Dominion of Light Jewels

Ladies and their Jewels

kathryne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:47:26 +0000

“Any girl who was a lady would not even think of having such a good time that she did not remember to hang on to her jewelry.” Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

And we do, us ladies, hang on to our jewelry . . . after all, we know that, besides just making us feel good— beautiful, wonderful jewels add yet another dimension to own powers of attraction . . .

The Red Balloon . . . and other “floating jewels”

kathryne — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:13:01 +0000

Balloons — recently I saw a black and white photo of a man floating by balloon through chasms of hi rise buildings — very dreamlike, and became intrigued . . .

Usually we think of balloons just as party accessories for kids, but really there’s something much more wonderful about them — because as they bob and float above us on their strings— they seem to possess a kind of freedom. If we just let go, they float away somewhere, carefree and bright as jewels in the sky. They’ve been around since the 1700’s and will probably be here for another 300 years at least—

Two images from the famous French film — The Red Balloon

Purely whimsical hot air balloon—

A marvelous French drawing —

Like floating jewels lit by the sun—

On the Orient Express with Hercule Poirot!

kathryne — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:42:27 +0000

Last night we watched Masterpiece Theater’s show on the legendary and uber-luxurious Orient Express.

The show was beautifully produced and stars actor David Souchet, (who plays Hercule Poirot) an absolutely charming and adorable man traveling from London to Prague on the fabled train — just as M. Poirot did in Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express — appearing next on Masterpiece Theater.

You can watch it online at pbs.org — what a wonderful journey through numerous countries in western Europe! And for those of us who don’t have the fortune it takes to make the trip — a lovely vicarious thrill!

You can also take a peak at the Dominion of Light Jewels necklace named after the glamorous Orient Express (featured as well on the sidebar) . . .

Unconventional—

kathryne — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:22:32 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved things that are different . . . mysterious, whimsical, bohemian, offbeat—things that are considered unique — not new so much as just straying from the ordinary.

Even though we aren’t frowned upon for doing our own thing anymore — well at least in those places that are blessedly liberal — many of us still find ourselves towing the fashion line.

Case in point — dare I say it? — all these hideously huge necklaces that corporate retail has pushed for the last few seasons — they’ve become — well — conventional. And I suspect they’ll end up hidden in the bottom of a drawer somewhere when the fashion industry suddenly decrees we should all wear tiny necklaces.

And speaking of ”haves and must haves”, alas, even fashionistas get confused — in one issue of a well-known fashion rag, I saw a list of “must haves and get rid ofs” that contradicted their own advertisers. The very style of clothing they were telling us to dump was being advertised in a huge full page ad —

So I believe in finding your own style — by definition unconventional — and for that we have much inspiration!

Think George Sand, the famous novelist of the 18oo’s—and Chopin’s lover — who took a man’s name and wore mens clothes, scandalizing the society of her day. She was unconventional —

Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich wore mens’ clothes too — it got them attention in the 1930’s just as George Sand did in the 1830’s —

Carnaby Street, London in the 60’s, a revolt a against the buttoned down and crinolined 50’s—

And then of course there were the much maligned, but fabulous in my book, hippies — who dared venture into their own mythic, magical fashion and highly unconventional landscape —

In jewelry there was of course, Coco, who invented “costume jewelry” — unconventional —

More derring-do from the Flappers, who in a departure from long heavy Victorian styles wore their dresses short and cut their hair even shorter—

And Isadora Duncan (before the flappers dreamed of baring their limbs) threw off her corset and danced barelegged and barefoot upon stages all over the world—to the consternation of some and the cheers of others— extremely unconventional —

The 80’s gave us Annie Hall and Madonna, definitely unconventional—

Alas, today we have Lady Gaga—who does a good job of appearing unconventional . . . is she, or isn’t she?

. . . in the end I think being unconventional is really a matter of allowing ourselves the freedom to be who we really are — where the poetry of our souls dwells, uniquely and mysteriously within each of us . . .

Morning in Calabria

Happy 4th of July!

kathryne — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:35:11 +0000

14 Reasons to love the 4th:

Parades, red hot firecrackers, hot dogs, smoke wafting from grills, snowballs, red, white and blue, stars & stripes, a summer white dress, white roses, red sails in the sunset, freedom to speak your mind, the beach, red jewels, deep summer blue skies when you rest your head on the pillow after too much of everything this coming holiday night . . .

Blue Skies & 8 Blues for Summer Bliss!

kathryne — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:50:01 +0000

I woke up this morning with a bright blue sky out my window (the days have begun in gray for the last week) and the song Blue Skies playing over and over in my mind. And . . . that got me thinking about the color blue — another contradiction because (the song makes a point of it) — we think of blue as two different moods: blue—as in melancholy or sad, and blue as in — well— blue skies — happy, cheerful — no clouds to bedevil us. But the color blue itself is mostly thought of as a color having none of those attributes. Instead, light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness, and dark blue with knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.

Blue is marvelous in all its shades. In jewels, think of turquoise blue, lapis blue, sapphire blue. In design, think of blue and white pottery, (my absolute favorite), in fashion navy blue—so classic, in nature, the blue of Larkspur, Hydrangia and Iris.

8 Blues for summer bliss :

1. A blue and white striped sailor tee (LLBean has a great one) a la Coco Chanel—

2. Vintage blue (flecked with gold) Italian glass earrings — Ciao Bella!

3. Blue and white dishes — so lovely and “country” —

4. A bouquet of blue Hydrangeas — divine!

5. Vintage french blue cut and molded glass “suns” in a totally one of a kind necklace — La Soliel de Chagall

6. Blue Skies, the song. Written by Irving Berlin and sung here by the gorgeous Betty Hutton (wearing, I may add a very cool necklace).

7. A Bluebird Bird House — It never occurred to me that there were specialty birdhouses. I suppose that’s what comes from living in a loft! This one is from yardenvy.com

8. Blue Skies to dream beneath—

Little Happinesses

kathryne — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:57:20 +0000

There’s an interesting dichotomy that the word “happiness” suggests. When we think of things that would make us happy, we most often think of “big” things—winning the lottery, a bigger house, a new car . . .

But really, I think it’s the little things that make us truly happy.

For me it’s the way the sun shines golden through the curtains in the morning, the way the dog wags his tail in a great big circle when he’s happy, flowers blooming all over Emeryville these sumer days, a sweet smile that someone I’d never seen before, and may never see again, gave me as I crossed a busy street yesterday, the sound of a dear friend’s voice on the phone calling just to stay in touch, a cupcake on a pretty plate. And yes, clasping a piece of lovely jewelry around my neck before I go out to face the day.

Colette once said, “Be happy, it’s one way of being wise.” May you be refreshed and renewed by little happinesses in your life!

Happy Summer Solstice!

kathryne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:05:53 +0000

A beautiful day. A bittersweet day.

The day of the longest light, and the day we realize that the light will begin to grow less . . .

May you find many smiles on this long summer day!

Everything’s Coming up Roses

kathryne — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:14 +0000

A rose is a rose is a rose so they say—but really roses are so much more than that!

(I took this photo on my iphone of these marvelous heirloom roses growing along an iron fence 7 blocks long outside the Pixar buildings on Park Ave a few blocks from our loft.)

Roses are not just glorious colors and delectable scents, but inspiration for art, literature, fashion, textiles and jewelry for almost as long as these things have existed. Not to mention food—my grandmother used to make rose-petal jam, a tradition in some parts of Greece.

Isadora Duncan choreographed a dance to one of the Strauss Waltzes that she called “Roses from the South” (photo is me dancing it)—

Michel Fokine choreographed the ballet “La Spectre de la Rose” —

Roses are splendid in all their manifestations—

Including Jewels (The Roses of Tuscany) —

And music — Sarah Brightman singing Desert Rose —

7 for Summer!

kathryne — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:43:08 +0000

Oh, if only summer could last all year . . .

Here are 7 lovely things for the season of long light filled days and dreamy nights —

1. White! In any form: a crisp white shirt, white jeans, a soft white T, a simple white canvas tote . . . for bargains go to Gap, LL Bean (they’re not quite as dowdy as they used to be), J.Crew . . . a long gauzy white dress . . .

2. Mother of Pearl jewelry: lustrous and magical for day and night.

3. Long Skirts: Thank heavens they’re back!

4. Flowery Sandals: you can always walk in a garden—

5. Enchanted April: if you haven’t seen it you’re in for a wonderful journey. If you have, watch it again—especially if you can’t get away this summer!

6. A Lacy Camisole: modernly Victorian and oh so romantic (great to wear with Dominion of Light Jewels)

7. Fields of Gold: Sting’s bittersweet song about summer love, sung here by Eva Cassidy.