IF IT'S TUESDAY: The Greek Islands

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS

Original Photography & Artwork [BeingRuby©]

Little Venice: Mykonos and Samos Port

Artwork includes a combination of Kim Klassen & my own textures

Paris: A Little Bit Frou Frou

Montmartre

The clever and talented Anita from Castles, Crowns & Cottages is having a blog-hop to share what it is you find most irresistible about Paris. Well for me it is many things.. but my first interest in Paris was Montmartre.  Home to the Moulin Rouge and the colourful  dance, music and art that was born of this district in the late 1800 and early 1900's. 

My first introduction to Paris most likely came via the 1952 version of the film Moulin Rouge. A vivid account of the life of Toulouse-Laurtrec and the art he created during his years frequenting establishments such as the Moulin Rouge and Le Chat Noir. It is his Poster Art that I found most fascinating.. simple yet powerful depictions of the flamboyant lifestyle of this period. Images of white frilled blouses, slim black chokers and the ruffled skirts of the Can Can come to mind.. Or the Parisian elite decked out in their finery and rubbing shoulders with the local riff-raff. Bold simple art that convey the vivacious history of Montmartre.

Of course the area's architecture and landscape is just as memorable. The narrow winding alleyways and never ending staircases that climb to the highest peak, culminating in sweeping view over the rooftops, chimney pots and orderly windows of Paris.  Yes Montmartre has much to offer.. 

So to join the party today .. I thought I'd create some Poster Art of my own,  created from my own photos of Montmartre and some of the postcards I bought there on my first trip to Paris. I do hope the original artists [rest their souls] will forgive me for altering their work.. Seemed fitting to go with that ballet slipper pink that comes to mind when thinking of Paris..

Thanks Dear Anita for hosting this Parisian Adventure

If you hop over to Anita's blog you will find others who are sharing 'Irresistible Paris' with you

Have A Great Weekend Everyone

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS

Original Vintage Poster Art

Le Frou Frou: Lucien-Henri Weiluc

Le Chat Noir: Artist Unknown

Confetti: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Divan Japonais: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

[alterations by BeingRuby©]

Original Photography & Artwork [BeingRuby©]

Rooftops of Montmartre

Parisian Windows

Sacre Coeur

The Stairs at La Foyatier

On Another Note

Seems my internet woes are not over yet - 'I must be a Dodo' [another aussie joke]. Also Blogger has once again 'bloggered me'.  Apparently some of you. like me..  are having trouble with leaving and receiving comments..  Let's hope that sorts itself out soon.

Sea of Solitude

Sea of Solitude

Hi Everyone.. Thanks for popping in.. I only have time for a quick post today so thought I'd show you a few more shots from last week's full moon and a day shot of one of the many piers dotting the bay near my home.. 

As much as I love  a rough and tumble sea.. I also enjoy it's quieter moments..  still and glassy waters.. the rhythmic lapping at the shoreline... slow and repetitive it quietens the mind and restores the spirit.. when things get a bit hectic for me.. this is where you will find me...

Beautiful by day.. and majestic by the light of a full moon  

[to see other 'moonshine'  shots click here]

[Texture Tuesday]

This week's Texture Tuesday Challenge is to use Kim Klassen's latest texture 'Yesteryear'. Which is just what I have done in each of these shots ..  I'm thinking these barnacles are feeling right at home with it..   If you would like to see more Texture Tuesday's Entries, pop over to Kim's blog ...   [Kim Klassen Cafe]

Have A Lovely Week Everyone

Image Source & Credits

All Photgraphy, Text & Artwork [BeingRuby©]

To The Moon Alice: May 2011

To The Moon Alice

May 2011

Ok I don't really want to 'spoon with you'  but I will share some moon gazing with you. It's time again to dream upon a full moon. I know I'm a little late.. still a little under the weather but that didn't stop me braving the chill air to bring you some shots 'by moonlight'.

La Bella Luna has been spectacular these last few months.. perhaps making up for all the month's she was hidden behind the clouds... and last night she outdid herself, casting a silvery glow upon all in her path... Absolute magic!  A rain of silver splinters falling from heaven.. I do believe she was sharing a little of herself with us... 

The last three shots are 'moonshine'. The local sea baths shot by the light of 'The Silvery Moon'..  The most mundane structures become magic under her gaze... Hope that magic rubs off on me!!

Have A Wonderful Week Everyone

And thank you for your kind birthday wishes

If anyone would like to join in on the Moon Madness I'll put the linky up

Image Source & Credits

All Photgraphy, Text & Artwork [BeingRuby©]

.

Mamma & The Magic Teapot

Like her mother before her, my mamma pinned all her hopes and dreams on her children.. She hoped they would have happy lives and dreamt they would find love, adventure and their own creative spirit.  And like all good mothers, she nurtured our imagination and taught us we could do anything we put our minds too..

I always imagined my mamma came from a wealthy family.. The faded snapshots documenting her youth spoke of  finely dressed youth from rambling homes with backyard tennis courts and suburb size parcels of lands as summer hideaways. But those were the homes of her school friends and buddies. Her own beginnings were much more humble. She grew up in the modest quarters above the local Fire Station which my grandfather commanded. A modest life with simple needs, scant of wealth, but rich  with honour, respect and tradition.. And as such my mamma lived in two worlds.. her own simple life and the life of luxury belonging to her friends.

As fate would have it she married a working class man of working class dreams.. and the riches and luxuries would be stored in the cupboard with inherited treasures from my grandmothers home. As a child this was my favourite playtime.. As my mother pottered in the kitchen rustling up the family meal.. I would play in the world of make believe.. rummaging through the heavy old sideboard to unearth imagined treasures of a life of luxury... The sideboard was choked with all manner of mysteries.. and although I had done this a thousand times before, each find would seem new and thrilling and bespoke of a glamourous life of worldly riches and adventure. Whereas in fact it was just the old tarnished silver and dusty damask tablecloths crammed in tight behind the other bits and bobs of a busy family.

The silver treasures were always my favourites .. Old tarnished flatware and vessels of little importance became new and shiny with a little applied industry. A symbolic ritual becoming an adventure to a child's imagination. Flatware and vases would speak of glamour and luxury... the opulence of the forties and the privileged lives of the stars  of the silver screen.  Luxurious sitting rooms with velvet ottomans would play in front of my mind..  and women with satin gowns and perfectly applied  finger-waves would arrange soft scented roses on silver trays and serve afternoon tea from beautifully engraved vessels..  Yes this was where my child's imagination would roam whilst my mother quietly cooked the humble meal for an everyday family.

My favourite treasure of all was the large silver teapot.. Such a curious shape and prettily applied markings spoke of mysterious lands with turreted rooftops. Too many pirate movies had me convinced it was a magical lantern.. and vigorous polishing would reveal a frightening genie.. his loud and thunderous voice belying his gentle intentions to grant my wishes. I would be transported to exotic lands and luxurious destinations and the silverware would glimmer a little brighter reflecting the light from a child's happy eyes. All too soon playtime would be over and my world would return to the wallpaper walls of the family dining room.. The treasures would be jammed haphazardly back into the cupboard sitting in waiting for the next adventure. My mother would smile as she set the table, knowing her humble dining room was really an opulent salon filled with silver treasures from faraway places.

... Dedicated to my Mum ... 

&  Katherine who requested a silver post...

[Texture Tuesday]

All images except #5&7 use a combination of Kim Klassen;s texutres 'Love' & 'Luminous'

Pop over and view other Texture Tuesday's Entries at Kim's blog ...  'Kim Klassen Cafe' 

[Silver Sunday]

I'm also linking up with the generous Beth from Gypsy Fish Journal.. for Silver Sunday

Thanks ladies for hosting!!

Giveaway Update

I've had a bit of a crazy week and very little internet access so completely forgot about my giveaway.  So think I'll leave it open until midnight Tuesday [May 10th: Sydney Time]. Hopefully that'll give me time to figure out how to put the comment count back in my format.. 

Wishing You All A Beautiful Week

Image Source & Credits

Vintage photo from my family library & restored by [BeingRuby©]

All other Photgraphy, Text & Artwork [BeingRuby©]