Whenever I’m in North Carolina visiting family, I always take a day to drive out into the more rural parts of the state. I love looking for old, unused barns. Sadly, many are torn down to make way for malls, roads and more recently… large storage facilities.
(Photos- Martha B.)
Posted in Photography, Then&Now
My great-grandparents were married on Christmas Eve in 1882 and promptly moved into a two room log cabin on several acres of land in rural Illinois. A real house (as it was referred to) was constructed ten years later. According to family records, a barn had been part of their farm as far back as 1912 when great-grandpa built a cement silo next to it- one of the first in the county.
In 1992 my dad and I went to visit the old family farm. It was to be the last time anyone was allowed inside the house. The building had stood empty for years and become structurally unsound. We walked carefully making sure our feet were on the floor joists. Dad and I didn’t talk much… both of us were lost in memories. Not long after that, the house was bulldozed. The barn is all that’s left. Its future remains uncertain.
Dad (left) poses with two cousins in front of the barn in 1946 just prior to his deployment by the army to serve in Adak, Alaska.
The barn as it looked around 1957.
Curtis photographed it on his first trip to the mid-west in 2006.
I often think about dismantling the barn, putting it on a flatbed truck and rebuilding it. Where that would be is uncertain, too.
(Water color painting by Mom)
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Posted in More About Me, Then&Now
Looking back at Summer 2004- Vogue offers fashion advice to readers vacationing in the state of Maine. Long seersucker dress from Ralph Lauren (left) and green leaf printed dress by Oscar de la Renta (right).
Looking back at Summer 2004- Pedal pushing in J.Crew green polo, Andrew Gn blue floral embroidered skirt and Jamin Puech sandals.
Looking back at Summer 2004- Paul Smith striped shirt covers a bikini top by Tommy Hilfiger. Tennis sweater & classic khakis both from A.P.C. Nothing beats a pair of Birkenstock sandals (left). Hooded windbreaker at Bottega Veneta worn with a David Szeto lobster printed tee, Guess capri jeans and Tod’s blue/white loafers (right).
Looking forward to Summer 2011- Vogue revisits Maine…not that I’m complaining! The perfect cable knit sweater by Brunello Cucinelli. Braving the elements in coveralls & hat from meltontackle.com.
Looking forward to Summer 2011- Waiting for the boat to arrive in a striped sleeveless dress by Prada and rubber Hunter boots.
Looking forward to Summer 2011- Coastal classics…model has a canvas parka from meltontackle.com, wool sweater by Dries Van Noten, stripe skirt at Moschino, NYC. Platform tie up shoes at Tabitha Simmons.
(Photos by Steven Meisel for Vogue, 2004. Craig McDean for Vogue, 2011)
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Posted in Fashion, Fashion Character- The Preppy, Then&Now
…In Two Minutes.
Film in timelapse produced by Jim Powell.
Note- Thanks Ancient Industries for the suggestion. :)
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Posted in Photography, Then&Now, Weddings
1. White ceramic egg crate- Crate & Barrel
2. Blue egg crate/serving plate- Antrhopologie (also available in white)
3. Crate for nine eggs- West Elm
Note- Any of these would be great to use on your Easter table.
(Top photos of Hope & crate- Martha B.)
Update 7/13/2011- Small ceramic egg crate holds two eggs…actually they’re salt & pepper shakers!
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Grab Bag- Felt Easter Eggs
Original prints by photography legends can cost you thousands of dollars. But consider the purchase of a vintage press photograph. These pictures by the same renowned photographers were used in leading newspapers and magazines. They do show their age- marked on the front with cropping lines, folded corners, creases and often stamped on the back with dates & instructions. The good news is that they sell for $100- $1000. Check out the few I came across-
Born in New Zealand, photographer George Silk joined the Life Magazine staff in 1943 and remained until the publication folded in 1972. He would be named ‘Photographer of the Year’ four times by the National Press Photographers Association. In this shot, World War ll French troops move into the bombed out town of Castleforte in May 1944. (8 x 10 print, sold on ebay- $99.00)
W. Eugene Smith’s ‘Bataan Nurse Who Came Back’ was part of a larger article in the Christmas 1944 issue of Life Magazine. After the war, Smith wrote that many of his images of wounded G.I.s and the medical community were among his best work. (7 x 9 print, sold on ebay- $130.00)
Photojournalist Robert Capa covered five wars in eighteen years. In 1954, he was tragically killed by a land mine while on assignment in North Vietnam photographing French soldiers. This picture of a Sicilian offering an American G.I. some wine was for Illustrated Magazine in 1944. (7 x 9 print, sold on ebay- $577.00)
Included in the book ‘Family of Man’ is this portrait of wife and husband by Life Magazine photographer John Phillips. Phillips has been described as “…a master of lenses…” No argument here. ( 8 x 10 print, currently on ebay- $99.00)
Who hasn’t heard of fashion photographer Richard Avedon? He would spend a lifetime using his camera to redefine America’s concept of beauty and style. Here is his iconic picture of Jean Shrimpton in 1965. A later newspaper article stamped its usage on December 31, 1978. (8 x 10 print, sold on ebay- $538.00)
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Posted in Artwork, Photography, Then&Now
A Brief History
900 AD- Japanese paper figures are used in ceremonies.
1700-1800- Large scale paper dolls show clothing for sale in London and Parisian shops
1857- McLoughlin Brothers opens and begins selling paper dolls with tabbed clothing. Later they become the largest manufacturer of paper dolls in the U.S. The company is sold to Milton Bradley in 1920.
1859- ‘Godey’s Lady’s Book’ magazine carries its first…and last black & white printed paper doll that can be painted.
1900-1970- Magazines like ‘Good Housekeeping’ and ‘Ladies Home Journal’ have their own special page for paper dolls. Often they’re based on movie stars or fictional characters.
Then- Figure paper doll c. 1900- 1920 from my collection.
Then- Betsy McCall is introduced to the public in McCall’s Magazine, May 1951 .
Then- Celebrities permitted companies to sell paper doll likenesses and enjoyed the promotion they got from it. Here’s the box containing my paper doll of British model Twiggy, 1967.
Now- In their current issue, Lula Magazine brings back the fashionable paper doll. Model Dorthea Barth Jorgens is the ‘doll’ with clothing from the designing sister-duo at Rodarte.
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Twiggy’s Outfit #10: Fall Cape
” Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year. Style is what you pick out of that fashion…it’s what you make out of it once you’ve learned what to accept and ignore based on what suits you…”- Lauren Hutton, 2011. Check out the nine designs she selected at J.Crew.
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Then- Get out the feather duster! The Sears Roebuck catalog c. 1920 provided women with some basic cotton dresses for working at home.
Now- Check out these six versions of the comfortable house dress.
1. Floral house dress designed by Anna Allen. 2. Plaid dress from Makie via Jane. 3. Dress with pull back tie at Cabbages & Roses. 4. Red dress by Saltwater. 5.& 6. Both check dresses with self ties from Modcloth.
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Then&Now: Granny Chic, My Fair Ladies, Dior
Looking back at Winter 1977- Take cover in an oversized Aran-style cardigan by Paul Howie.
Looking forward to Winter 2010- Perfect together…combine a big, waffle weave cardigan from Ikram with a floral print Prada dress.
(Top photo-British Vogue. Bottom photo- American Vogue)
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