Camera Candy at Found

Step through the looking glass with me for another look at last Thursday night: Barbara Hill's opening party at  Found for the Home.

Aaron Rambo's signature touch: fresh fruit strewn so artistically.

Don't you just want to sit here with quill and ink to spill about all your delicious indiscretions?  

We remember this book, Domestic Art, with Aaron Rambo's wild and wonderful home featured inside.

Pulpoetry at Found

Last night at Found, Barbara Hill, the designer of The New York Times, Dwell, and Metropolitan Home fame, presented her original Pulpoetry...film noiresque narrative which was silk screened onto cushions and chairs. I tell you, Barbara channeled Bogey and Bacall for this wonderful production.

In the Big City there are hundreds of interesting people and they were all at Found last night. (Oh, dear, I think some of the noir rubbed off on me!)

The lady with the long red hair is Barbara Hill...of course.

Talk about pillow talk...click on the photos to see what pillows are saying these days.

And could one resist bringing home a little something? Well, not this one. Later, over at My Ranchburger, I'll show you the classy item that Tall Husband and I couldn't leave without. It just spoke to us.

P.S. Designer/Blogger Carolina of Carolina Eclectic was there. Can't wait to see her photos, as they are always fantastic.

P.P.S. I was lamenting to Barbara Hill about missing out on the purchase of her famous home in Marfa, Texas, when she told me that the dance hall she has just redone is available. "The Bunny Dance Hall?" No, it just doesn't have that alliteration and cadence I crave. And Tall Husband refuses to move to Marfa.

Hearts and Shoulders for Rachel Ashwell

It is with great sadness that we in the blogesphere learn, from Rachel Ashwell herself, that Shabby Chic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Thursday.  We know that Rachel and her company will make it through this economic down turn, while being an inspiration to us all.  Meanwhile, Rachel, we send our heartfelt support and offer the proverbial shoulder for you and yours to lean on.

Shortbread Bunnies

Above are freshly baked shortbread bunnies.

Elizabeth at Gossamer Wings inspired me to try her shortbread recipe.  They are buttery delicious!  Thank you, Elizabeth.

I had one cute bunny with a pink smile waiting for his photo opportunity until Tall Husband arrived during the photo shoot and ate him.  Tall Husband!

So, you are left having to imagine a smiling bunny.

In Memory of Activism

"The No. 2857 bus on which Rosa Parks was riding before she was arrested (a GM "old-look" transit bus, serial number 1132), is now a museum exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum." Photograph is courtesy of Wikipedia.

Rosa Parks

February 4, 1913-October 24, 2005

Betty Friedan

February 4, 1921-February 4, 2006

Today is the anniversary of the births of two activists who influenced our thinking and our lives, Rosa Parks, an African American Civil Rights activist, recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Betty Friedan, an American Feminist, activist and writer.  When I think of equality, I think of these two Americans.

Violence in a Blue Dress

"Prodigal Dress" by Linda Hickerson Hofheinz; acrylic on gessoed wood; 12"x12"x2."  From our art collection; photo of painting by Annie.

That summer day, I was seven years old, wearing my favorite blue dress, the one with the sashes that tied in the back and with puffed sleeves.  Mama let me wear my hair down loose that day foregoing the braids she preferred.  My job that Saturday was to watch my baby brother as he crawled on his pallet on the front lawn.

The rock came out of nowhere and smashed my little brother's head.  He screamed, as blood splattered his face and my blue dress.  It was then that I heard the maniacal, nasal laugh of Billy, the much feared neighborhood bully.  I grabbed my brother and ran into the house and handed him to Mama, then dashed back outside.  I told Billy to put up his fists.  Like other children on our street, I had been terrified of Billy but not that day.  He had gone too far.

Minutes later Billy's mother was banging on our front door with her son in tow.  "Look what your son did to my boy!"  Billy had scratches over most of his body, a split lip, a bloody nose and an eye that would be the color of my blue dress in the morning.

Mama turned to look over her brood of children who were gathered behind her.  She spotted me, smiled and pulled me into view of our visitors; me in my blood splattered dress, with both sleeves ripped, hanging by threads and both sashes torn loose.  "You know," she said to Billy and his mom, "If I had let a tiny little girl beat me up, I don't think I would want it to get around the neighborhood." 

News of that fight did get around.  To hear every kid tell it, they had been there cheering me on.  Billy's reputation as a bully was ruined.  The next time he threatened another kid, they told him they would get little Annie to beat him up.  Everyone figured if I could beat him up, so could they.  Out of necessity, Billy became a good kid and learned to make friends, which included me.

Story behind the painting:  The blue dress really exists.  It's a doll's dress that Linda's mother made for one of Linda's dolls when Linda was a child.  The dress had been lost for decades when Linda found it, pressed inside a large book that had been packed away in a box.

Dandelion as Metaphor

A Dandelion in my garden.

Fellow blogger in Norway, author of  Alette Sire Ane, says that Dandelions remind her of women: beautiful and strong.  She is right.  I am Dandelion, hear me roar...even though I'm in my seed head stage.