Magic Windows #13

by angeliska on May 18, 2010


These red shoes are so silly. I fell over putting them on the other night.
Falling down is so funny — I think it’s good to do every once in a while.
It always reminds me of being a child — up one minute and down the next.
These are cheap, pleathery heels that I’ve already messed up, alas.
Would you like them better if I reeled off the name of your favorite designer,
or if they cost $300 dollars? I like the laser-cut pinwheel pattern, and I’m
always craving naughty red heels. I also like that they cost $20 bucks and
that I don’t feel particularly bad about messing them up. I do feel bad about
the fact that the plastic used to make them smells like chemical death, and
the fact that they were most likely definitely made in a sweat shop. Things to
think about. Is your consumerism affected more by your ethics, or by your
pocketbook? I’m not passing judgement – just curious. I buy a lot of cheap
crap, but I also love well-made things. I do try to think about where things
come from, and try to be aware. Have you ever boycotted a business or
a company based on their ethics? I remember crying while watching
the documentary about Wal-Mart, and thinking I’d never shop there again.
I broke that promise one late night when I was desperate to play Scrabble.
I should have held out for the deluxe edition anyway. (Just in case you didn’t
know, I’m a giant nerd, hi.
) Also, are you on Facebook? Thinking about quitting it?

The other day, I was feeling blue. Then this strawberry tart happened to me!
It came from Enoteca, the delicious bistro down the street from where I work.
I’m pretty sure it had medicinal properties, or certainly magical powers.

I love these Japanese dolls. I think their hair is human. Some of it is falling out.

Juanita -1944- “I’ll say it again – sad, sad as hell”
Who were you Juanita? Why were you so sad, and sassy and
covered in stuffed animals? Are you wearing a romper under there,
or nothing at all? This is a page from her scrapbook. Reading all her
funny comments in white ink made me think I’d like her. Mystery people.

FROZEN MEMORIES of FARAWAY YEARS
It’s getting hot here, after a magically long and cool spring.
I’m holding out on shutting the windows and cranking the
air conditioner. Tonight, there was a thunderstorm that brought
cold air and made me remember what it’s like to feel chilly.

I bought this collection of Aubrey Beardsley books recently, because I was
so charmed by their covers. Don’t mind the old adage! I’ve already got lots
of Beardsley books, but aren’t these wonderful? I couldn’t resist. The vibrant
colors and neo-nouveau graphic design popular in the 1970’s gets me every
time. I’ve always used the Albano version of the Rider-Waite Pamela Colman
Smith tarot deck — the colors are brighter and richer, and more psychedelic!

A while back, I found this box of Beardsley matches! Oh Ali Baba! I meant
to break up the set and send boxes to friends in parcels, but I haven’t been
able to do it! It’s too good! I should probably sell it, because all I do is gaze
at it in wonder. I have a lot of useful objects that are too decorative to use.

If this box of Golden Peacock Tonic Powder wasn’t empty, I think I’d use it!

Soyons Descrets! This is my paper journal — don’t you wish you could see inside?
I’m not an especially private person (yeah, obviously) so perhaps I’ll show some
of it sometime. I’ve been trying to write in it more. One day, I want to have a tea
party where everyone brings big stacks of their journals and diaries, and puts
them all in the middle of the floor and then grabs some others at random to read.
Just a quiet party where everyone reads everyone else’s diary. Is that weird?
I don’t care! I’m nosy, and I love looking at handwriting and delving into the brains
of my friends. Also, I believe that if you have a secret that you don’t want anyone
to know, don’t write it down. Unless you burn it after, I suppose. Or you could send
it in to Post Secret. I never have any good ones. No secrets keeps me light.

13 comments

I am overwhelmed with secrets. They make my stomach do flips. I doubt they’re worth of all the trouble they cause but if I say them out loud they cause tears to squeeze out of my eyes… and that’s really inconvenient.
I love your collection of Beardsley books. I can’t imagine how you could have resisted them.
Strawberries are my favorite thing every spring. I miss them when they aren’t in season.
I never know whether I should address you as Angel or Angeliska. It causes me some distress sometimes.

by amy on May 18, 2010 at 12:14 am. Reply #

Darling Amy,
You could whisper your secrets into a hollow tree, maybe?
Secrets are heavy to carry all alone! If I can ever help, please tell me.
You can call me either Angel or Angeliska! The latter is really kind of
a mouthful, but some people have fun with it. I usually go by Angel,
and introduce myself that way to make it easier for people.
You can call me anything, as long as you don’t call me late for dinner!

by Angeliska on May 18, 2010 at 12:20 am. Reply #

The diary thing sounds AWESOME. I would LOVE to do that. Why are you do far away! You are awesome.
I saw someone with a Beardsley tattoo (of Salome and the head) the other day, it was AMAZING.

by Lorra on May 18, 2010 at 1:33 am. Reply #

Oh dear! At first I thought that the Beardsley collection was something being sold in your store, and I will confess I already had my credit card out of my wallet! The Ali Baba cover just cracks me up.
And your paper journal is thrillingly beautiful – is that a Barbier illustration? I do think that is a lovely idea for a “share your secrets” type party – it is hard to tell, sometimes, what your friends and loved ones may be keeping to themselves for whatever reason – although I imagine the evening may be fraught with drama/trauma for some individuals, at the end of the night they(we) would probably feel amazingly connected and exhilarated.

by mlle ghoul on May 18, 2010 at 4:26 am. Reply #

The diary party sounds fantastic! I would come, most definitely.
(niyabinghi from livejournal)

by Nanne on May 18, 2010 at 4:50 am. Reply #

Aha! More reasons to dislike f21! As if I was having trouble with that.
P.S. serious matches!

by poutfits on May 18, 2010 at 7:03 am. Reply #

I love the diary party idea. I wish I could go to one.

by Sophie on May 18, 2010 at 7:29 am. Reply #

A bar down the way from my house got closed down by a development project (nasty one too)and they used to have a night called Cringe Night where people would come with their journals and dramatically read them aloud to an audience…yep, CRINGE!!! I see you’ve purchased some books in preparation for Aubrey and I’s whelping day (we are EXACTLY 100 years apart). Concerning consumerism, I try to by local as much as possible but, please you guys, where do you find locally made cheese graters and floor mats? Yep, it’s a conundrum.
Wish I could make you a cake so you wouldn’t be blue for the whole summer.
bisous!

by Whiskey Deer Wolf on May 18, 2010 at 9:40 am. Reply #

I haven’t kept a journal in so long…I wonder why. Hum! No secrets? I have plenty of beautiful old matchbooks, though.
My ethics totally guide my shopping! And when they can’t do that, they totally control my guilt. I’d rather stick to my principles than be fashionable but sometimes, the girl can’t help it. And the facebook, she is a little coquette, eh? But this sums it up, I think: http://www.someecards.com/card/3579

by Annie on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 pm. Reply #

I did leave facebook.. and myspace before that. Now I am solely on LJ. I suppose the old way is better. I like being able to control who can find me, who can see me, etc. I guess I like being a secret.

by Gabriel on May 18, 2010 at 3:59 pm. Reply #

I love the shoes! Although the heel is a bit too high for me at my advanced age. I have a fit issue with “cheap” shoes and they rarely fit me comfortably or correctly so I’m not trying to be a snob when I say that I usually try to purchase shoes made in Spain, Italy or Portugal. Sometimes a Made In China shoe slips it’s way into the mix. Have you ever looked at office.co.uk? Great styles & not terribly expensive although shipping can be a killer.
I believe I have that purple Aubrey Beardsley book somewhere. I love Art Nouveau-one of the best things about our trip to Buenos Aires last year was seeing all the Beaux Arts & Art Nouveau touches, especially some of the tombs in the Recoleta. <3

by Marcy on May 18, 2010 at 7:09 pm. Reply #

Oh, my dear. Lovely Beardsley, of course!
I grapple with the whole fashion industry/consumer goods battle. I think basically we all pretty much live off of the backs of slaves- v. sad and horrible thing to say, I know. But when we think about it… if I go to Target to buy anything at all- it’s made in China. Well, I don’t suppose that folks in China get paid necessarily the amount that we are used to (ie at least min. wage.) I’m lower US income- most of my friends are the same- if we need something, we buy at Target, Walmart, discount stores, etc. If I look at most of my kitchen appliances, for instance- I’m looking at pieces made by people in basically slave-wage situations. The only solution to this, that I can see- is to buy used. So, thrifting is a very good option that I try to exercise- recycle, reuse! It doesn’t solve the problem of people getting paid less than they are worth- but one step at a time.

by K on May 18, 2010 at 8:08 pm. Reply #

I love well-made items too.. why buy cheap & sloppy when you can buy something well-made that will last a thousand lifetimes! Sometimes I shop for cheap things, but I do it at fleamarkets & second hands. I try not to buy a) too much plastic stuff (how can we possibly whine about oil drilling when we actually spend our days using products & packaging materials that are all made of oil – all these little things will form giant floating masses of plastic dust in the oceans, lakes = ecosystem) b) too much sweatshop stuff, which is practically everywhere. I boycott almost everything, but I guess it’s just because I don’t like most modern-day stuff, err..
Oh my god, I probably come across rather annoying and idealistic. I’m not so hysterical about this really.. and I do eat meat.
I’ve never been a member in Facebook – I’ve always thought it’s kinda suspicious and weird.

by Veterok. on May 19, 2010 at 2:13 am. Reply #

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