Is there a little Bohemian at your house?

from top to bottom 1. Antique Shawl from Luminous Lady Vintage 2. Table from Lemonade Store 3. Black chair from milka LOOM 4. Punch Cup Chandelier from Meadow Sweet Studios 5. Table and chairs from Artsy Emma The Crafter 6. Ouiji Table from Tink Witch 7. Dresser from Junk Drawer Divas

Some inspiration for those who like to create style on a shoestring, improvise furnishings from cast-offs and conjure magic from the mundane. The dictionary defines "bohemian" as an artist or writer, or anyone who sets social conventions aside. Bohemian style means going your own way. It's self-expression and creative energy; it's caring less about what other people think and more about what you really feel. It is something made from nothing. If one of the pieces above would add interest to your current decor, you're probably already living with a bohemian style decor. I think I do. There's a mixture of eras, of textures, of colors, that creates my individual style.

In a bit of shameless self promotion why not purchase one of my US$3.00 digital files, like the print above, print it off, frame and give an inexpensive lift to any room. Just click ‘Shop’ at top of this blog. Go on, you know you want to!

A Bride of Amazement

for three muses

This post was going to be about grief and loss. It’s two years this week since some of us lost a dear friend, Miss R. By the way she lived, Miss R affected many enabling us to become better people. But then I found Mary Oliver’s poem, When Death Comes, and I knew Miss R would love it. This is the way she lived and wanted us to live - as ‘Brides of Amazement’.

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut:
when death comes
like the measles - pox;

when death comes
like an iceburg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
as I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

And I think she’d want us to dress up too. As a Bride of Amazement I think this veil would be lovely. I know I wouldn’t want to do the whole big wedding thing but a nod to conventionality wouldn’t hurt would it, particularly when I’m quite smitten with this little number.

from Gilded Shadows

I’d need a dress too. Nothing expensive. One I could explore in and not worry about it getting crumpled when I lay in the grass to gaze at my partner, Amazement. This dress is perfect and it’s only $55.

from Kitty Girl Vintage

Boots, yes I’d need boots. Comfy, yes, but cute as well, so Amazement and I could stroll together through different terrains.

from The Vintage Voice

No I don’t think I’d bother with a ring. Much better to have a useful trinket like this magnifying glass pendant. Amazement and I would get a lot of use out of this.

from Rachel Loves Coffee

And of course as a Bride of Amazement, just as Miss R was, goodness would come more easily don’t you think?

Dancin with The Artist

I saw the film The Artist at the weekend. For those who haven't seen it yet, get along if you can. It's a treat...the music, the dancing, the cinematography. Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo are perfect for the roles.

The film certainly gets you in the mood for a bit of dancing. You might need to get yourself a little number to wear about the house.

fringed top from Gravel Ghost Vintage, pendant from The Artful Badger, pdf patterns from Tumble n Twirl , mens tap shoes from The ID Connection, 4 pce outfit from Twila Jean Vintage

And to brush up on those moves...

How's your wardrobe? Check out celebs n Fridas...

from Gypsy in Stilletos. Check out also fab chairs in this store, perfect for lounging in your walk in wardrobe!

Why don't we wear flowers in our hair? And long colorful dresses? Today I'll do my bit and drag out my clip in red rose numbers.

I set eyes on the most fabulous book last weekend. I'm a 'regular' at a cafe, set in an old house and in a large country garden, named Colours of San Cris. Just out of town here, each room is filled to overflowing with arts and crafts from South America. And of course Frida features heavily. But, back to the book - Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: Frida's Wardrobe. When Frida Kahlo died in 1954 Diego Rivera had her bedroom and dressing room in the Casa Azul sealed up for 50 years. In 2004, the rooms were opened and her clothes were once again revealed to the world.Skirts, dresses, rebozos, scarves, boots -the items have been painstakingly restored by loving hands. There are gorgeous photos of the clothes and original pictures of Frida wearing them. Have a little looky see inside here.

Include some more Fridaesque garb in your wardrobe with an item from Elizabeth Palmer's store.


Continuing to play around with digital art...here's a work in progress featuring the girl. The quote is from another gorgeous book, Frida's Diary.

Now, how does your wardrobe measure up against Frida's and these celebrities??? A tad smaller perhaps? A tad less full of opulence perhaps? Or perhaps not.....

via InStyle

I wore mine today! The rest of my dressing is quite boring...I'm afraid I'm a black addict when it comes to clothes. It's so easy. Everything always matches. I don't have to think too hard. Dressing is inexpensive but also still looks chic. How about you?

Let's play who owns this kitchen!

Okay, guess who owns the above kitchens...your contenders are Lance Armstrong, Gerard Butler, Will Smith, Diane Keaton, Sharon n Ozzy Osbourne, Ellen Degeneres n Portia De Rossi, and Elton John. Answers at the end of this blog. The Mexican themed one is fun isn't it. I've gathered a few South Americanesque items via Etsy that you could add to your kitchen to get this vibe.

Free digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

1. Canister Decals from 2 Old Divas 2. Tissue Box Cover from Buckaroos Mercantile 3. Mirror with shelf from Dissy Bs 4. Fridge Magnets from Amy Perrotti 5. Clock from El Sol Studio 6. Child’s chair from Austin Modern 7. Toy Teaset from Olde Tyme Notions 8. Apron from Suburban 50s 9. Teatowels from Folk Art Pharaoh 10. Potholders from Rustic Patriot Girl 11. Chandelier from Florida Found 12. Oilcloth Tablecloth from Winking Owl 13. Lazy Susan from Kate Sutcliffe Mosaics 14. Glass Cutting Board from Bill Fish Art Yes, the music is Italian not South American...limited choices with this free program I'm afraid!
Who owns this kitchen answers: 1. Diane Keaton 2. Gerard Butler 3. Will Smith 4. Elton John 5. Sharon n Ozzy 6. Lance Armstrong 7. Ellen n Portia. Kitchen photos from Architectural Digest. How did you go???

Anti Valentinism

above: 1920s anti valentine card from prairie peacock

And I thought that the Anti Valentine was a recent concept. Obviously not. Some of the AV items on Etsy are lots of fun. I suppose people dislike the day for a variety of reasons. Some people have never recovered from a broken heart. Some don’t believe in the notion of romantic love. Others feel that Valentine’s Day has become overly commercial. Although I’m sure you don’t have to spend money to celebrate the day I must confess that I’m not a fan. To put so much emphasis on one day as a time for declaring our love seems strange to me. Much better to let those we love know that they’re cherished every day don’t you think?

1. photo from patrick's house photography 2. journal from brown books 3. cross stitch card from ceg handmade 4. tote from shebbo designs 5. matches from dippy lulu 6. tshirt from nude and loitering tees 7. print from sandra eterovic 8. drawing from the sketchy life

You may not have heard or read this poem from Leonard Cohen (those who know me know that I'm a real fan). I didn't discover it till recently when I found a secondhand book of his earlier poems. I may not be keen on Valentine's Day but tokens of love are always appreciated. This is the poem that I'd love somebody to read to me...any day...any time.

When I think of 'love' I don't just think of people, but of birds and animals and other creatures. When I hear the birds around my home here I often have an involuntary intake of breath; an instantaneous smile. And just for a moment, I'm up there, soaring.

above: aceo from lemachi designs

print from moi, artdecadence (here in honor of Melange on Etsy Team 'Freedom' Challenge

Recycled Homes

Yes we all live in them don't we...recycled homes that is. But some people are just so arty that their recycled tableaus look like works of art. If you've visited Flickr, you'll know that some of the groups are not curated particularly well. Yes there are some fab shots in there, but also others that clearly don't belong in the group. Catarina Clemente as the curator of Recycled Home though does a consistently fabulous job. Thank you for the inspiration Catarina.

Dreamy Frocks

Paintings above from Karen Hollingsworth

Little digital prints of vintage frocks, only $5 each - there are ten to choose from - by Crimson Circle Studios.

Nice frocks eh? Imagine being such a good painter that you could replicate fabric. Or so competent with a digital program that you could showcase little fabric frocks. Ahh will have to get some lessons I think.

Now here's a poem to ponder for those who, like me, enjoy such things. To me it's about little treasured moments of wonder that resurface unexpectedly and remind us about the wonder of this life.

We need some pines to assuage the darkness
when it blankets the mind,
we need a silvery stream that banks as smoothly
as a plane's wing, and a worn bed of
needles to pad the rumble that fills the mind,
and a blur or two of a wild thing
that sees and is not seen. We need these things
between appointments, after work,
and, if we keep them, then someone someday,
lying down after a walk
and supper, with the fire hole wet down,
the whole night sky set at a particular
time, without numbers or hours, will cause
a little sound of thanks--a zipper or a snap--
to close round the moment and the thought
of whatever good we did.
'Around Us' by Marvin Bell

'They tied their hopes to a string' print from Elly Mackay at Theater Clouds

Decal from Vinyl Wall Accents

Prints Giveaway - Worldwide - Come on in!

To celebrate the re-opening (at last!) of my etsy shop, Artdecadence, I'm having a giveaway of three of my new prints.

Just visit the Store and leave a comment here telling me which three prints you would choose. Extra entries can be had by becoming a follower of this blog; becoming a follower on Facebook; and promoting the giveaway in some way. Just leave a separate comment for each and I'll do a random selection at noon, Australian time, on Thursday, 26 January. This is a worldwide giveaway.

Thank you so much for visiting!

AND THE WINNER IS......

COUTURE CARRIE! Congrats...I'll be in touch. And if you were one of the others that entered just email me your address and I'll send you a postcard with one of the images on it...email - healthfactormedia@bigpond.com

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and give encouragement. I so appreciate it!

artsy fartsy stuff

At last, some new art work! Now, dear readers, I'd love your opinion. They all started life as antique/vintage black and white photos then the long task to turn them into new works of art began. I wanted each to be uplifting / inspiring to the viewer. The slide show doesn't do the rich colors justice but it was the only 'freebie' show that I could find! Do you think these art prints would sell on Etsy? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Hoping that by my next post I'll have a print giveaway organised.

And to the really important stuff. Milla, my granddaughter, inbetween two friends, shows on her face what Christmas meant to me. Sheer joy. Family and friends...and immense gratitude for the life that I have.

The slide show seems to be playing up for some so here's a collage of the prints.