Because this is how it is...
Photoshoot
la laverie, where the laundry used to be done, pre washing machines!
Siesta time
Late afternoon
Market Day
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
In which I reveal myself...
I think the beautiful air of the Mediterranean has got to me it's either that or the copious amounts of Champagne Belle mere has been providing in the run up to her big birthday on Thursday. Whatever it is I felt a huge surge of well being, so much so for the first time since starting this blog I have taken pictures of myself and posted them!
I would like to to thank Vintage Vixen for her hugely inspirational "Dream on post" I was going to book a pedicure, manicure and waxing session at the local salon but after reading Vix's post I thought I would have a go myself, after all I have all the stuff, in fact various products have been languishing in the bathroom for ages, unused, and what do you know, the first day here with time on my hands I treated myself by my own hands and it felt great in fact even better than any salon I have been to, plus I have saved myself around 100 Euros.
I am hugely self conscious in front of a camera so this is quite a big thing for me, but I thought it only fair I know what all my favourite bloggers look like so now you know what I look like.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Off to Belle Mere's for a Very Special Occasion
Sanary-Sur-Mer
Tomorrow we are leaving the mountains and heading east to Provence, we are going for a very special occasion...
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
XXX
Tomorrow we are leaving the mountains and heading east to Provence, we are going for a very special occasion...
Gorgeous Belle Mere in the fifties.
It's Belle Meres Birthday next week and it's a big one! Belle Mere is throwing a party to celebrate.
Laptop and camera will be accompanying me, so I will be able to keep you informed.
XXX
Monday, May 2, 2011
Fabulous Photographer Toni Frissell
Antoinette Frissell was born in 1907 in New York City, New York, but took photos under the name Toni Frissell, even after her marriage to Manhattan socialite McNeil Bacon. She worked with many famous photographers of the day, as an apprentice to Cecil Beaton, and with advice from Edward Steichen. Her initial job, as a fashion photographer for Vogue in 1931, was due to Condé Montrose Nast personally. She later took photographs for Harper's Bazaar. Her fashion photos, even of evening gowns and such, were often notable for their outdoor settings, emphasizing active women.
Weeki Wachee Spring Florida, Published in Harpers Bazaar 1947, considered her finest work, has been used for album covers and is much emulated.
Frissell was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with fashion photography and wanted to be taken seriously as a photographic reporter, In 1941, Frissell volunteered her photographic services to the American Red Cross. Later she worked for the Eighth Army Air Force and became the official photographer of the Women's Army Corps. On their behalf, she took thousands of images of nurses, front-line soldiers, WACs, African-American airmen, and orphaned children. She travelled to the European front twice, much to her families consternation. Her moving photographs of military women and African American fighter pilots in the elite 332d Fighter Group (the "Tuskegee Airmen") were used to encourage public support for women and African Americans in the military.
Dovima, Montego Bay, Harpers Bazaar 1946
In the 1950s, she took informal portraits of the famous and powerful in the United States and Europe, including Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, and worked for Sports Illustrated and Life magazines. Continuing her interest in active women and sports, she was the first woman on the staff of Sports Illustrated in 1953, and continued to be one of very few female sport photographers for several decades.
In later work she concentrated on photographing women from all walks of life, often as a commentary on the human condition.
With llamas in Peru
Toni Frissell
“Here are faces that I have found memorable. If they are not all as happy as kings, it is because in this imperfect world and these hazardous times, the camera's eye, like the eye of a child, often sees true.”
Sunday, May 1, 2011
May Day
It's the first of May, the day when all young maidens need to get up at dawn and wash their faces in the early morning dew to ensure everlasting beauty!
The first of May is a significant day all over the world for various reasons but here in France May Day and Lily of the valley or Le Muguet as they are known in France are inextricably linked.
I first came across Le Muguet with Belle Mere she had come to stay and help me out in the garden soon after we first bought the house, (Belle Mere is a gardener par excellence, previous to living in this house my gardening experience was nil, I have learnt a lot since then and much of this is down to Belle Mere) we were digging away on a patch of land trying to get rid of all the weeds, I started yanking something out of the Earth, Belle Mere, saw me and shouted "No, no, not those, they are very precious and bring good luck, take them out carefully and I will replant them somewhere for you" she then proceeded to tell me all about them...
On the run up to the first of May you will see Le Muguet practically everywhere in France; at the supermarket, on sale in the local markets in the fashion magazines and in shop window displays, the first of May is a national holiday in France it is Labour day and also the day when the French celebrate spring, Le Muguet comes into flower around the first of May and the French buy it or pick it, as flowers, plants or arrangements to take as gifts to loved one's and close friends as a porte bonheur (good luck charm). It is also the only day in France when people can sell flowers in the street without having a permit.
The tradition of Le Muguet reputedly began in the 16th century when the wedding banns were announced at the beginning of May and wreathes of Le Muguet were hung in the doorways of the brides-to-be. Charles IX started giving them to the ladies of his court for luck. In the late 1800s, the international workers declared the first of May as May Day, in honour of the workers of the world, in France workers and their supporters wore Le Muguet boutonnieres.
As we all have now seen The Duchess of Cambridge took inspiration for her wedding dress from Princess Grace of Monaco, who also married in April and also chose Lily of the Valley for her wedding bouquet. I found out yesterday that it is customary for Royal brides who marry at Westminster Abbey, to leave their wedding bouquets at the tomb of the unknown soldier, I thought this rather lovely.
Kate's, wedding bouquet at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey
Princess Grace with Lily of the Valley she adored them
Illustration from 1934
I have always found them magical and associated them with childhood imaginings of fairy's at the bottom of the garden.
Fabergé Egg with Lily of the Valley design presented to the Russian Royal Family Easter 1898
Lily of the Valley brooch from Tiffany's
Christian Dior used Lily of the Valley as his emblem for his brief but successful career, Le Muguet was the inspiration behind his Spring 1954 collection. The classic and world famous fragrance 'Diorissimo' is based on Le Muguet but bear in mind no extract can be obtained from the natural flowers so all Muguet scents are reconstructions. Edmond Roudnitska, the great nose and master perfumer behind 'Diorissimo' spent a lot of his time on his hands and knees sniffing Le Muguet he planted in his own garden, whilst researching his attempt at recreating the scent.
Christian Dior Spring 1954
Whatever you are doing this May Day, I hope you are having a lovely time.
XXX
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)