Charles Cushman

I heard a fascinating story today on NPR about amateur photographer Charles Cushman.  Charles was an Indiana native who loved to travel and take color photos- in the 1940's!  He was an ardent user of Kodachrome, one of the world's first color films, which at the time was extremely expensive and hard to come by.  His 14,500 (!) photograph slides were bequeathed to the college from which he graduated, Indiana University, upon his death in 1972.  An excerpt from Mail Online about his New York City photos reads:  

He went around the city taking photos of architecture such as the Brooklyn Bridge and other parts of the Manhattan skyline - and it’s hard to believe they were taken while World War Two was going on. But what is even more intriguing are the street scenes and daily life Cushman documented in his photos, showing 1940s New Yorkers going about their daily business.  The images are even more significant at a time when Americans are remembering the fallen World Trade Center, showing that a city ultimately transcends its buildings.

Here are some of my favorites: Enjoy!

Plus, a story about photographer Steve McCurry: he heard Kodak was going to discontinue Kodachrome, and asked for the last roll of film.  They gave it to him, and you can read about his trip east and see the photos here. 

Midsummer Opens Tomorrow!

Hello All!  A Midsummer Night's Dream opens tomorrow at the Columbus Commons and runs through September 23.  All performances are at 7:30 and entrance is by donation.  Here are some pictures that were taken at last night's dress rehearsal by the wonderful Dale Bush.  Hope to see you there!  

 

 

 

Wedding Dress Shopping

Yesterday my mama, sister and future mother in law went wedding dress shopping with me.  It was a whirlwind of a day, and while overwhelming at times, I was so happy to have the three of them there to share in the ups and downs of the (surprisingly) emotional process that is gown shopping.  Above is a photo my sister snapped of my ring:)  

First stop was Wendy's Bridal in Dublin, where I worked with an amazing consultant named Lila who was extremely helpful and kind.  I was so glad for her guidance- when I walked in, I was feeling anxious about finding the perfect dress.  I had seen some vintage dresses I liked online, but I wasn't able to find anything similar at the salon.  Lila helped me to narrow my choices, and in the end, she picked the dress that was the clear winner.  It was a beautiful ivory lace sheath dress from Allure with a cafe silk charmuse slip underneath.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I have never felt so beautiful and comfortable at the same time!  I truly love the dress, and it is a frontrunner for sure!  Such amazing fabrics and attention to detail.  It looks similar to the dress below, but without the beaded sash.  (I won't be posting any of my real choices just in case you-know-who finds them!)

But I wanted to be sure it is the one for me, so on we went to appointment number two at David's Bridal.  Unfortunately they didn't have the two dresses I really wanted to try- we found out upon arrival that they had been discontinued- but we found some similar dresses and my consultant picked a lovely strapless ballgown with ferns embroidered on the bodice.  It was the best dress of the appointment, but I didn't get that same wow feeling that I got in the lace sheath dress.  (Ok, this one you can see.)

 I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and dissapointed that I didn't walk away with a dress, but my family was good to remind me that we had a fair amount of time (a little over a year!) and that all would be well.  My mom has found some other shops for us to try, and there's a dress online that I really love that looks similar to this one I found on Etsy:

And I know that there's a lovely lace number waiting for me at Wendy's if I find I can't get it out of my mind:)

In the mean time- here is a sneak peak at our engagement photos, taken by our amazingly talented friend Amy Parrish!

Falling for Hemingway

 

There's something about the crisp air of fall that makes me want to curl up in a knit sweater while reading A Farewell to Arms.  While Arms is not in itself autumnal, Hemingway's rustic and masculine style put me in the mindset of wilderness and bonfires, and to me that is fall.  I think it's the way you can practically breathe the fresh air Hemingway's characters are breathing through his words.  His writing has always struck me as rugged, honest: it smolders like a campfire.  And his love for cats moves him even further up on my list for sure.

Here are some fall fashions that have me thinking of Ernest and that first cool days of autumn...

 Yves St. Laurent

 

Mulberry

Madewell

  J. Crew

 

Uniqlo

 Hunter

 Maison Scotch

 Mango

Happy Fall.

1. Brain Pickings  2. Simon & Schuster  3. Easy & Elegant Life

A Snowboarding Crow, and Other Such Tales

A new friend and I had a conversation not long ago about crows laughing.  This got me thinking about what crows (and other animals) might do for fun: here's what I found.

Snowboarding!

Lifting! (Watch for the surprise ending!)

Puzzles!

Play Ball!

 

 

And sometimes they just want to hang out and be loved on:)

 

An Ode to Boots

 

Let me start by saying that boots are my absolute favorite footwear.  In a good pair of boots, I feel I can go anywhere.  I own a fair amount, my favorite pairs being lucky finds: a pair of perfectly distressed brown Frye boots- which were not only on clearance but also the last pair AND in my size, and a pair of green vintage mens Hunter boots.  

This last pair I keep by our back door, soldiers at the ready for when I feel like exploring our small wooded wilderness.  While I was lifting them up today so that I might vacuum beneath them, I realized how underutilized they have been this summer.  This I plan to rectify as soon as possible with a jaunt in our creek.  

 

And now that fall is around the corner, I am looking forward to donning boots on a more regular basis.  Mostly I like to wear them over skinny jeans and cords, but they are so charming with colored tights or textured over-the-knee socks as well.

Do you have any trusty pairs of go anywhere shoes?  Are there any pairs you are looking forward to getting this fall?  I am enamored with the Turkish embroidered boots at Karavan, a store in the Short North of Columbus.  They are so wild!  I think they would look great with black tights or over dark wash jeans:)

1. Vintage Engineer Boots  2. Bohemian Season  3. WASP 101  4. indulgy  
5. Treasures of Istanbul 

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hello!  It has been a hectic summer, what with two shows, working full time and trying to carve out hours to spend with friends and family.  I finished up Scapin and King Lear on August 11, and on August 12 started rehearsals for my next show, A Midsummer Night's Dream (I feel tired just typing that!). The show will be at the outdoor- and newly renovated- Columbus Commons.  Autumn seems to be nudging in already, so the nights should be cool and comfortable.  I wanted to share some inspirational pictures I found: they are so ethereal and full of life:) Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Couldn't you see these beautiful women playing Hermia and Helena?  Love their dance costumes.

 

 Plus, check out this belt buckle from Penelope's Cauldron!  It has a monologue from Puck on it.

I can picture one of the fairies wearing this dress by Colorada.

 

1. Reilly 2001  2. Or What You Will  3. The Untended Garden  4.  SiLive  
5. and 7. Oberon's Grove  6. Wikipedia's definition for Helena