Monochrome Dusk

It started snowing here around midday, now it is really starting to settle, I took these photographs of the walnut tree and our garden and view this evening at dusk,  it was eerily beautiful, no colour at all.  I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring.

Blake Edwards RIP

Blake Edwards July 26th 1922 - December 15th 2010

'Breakfast At Tiffany's'

'The Party'

'The Pink Panther'

'Ten'

To name but a few... I was saddened when I heard the news of Blake Edwards passing, I, like millions of others adored his pictures, his legacy will be his wonderful films which will be discovered and loved by generations to come.

You Shall Go To The Ball

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Queen Charlotte's Ball, London 1959

It's the party season, time to get the little black dresses and the sparkly numbers out, however what about the beautiful evening gowns?  I have a few but sadly they remain undisturbed in garment covers in the wardrobe, the poor things, they have not seen the light of day for years.  High octane do's and balls seem to be the preserve of the jet set and the young, I remember the days in my late teens and early twenties when come the party season, out came the silk, taffeta and the slinky numbers, friends were gathered, tables organised and much mischief, dancing and merriment was had by all, there is nothing quite like misbehaving in a beautiful gown and we did lots of misbehaving, oh heady days!

 Lillan Bassman

 Lillian Bassman

 Lillian Bassman

Lillian Bassman

Lillian Bassman

Lillian Bassman

Steichen

 Steichen

 Steichen

John French

John French

Norman Parkinson

Louise Dahl-Wolfe

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz

 Tim Walker

 Cecil Beaton

 Man Ray

Christmas Cards

I am not sending Christmas cards this year except special one's for my nearest and dearest.  In previous years I have either designed and made my own or bought charity one's.  I do feel a bit bah humbug but I have just not got round to it, I even found a couple of Christmas cards in my car from last year, which I never got round to sending, because I could not locate the intended recipients address.  If I change my mind,  I can do it the French way and send New Years cards which is acceptable until the end of January.

I leave you with some popular examples of fine art cards.

Joseph Farquharson, Beneath the snow encumbered branches.  This painting sold at auction for £145.000 in 2008.  If it looks familiar it's probably because you've seen it on countless mantelpieces, it was a best selling Christmas card for Hallmark.

Winter Lady, Alphonse Mucha

 Boulevard Haussmann Snow, Gustave Caillebotte

 The Starry Night Vincent van Gogh

 Peace Dove, Picasso

A take on a Lord Leighton, this was me the other day, without the help!


I guess you could use almost any image for a Christmas card, I rather like this vintage advertisment from February 1923.

Or contemporary photography

From Paris Hotel Boutique Journal

Fox Terriers, Arthur Wardle,  OK I know it's not particularly Christmassy, just imagine a snowy scene outside that barn, some of those dogs could be Crusoe's ancestors!

The world's first commercially produced Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley for Henry Cole, in London 1843.  

The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843 and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each.

Christmas Tree

Many glasses of red wine later I finally got the tree finished!  I don't have a theme, I just go along with something you would find pretty in a wood or in this case at the top of the staircase! (where the plug points are)  I have been collecting antique and glass baubles for years, I also have a very talented friend, who makes fabulous beaded vintage style baubles and gives me some every year, so no theme, unfortunately my dismal interior photography does not do it justice it looks much nicer in the flesh.

Sober tree

Sober baubles

Tipsy baubles, actually think I like the tipsy one's better

My only other concession to Christmas décor has been to string some fairy lights on one of the bookshelves in the Salon, you can't really see them,  in case you were wondering I collect antique candlesticks, they will all have candles in them soon which adds nicely to the Christmas effect, MG has a thing about plants!

Better
Note resting fruit bat, hanging off the wall, a sculpture friend gave us a few plaster of Paris versions for Christmas a few years ago, as he knew the house was inhabited by bats before we arrived, I got very fond of the bats, they eventually moved out as we moved in, I still miss them, I believe his bronze cast bats are hanging in some very high brow locations.

Even better when it's dark

Close up

Christmas Flowers

From The Flower Company via Wee Birdy

I am slowly getting into the Christmas spirit, I decorated the tree last night and had the usual nightmare with the Christmas lights a lot of the bulbs have stopped working and are not replaceable, so am going to to have to nip out this afternoon and get some new ones.  I have also put the Christmas wreath on the front door, however mine is not a patch on these one's, I saw these pop up on Wee Birdy's blog the other day and I think they are gorgeous.  I really miss fresh cut flowers, here in our rural, mountainous corner of France, the florists in the local town are a bit hit and miss and don't get me started on the flowers on offer in the local supermarket, they are crap, they have already wilted in the shop.  It's no wonder the local garden centres do a roaring trade in silk flowers.

  When we go to Belle Mere's in Provence the fresh flowers are beautiful, fresh and inexpensive, I buy armfuls of them for Belle Mere. I think when I nip out to the garden centre to get the lights I will also purchase  a few Amaryllis and Orchids in pots just so I can get my Christmas flower fix.

Update
Never, ever try to dismantle existing fairy lights off an already decorated tree, I am now attempting to put the new lights on, I am currently tangled up in ten metre fairy lights and very frustrated, not to mention the dislodged ribbons and bouncing baubles!
*Drink*

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend