frames on ribbon

This is a brilliant idea. Given that the ribbon is strong enough, this would look so good on a small wall space or a corner. I love that it does minimal damage to your wall. If molding allows, you can even hang it through the crack between molding and ceiling. Might do this for my room at school.

From Elle Decoration South Africa

New bedside carafe from Salvation Army. It was still $4, but well worth it in utility. I love the anchor imprint. And the fact that it's slightly crooked! Ohg!

Gourds! One dark green, one ugly banana yellow painted three coats of white paint.

Humbling Beginnings

There is something to be said about returning to training after taking some time off from a competitive season -- never mind following on the heels of the Olympic Games. For me personally, I’ve had to mentally unwind and re-evaluate my goals for the following years. This isn’t some rogue routine, but it is something that requires meticulous, methodical thinking and planning. Once, this has been figured out it’s easier to start the wheels in motion.

However, for me pre-season training never is fun. It’s probably the only thing I dislike about high jumping. Let me explain. A year of training cycles through various periodization and training focuses. The high point of my season is generally near the end, with a major championship brought into central focus. I’m involved in a speed and power sport, where by this time I am well tuned with specific training. The pre-season, generally focuses on general conditioning. Volumes are high and recovery time is less. The body is in constant agony. I am dependant on massage and therapy to keep my body from exploding. The workouts are long and arduous and a few times you might be brought to your knees from exhaustion, possibly seeing God’s appearance on the track. (In your mind you might see a beam of light telling you, you have lived – at least for that day’s workout.)

Every year, preseason seems worse. Not because of the pain, but rather knowing from past experience that ‘yes, this workout is going to hurt.’ It’s like Pavlov’s Dog syndrome, where instead of salivating at the ringing of a bell, I’m feeling the pain in advance from seeing a printed workout. My only salvation is knowing that the hard work now will carry me through the ever long season ahead. It’s a humbling experience all around and certainly worth it!

Bring it on!
Nicole

Hauntingly Beautiful: Douglas Little

Prologue: By way of explanation regarding this eleventh hour post, I think the spooks are hitting blogger pretty hard this week. Between disappearing photos and vanishing prose, this post has taken a mite longer than expected. I might have abandoned it all together, but I thought you would enjoy the very beautiful and haunting talents of Mr. Douglas Little to start you on your trick or treating evening. So here is a VERY much condensed version of the disappearing post:

Douglas Little, Modern Alchemist and Purveyor of Curious Goods created a Gothic Fantasy for the pages of the November 2006 issue of House and Garden magazine. Some of you may remember it:

What I wanted to show you were the beautiful recreations that Mr. Little did for the window displays at Bergdorf Goodman:

To see the entire display click here. There are many more images to pique your imagination.

House and Garden, April 2006, Photo by Jeff Riedel

Douglas Little, founder of D.L. and Co. is most well known for his unusual and fragrant candles. And while fragrance is his passion, one can find other intriguing decorative objects on his site.

But he is also a decorator/designer and stylist extraordinaire.

House and Garden April 2006

Some of you may remember this fireplace from a previous post about fireplaces here.

House and Garden, April 2006

As well as a collector of curiosities.

A taste of the offerings by Douglas Little:

Devilishly delectable sweets produced for the Maxfield Holiday Installation. Be sure to see this under "Events" in the main menu.

Claw Porcelain Candle holder - $175 - available through Unica Home

New Signature Collection Absinthe Candle

Silver Thorn Apple Candle - $225

Skull Porcelain Plates - set of four - $180

Resin Correspondence Box with Flourished Calligraphy Dove Stationary - $175

L-O-V-E Stationary set - $50

Postscript: I apologize yet again. When html code started to appear on the "compose" page, I almost gave in. A Haunting perhaps!?!

The Power of Facebook

I can remember just last year, stating Facebook would never see my face on it. As of February 2008, I became a proud member. Much like the blackberry a.k.a crackberry, I find myself going in waves where I am on site all the time, and then sometimes not at all. It’s an awesome networking/connecting tool, as well as, a black hole for wasting time. I mean I have caught up with so many old friends, that it has made my membership worthwhile. However, lately, I’ve fallen into the black hole of wasting time.

I’m always changing my picture, statements, profile, while also, commenting on the pages of my friends. Last night, unassumingly changed my relationship status, to one where it wasn’t listed. No real reason, just felt like it. (I think I thought it would make my profile look cleaner and uncluttered… most likely I was just wasting some more time.)

However, the note that showed up on my friends’ pages was a heart and the statement “Nicole is no longer listed as single.” Later, I would discover some of my friends thought that implied I was now in a relationship. The congratulations messages and inquiring phone calls poured in. And it made me consider if my friends were wondering when I was planning to settle down.

It’s quite funny how much power Facebook can provide. Any action done is just bulletined to your friends. Only the neon lights are missing. Ironically, I like my single life, possibly to a flaw. I’ve been receiving a lot of flack from my friends about it lately so perhaps that had something with me wanting to remove my status. Who knows? Besides, it isn’t like guys are the easiest creatures to make time for. Many enjoy the chase or the ego boosting to their self-esteem, a girls’ attention can provide. The only game I play is monopoly, so that leaves me out of the game of chase.

However, exactly 1 week ago, my BFF lashed out at me stating “Nicole, when have you ever made time to date anyone. You’re always too busy, and not interested! You don’t give anyone a chance…” I’ve been hearing a lot of this lately from various friends. However, from my BFF I was surprised. Usually, I’m the one rambling on, but this time he had a lot on his chest to say and say he did! I was sitting looking at my phone bewildered as he spilled his opinions. Eventually he concluded with the statement “Do you appreciate when I’m so honest? Would I be a good friend if I wasn’t?” I think I was still too flabbergasted to respond.

I know he’s somewhat right, so I am taking his dare/instructions on... this is an unchartered territory. Although, perhaps I should be enrolling in a 12-Step Singles Anonymous class… if one exists… lol…

Going back to facebook, I can’t help chuckling over my April Fool’s prank, this year. Similarly, I had changed my status, as being engaged to one of my friends. The congratulation messages poured in unsightly! (I enjoyed more than a chuckle from that prank.) If anything, I would assume a change in my status would make me become “the girl who cried wolf,” receiving NO ATTENTION. Yet, my friends, true in their definition of being a friend, were quick to support a possible new found interest. Gotta love your friends!

Facebook junky since February 2008,
Nicole

P.S: I do try and keep my facebook circle of friends manageable, to those I know, so I don’t accept friends I don’t know. It’s probably not a good idea to add me if I don’t know you. However, I will join some fan pages and groups I receive invitations for.

Last weekend in an email alert, I got an article from Washington Post about small, multipurpose furniture - DUH! Isn't that what citydwellers, college students, and families have been doing since forever?

This is their idea of stylishly compact. Fugly! I would hate for my home to look like a hotel. With ugly, grime-colored carpet and all. I don't like the shelving - way too high unless you have incredibly high ceilings. Too forboding. And they call it a "hutch." Ew.

I say bring back the secretaire. Or mechanical desks!

Something Wicked This Way Comes.......

I'd like to introduce you....if you have not already met....to a shop that will enchant you....and will not soon forget.

Gothic Rose Antiques is a shop that caters to those interested in the strange and unusual. And this time of year is quite a busy time for proprietress Crystal. Located in the Gold Rush mountains of Northern California, Crystal collects the "bizarre and the beautiful" and describes herself as "a Designer of the Dark and Purveyor of Fine Macabre Goods."

I think you will enjoy this special tour I have arranged for you of this little shop of horrors.

Follow me.

Ram's skull

Black Cat Bookends , Mysterious Pair of Old Japan ware Pottery Bookends

Witch's Hollow , Decorative Book c. 1921 with Color Plates

This is "Little Pierre" - little man mannequin, c. 195o's, dressed in vintage sequined beret and tiny tuxedo

Wicked Real Paw Foot Talisman on Velvet Cord

Vintage Papier Mache Halloween Owl

Opera Ball Masks

Vintage Artist Made Blackened Moon Pottery Wall Decor

Witch's Cauldron

The Secrets of Hand Reading - c. 1965, illustrated, palm reading book

Golden Statue Porcelain Bust. Quite Romantic!

Gothic Gypsy Side Chair with Flemish Artwork - Lions and Dragons carved into this rare chair

Antique Glass Eyeballs - Hand Blown German Eyes almost life size used for larger dolls.

Candle Burning Book ...what purposes are they talking about?!

Goat's Head....draw your own conclusions here! Eeeek!

Little old bottles filled with herbs....and such $20 each

Victorian Boots.....perhaps worn by a witch once upon a time!

Crystal's library is quite large, and kind of scary. Be forewarned!

Full Mount Taxidermy Raccoon with Spike Collar

To find out more about Gothic Rose Antiques, please visit her website here. I have given a somewhat tame smattering of the very large inventory to be found on Crystal's site. Crystal is a collector of things such as Victorian taxidermy, vintage jewelry of sometimes ghoulish design, books that are sometimes enchanting and sometimes sinister, photos of the bizarre such as sideshow freaks and mortuary portraits, skulls human and otherwise, old weaponry, costumes and masks, and other strange things best left unmentioned. So if you are intrigued, there are many more wonderful and wicked things to see.

Crystal also has a blog sure to capture your imagination. Stop in and leave a comment or two....if you dare.

All photos courtesy of Gothic Rose Antiques blog and website