Dream Necklaces

There are two necklaces that I discovered and fell in love with in the first few months of 2009.

Both could not be more different.

The first is an opulent work of art.

January 2009, I went to London to spend New Year's Eve with Mitch and Niall. I spied this when walking in Mitch's old neighborhood in Islington sitting in the center of a tiny jewelry store and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly went in, took the shop's card and wrote the name of the designer on the back. To my horror I lost the card and could not remember the designer's name for the life of me. Being a wonderful friend Mitch tracked down the unnamed store and emailed me the designer's name so I would never lose it again. Isn't that a nice story? Hmmm, maybe it would be an even better story if I ended up buying it. But I haven't bought it. Yet.

Sheena Bulsara is the talented lady behind this creation.

The second dream necklace was discovered during a press tour at Bernardaud. I was meant to be looking at the new china collection for the season when I saw this beauty sitting in a corner being ignored completely. I fell in love. For Ever.

I try not to be such a sappy, obvious girl but I think it's OK to love this one because there's something sad in the black heart that needs to be locked away. Plus the black and gold is just wicked awesome.

Dreaming of an Illuminated Path . . .

. . . An illuminated path lit by dream candles.

When I worked at Modern Bride I always pitched ideas that were a little on the macabre side and I was usually shot down.

A favorite that I still dream of was this candle:

In my head ALL brides want to play off the riff 'to love and to cherish 'till death do us part.'

They disagreed.

But what do I know -- I've only been a bride in magazines.

Thank goodness they didn't pass on my idea to use these carved candles from et al designs:

Of course I had to use them in white.

How amazing would it be to have all these in black?

At least I got to keep the white candles after we shot them.

Why do I have candles on the mind?

I just got the limited edition Elton John Holiday candle from Nest. And it is making me delirious.

It smells like Christmas. In London.

Walking through Hyde Park. At Sunset.

In other words, it smells like heaven and I want to live inside it.

It reminds me of Archipelago's come-hither Black Forest candle, which I keep hidden in my room waiting for a special occasion to burn (hmmm, I might need a few more).

Speaking of a seductive candle, Occulter has a Morrissey effigy that I am dying to own! [Insert pun about a light that never goes out.]

One more provocative candle that I would be very happy to own is Diptyque's John Galliano candle. The first time I smelt it I thought it was so-so, then it grew on me and then I genuinely loved it.

Voluspa has a candle named Laguna that I covet and NOT just because it is where I grew up. It smells like gardenias. On a sunny day. In a park. Overlooking the sea. In other words, my other heaven.

Last on my I-Need-This-Now List, is this perfect candle by West Third called 'Belgium Linen.' I've never been to Belgium but if their linens indeed smell like this then it's my new favorite country. It's a light, clean, country cotton smell.

Every time I smell it I go to this place:

Collection of my Dreams

I've been thinking of Frida and Diego a lot recently.

I hate to be so predictable but,

when I saw this photo (at Casa Azul) I teared up:

Contrary to popular belief or what I write on this blog, I don't normally cry at photos but this one really had a hold on me. You could see how tightly they were holding each other - like if they let go one would disappear (most likely Diego).

You know Frida would dress up in traditional Mexican costumes for Diego? I feel like she would have done anything to engross him, using her feminine and artistic wiles to keep his attention focused on her. It worked but only for a while.

I don't have a Diego Rivera but I do appreciate wearing traditional clothing of Spanish and Mexican decent. I wear my peineta,

my shawls

and Lucha Libre masks to honor the women of my family and also because they're pretty.

I cannot wait to see Moschino's collection next spring. It has all the trappings of a perfect Spanish wardrobe - whether I want to be muy masculino o muy feminina. Plus all the accessories for head and hair are making me weak in the knees.

This would be the perfect way to pay tribute to the matriarchs of my family and maybe Frida as well.

Dream Photographer - Dream Man

Richard Avedon has taken photos that moved me to tears.

But with this photo he has me tied up in conflicted knots:

I want it.

I want to hang it in my room and stare at it all night.

I know Avedon is a genius but come on!

He made George Bush Sr. so alluring,

there is so much swagger here.

Plus he titled it, 'George Bush, Director, CIA.'

Swoon!

I've been very conflicted about this whole thing.

I blame Avedon for making the white background so sexy And the powerful posture And the title.

I considered only writing about Avedon this month, but maybe I'll just write about wish-list items instead.

twig + tree