Les Arts Décoratifs

I've talked about the Art Décoratifs museum here before and I have been many times between now and then. I've been craving for more Art lately, I've been feeling the urge of going to museums. They are my safe place, there is nothing I love more than the quietness of a museum and its smell, the smell of carefully polished wooden floor, if it's creaking, it's even better. I like the Arts Décoratifs museum (beside the fact of what's in it) because it's never busy, I can walk around the rooms and have it all for myself, I can imagine stories, the life of those people who lived with those objects and pieces of furniture, I can imagine what it would be like to live in a 1920's modern, design flat...

As much as Art is a reflection of a time and its society, objects, furniture, interiors interest me even more. I love to know how people use to live, what they used, how they used it, what their days were like, it fascinates me. I have a nostalgia for time past. And more specifically I will go anywhere I can see some Art Deco.

Golden hour

Back from the dead

Since the last time I've been on this blog, I could almost say on the Internet full stop, I had my mother in law visiting, went to London for my best friend's wedding, I worked a six day week, saw Jack White live twice, carried on working the following week as normal with the flu and I have been napping ever since as it seems I cannot catch up on very much needed sleep time. I can now fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Except in my bed at 4am. Obviously. I have also managed to get a few days off work for a very much needed trip to Brittany and the seaside in August, spent too much money in American Apparel, considering spending far too much money in my own shop - do I need a 275€ midi length leather skirt? Even though it's absolutely stunning and perfect? - and I have been thinking about carrier moves and about the fact that I love fashion more and more lately, I'm excited by it again. I think the previews of the coming collections have something to do with it.

What have you been up too?

Indiens des Plaines

I am finally back as promised with a subject dear to my heart, Native Americans. For as long as I can remember, I've always been fascinated with and in awe of Native American art and culture. Though I should say only art as I didn't know much about their actual culture when I was a kid, all I knew is that the Katchina dolls were the most beautiful things. My parents had a book at home about the Katchinas, a big beautifully printed art book, it was my favourite as a kid. So much so that one afternoon my mum made a little Indian rag doll, I still have it to this day, and it is one of my most precious belongings. For a long time my love for those tribes stayed somewhere in my heart, they were dear to me without really knowing why or even researching to know more. 

A little over a year ago now, we stumbled upon an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London of George Catlin's paintings. Catlin travelled and lived with several Native American tribes over the years and painted scenes of everyday life and portraits of tribal Chiefs. He might not be the most incredible of painters, but his portraits are beautiful and more importantly, one of the very few traces we have of those people. He also kept a sort of diary in the form of letters. He knew how important it was to keep a written trace of it all, he knew they were not going to last. His letters are pleas for the White man to understand that Native Americans were not savages, that they were cultured and civilised in a different way. His writings are also a trace of their rituals, their games, their beliefs and their way of life. As a painter he was considered "magic" and was as highly regarded as a Medicine Man by the tribes. It's the highest rank alongside the Chief. That gave him the right to sit and watch secret rituals, some of which were of incredible violence towards one's self. Warriors, to be worthy, were physically tested and put through what was clearly torture. He describes them as proud, brave and strong men with an incredible will and self-control. Far from the drunk, blood-thirsty savage image White people had of them at the time. I couldn't recommend his book , North American Indians, enough if you're interested on the subject, it's an insightful and loving account of who they were, in all their diversity, each tribe being different (some of them were indeed violent warriors, whereas others were completely peaceful. As you can imagine the latter were the first to become extinct.)

All this was a long introduction to the Paris exhibit at the Musée du Quai Branly, Indiens des Plaines. The exhibit doesn't really mention Caitlin, only one of his portraits is featured, as it's all about Native American artefacts. And it's beautiful. It was extremely busy when we went (the first Sunday of the month is free) and we were frustratingly squished between people at the beginning until you arrive in a vast room filled with clothes, objects, weapons, pipes, musical instruments, buffalo skins and magnificent headdresses. Their everyday life objects were all crafted with such care and skill, the bead works aren't famous for nothing!

I had a very special thing for the tambourine with the swallows painted on. They look similar to the one I drew for my tattoo (that gave the name to the blog). I really want to get of those tattooed as well, and have in a way my own Native American tattoo.

It's been too long

"It's been too long" is the first thing I said to Rhys the other night. I hadn't seen The Horrors in such a long time, I actually can't remember when was the last time, but it definitely had been too long. I enjoy seeing them live every single time, they never disappoint. They are definitely in my top three favourites (I cannot chose between them, The Kills and Jack White - that includes any of his 50 bands). You'll excuse the quality of the photos, Iphone and drunk are not a good combination (not a good combination for next morning either)

Sorry about the lack of follow up after last week's post, more about Native Americans is coming, I just need to go through so many photos and edit them first and I must say that between work, commuting, exercising (I never thought I would say that, but I love it) and watching Downton Abbey, ahem, yes I'm addicted, time for blogging is hard to find.

Meanwhile you can listen to Luminous here.

Moving In

We've got the keys to our flat. Busy week ahead, we are moving in Sunday, so exciting!

Studio living

All pictures are by Hilda Grahnat. I do not own the rights, please visit a wonderful blog.

So we are searching for a flat in Paris. We settled on a studio rather than two rooms, simply because we can't afford a big place and one big bright room makes more sense than two cramped small rooms. We saw a place on Tuesday evening and we want it, we've been waiting to hear back - paperwork and all is as usual a joy, France administration has a serious problem - and we are anxious. We want to move on with our lives and for the first time - we are going to celebrate our two years anniversary in a few month ahem - have a place of our own. Sure we are living just the two of us right now, in a 12 square meters room with a shower, a table, a bed and a sink. Toilets are shared with the other rooms on the floor. Ah the charm of Parisian life. So yes, the flat would be good, the kitchen is tiny, the bathroom is tiny, but the main room is bright and clean, with three windows and a view. And a lift, those seven floors here are soon going to be the death of me!

Now that we saw a place, we are starting to mentaly furnish it. The kitchen is fitted so no need to worry about a fridge and hob, no oven though. So it's all about the main living space. We want to keep it minimalist with clean shapes and cuts but we also want to thrift for chairs and a table. When I think of furnishing a small space I think of Hilda's beautiful place. I've been reading her blog for so long now - I think it was even before I moved to London four years ago - and I always loved her flat. I'm ready to move in. I love the feel of it and I want to have that feel in our flat. We are planning on investing in a sofa bed to make a big living room out of the room, somewhere we can have people coming around, somewhere we don't feel like we are living in our bedroom. Oh and the light coming in! I really hope we are getting it. Meanwhile I'll keep looking up for inspiration. Any tips on furnishing a small space?

Birds and flowers

Life seems to be slowly falling into places. Very slowly as we still don't have a flat, but I guess the main reason – besides the fact it's the hardest thing to do in Paris – is that we needed to figure out if that's what we wanted, if we wanted to stay here. It seems that for now it is, work is giving me opportunities I'm quite exited about so I'm curious to try that path into the fashion industry before going to our farm dreams. People sometimes laugh when I talk about that, it's the last thing they expect, but then I talk about the ocean, the salty air and the fields and they understand. I still wish I could have it all, a couple weeks in Paris, a couple weeks in London, a couple weeks in Brittany. I must remember to buy a euromillion ticket tomorrow...

The pictures are from last weekend at the bird and flower market near Saint-Michel on l'île de la Cité. It is no Colombia Road though, and the birds in cages were just too sad. I love birds too much to have them in a cage.

Musée de Cluny

Before leaving for London, I lived for a few years very close to the Cluny museum in Paris, which is about Middle Ages, and I only went once. In my memory it was huge, I felt like it took us hours to see everything, now that I've been back I really don't know why. I love wandering through those old stone rooms, I love castles and I do like medieval art. I'm all about animal protection and I am horrified by any violence against them, still I am amazed by the ivory sculptures from medieval times, they are so incredibly detailed. But the masterpiece of the museum is The Lady and the Unicorn six tapestries. They are an incredible work of precision, patience (they are huge) and skill. They represent the five senses, hearing, smell, taste, touch and sight. The sixth one is a mystery, it's called Mon Seul Désir, my only desire. I apologise for the poor quality of the picture but as you can imagine they are in dark rooms to protect them from the light.

I am not good with words tonight, I've been up since 6.30am and I manage to fall going up the stairs at work. Yes, going up. Carrying a glass vase. All is well, for the vase at least, but my knee and my shoulder should soon change colours. So I'm off for food and a drink to cheer me up!