A grey christmas

So I haven't posted anything in awhile. Let's blame it on the practically biblical rain we've had and the general grossness of a Seattle winter. Here's a picture of roughly half of my face and part of my prettiest sweater from the 1960s and a necklace from Mary's shop on the Ave, Valley of Roses boutique. I am but a mere model; the necklace isn't mine. I wish it were. 

Happy holidays!

(Photo by Mary, on instagram @valleyofrosesboutique.)

The Varsity Drag

  On a day sometime in February Amelia and I went to the U-District. We were browsing as usual, visiting all of the vintage stores. I never find anything there because I love (and purchase) mostly pre-1950s garments. At the first store we went into, Valley of Roses, I found a late 1930s dress with embroidery. It was two inches too small in the waist but I tried it on anyway and it fit! 

The shop owner, Mary wanted to take mine and Amelia's photo for the store's Facebook. What she took resulted in some of the best photos of me and Amelia together that anyone's ever taken. 

Recently

I made homemade ice cream for the first time. (Basil chocolate chip from Bon Appetit. You're welcome.)

I worked a lot. And am considering quitting to go back to school. But I have no idea which path I want to take (baking, regular associates degree, or some mystical currently unknown third option?). I've had many near panic attacks over this very subject while sweeping the floor of my workplace with a giant mop/broom hybrid. A sign would be nice. Or just a stronger feeling of connection to the future, specifically mine. Part of the problem with watching old films, listening to old jazz, and collecting clothing and sewing notions older than my grandmother is that I feel far more connected to what happened then over what is happening at this moment. I have always lived in my head, absorbed in my interests and felt like what was actually happening to me was the surreal impossible thing. Help?

I bought a 1943 edition of The Joy of Cooking and it is so much more lively and engaging than the modern edition. Irma S. Rombauer includes little notes before most of the recipes. Some of her notes are informative in the traditional sense and some are more personal such as her note on a cake she served at a dinner party. Because it was reissued during WWII she includes a section on sugarless and reduced sugar desserts. Amelia and I made her honey spiced pound cake and it was damn fine. 

Also, I've spent too much time with my cat. 

Uh

A collection of photos taken horizantally during our trip to Paris last September. 

1. The most aesthetically pleasing metro stop I saw in Paris.

2. Two Matisses that have long inspired me and by total coincidence were in Musee de l'Orangerie.

3. Plants at the Turkish Market we went to. 

4. Flower paintings by Renoir. Also at Musee de l'Orangerie.

5. Amelia and my aunt Petra at Cafe Angelina. Their chocolat chaud, while expensive is insanely delicious. 

6. A painting of a ship on a stormy sea. Musee de l'Orangerie. Artist known, but forgotten by yours truly.

7. The ceiling of a rather well known department store.

The coolest dress ever

  A few Saturdays ago, I went to a really excellent garage sale. It was in the Central District and was ran by a lady who clearly knew her stuff. It was an all vintage sale and the prices were reasonable (but not cheap). I bought this dress and wore it yesterday. I was complimented so much on it that I decided I needed to properly document it for the world/internet. 

And here it is! Amelia took the pictures while we were in Ballard. She has excellent eye for color. Look at how perfectly the surroundings match the red and blue in the dress and socks.

1940s rayon dress: garage sale

Clogs: Lotta from Stockholm

Sunglasses: pilfered from my aunt

Inspiration: The Aviator

 A few months ago I watched "The Aviator." It was not a happy movie at all (but it has some of the best costumes ever). For those who do not know, it is about the life and loves of Howard Hughes, an eccentric billionaire best know for financing and directing "Hell's Angels." Hughes eventually descended into madness. He was known for dating movie stars such as Ava Gardner, Ginger Rogers, and Olivia de Havilland. Most importantly he had long (for him anyway) relationship with incomparable Katherine Hepburn. In the film she is played brilliantly by Cate Blanchett and costumed just as wonderfully by Sandy Powell. I never considered slacks before, but when I saw Ms. Blanchett as Hepburn in a pumpkin colored pair I knew I needed them.
Also pictured, Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner.

Making time

  For the past two weeks I have worked almost every single day. Right now I'm off but none of my friends or family are off so it's pretty dull. The most fun I've had in a while was going to the Museum of History and Industry. The current (very tiny) exhibition is on Greek restaurants, but the real reason to come is for the permanent exhibitions that cover the history of Seattle from when it was a Native American town called Du Wamps, through white settlement, through both World's Fairs and World Wars, and up to present day. My favorite parts were the Gold Rush exhibit, the Great Depression,and World War II rooms. 

  The outside of the museum is really neat as well so I had my picture taken there. The sun was in my eyes so I'm squinting in most of these (oops!).

We'll always have Paris

  Hmmm... I think I have nothing to say about Paris that hasn't already been said, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Part one of a multi-part series. (I was there for a full week after all.)