the blog formerly known as London Beard

The final cheese. So flipping good.

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:23:55 -0500

The final cheese. So flipping good.

Wow, what a great blog I just found! You should definitely...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:20:48 -0500

Wow, what a great blog I just found! You should definitely check it out. If you like antiques, jewellery, history, interior design, videos, photos, or even if you just like really inventive blog posts by fascinating redheaded shopgirls, this is the blog for you. Bookmark it yo! This is their latest post - how wonderful!

torontoantiquesonking:

Victorian Hairwork and Mourning Jewellery

This design on the face of this beautiful Victorian brooch is not what it seems at first sight. Believe it or not, it is actually made out of human hair - a notion that never fails to cause a strong reaction in people, whether shock, awe, disgust or delight.

Personally, I think Victorian hairwork jewellery is a such a fascinating reflection of a time gone by: a time long before emails and digital photos and facebook and film, when people came up with curious and creative solutions to provide them with the comfort of loved ones, even when they were far from home or after they had passed on. Wearing the hair of a loved one gave them a unique sense of connection, and it offered the opportunity to carry a piece of that person wherever they went.

Godley’s Lady’s Book, a popular 19th century lady’s magazine offered hairwork patterns, which could be used much like knitting patterns or cross stitch patterns. They also featured advertisemenets for special tools and hairwork tables which would aid those who chose to take up hairwork as a craft in their homes. In a c.1850 issue of Godley’s Lady’s Book, the concept of hair as a medium of rememberance is reflected upon:

“Hair is at once the most delicate and last of our materials and survives us like love. It is so light, so gentle, so escaping from the idea of death, that, with a lock of hair belonging to a child or friend we may almost look up to heaven and compare notes with angelic nature, may almost say, I have a piece of thee here, not unworthy of thy being now.” (quote taken from www.hairwork.com)

Today we may find this hard understand, but in our digital age, we have endless ways to document, remember, and keep in touch. We really should appreciate these objects for what they are: beautiful, if unconventional, pieces of art that represent a part of our human history, and reminders of the very basic and unchanging human need to reflect on the people who matter to us most in our lives.

The Cynthia Findlay Collection of Estate & Vintage Jewellery at Toronto Antiques on King has a large selection of mourning jewellery, hairwork objects, and Victorian jewellery and accessories, including the brooch pictured here.

Revision: no cheese starting tomorrow...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:01:11 -0500

I’m going to have pizza tonight. And then cheesecake for dessert. Might as well go out with a bang (and possibly a stomach ache).

I'm giving up cheese for 6 months starting today.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:49:05 -0500

This is simply to prove a point.

Before you let out a loud guffaw at this suggestion and remind me of all of the wonderful things that have cheese in them, let me tell you I have thought it through and am fully aware of what this entails. No nachos. No pizza. No poutine. No cream cheese bagels. No lasagna. No grilled cheese. No cottage cheese. No Christmas cheese balls. I get it.

This is not the first time I have given something up. Once I gave up french fries for an entire year. And I didn’t cheat once. Another time I commited to flossing my teeth every day for 6 months. I did that one with no slip ups either. I know I have what it takes to do this.

My motive - a girl named KD.

(That reminds me, no Kraft Dinner either!)

Last night, as a few of my girlfriends and I were sitting around at a pub catching up, I shared my previous triumphant feats with them, and they were inspired to do the same. For KD, we challenged her to let go of coffee - all coffee - for six months. After fighting it for a good hour, she decided she would do it.

The punishment for all of the girls (not including me, as I was not originally planning to give anything up this time around) would be either a short “mom” hair cut or a tattoo chosen by myself… I am the official referree of the proceedings - Task Master, if you will.

But this morning KD announced that she would not give up coffee… she simply couldn’t do it. I was supremely dissappointed by this, and so I made decision. I would give up cheese, as I gave up french fries once before. It will be FAR more difficult than french fries (and in my opinion coffee), but the more challenging it is, the happier I will be when I can announce at the end of the six months that I was successful.

Let this be a source of inspiration for you KD. You can do coffee… just switch to tea. What the hell am I going to replace cheese with??? Yours is easier - commit already.

All The Pretty Girls Video! Fun.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:11:16 -0500

All The Pretty Girls Video!

Fun.

I just found this sitting next to me at my place of employment...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:42:45 -0500

I just found this sitting next to me at my place of employment with a stack of other wonderful photographic gems. I love it. But I can’t figure out which part I love the most. It might be the man with the hat and walking stick in the background. It might be those big round pram wheels. It might be the little girl herself. Actually, no, I think I love this photo because it just has so much honesty in it. Thats the thing about old photographs - even the ones where they played with trick-photography - they can’t help but to be just so damn honest… like a magical glimpse into another world and I can get lost in them for ages.

I was recently asked if, given the chance, I would travel back in time. Though the question was asked in relation to a nerdy techy thriller film that was being viewed at the time, I would like to… as long as it didn’t instigate massive chaos and disruption and didn’t cause anyone to black out and for people to be murdered whilst living inside a game that recreated 1940’s California (obviously).

I want to walk down a street in a time when passing a man in a top hat with a walking stick was commonplace. That would be fantastic. For now I will just look at my photograph.

I purchased a new piece of the Internet today.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:26:32 -0500

vigeant:

It is going to be the best thing I have ever put on the Internet ever.

Please hold for results.

Ditto

Smart LV by the other LV

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:52:56 -0500

Smart LV

by the other LV

Deep fried butter? Only in Texas. Check it out here.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:46:22 -0500

Deep fried butter? Only in Texas. Check it out here.

My dog Winnifred sometimes has a bow on the top of her head...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:13:15 -0500

My dog Winnifred sometimes has a bow on the top of her head (which I detest), but to my delight, we had to cut it off recently as it was horribly matted. The result? She looks like a dead ringer for Kate Gosselin!! Poor Winnifred… poor poor Winnifred.

Photo

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:01:31 -0500

A glimpse at my 12 hour day - Trisha Romance and all (thats her...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:25:00 -0400

A glimpse at my 12 hour day - Trisha Romance and all (thats her in the fur).

I just found out about this site awkwardfamilyphotos.com - its...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:26:00 -0400

I just found out about this site awkwardfamilyphotos.com - its enjoyable. Also, I had to invite myself to a family dinner tonight. Maybe some awkward family photos will come of it.

Pioneer Planking by James Dodds Two colour linocut edition of...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:25:40 -0400

Pioneer Planking by James Dodds

Two colour linocut edition of 85,

2003

This beautiful print is only £390! Lets get it!

Sardine Salad by Kate Jenkins crocheted lambs wool 2009 I love...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:08:33 -0400

Sardine Salad by Kate Jenkins

crocheted lambs wool

2009

I love this. Anne - its crocheted, not knit, but her stuff made me think of you. Jenkins has a series of breakfast works that are to die for as well.

Yellow Lake by Tom Hammick 2006 woodcut I would have bought a...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:56:11 -0400

Yellow Lake by Tom Hammick

2006

woodcut

I would have bought a Tom Hammick woodcut or painting of a tanker for my mama if I had any money. She has a passion for spotting freighters on the lake. And no, that wasn’t a mistake or an exaggeration. Using the word passion is an entirely accurate way to describe her feelings for freighters. It takes all kinds.

Launch by Craig Wylie oil on canvas 2008 Be prepared for art...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:38:00 -0400

Launch by Craig Wylie

oil on canvas

2008

Be prepared for art overload starting now. The Toronto International Art Fair was just tooooo good this year.

A comment on this work - Its a bowl of lemons, and its called Launch. On a very personal level, this is rather meaningful to me. I would like to own this painting. And about twenty other pieces I saw at the fair.

This is Blake Wescott, musician from Seattle, lead guitarist on...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:58:06 -0400

This is Blake Wescott, musician from Seattle, lead guitarist on current David Bazan tour, and the winner of the most delightfully enigmatic stage presence I have ever seen.

Confronted, at first, with his hirsute and lumbering, yet gentle and reserved appearance (more hirsute than David Bazan himself), it is hard to imagine the fervor with which he is about to play his guitar. Between exaggerated facial expressions (framed nicely by his thick thick beard), and a variety of stances (my favourite being when his brawny shoulders dropped down over his guitar in a heavy slump and he folded his body almost in half) watching him play just makes you happy.

With fear of being insulting, I say this next observation out of pure love. Watching Blake Wallace play the guitar is like watching a cross between a Muppet and Will Farrel (thanks Matt Smith) do a sketch on being a lead guitarist in an indie band: one of those big, charismatic, bumbling Muppets, like Sweetums or even the Swedish Chef.

Pure, unfiltered, uncensored, delight.

And he is an excellent musician.

Mesh Marketing conference was a huge success… I suspect it...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:54:20 -0400

Mesh Marketing conference was a huge success… I suspect it was a success in its own right, but I’m really referring to its impact on my own little world. A world that until about a month ago revolved miles away from marketing, advertising and PR.

Also, CiRCA nightclub, the venue for Mesh Marketing, is insanely huge. And strange.

Also, this little baby blog of mine now seems unimaginably insignificant. But maybe thats okay too.

My First Conference

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:26:38 -0400

Today I am attending my first conference - Mesh Marketing - heard of it? I have a small idea of what to expect, but no idea what to wear. I am excited though. Somehow my job has evolved into this from helping people pick out diamond rings and hanging plates on the wall. I am happy about this development.