Belle and Maude and Ulla and Regentka ...

I finished up Belle Starr yesterday. Actually, the quote is about Belle Starr...I'm not sure who the photo is. I've had this photo for a long time and always knew I wanted to use her in a wallhanging.







Here are a few detail shots of the embellishments.
The quote is the carving on Belle Starr's headstone:

"Shed not for her the bitter tear
Nor give the heart to vain regret
Tis but the casket that lies here
The gem that fills it sparkles yet."

I ran across this collage, which is a poster for a retrospective film exhibition of the Spanish screenwriter and director, Gonzalo Suárez Morilla. I thought the use of black and white images contrasted with the colour use in a few of the images was very striking and effective. Movie posters don't usually do much for me - they always seem to be about the same movie...or, at the least, about the same type of movie being advertised. This collaged cinema poster was not only beautifully made, but intrigues me and and makes me wish I could attend the festival. If only I could make it over to Madrid for the week.

This gorgeous Victorian Folly was posted yesterday by Ulla at Ullabenulla. Be sure to click on the image so it will grow and you can examine the details.
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed strictly as decoration, having none of the usual purposes of housing or sheltering associated with a conventional structure. In the 18th century, English gardens and French landscape gardens, they often represented Roman temples, and symbolized classical virtues or ideals. Other 18th century garden follies represented Chinese temples, Egyptian pyramids, ruined abbeys, or Tartar tents, to represent different continents or historical eras. Sometimes they represented rustic villages, mills and cottages, to symbolize rural virtue. "Folly" is used in the sense of fun or light heartedness, not in the sense of something ill-advised.

Ulla wrote, "Victorians loved to create elaborate 'tableaux' for holidays and other special occasions. Often these tableaux mimicked architectural follies popular at the time, which were miniature, nonfunctional buildings designed to enhance the natural landscape." She is giving a workshop at Castle in the Air, where she will help her students create their own Victorian Folly. This is a photo of her class sample. I think it's just lovely.


Be sure to check her website for all the information about the class (Ullabenulla). I wish I
could be there! Unfortunately, I live on the other ocean! Or check out the fabulous store where she gives classes - Castle in the Air. it's one of my shopping goals in life to go there with an all new fresh clean credit card and abuse it until it hemorrhages. This website store has the most terrific opening splash page ever!







Just a reminder ... only 36 more hours until I announce the winner of Maude Always Dresses for Spring When in Paris. If you haven't entered yet, click on the image and leave a message on last Sundays posting! Winner will be announced on Beverly's Pink Saturday post.

By the way - a new contest coming up for this week's Pink Saturday! Be there or be - well - not pink.


Today, I am completely revising, reorganizing, restoring and regrouping my studio. I've let things get way too out of hand ... and for a compulsive neatnik like me, it's impossible to be productive in this post-war Dresden environment. I always like to think that I'm going to get something beautiful made during the day - but I fear the only thing beautiful I'll be creating is an empty work table to sit at!

Have a wonderful day! I hope you make something beautiful today - take the pressure off me!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Did you notice that I almost made it out of here without mentioning Adam not winning American Idol? Phooey. End of subject.