{Jessie Willcox Smith}

Jessie Wilcox Smith (1863-1935) is one of my favourite artist, i specially love her artworks of mothers and daughters. She was an United States Illustrator famous for her works in women´s magazine and books for childrens. Jessie was among the most gifted of the students of Howard Pyle, and she took to heart his precept of (loosely put) studying a particular subject thoroughly, and conversely, painting what one knows best in order to bring the subject alive. Quite early, she settled on exploring the universe of the child, and did so with great sensitivity and tenderness over the first 30 years of this century.

           Her mature work in no way resembles her teacher's, but bears more affinity to that of Edward Penfield and Toulouse-Lautrec and other poster artists, echoing the contemporary graphic approach with its emphasis on a spare but expressive charcoal line, somewhere between the fluidity of Art Nouveau and the boxiness of the Arts & Crafts movement. This style, together with excellent draughtsmanship, and her strongly designed compositions, (often unusual because of their view from the child's perspective) inspired a school of followers. Smith worked most comfortably with charcoal, often adding watercolor washes, occasionally varnishing over the drawing to add highlights in oil.

            Smith was a prolific book illustrator, and remarkably, many of these beautiful volumes are in print today, probably bought as much for adults' nostalgia as for their relevance to children. Her magazine covers, given little attention by her bibliographer Edward Nudelman, are no less important. Like her illustrations of verse, they tend to depict quintessential moments of childhood: playing with blocks, fear of the dark, etc., so they function quite well as pictures apart from their original connection with text. Through her pictures of children, whether illustrations for fairy tales or of simple domestic scenes, Smith changed and enlarged the appreciation of children in American popular culture by her enormously sympathetic portrayals.
Look her work:

{Good Bye Sahara of Las Vegas}

The Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas has closed, slated for demolition or re-brand and extensive re-model. While perhaps not quite as retro-cool as The Sands or The Dunes, the Sahara still exemplified the “Vegas Baby” vibe of the 50s and 60s and hosted numerous A-list performers including members of the legendary “Rat Pack.”

                   Here is a walk down Memory Strip, with some nostalgic photos of a bygone era. Unless otherwise noted, these photographs are from the Nevada News Bureau archives.

{Coffea Tools for Only Cofffea Lovers}

-Home Coffea Roasting:

Wabash Valley Farms 25008 Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
$21,99. By Wabash Valley Farms Link here.

Roasts up to 1/3 Lb of beans in 20-30 minutes,
Catalytic technology significantly reduces smoke and odor, $139,00 Link here.

High-grade steel burrs for a uniform grind every time. $79,00. Link here.
-Bean Griding.

Nespresso® CitiZ & Milk Espresso Machine, Silver Chrome

$349,00. Link here.

Coffee maker, 3 cup, 0.35 l, 12 oz Shiny.$23,00.

Link here.

{Perfect Chinoisserie}

Image credits: Ny Magazine.

{What happened you, Norma Jean?}

I found this rare picture of Marilyn Monroe and I thought in share it with you. I think she was lovely and a great human. Reast in peace.

{Massimo Dutti 70s Revival Autumn Collection 2011}

{The Perfect Body Religion}

Credits: Conde Nast Archives.

{At the Set}

Grace Kelly talking with director Charles Walters at the set of "To Catch a Thief", in Cannes 1955.

{A Photography for Save}

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. " Oscar Wilde.

{A Day of Summer}