Here Lies One Whose Name Was Writ in Water

The two lovers, Fanny Brawne and John Keats, one of his letters to her, and her engagement ring.

I am a female. I wonder if it then follows that I love love stories (or in the words of Ginny Branch Stelling, "I Love Love.") or if it's just because I am a sap. Throw a couple of love letters into the said love story (extra credit if there is poetry) and I am hooked!

In all fairness, I discovered the wonders of John Keats, young English poet, in high school. I still quote his "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, --that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know." from Ode on a Grecian Urn to myself and friends. I memorized his poem, La Belle Dame Sans Merci in part because I loved the sentiment (and haplessly identified with the titular character) but also because I loved these works of art (by artists who had also been inspired by Keats):

La Belle Dame Sans Merci, by John William Waterhouse and Frank Dicksee

Poor Keats. His poetry was a critical failure in his own time, his lady love seemed to be something of a minx (is she the original La Belle Dame Sans Merci?), and he was dead by the age of 25 from tuberculosis. He also lost both of his parents early in life, and his brother to the same disease.

But this is the stuff of cinema. Director Jane Campion (The Piano) brings the story and the romance to life in this month's Bright Star. It looks good. It probably won't come to Dubai for some time, but if you get to see it, let me know what you think.

And, while you're at it, be sure to check out his love letters. They're intoxicating!

The above postcard is a selected portion from one of the poet's letters to Fanny. The handwriting is my own, a font created by the lovely Frederique at The French Frog. Some of the scrapbooking elements above come from Raspberry Road Designs.

XOXO,

The Edge of Love

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

~Dylan Thomas, opening stanza from Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

I've been laid up all week in my friend's apartment in Berlin, recovering from a gnarly cold that I could have only caught on the tour bus (23 death metal dudes and little ol' me. It was an awesome time and I really should post some pictures on here) last week.

While recovering, I've been watching movies online, which is something I never usually do. I'm always too busy doing something else to sit and watch a movie. Or, if I do, I'm on my laptop and not really paying attention. Being sick and comatose forced me just lie there and enjoy a movie.

I stumbled across the film, The Edge of Love, which piqued my interest namely because it starred Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller (also a bad sign since the stars are so big and yet I've never heard of the film-- usually meaning it was a dud), and because it was a biopic of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. The film really isn't that great, and yet the cinematography is absolutely stunning. There seems to be a painterly quality to the film.

And, I LOVED the 1940s costumes. I think quite possibly that might be favorite era for fashion. Or it is at the moment. I love their hair and their red lips, and the dresses are so pretty! Part of this movie is set in Wales on the seaside, and the girls run around wearing pretty floral dresses with fisherman sweaters and cardigans thrown on top. With Wellies! It made me want a pair of Wellington boots (seriously, I spent a good half-hour online looking for a pair, but as I am heading to Dubai in a week for two months, I don't reckon I would be getting much use out of them).

I knew as soon as I saw the movie that I wanted to do an outfit post about this film. Funnily enough, Sweet Aya beat me to it by about a week, but she has great taste in clothes, so I don't mind a bit.



XOXO,

Say a Prayer for Me...

I've decided to embrace the rampant Peter Pan-ism that lies within my soul and join my brother and his metal band, Nightfire, in Europe as they do their first European tour. As you can imagine, I am quite excited!

If all goes as planned (as luck would have it, 500 Jet Airways pilots, which is the airline I'm flying, have been on strike the past few days, so I might not be going anywhere), I shall meet my brother and crew in Berlin, Germany tomorrow night.

After the tour, I'll get to spend some much needed time with my very close friends, Matt and Corrie, in Berlin, and then fly from there to Dubai on October 2nd.

If you have a moment, prayers for blessings, safety, and traveling mercies would be much appreciated!

XOXO,

A Really Cool Photo Blog

by Rusty Ralston via here (or click on the picture)

My friend Autumn turned me onto this "blog," or rather, photo essay that a friend of hers is doing.

His name is Rusty Ralston and his project is entitled,

"30 days (and nights) in the Williamsburg-ish Bushwick-ish section of Brooklyn."

So far, there's only a few pictures posted, but they are haunting in their starkness and austerity. For anyone who is a fan of New York City, or of these Brooklyn neighborhoods in particular, or if you happen to love beautiful photography, then you should definitely check out Rusty's work over on his blog.

I can't wait to see what all 30 days brings!

XOXO,