Tea & Thorazine

I started looking through the archives of some of my favorite style blogs today and stumbled upon the very talented fashion/editorial photographer Marcin Tyszka from Poland. Her work has been featured in Vogue Portugesa as well as a handful of galleries around the world. It seems that the French are particularly smitten with her, and I can understand why...

I like that Marcin obviously takes more pride in the composition of her photos as opposed to their quality. I feel hypocritical for saying this, but the technology used in photography has advanced SO much in the last ten years or so, and it seems like photographers are starting to care more about how fancy and expensive their equipment is than the work itself. Marcin Tyszka seems not to worry too much about Photoshopping and the resolution of her images. Her photos just kind of are, and they come out so beautifully.

Since I've found myself with quite a lot of spare time the last few weeks, I've pulled out the Nine Heads book that I checked out from the library a while ago. Nancy Riegelman's guide to figure and garment drawing is the fashion designer's bible. While I definitely have no aspirations to become a fashion designer, I've been having fun learning how to draw croquis and about the intricacies of the human figure. If nothing else, it's a good exercise in learning how to shade colors properly and simply draw a straight line.

The book is ultra-detailed; it walks the reader through how to draw everything from children wearing couture to mohawks.

Here's my first croquis! Not the greatest, but I'm getting better...

Enchanted

Upon moving to the Park Ave. neighborhood in Rochester, NY, my parents discovered by far the coolest private garden I've ever seen. I took a break from my new study/run/repeat schedule to take photos of this gem just half a block away from our house on Brunswick.

There were some amazing sculptures! These guys are my favorites.

I don't think I've ever seen flowers quite like these before. It's amazing how much vegetation can change from state to state and even region to region.

It was obvious that the gardeners pay crazy attention to detail. Every single rock and pebble was carefully placed.

Maybe this is weird, but I think tree bark could make a cool textile pattern...

I've been wearing these thrifted Juicy flats nonstop since I've been here. I got them at Buffalo Exchange just before I left Austin, and they were only $2 after I sold my clothes back :) I have a feeling they will be trusty back-ups for years to come.

I have a lot more to post about Rochester than I expected. Stay tuned :D

Au Revoir Les Enfants

The time has finally come for me to break my long stint of non-blogging! I'm officially done with my junior year of college and nearly set to move away from Austin for the summer. Goodbye, Lonestars (I actually don't even like beer, but I do like this picture...) and warm summer nights! Maybe we will meet again next year.

I just bought a little pet carrier for Maggie, and in a couple of days we are flying to upstate New York to spend a couple of months with my parents at their new house. I'm planning to write lots of posts on local record stores, diners, silent film showings, black and white cookies, and everything else Rochester, NY has to offer young college students.

And, to break up the monotony that will inevitably occur, I'm traveling en Europe for two weeks in June. So also expect news from my trips to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Madrid. I'm really looking forward to checking out some flea markets, tiny boutiques, and thrift shops while I'm there. Cross your fingers that I make it to Charles de Gaul, though! I booked my flight through Reykjavik literally days before the volcano erupted: probably the smartest thing I've ever done...

Photo by Shannon Kintner, Provence, France, 2009

I can't wait for my jet-setting to begin. In preparation, I'm making a super-long vacation playlist. These songs have defined my summer so far:

"Cold Hearted" - Blu and Exile

"Rill Rill" - Sleigh Bells

and an old favorite: "Peacebone" - Animal Collective (the video is a must, must-see)

Au revoir pour maintenant, mes enfants!