An Intricate Romance

Saturday, March 13, 2010

A Romantic Slumber

I seem unable to coax my body into my usual slow and restless descent into sleep tonight-this morning, rather.

I am inclined to believe that surroundings such as the one above would cause the desired effect at this ghastly hour...

Friday, March 5, 2010

I have been on the prowl lately. For a job that is. And after getting some great feedback and a job offer this week, after weeks of stagnation, life is ambient once more. I am inspired by these striking ladies captured by the distinct Berthe Morisot...they have a cache of feminine confidence about them revealed only at the time of conveyance..

Winter/Woman with a Muff

1880

-Berthe Morisot

Dame a L'ombrelle

1881

-Berthe Morisot

In Dining Room

1875

-Berthe Morisot

Jeune Fille au Bal

1875

-Berthe Morisot

Portrait of Berthe Morisot

{by her brother-in-law Edouard Manet}

1872

-Berthe Morisot

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Romantic Calculus

-xkcd

The Old World

Sur un air Retro

Jacqueline Brochu

New York Dreamers

Shyama Helin

Bon Voyage

Shyama Helin

{Not sure of the name}

Shyama Helin

Happy Anniversary

Mark Preston

The Last Great Romantic

Jack Vettriano

Dancing Couple

Jack Vettriano

Feel Noir

Filiana Karamanli

Monday, March 1, 2010

Romantic Jewelry

I find the world 'jewelry" to be romantic in itself. Try pronouncing it out loud. Now try again, this time without rushing over the second syllable and letting your distinctive accent escape your lips undeterred. What do you think?

Can jewelry be romantic? What sets romantic jewelry apart from the rest of the jingling, twinkling,sparkling baubles in your treasure chest?

At Lenora Dame, romantic jewelry is feminine and ladylike, channeling a lady's past, invoking a wardrobe of lace and brocade through cameos and filigree, crystals and pearls.

Their bracelet collection has some truly wrist-worthy pieces

Their earrings are romantic and often whimsically so, especially these with the key motif. I see the key as a playful implication of the key to one's heart.

Variety is the spice of life-and romance,

as seen in the carious shades of these shimmering pearls

Petit Rococo takes on a slightly different approach to romantic jewelry, invoking bohemian style in the earrings..

Invoking girlish innocence in this necklace..

And rescaling Victorian metal worked charms with this braclet

I have noticed that most romantic jewelry is characterized by charms although the origins of charms are not quite as romantic. It is believed that the earring of charms originated in the Neolothic period, when our ancestors found off looking and perhaps charming items on their forages. Charms ere carried to ward off evil and other negative spirits as well as to foster positive ones. In ancient Egypt, additional purposes were attributed to charms (luck, identification,faith symbols) all which I suspect rested on the backbone of the beautiful designs carved into and of gold, silver and bronze.

Since ancient Egypt, charms have adorned by both sexes, going in and out of fashion during the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, and most famously in the 20th century hen Queen Victoria revived their style.Today, charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces are back in favor and are often used as fashion statements as well as markers of important stories in our lives.