Want, would like, covet... gah!

Harrrooooo! I got paid today and it's a good thing too because I had 15 pounds in my checking account. No thanks to the fact that I went shopping in the city last week with my sister and spent a ridiculous amount (for me) on clothes. However, as it goes with shopping regardless of whether you've spent all your money you're still not satisfied and could keep going... forever. Tonight is the EuroMillions 117 million pound jackpot... I need to win that.

Anyway, after shopping I compiled a list of summer accessories off of Asos that would very much compliment my recent purchases. If any sugar daddy wants to support my shopping habits please get in touch.... kidding. But DID you know there is a website out there where you can shop for sugar daddies? Woah. Massive tangent. Anyway in an attempt to demonstrate that I have style... here they are:

Chocolate sandals yum! I don't usually wear open toed shoes because I have two different size feet... no joke. One is an American 8 and the other a 9. *Awkward smile* If you left me out in open water long enough I would end up swimming in a gigantic circle. Anyway I would bare my deformity in these.

Cork wedges. Big trend for summer. I want some especially these that look like the Stellas I saw on last September's runway.

Brogues! The whole girl/boy androgyny thing is a big trend in fashion and always will be so these are a freaking staple.

More sandally sandals. I'm having a camel/ tan obsession at the moment. It has nothing to do with my love for Jersey/Geordie Shore.

Glads. 'Nuff said.

Waist cinching belts look like crap on me but I'm gonna love them anyway. It has a key, how cute. Reminds me of a chastity belt hehe.

And again...

I have an ethnic print bag that I bought in Ghana that is reminiscent of this but the more the merrier right?

Argh I'm a sucker for fringe and suede. I could probably make an outfit completely out of the two. If it was big enough it would make an amazing school bag/ satchel. 

Obviously size is not well represented in these photos but this is a mini teeny tiny pouch that would be ideal for me as I usually don't have enough stuff to fill a proper purse.

I have an obsession with emerald green as well. I really would love a colorful purse for the hell of it. I'm of the clan that black and neutral colors suit outfits best but I'm beginning to believe otherwise especially with the re-occurring theme of summer brights.

Totally in the mood for a tangerine right now

Yesterday it dawned on me that I have my ears pierced... I continually forget so I've started to wear earrings even though it doesn't fit with my less is more attitude but what the hell. I think these are great little studs that seem like something vintage you pulled out of your grandmother's jewelry box but pop at the same time.

Ice Age anyone? Or model off duty?

I recently confessed my love for cuffs despite the fact that I now own the best one known to man, but  this one is pretty slick as well. Very minimalist and Alexander Wang summer 2011 ish...

Having a tangerine moment today but these tassels look so fun and I guess watching Aladdin and screaming along to Arabian nights has got me in the mood for this type of thing. I could just go downstairs and cut off the fringes of one of the Persian carpets my mom collects... 

These are just badass. One day when I own a Chanel summer jacket I feel like these would be the perfect accessory to go with it. I've been having my own little Karl lovefest recently. Genius man.

As a sucker for feathers versions of these earrings are now a part of my wardrobe. Ooops. I need to stop. I should look but not touch.

Vintage yes? I really want to get up to Portobello Market in London and sift through all the treasures there. I feel like I would be really good at it, you know, with my magpie skills and all.

Hmmm... I saw this and was all over it because of the origami-like folding of the leather and then realized it was leather and realized I have to have it. After all it would fit in with the an closet I am building for myself

Anyway, in order to support my shopping problem I have to get ready for work. Ra ra ra, have a great day to you all


- Life is good

Listening to: 'Your Little Secret' - Melissa Etheridge 

Observations: I really need to clean my room already, but my bed is too comfy

Craving: Exercise to not be such a massive chore

To the desert and back

I recently went to visit my Dad in Saudi Arabia and while there we made our annual trip to this carpet store that my family has frequented for many many years in the Afghani souk in old Jeddah. While my parents were busy bartering away for a carpet for Dad's new apartment I was stuffed into a little dusty corner playing with baskets of antique jewelry. And I'm not kidding about the baskets; I was sifting through them, like a gold miner panning for gold. The original objective was to find pieces that I could use in my own jewelry... but that goal quickly fell away as I found some amazing pieces for myself. I usually hesitate on buying stuff like this, but I couldn't resist mate. The whole experience was was like a treasure hunt and I went alittle overboard, but it was fun and will be worth it (although I have a gaping hole in my wallet at the moment).

Iiiiitttty biiiiittttty seed pearls - they're about the size of a grain of rice

Less seedy pearls - these are about the size of pin-heads... or slightly enlarged pin-heads

Less less seedy pearls - pea sized little beauties

I went alittle nuts and got several strands of lapis lazuli. Back in the Renaissance lapis was ground up to make the pigment ultramarine which was the most expensive and rare of all the colors. As a result of this most painters would use ultramarine sparingly though it was often used to color the Virgin's mantle because she the most virtuous and important icon in religious images.

Treasures!!! Several necklaces, pendants and strands of antique silver beads that I will begin to dismantle to incorporate into my own creations... to be continued!

So much epic going on I can't even describe. Handling these pieces was amazing because they are all antiques that have been loved and worn. They leave behind a black ash on your hands... this is the real deal. So excited I may not take them apart.

I hope these next photos justify my purchases... keeping to the bracelet theme, here are some more:

Un - boom boom pow... apparently silver and gold clash but I think the antique feel of the two metals together counter-acts that silly rule. I've never really owned a cuff bracelet, so I'm loving this one. It had a very Mediterranean vibe... yes?

Deux - Again I'm getting a very ancient Greek vibe from these bracelets although they originate from the Middle East.

Trois - A simple cuff to balance out the other two. Debating whether I should wear all three together and just bling out or, maybe try to stay classy and wear one at a time.

Go big or go home, I like them all together. Makes my arm look slightly bionic

Quatre - Wonder woman has nothing on this cuff. Holy moly batman, it is my best purchase in a long time. Don't ask me where I'll sport it, I just can't wait to wave to someone while wearing it, although it is alittle heavy... need to get to the gym I guess.

*Sigh* I'm so happy

And finally I love love love emerald green and couldn't let these little beauties slip out of my grasp. I don't usually wear earrings but have been sporting these for days. However, when I took them out last night my ears bled... so I may  put them away for a few, but beauty is pain. 

How'd I do? I'm pretty happy, but all this antique jewelry has done nothing to squash my shopping itch. I really want to go to Portobello Market and do some serious vintage damage. If only I was a millionaire... Euro millions here I come!

- Life is good

Listening to: 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' - Johnny Cash *Just for you Laurena!

Observations: Just back home from a jewelry sale... photos soon

Craving: Chill time with my girls 

Would a change really do you good?

POOF... I'm back.

It's been over a month since my last post and I deserve a slap on the wrist... bad little blogger, but I'm back now and am ready to hit the pavement running. I've got a whole bunch of stuff to blather on about, so whoever you are out there... brace yourself.

I guess I need to put a 'PG' rating on this post or an 'R' as it may (it does) contain nudity. 

The tradition of nudity in Art History is millennial and as a student of this faculty one has to differentiate between what we see as 'naked' and what is considered 'nude'. Naked and nude both sound the same but they have different connotations: naked being more vulnerable and maybe slightly more overtly sexual whereas nude can be considered more of an artistic state and is a more public and proud. 


The tradition of female nudes is a re-occurring motif, a favorite of artists through the ages and my theme of the day. There are probably many thousands of renderings of this subject and I only chose a few to illustrate the evolution of this theme from the Renaissance to mid 20th century.

Sleeping Venus, Giorgione, 1509

Venus of Urbino, Titian, 1538

Danae, Artemsia or Orazio Gentileschi, 1612

Odalisque and the Slave, Jean-Dominique Ingres, 1840

The Birth of Venus, Alexandre Cabanel, 1863

Olympia, Edouard Manet, 1863

The Spirit of the Dead Watching (Manao Tupapau), Paul Gauguin, 1892

Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra), Henri Matisse, 1907

Girl Under a Japanese Umbrella, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1909

Reclining Nude, Pablo Picasso, 1969

This is when I love art history more; when I can see patterns evolving over the millennia. In context they're all probably completely different, think about the years in which they were painted, for whom or why the were commissioned/created, the media, the attitude towards women etc... However on a base and purely visual/aesthetic level... you can clearly see a connection. Look at the evolution over 400 years from Giorgione to Picasso... even if you don't understand it or like it, you gotta admit these boys really take the whole 'Practice makes perfect' thing to heart.


- Life is good 


Listening to: 'A change would do you good' - Sheryl Crow
Observations: Starting to watch West Wing with ma momma
Craving: More days in the week