty come through in a way that makes them endearing. And instead of just rescuing old junk they are finding ways to repurpose each piece; an old gate becomes a headboard, pieces of farm equipment become a light fixture, a meat saw becomes a bathroom vanity. No, I didn't make that last one up. It's making me look at things in a new perspective when it comes to decorating my own home.

The Dissolution

The Dissolution - Trailer 1 from Ellen Rogers on Vimeo.

Another video for you today! This time it's a trailer from a the short film The Dissolution, a collaboration between photographer Ellen Rogers and artist Prizme:

The Dissolution is a collaborative project between Artists Ellen Rogers and Prizme, the objective of which is to collect a series of mediums, which would normally be consumed separately, into a single entity. Each medium is built around a short film of the same name created by the pair as a keystone of the project. These include a booklet (containing a series of photographs), a full album (containing music from the soundtrack), a fold-out poster all bound together in a weighty black foil-blocked and embossed card.

The drive behind this project is the desire to create something that would allow the viewer to become further immersed in the worlds projected throughout the work of the two separate artists. At the same time the piece serves as a landmark project in the building of a creative partnership that continues to grow.

It's a little bit creepy and a little bit beautiful all at the same time. Just what I've come to love about Ellen Roger's work. I would love to get my hands on a copy of the booklet to examine each photograph up close. Here are a couple of stills from the movie and a couple of frames from the booklet...

Love Me Please Love Me

Just a little something to hopefully put a smile on your face today!

The Personal Library of Jeanne Lanvin

all photos via The Selby

I have a real affinity for old books. The way the pages feel, the way they smell, the colors on the spines. A couple of weeks ago I ran across a collection of late 1800s elementary school books and snatched up the whole lot. I love them to pieces but they hardly compare to gorgeous books in the private library of Jeanne Lanvin. I guess that's only to be expected... I mean, she is Jeanne Lanvin after all. Just look at those embroidered covers!

Lula Issue 11

scans from TFS

It seems the long awaited issue 11 of Lula Magazine is finally out in the world. I've read early reviews complaining about everything from the new font to the fact that it's "less sugary" than previous issues. I'll refrain from forming any opinions about it until I get my hands on a copy. It always baffles me how quickly people are willing to criticize others' creative pursuits. It seems people aren't happy that the magazine has evolved. Doesn't everyone evolve or at least hope to? I'd hate to think if this blog was the exact same today as it was when I started it three years ago!

At any rate, I do like this spread with its ghostly images. The credits for the piece read like a who's who of the fashion world... Kate & Laura Mulleany, Kirsten Dunst, Rachel Antonoff, Autumn De Wilde. It's an article (you can read it scanned on TFS) with accompanying photos about iconic white dresses. While I do love the way these dresses look in the photos, actually wearing a white is still a scary prospect for me. Me, of hot chocolate stains and grimy cat paws. Maybe I'll take a leap and try it soon.

Matchbook Magazine

Being snowed in, as we are at the moment, leaves lots of free time for things like baking brownies, watching movies and reading magazines. The movies and brownies are taken care of, but I'm in short supply on the magazine front. So it's perfect timing that I've just discovered the newly launched online magazine Matchbook. It's been a looonnng time since I've picked up a magazine and wanted to read each and every page but that's just how I'm feeling about this one.

Some of my favorite pages are interviews the founders of Whit and Marais shoes, a spread of gifts for guys that I would like to keep for myself, a travel section about exploring Peru, a behind the scenes look at Rifle Paper Co. , trivia tidbits about Princess Margaret and a discussion about the classic trench coat. Whether you're snowed in or not, be sure to check it out when you have a moment!

Catching Confetti

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned that Tom and I had been out taking photos for a project I would tell you about later? Well, today's the day. Mandi from Here's Looking at Me Kid asked me to participate in her Catching Confetti series. If you haven't checked it out yet, it's an ingenious list of fun resolutions to kick off the beginning of the new year. My resolution was "explore your town" so I took the opportunity to make a vintage shopping guide of Lancaster, something I've been wanting to do for ages. Go here to check it out!

Marguerite Davis Illustrations

Yesterday I ran across the above illustration on the Art Deco blog. It caught my eye and I was curious to find out more about the artist. The illustration was credited to Marguerite Davis, 1925. Unfortunately a Google search didn't turn up very much information on Ms. Davis (although I discovered a woman by the same name was the co-discoverer of the vitamins A & B).

From the little information I was able to gather, Marguerite was a illustrator during the 20s and 3os and did a lot of work for childrens' primary readers and storybooks. The little girl in the red coat and yellow hat looks like she'd fit right in with Henry Darger's Vivian Girls. Does anyone else have any information on Ms. Davis?

The Harmony Club

By now my love of old decrepit buildings is well documented here. I'm always a sucker for peeling paint, old hardwood floors and light pouring through dusty windows. So, it's no surprise that I'm head over heels for the Harmony Club. After being abandoned for nearly 40 years the right person came along with a vision and turned it into a spectacular living space. And if I wasn't smitten enough already, learning that the Club is located in Alabama, my home state, sealed the deal. It certainly smashes a lot of preconceptions about what can be done with abandoned buildings. Soooo many places like this are being left to rot or demolished! It's wonderful to see one being put to such good use.