If it's Tuesday, it must be another pot pourri day ...

My final report on the Brave Little Rosebud. He's had his day in the sun - or frost, as it were. His petals have all been shed and he's gone for good. Amazingly, the two buds that were inspired by him have actually bloomed! They're rather small, and not particularly well-formed, but they made it! So the Brave Little Rosebud not only pushed himself to live a full and happy rose life, but inspired others to do the same ... is that La Marseillaise I hear in the background? I'm somewhat sorry that my saga of BLR (Brave Little Rosebud) is over ... I was enjoying this burst of color every day amidst all the brown and grey that our plants and vegetation have become.

...just an idea of why that Brave Little Rosebud was so amazing - this is what the rest of the entire rosebush looks like! Definitely sleeping in for the winter!
Okay. On to much more important things - like shopping! ... even if it's only window shopping. This fabulous and intriguing window was shot at Disneyland! Tim Holtz shot the photo at "New Orleans Square" and posted it on his blog Live the Life You've Imagined. I think it's most mysterious and inviting. Notice the raven body and the human head in the shadow box - loving it here!

Tim's photo reminded me of this wonderful gallery of tidbits and treasures. It was posted by Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist. Doesn't it make you want to go shopping in her living room?! You must visit her blog and read her Nature Collections and Sweet Confections post - it's a beautiful and thoughtful entry in the blog world!Fashion photography is getting so bizarre and 'out there' that I'm never really quite sure what they're advertising. It's becoming as esoteric as the ads for perfume - which, for some reason, always seem to be about blue jeans, to me at least. I have no idea what this fashion shoot was about - but the photos are really wonderful - magical and enchanting. I'm especially fond of the chandelier hanging in the forest!



But, really, don't we all know that to be really fashionable, you merely need to match your frock to your toilet paper? I assume that is, in the event that you leave the powder room with tissue stuck to your shoe, it will be color coordinated.
Okay. Back to shopping! I suggest we fly to the best shops in this uber-fab ballon by Sandra Evertson - she of the uber-fab rubber stamps! She also has an uber-fab blog - check it out! But, first, let's climb aboard the balloon and go shopping!
I've long been a fan of miniature Victorian Follies ... and some have compared my mini-theatre constructions as a type of Victorian Folly. But this is the first time I've seen an opportunity to actually own a real Victorian Folly, built for displaying in a garden. This was built rather late during the craze (1910), but certainly no fanciful idea went unheeded! The sculpture is over five feet high and almost three feet wide. I believe the 'second floor' (with the blue floor) was intended to house a potted plant. I would so love to have this - and I would keep it indoors!

My bibliotheque of the week is this magnificent 1840 English Anglo Indian ivory inlaid breakfront bookcase. I believe this is where I would store all my history books - there is something about this bibliotheque that says 'history' and 'relevance' and 'tales of foreign lands.' Be sure to click on the detail photo to get a really good close up look at the fine ivory inlay work. It's such a treasure!

I am one of those crystal chandelier purists - I like my crystals clear - crystal clear. Other types of crystals I can enjoy seeing in others' homes and in other situations. But, for me, it's clear crystal all the time. It's the rule.

But all rules are to be broken - no?! I just adore this pair of 19th century Belgian chandeliers with accents of ruby-red teardrop crystals. How wonderful to have a dining room large enough to accommodate both of them!

Our final stop is to see this exquisite 9' high 1/100 scale model of the Eiffel Tower. It is accurate to within 1/4"! It is fully electrified and has a working elevator. The top section is missing in this photo because it wouldn't fit in the shop where the photo was taken - but it's intact and also accurate to 1/100 scale. I want this in my bedroom! Since my chances of waking up every morning in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower are slim to none, this would be a lovely alternative to have in my bedroom!

As you know - all too well! - I'm fascinated and enchanted with miniature theatres. Even shop giveaway children's theatres from the turn of the century I find charming. This miniature play theatre featuring two characters from Sleeping Beauty (la Belle au bois Dormant) was a giveaway by the Parisienne shop La Belle Jardiniere. If you would like to put it together, you can click on the images and they will grow to a more workable size. Or, if you would like to put one together for your favorite young person (who could be you, of course!) go here and click on "all sizes" - the large one will make quite a large theatre!

I'm not sure where I found this (if it was on your blog, please let me know so I can credit you!), but I think it's an absolutely delightful change from the ubiquitous 'welcome' sign!
On Turner Classic Movies - or as I refer to it, the station that never leaves my tv - I watched the most bizarre and unknown film called "Poor Pretty Eddie," starring Leslie Uggams, Shelley Winters, Slim Pickens, and the most motley and creepy collection of actors/characters ever assembled. Well, until David Lynch started making movies, anyway. It is scary - and funny - and probably has no redeeming social value at all. But if you like campy trashy creepy and cultish movies, search out a copy and see it. However, let's face it - if you only are interested in Meg Ryan/Kate Hudson chick flicks, you want to avoid it like a jar of bad glitter.

Did I mention that Ms. Uggams is assaulted and held prisoner by a bad Elvis Presley impersonator who is the youthful lover of the fading burlesque queen, Shelley Winters?

I want this palace dog bed for Dusty. He probably wouldn't sleep in it (the contrary thing), but it would look wonderful in the bedroom at the foot of my 9' high Eiffel Tower model!This magnificent art quilt (click on the image to really see the detail work!) is by M. Joan Lintault. This photo is only a small portion of the entire piece. I don't know what to say except go to The Art of the Quilt and see the entire quilt and more of her work, along with the amazing artistry of Susan "Lucky" Shie and Radka Donnell. Lucky was actually the first person to whom I ever wrote a fan letter! I saw her wondrous quilts in a magazine about twenty years ago and sought out how to mail to her. She impressed me beyond measure.

Just one final image before I head into the studio and get to work. I love this picture. I wanted to post it on Pink Saturday, because even though it's in black and white, it should be pink. But, since it's not, I'll post it here today. I just love "Dinner at Eight" - and Jean Harlow couldn't be any funnier. My favorite exchange in the film is between Ms. Harlow and Marie Dressler:

Kitty: I was reading a book the other day.
Carlotta: You were reading a book?
Kitty: Yes. It's all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession?
Carlotta: Oh, my dear, that's something you need never worry about.
Thank you for spending a few minutes with me today. I hope you found something to give you a glimmer of inspiration.

Now go make something beautiful!

♥´¨)
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(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Come One! Come All! Pink Saturday Circus Day!

Where to start?! Gather together some chipboard and paper maché and wooden dowels. Then cover them with your favorite pink fabrics that cry out to be part of a vintage European circus.


First add some pink vintage trim, and gather some vintage pink seam binding to highlight the pale pink. Make a miniature pleated fan of pink print paper and add a pink background circle and finish with a pink rhinestone. Use a vintage palest of pink faux pearl necklace that has been broken and embellish the pleated fan with pink ribbon.

What is a circus without feathers and pom poms and fringes and beads? Add some lovely vintage pink millinery flowers, because they were used so often on the elaborate European circus costumes. Find a focal point to add a fabulous vintage pink and clear rhinestone brooch.

Add flowers and ribbons and beads - oh, my!

Then grab your bag of roasted chestnuts and paper cup of hazelnut glacée and enjoy the performers as they entertain you with dances and feats of daring, with humor and with exciting trained animals that both frighten and delight you! Any circus is charming and delightful - but the most enchanting of all is a Pink Saturday circus!

Be sure to visit Beverly at Beverly's Pink Saturday, and see all the other people who celebrate pink with her every Saturday ... from vintage treasures to art moderne and everything in between. Tell 'em Tristan sent you!

Now, go make something beautiful!

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

A special P.S.
I'm having a 50% Off Sale at my Etsy store for this weekend only! The perfect time to do some Christmas shopping for special friends and family - and yourself, of course! Please message/email me to send a special PayPal invoice, as Etsy shopping cart can't handle a sale. Thanks!

Wednesday Whimsies and Wonders...

Just wanted to start by giving you the last update on The Brave Little Rose ... he's gone into full wide open bloom. The other buds were nipped last night by frost, so I guess they're all finished now. I've enjoyed looking forward to my morning walk with Dusty each day and watching the growth and determination of this lovely yellow and pink rose!

Speaking of Dusty, I really had to laugh at him this morning, as he tramped through mounds of leaves. He looked like he was decked out in camouflage ... he blended in perfectly! I think he thought he was invisible, too, as he crept up on squirrels, thinking today he might actually catch one. No such luck - for him.
I don't use stamps very much. But I have drawers full of them in the studio. I like having them just in case. Even if I don't need it for one second, I just ordered this new stamp, completely composed of calligraphy. Isn't it cool? I love it! It comes in a smaller version, but I thought I really need the large one - to probably not use. It's part of a new series of stamps on Stampington ... check out the other calligraphy inspired stamps here.
And, while on the subject of shopping ... how about these magnificent art deco doors? These would look terrific at our front door! Actually, they'd look terrific IN the house, too. Maybe opening up into a 20 x 20 bathroom? ...
We all know that I'm fixated on bookshelves, and this one is a real beauty. It's a signed and dated 1875 French Napolean III breakfront bibliotheque, stained mahogany with gilded trims. This would be the ideal bookcase to house my theatre library. I would feel dramatic merely opening the doors and perusing the titles!
I am always enchanted with wonderful garden accessories; it's a shame I have so little room outdoors to play in the dirt! But even in my small garden-ette I could accommodate these 1860's marble Regénce jardineres. They're so regal!
I want this 1770 French neoclassical gilded settee. I don't care if it would fit in with the rest of my furniture or not. I'd be willing to throw everything out and just have this piece in a room. Not only is the serpentine silhouette graceful and lovely, but that silk jacquard upholstery is so elegant. It's so elegant, I could just, well, I could just ... spit!
This storage unit is from the uber chíc and fab store, Property. The storage unit, with baroque style hand carved oak evolves into contemporary clean lines in burnished brass. Designed by Ferruccio Laviani, I first saw it at Maison 21 - Decorative But Not Serious...one of my favorite design blogs. This piece combines everything I love - elaborate baroque treasure and moderne high style. This buffet/storage unit is worthy of designing an entire room around...or even house around! It makes such a dramatic statement. It may not be for everybody - but it's for me!
If you remember last week, I posted this wonderful art nouveau work that I thought would make a wonderful entrance hall carpet. I didn't know the artist or what the image was used for - but I still liked it. Well, thanks to my friend, Victoria, I've found out that this is another poster by Shepard Fairey, the man who did the famous Obama "Hope" poster. I've also found out that it's available as tee-shirts, mugs, notecards, etc. at Northern Sun. Just enter "make art" in the search box. It's also available as a poster at Simple Living. I still think they're missing the boat not turning it into area rugs!
Here are the latest two mini circus theatres I made this weekend. After working on those three really large ones, doing a small one seems to go so quickly now!

Well, I'm feeling a little worn around the edges today - much like this seen-better-days lamb costume. I'm not ill or anything, just kind of tired and depleted. So I believe I will curl up with a hot mug of vanilla coffee and "Touch of Evil" ... nothing makes me feel better like a classic film!
Hope you're enjoying your day - thanks for spending a few minutes of it here with me. Now, go make something beautiful!

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

Quick Update on the Last Rose of Summer ...

Remember last week I wrote about my brave little rose bud. If you have no clue what the last rose of summer is, click here and read about him!

Well, the li'l chap soldiered and made it! ...
Even with temperatures down in the twenties and several hard frosts, this fella was doggedly determined - and bloomed! Okay, so he's a little bedraggled, and his outer petals look as if they've seen better days - but, heck, so am I! I'm proud of him!

And, he's even been an inspiration! He has inspired two buds to pop up right next to him! Frankly, I don't believe these two are going to have a possible chance of making it. They're actually predicting some snow and freezing rain this week. But, they're at least trying!

I know - a super short post for me. But I'm busy in the studio and must get back to it ... however, I wanted to share the open bloom of my last rose of summer!

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

C'mon! Everybody do the Pink Saturday Stomp ...

You just know this hip groovy chick is excited that it's Pink Saturday! She has thrown off her scarf and tossed aside her typewriter so she's able to be totally in step with the day!
This cool (though foolish) babe probably doesn't have any fabulous pink toile in her home.
More than likely she has this fab pink bordered vintage tablecloth, complete with oh-so-moderne kitchen tools and serving pieces. If you would like to buy this blast from the past, it's available at Sharon's Antiques and Vintage Fabrics. I hardly think this delightful Victorian needle case would be used by our swingin bird ... but it's lovely just the same.
And I doubt she's hip enough to have anything like this exquisite piece of work. Made from deconstructed and reconstructed vintage fiber pieces including crochet, lace, and embroidery, with bits of assorted fabric and ribbon. Inspired by the fragile and ever changing petals of a pink rose. To see more of these fiber art pieces inspired by nature; created by deconstructing and reconstructing vintage fiber pieces including lace, crochet, and embroidery, click here. I don't know the artist's name - only her flickr i.d. BooDilly.

Wouldn't this be a super appetizer buffet to feature at your next oh-so-chic soirée? And you don't even have to worry about traffic flow, as it's on wheels and the buffet can go to the guests!
No doubt, there would be many photos of that posh buffet taken with this retro pink Polaroid ...

...and perhaps all the canapes and hors d'oeuvres were prepared on pink beauty! Perhaps even our original Pink Saturday Stomp girl has this in her bachelor girl's pad!I wonder if she creates beautiful Christmas decorations after she finishes using her bottle brush to clean up after the soirée.

This pink sofa is a bit too much on the stage decór side for me ... but, still, it is dramatic and would make quite a splash in a sunny solarium surrounded by gigantic plants ... and perhaps a white stone fountain?
On the other hand, I just love this room. I don't think I could live in a room that is so perfectly put together that by merely sitting in the room I would be spoiling the design. But, still, I love it...and I love that barely-seen pink sparkly egg-shaped light fixture in the corner.
I hope our lady with the pink knee socks doesn't have this room. For me, this is just pink gone terribly wrong. I know it's for a baby - but, the combination of the various shades of pink and all those patterns and the plethora of accessories just looks like a big heap to me. So why did I post a picture I think exhibits poor design? Mostly, because I was astounded that somebody would go through all this trouble to design a nursery, but choose not to cover over the concrete block walls. I mean, does anything really say soft and comforting like concrete?
I found this wonderful wonderful crown at Holly Doodle Designs. I suppose it would be greedy of me to say that I want this sent to me immediately so that I can add it to my ever-growing collection of hand made crowns. Well, I don't care. I want it. You should check out her site - she makes really really nice things. Mostly romantic and vintage looking and dangerous to the AmEx!

Well, we came in with our groovy secretary boogier, but I think we'll leave with one of my all time favorite actresses (Tilda Swinton, of course!). Who else could look that absolutely fabulous wearing a ribbon storage holder?
I hope you've enjoyed your visit here for Pink Saturday. Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and see all the links to the wonderful sites participating in this popular event this week.

Now, get yourself inspired - and go make something beautiful! (Be sure to let me see!)

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