A Book Of Blair

The blogger lives!

2010-10-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I lasted posted, but for good reason.

Do you ever feel "bloggers guilt" after not posting as you regularly do? I had felt that a lot lately and decided that I needed to take a break and let that go. Blogging is supposed to be something fun - not a chore you must keep up on. Thus, I decided I would post whenever I wanted and not worry about some silly schedule. Our whole lives are scheduled down to the last minute (at least mine is) so why should this be? Blogging seems to fit seamlessly into some blogger's lives, but not mine.

Anyway, being a full time college student, having a part time job, belonging to three clubs (one of which I am vice president), and singing in two choirs has been taking up most of my time.

I also enjoy sleeping, so it's nice to fit that in once and a while, too. ;)

Anyway, there's my lame (but legitimate) excuses for why I have been gone and will explain the future irregularities of this blog.

That being said, my fall season has been wonderful so far. Every day I journal something that I loved about that day:

10/8

Living in an autumn dream.

Running around campus at night with mason jars, trying to fill them with "eye of newt" and "monkshood".

10/10

Driving nearly to Canada through the pouring rain and birch trees to take a train ride through the mountains. (Then, eating huckleberry pie at a roadside diner and getting so distracted by discussing lyrics that we took the wrong turn home) Lovely.

10/20

The feeling of my bed when I first wake up in the morning

10/22

Hearing the melancholy sound of church bells from my window on a perfectly rainy day.

♥

Oy vey.

2010-08-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Currently, my "trusty" Macbook isn't working,
thus it makes it quite difficult for me to post some of my pictures and things.
In the meantime, I will be updating my tumblr regularly, and I hope you'll visit me there!

(Illustration by Laurel Long)

Also, I am in desperate need of some new music.
Anyone have any suggestions?

♥

My Room

2010-08-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to show you my room. :)

I know I've shown you my desk before, but I've redecorated a little since then.

Isn't my little suit of armor darling?

I'd love to see all of your rooms or homes...please share!

♥

Another year older.

2010-07-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

The days pass by slowly, but the weeks are passing by so quickly this summer!

I celebrated my birthday on Sunday which was very nice, just a small dinner with my family.

I decided that my lack of outfit posts has less to do with having to wear a uniform to work, and more to do with the fact that I have no idea how to dress during this warm weather. Luckily, we're heading to the coast this weekend and it will be much cooler there. :)

P.S.

If any of you would like to write me a letter, or would like me to write you one,

send me an email and we'll set it up :)

If there's one thing I have time for in the summer, it's letter writing.

♥

Evening Flowers

2010-07-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

This summer has been nice and lazy so far...except for work, of course.

There is a uniform for both jobs I work at, which I honestly don't really mind, but explains my lack of any interesting outfit posts. Thanks for bearing with me, and I wish many huckleberry lemonades and watermelon eating contests your way. :)

♥

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; that posterity will triumph in that day’s transaction, even though we [may regret] it, which I trust in God we shall not.”

-John Adams July 3, 1776

Photos by me @ Colonial Williamsburg

♥

Letter writing and the glory of summer

2010-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

I just found out about the Letter Writers Alliance, affectionately known as the LWA.

Their mission statement explains,

"In this era of instantaneous communication, a handwritten letter is a rare and wondrous item. The Letter Writers Alliance is dedicated to preserving this art form; neither long lines, nor late deliveries, nor increasing postal rates will keep us from our mission."

Best of all, membership is only $3, or $12 if you're interested in the vintage style LWA stationary. I'm joining...are you? :)

via LWA

In other news...it's summer!

♥

Follow me to the village green...

2010-06-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

So, I've finally joined the Tumblr club!

I think it's a great medium to share inspirations in text, pictures, video...etc.

You can find me here:

Click

But, my main point of this mostly pointless post,

is that I want you to comment with your Tumblr links!

♥

Food for fathers?

2010-06-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here's the little treat I made for everyone coming over to my house for father's day dinner.

I had to use cake mix out of the box..but at least I made the frosting from scratch!

The chocolate frosting was just a run-of-the-mill recipe, but I thought I'd share the other.

It's a blackberry buttercream frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract

5 cups powdered sugar

pinch of salt

1/4 cup blackberry puree (I couldn't find this anywhere, so I ended up just putting jam in the blender to make it thinner. It tasted just as good, and I love the color!)

♥

Sing hi-lo-lay at the end of the day...

2010-06-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

I love these photos from Katherine Hooker's Summer collection.

They're effortlessly British, plus the model's hair is perfection!

(I wish myself luck in trying to emulate the style...)

1. Greenhouse, 2. 1936-1938, 3. keats poem, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. oristano, gatto, 7. the mildred, 8. Untitled, 9. WWII GI's girl

♥

Farm Chicks

2010-06-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

I went to the Farm Chicks show at the county fairgrounds this last weekend.

If you don't know about them, they're basically a huge phenomenon up here in the northwest, ahem, at least with the women-folk. Picture aisles and aisles of perfection (aka vintage dresses, furniture, books, letters, etc.).

I took so many pictures that I can't post them all here!

♥

114th Regiment

2010-06-07T14:50:00.001-07:00

I took these photos last weekend, when, as always, I went

to the Memorial Day civil war reenactment.

This girl was my favorite reenactor to shoot.

I feel like she came straight out of a film or book, and someone needs to write her story.

From what I can tell, there were a small number of women that fought alongside the men,

mostly acting as cantinieres and they weren't disguised in men's clothes.

"Hers was the only face in the vicinity which seemed in any way gay. She was laughing and pointing very unconcernedly, as she stumbled over axes, spades and other obstacles, on her way through the trench! She was wonderfully courageous or else did not understand the danger . . . the shower of musket-balls, shrapnel, and every sort of projectile falling in the midst of us was trying to the nerves of our coolest."
(Frank Rauscher, Band Leader of the 114th PA on Marie Brose Tepe)

♥

Understars

2010-06-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Blouse & Skirt - Thrifted

♥

Rainy Weekend

2010-05-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

I keep getting so confused with this weather, as

you can see exemplified by this outfit.

One minute it's warm..the next it's cold and rainy!

Thus, I'm holding a blazer yet am wearing sandals.

Help!

Dress - Papaya

Necklace/watch - UO

Jacket - Nordstrom Rack

I love this dress, but it's a bit short for my taste.

I'm thinking of buying a vintage slip and sewing it inside..

Any other ideas?

Apparently I'm having troubles making up my mind on all sorts of things today. ;)

♥

My favorite blogs

2010-05-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a little break from showing you my Virginia pictures

and gave you a sampling of my favorite outfits from some of my favorite blogs.

Honestly, you guys (yes - I mean all of you, not just the blogs I'm featuring)

are so creative, pretty and inspiring!

Mon Chéri

Sadie's Wardrobe

All This Happiness

Time Enough For Drums

Do you have some blogs that you absolutely adore?

(Do you want me to visit your blog?)

Post a comment below, and I promise to visit all the links you send me. :)

♥

Chart your course

2010-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

I honestly could make an entire post on just pictures of the darling sheep.

But, they're so cute you have to agree.

I'd never really been to the south before, but I must admit that I liked what I saw/ate/stumbled upon. The weather was moody - blazing hot one moment then like a hurricane in the next, but that makes life interesting! Of course, being welcomed with that famous southern hospitality wasn't so bad either. ;)

{More photos to come, if you'll be so obliged}

♥

Gone..and back again

2010-05-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

I've been exceedingly absent, but I promise that more posts abound!

I took a short jaunt (well, a 2,000 mile jaunt...) last week to Williamsburg, Virigina.

I can't wait to show you all of my photos. :)

Hymn of the Ordinary

2010-05-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'm out of school. It's nice to finally have some time to breathe!

What would you do if you had all the time in the world, and it was a perfect spring day?

Let me know. :)

White dress - Nordstrom Rack

Linen Blazer - Forever 21

♥

It's still raining

2010-05-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the brief hiatus as I head into finals week.

I'm sure most of you know how that is... :/

1. Untitled, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled, 4. twas written as in stone, as cold as weathered bone

Leave me love!

♥

2010-04-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."

~C.S. Lewis

Dress - BB Dakota via Nordstrom Rack

Shoes - Target

♥

Illuminated Way

2010-04-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today I got to do some shooting with my new friend Brigid and

we had a blast in the windy spring weather.

Isn't she beautiful?

Brigid is wearing my thrifted skirt, H&M blouse, and her vintage boots

♥

Campbell House

2010-04-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was fairly gloomy and rainy,

so I decided a trip to the museum was in order!

Thus, the question arises...

why don't they make houses like this anymore??

Photos by me

The Campbell House

♥

Drifting By

2010-04-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Dress - Value Village

Necklace - F21

Boots - Payless

I hope you have a wonderful Easter :)

♥

Spyglass

2010-03-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

My front-yard

This weekend I'm going to be heading up to the hills to an old mansion for a retreat.

Thus, I won't be able to prepare my (now) weekly post..

Would any of you like to do a guest post for me?

It's a great way to get your blog's name out, or just post something that you've wanted to

even if you don't already have a blog.

If this sounds like fun,

send your pictures/ideas to me at abookofblair@gmail.com

Have a lovely weekend.

♥

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Lá Fhéile Pádraig)

2010-03-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

I hope you're wearing green!

By the way, I kind of love this. Search through them & find me your favorite :)

Always Returning

2010-03-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

Spring!

Dress- Forever 21

Typewriter bracelet- Gift

♥

Romantic Nautical

2010-02-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

Once again, Anthropologie steals the show with their beautiful new nautical collection.

I love the addition of lace that really softens the whole look.

"Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen.

We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds."

-Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

1. fotodecvogue, 2. Sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington, D.C., 3. Tall Ship in the fog, 4. worldpremieree, 5. Sailors - Vintage, 6. Untitled, 7. USS Constitution, 8. Here, Sailor, 9. Sailboat

♥

St. Valentine

2010-02-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day weekend from baby Blair. :)

There are many legends about how St. Valentine's day came to be about, but this one is my favorite

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death."

....OK, so it's not that cheery, but I like it just the same.

♥

Quiet Hours

2010-01-31T13:17:00.000-08:00

Skirt- BB Dakota (via Value Village)

Cardigan- Target

Necklace- Value Village

I'm in love with this skirt! It's to heavy and thick, it seems almost as if they stole some curtains from a

french chateau and decided to make a lovely skirt. :)

I got this mask from Venice because it reminds me so much of Phantom of the Opera. It does, right?

♥

Eras of Elegance

2010-01-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this website and have been completely excited to share it with you!

Eras of Elegance.com is a huge and information filled website all about the traditions, fashion, arts, entertainment and lifestyle from the Classical period through the Edwardian era.

The lifestyle section is even relevant to today, using historical information to

describe how to set a table properly, address invitations, serve tea etc.

One of my favorite things was their idea of a 'Victorian Weekend Retreat'. They have planned every hour out for a 48 hour period, all dedicated to living out the Victorian lifestyle.

"7:00 a.m. Rise and Shine. Learn to simplify your morning routine by not using the curling iron, hairdryer or electric toothbrush. You may be surprised how much extra time this leaves for yourself in the morning. Go easy on the makeup regiment for a day, and instead take a quiet morning stroll outside or get a fragrant pot of tea started early.

8:00 a.m. Breakfast. Keep it simple, but consider serving freshly baked scones, muffins or bread (prepare the dough the night before to save time). When was the last time you had breakfast right out of the oven? "

Sounds divine...but also quite difficult! I plan to do this some weekend, and will document how it goes. If you do, please share how it went!

This is such a thorough website, I can't find anything it doesn't include. :)

All images belong to erasofelegance.com

♥

Gone again

2010-01-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

I didn't really mention that I was going to be traveling abroad, what with all of the end of school finals and holiday hubbub, but I've been in Italy for the past two weeks! It was a semi pilgrimage/vacation and I'm still pleasantly jet-legged from the journey.

Hopefully this picture post won't bore too much.

Thanks for taking a look :)

♥

Underwood

2009-12-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning was beautiful - frigid, but cloudless.

One of my favorite gifts was this beautiful 1955 Underwood typewriter..

It's in perfect condition, even with the original brochure and carrying case.

Tell me what you received and how you celebrated the holidays!

♥

Deeper Well

2009-12-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

Currently enjoying:

-foggy mornings

-rainy days

-baking

-Atonement soundtrack

-desserts with friends

-Phantom of the Opera

Thank you for all of your lovely comments as my posting grew quite scant!

{Any comments or suggestions for the blog?

Just want to say hi? email me at abookofblair @ gmail.com]

♥

Waiting

2009-12-05T23:32:00.000-08:00

Forgive me for the lack of posts over the next two weeks.

As finals approach, my nose seems permanently glued in my overpriced textbooks...

“The bitterness of studying is preferable to the bitterness of ignorance”

~Unknown

Dreaming In Color

2009-11-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sweater, Necklace and Dress - Target

Tights - Nordstrom

Boots - Payless

1. Untitled, 2. I need more of it., 3. weistling: reflection, 4. Untitled

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Yankees out there! :)

♥

The Compasses' Rose

2009-11-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

Skirt - Anthropologie

Blouse - H&M

Necklace - Nordstrom

I found this botany book in the 'expensive items' section of Value Village for $10.

It's about 30 pages of hand-applied plant specimens, along with a page of notes.

The notebook was published in about 1899, and was written c. 1910.

I love how much time and effort this person put into learning about all of these plants,

and carefully made observations and notes about them. Charming, non?

♥

Pour Présenter

2009-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'd love to be able to collect some real calling cards,but for now looking at pretty ones online will have to suffice.

(Sorry, I don't know where these are from. Please let me know if one is your image!)

What do you think is the modern version of the calling card?

In other news, I recently stumbled over Pimpernel Clothing

They carry beautiful velvet and corduroy waistcoats, frockcoats, and robes.

Almost makes you want to be a 18th century man, eh? ;)

Well, luckily for us, they also have leather goods and period-style playing cards.

Check out their blog, as well.

♥

Edit: Blogger is being extremely belligerent today, thus the messed up format..

Reflections While Gazing Up

2009-10-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's the feeling - and I grin again at life.

Everything reflects and the leaves grow prisms of crowns and roses.

This is a million summers combined, with feelings more endless than any season before.

Welcome to the humming mandolin times, served with his cider.

The leaves above glisten: (listen!)

It never could be truer that the wind brings change,

for the leaves are us

growing quietly but steadily

they burst in sudden -

beautiful flashes

As time passes

they fall (like us)

even more graceful than before

Then, settled on the ground

they take

final

resting place

to become one with the earth

Cling - for as long as ever

but refuse to fall alone.

Remember your antiquated

bursts of color, and reflect the lights

and know that

the mandolin keeps playing

ne'er worn from use.

{Poem and photo by me, model: Annika]

Thanks so much for all of your decorating suggestions!

I've been studying so hard, that I haven't had time to do

much more with the room, but I hope to find some time soon. :)

All of your comments are very appreciated, and I love reading them.

♥

Nothing to write home about

2009-10-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thought it would be fun to show you where I'm currently living -

you know how I love it when people share pictures of their room or home.

It's certainly not glamorous, but my roommate and I have done our best to make it cosy and neat.

So give me some ideas! What should I hang on my big blank wall? (Apart from my Declaration of Independence, of course). ...Did I mention that I'm a history major? ;-)

♥

A little inspiration

2009-10-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

1.Day 68 - Under a tree, 2.Untitled, 3.Untitled, 4.Untitled, 5.Paysage D'anjou, 6.Untitled, 7.Untitled, 8.IMG_6288, 9.What I See

This now hangs right above my desk.

What inspires you?

♥

His mad hat

2009-10-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

This pretty Fall weekend, my mom and I went to a local 'Mad Hatter's" market out in the countryside.

Take a look...is it not to die for? :) I ended up buying a lovely little vintage Virgo Carmeli medal from Italy.

Also, if you haven't seen the video on the TOAST homepage, you're missing out!

It's sort of my perfect little dream world tucked into the mansions and beauty of Ireland.

♥

To Youth

2009-09-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Dress & Jacket - Urban Outfitters

Shoes - Target

Autumn is here. Everything glows.

Mornings are full of open windows, curtains flying.

Bright gems drop off of trees.

This is the real Spring - everything is turning.

♥

My Package

2009-09-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

There's honestly nothing better than receiving a package or a letter...I've said it before and I'll say it again! :)

When I started Brown Paper Packages a little less than a year ago, I had no idea how well it would do. So far, I've paired up over 145 girls from all across the globe!

I paired myself up with the lovely Sam from England. I never did show you the package she sent me, and I don't know why! It was absolutely beautifully put together, and completely made my day. ♥

♥

Revival

2009-09-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

I'm keenly interested in the current revival of Romanticism that I seem to run across, both in bloggers writing styles and fashion. I suppose I'm not just interested...I love it! I think it could be possible that people (aka all of you lovely blogging girls) are all discovering the little, beautiful things in our lives that we wish to photograph, read and wear. I'm generalizing Romanticism, but I know we all hold a special place in our hearts for a bit of Beethoven, Delacroix, and Keats.

The Girl I Left Behind Me - Eastman Johnson

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog - Caspar David Friedrich

Speaking of Keats, I can't wait to see Bright Star:

A period piece, poetry, romance...what could be better?

♥

The Secret Life of Daydreams

2009-09-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Dress - Finder's Keepers

Cardigan - Urban Outfitters

Boots - Ralph Lauren

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,

and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." -George Eliot

♥

In the press!

2009-09-06T23:21:00.000-07:00

Last month, I was featured in a local magazine and I finally got my hands on a copy..well just this (not very great) scan, actually. Nevertheless, I'm very excited about my first time in print and I'm really glad how everything came out.

A raw shot from the shoot

My page!

See full-size

All photos by Cameron Glass

♥

Summer's End

2009-08-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was so glad that my friend and I got together to do this little shoot. It reminds me of everything good about summer, while school is beginning and times are changing.

I'm currently going through my first days of college, and don't know how much blogging I'm going to be able to do over the next couple of weeks. Please keep sending me kind messages, though and I'll be back soon!

♥

An alluring diversion

2009-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a great magazine article I happened across, I've recently become totally captivated by a new pursuit (to me) - letterboxing! For those of you that don't know, letterboxing is, "an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest." I love it, and I think you will too!

What you must do is collect clues online, the two most prevalent sites being Letterboxing.org and AtlasQuest.com. (If you don't live in North America, it should be pretty easy to find clues for your area too!) Then, you decipher them or follow the trail they lead out in your town - for all clues lead you to your letterbox in a different manner.

Once you have found your loot, you will find that a stamp will be inside, that you will stamp in your notebook, and then you will take your own stamp and make your mark in the notebook in the letterbox.

Sorry for the sloppy handwriting! I was crouching down in a dark tunnel, with only lantern light to see by...

I think this is great fun - really brings out the Nancy Drew in me! ;)

She moved through the fair

2009-08-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Dress - Burlington Coat Factory

Shoes - Target

Purse - Thrifted

Ring - Kohl's

I swear this bag is made out of something magical.

I can fit everything inside of it - with room to spare!

(i.e. my huge camera, ipod, phone, notebook, wallet....) A Mary Poppins bag, perhaps?

♥

Tell it to me

2009-08-15T15:59:00.001-07:00

I'm stuck in some sort of writer's desert. I'm just waiting to see that lovely oasis on the horizon where new ideas & words await me! For now, all I see is rippling mirages shaped like words that quickly disappear into the fevered air.

Here's something I did find words to write - but this was a while ago.

...I suppose it could be my lament for this summer that is so quickly passing.

"Write of things gone past," they pleaded.

So I did.

We had faces of strawberries then,

covered by straw hats.

We all wore blue, the boy's trousers and the girl's gingham dresses.

Climbing trees, we touched the sky every spring day.

It was OK when we fell, for we - nearly - always caught each other.

We joyfully intruded upon fishes' games

and the promenade of deer.

Hopping over large, flat rocks,

there were snakes rattling underneath our canvas soles.

We were butlers and housemaids to our imaginations.

One day I was a bird, the next, you were a brass-toned hero.

We were best friends,

comrades,

enemies,

and serious confidants.

When our imaginations finally burst,

we found ourselves adults - simply cousins.

Conscious, we remain as ghosts of our childhood,

still statues of our past.

♥

Dum Da Daaa

2009-08-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

After randomly choosing the winner, congratulations to...

gahome2mom!

I hope your daughter enjoys the dress. :) Also, thanks to everyone who entered!

In other news...

For my birthday - it just goes on and on -

I was lucky enough to get a lovely knitting kit and lessons from my Aunt!

Trying to knit makes me feel like the clumsiest person alive....did anyone else experience that? ;-)

I've also been trying to learn cross stitch, which has proved to return more successful results.

Meanwhile, summer is still blossoming outside...

but once and a while i'll get a whiff of autumn in the air.

My favorite season is approaching, and I can hardly wait!

What's your favorite season?

♥

My first giveaway!

2009-08-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

By way of thanking all of you for dutifully reading and commenting on my not-so-frequent posts,
I'd like to give one of you this pretty little dress!

It's a beautiful navy color with white stripes - perfect with a white button up shirt and black tights for fall. :)

[Size small, but quite forgiving, and is 30 in. long]

Please only enter once, but If you'd like to double your chances of winning this darling dress, post about this giveaway on your blog, and send me a second comment with a link to your post. :)

Please post all comments with your email, and you have until this Sunday at Midnight PST,
when the winner will be chosen randomly.

Sorry, this time I'm only able to ship to the continental United States!

Thanks again, girls!

Lists.

2009-07-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

In honor of that, here's a little list of some of my favorite things,

or just some things I've stumbled upon.

Latin Phrases- It's just one of those things...they make you sound smart, but all you're really saying is "At last, here come the pigs."

Letter from Captain Sullivan- In my opinion, one of the most beautiful letters ever written.

All This Happiness - One of my favorite blogs. :)

Name Voyager- Type in your name, and view it's popularity over time. I've always been interested in names...

American to British Dictionary - Funny, eh?

43 Things - For those of us eager to add more lists to our lives.

Flickr Favorites - It could be said that I'm unhealthily obsessed with clicking through others favorites on Flickr in order to find more lovely photos.

Photo by me

If you have any suggestions for the blog, or just wish to say "hello!",
please email me at abookofblair at gmail dot com
♥

Auld Lang Syne

2009-07-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results." -Machiavelli

{All photos by me /I don't love the quality that blogger has displayed my photos, please view them at my flickr if you wish. :)}

♥

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes!

2009-07-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the happy occasion I went out to dinner in my favorite historic hotel downtown.

It's terribly pretty.

If you came to visit me, I'd surely take you here and we'd chat and drink tea in the glamorous lobby. :)

Mmmm, Crème brûlée for dessert...

Cheers!

♥

(P.S. Thanks for all of your comments...I love reading them.

I do visit everyone's blog that leaves a little something for me, just to let you know!)

Frontiers

2009-07-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

Skirt, chambray shirt & belt - Thrifted

Today is my very last day of being a kid...of course, that's only in legal talk,

because i'll always act like a kid. ;)

Tomorrow is my 18th birthday!

This is the ink and quill I got from the Civil War reenactment last month, if you recall.

Happy weekend!

♥

Clam chowder and an ocean breeze

2009-07-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting!

I've been gone for the weekend on a little road trip with my friend to the coast.

[Mmmm, exactly what i'd been waiting for...}

{Patricia & I}

Jacket - Target

Skirt - Made by me!

Thanks for reading! My normal updates will resume...eventually.

♥

Flora's Secret

2009-06-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

Dress - Tracy Feith for Target

Necklace - F21

I'm heading off to British Columbia for the week with my choir. :)

Wish me luck, and leave me lovely comments!

♥

Postcards from Far Away

2009-06-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.

~Catherine Douzel

I was home alone this weekend...

It was raining and just seemed the perfect time to make little shortcake biscuits and a nice cup of tea.

♥

Preserving the old ways

2009-06-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Dress - Wet Seal

Sandals - Target

Charm Bracelet - Gift

My friend came over, and our evening was full of laughs, thunderstorms, movies, and cooking.

We made chicken with a sun dried tomato, basil, white wine cream sauce and home made chocolate ice cream!

♥

Inspiration

2009-06-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Summer has been really wonderful so far. I've been trying to get a lot of things done, but also be very lazy and just mosey around the house. Luckily, I've succeeded! I've been trying to teach myself how to draw (..not so successful) and I also sewed a skirt.

♥

Just some of my favorite photos of late. :)

Photo by Elinkan

I've been positively dreaming about finding a pair of t-straps like those lately.

If anyone can send me a link or give me some advice on where to find some,

I would be forever grateful! Seriously.

Photo by marcinéma

I'm dying to do this DIY! I'm afraid mine would turn out horrible, though..

Click here for links

Send me links to your flickr favorites page! I'd love to take a gander.

Awkward Annie

2009-06-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry! It's been a while...I've been busy with this sort of thing for the past week. :)

Straw Hat - Target

Dress - Finders Keepers

♥

From fox hunting to whist

2009-05-31T13:54:00.000-07:00

Just a lazy Sunday outfit...went to church, an art show in the park and attempted to study...

Blouse - H&M

Belt - Mom's

Skirt & Flats - ??

I earnestly recommend What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool,

to anyone remotely interested in 19th century England or any of the novels written during that period.

It discusses virtually everything relating to that time, from what kind of lighting was in their homes, the mail,

social structure, occupations, and much much more.

Plus...look at the great illustrations!

Jane Austen fans, anyone?

♥

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory,

nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds,

yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.
-Daniel Webster

In commemoration, they always have a Civil War reenactment set up all weekend out in the woods. I, being a history nerd, have always found it really fun to go see. :)

Photos by me

♥

Outer banks

2009-05-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Dress & Anchor necklace - Forever 21

(We just got this store here! My town isn't very large..so it's kind of a big deal :)

Cardigan - Target

Shoes - Payless

Beret - ?

I've been really liking this song lately, well, and anything by Kate Rusby basically.

This one's sad, but really beautiful.

♥

Inkstains

2009-05-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

I finished writing that letter with that quill you gave to me

I show gratitude for ink-stains on my fingers and my heart

The pen slipped once again nicking Dickinson and blasted off to the unknown

The ship's swaying was the instigating action

It turned me over and over again

"I only saw burgundy," I wrote,

mistaking your color for mine

I knew you could forgive, for chameleons cannot harp on such

things as changing colors.

But, I digress.

My ink-stained fingers,

with a light toss that held the weight of the world

passed another draft onto flame

"If there was only a way to get things back," I wrote again

"I would send you all of my drafts and you would see."

My eyes never shone quite as bright after those ink-stains and tears

After the flame enveloped them,

my papers only belonged to God.

♥

Between green and grey

2009-05-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

It's spring!

It's been raining almost constantly...which you know I love,

but I was excited for one sunny day to go shoot some photos ouside. :)

Dress - Nordstrom Rack

Lace bolero - Thrifted

Photos by me

Happy weekend!

♥

Ahoy

2009-04-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am an absolutely terrible artist...at least in the drawing realm. Even so, I saw this little

tutorial to make a boat scene in photoshop and I had to try it! I'm fairly pleased with the result. :) Feel free to try the tutorial as well and post or comment your result!

This scene got me a little inspired, so I did another one as well. This time, with no tutorial!

I'm learning...

Also, for any of you that have a Good Reads account, please add me as a friend! (Or make an account and share in the book readin' fun ;)

♥

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