Reading...

Hello Everyone, I love the Penguin UK edition of the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. (Their cover design is always marvelous.) The story was originally written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of my all time favorite authors.

Meanwhile, I wanted to tell you that I put together an Amazon list of some of the books you're reading. Thank you all for your comments on the "Got Books?" post. You inspire me!

Your list here!

And the original post. (Let me know if you want to add any books to the list.)

Girl, Interrupted

It's very hard not to be fascinated with Edie Sedgwick, Warhol's muse. Here's a fantastic video by the Velvet Underground -- found by Eyemurmur on YouTube -- that captures the glamour and tragedy of Sedgwick's life. (She died much too young of an overdose). The clip is set to the song "After Hours," written by Lou Reed and performed by Underground drummer Maureen Tucker. More info about the song here.

New Etsy Crush

I'm quite smitten by D. Kim's wry illustrations on Etsy. Above: A jumble of glass lanterns, a new take on the silhouette and subway entrances. (I need directions to the station that takes me many moons away!) Kim is a Brooklyn artist, with humor, talent and an edge. Bravo.

White. It's the New Black!

Hello everyone. It's very late here but I'm wide awake. They were serving chocolate martinis and trays of Godiva bonbons at the Elton John party. I've had way too much sugar. And now I'm on the Internet and watching Oscar recaps on TV. So, what did you think of the Oscar fashions? The colors were very neutral this year, with fewer diamonds. Bling is out. White is in. Everyone looked like a bride. I'm longing for the days when Nicole was wearing chartreuse. 

Tonight

Loves, I'm going to do a little Oscar party hopping tonight. First to Pacific Palisades, then over the Beverly Hills. I'm hoping to cap the evening at Elton John's Oscar party, his annual bash to raise money to combat AIDS. (UPDATE: The event raised almost $4 million! Here's my story about the parties.)

There have been many charity events here over the past week for a number of worthy causes: like helping widows and children in the Darfur region and now the Congo: raising money for the victims of the Australian bushfires; assisting women with cancer; keeping up the pressure to end global warming. George Clooney -- who was in Chad with a UN delegation last week -- once said that he viewed fame as a platform to raise awareness about the troubles of the world. Bono perfected this. Others are now trying to do the same. I'm very proud to know some of them. Taking care of those who are suffering is all that really matters in the end.

Have a wonderful evening!


PS--I'm wearing a long black dress. To paraphrase Kate Winslet, you can always tell when a woman is not feeling exactly skinny by her decision to wear, well, black. hah! (I so enjoyed all that Valentines candy though!)

xoxo

PSS:
Ha! A comment from the clever Clever Pup: "Holy Moly, sounds like you're going to have a fun evening. I'll be thinking of you on my IKEA couch."

(Normally I would be sitting on my IKEA couch too! I honestly believe that blogging is bad for your figure--at least it's been for mine...T.)



(photo credit: here.)

Kate's Moment?

I loved Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility and she was brilliant as Clementine in the Eternal Sunlight of the Spotless Mind. (It was horrible the way people criticized her for gaining a few pounds after Titanic.)

She looks beautiful (and charming while crying during acceptance speeches.) Can't wait to see how she does tonight. She has stiff competition though. What an amazing group of actresses!


Comment from the talented Tina Tarnoff: "She is just amazing, so strong and vulnerable at the same time. I loved the interview and the amazing photos of her as Deneuve in the December Vanity Fair. Here's the link. I do hope she wins!"


(Photo credit and lovely Kate wallpapers: here.)

Oscar

Here are some wonderful old photos of Audrey, Grace and Elizabeth with their Oscars, always the most popular guy in Hollywood this time of year. Are you watching the Academy Awards tomorrow night? Who are you rooting for?


(Photo credits: Life images.)

Bliss

Hello everyone, I spent the day trying to organize the millions of magazines in my work studio. It's a task that will never be finished. I always get distracted and end up sitting on the floor reading. I found an old issue of Australian Vogue Living from two years ago. As I flipped through the pages I instantly remembered why I bought it: It was for these photos (above), of Linda Gregoriou's home in Sydney. The objets in the top photo are beyond beautiful: The antique Chinese screen, the pink peonies, the bright painting, the turquoise Balinese pot. Then the following photos: The memo chandelier and the tattered rug. The art, the flowers, the white floor, more pink. Bliss!!

J Lo in Tulle

I love this photo of Jennifer Lopez wearing the now iconic sequin and tulle Oscar de la Renta dress. I cut this out of a magazine awhile back. Of course now I can't remember where it appeared. (Do you know!? Vogue, perhaps). It's gorgeous! Would you wear a short dress like this to formal event?

UPDATE: The photo is from Elle magazine, September 2005. Thank you anonymous!

The Writing on the Wall

This is becoming an ongoing series here at the muse:  pictures of love notes written on walls!  Here's the latest from my Internet perusing...found on Le Love.

(My earlier post: Time and Love.)

Got Books?

What are you reading these days?



(Illustration via Lolita.)

Thank you...

Hello Darlings,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for visiting my site and for leaving your uplifting, smart, thoughtful and witty comments! I love you! Today, From Betsy With Love put together a collage (above) of some of my previous posts. I'm so honored! (Thank you Betsy!) Unlike the actors you'll see Sunday night at the Oscars, I'll keep my remarks short. Ha! Please keep visiting my site. I'm so happy you found my little corner of the Internet.

xoxo

Tina


PS: The photos above are by a number of talent photographers: Irene Suchocki, Valorie Cox, Corrie Bond, Petrina Tinslay and Liquid Sky Arts. Their work appeared here in the following posts (please click for more yummy pictures!)

From top right: Enchantments; Life Through Viewfinder; Prize; Friday; Charms; and Saturday Tea, Anyone?

Rose

Beautiful girl, beautiful dress. Another gorgeous photo by Chris Nicholls. (See the gallery here.) The Oscars are on Sunday. I wish I could go to the parties in a dress like this!

Lucky Day

What kind of book do you want to write?

From Annabelle, of My Life...In To Do Lists, in Australia: "Haha I love it! I'd love to write a memoir of my life at about 60 years of age, I hope to have lived a lot by then!"

From Sara, of One Long Road,  in Cairo: "A reflective, contemplative autobiography!
one that would represent my culture in the context of being Egyptian :) "

(Photo credit: I Heart It.)

California

Such charming "roadside photographs" by Jen Zahigian of Oakland, California. (They're for sale in her Etsy store.) The palm tree photo reminds me that I need to make a trip to Two Bunch Palms to soak in the hot springs. There's so much to love about the California desert.

Dancing in the Light

This photo by Chris Nicholls for the New York City Ballet made my heart leap. So beautiful! (I so love the ballet...) See the full photo here. I imagine her dancing to Tchaikovsky.

A comment from Charlotte, lovely reader:
"More than any other choreographer whoever lived, Balanchine understood that the fascination of ballet was the motion of beautiful women. That was the glorious vision at the heart of the glorious company he created..."


From Whitney:
"I am a former pro ballerina and wanted to tell you that that photo is in costume for a ballet called "Vienna Waltzes". The music is, I'm sorry to disappoint, not Tchaikovsky but 3 separate composers...Johann Strauss primarily.

Also, the photo looks like the dancer Suzanne Farrell, but as the photographer appears (in his bio photo) relatively young, I don't think he took this at the time she was dancing (60's - 80's). Still, the face is hers I'm pretty sure.

Anyway, lovely blog. :)"

(Thank you!!! I so appreciate your wonderful comments! Tina)

Turquoise and Blue

I'm completely enamored with prop stylist Robyn Glaser's work, often showcased in Anthropologie catalogues. Her interiors are saturated with color. I love the picture of the girl, as seen through a cascade of clear beads. The blue velvet settee with the mismatched pillows is priceless. And I love the stacks of books with the blue china. (Ok, I'm still having my Oscar Wilde moment.) Lovely.

Édith...

Would you rather listen to Édith Piaf on a record player...

Or on a CD? Another beautiful dilemma, yes? I always think about the scene in Bull Durham when Susan Sarandon is blasting Piaf on her turntable. (And Tim Robbins calls her the "crazy Mexican singer.") There are certain singers who just sound more romantic through the speaker of a record player. What do you think?

(Poster of Piaf here.)

Stars, Unlit

The neon lights from a carnival ride, in sepia. I love this photo, found on We Heart It via the fantastically talented Dyxie.

Motto

I have adopted this as my new motto. They're having another round of layoffs at work this week. So many good friends have already left. It's very stressful, but I have to believe that everything will be ok. Somehow. No matter what happens. Right?