Showing posts with label From The Shelf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label From The Shelf. Show all posts

Monday, July 18, 2011

Toledo Does Classic

I will buy, tear out, get a gift card, read, click and save,  I think you get the picture, of anything with an illustration by Ruben Toledo.  He captures with a delicate brush stroke the whimsy of a woman and strength of a fashion garment, giving it a life beyond paper. As if you can see the fabric actually moving within the art work. I totally love him.
But now he has taken my second love after fashion, books. I was walking through borders when I see something familiar peeking from the shelves and running along the spine of a book. I gasp, loudly. So loud my boyfriend is wondering what I have stumbled upon. I knew he was thinking I had unearthed some full script of Kerouac, Faulkner or Salinger (his faves) but when the words "it's Ruben..." come from my lips in a near whisper all he says is "oh".
I had to explain to him how much I love his art, how he has inspired my own fashion illustrations, and the fact he's giving the classics a total fashion makeover sets my little heart a beating. Now, he understands my love of Toledo. I am looking forward to adding these to my ever growing library.
Who are your favorite artist?

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

I Think I Will Get A Purse For My Gas Mask

Forties Fashion

And here I thought planting a victory garden for forgoing pantyhose was enough in war times. Whether you love history or fashion this is such a great book. I took a few hours and read this gem in it’s entirety.  Such a great portrait painted of what war can do not only to a nation but a hemline. Every photo is just amazing. Grab it, put it on your coffee table, and enjoy.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Shared Secrets



My mother and grandmother are the most beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Growing up and even now they both have a copy of Back to Eden which is full of natural and holistic remedies for the body and life. I have always thought of them as glamorous hippies with their cherry hued smiles and silk dressed telling me what each plant and herb does for the body and mind.
I received Secrets Of Gorgeous by Esther Blum as a gift from a friend this Christmas who knows I love fashion and reading. Its title and bright pink cover had me convinced it was another "pink" book about being a bad ass, thinner, smarter, happier, sexier while drywalling your new addition in your Christian Louboutins with out burning the roast or faking an orgasm. Well, I was in for a shock. I skipped the intro. C'mon it's a pink book and I knew the secret was going to be about learning to survive with grace and beauty in the eye of the Apocalypse. I WAS WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! The first thing my eyes fall on is a page entitled, NATURAL FACE-LIFT. I read on...
  • Eat Wild Alaskan salmon three times a week
  • Avocado (good thing I have a massive tree), raw nuts, and seeds to moisturize your skin from the inside. *Remember that 1990's Keri lotion commercial with the girl eating an apple and the voice over says "Good things inside, Keri outside"? That's the idea. Good things inside.*
  • Blueberries and Cantaloupe to plump skin and protect skin cells.
  • Lots of water and green teas. I assume green tea because its high in antioxidants and good for the metabolism.

After that I was hooked. Here was a cute and modern book that catered to my health lifestyle. Many amazing chemical free, paraben free, cyanide, free remedies. Vitamin/mineral/herbal combos to thwart environmental toxins from attacking your body, assisting your bodies defense in a herpes outbreak, vaginal dryness, hangover, insomnia, Poly cystic Ovarian Syndrome, limp hair, and if your man hasn't been in the mood lately slip him a little zinc to perk things up.

I cant wait to put some of these concoctions to good use! Go get this book your body and the environment will thank you.

Here's my homemade Body scrub recipe.

You'll need just sugar and olive oil.

If you like an essential oils for fragrance is nice.

Take 1 cup of sugar and slowly mix in olive oil until the sugar has a pudding like consistency. It should NOT be runny or soupy. You should be able to scoop it out of a container.

BE CAREFUL when you are using it in the shower its slippery and wash your shower out immediately.






Thursday, August 20, 2009

From The Shelf





This purse sized book is a go to guide for creating your personal style. Excellent for the fashion neophyte. Spade shares style archetypes that are easy to get your manicure tips on. These classics she stresses can and should be modified to YOUR personal style whether you are punk rock or east coast prep.



Style is a must have. Find it here... www.amazon.com/Style-Kate-Spade/dp/0743250672