(vagabond language)

Cuala Press pressmark

2012-02-01T18:02:00.004Z

The blog is a little neglected of late, due to my move (more on that later).

For the interim, I have written a short piece about the Dun Emer/Cuala Press press mark, iconic to those, like me, whose research interests lie in the Irish Celtic, Artistic and Literary revival at the turn of the nineteenth-century. I thought it would be appropriate, considering it is St. Bridget's Day and the beginning of Spring here.

“The Lady Emer Standing by a Tree”, (image via Scolar Cardiff).

The Cuala Press (est. 1908) began its life as part of the Dun Emer Guild, founded by the Yeats sisters (Elizabeth and Lily, sisters of the poet) and their friend Evelyn Gleeson in 1902, in Dundrum, Co. Dublin. The name Dun Emer (Fort of Emer) was named for the Lady Emer, wife of the hero Cúchulainn, renowned in Irish folklore for her beauty and artistic skills. Elizabeth Yeats initally began her career working with William Morris, founder of the Kelmscott Press, and Cuala took inspiration from Morris’s Arts and Crafts Movement. Unlike most Arts and Crafts presses, however, the Cuala Press concentrated on publishing new works, often by writers associated with the Irish Literary Revival.

The title-page woodcut pressmark, seen here, was designed by friend Elinor Monsell, entitled “The Lady Emer Standing by a Tree”. Monsell, born in Co. Limerick, had studied at the Slade School of Art in London, and also designed the Abbey Theatre logo, which depicts which depicts Maeve with a wolfhound.

And you say what have I got to lose?

2012-01-24T12:30:00.001Z

On Sunday night I was faced with a 'what to wear' dilemma. Not uncommon, but this time it was for Curryoke. Curry and karaoke is a Glaswegian institution. I was still hungover from a party the night before so I wasn't in the mood for anything ultra glam. So I reached for this 60s mini dress I recently acquired from eBay. It is super short (in the mood of the time I suppose), so thick, opaque tights are essential. I needed operational hair, so I tied it back with this metal spiked hairband from Topshop which is my recent, favoured hair accessory.

What did I sing?

Prince - Little Red Corvette

All Saints - Never Ever

If I was staying on in Glasgow I would probably make Karaoke nights a regular occurrence to be honest. Let's see if I can convince my Irish pals to join me for a bit of a belter.

Atelier Public, GoMA

2012-01-15T12:30:00.002Z

"ATELIER PUBLIC is an exhibition that takes the form of a working artist studio – one that everyone is invited to come into, to make artworks there that will become part of the installation. The exhibition, in GoMA’s Gallery 3, will be a space for looking, thinking, exploring and making.

As well as extending an open invitation to the public, the exhibition’s curator has also asked particular artists, thinkers and makers who have a special interest in play, creativity and the imagination to engage with the space throughout the duration of the exhibition. These mini-residencies will help to shape and record what happens."

During the week, a friend and I decided to spend a day visiting some of Glasgow's modern art galleries, admittedly, contemporary art galleries are not something I would go out of my way to visit, but there's such a wealth of them here it would be a sin not to take full advantage!

One of the exhibits my friend was keen to see was Atelier Public, on the top floor of GoMA (Glasgow Museum of Modern Art). The exhibition has been running since November 10th, 2011 and finishes today.

I was interested to see how the exhibition space was presented and how the public had participated, considering it was within an official gallery framework (ie. GoMA). I had good fun wandering around, making my own contribution and taking pictures, which you can see below. It felt very informal and comfortable, like being in playschool again, taking part in something communal and far reaching.

Books for inspiration, much like you'd see in an artists studio.

Some more creative and dedicated folk had even crafted complex kinetic objects! They added more drama and interest to the space.

Irony found a space too.

Some people prefer to make a non-artistic contribution, but to participate in the exhibition.

Some additions were more thought out and symbolic.

My addition to the space, some clumsy celtic spirals.

When I first arrived I didn't know much about the exhibition or its concept at all. I haven't flexed my creative muscles in years so I was hesitant to get involved, preferring to admire everyone else's crafts. Soon however, the participatory and relaxed mood of the setting got me eager to get involved. My addition can be seen above! It was an amateur effort, like the majority of the exhibit itself, which was refreshing to see in a gallery setting. No preconceptions, no expectations, just an invitation to get involved!

The GoMA flickr stream for Atelier Public can be seen here.

Atelier Public is part of the Playable Spaces programme, and the curator has been documenting the project throughout its duration, making interesting observations along the way.

Birthday lunch

2012-01-13T12:30:00.001Z

I'm trying out the cropped/tied shirt thing. I think I like it. I wore this at the end of December for a birthday lunch at my favourite eatery in Glasgow, Heavenly.

Dress, Topshop (2009). Shirt, Salvation Army. Necklace, Bad Passion. Pumps, Office (2009).

Eve Arnold's Ireland

2012-01-11T12:30:00.002Z

Over the Christmas, as a present to myself, I treated myself to Magnum Ireland, a beautiful compilation of photographs of Ireland, rural and urban, north and south, east and west, from the 1950s to the 2000s, as seen through the lenses of iconic Magnum photographers, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Josef Koudelka, Inge Morath, Erich Lessing, Eve Arnold, Martine Franck, Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, Donovan Wylie, Stuart Franklin, and others. The international scope of the book enriches the pages.

Legendary photographer, Eve Arnold (1912 – 2012) passed away on Wednesday last, January 4th. Arnold was one of the first female photojournalists to join the prestigious Magnum Photography Agency in the 1950s. Her diverse body of work included not only portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich but poignant images of the West of Ireland in the mid-seventies, as the country and the West was rapidly changing, old ways of life modernising, old traditions being lost.

Eve Arnold, The daughter of the house makes soda bread, Aran Islands, 1974. (Copyright Magnum Photos).

Some more of Eve Arnold's images of Ireland can be seen here, and other images of Ireland taken by Magnum photographers, can be seen here at Slate.

There is a hint of the romance of "traditional" Ireland contained here, yet it lacks a picture postcard sentimentality. It speaks of something real, something dwindling. The contented faces of the characters are what I enjoy the most. As an outsider, Arnold is capable of capturing something of the last frontiers of tradition in a modernising world.

That Friday feeling

2012-01-06T13:34:00.003Z

Happy Friday everyone!! Look what arrived for me today, a gift from my friend Aurélie!

I'm going to have many happy sleeps with this little fella!

Christmas Outfit

2011-12-31T12:30:00.000Z

I'm working this Hogmanay/New Years Eve so nae chance of me dressing up to ring in the new year. So here's what I wore on Christmas day instead.

Dress, vintage (1960s). T-bars, Clarks. Belt, ASOS.

Happy new years to you all. I hope you ring in the new years appropriately. I'll probably be just in from work, in my onesie, watching When Harry Met Sally and a bottle of wine to myself. Perfect party of one, in my opinion!

It feels a lot like Christmas...

2011-12-29T12:30:00.002Z

The view from my bedroom window at the start of the month, when it snowed.

My wee tree!

Snowflake and Nutcracker decorations I picked up at the Edinburgh German Christmas market with my friend Kerstin.

German Christmas market, photo taken by Kerstin.

The table set for dinner. Reindeer from Primark, Jesus (moneybox) from Paperchase. Elle magazines used for placemats (because I had none).

The starter was a Mushroom and Tarragon Paté, made by my friend Claire.

A table piled high with food, the vegetarian main was sweet potato, spinach & hazelnut en croute, with red wine & juniper gravy (that I had spent two hours preparing on christmas eve and boy oh boy was it worth it. It was delicious), from the Cornucopia cookbook.

I made the Hairy Biker's Chocolate Chestnut Pudding for dessert, which was delightfully creamy and rich! We had to wait an hour or so after our main to eat this, because so much as looking at a plate of food made me queasy. My friend Christina went all out and made a fruit cobbler and apple strudel!

A very merry unbirthday

2011-12-27T12:30:00.002Z

This was me in 2001 -

Ten years on -

(Still leaning against things)

I turned 23 today. Still taking life one step at a time, but its moving too fast for my liking. Hopefully by the time this post is published I'll be clutching a bottle of wine somewhere, most likely in the midst of an existential crisis.

In the spirit of this year's most overused image/quote -

(*Not my mug)

Twas the night before Christmas...

2011-12-24T15:15:00.000Z

... and I've been a busy wee lass, preparing some of my vegetarian Christmas feast for tomorrow. I'm working tonight and the rain is pouring down outside but i'm full of festive cheer (considering my birthday falls two days after Christmas day).

So from me, to you all -

Have a good one! And don't forget to get those stockings out tonight ;)

Winter in Glasgow

2011-12-19T12:30:00.000Z

Well folks, I am sorry to leave the blog so lacklustre during this festive season! I've mostly been working, eating a lot of delicious food, decorating my tree, writing xmas cards, been frequently rained and snowed on, as well as getting blown about during Hurricane Bawbag and foremostly trying to keep warm in these bitter Scottish months. Here is my armour for the Glasgow winter:

Outer: Coat, Benetton kids (via eBay); Boots, years old Doc Martens; Scarf. H&M; Hat, People Tree; Bag; Kipling x Peter Pilotto.
Outfit: Jumper, COS; Trousers, Uniqlo; Shirt, Mango.

Keep cosy kids!

Winter wishlist

2011-12-03T12:30:00.002Z

All I want for Christmas is at least one of these things...

La Double Vie de Veronique poster (Japan)

Illuminations, Walter Benjamin

Liberty Ianthe Turban

Aprés Ski Pictor necklace

The best veggie chili ever?

2011-11-30T12:30:00.002Z

I am partial to spicy, mexican inspired food, being a girl who likes her beans and pulses and guacamole.

I'd attempted vegetarian chili in the past, using TVP (or Quorn) 'mince', but the taste and texture was ultimately unsatisfying, I'd abandoned any hope of making a decent chili until I tried this simple recipe I'd come across on a message board.

So I'll never make it as a food blogger, but you get the picture.

Ingredients
1 can Kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Black beans, drained and rinsed (I just used another can of Kidney beans)
1 can Pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
1 chopped red/green/yellow pepper (depends on preference, or in my case, whatever was left in the fridge!)
1 red onion, diced
1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
1 cup vegetable stock
3 garlic cloves (I used more like 4-5)
1 generous tbsp of chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3-4 glugs soy sauce
1/2 tsp kosher/sea salt
A few grinds of black pepper

Directions
Chop the garlic, onion, and red pepper. Saute lightly over medium high heat in 1-2 tsp olive oil
Add everything else into the pot! Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 30 min or longer as needed
Serve with tortilla chips (or brown rice) and add whatever toppings you usually would (depending if you're vegan/vegetarian), like guacamole! But I enjoyed it just as well without!

Perfect winter comfort food.

Double denim?!

2011-11-27T12:30:00.000Z

On Saturday last I updated my twitter status with "Venturing into the terrain of double denim for the first time today. Using Sissy Spacek in Badlands as my sartorial defense." Well I survived and I think I liked it. What say you?

I bought these socks on sale in Tabio when I was in London and was desperate to show them off but was at a loss as to what to pair them with. I needed something neutral so they would the standout feature of the outfit. So I denim'd it up.

Sissy Spacek working the lone ranger look in Malick's Badlands (1973) alongside Martin Sheen.

A day that began with me intending to buy toothpaste and impulsively buying orange nail polish instead, being late and losing a friend in a gallery, going in search of non existent cafés ended up with an impromptu The Babies gig at the Captains Rest and by the time I got home in the wee hours this shirt smelt of beer and sambuca after a night out on the dance floor at Nice n Sleazy.

Spot the difference

2011-11-24T12:30:00.000Z

I can't believe I'm putting pictures of myself in a ONESIE on THE INTERNET. After the firemen incident the whole world may as well know about my favourite item of clothing. A number of my friends (and strangers and postmen and neighbours) have seen my wonderful, festive PJs, so I am sharing my glamourous life with you all, here on My Blog.

Note the use of the 'personal style' tag.

Autumn

2011-11-21T12:30:00.000Z

A photo essay of my October and November -

I finish work late and have bad food cravings, sometimes I get in the mood and make guacamole, with homemade pita chips.

I went to see The Playboy of the Western World, starring Ruth Negga and Robert Sheehan, at the Old Vic at the beginning of November.

I've enjoyed the odd hot toddy.

I was introduced to this delicious dark chocolate, from New Zealand. I won't rest until I acquire a bar all my own!

I purchased new wine glasses, cutesy and ridiculous. Perfect. Disappointed there was no Ariel versions! 3 for 99p though, can't complain.

I've started reading for pleasure again. I have acquired new titles and some editions of old favourites (The Silver Chair was my favourite of the Narnia series, it had a much more eerie atmosphere in comparison to the others. I also rather favoured the first Narnia book over the rest).

I bought some sensible rainboots for the Glasgow winter and picked up my new favourite evening bag for £3 in Salvation Army.

Postcards and prints

2011-11-15T12:30:00.003Z

One of my weaknesses is postcards. I can't afford the art, but I can have a keepsake. Here are some of the many postcards I purchased in London and kept for myself (the rest making their individual journeys to Dubai, England, Scotland and Ireland).

The Wallace Collection
L-R:
1. Boucher, The Setting of the Sun, 1752
2. Fragonard, The Swing, 1767
3. Reynolds, Mrs. Elizabeth Carnac, 1885
4. Boucher, Madame de Pompadour, 1759

National Portrait Gallery
John Donne, Vivien Leigh, Helena Bonham Carter

Leighton House, Holland Park
Postcard of a decorative tile from Damascus, seen in the entrance hall of Frederic Lord Leighton's house.

National Gallery, London
Delaroche, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, 1833 & Gainsborough, Mrs. Siddons, 1785

National Portrait Gallery
Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) print, taken by Alexander Bassano (April 1935), presented 1974 by Bassano to NPG

I can't wait to frame this and to have a home in which to display it. This photo also graces the walls of The Savoy, London.

What do you do with your postcards? How do you store them? One of my friends writes what they know about the painting on the back, along with the visiting date and then stores it. I've left it too late to start doing that I fear! But looking over my postcards I know where and when I bought it and whom I was with (for the most part).

I'm always interested in international postcard swaps with other bloggers if anyone wants to partake with me!

London shopping

2011-11-12T14:30:00.002Z

When visiting a city, shopping isn't usually a priority on my metaphorical to do list (metaphorical merely because I am not organised enough to compose one). However, when I found myself in the city centre, between here and there, I couldn't resist popping into a few familiar stores.

I had a voucher for Selfridges and since 98% of the loot for sale there is out of my budget, (nevermind my lifestyle!), I decided to treat myself to a designer perfume. My friend Michaela patiently sprayed and sniffed perfumes with me for half an hour in the Jo Malone concession until I settled on Pomegranate Noir cologne, a scent quite unlike anything I've ever beheld before.

The next day, on Thursday, my friend Hannah and I when walking down Kensington High Street, spotted the Tabio store across the road and made a cheeky detour. There was a sale on, with much of the hosiery reduced to half price. I left the store £40 poorer, oops!

Tie dye socks that caught my eye

Festive leg warmers

On the Saturday, after a decadent tea break at Maison Bertaux, with a couple of hours to spare, upon my request, Bethany showed me the way to the nearest Uniqlo store. Sadly the skinny cords I purchased last year aren't stocked this season but I made some practical buys, like a heat-tech striped polo top, heat-tech black leggings and a couple of pairs of socks in an autumnal palette.

The rest of my pennies was spent on food and wine, transport and postcards! I was happy with the treasures I came back to Glasgow with, safely tucked in my suitcase.

Girl about town

2011-11-08T12:30:00.000Z

Based on the response to my last outfit post I've resolved to do some more from now on, because they're fun to compile even I am a bit lazy in keeping up with it all. From Tuesday to Sunday morning last week I took a trip down to London to see some lovely friends, including bloggers Bethany and Ana. It was a chance to dress up and stroll the smart suburbs of London. I didn't take many pictures of the trip overall, so these are my only two outfit snaps.

Wednesday, November 3rd

Visiting the Wallace Collection, meeting a friend, braving Oxford Street, and going to the Old Vic for The Playboy of the Western World.

Dress, vintage. Tights, Pamela Mann. Boots, Carvela. Necklace, Bad Passion.

Thursday, November 4th

Visiting Frederic Lord Leighton's house & the John Soane's museum, quick change later to meet a friend for dinner in Soho.

1st: Dress, Zara. Slip, vintage. Blouse, Gharani Strok. Trench, H&M (2009). Tights, bog standard M&S. Boots, Carvela. Necklace, Bad Passion.

2nd: Dress, Zara. Slip, vintage. Blouse, Gharani Strok. Tights, Tabio. Boots, Camper. Necklace, Bad Passion.

Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights

2011-11-05T18:30:00.001Z

The promotional photos for this are just too sublime not to share.

I love how each individual actor is accorded his/her own shot.

(Click on images for larger versions)

Solomon Glave as the young Heathcliff

Shannon Beer as the young Cathy

Young Heathcliff and Cathy

Kaya Scodelario as Catherine Earnshaw (Struggling to find a HQ version of this, if someone could point me in the right direction I'd be most grateful!)

Catherine Earnshaw

Kaya Scodelario as Catherine Earnshaw

James Howson as Heathcliff

James Howson as Heathcliff

Aren't they thrillingly atmospheric?

Seven days.

2011-11-02T18:30:00.000Z

This post is prompted by the wonderful Georgia who wanted to see more of what I wore on a typical day. Its taken the bones of three weeks to get seven days worth of outfits together so you can see why I don't really 'do' outfit posts.

I'm pretty self conscious about posting day to day outfits because these days I'm either working or doing errands. I dress more for comfort these days and usually a variation on a handful of clothes I wear repeatedly. This was a good exercise though because its driven me to try and recapture the fun I once had dressing up every day when I was doing my undergrad.

I am pretty adverse to taking photographs of my outfits because my camera isn't the best, I don't have a great backdrop (nor do I like taking pictures in public, I have no tripod or ~photographically minded friend), I'm trying to embrace my body shape more, one life, one body, but I'm still self conscious about it. Anyway, here goes:

October 4th. Running errands.
Blazer, Zara. Blouse, People Tree. Wool waistcoat, vintage Jaeger. Trousers, Uniqlo. Boots, Camper.

October 5th. Going to the cinema.
Pullover, American Apparel. Trousers, Topshop (2010). Boots, Camper. Necklace, vintage puzzle pieces.

October 24th. Dropping off graduation forms.
Top, American Apparel. Trousers, Uniqlo. Boots, Camper. Necklace, charity shop.
(I hoped this would be a nod to a riot grrrl look).

October 26th. Cinema and pub.
Lipstick is Gay Geranium, No7, I bought this after seeing it on the beautiful Bethany!
Striped top, H&M (2008). Denim shirt, charity shop. Cords, Uniqlo (2010). High tops, Rocket Dog (2010, via charity shop).

October 27th. Grocery shopping.
Dress, H&M (2007). Tights, Pamela Mann. Boots, vintage. Necklace, Accessorize (2009).

October 28th. Running errands.
Top, charity shop. Skirt, American Apparel. Denim shirt, charity shop. High tops, Rocket Dog (via charity shop). Necklace, charity shop. 'Call Me' necklace, Lady Luck Rules Ok.
(I got this top last week, I liked the daisy pattern, therefore the close-up of my chest).

October 31st. Lazing about on Halloween, packing for London.
Roxy Music men's t-shirt, Amplified (via eBay). Skirt, American Apparel. High tops, Rocket Dog (via charity shop).
The t-shirt is a S but oversized on me as a men's shirt. I find it difficult to wear so today I just knotted it at the side, in a slightly cropped style so it'd look less sloppy. I like this shirt because its the (best) cover of my favourite Roxy album - Country Life.

Outfit: Dream Girl

2011-10-31T14:30:00.000Z

After making the Mysterious Skin/Wendy post I had a little fun the other afternoon and played around, conceiving an outfit that Wendy, or an early 90s Dream Pop girl would probably be most pleased to wear! The 90s revival is here, so embrace it. More glitter please!

I could have used Polyvore but you can't copy images from Etsy, so its the old fashioned way again.

Ring with enamel lips, ASOS

Black fly ring, River Island

Opal necklace, Etsy

Spike earrings, Bad Passion jewelry

Black Mesh Crop Top, Etsy

Star belly button bar, River Island

Tie dye mini skirt, Etsy

Fishnet tights, tightsplease.co.uk

Silver Doc Martens

Urban Decay's Book of Shadows

Urban Decay eye liner pencils

Hair glitter (I was a big fan of this, in the early noughties).

Inspiration: Wendy Peterson, Mysterious Skin (2004)

2011-10-28T18:30:00.000+01:00

I was discussing this film recently and I remembered how I was intrigued by Michelle Trachtenberg's character's look. Combined with the dream-pop soundtrack, its reminiscent of all that was good about the early 90s in terms of music and style. It speaks of spiderweb necklaces, lava lamps, glitter nails, butterfly clips, heavy eyeliner and hazy eyes.

Mysterious Skin is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Scott Heim.

"I met Wendy Peterson when I was ten. She was eleven, one grade ahead of me in school. If I wasn't queer we would have ended up having sloppy teenage sex and getting pregnant, contributing more fucked-up unwanted kids to society. But instead, she became my soulmate. And... one true partner in crime."

(Click on photos for larger versions)

The characters in this film all have had to deal with issues well beyond their years. I have a lot of sympathy for Wendy, she reminds me of the Peter Pan character, who must take care of a Peter Pan of her own, in the form of Neil.

The skin they live in, like every teenager they construct an image for themselves, be it Neil's nonchalant, devil may care attitude, in his tank tops and casual jackets. Wendy styles herself like a dream poptress (like Rachel Goswell of Slowdive or the girls of the riot grrrl movement - Babes in Toyland, Hole, etc) In fact, Wendy really epitomizes this aesthetic, as she leaves her small town and goes on her own way to the Big City (NY), whereas Neil, outwardly the most confident member of the group, follows.

The final scene of Wendy is her asleep in bed, oblivious to Neil's recent trauma. She has had to grow up quicker than everyone else, and take on everyone's burden, and to cope with her best friend keeping his biggest secret from her. Up until that point everyone has been leaving in a state of limbo, an uncomfortable dream until the past is finally confronted.

"You don't have to tell me, I was infatuated with him too once. But I know all Neil's secrets and there's shit there you don't even want to know about. Trust me. Once I'm gone, you'll be all Neil has and you have to understand one thing. Where normal people have a heart, Neil McCormick has a bottomless black hole. And if you don't watch out, you can fall in and get lost forever."

Wuthering Heights adaptions: A trailer analysis

2011-10-24T15:30:00.001+01:00

My love for Wuthering Heights may not be apparent on this blog, but in the weeks leading up to Andrea Arnold's highly anticipated adaption of Wuthering Heights I will prove otherwise.

Wuthering Heights is my favourite novel and naturally, I am excited when a new adaption is released, as I enjoy seeing a creative director's vision of the characters and their complex relationships. Whether or not I particularly appreciate their vision, I don't deny that I get a thrill when I see flesh and blood versions of Catherine and Heathcliff on the screen.

In this post I am going to look at the various adaptions of Wuthering Heights, the more well known ones (those that merited a trailer), through the medium of their trailers (so the more popular adaptions then). Beginning with Andrea Arnold's 'teaser trailer' for the upcoming release of Wuthering Heights on November 11th.

The 2011 trailer stars Kaya Scodelario as Cathy and the unknown actor James Howson as Heathcliff. As suggested by this trailer and confirmed by director Andrea Arnold, the focus of this adaption is the first half of the novel. Shannon Beer is the young Cathy, and Solomon Glave is the young Heathcliff, both making their film debut.

This is the best Wuthering Heights trailer of them all. It suggests something dark and uncomfortable, the infamous story is appropriately weighed down with a heavy, drooping atmosphere. It reminds one of 'psychic landscapes'. The camera work is tempestuous, at the mercy of the unforgiving weather conditions of the moors, it lends a tangible thrill to the proceedings.

The overall mood conveyed alludes to themes of despair, loneliness and childhood bonds, with allusions to death and the transitoriness of life. This is a world of contrasts, the interior versus the exterior. While nature is cleansing, it responds, expresses extreme emotion (Heathcliff lying on the ground with the rain on his face) - it offers little comfort, it is just like "the eternal rocks beneath, a source of little visible delight, but necessary."

The sense of foreboding is always omni-present, the wind wails relentlessly in the background. The shot of two birds circling across the moors, a reminder that two similar souls are locked together for life, or in this case, beyond death. Nature grounds all living creatures, we are all at its mercy, the moors are their dangerous playground.

I don't know what this predicts for the film, perhaps Arnold focuses too much on mood rather than the relationships.

Since there is (blessedly) little dialogue in this trailer three quotes particularly come to my mind whilst watching:
"What were the use of my creation, if I were entirely contained here? My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning: my great thought in living is himself." (Cathy)

"My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary." (Cathy)

"You said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" (Heathcliff)

The 2009 Wuthering Heights adaption was made for ITV television and divided into two parts. Therefore the "trailers" were more teasers than anything else. Made for a television audience.

This trailer takes for granted that we are already familiar with the story. It opens with the scene from the first chapter where Heathcliff awaits Cathy's ghost. The story is immediately associated with a violent aspect as the ghoulish fist comes smashing through the window pane and grasped blindly by Heathcliff.

The voiceover is of Cathy quoting one of the most famous passages from the book, her "I am Heathcliff" speech, spoken in confidence with Nelly. It is apparent that this adaption focuses on their teenage years together. We are acquainted with a shot of Nelly, which is significant, as she acts as the novels primary narrator, the story of Catherine and Heathcliff is told through her voice.

This adaption is embroidered with a definite sexual element - the kissing scene is not in the book, as far as the book portrays there is no sexual contact between Cathy and Heathcliff, to Nelly's knowledge anyhow. This is sexing it up for a new audience since this is the first adaption in over a decade, audiences tastes in costume dramas have evolved.

There is a ghoulish, otherworldy element - the grave digging scene suggests a grim finality and an eternal reunion can only be found in death - "We will not talk of our seperation again" - "[I] wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth." The trailer ends with Heathcliff breaking into Cathy's grave and embracing her corpse.

The music is an interesting touch, it has an element of folklore and the oriental about it, which seems appropriate considering the book alludes to Heathcliff's Gypsy-like appearance and elusive ethnic background. It also reminds me of the vagabond lifestyle of the gypsy traveling communities, who have no fixed place of origin nor do they have a fixed abode, which also parallels the uncertain origins of Heathcliff's background. Heathcliff leaves the Heights for a period and travels abroad, upon his return he is fixed with a certain degree of wealth, again of which we have no clue as to how he obtained, whether it was through employment in the wars, or by dishonesty. What we know of Heathcliff's character and temperament, it could easily be one as much as the other.

This is probably the most famous adaption of Wuthering Heights. The 1994 adaption with Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff and Juliet Binoche as Cathy.
The soundtrack is one of the most remarkable things about this film and trailer, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto and notoriously hard to come by (out of print), it supplies a powerful and eerie backdrop.

Heathcliff's voice domineers the opening, in a scene conceived particularly for this film adaption, which sets the theme for the direction their relationship will take. The moors are presented as uninhabitable and barren, where Cathy and Heathcliff only find comfort in each other in the crevices and most isolated parts of the countryside.

Even though this is one of my favourite adaptions of the story, I'm not a fan of this trailer at all, I don't like the melodramatic voice over. I think it caters for an American audience. It unnecessarily poses it as a Romeo/Juliet story, "but she was sworn to another" (untrue, one of the complexities of the story is that she accepts Linton's proposal and sacrifices Heathcliff) "It was Cathy's own choice.. and Heathcliff's own curse". The dramatic use of words "passion", "obsession" are overly dramatic and theatrical, dumbing down the unique pull of the story. It doesn't require these overblown descriptions. Voiceovers in general tend to date very quickly.

The selling point of this film is that it is the first adaption up until that point to adapt the whole book.

The 1939 version starred Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff and Merle Oberon as Cathy. Ironically, the lead actress, Oberon, whose own parentage and ethnicity is as hotly debated as Heathcliff's.
This adaption is stamped with the authority of the studio from the outset, which means the story will unfold under a dictated auteurship - "Samuel Goldwyn".

This is definitely posed as a romance story. With Laurence Olivier in the role as Heathcliff, his character is posed as the archetypical cinematic, handsome hero, as much as Heathcliff is the Byronic hero. The film industry in these days was dictated by the studio system and was notorious for "colouring up" actors as opposed to using genuine ethnic or mixed race actors, even if the role required it. Heathcliff is displayed as being brave and strong, with women swooning over him. He is a "gypsy", the lure of the exotic surrounds him.

The movie's selling point is certainly its star cast - typical of the studio system of the time. It is directed by William Wyler, who had directed Jezebel the year before, a story about a Southern belle shunned by her community for her vain and shocking behaviour.

This was not filmed on location, most of the scenes are filmed within interiors, which instantly takes away from the beauty of the book. So much of Cathy and Heathcliff's time is spend outdoors, the moors are central to their story. This adaption was filmed in California, heather was shipped over especially from England to 'recreate' the Yorkshire background, but not very convincingly.

The trailer makes it apparent that Heathcliff is an outcast, but he is curiously desired by women and despised by men. It is very much in the tone of the movies of the time, where the exotic vagabond who doesn't answer to societies' rules is posed as the hero (Errol Flynn's Captain Blood for example). understandably it is catering to the tastes of cinema-goers of the time. But such an unconventional story doesn't quite merit such a conventional treatment, which is what frustrates me.

There is some powerful dialogue and racial slander used throughout "You're not as black and horrible as they all think", "Gypsy beggar", "I'll be your slave" which are problematic in themselves. However, none of the script captures the powerful nuances of Emily's narrative, disappointingly.

Related posts:
Here is a previous post I wrote about Emily Brontë and Wuthering Heights.

Please share your opinions of the 2011 trailer or the other adaptions!

Urge for going

2011-10-22T01:46:00.002+01:00

I'm still around. I've not been feeling very inspired lately, mostly just been working my minimum wage job, enjoying Saturday nights with my pals as well as saying goodbye to friends who are emigrating, rushing to fill in graduation forms and struggling to make Big Life Decisions. I'm going to London for a few days in a couple of weeks so will hopefully have some posts to share with you both before and after!

Here's a flavour of what I've been listening to as Autumn approaches Winter.

New beginnings

2011-10-02T19:08:00.005+01:00

As the seasons change, sometimes our life does too, as we reach the end of one path, we warily venture onto another.

So whats new?

I came across interesting things in Edinburgh's charity shops. including a WHOLE CABINET of Royal Wedding mugs.

A friend came to stay.

I began altering a lovely dress.

Gifts, books picked up in charity shops and a 1970s Sadler tea pot are making me smile recently.

Postcards from friends.

New view, new hallway.

New diet. I'm vegan now!

And my younger brother passed his exams! (Us circa 2001 when pastel capris, sketchers and embellished tops were the things girls who went to the cinema to see Bring it On! for their thirteenth birthday wore.)

A room of one's own

2011-09-12T14:30:00.000+01:00

So as I prepare to move out of my first flat in Glasgow into a new one, I took some pictures to remember the room I fondly called home for a year.

Panorama collage of the view from my bed, usually when I'm sitting on my laptop

Chest of drawers with various trinkets, my jewelry

My bed. That throw has been around as long as I can remember, so its a little bit of home, from home. Cushions are from ikea. The postcards and prints make up my wall of women - figures from art and some victorian photographs too, i've been collecting this over the years. The Mucha mirror is a bit battered around the edges, but I found it in my first month here for £1 in Salvation Army.

The view from my desk, onto the communal back garden. The pile of books are my to read and unfinished/abandoned reading pile. You may recognise the beautiful actress photos I have pinned up.

My desk, when its tidy would you believe

Shoes and more shoes. Safe to say that's theres a definite colour scheme going on here.

Shelves; books, diaries, trinket boxes, postcards, ipod dock, dvds

Textbooks, college folders, stationary boxes
This shelving unit is ugly and doesn't 'match' the rest of the room, but its functional!

All the furniture came with the house. I love the wardrobe especially. There's some great charity shops here that sell furniture and I always go in to admire it, not that i have the space for it. There really are some beautiful pieces that can be picked up cheaply and given a new lease of life.

The room is quite dim, and the light from the bulb is very orange so I never really took pictures here during the year. I will miss it though, because it was quite homely and cosy.

I'm looking forward to making another room my own - but as I type this, I haven't got one yet, so I hope I'll have somewhere to live by the time this is published!

Class of '10/11

2011-09-08T13:30:00.000+01:00

The dissertation's done and gone. For the final week of August I've been grasping precious moments with my friends before we all go our separate ways. A year is too short to enjoy close friendships, but it was fun while it lasted.

I've had enough hangovers, ice cream, dancing and delicious meals out to sustain me for a while! No more library trips, but the library breaks were the best fun. I vow never to consume another mars slice again, I'll always associate with those extended lunch hours.

Here's a few brief snapshots of the heady few weeks. It had its own unique highs and lows but its made me appreciate my friends more than ever and now i have many more new countries to send mixtapes and babbling letters to!

Thank you Jess, Katie, Allan, Poi, Nenagh, Cody, Hope, Darren, Claire, Stephen, Hannah & Hannah!

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1996)

2011-09-04T14:00:00.000+01:00

Anyone who knows me can vouch for my passion for costume dramas. The gloomier and more gothic the better. In preparation for the lead up to Jane Eyre (9/9/11) and Wuthering Heights (11/11/11) I've been re-watching some of my favourites. I do bemoan the fact that the same book adaptions are being made, leaving the lesser known, but equally intense novels in the dark. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is one of the latter. Fortunately, it was translated by the BBC in 1996 into a fantastic adaption, (the BBC made an adaptation in 1968 as well).

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is an 1848 novel by Anne Brontë (the third and obscurest Brontë sister) under the pseudonym Acton Bell. It was her second and final novel, after Agnes Grey. It is generally considered the most shocking of the Brontë's novels, it deals with immoral themes of adultery and vice, as well as domestic abuse. The book outsold that of Wuthering Heights, penned by her sister Emily. The book, set in rural Yorkshire, is narrated by Gilbert Markam, neighbour to the mysterious young widow, Helen Graham, who moves into a nearby mansion, Wildfell Hall.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is considered to be one of the first feminist novels. it challenged the morals of the Victorian era in Helen's upright refusal to tolerate her husbands abuses, therefore subverting the prescribed gender roles of the time. Helen grasps her own freedom by retreating to Wildfell Hall with her young son, and providing her own meagre income through her art. The neighbourhood gossips and defames her reputation, but Graham refuses to believe these rumours and finds himself falling in love with the cryptic young mother.

The scope of 1996 adaption is grandiose, sweeping across the foggy moors to inhabiting the darker and moody corners of Helen Graham's home. Rather than being dull the greyness of the composition is crisp and refreshing. We see the characters in sharp contrast and can read their characters well. The setting veers between the crooks and corners of Wildfell and its surroundings to the gaily lit ballrooms described by Helen in correspondence with Gilbert. Most of Gilbert and Helen's encounters happen outdoors, alluding to the freedom Helen craves as opposed to the violence, entrapment and uncomfortable secrecy imposed by the domestic sphere. However Helen can not be wholly free and soon her past catches up with her necessitating her to leave Wildfell, not before communicating the truth of her situation to Gilbert with whom she has formed a romantic attachment.

Toby Stephens plays Gilbert Markham, the earnest neighbour. Tara Fitzgerald is in the title role of Helen Graham. Rupert Graves plays the cruel Huntingdon.

I love this adaption because of the feminist subtext, but particularly on an aesthetic level due to lingering shots emphasizing the sparse, craggy quality of the moors, but also the violent camera angles and jolts, adding to the savage atmosphere at times. The tangible quality of the costumes perfectly fit the characters, particularly when comparing the flashbacks of Helen's optimistic youth to the direness of her situation at Wildlfell. We can see the transition of Helen's youthful frivolity of dress and hair to the more conservative, somewhat stern sensibility of her dress as secretive widower Helen. She holds an impressive crucifix collection it must be said!

If you can't get your hands on the dvd, you can watch it online here! Don't ever say I don't have your back!

Also, I'm not sure what country of origin this is from, but I don't know if this dvd cover is an accurate representation of the series, lovely shot as it is.

Summer XI

2011-09-01T14:00:00.001+01:00

So i'm back after some academic and personal upheavals in my life recently. I'm feeling rather drained but have been listening to my summer playlist recently and with the support of my wonderful friends I'm going to aim to be more upbeat about the future and focus on me, and my accomplishments.

To you wonderful people I am sharing my summer playlist. Even though its the end of summer it will make a good autumn soundtrack while the memories of the summer months still linger. It's a bit of an eclectic list, some of the choices are influenced by friends of mine! They'll know who they are.

Summer XI mix (remove 'xx')

Tracklist
1. I'm on Fire, Bruce Springsteen
2. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Bryan Ferry
3. Something In The Way, Best Coast
4. Take It As It Comes, Vivian Girls
5. Age of Consent, New Order
6. Cool, Gwen Stefani
7. Fever, Kylie Minogue
8. Beat of My Drum, Nicola Roberts
9. The Bogus Man, Roxy Music
10. Everybody Knows, Leonard Cohen
11. Hypnotize U, N.E.R.D.
12. Leather and Lace, Stevie Nicks
13. The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever), Villagers
14. Love Is A Losing Game, Amy Winehouse
15. La Isla Bonita, Madonna
16. Love Train, The O'Jays

(No copyright infringement intended!)

I'm looking forward to blogging regularly again, now that I have no university commitments, etc, in my life.

Hiatus (of sorts)

2011-08-01T13:30:00.001+01:00

A fragment of the pile that has become the bane of my life right now.

Even though I'm not the most steady blogger around, I hate to leave this blog lying in standby without an explanation. I'm currently typing up my dissertation and should be dedicating the utmost of my time to it at this point in the summer. I'll be back by the summers close. Enjoy your freedom! I envy you.

You can still find me active at my tumblr, a certain smile.

A weekend in Dublin

2011-07-27T12:45:00.001+01:00

A few snaps of my sojourn in Dublin, when I wasn't researching in the National Library (I gazed at the ceiling of the reading room a lot, not just daydreaming, heres why), before my camera was knocked about. How wonderful it was to see these faces again!

Martha

Cheesecake

Reading material

The colourful surrounding of Foam, Dublin

Brown bread and Dingle sea salt ice cream from my favourite Temple Bar haunt Murphy's Ice Cream

Aileen (and new friend)

View of IMMA's gardens from my friend's apartment

Adam, my lovely host

Maireád

Roaming Rathmines

Session

Sessioning

Sessioned out

My little brother also turned 15 last week, on Bastille Day, but sadly my camera wasn't working to take pictures of our day out this weekend. Perhaps he'll permit me to photograph his freckled face if I get my camera up and running again.

More on my flickr.

Amy

2011-07-23T18:08:00.004+01:00

Talent can be burdensome sometimes. I can't articulate all my feelings, I can only listen back over her songs and appreciate her powerful voice and presence.

A big loss for our generation. You've left a void Amy, hopefully you're at peace now, wherever you are.

14 September 1983 — 23 July 2011.

Summer in Glasgow

2011-07-20T21:24:00.006+01:00

I've been out of the country for the past week or so, and been feeling pretty uninspired as my dissertation and work occupies my time at the moment. I got to spend some quality time with my friends, some mishaps were had (including the demise of my less than a month old camera but more of that later), but I happily got to fit in some burgers from Eddie Rockets that i'd been craving since seeing it in the background of the trailer for The Guard.

Here are some snapshots of my summer thus far -

Mac n cheese wot I made

Drying sheets in our kitchen

Green tea & courgette cake

Souvenirs

Eighteenth century gown, Kelvingrove Museum and Art gallery

Floating heads, Kelvingrove Museum and Art gallery

Attempting to get to grips with my camera

Reflection of tall ship on Riverside Transport Museum, by the Clyde, Glasgow

Bikes and cars, Riverside Transport Museum, by the Clyde, Glasgow

Front view of Riverside Transport Museum, by the Clyde, Glasgow

Lucy, a friday night

Wallpaper, Flat 0/1, Glasgow

More shots on my flickr.

Updates will be sporadic from now until the end of August to be honest, I miss updating!

Vivien Leigh, Artist's Muse

2011-07-10T18:50:00.002+01:00

This is my contribution to Kendra's Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier Appreciation blog-a-thon, running this weekend, July 9th & 10th.

Vivien Leigh (1913–1967) by Thomas Cantrell Dugdale, c. 1936
Owned by Glasgow Museums, on display in Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

This post was inspired by a portrait of Vivien I unwittingly stumbled across in Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery a few weeks ago. Considering I am studying art history, I thought it would be appropriate subject matter for me, combining two of my loves!

Vivien Leigh was a well known name in the late 1930s, we know she toured with The Doctor's Dilemma in 1942 which played in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In 1936 The Happy Hypocrite went on tour, but I'm not sure if it played in Glasgow, though it did in Manchester. Unfortunately, there is little information on Vivien and her time in Scotland, so I can't really explain why this portrait ended up in Glasgow. I do know it was acquired by Glasgow Museums in 1936, the year it was painted. I don't know who commissioned it, nor why.

Vivien appears to be sitting upright in bed, the sheets pulled up to her waist, in an attractive gauzy nightgown, the black standing starkly out against the delicate background of the green and white sheets and pillows that surround her protectively. The glamour of her position is recognizable, with her fashionably teased hair, thin eyebrows, that striking red lipstick and highly polished red nails. She clasps her hands to her chest in an almost nervous, anticipatory gesture. Her expression is a little sad as she gazes questionably at the viewer.

The bed scene is an unusual one for portraiture, where sitters usually are depicted in settings appropriate to their position. Looking at this portrait retrospectively we can sadly reflect that Vivien did spend a significant amount of time bed bound, owing to her delicate health, so perhaps this setting is appropriate, but why the artist chose to paint her here - was it by choice or the situation he found himself in? Vivien's nervous, restless character is alluded to in Alan Dent's biography 'Vivien: A Bouquet' I found an entry from Oswald Frewen's diaries for Monday, August 31st, 1936:

'Returning to the Vivling's, and she came in with Laurence Olivier and an influenzal throat and chill. O. opined rum, and I popped over to the Pitt's Head and amused them by asking them to give me some in the tumbler I brought with me ... We pumped it into the Vivling with hot water added and sugar and she hated it... Larry was just amusing. He couldn't make out what I was doing in the house, why Viv was interested in my purchase of rum, nor least of all why I should sit on her bed and propose to 'talk her to sleep' after he had gone. He tried and tried and tried again to establish the fiat that we all leave her; she was wakeful. I said I had a voice calculated to put anyone to sleep in 10 minutes; Vivling agreed (with a seraphic smile); larry was not amused. Rang up next morning to ask how she was and who was the 'smasher (trade term for stage-door pushful over-enthusiasts)!'

Thomas Cantrell Dugdale RA was a British painter, born in in 1882 (d. 1952). During the Great War he served in Egypt, and painted a number of portraits of Air Marshalls and those serving on the front line, including nurses. His work was varied, he painted portraits of everyday people from fishermen to mothers as well as many exotic middle eastern landscapes, to street scenes of London. Not much is known about him, but from what I've seen, his palette can be bright and imitative of natural light, to solemn for more serious portraits, but bestowing all his subjects with an upright bearing and dignity.

His paintings seem to appear regularly at auction, including a number of society portraits. The one of Vivien above appears to be in this society portrait vein, but somewhat curiously, unlike the other portraits of Dugdale's I have seen she appears to be depicted as sitting in bed, which seems an out of the ordinary setting for a portrait. See also his portraits of silent movie actress Maudie Dunham, Lady Dorothy Etta Warrender, Wendy Hillier (held in the National Portrait Gallery) and Jessie Matthews (apparently in Andrew Lloyd Webber's own collection).

What was Vivien doing in 1936?
The year previously (1935) to this portrait being painted, Vivien had become an overnight sensation, having been discovered in The Mask of Virtue, which ran in London's West End. In 1936, she starred in The Happy Hypocrite alongside Ivor Novello. As for her personal life at this time, she had a young daughter, was a rising star in London's theatre world, and it was around this time that her affair with Laurence Olivier began, in 1937 their first film together Fire Over England was released.

Vivien sat for the society photographer, Madame Yevonde in 1936. It is interesting to be able to make comparissons between the two, to see how faithful the depiction of Vivien was. Of course, the methods being quite different. I love the contrast between the two depictions, in Cantrell's painting Vivien is cooly beautiful and elegant, a small smile playing across her face. In Yevonde's photograph we can see the vivacious Vivling that we love, a mischievous smile, a light dancing in her eyes, all fire and ambition - perhaps she'd seen Larry that day? She was clearly London's darling, at the height of her theatre career, her talent, charisma and beauty attracting painters and photographers alike, who wanted to capture her spirit on canvas and film. I love that she is wearing bold red lipstick in both representations, this says something about her too, always ready for her close-up, no matter where. Yevonde photographed other subjects depicted by Cantrell, such as Lady Dorothy Etta Warrender, mentioned above.

If you can tell me anything more about Vivien in Scotland, or about this artist or particular painting, please get in touch! Comments are very much welcomed!

London, II - Vivien and Larry's London

2011-06-29T12:20:00.003+01:00

So my main objective for going to London at the end of May was to take part in A Weekend with the Oliviers, organised by Kendra.

It was two days spent with a legion of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier aficionados, bliss! The schedule consisted of a tour of the Old Vic on Saturday morning, followed by a screening of That Hamilton Woman (Vivien in the role of the infamous Emma Hamilton and Larry as Nelson, naturally). Sunday was my personal favourite venture of the weekend, we met at the Olivier statue at the National Theatre and from there began our Vivien and Laurence themed walking tour of London.

Olivier's statue outside the NT, erected in 2007. Olivier was the first director of the National Theatre, 1963-1973 (during its years at the Old Vic).

Aldwych Theatre, Laurence Olivier directed Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire here in 1949.

Vivien as Blanche du Bois, 1949.

The Savoy, where Vivien and Larry first formally met in 1937.

Vivien's memorial plaque (erected by in, as Vivien has no formal gravestone, having being cremated after her death).
St. Paul’s The Actor’s Church, Covent Garden

The Ivy
This famous, exclusive restaurant near Covent Garden was frequented by London’s smart set, including Vivien Leigh who could often be spotted dining alongside Noel Coward and other theatrical luminaries.

The Noel Coward Theatre
This is where the Old Vic company performed during and after the war while waiting for bomb damage at the Old Vic to be repaired. The stage at the New Theatre is where Laurence Olivier officially became a theatrical superstar during the 1944-1945 season.

Ambassadors Theatre
Just next door to the Ivy, Vivien Leigh became an overnight star when The Mask of Virtue opened here in 1935.

Vivien as Henriette Duquesnoy in The Mask of Virtue, 1935, a reformed prostitute masquerades as 'a paragon of innocence'.

Afternoon tea - Having a very creamy waffle at Patisserie Valerie, 44 Old Compton Street, London

St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, Vivien Leigh’s public memorial service was held here.

Her Majesty's Theatre, Just across the street from the Theatre Royal. Vivien Leigh starred alongside Ivor Novello in The Happy Hypocrite here in 1936.

Theatre Royal Haymarket, When The Doctor’s Dilemma came to London in 1943, it opened at this theatre and ran for over a year because audiences were thrilled to be able to see Scarlett O’Hara in the flesh.

Publicity still of Vivien as Jennifer Dubedat in The Doctor's Dilemma, taken by Angus McBean. Also, Larry's favourite photo of Vivien.

St. James House, Holland Park, London. The former site of the St James’ Theatre. It was demolished and rebuilt as a modern office building, but the alley between the office and the pub next door boasts a relief of the Oliviers in the Two Cleopatras as well as a plaque commemorating the protest to save the theatre that was led by Vivien Leigh in 1958.

This flat (flat D) in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in London, was purchased by the Oliviers in 1958, Vivien lived here until her death in 1967. Today it is occupied by Louise Rainer.

Vivien & Larry at Durham Cottage, Chelsea, SW3

Vivien Leigh's Duel of Angels costume, Dior, V&A

Laurence Olivier's Oedipus Rex costume, 1946, V&A

For a comprehensive list of these and other Larry and Vivien places of interest around London, you can find them here and here.

After this exhausting day, we went for some food in Leicester Square before going to see Susie Lindeman's performance as Vivien in A Letter to Larry. Tarquin Olivier was in residence! I was too shy to shake his hand but others took the opportunity. It was a strong performance by Ms. Lindeman, based on Larry's request for divorce from Vivien, so some dark subject matter was being dealt with.

We then said our respective goodbyes, and took our exhausted but happy selves home.

London, I - The Cult of Beauty

2011-06-22T12:20:00.005+01:00

I got the train down to London from Glasgow, arriving on Thursday evening. Jostled with my bag through the rush hour and finally made it to south London where I was staying, despite a few slip up and I caught the bus driver on a good day, despite my Londoner friends horror stories!

Friday afternoon, May 27th, I made my highly anticipated visit to The Cult of Beauty exhibition currently on at the V&A. This exhibition explores the origins, influence and legacy of the Aesthetic movement from 1860-1900. The Aesthetic movement found its roots in the Art Movement ('art for arts sake'), it was a departure from the cloying historicism (Gothic/Medieval revival) that was in vogue in the mid-century and dominated interior and decorative arts. The Aesthetic movement was often the brunt of mockery in the popular press, one of the most popular comic operas of the day - Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado pokes fun at the aesthetes preoccupation with Japan, such was the craze for everything japonisme. Some famous aesthetes included Oscar Wilde (who went on a lecture tour of America, themed around 'The House Beautiful'), Dante Rosseti, Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and James Whistler.

Aestheticism in decorative arts is recognizable by oriental motifs and themes, naturalistic themes such as the use of birds (peacock feathers) and flowers (sunflowers), the use of such motifs is heavily symbolic. In furniture, the revulsion towards the heavily decorative High Victorian style is palpable, exotic woods like mahogany were used, and executed in simple forms inspired by Japan (Godwin, for example). Aestheticism spread to dress (rational dress, Liberty & Co.), illustration (Beardsley) to poetry (Yeats). Aestheticism was a way of life, not merely a 'style'. It is linked to Pre-Raphaelitism and Arts and Crafts.

Some of my favourite pieces, in the running order of the exhibition (more or less) -

The Butterfly Cabinet (1877/78), James McNeill Whistler and E. W. Godwin, on loan from The Hunterian Gallery, Glasgow.
This mahogany cabinet was designed by Whistler's friend, the architect Edward W. Godwin for the 1878 Universal Exhibition, Paris. Whistler added painted decoration in yellow and gold based on floral motifs and the butterfly, which was Whistler's monogram.
This caught my eye because I had seen it a few months ago in its permanent home at The Hunterian Museum at my university (Glasgow).

Veronica Veronese, 1872, Dante Gabriel Rossetti
This painting depicts a fictional Rossetti was inspired by the Venetian painters and this is where the female sitter takes her Italianate name from.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti reading proofs of 'Sonnets and Ballads' to Theodore Watts Dunton in the drawing room at 16 Cheyne Walk, 1882, Henry Treffry Dunn
Gouache

Table, mahogany, 1867-1868, Edward William Godwin
In the Japonisme style, this was one of the most popular and reproduced items of furniture in this style.

Elkington & Co. (Birmingham), 'Japonisme' teaset, 1886

Esther (1865), John Everett Millais

Liberty & Co. tea gown, 1894
Made for one of the members of the Liberty family. Arthur Lasenby Liberty is representative of the self made Victorian businessman. His store did a roaring trade in aesthetic furniture, textiles, etc. This gown conforms to the ideals of the rational dress movement. The gown in aesthetic in style in the historic detailing to the sleeves and bodice, done in a Renaissance style.

Castellani brooch and matching hair ornaments, 1875-1895
This brooch and the later, matching hair ornaments are thought to have been given by the painter William Holman Hunt to his wife Edith.

Head of A Sicilian Boy, 1890s, Wilhelm von Gloeden.

Mors Janua Vitae, 1861, Harry Bates
'Death is the gate of [everlasting] life', Bronze, ivory, and mother of pearl

My only gripe with this exhibition was the audio visual element - they have colourful projections of sunflowers and peacock feathers on the walls which is unusual, eye catching, nothing wrong with that - but I disliked the 'reconstruction' of Whistler's Peacock Room. It was a small circular imitation of a 'room' that you entered into and there are projections of images of Whistler's elaborate decorative murals. It was formally created for the British shipping magnate Frederick Leyland's London home, who wanted a place to showcase his blue-and-white Chinese porcelain collection. I felt it was unnecessary, it broke up the flow of the room it was showcased in - and on a base level, rooms are usually square and it didn't feel like a room when I entered it (so what that was it trying to achieve if not a 'roomy' feel, surely?), it was just a mass of screens with pictures of the room floating around on it, it was disconcerting and didn't seem to be a draw for many of the visitors that were there either.

I loved the peephole that enabled the visitor to 'peep' into a reconstruction of Rossetti's sitting room at 16 Cheyne Walk, this is near the beginning of the exhibition. On the whole, the exhibition was true to the spirit of the movement that inspired it - from the 'greenery-yallery' walls, the variety of exhibits (from photographs to paintings) and the display of 'fine art' alongside decorative arts, as it was intended.

Interesting links
Liberty's window is currently a tribute to the exhibition in the V&A that they played a significant part in
&
Also from the V&A, an interesting blog on the installation of the exhibition - 'Creating the Cult of Beauty'. Great to see how a major exhibition is installed and marketed.

Images via (and copyrighted to) the V&A, The National Portrait Gallery, The Hunterian Gallery Glasgow and the paintings through Google Images. All rights reserved.
.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T10:30:00.000+01:00

I first posted these pictures of my Dad taken in the late sixties and early seventies (as a student in Dublin) last year. I don't have many old photos of him and these are my favourite.

I want to thank my Dad for fostering my love of history by watching all those documentaries when I was a kid, answering all my questions, taking me on father and daughter holidays to historically significant places in Ireland, England and Italy. I'm sorry for being a difficult child and having all those tantrums. Thank you for supporting me through a degree you didn't quite grasp because it wasn't something practical like nursing.

We never say it out loud (being Irish) but I love my Dad very much. I don't know what I would do without you. Happy Father's Day and I hope you got my card:

York, Part II

2011-06-12T17:10:00.001+01:00

Continuing on from Part II.

Next up on Thursday the 19th was York Castle Museum, 'the best day out in history'. The museum is best known for its recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate. It is the oldest recreated street in Britain (c. 1938) and apparently pioneered this visitor experience which is now used by thousands of museums worldwide. The street is named for Dr. John Kirk who desired to create a museum of everyday life and even rescued Victorian shop fronts. I was skeptical at first, having been at many such things before, more wary of the wooden 'lifelike' figures with their dated, badly applied make-up and flaking ~~skin~~ paint. However, I quickly revised that opinion because it was executed very well. There was little to none recordings of horses hooves on the cobblestones or market sellers hawking their wares in cockney accents. The window displays were magnificent, museum displays in their own right. I only wish my camera could take better pictures because I'd love to show some to you.

Hannah in the 1890s schoolroom.

Other parts of the museum celebrated themes of life - birth, marriage and death. There was also a current exhibition on about cleanliness throughout the nineteenth century to present day.

Two nineteenth-century wedding dresses, I'm sorry I can't be more specific, I can't find my notes.
I love seeing how styles of dress change over time and according to social/economic conditions of the time. Did you know that Queen Victoria was the first aristocrat to wear white for her wedding dress? Up until then wedding dresses were dyed (so that they could be worn again and also as a display of wealth). Dye was expensive and so only peasants and poorer classes wore white on their wedding day. The connotations of colour are powerful. White suggesting humility and a certain naivety, which applies less in our age - where white or cream are popular choices for wedding gowns because its an impractical colour to wear in every day life and we can't afford the dry cleaning bill - that's luxury for you.

Having dabbled in some museum studies this year, I have to say that my eye is now trained to notice methods of display and labeling of exhibits. We've even debated the use of mannequins, life-like/face/no face? I think that the mannequins used at York Castle Museums to display their costume collection are possibly some of the best I've seen. I love how they've used swatches of material to convey the effect of hair, and only the vaguest suggestion of facial features.

Then onto Leeds and its art gallery! An uexpected surprise, a beautiful spacious gallery. I loved the layout and colour schemes (trumping neutral, inoffensive white for brash blues, who knew that'd work so well?) The paintings they hold in their collection is impressive.

Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott, 1894.
The colours, textures, composition! Oh this was bewitching in person!

Arthur Hacker, The Temptation of Sir Percival, 1894.

Evelyn de Morgan, The Valley of Shadows, 1899.

Francis Bacon, Head VI, 1949.

Percy Wyndham Lewis, Praxitella, 1921.

The Leeds Art Gallery café was equally as impressive, gorgeous mosaics everywhere, reminiscent of a nineteenth-century tea room. I had courgette and lime cake, that I throughly enjoyed. Unfortunately the only thing that out a damper on this particular visit was our struggle to find the shop which was inconveniently located somewhere near the rear of the building and had closed by the time we had found it at twenty to five. Which seems such an odd time to close. No lovely postcards for me on this trip.

That evening we got back and ate great Thai at The Old Siam, which was consistently busy, always a good sign! Afterward we went on a terrible ghost tour of York. Word of warning - if you're doing a ghost tour in York, avoid the one that meets outside York Minster. We encountered some hauntings of our own later on, courtesy of an eerie pub toilet. We did get to walk amongst the Shambles though which was lovely in itself.

Friday was our last day, and we made one final excursion, along the City Walls, to the York Art Gallery. The highlight of which you see below, along with 'Goodbye to all That' by Stanley Spencer.

David Hockney, Bigger Trees Near Warter (Or/Ou Peinture Sur Le Motif Pour Le Nouvel Age Post-Photographique), 2007.
Funnily enough, I preferred its postcard reproduction. Still not sure how I feel about this. It is eerie to look at.

York train station was large, clean but still retained a Victorian character. The rush of going traveling to all parts of the country, trains coming and going.

York, Part I

2011-06-08T12:34:00.003+01:00

From May 17th - 20th, a handful of classmates and myself visited York.

On Tuesday we had a guided tour of Fairfax House, Castlegate. Fairfax House is a Georgian town house displaying one of the finest collections of English eighteenth-century furniture to be found anywhere. Fairfax House was built in 1762 to provide a residence for the Fairfax family during York's winter social season of events, balls and assemblies. It was St. George's Cinema and Dancehall in 1919, and was used until the late 70s, whereupon it soon fell into disrepair. In 1982 the York Civic Trust stepped in to save this important building and mount a major restoration project. It was opened to the public in 1984.

Afterward we made a sojourn to the York Assembly Rooms, stopping on the way for some alcoholic refreshment in a pub, where most of the clientele were under the influence, at 5pm! Guess we must have wandered off the tourist trail!

The Assembly Rooms are in wonderfully preserved condition (restored in 1952), now serving as a home to an Italian chain of restaurants. As you've seen in many an Austen adaption, assembly rooms were where the whose who of the town gathered during the social season. In the eighteenth-century, dances and card playing were held here, the ideal place to hob knob. Which is exactly what we did. I had a delish dish of butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli whilst we admired the columns and chandeliers over glasses of vino.

Wednesday came and there was our day trip to Castle Howard. I've never met anybody so helpful as people from Yorkshire, if it wasn't for a Marks & Spencer security guard we would have missed our bus to Castle Howard.

That night we crowded into one of our massive hotel rooms and watched The Apprentice, resting up for the long day ahead.

Thursday was the busiest day, we crowded so much in. First stop in the morning was York Minster cathedral. One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, there has been a church on its present site from the seventh century onward. It was a Catholic cathedral until the Reformation of the fifteenth-century. A gloriously imposing building, it really is the jewel in York's crown. Seeing buildings like this fills me with awe, that once we were a people who built massive structures like this to reach toward heaven and our idea of God.

West window. Some of the stained glass windows (not this window) contain glass that dates from the medieval period and each window is on a cleaning rotation of 80 years, where the window is taken apart and cleaned.

Part of the choir screen.

I always find it difficult taking pictures within large churches and monumental buildings because you are taking a small fragment of the whole, and its more about the unifying experience of each element that makes up the wonder, rather than singular aesthetic elements.

Second visit of the day was to the Treasurer's House.

The purpose of visiting this house was to think about collections and collectors. Now owned by the National Trust, this historic house served as the home of treasurers of York Minster in the sixteenth-century. A wealthy York industrialist, Philip Green restored the house from 1897-1930. He redesigned each room in the style of a certain period. The picture above is the Medieval Great Hall. Of course, interior decoration of the nineteenth-century was preoccupied with revivalism of all sorts, the medieval and Gothic styles being the most favoured.

This was probably my least favourite of the attractions we visited while in York. Some of the restored furnishings and particular the wallpaper seemed a bit sloppily done. I really didn't get a feel for why Frank Green decorated a room in a certain way, theres also an apparently haunted cellar, that we were too rushed to visit, I wonder how this fitted into the scope of the house. There was an invigilator in each room and I couldn't help but feel they must be bored to tears. There was nothing stimulating about this visit, to me. The view of York Minster from the lovely sunken garden was the only redeeming factor for me. Location, location, location.

Castle Howard

2011-06-03T18:07:00.008+01:00

Its nigh on a month since I last updated. What with exams, trips, et cetera I haven't found the time or energy to post.

A couple of weeks ago, I went with a few classmates to York, a beautiful Georgian town in Yorkshire. We visited Fairfax House, Castle Howard, the Leeds Art Gallery, York Castle Museum (that pioneered reproduction historical streets within a museum context) and the York Art Gallery.

I gave a presentation on Castle Howard in my undergraduate degree and my familiarity with Brideshead Revisited means that Castle Howard holds a special interest for me.

Castle Howard was designed by the playwright turned architect John Vanburgh (who famously also designed Blenheim Palace) and is remarkable for its central dome that adds majesty and theatrically to what would be otherwise a symmetrical house. Construction began on the house c. 1700, Vanburgh was commissioned to design the house by the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, Charles Howard (1669 - 1738). The House is still occupied Simon Howard who lives there with his wife and two young children. It is also a private enterprise, with garden produce sold and utilizing the house and gardens as a visitor attraction and venue for weddings. Many privately owned country houses operate on the same system, having to make money to keep the estate running in the twenty-first century.

Grand Staircase and China Landing, constructed in the 1870s. This is where (paying) visitors enter the house, this part of the house dates from the nineteenth century, this wing was added as had been intended in Vanburgh's plans. Contains portraits of family members.
The China cabinet houses over 300 pieces of china, mostly Meissen, Sévre and Chelsea.

Lady Georgiana's bedroom. Georgiana was the sixth Countess of Carlisle, born Cavidenish, the 1801 marriage between her and George Howard, the 6th Earl, formed a connection between Castle Howard and Chatsworth House that lasted throughout the nineteenth century.

Furniture and decorative schemes from the dressing room adjacent to Georgiana's bedroom.

Bedroom containing the oldest piece of furniture in the house, a fifteenth century English made cabinet. Is this the bedroom that Laurence Olivier performed the death scene of Lord Flyte? I think the bedroom was called Victoria's Bedroom/The Queen's bedroom but it is not named as such in the guidebook so I'm not sure. Quite exciting to think that Olivier lay in that bed though.

The Antique passage did not assume its original form until the West Wing was built and finally decorated at the beginning of the 19th century. The majority of the busts in this gallery are antique, collected by the 4th Earl during his trips to Italy in 1738-9. It is a marvelous gallery to walk down, preparing you for the drama of the Great Hall and Vanburgh's dome.

The interior of the dome (which rises 70 feet above the house and lends Castle Howard its unique silhouette). Original decoration by Antonio Pellegrini, executed between 1709 and 1712, depicting the four elements and the tale of Phaeton falling from his father's chariot. Sadly destroyed by fire in November 1940. Repainted in 1962, my friends and I were on the shelf about the repainting, sorry that you can't see it very well here.

Casualties of the 1940 fire still remain.

The turquoise drawing room, contains paintings by Gainsborough and Reynolds. Gainsborough's portrait of Isabella Byron (great aunt to the poet) is just cut off at the top of my photo. At the beginning of the nineteenth century this room contained Old Masters paintings and contemporary artwork. John Jackson's 'Lady Mary Howard' (1828) can be seen in the centre.

The Long Gallery is 160 feet in length, it contains a wonderful Rubens painting of Salomé with the head of St. John the Baptist which my camera proved useless to capture.

Morris & Co. screen, in the chapel. 'The Legend of Good Women', derived from Chaucer's poem. Worked by Jane Morris and her sister Bessie Burden. An interesting article here on the commission.

Me sitting at the iconic Atlas fountain, sadly not running at the moment due to plumbing damage caused by three hard, cold winters.

Temple of the Four Winds, a folly in the grounds of Castle Howard.

Unfortunately I didn't get to the Mausoleum, you have to book ahead to get a private tour. It is interesting as its interior is an imitation of the Parthenon ceiling. Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, begun in 1731. Generations of the Howard family have been buried in the crypt beneath.

The exhibition taking place when I was visiting is of the paintings and sketchbooks of George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle (1843-1911). I thought it was a nice addition to the house overall. I loved how the sketchbooks were displayed in an unordered haphazard fashion within the cases, no elaborate explanation needed.

This was incredible, George Howard elaborately decorated the envelopes of letters he sent to friends. Imagine this dropping through your letter box! For a stationary fiend like myself I really loved this little exhibit. It added a tangible personal element to the house, reminding you that it was foremost a family home, inhabited by generations of Howards with varying interests.

To conclude then, it was a thrill to finally see the house. The only gripe I have with the experience is that there is too much focus on Brideshead Revisited and Castle Howard's setting in the tv series and (terrible) movie. I understand that some of the rooms damaged in the 1940 fire still have not been restored yet I feel they could be put to better use rather than three rooms dedicated to Brideshead Revisited, especially the one that just details what the story is about. They have one room that was used as a set for the film, Lord Flyte's death scene, still preserved. I thought that was totally irrelevant, surely the tv series if anything is more iconic than the film. I also wish that there had been the option of a house tour by a guide, because I would really loved to have known about the interiors and furnishings.

Exhibition: The Potters' Process

2011-05-07T10:08:00.001+01:00

One of my assignments this year was to work on a student exhibition. I chose to do this module in order to learn valuable curatorial skills and what organizing an exhibition actually entailed.

I chose to be part of the marketing team, but we were all collectively responsible for the exhibition as a whole, as well as our individual cases, so it was a very inter-disciplinary assignment.

We worked in Paisley museum, selecting pieces from their collection of twentieth-century studio ceramics that we felt fit our objective. For all of us it transformed our conceptions of what studio ceramics really were (on the whole we had the 'brown pot' tradition in mind). We learnt about the significance of the audience and labeling and how these were to be interpreted depending on the institution you worked in.

Paisley Museum holds the largest collection of studio ceramics in Scotland, perhaps Britain.

Our exhibition The Potters' Process opened on Thursday last, the 28th of April, the culmination of months of hard work.

Installation -

Completion -

(Introductory cases, including the key piece from the exhibition, James Towers' Shell Form)

Example of labels.

The Potter's Trail, conceived for children, to interact with the exhibition

My case covered the decorative technique of incising the ceramic. It contained pieces by Bernard Leach, Lucy Rie, Jason Shackleton and Ian Pirie.

Opening -

It was so warm in the ceramics gallery that some of our nibbles couldn't stand the heat and fused together!

I was quite busy at the opening, so I didn't take many pictures.

I am relieved its all over now though, a lot of stress! I had two reports to hand in on the exhibition yesterday, they probably weren't very good, the assignment had vague guidelines. BUT its over!

Here is the link to The Potters' Process, including information and directions, if you're in and around Glasgow or Paisley this summer!

Royal Wedding

2011-05-04T09:42:00.000+01:00

Friday the 29th was a day that millions, including my friends and I had anticipated for weeks! On my part it was because I began a whirl of buying any royal merchandise I could get my hands on.

I began my drinking green tea from my Wills & Kate mug, watching the arrival of guests on the BBC.

We arrived at my friend Theo's for 10.30am to settle down for the ceremony at 11am. We dressed appropriately in wedding attire and fascinators for the occasion. Once the bunting was up we settled down on the sofa, glasses of cava in hand and awaited the pageantry that was to unfold.

I baked Wills & Kate fairy cakes for the occasion, whilst my housemate baked Will's favourite, fridge cake.

After the festivities ceased and we all squealed over the balcony kiss, we watched some trashy tv, including the awful William and Kate movie, we ate lots of crumpets, some of us (Ahem) drank lots of wine. We generally just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves whilst the highlights played out on repeat on the tv in the background.

Getting a bit carried away with the euphoria of it all.

My housemate has some wonderful photos that I may post at a later date, my point and shoot is just not up to scratch on that account.

Now I'm currently experiencing the Royal Wedding blues, and searching for the M&S royal wedding shortbread tin that is sold out near me (would be perfect for bulging postcard collection!)

What april showers?

2011-04-30T14:46:00.001+01:00

As I get through my post-wedding blues, I thought I'd share some pictures from my April. It was a lovely month, besides the assignments!

(It was the morning after the night before)

An attempt on behalf of me and my friend Seán to climb Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, we took a rest and turned back.

I went home to Sligo and Dublin for a few days and was reunited with my lovely friends & I/We...

Learnt about the dangers of smoking (hi rosie)

(hi austin)

You'd think after so many attempts they'd have found the right shade of green paint to conceal graffiti by now

Went to see the Frida Kahlo & Diego Riviera exhibition at IMMA

Saw some questionable posters in Kilmainham and played guessing games

My Dad enjoying his new Wills & Kate mug with a Tunnocks teacake.

My brother made me tomato soup, which I enjoyed with toasted soda bread as I luxuriously read the sunday papers

Stopped in at The Outsider, the Jack B. Yeats exhibition at the Niland.

Sat in the sunshine in Iveagh Gardens with friends and recounted vulgar anecdotes

Drank tinnies in the sun on the TCD cricket pitch instead of doing archival research (failed academic)

Mad for the thrift

2011-04-25T17:23:00.004+01:00

I hope you lords and ladies are out enjoying the sun this easter weekend and not confined to the desk like me!

It's safe to say that I am a charity shop junkie. I even like the familiar damp, musty smell that puts people off. The pokier the better. The dingiest, most cramped shops can sometimes hold the greatest treasures, as most people are put off by the prospect of wrestling through narrow aisles of clothes. Not me, its how I like to spend my free time. Whenever I'm in a new town I'm itching to explore the local charity shops.

Here are some of my favourite recent buys:

Reiss cropped jacket, €6.50

Wallis purple lurex disco top, €3
Worryingly, I'm becoming more and more like a magpie for lurex items of clothing

Max Mara wool drape skirt, £4

Denim shirt (I've been wearing this consistently for the past 2 months), £3, originally LOGG by H&M

€1 - I couldn't resist this! You Irish kids will probably have read this, around the same time as Under the Hawthorn Tree, right?

My recent charity shop/second hand bookshop acquisitions:

Brideshead Revisted & A Room with a View I already own, but i can't resist buying multiples of my favourite books, particularly if the cover is attractive. I'm frivolous that way. I also stock pile books and buy them so I won't forget to read them, eh, its a ... faultless system so far.

This is sort of a silly excuse for a post but I don't want yous to think I've upped and gone! Personally, I love seeing what gems people have picked up in charity shops.

My rules to myself - I don't buy something just because of a label, I ask myself if I actually will wear it/have any use for it. Although this sometimes goes out the window in the case of picking up something to give to a friend (like a pair of tight gold trousers I can recall). I don't want anymore clutter in my wardrobe.

Sometimes its just the fun of browsing and the strange things you come across in some places. It's a hobby for me, its retail therapy without spending a lot. The rummage can sometimes be relaxing. If a place is very busy I won't linger because the good stuff is probably gone and I'm never really in the mood for clashing elbows with a couple of hipsters or a wan who doesn't understand the concept of personal space, as applied to the real world.

I'm going to York next month, and London, so if you have any recommendations for charity shops (or indeed in Glasgow and Edinburgh) please send them my way!

Easter with flair

2011-04-23T15:38:00.008+01:00

A long Easter weekend is the perfect excuse to settle down in front of the television on a lazy afternoon to watch some classic matinees. I feel like on weekends such as this, you need something bright and colourful, funny and uplifting. To put that smile back on your face, if like me, you've had to sit through six hours of Ben Hur or Quo Vadis with your Dad, until you get to watch what you really want to watch. Is it just me or does Jason and the Argonauts remind anyone of Easter? It seems like it was always on tv this time of year when I was a wee one, and my Dad would watch it every time.

If I had the free time right now, these are what I'd be watching:

Bringing up Baby (1938)
I laughed till my sides ached when I finally got around to watching this last summer. I'm rather ashamed that I had seen it before. This is The Original Rom Com. They don't make them like this anymore. Hepburn and Grant spark off each so well I wouldn't be surprised if you could catch the static off the screen. I mean it, you must watch this immediately, you'll thank me later.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Three of my favourite actors star, what more could I possibly want? Hepburn, Grant and Stewart make the most remarkable trio in this hilarious comedy of errors. High society girl Hepburn, gets her come uppance and finally realises what she wants from life and love.

Easter Parade (1948)
Ah, well its all in the name isn't it? Judy Garland and Fred Astaire make a multi talented pairing in this colourful, laugh out loud musical. The lavish candy coloured costumes are veritable eye candy, whereas you can't fault Astaire or Garland's musical duo. More saccharine than the previous perhaps, but if you want to inject some colour and froth into your afternoon, here you go.

Les demoiselles de Rochefort (1967)
Some continental colour now, and easily one of my favourite musicals - The Young Girls of Rochefort swings with sixties spirit and enthusiasm, without so much of the sex, just some great choreography. Gene Kelly stars alongside the beautiful sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac. One a cool blonde, the other a warm redhead. Great songs (even if I can just about hum the words) and dresses to boot. Directed by Jacques Demy. If you love musicals, like me, at least you can give the appearance of being cultured, seeing as this is French an all.

Carry on Camping (1969)
Not forgetting the great British comedies! I remember watching Carry On marathons during the long summer afternoons when I was a kid. I still find their tongue in cheek, slapstick humour very amusing, I won't lie! Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams are an absolute scream. Carry On Camping remains one of the best Carry On's in my opinion, its so of its time, made in the summer of love itself, so high spirited and hormonal. A time when the average person holidayed at home, something I suspect we're returning to in this economic climate... now I'm making it sound like its a social commentary for our time. Actually maybe it is, watch it and report back.

I welcome any recommendations, by the way, I'm always wracking my brain for a good movie to watch, of an afternoon.

Back in the old town

2011-04-17T11:46:00.006+01:00

I haven't had a moment to update and deadlines are swiftly approaching. I am back in Dublin for a few days and have archives and the like to visit, old friends to see, assignments to do.

Thanks to my mate Austin for reminding me of this classic. Dublin still looks like this, although people have substantially less hair and we don't mope around in boats on the Liffey. The Celtic Tiger has gone.

I will announce the winners of my give-away next week. I miss reading your blogs!

This old house of mine

2011-04-01T14:52:00.001+01:00

As the days get longer and brighter I can't help but think of summer. Soon I'll be going home for a few days to hopefully conduct some dissertation research and as well as spending some time in the countryside I know so well.

Here are some pictures of my room I took last summer before I relocated to Scotland. Brownie points for guessing what my favourite colour is. It's been purple since I moved in when I was 15 (I originally wanted black, that was my 'black phase', praise be only a couple of photos exist as testament to this and I'm sure both in my possession.)

London - Paris - Berlin - New York, if only these were closets from Narnia

Obligatory heart shaped lights that girls buy when they're sixteen and have spending money from their first job...

Art to inspire

I am a hoarder, so all my junk is hidden in my wardrobes. ;)

I don't know about you but I love looking at people's bedrooms.

Give away!

2011-03-28T16:27:00.005+01:00

Monday has gotten off to a slow start for me, but I've just bought some Easter eggs (as gifts! I have Border dark chocolate ginger biscuits to pacify myself). So time for a wee give-away to celebrate reaching 100 followers!

So there is a teNeues Paris city journal, Figs & Rouge geranium organic lip balm (my personal favourite), a rosemary and witch hazel facemask and a couple of postcards. Nothing extravagant, but a token of my genuine appreciation for you who actually read my sporadic postings! (Lula magazine not included, this photoshoot made a nicer backdrop that the worn pleather couch in our flat!)

To enter, you have to be a follower of my blog. Please leave your name and email address in a comment and recommend me a book or movie, you can tweet about if for an extra entry if you like, linking to this entry, I'm 'acertainsmile'.

I will pick the names out of a hat. The closing date is April 11th, two weeks from now! I will happily post internationally!

The Persian carpet in the West

2011-03-27T23:19:00.005+01:00

It's been a busy week for me, uni wise. I may have mentioned before that I am doing work placement at the Stoddard-Templeton archive here in Glasgow. I am working on cataloguing and contextualising their Persian carpet designs and sketches. So for the time being, I will forward you to the blog post I wrote on the Persian carpet in the West, featuring some of the designs from the Stoddard-Templeton archive, that I have catalogued.

Fragile design, entitled 'London Material', probably copied from a carpet held in a private residence.

The archive has vast amounts of material to be catalogued and repackaged, there are over one hundred drawers full of material, not only carpet designs and sketches but catalogues, photographs, patterns and business records, from over one hundred years of trading. It's been a rewarding experience so far, with dedicated and friendly people working in the archive.

March meanderings

2011-03-21T19:57:00.005Z

Been feeling a little uninspired as of late. I've mostly been trying to get assignments in. I was ill last weekend as well and have been generally feeling quite tired. So I've just been watching repeats of That 70's Show and Big Love and using Fair Trade Fortnight as an excuse to buy two large bars of Green & Blacks chocolate on my weekly grocery shop.

I'll be hosting a little giveaway soon to celebrate reaching 100 followers.

So St. Patrick's Day for me was tamer than previous years. I had some friends over to dinner, I made Irish Stew (with the addition of Guinness), colcannon and carrot cake, using Crumbs for Dinner's recipe (highly, highly recommended!) We enjoyed some whiskey ginger & mint cocktails and had the craic.

Recently I also went on a day trip to the Scottish Museum of Costume at Shambellie House -

Hannah as the Dunce in the corner. They do recreations of Victorian classes for children's school groups that visit here, so obviously this is some evidence of that! Children really enjoy reenactments, so we're still big kids then!

They were shutting up the 'Marriage in the Movies' exhibition in preparation for their next exhibition, opening in April, about what the Land Girls and Lumber Jills of WW2 wore. A lot of mannequins were shrouded in these creepy dust veils, for storage.

'Willow Lady' sculpture in the grounds of Shambellie House, designed by Trevor Leat. This really ties in with the ideal of the house and its close affiliation with the landscape surrounding it.

These human like models were very popular in the 1970s. Interestingly they were based on the appearances of famous movie stars. This one is clearly Greta Garbo but there were a few others whose faces were similar and I just couldn't place them. What do you think of these sorts of mannequins - they are usual for action poses and 'personalizing' the costume, but are their facial expressions and make-up distracting? Are they too familiar to ethnographical mannequins (which obviously isn't their purpose)?

Shambellie House is a Victorian country house, originally built for the Stewart family in 1856. Charles Stewart donated his substantial costume collection to National Museums Scotland in 1977 and he also loaned Shambellie House to be used as a Museum of Costume, for the display of his collection.

Other things been keeping me busy recently include our student exhibition of studio ceramics (more on this at a later stage!)

(James Tower "Shell Form" stoneware sculptural form, 1981, Paisley Museum collection)

My camera might be getting on a bit, as I only seem to take blurry photos these days. Some day I'll get a nice camera. When I learn to take care of things! (That'll be a long time coming then.)

Heroine: Emily Bronte & 'Wuthering Heights'

2011-03-08T12:08:00.010Z

source.
Emily Bronte was born on July 30th 1818 at Thornton, Bradford in Yorkshire, the fifth child of the six children.

Her most celebrated and indeed only novel, Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.

Illustration by Fritz Eichenberg for 1943 Random House edition.

For a clergyman's daughter, Emily harboured some curious views about life and death, and indeed the afterlife. The gothic workings of her mind are spilled out on the pages of Wuthering Heights. Her father, Patrick, encouraged his children's independent learning and even indulged Emily's refusal to attend Sunday services. Charlotte described her sister as 'a solitude-loving raven, no gentle dove'.

Wuthering Heights is a profound work of the imagination, brimming with 'wickedness' and 'villany'. Emily (although assumed to be a male) was described as an author 'who goes at once fearlessly into the moors and desolate places'. One critic advised that the book be burned.

Emily was most at home on the wild moors, much like a heroine from her own work. Her intense love for the Yorkshire landscape that surrounded her is reflected in Wuthering Heights. The sharp northern air, the springiness of the heather and the gloom of the desolate moors are all set out in such lush and graphic detail. Words were Emily's oils and the paper upon which she wrote her canvas. The gothic eeriness of Emily's descriptions of interiors and landscapes in Wuthering Heights conjure up associations with Plath's psychic landscapes. Emily was influenced by the metaphysical works of Lord Byron and Walter Scott, her own childhood experiences at boarding school, the death of her mother and siblings. The macabre and unnatural excited her ghoulish imagination.

Still of the Wuthering Heights from 2009's Wuthering Heights adaption.

For you see, Wuthering Heights is no mere romance gone sour, it's the story of more than one woman's life, the characters are tangled in an emotional and ultimately destructive web their author has created for them and for herself. It poses moral questions; questions the existence of God and an afterlife, it struggles to find the boundaries between obsession and love, ideals of masculinity and femininity are Emily's dark creativity is all encompassing, perhaps exacerbated by her own seclusion from the world outside her own immediate physical and emotional world.

Wuthering Heights, 1970.

Wuthering Heights, 1992.
source.

The lives of the Bronte's was an ill-fated one, two sisters died in their childhood (1825) and the only brother Branwell's dependence on drink and opium heightened his sense of self pity and worthlessness. Emily passed away in December 1848, aged thirty years old. Branwell had died three months beforehand of consumption, at thirty-one. Anne died the next year, aged twenty-nine and Charlotte followed her sisters six years later in March 1855. Patrick Bronte outlived all his children, he died at Haworth in 1861, aged eighty-four.

I've found people either love it or hate it, and isn't it great that Emily was able to rouse such opposing emotions in her readers?! Of course I'm the former! This book is a rebel yell against the feminine constraints of Victorian society. Sexual frustration, violence, resentment, human frailty, suffering and mortality all come into cruel play in this ultimate gothic 'romance'. (If you like your romance ultimately destructive and leaving you feel distressed that is). I like to feel that Emily built a little of herself into Heathcliff, it was how she could masquerade in male form and give the (intellectual) finger to the patriarchy by making him as brutal as possible.

"I'm wearying to escape into that glorious world, and to be always there; not seeing it dimly through tears, and yearning for it through the walls of an aching heart; but really with it, and in it." (Wuthering Heights, 1847, Emily Bronte).

Further reading:
BrontëBlog
Bronte Sisters, Haworth
Emily Bronte, Poet of Solitude
Wuthering Heights community

Wuthering Heights, 2009.

Film/tv adaptions:
Wuthering Heights, 1939
Abismos de pasión, 1954
Wuthering Heights, 1970
Wuthering Heights (TV), 1978
Hurlevent, 1985
Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, 1992
Wuthering Heights (TV), 1998
Sparkhouse (TV), 2002
Cime tempestose (TV), 2004
Wuthering Heights (TV), 2009
Wuthering Heights, 2011

Wuthering Heights, 1992.
source.

I wrote this to celebrate my heroine Emily Bronte, on International Women's Day 2011.

The Gunne Girl

2011-03-06T20:14:00.003Z

My love affair with the indomitable prairie dress goes back many years. Yet it's not an item of clothing I've ever worn myself, I don't feel I'm brave or bohemian enough. Do you ever admire a look (1970s prairie girl in this case) but know you'll never wear it because if you bought it, it wouldn't mix with the rest of your wardrobe and it would be out of your clothing comfort zone? That's how I feel about these beautiful things. It's just not practical for me wearing a long flowing dress, whilst toting an uncomfortable and ugly backpack on my way to college. Clothing like this is wasted in a library. It speaks to me of days spent lying in the sun, being young and care-free.

Enough of these excuses! When the weather gets warmer I'm going to have a go at this, because at Christmas I received a delightful package from the beautiful Khrystyna containing a delightful Gunne dress, with an exciting, wench-like lace up bodice! Watch this space.

I've wanted to write about Gunne dresses for a while. I own one Gunne Sax skirt and now a dress in my 'collection'. There's so many things I want to say about these beautiful, iconic gowns! I feel like theres a wealth of influences that I couldn't possibly cover in one post, so consider this the first of many.

Here I am going to highlight my Gunne inspiration, a girl who truly embodies the Gunne spirit. Khrystyna of Food, Flora and Felines !

Khrystyna lives in Cork with her boyfriend in their curiosity shop of an apartment and often wanders out into the countryside/wilderness much like the heroine of a Laura Ingalls book.

Isn't she a dream?

Horsing around

2011-03-02T23:08:00.005Z

Another day of being lazy. I am a sloth these days. Going to uni these days involve pants, boots and a comfy jumper.

Jumper, charity shop. Pants, uniqlo. Boots, camper.

Bed hair

I found this jumper in a charity shop at home for €2.50 over the Christmas. I've only ever ridden a horse once before my life and was certainly never a member of any pony club. I never bought those sappy magazines when I was a kid either. But who is to know that I'm not? Esp. in my pony club jumper - 'Calliaghstown Branch - Irish Pony Club'.

I did cry when I read Black Beauty though.

Pretty things

2011-02-28T17:26:00.003Z

I've been sorting through my wardrobe recently, trying to slim down and its time for these items, that haven't been worn in a long time to find new homes. Interested?

I've listed a lot of things on eBay, plenty of vintage, including items from Hobbs, Laura Ashley, Levis, Zara and Warehouse, as
well as Topshop, Tops, dresses, trousers and hats!

My listings are here!

Including this rare Topshop Boutique lemon yellow dress, as worn by The Cherry Blossom Girl and Miss Pandora.

Thanks for looking!

Wicked Witch of the West

2011-02-25T19:17:00.001Z

Yesterday as I was rushing to work (I was late as usual) whilst impatiently waiting for the green man to appear I absentmindedly looked down at my feet and couldn't help but notice the resemblance my hosiery and footwear bore to that of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Maybe it was a subconscious thing?

They're Clarks by the way, they're ugly and comfortable. I love them. A friend called them 'geriatric shoes' and didn't believe that I had actually bought them. I only wish they were as sparkly as the witches though and that I could cast spells and hexes (especially hexes, on awful nosey old men in post offices). Tights are H&M.

As for the rest of me, well lets just say the resemble probably did spread above the waist!

Rambling

2011-02-22T21:46:00.007Z

I have some forthcoming posts planned, but for now, I'll placate you with some pictures from the past couple of months.

So far this year I've tried saké, had a battered mars bar, tried chili tea and LOVED it, had best friends to stay, discovered new artists, visited best friends, baked a lemon polenta cake, stumbled through the streets of Edinburgh more in the past few weeks than I have since I arrived here.

Hannah samples Japanese plum wine

It's Always Raining In Glasgow

In front of Kelvingrove

Floating Heads, Sophie Cave, Kelvingrove

MacDonald sisters mural, Kelvingrove

Sarah in front of one of her favourite paintings Anna Pavlova (1911) by John Lavery

JD Fergusson, 'Eastre, Hymn to the Sun', Brass, (c. 1924)

Sarah cosying up in my leába

Trying a battered Mars bar for the first time!

Our Fair City publicity shots

Hot Mess

(The remains of) Cream tea in Eteaket on a hungover Saturday afternoon

Dinner on the cheap

Lazy snapshot post dears, will try harder next time!

Something for the weekend II

2011-02-18T16:04:00.003Z

Assignments in, and I'm free to enjoy the weekend. I'm off to Edinburgh to enjoy some disco with a good friend. I hope I have a dancing partner as dashing as Mr. Ferry. I will be making the effort and wearing false eyelashes so why ever not.

It's been a grim few weeks, but I'm in a lighter mood for the meantime and even though I still have lots of pending work, I'm determined to enjoy being young! You should too. Off with you!

Don't be blue

2011-02-14T21:07:00.005Z

Dear Reader, I haven't had time to update, I have a couple of posts planned but it transpires that I have double the coursework I thought due this week. Soon darlings.

Until then, see Blue Valentine, the ending credits are the most glorious I've seen in a long time. Read all about them at The Art of the Title Sequence and it may just sway you.

Alligator - Grizzly Bear & You and Me, sung by Ryan Gosling

It's been a low day for me today, so I'm going to attempt and distract myself with impending uni work and by making definite choices of what films to see at the Glasgow Film Festival (which I will also be volunteering at!)

Later darlings.

Heartworn Highways

2011-01-31T20:02:00.006Z

I watched an incredible documentary last night, Heartworn Highways. You probably don't know this (or expect it) but I love nothing better than watching a Western on a Sunday afternoon. Although unfortunately, TV schedules usually regulate them to the graveyard shift on listings. Gone are the glory days of the Western, eh. So, I record them and then watch them on a lazy Sunday.

Heartworn Highways is a documentary film by James Szalapski whose vision captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country movement in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976. The film was not released theatrically until 1981. The film focuses on some of the major figures of the outlaw country movement of the mid-1970s. Texan troubadours Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and a young Steve Earle all feature, performing some of their bestloved songs and discussing the stories behind the music. (Source; wikipedia and the GFT.)

This is one of many moments throughout the film that had me tapping my feet:

Anyway, this got me thinking back to a great movie I'd watched last year, Coal Miner's Daughter, with one of my favourite actresses, Sissy Spacek alongside Tommy Lee Jones. Beside not knowing much about country music at all, aside from possessing an admiration for it, I really enjoyed this bio-pic about the life of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that grew up in poverty in Kentucky as a coal miner's daughter to fame on the country music circuit. Spacek deservedly won the Academy Award for her role.

You can watch Coal Miner's Daughter on youtube!

I've bought two great denim shirts in the past few months so maybe I'm going a little bit country, and so what?

The Red Shoes (1948)

2011-01-27T19:41:00.001Z

While talk of Black Swan is still fresh, I'm going to take this opportunity to acquaint you with, or even re-introduce you to The Red Shoes, Powell and Pressburger's glorious technicolor fairytale of 1948.

The reclusive but celebrated Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) composes a ballet based upon Hans Christian Anderson's fairytale The Red Shoes. The brilliant Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) takes the lead role, her ambitions of becoming a prima ballerina soon conflict with her love for the ballet's music composer. She has to choose between Lermontov and the ballet or her life with Julian (Marius Goring) and the difficult choice soon consumes her. Her own life begins to eerily parallel that of the heroine in her most memorable role.

Interestingly, Moira Shearer was a ballerina, not an actress when she took this role, she rebuffed the role for over a year before eventually submitting and accepting it. Filming was not a happy experience, she was often hitched up on a wire while being buffeted by a wind machine for several hours. She was also Scottish! Her flaming locks and red shoes will always be an icon of British cinema.

I had a brief flirtation with ballet as a child, but a combination of a lack of enthusiasm and my own boisterousness soon quenched any possible (unlikely) life path in that most enchanting of dances. Perhaps if I had seen this as a child I would have been inspired.

PS. I have many more screencaps of The Red Shoes on my Flickr, you can also find the film on youtube, if you can't come by the DVD (the DVD quality is excellent, as it has been digitally restored). This translates even better to an intimate cinema setting, which I had the opportunity to experience once, last summer.

The dark of the matinee

2011-01-26T18:11:00.000Z

As uncomfortable as I am as regards my own outfit posts, I enjoy (on other blogs) seeing the person behind the text and what bloggers wear etc. So I think this blog requires a bit of that really.

Saturday night I went to see Black Swan and went for drinks in Stereo after.

Denim shirt, H&M via Salvation Army. Brogues, Office. Shetland wool socks, eBay. Brown cords, Uniqlo.

Menswear Florence/Milan/Paris

2011-01-24T18:07:00.001Z

I was alerted to these frankly amazing shots by House of Leaves. My own eyes were first opened to the eccentric and bold ways Italian men wear their suits through The Sartorialist. Pictures speak louder than words so I'll share some my favourites from Tommy Ton's photos.

There's a lot of style cues there to take inspiration from. I'm very happy about the amount of tweed and plaid.

I've always been envious of menswear, mainly because of the wide selection of blazers available to them and well cut shirts. I love the clash of patterns and colours, it looks fun and it feels like they live in these clothes, which sometimes ain't the case for more fickle, trend driven womenswear.

Somewhere

2011-01-22T11:51:00.005Z

Before the Christmas break I went to see Somewhere. In the tradition of Sofia Coppola's films it was beautiful to look at,; gauzy, like you're peeping through a veil curtain. Elle Fanning was the real star of this movie. I loved her fresh and youthful all-american girl look. Stacey Battat was the wardrobe designer, but looking at pictures of Elle elsewhere, I can't help but wonder about her own personal input, she just seems so at ease in what she wears.

Cleo (Elle Fanning's character) has a better eye than I did at that age. Her wardrobe seems timeless, composed of printed sundresses, pastels, soft geometric patterns, loose fitting breton tops and her sunshine yellow Fjällräven backpack. It's also very accessible, I imagine most of these pieces have been picked up from high street stores.

My favourite outfit was this grey, cream and dusky blue geometric patterned jumper, a nice oversized fit, it goes so well with her coloring. It's an easy going look, Just worn with jeans and plimsolls.

I love her selection of printed dresses, perfect for the Los Angeles sunshine, sweet but elegant. Makes me long for summer days and ice cream.

The fresh bloom of youth is perfectly complimented in this dress, the sleek ponytail is all the dressage this dainty dress requires.

If only I had that much grace and taste when I was 11 or 12. Not me, instead, I had tank tops that said ‘Angel’ on them in glitter and a favourite dusky pink puffy bodywarmer from Topshop. This is the early noughties we're talking about here.

Elle dresses for herself, she's not trying to grow up too fast, she seems content to be the age she is. She is the perfect pre-teen role model, quietly mature, making no demands of her father, only content to stand by his side and let him realise his own mistakes.

I won't lie, It feels more than a bit strange to be looking toward a girl ten years my junior (she was born in 1998! How is this possible?) for some style inspiration, but it is refreshing.

Images via Totally Elle.

Elle Fanning, 67th Venice Film Festival: "Somewhere" Photocall, Sep 3, 2010
(via eyeprime)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-08T15:12:00.004Z

The special collections section of my library houses some wonderful treasures, I found some sweet Victorian seasonal cards on their flickr, that I thought I would share with you. Some are quite unusual and use images that we wouldn't traditionally associate with Christmas. I suppose they used them for the sake of eclecticsism!

I LOVE foxes, I'm not sure how a fox preying on some rabbits is supposed to represent good tidings for the year ahead, but oh well...

Again, a curious choice, but quite sweet really.

You can see the others, odd and otherwise, here.

Have you stuck to your resolutions so far? I haven't quite, I didn't make any definite ones for fear of breaking them! I did buy a diary again this year, a wee pocket moleskine, its helped me quite a bit in the couple of days it has been in my possession!

PS. I was nominated as one of the Irish Fashion Bloggers of the year, a vote would boost the auld ego, I'm number 50. Vote and spread good karma! You can vote once a day and for more than one blogger.

My 2011 Personal Style Resolutions

2011-01-04T17:51:00.003Z

My 2011 Personal Style Resolutions, guest blog post at The Licentate!

My first guest post! I was touched when Sarah asked me and had such fun writing this up!

Let me know what you think!

NYE 2010

2010-12-31T21:31:00.003Z

Enjoy your New Years Eve wherever you are and whatever you're doing!

I leave you with this tune from The Nolans, classic NYE track. So pull up your american apparel spandex pants and shake it!

I'm glad to have interacted with some great bloggers this year (you know who you are!) as a result of this blog, lets hope 2011 brings a lot more of that and some happiness my way (and yours dear reader!)

Truffles

2010-12-29T21:24:00.001Z

I made these again this year as they went down a treat. I followed a couple of recipes, but the simplest I've found is Jamie Oliver's:

Jamie's amazing diy chocolate truffles
Makes about 40-50 teaspoon-sized truffles, depending on how big/small you want them

• 300ml double cream
• a knob of unsalted butter
• finely grated zest from 1 clementine (I had none so used a lemon instead)
• 300g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken into small pieces
• a pinch sea salt
• a splash of brandy
• a handful of mixed nuts (Brazil nuts, toasted almonds and hazelnuts)

Put the cream in a pan over a medium heat and let it heat up. You don’t want it boiling, just hot. As soon as tiny bubbles start to appear add the knob of butter and the clementine zest.

Once the butter has melted pour this hot mixture over the chocolate pieces whisking as you go so the chocolate melts nice and slowly. If the mixture splits slightly, don’t worry, you can bring it right by adding a splash of boiling water. (Be very wary of adding hot water though!)

Add a pinch of salt to the mixture; it may sound bonkers, but the smallest pinch of salt actually makes chocolate taste even chocolatier! Stir in a splash of brandy.

Once completely melted and smooth, pour your melted chocolate mixture into a nice little serving dish or bowl. Pop this in the fridge for about 2 hours to set. Christmas is a busy time so you can always do this a few days before you need it if you want. About 30 minutes before you’re ready to make your truffles pull the bowl out of the fridge and let the chocolate warm up to room temperature.

Put your mixed nuts into a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to bash them up quite finely. Get some little saucers or bowls and put the nuts in one and your cocoa powder in the other. Put a teacup filled with boiled water on the tray and pop a few teaspoons in there for scooping the chocolate. Get everyone around the table to spoon their own truffles out of the serving dish and roll them in cocoa powder, crushed nuts or anything else you fancy. Or, you can let them smear their truffles over a biscotti like some posh Nutella! Serve with a few glasses of your chilled Vin Santo.

Of course, I'm on student budget so I haven't bottles of Vin Santo laying around, but this is a perfect treat for serving to relatives and friends that call over the festive season.

Oh and I actually ended up not using the cocoa powder in the end. These keep well in the fridge for a week, the nut coating loses its crunch after 2-3 days however.

This comes a bit late for Christmas day, but you've got New Years ahead of you and everyone loves finger food this time of year, so try it and let me know how you get on!

I'm even going to go far as to say that these are better than Ferrero Rocher because you made them yourself!

(crap photobooth picture because they were all eaten before I took a picture of them all prettied up! d'oh!)

Boozy birthday cake

2010-12-28T00:04:00.005Z

It was my birthday, on the 27th, which ended ten minutes ago. So I'm twenty two now, it doesn't sit quite right with me yet.

Now that I'm home for the Christmas all I seem to think and post about is food!

I made my birthday cake, using Nigella's infamous Chocolate Guinness Cake

Nigella's Chocolate Guinness Cake
Makes about 12 slices

250ml Guinness
250g unsalted butter
75g cocoa
400g caster sugar
1 x 142ml pot sour cream
2 eggs
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
275g plain flour
2 1/2teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

ICING:
300g Philadelphia cream cheese (I used mascarpone instead)
150g icing sugar
125ml double or whipping cream (I probably used only a third of this amount)

Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C, and butter and line a 23cm springform tin.

(Melted butter and guinness mixture)

Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter - in spoons or slices - and heat until the butter's melted, at which time you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the brown, buttery, beery pan and finally whisk in the flour and bicarb.

(Before adding the flour. Don't worry that the mixture seems watery, it'll all come together beautifully in the oven)

Pour the cake batter into the greased and lined tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

(Typically there wasn't a decent sized cake tin in my house so I put the remainder into fairy cake cases)

Leave to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack, as it is quite a damp cake.

When the cake's cold, sit it on a flat platter or cake stand and get on with the icing. Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the icing sugar and then beat them both together. Or do this in a processor, putting the unsieved icing sugar in first and blitz to remove lumps before adding the cheese.

Add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. Ice the top of the black cake so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint.

And if you're stuck with Guinness leftovers and you don't drink the white stuff yourself, theres always willing participants!

The finished product:

I got a bit snap happy! It was delicious, despite the small tin, I'm not one for icing usually, but this was smooth and with a kick. There was no Baileys in the house so I improvised and added a splash of:

Gin and tonic (almost) icing of course!

It got the Dad stamp of approval and his opinion of most things is "It's grand". Maybe he was being nice because it was my birthday.

December 25th

2010-12-26T19:35:00.005Z

Not much to tell.

What I ate:

Baked butternut squash with all the trimmings.

What I wore:

The velvet skirt is from H&M and I love it because it reminds me of Joan's office Xmas party dress in season four of Mad Men.

I received a gorgeous forest green blazer and sensible dress from Zara that I had picked myself, an Italian made natural bristle hairbrush and plenty of socks (at my own request!) and a massive tote bag of Soap and Glory shower products which will keeping me ticking by quite nicely.

And my wee Xmas present to you dear readers is the recipe for this tasty, seasonal baked butternut squash dish, from Lorraine Fitzmaurice of Blazing Salads.

It was Christmas Eve babe -

2010-12-24T18:43:00.007Z

Nollaig shona dhuit, Buone Feste Natalizie, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Froehliche Weihnachten, Kala Christouyenna, Feliz Navidad, Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo, Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok, Zalig Kerstfeast, Ruumsaid juulup|hi, Cristmas mobarak, Hyvaa joulua, Shub Naya Baras, God Jul or Gledelig Jul, Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie, Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun... Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Tasteful or what?! No seriously, seasons greetings to you all! My Christmas tradition involves traipsing to mass this evening, no matter how i hope I'll wangle a way out of it, I end up going along all the same, then a feast tomorrow (I'm making baked butternut squash this year). Our pipes have frozen again this year, so I guess thats becoming a tradition too.

And I'm going to be a big cliché and point out this classic:

Be merry and be warm! I bought some Cork dry gin yesterday in preparation, it took me almost forty hours to get home so I'm going to make the most of it!

PS. Somehow I ended up nominated for Ireland's Top Fashion Blogger. Of course I'm not expecting anything but a few votes would flatter my ego. I'm number 50 on the list. Thank you!

& Sarah at The Licentiate has a great Christmas giveaway! Ends midnight tonight.

Creatures of the night

2010-12-17T00:24:00.004Z

I've been on a total Rocky Horror Picture Show high all this week so I started using polyvore to aid my procrastination and created sets for my favourite characters. Modern day horrors.

Columbia

Columbia's closet by mitfordgirl featuring cotton jackets

Magenta (my favourite! rawr!)

Modern day Magenta by mitfordgirl featuring a sequin bra

And inspired by The Transylvanians

A Transylvanian by mitfordgirl featuring cotton jackets

It's my first time using polyvore, its almost like shopping! Glorified window shopping where money is no object!

Let me know what you crazy kids think. Time to inject more glitter/metallics into my own look perhaps.

Can't slip, won't slip

2010-12-16T00:40:00.007Z

What've I been doing? Finishing assignments, graduating, lazing around, buying ingredients for baking, etc.

Been wearing my Docs (the only remnants of my 'black phase') lots to survive this weather, snow has thawed but the ice has stuck around. So I've been wearing mainly layers, jumpers and trousers.

I have just given up on make-up, can't be bothered anymore. I look so tired!

Ten hole Docs, Uniqlo cords, Junk de Luxe jumper, Laura Ashley blouse and Dunnes Blazer

Christmas wishlist

2010-12-11T16:55:00.006Z

If I had someone to buy for me. Or if I were a rich girl, la la la -

Kieslowski on Kieslowski

Zara coat

Dark red weekly diary moleskine

Smoke Fairies Through Low Light and Trees

Harry Clarke, Strangest Genius

Biba embossed shoulder bag

Decadent underwear

(via circus box)
Russell & Bromley loafers

Welcome to the Dollhouse poster

Vivien Leigh print.

Phew! All pictures are links.

Stir Up Saturday!

2010-12-03T13:26:00.000Z

Hurrah! My essays and presentations for this semester have all been handed in, bar one that's due in January. I can rest easy for a while.

Two weekends ago I took a break from the library and three of us dedicated the day to baking our Christmas cakes, it's tradition apparently. We brought the day forward and had a 'stir up saturday', which is the traditional day for preparing your Christmas pudding/cake it seems. We listened to classic Christmas tunes, for that day only, to get us in the mood and after a few hours our house smelt deliciously like Christmas.

Originally my housemate and I were going to use the Xmas cake recipe posted on The Archers website, but when she checked the night before, the page had disappeared, it seems that the website has has a revamp. So instead she found this alternative. All the meticulous planning and subsequent smooth running of this operation are all to her credit. I'm glad to be living with an enthusiastic baker!

Hannah mixing cake number three.

This cake called for so much fruit that we weren't sure if it would all fit in the tin, but blessedly it did!

First cake from the oven (after four and a half hours)

I prepared the parchment for the tins. The layer of newspaper is to insulate the cake tin so it doesn't cook too quickly. I think it looks quite sweet and nostalgic all tied up with string.

Sitting proudly, admiring my handiwork.

My cake, unwrapped and doused with brandy.

William and Kate keeping my cake free from dust overnight.

My housemate and I are impatient for the chance to start eating this, but theres four weeks to go yet.

Most of the pictures were taken on Hannah's Panasonic DMC-L10, so much sharper quality and colours!

That evening with cake number three safely deposited in the oven, we went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I and I was not disappointed.

At Home with the Georgians

2010-12-01T14:19:00.007Z

My friend Hannah alerted me to this, we're both a pair of decorative art/domestic interior boffins, so naturally we got excited over this.

Look at that sassy historian!

The BBC is airing three-part series based on Amanda Vickery's book Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England, a fascinating, juicy nugget of a book I urge you to read. It's a through the keyhole exploration of Georgian society, 'behind closed doors'. Your home was a stage, where your taste and respectability was on display to your visitors. Day to day life was an acting out of 'polite society', taking tea with your visitors was a formal practice, an opportunity to show off your new hat straight from Paris, as well as your impeccable taste in domestic furnishings. Her book is compelling and a vivacious read as she discusses relations between man and wife, wife and her guests, the women's role in the home, the life of maids, lodgers, etc. Herein began the rise of consumer culture. "Sex, scandal and soft furnishings" as the BBC calls it.

I'll give you a brief and by no means comprehensive background on this period (you'll have to watch the series or read the book, for the 'tell all' reveal on the workings of Georgian society!)
The popular English portrait artist, Arthur Devis (1712–1787), painted a number of wealthy patrons in their tasteful and up-to-date Georgian interiors, notice how the domestic objects are as central to the portrait as the two figures. These paintings were to demonstrate the fashionability and taste of the patrons.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bull, c. 1750, Arthur Devis
The prominent persian carpet tells us that this couple is wealthy enough to afford luxurious imported carpets and also note the tea table, probably made from imported mahogany, also a luxury item and the (probably) porcelain set out on the mantelpiece, in full view for the viewer and the visitor. The practice of taking tea (with visitors) was central to the notion of sociability and polite society at this time and also a reminder of the persons wealth (tea at this time was very much a luxury item).

Mr and Mrs Atherton, c. 1740s, Arthur Devis

The TV series is called At Home with the Georgians and Vickery herself, I'm pleased to say, will be presenting the series. It follows on after the success of her BBC4 radio series 'A History of Private Life', that aired last autumn, but alas I did not have the opportunity to listen to it, if anyone could point me in the direction of where to find it I would be most obliged.

The TV series begins tomorrow night on BBC2 at 9pm GMT, I myself will be frantically finishing essays, so will catch up on iplayer next week.

The Dinner-Locust or the Advantages of a Keen Scent 1826, printed etching and aquatint. Lewis Walpole Library, Farmington.

Some other related articles that might be of interest -
Making a Reading Table on Pegs and 'Tails
The book 'Behind Closed Doors' on Austen only

And with that I have to promise myself not to procrastinate for the rest of the day so I can get this essay finished and out of my way! Enjoy!

Ice Ice Baby

2010-11-30T00:22:00.004Z

One of the greatest moments of Irish tv last year! Be careful out there you guys! Have you got sensible boots? I don't! I've been fixated on buying lots of socks recently though.

Feeling festive

2010-11-27T15:20:00.004Z

Outside it looks like this:

Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens Glasgow (Source)
(The gardens are four minutes from my house, I pass here on my walk to college.)

So I wore this:

My new (sort of) Jemima Puddle-Duck jumper. It's wool and its warm. Look at my smug face.

It's snug and nostalgic and it was only £5 (including postage) from eBay. Thumbs up!

It's a bit naff, but it as of this afternoon, after my library stint I'm going to play bingo tonight with my friends, so I think it'll be fairly appropriate for the occasion.

Bright Young Things

2010-11-25T00:33:00.004Z

Kirsteen alerted me to this little gem, a bbc documentary that was broadcast late last year I believe. I have quite the fascination with this period and live vicariously through these characters from bygone, decadent days. Enjoy!

If you enjoy this (which you should!), I recommend -

And not forgetting...

(esp. for the Brian Howard/Stephen Tennant qualities of Sebastian.)

The Victorian Nude

2010-11-19T13:49:00.002Z

Or to be more specific the victorian female nude, because then as now it was the female figure that was exposed to the lens. The female nude was a familiar feature in respectable Victorian society, in the gallery and domestic middle class environment of course. The nude was controversial as it raised questions of public morality and we all know how Victorian society was obsessed with morality, sexuality and society. As the industrial classes rose into respectability it was as the expense of the working class. The cities expanded on an outrageous scale, London was known as the whorehouse of the world in popular imagination as young women exploited their only sellable asset - their bodies. These women were generally considered social outcasts, as of course, what respectable women would exploit her body? Out of the lower classes these women were plucked; maids, shop assistants and women to pose as models for artists, amateur photographers, perhaps their masters. Little wonder that the image of the fallen women was a popular subject for many artists of the day.

I digress, the Victorian women as 'the Other' is a topic I will return to another day in the future. The purpose of this post is my interest in Victorian photography. My interest in Victorian erotic photography was revived when reading Paxman's The Victorians where he mentioned Edward Linley Sambourne and the double standard in many Victorian homes. Sambourne was a illustrator for Punch, in public. In private he had a keen interest in the newly developed medium of photography. Under the guise of posing models for his illustrations, his imagination soon realised the other, less respectable uses to which his camera could be put. His darkroom was in his own private bathroom, so he could develop his more say, risque photographs without his wife discovering his hobby on the side.

Linley Sambourne, self portrait.

Public image was no less more important in Victorian england as it is today, if not more so. If Linley's activities came into public knowledge his wife would have felt the impact of his actions, perhaps moreso than her husband.

Kate Manning, semi-draped, April 16, 1888.

With the invention of the daguerreotype erotic photographs were among the first productions. Nudes were officially sanctioned for artists, but there is no denying the sexually charged atmosphere of some of these photographs, that suggests they were intended for more personal uses than painting alone. As photographic technology improved a new trade for erotic photography evolved and in Britain and France a roaring trade for nude postcards and pictures developed.

Nude by Sambourne.

These pictures were sold to tourists and depict the idealized female form of the time, often draped sensuously with exotic fabrics or engaging in decadent activities, like hashish smoking. To be blunt, these nudes were characterized as interacting with the spoils of Empire, as Britain and France (particularly the former) were the largest and most powerful nations of the period. To me, it makes a definitive statement - the female is equated as an object of Empire, something to be governed over by the patriarchal authority, something to be owned and controlled, just as the inhabitants of the outer eclons of the Empire.

Smoking a pipe (source and date unknown)

It seemed like photography was overtaking art, as before photography pivotal political events were depicted on the artists canvas but this was no longer necessary. While some predicted that the more reliable medium of photography would replace art, the opposite occurred. Groups of artists were influenced by photography. The nude still proved to be popular subject matter. The exoticism and sensuality I speak of in Victorian nude photography is gloriously expressed in the art of Gustave Klimt. Rather than be seen to objectify the female figure these women seem to be reveling in their innate sexuality, these paintings are a celebration of the female form.

Danae, Gustav Klimt (1907-1908)

As I conclude I must stress that I do enjoy the provocativeness of these photographs very much, as a feminist I've gone and considered the audience of these photos too much. Lets be thankful that there is still a market for these and they can be enjoyed in all their sensuousness and frivolity.

These photos also prove that the Victorian period wasn't as strait laced as some people believe and that appearances can be deceiving, I like this naughty, concealed element of the nineteenth century. These photos retain an innocence that still intrigues the modern viewer rather than the explicit content of the modern pornographic centre-fold image.

Mount Stuart

2010-11-14T12:29:00.003Z

I will remember the fifth of November. I had a spectacular day.

We began our journey from Glasgow Central Station, a forty minute train ride to Wemyss Bay, from where we took a ferry to the Isle of Bute. On the ferry I happened to see this romantic scene - a boat, struggling against the wind and rain.

Where was our destination you wonder? It was to be Mount Stuart, ancestral home of the Bute family, on the Isle of Bute, off the coast of Scotland.

We alighted from our bus and were greeted by a grand red stone building. We were led to have some tea and eat our lunches in what later transpired to be the old Victorian kitchens (now converted of course). We chatted and munched away, completely oblivious of what was to come next. As Art History students, most of us had experienced many a country house before, so we knew what to expect, or so we thought. To be perfectly honest, I hadn't even glanced at the website before I arrived.

(photo credit: hannah)

Mount Stuart is still home to the Butes, the current Marquess, (the 7th), Johnny Bute and his family. It is also a popular venue for weddings, like many country houses are. In this century it is necessary for country houses to survive they must make an income to pay for upkeep and restoration, so they are either owned by the National Trust or still under the private governance of the families who blessedly still occupy many of them and thus, tourists, like us can gain access to these homes.

The Stuarts of Bute are the direct descendants of King Robert the Bruce. The current house was built by the 3rd Marquess (John Patrick Crichton-Stuart) after the central block of the original mount Stuart was destroyed by fire in 1877 (the original house having been designed and completed in 1719 by James Stuart, the 2nd Earl of Bute.) The family have lived on the Isle for seven hundred years and three centuries in the present location.

The 3rd Marquess was a remarkable man, he spoke twenty one languages and had travelled the world with the Gothic Revival architect William Burgess, finding architectural and artistic inspiration on his exotic journeys. By 1900, when he died, his dream house was not yet completed. Most importantly, the chapel remained unfinished, the Marquess having converted to Roman Catholicism when he was at college in his early twenties, having being influenced by the Oxford Movement. On his personal request his heart was removed after his death and it is now buried on the Hill of Olives in Jerusalem.

I fear as I type that I am giving a blow by blow standard account of a country house. There is so much more to this particular house, that I cannot find the words to articulate the emotions I experienced during our private tour of this house. It is a richly layered canvas of artistic and personal creation. In all actuality 'house' seems such a common term to apply to a place like this, unequalled by anything I have seen and will probably see again. However, it is a home, a domestic idyll created by the 3rd Marquess and it continues to be a family dwelling, a fact that fills me with joy and actually added to my enjoyment of this house. So many unoccupied country homes, beautiful as they may be, can feel detached from reality, all life is gone, what remains is a domestic museum of what was and what will never be again. Our tour guide Allison (?) amused us with stories of how the younger members of the family have friends over at weekends to amuse themselves in the indoor pool. (Yes! A pool. The first house in the world to have an indoor pool don't you know.)

The website declares "Mount Stuart is a work of art … come and see it to believe it." This statement is a fact. Mount Stuart is a place that has to be experienced in order to be comprehended. Although I cannot conceive how it must be to be born into such a lifestyle, I am only used to suburbia and country bungalow living, I firmly believe that houses such as these can be appreciated by all, even if you don't come from an Art Historical/Historical background. By placing so much faith in a physical structure may sound materialistic of me, but I'm not sure you could quite apply the term 'materialistic' to this house. Noble and industrial money funded the creation of this house, and is now open for all to encounter. Experiencing the domestic grandeur of this house is intoxicating. A powerful adjective, but this house has me under its spell. All the craftsmen were Scottish or English, most of the marble is British, the designers involved were British.

Every detail was lovingly chosen by its creator, even for a house of this magnitude, the 3rd Marquess was personally involved in every minute detail, be it the symbolism of the stained glass windows at the top of the great hall or the individual decoration of the capitals of the columns, right down to the decoration of the doorknobs, absolutely everything in this house is infused with detail. You can feel the imagination and influence of the creator as you proceed through the building, attempting to catch your breath between each fit of gasps! My jaw ached from hanging open in disbelief and awe for most of the tour. The tour guides are wonderful. Ours, was an absolute lady, full of anecdotes and good humour.

Reading back over this post I am dissappointed that I could not fully express the beauty of Mount Stuart. Not merely focusing on the aesthetics, but this place is truly a dream realised. It isn't a gaudy display of wealth and status, cluttered with 'tasteful' decoration and objects. It can only described as almost walking into someones dream, be it clearly an educated and cultured man's dream. Nay, that sounds patriarchal, not just culture and education, but humour is to be found everywhere in this house, each generation has left their aesthetic and somewhat tongue in cheek mark on this place. I felt welcome here, I felt involved, I did not feel like I was tiptoeing around a history far removed from my own, I laughed, I gasped and I almost cried with emotion.

I am grateful for wonderful places like this in the world and feel privileged to be invited into them, no matter how briefly I am involved in their history. I will be making the trip back and hope that this encourages some of you to do it to, if you're near these parts. It is the most remarkable dwelling in the British Isles at least!

You will notice that there are no photographs of the interior. If I had taken any they would do it no justice. This is a family home, so photographs were off limits, besides why would I have wasted my time seeing this house through a lens while at every point of the tour i strained to absorb as much of the visual splendour with my own eyes. The atmosphere that was created for us from the beginning was one of respect. We were politely informed that we were not to take photos, there were no condescending signs declaring 'no photographs!', we weren't dictated to about the 'rules', we were treated as adults who possessed the facilities of common sense.

I do hope that the lack of pictures will also appeal to your sense of curiosity!

Downton Abbey (2010)

2010-11-10T22:28:00.002Z

I have a slight* infatuation with period dramas. Not merely of the Austen heaving-bosom-and-tight-jodphurs kind mind you. Downton Abbey is ITV's latest period offering that I've been following weekly and you should start.

Downton Abbey chronicles the Upstairs/Downstairs life in an English country house. Unlike Gosford Park it is set in the Edwardian era, beginning in 1912. It explores the complicated politics that take place within the running of a country house of its time, barriers are crossed, there's inter-marriage (American money is married into English nobility) bonds are formed, within the fictional noble Crawley household. There's romances to root for, plots to intrigue and characters to despise!

Of course the last episode was this sunday, November 7th. But never fear, they'll be filming a second series next Spring. Which does mean that I will have to involve myself in a number of other costume dramas to entertain myself until next Autumn! The last episode did end on an important note, it will be interesting to see how the impact this event had on Edwardian society will be interpreted.

In the meantime I will entice you with some pictures of Julian Fellowe's glorious series. Photo credit here.

The Edwardian dresses are divine! The lace, the colours, draping, textures, details and collars! And oh my word, the hats!

I love the languorous atmosphere of these publicity shots, they don't feel staged.

Apparently this is ITV's most successful costume drama since Brideshead Revisited.

*may be an understatement...

All Hallows Eve

2010-11-05T23:11:00.004Z

I LOVE Halloween, I have fond memories of donning a black bin bag, a mask and an impressive pointy witches hat that I was sorry I couldn't wear year round. My mum wasn't very imaginative in the costume department, but she did have a bag reserved especially for the witching time of year, with spooky decorations to pin on the door which we would have gone shopping for the year previously or the in the days running up to Halloween!

I'd trot around our small estate with a gaggle of other neighbourhood kids and have a fine time getting treats but failing to play any tricks (adults who thought they were smart by requesting a trick were usually met with blank, doleful expressions). I remember trying to guess who was who behind the mask, which was made particularly difficult by the fact that it was dark and their voice was usually muffled by those awkward plastic masks that had a tiny slit for oxegen (possibly banned nowadays, haven't been shopping for one in a while...) The mask rarely survived the night, due to all the childish horseplay and the cheap plastic eventually cracked and was cast aside by its owner before the night was over.

Anyway, I embrace Halloween - it's my opportunity to play dress up and get away with it without fear of being rebuked. Although, when it comes to it, I usually pluck some clothes from my wardrobe the night before, or on the day in question. I don't put as much effort as I'd like in, I am continually impressed by the imagination and dedication of some spooks! Oh well, next year...!

Here was my Halloween. As the years have gone by, its less about cheap candy and more about drinks and dancing.

Oh, I was meant to be Peggy Bundy. (Leggings as pants, too much gold jewelry, big belt, tassels, leopard print scarf and big hair)

(photo by Sophie)

Max from 'Where the Wild Things Are'

Tibbs and Gatsby, the pernament residents at Fawlty Towers

Munching crisps in the Peggy Bundy spirit.
L-R: Max, Kate Bush (see video below), Me, Mrs Gatsby & Mrs Tibbs

This girl's outfit was impressive, I'm guessing a courtier from the era of Louis XIV.

Scotch Gothic

2010-10-29T22:06:00.007+01:00

Today I went on a class field trip to the hinterlands of Edinburgh. We went to Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose Abbey and onto Abbotsford. In the context of my course, Abbotsford is a prime example of the nineteenth century Gothic Revival style. Sir Walter Scott, the patron behind Abbotsford took elements from both Rosslyn and Abbotsford to create his distinctly 'Scotch Gothic' domain.

You're not allowed to take photographs inside Rosslyn Chapel. It's a tremendously popular spot, on this wet and grey day in late October, the compact chapel was packed with visitors. A lot of its appeal may be owed to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code and the legends of the Knights Templar/Mary Magdelene, and more bizarrely, Elvis, apparently some people (read: crazy conspiracy fiends) believe he's buried in the sealed crypt! One of the striking features of Rosslyn were the stained glass windows, but stained glass wasn't a feature here until the nineteenth century and some windows are even more contemporary, like this one (my favourite), of an airman -

Photo credit.
"In 1950 [Anthony Hugh Francis Harry St Clair- Erskine, 6th Earl of Rosslyn] added a first stained glass memorial window in the baptistery. The design of William Wilson, it is dedicated to his brother Pilot Officer The Hon. Peter St Clair-Erskine who died on active service in 1939, and to his stepfather, Wing Commander Sir John Milbanke, who died in 1947 from injuries also received during World War II."

Then on we went to Melrose Abbey, where blessedly the rain had ceased.

Melrose Abbey from the back, including graveyard where Sir Walter Scott is buried.

(Hannah's photo)

A view of Melrose village from the top of the Abbey, it was a precarious climb I can tell you and it brought this painting to mind -

The Meeting on the Turret Stairs (1864), Frederic William Burton

Although nothing quite so romantic occurred on this particular crowded, dense turret stairs!

Afterward my friend Hannah and I wandered around on the look-out for Scott's grave and took some more light-hearted photos -

A Gothic heroine awaiting her byronic hero?

Does anyone remember the Scottish Widows adverts?

I like how minimal some eighteenth century gravestones are and admirable for how much information they managed to neatly cram onto one stone, getting value for money!

(Photo credit: Hannah)
Candid photo of me fiddling with my point and shoot camera!

The final and most anticipated stop on our journey was Abbotsford, two or three miles from Melrose Abbey.

The novelist, poet and antiquarian Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe, Rob Roy) began his grand Gothic dream in 1811 when he bought a small farmhouse and its surrounding lands, for the site of what was to become his home, Abbotsford. As well as needing a home for himself and his family, Scott needed a place substantial enough to house and display his ever-expanding collection of antiquities and curiosities, everything from furniture made from the rafters of Rob Roy's home to a lock of Lord Nelson's hair! His furniture was either custom made for him in the Gothic style but after the death of his cabinet maker, a couple of his friends went about London seeking antiques to keep to the authentic feel of the house.

Heraldry was central to Scott's vision for his home and by choosing Gothic for his design, he was firmly establishing himself and his ancestry in a medieval Scottish past. As well as his collections of antiquities (both ancient and contemporary) it houses thousands of books, which Scott employed as reference texts in the writing of his novels and poems, the income from which paid for his fantastical home! Scott is an interesting character as he oftentimes went to extremes to acquire unique objects for his collection. It is said that after the battle of Waterloo Scott traveled to the site and went about by himself picking up whatever armory or military loot he could find, to display in his home.

Then, as now, Scott's home had a constant flow of tourists. It also had its critics, Ruskin and Virginia Woolf for example.

(Photo credit: Hannah)
Heraldic window, Armory room, painted by his friend Daniel Terry's wife.

(Photo credit: Hannah)
Needle point of Scott (in his armory?), in the library.

(Photo credit: Hannah)
The library, with Jamaican cedar bookcases, daubed 'oak' ceiling, and trompe l'oeil 'drapery' above bookcases.
See bust of Scott in his fifties at the end, apparently some tourists have commented on his resemblance to Russell Crowe!

(Photo credit: Hannah)
Only some of the regalia in the entrance hall.

Scott's personality is stamped in every corner of this house. One must consider what an incredible individual he must have been, considering that much of his collection of curiosities were gifts from friends and admirers.

Sadly though, the last Lady Scott died five years ago now, so the family parts of the house lie unoccupied at the moment. I was told that perhaps the National Trust are considering taking it over. Watch this space.

All in all, an exhausting but fulfilling day. It ended on a high note when we found some rather risqué postcards in the gift shop...! And I bought a packet of the Border dark chocolate and ginger biscuits I am now enamored with.

Buy my pretty things!

2010-10-27T23:32:00.003+01:00

Sorry to be promoting my eBay sales here, but I have some items some of you guys might be interested in. Particularly Issue 9 of Lula, from this time last year!

All my items can be found here!

Thanks dolls x

Lentil Bolognese

2010-10-26T22:08:00.005+01:00

I had a particularly stressful day today, it hit me like a bus how much work I have to do, right in the stomach. I went for chocolate cake and ice cream with my flatmate and it was a relief to eat something comforting in a setting that wasn't the library or my room!

Sometimes I enjoy cooking to take my mind off things, I find it a productive form of procrastination. Recently I came by this recipe and it will be my go-to bolognese recipe for the future. There's a lot of prepping of vegetables, but it's worth it. It's perfect for serving to friends, but I like to make a large quantity for myself and refrigerate it to have for my lunch the next day in my recently acquired Thermos flask.

Lentil Bolognese
Serves 4, preparation 20m, cook, 45m
Vegetarian and vegan.

75g Puy Lentils (follow cooking instructions on packet)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 carrots, cut into small pieces
2 courgettes, cut into small pieces
2 sticks celery, cut into small pieces
4/5 closed cup mushrooms, sliced
1 (400g) can chopped tomatoes
1/4 pint/150ml vegetable stock
2 tablespoons tomato purée
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
200g pasta
salt and pepper, to season

1. Cook lentils for 20m, drain and set to one side.
2. Heat oil in saucepan, add onion, garlic, carrots and celery and fry for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned.

3. Then add mushrooms and courgettes, cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, stock, marjoram, purée and salt and pepper.

4. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in lentils, cook for another 2 minutes, turn off heat and cover.

5. Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain, return to pan and toss with bolognese. Serve in bowls with some cheese on top. My latest culinary discovery is mature davidstow cheddar! Obviously leave the cheese out if vegan.

[Ok so my food photography will never resemble those on the pages of a Nigella cookbook but you get the picture (har)]

PS. I used the cheapest brand of canned tomatoes in store as well, so it's great for those of us on a budget.
Also, puy lentils can be expensive (this recipe doesn't call for much so a 500g box lasts a while) but I'm sure you could use ordinary lentils too.

If you've got any simple and delicious no-fail vegetarian recipes please let me know!

Something for the weekend I

2010-10-23T15:27:00.002+01:00

Something for your Saturday.

Instead of getting my lazy ass to the library I've been procrastinating by cleaning and watching back to back episodes of My So-Called Life.

In Spirit

2010-10-20T20:46:00.003+01:00

I wore purple today, for Spirit Day. Did you wear purple? Show me!

Trousers, Topshop. Boots, Office. Top, H&M. Jacket, Avoca. Scarf, Urban Outfitters.

The Trevor Project.

The Heart Asks Pleasure First

2010-10-19T10:42:00.003+01:00

At the weekend I didn't do anything in terms of college work, I feel horridly guilty!

BUT I did go to some Steve Reich and Philip Glass Minimal concerts and most importantly I went to see Michael Nyman on Saturday evening and he played this -

And I wore:

Dress, mousevox vintage
Belt, Topshop.
Hairband, Urban.
Tights, Fiore

Gals in Glasses

2010-10-17T16:13:00.002+01:00

This summer I decided to get myself a new pair of spectacles, with the intention of wearing glasses more often, normally I am an avid contact lens wearer. I have been wearing glasses since I was seven and I’ve heard all the jibes and teasing, so I’m not particularly fond of having an extra accessory on my face (especially considering my disgraceful prescription, speccy four eyes), but if I am, it has to be a stylish one surely.

One of the advantages, for me anyway, of wearing glasses is that I can crawl from underneath the duvet cover in the morning, pull on my glasses, brush my hair and not have to bother with make-up. Maybe I'm the worse for it, but the large frames blessedly cover most of my dark circles from too many late nights! What do you love about your glasses?

Unfairly, glasses often make the male of the species look more attractive (I’m sure you can count them on one hand), so one evening on a whim I conducted a small search through the internet to pick out some of the iconic female glasses wearers and here they are for your perusal. Suggestions of more lovely ladies in frames are encouraged!

Chloë Sevigny

Anna Karina

Grace Kelly

Zooey Deschanel

Tom Ford, 2009

And in case you’re wondering… myself in Nicole Miller ‘High Society’ tortoiseshell frames.

Let me tell you, getting the right pair of specs doesn’t come cheap, these frames (incl. lenses) cost the best part of a designer handbag!

Do any of you ladies wear specs? Been subjected to the teasing? Tell me, go on.

Also, some bloggers who wear their glasses well... Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts, Ana of Ripped Knees and Miss Pandora of course. And for the boys, Davey of The Roger-Moore Algorithm.

The Sound of Silence

2010-10-15T17:54:00.006+01:00

It's been a while folks. But I'm making my way back, slowly.

This song is one of my favourites. I particularly like Art's introduction at the start. I empathize completely.

I've made some changes around here, it's less claustrophobic, thoughts?

BRB

2010-08-29T20:29:00.000+01:00

Working on layout. I can't do code so this is my only explanation for how depressingly awful the place looks now.

Any tips, drop me a line! eek!

Hiatus

2010-08-13T00:38:00.004+01:00

Watching Beckii: Schoolgirl Superstar at 14 right now. Woah.

Anyway, the blog has been lying dormant these past few weeks. I haven't been keeping up with my Google Reader either. I've had a lot to do recently, also I'm trying to revamp the layout and am frustratingly trying to work my head around coding. Soon there will be a new layout!

Other things I've been doing - catching up with old friends via the post. I love writing when I can. And I've been busy making mix-tapes too.

This weekend I have a 21st birthday to attend, a driver theory test, then next week I am in Glasgow and that weekend I have another 21st. Busy times!

I love reading your thoughts, so I hope to be back blogging soon!

An outfit, as the summer ends, its time to start reaching for the neutrals in the wardrobe. Autumn is my favourite season to dress for! I've been reassessing my wardrobe this summer and I feel like going in a more Annie Hall and Teddy Girl inspired direction, I've always liked those who've played around with androgyny before, so its time I explore it myself.

Blouse, vintage. Blazer, Vila (old). Pants, Topshop. Socks, Topshop. Brogues, Office.

Waterford

2010-07-25T15:42:00.007+01:00

My current blog design feels a little claustrophobic, so I'm keen to revamp but inspiration is proving difficult to come by, I do want to keep my Morris background though!

This time last week I was in County Waterford to visit my friend for a long weekend. I had a lovely time, her family are so warm and welcoming and her mum is a brilliant cook and a former vegetarian so she knows what's tasty for us herbivores.

I arrived at Tara's after a seven hour bus journey (if I drove it would take me half that time) and kipped out on the couch watching trashy tv, after dinner it was a pleasant evening so she brought me out to Tramore, a coastal part of Waterford. We went adventuring on the cliffs.

On Friday we went to the amusements in Tramore. It was my first time on the waltzers in years and my stomach may be older but no less hardened. I was disorientated but relieved when we disembarked! There was three of us girls in one of the only three occupied waltzers so the young lad on duty delighted in picking us as his main target for some serious spins.

On Saturday we went sales shopping where and had a lovely lunch and desert in a café on the docks called Berfranks, where our waiter was indifferent but the food was nice and the boss was a sweetheart, commenting how our group was like a rainbow (my purple trains and colourful top, my friends orange hair and the other girls pink and black hair). I've no pictures of this as I'm lazy and wasn't bothered to be honest.

We did go out that night, where we danced ourselves silly (I had stiff joints for two days afterward, no lie!) and I amused myself immensely afterward greeting everyone I passed on the street afterward with the Waterford greeting "Well!"

No visit to Waterford was complete without venturing to recently renovated and reopened Waterford Crystal. Tara works as a guide there, so I had more of an opportunity to chat to the carvers and engravings who were lovely and only too keen to entertain my many questions!

The level of skill is completely awe inspiring! This is Tara with a sculpture of the Waterford crest.

Joanna Newsom watch your back...

At the end of the tour you can get your photo taken to ~remember~ your trip, it gets emailed to you, it's cheesy but cute! I'm wearing my Orion cardigan that I bought 3-4 years ago and haven't worn since first year. I've fallen in love with it again and my bright purple trainers that I got in Oxfam for €6.50, love them!

Now I'm determined to list a few WC items on my wedding list when the time comes. Tara met John Rocha when he visited the factory at the start of the summer too, she says he was adorable in the flesh and he wore runners with his suit, but in a fashion forward way, naturally!

Also there is an Amish community in Waterford and they do the best Carrot Cake this side of the world, absolutely delicious, I have heard many reports of how good it is and it's true. The cake I brought home to my Dad got fairly battered on the bus journey back but it was devoured within a day so I didn't have a chance to snap a picture, I was too busy getting a slice for myself before it disappeared!

High Fashion for 55c

2010-07-23T15:21:00.009+01:00

I was alerted to the existence of these beauties by Whisty and as my dad's a man of letters, (that is, a postman) I had to get my mitts on them. (Posties don't get free stamps/mail by the way.) They're even nicer in real life, the designers names are in an eye catching neon and are embossed (ooeerr!) for that extra luxe effect!

John Rocha, Philip Treacy, Orla Kiely, Lainey Keogh, Louise Kennedy and Paul Costello are the chosen designers. I'm a bit sore not to see Peter O'Brien on there though.

Now if I could only have some letters to post so I could send these high fashion lovelies to glamourous parts of the globe, or, er, even the other side of the country.

This limited edition issue is part of An Post's Commemorative Stamp programme. No, I'm not a stamp collector, just a accumulator of curious and pretty things. As you do.

The Cove (2009)

2010-07-20T14:48:00.002+01:00

For those of you in the UK and Ireland, a reminder to you that on More4 tonight as part of their True Stories feature they are showing the Oscar award winning film The Cove at 10pm. I urge you to watch it if you can and tell your friends and family to do the same. You'll never venture into a Seaworld again. It is one of the most profound and heart-rending films I have seen all year, everyone I've recommended it to has been touched by it and subsequently shown their families.

In short, The Cove follows renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry (of Flipper fame) and his team of activists in their efforts to capture and record evidence of mass dolphin slaughter and its subsequent impact on human health in the small coastal Japanese town of Taijii. The obstacles, denial and ignorance they face are unbelievable in this day and age.

Even if you can't watch it on television, rent it out from your local dvd store. It will open your eyes.

Mad Men

2010-07-13T21:49:00.007+01:00

I know a lot of bloggers are anxious for July 25th, the premiere of season four of Mad Men. It's annoying being stuck in between series, I'm used to watching a series right through instead of tapping my fingers waiting week by week. I don't think I could get into another series, what are you guys watching? I'm watching True Blood week by week.

Anyway, whilst impatiently awaiting the return of Mad Men, I've had to amuse myself in some ways, so jib jab provided some amusement. G'wan have a laugh at my expense!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

And of course after spending hours reading Tom & Lorenzo's costume analysis' of the shows, I had to style myself as a Mad Woman/Minx?

Lastly, this promo poster makes me all giddy and excited.

First impressions - there's definite change of tone in Betty's wardrobe, she's no longer the naive housewife in 50s day dresses, but more assertive, more progressive in her fashion tastes. As for Peggy - woah! That 1950s catholic schoolgirl wardrobe and attitude is certainly dead and gone!

PS. Also - isn't Peggy's hair getting big? It says a lot about her new status and the bigger her hair gets, the more ambitious she's becoming. And that well cut suit, not a peter pan collar or ridiculous bow in sight! She's becoming more masculinized and one of the boys. Go Peggy!

Macbook covers

2010-07-12T14:39:00.008+01:00

Over a year of having my (second, RIP MacDreamy) Macbook I only recently got around to getting a case for it. Until this point I had this super nerdy ultra sensible black boxy toshiba backpack mum had gotten me. When in Glasgow however I don't want to be dowdy!

Finding a stylish macbook cover is more difficult than you would expect, but etsy again proved to be my saviour and I picked up this unashamedly twee tapestry cover from sandrastju, an etsy seller based in Lithuania who makes loads of great quality, colourful and ladylike macbook covers. It fits my mac perfectly and I'm in love!

Foof also has a decently selection of bright coloured laptop/ipod/iphone sleeves.

Next on my list is finding a canon ixus camera cover...

Sepia days.

2010-07-10T20:28:00.004+01:00

My dad recently had a small reunion with some of his college buddies, he hadn't seen one of them for thirty years! He was described as still being in the seventies, technology wise. Which is true, but bless him, he's started using his email this week, painfully keying in individual letters. Key. By. Key.

So, one of his friends forwarded on some pictures from the college years! What's so special about these pictures is their shabby charm - the aging floral wallpaper, posters tacked up haphazardly on the walls, the pictures taken unbeknownst to the subject. It makes me sort of nostalgic really for those sepia days, when a picture was something to be treasured, expensive to process, tearing open the envelope to glimpse at moments that would forever remain frozen in time on that delicate matte paper. Now it seems there's too many fleeting moments, to be snapped, deleted, retaken, discarded and forgotten about. Thats why I've taken to using disposable cameras on occasion, so one day I might happen upon photos of myself and my friends, between the pages of a book, long forgotten about at the bottom of a drawer and smile.

Ah the curtains, the wallpaper, the pyrex dishes! The hair! I long for those days when hair was worn long and tousled. I also love looking at old food packaging, how simple and basic it was - straight to the point! MILK.

It's strange and sort of thrilling to see the face of one I know and love so well minus three decades worth of worries and lines and with a substantial amount more hair! The first photo is my favourite, love The Who poster pinned on the door!

Somewhere over the rainbow...

2010-07-08T23:06:00.007+01:00

Well, the title of my last post seems pretty apt. Its been over two weeks since I updated! I tend to post in waves. I'm a horrid procrastinator.
So what have I been doing? Shopping mainly if I'm being honest! I've been up and down on the bus to Dublin meeting friends. I find that the bus puts me into a pensive mood, I guess because the journey is three and a half hours long (each way!) and I'm looking at fields and small towns most of the time.

One of the major events I partook in was Dublin Pride, on June 26th. It was my second Pride parade. The Civil Partnership Bill passed in the Dáil (Irish Senate) and Seanad, it will soon pass into law. It's progress!

It being pride there were rainbows everywhere! According to estimates 20,000 took part in the parade and 120,000 watched as the streets of Dublin surrendered to the drag queens for the afternoon! Weather wise it didn't rain (unlike my first Pride in 2008), the skies alternated between grey and blue, brightening up later on.

Whoever took this almost certainly had a few glasses of vino in them, obviously. I should point out that I am wearing Miss Opus Gei's halo, the act that took AMI 2010 by storm. (A few of my friends performed in and produced it.)

It was a lot of fun, the whole day. I consumed my fairrrr share of wine that evening shall we say! It really felt like summer, the whole weekend has been the highlight of my summer so far.

Like I've mentioned previously I began in Oxfam recently and I love it! I love coming across a bargain and selling on old clothes to new people, I just get such a buzz out of it I can't describe it. If I was to estimate though about 80% of the items donated are trash and not viable to sell. I can't wait to share my finds with you! Sligo isn't the most fashion forward city in Ireland but we have some lovely labels donated to us.

PS. In uploading these pictures it struck me that my camera is rubbish, or its probably my camera skillz, I always feel like such an amateur when looking at the semi-professional prettiness of other bloggers pictures, but eh, my lacklustre pictures are part of my charm, uh, right?