If I was perusing a Parisian flea market and came across this guy, I think I would consider it a very Amelie moment. I don't expect you to watch all nine minutes, but if you do get past the first couple, you'll also see some fun collectibles that will make you wish you were shopping there right now.
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Perhaps it's odd that in a film so concentrated on color, this short black-and-white scene should be my favorite cinematic moment. It's also my favorite realistic moment; I swear that could have been my dad winning the marbles, and receiving "the pinch." It's perfectly nostalgic.
(Technically, can a realistic moment also be nostalgic?)
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aka The Things I Might Have Blogged About If It Wasn't Amelie Week:
01. Lauren & Whitney's Parisian ensembles were tres chic. Especially Whitney.
02. JCP finally makes a shirt that might be worthy of its cool ad campaign.
03. Methinks these are kind of cute. In brown.
04. These little bugs are pure fun. KJL does it again!
05. Revisiting these magnificent quilts.
06. Cute dresses and things and nice music at Shumaq.
07. Daddy Braddy and Mommy Maeve. (Welcome little Miles! I love your hair.)
08. I love all of Haik Kocharian's photos but especially this one.
09. I daresay a church party never looked so cute as Jordan's.
10. I liked to look out into blogland and wonder how many of us might have been watching Amelie at exactly the same time. I hope more than fifteen. Especially you, Alyson and Ann.
p.s. I think I have some more Amelie for next week. I didn't have time to get it all in. And yes, there will be more movie weeks to come. Thank you for your comments and for sharing your stories. I loved reading them.
p.p.s. Now I've got to catch up on all of you. I'm terribly behind.
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Funny that the latest Anthropologie home book to arrive in my mailbox should remind me so much of the Glass Man's all-soft apartment. (And also a little of the Science of Sleep aesthetic.)
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These little lip tins are out of Madrid, but they look like something Amelie might keep in her vanity or in her pocket. Plus, their Art Nouveau-esque styling mirrors that of the treasure box she gives to Mr. Bredoteau. Or was it Bretodeau?
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Marks of Amelie's childhood, and probably yours too. That Blubber (the goldfish) part makes me laugh, and then kind of breaks my heart.
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Her charming bedroom with her friends, the paintings. Artist Michael Sowa is responsible for the the pieces above her bed, and he created the lampstand pig and crocodile. You can get your own "Filmhound" or "Fowl With Pearls" or find new Sowa favorites here or here or here.
Or buy his book here.
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I've always liked this song with its pensive-yet-playful, melancholy tune. I also like seeing it played by this person with lovely hands.
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Found a little Amelie-ishness in my own Flickr account. These bring together the film's signature colors of red and green, with a touch of lace complementing almost every pane of glass.
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I haven't stepped inside enough Parisian apartments to know if this is truly the case, but in Amelie, everyone (the leading lady, her father ... even the Glass Man) has colorful colanders hanging on their kitchen walls.
They're kind of like these from Reston Lloyd.
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I don't see her doing much shopping, but I do see her wearing this Lithe top. Perhaps with a mini red cardigan. Nothing too fussy, but still feminine.
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I love Amelie. You love Amelie. So why not dedicate a whole week to breaking down its aesthetic, its beauty, its humor ... maybe we'll even dabble in its very essence. This week at A+C, it's all about Amelie: things we love about it, and things that will remind us of it. Simply because the film is both inspired and inspiring, and never seems to gets old.
I hope we have fun. I hope this is a good idea. Feel free to write in with suggestions to alilovescurtis at gmail dot com.
For starters, Delta is booking direct flights to Paris from my hometown of SLC beginning June 2. Salt Lakers, you can schedule your non-stop trip on Delta Flight 170 right here. You can be skipping up the steps at Montmartre before you know it.
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I think I am the last to discover Lush Bella. Better late than never. I love these framed works. One of the butterflies was cut from a German student's pathology notebook. A detail/story like that makes it so much more interesting.
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Help! I've always been loyal to Sandy Cohen but all of a sudden Keith Mars is inching toward the top of my list of Best TV Dads. (Yes, we've bought and are viewing all three seasons of Veronica Mars.) I wonder who would win in an arm wrestle. Probably Bill Cosby.
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Cute, semi-fancy things in gray and green at French Connection. If only I had the mile-long legs for that voluminous coat.
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I'm adoring the sweet, melancholy sound of "I Adore You" by Melpo Mene. Maybe you've heard it in the new Volvo ads. Album coming soon....
Our baby needs a new owner. C and I have put our cute little (well, not too little) condominium up for sale in preparation for our pending move to the East Coast. We have loved making this space ours and we're sad to let go of our very first place. We never even outgrew it. I think we'd stay here for a couple more years if we didn't have to change zip codes this summer.
If anyone has a friend/neighbor/cousin/uncle/uncle's dog looking for a nice, newish 2-bed, 2-bath condo (pool included!) in Salt Lake City with a massive kitchen and sizey closets and mountain views, perchance you could pass along a link to this blog?
Thanks, friends!
p.s. This is me feeling very golden yellow, which I love because ours feels big and warm and bright. I'm also feeling a bit exposed. Am blushing and I haven't even posted this yet. Didn't realize I was so private.
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Perchance you weren't here when I proclaimed my love for Bianca and Family. I still like to stop by, if only to get kid-size vintage chair inspiration. Or to decide whether or not I really need an antique toy cash register or adorable miniature kitchen, which would make a great photo backdrop/subject.
Or this wonderful garland I haven't stopped thinking about.
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C and I had to make a run to Pier 1 last night. I kinda liked these foo dogs (as pictured in the latest catalog). These tumblers were nice too. And also this pillow. And also this other pillow that I can't find a photo of, but let's just say that this gorgeous pillow had to have been its inspiration.
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Over the past week I've logged quite a few hours listening to these albums from Spoon and Vampire Weekend. Inventive yet classic. Rockin' but poppy. Sometimes the Stones, sometimes Paul Simon. Best when listened to from beginning to end, and then listened to again. The both of them.
My compliments to C for helping me get back to my roots.
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Thanks to this gal's insightful comment, I got to see these pretty photos by Deborah Paauwe: dream-like, delicate, romantic, rosy. Also styled quite impeccably.
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Spring is just around the corner. I think I can feel it. Mon Petit Oiseau has definitely caught the bug. I adore that sweet pink getup, and its accompanying blossoms.
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OK. Maybe I take it back. Now look at this one by Kate Quinn. I wonder if it comes in my size?
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These two pretties sit side by side in my flickr favorites. I can't help but think they complement one another in some way.
left: "one time too many" by aprilvg
right: "redshoes" by manuelauster
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Photo called Reviens from Cuquix.
01. Her other project.
02. Lisa's flea market finds.
03. Catching up on Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea, like a true nerd.
04. Sharing the limelight with my pal Al at Auburn & Ivory. (Actually last week.)
05. Chelsea spied the whimsy of this photographer. Immediately enchanted.
06. Flat Stanley is the best idea!
07. Look at her collection of Anthropologie catalogs.
08. I made her day and she likes me too. Thank you, ladies.
09. Ephemera!
10. Everyone loves Pocky! I was so behind. Now I gotta find the giant kind.
11. I'm loving the looks of my Flickr favorites. Funny how they look like they belong together. I want to bind them into a coffee table book, just for me.
12. This is right up my alley.
13. Snow, then sun, then snow ... and now sun.
Make it a good one. This week has been a little too busy for my taste, and I'm not sad to see it go.
xo. ali
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The Mount, Edith Wharton's beloved respite, is slated for foreclosure. I'm a fan of both preserving historical landmarks (like this) and literary-and-juicy novels like "The Age of Innocence." If you are too, you should make a donation over here.
These are some favorite photos from Flickr users found here, here, here, here and here.
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I'm not one to get too excited about vehicles, but the interior of the Volvo V50 seriously makes me giddy. C is obsessed with Volvos; I can't believe he hasn't shown me this oh-so-sexy console. I would have been sold on the spot. It's almost better than a piece of Danish furniture. (And aren't Volvos Swedish, anyway?)
Yes, please ... someday.
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Perhaps my favorite baby onesies of all time, brought to you (us) by Red Cap Cards. I will let them speak for themselves.
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Anyone ever tried Pocky? I spied the Japanese treat at my local grocer and picked it up because it looked cute. Turns out it tastes pretty good, too. I'm going to try chocolate next time.
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Once the sun decides to stay out for good, you had better believe I'll be pulling on one of these glamorous beauties, along with my 75 spf. Sorry, Coco Chanel. Tans aren't for me. Neither is skin cancer.
Clockwise from top left:
setting sun hat
sun & shade hat
dune hat
stitched floppy hat
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(photo by Shannon Fagan)
I'm eyeing these ones: understatedly stylish without losing all practicality. I can't stop thinking about Faryl Robin ever since I spied these red pretties on sale, which are neither understated nor practical, but 100 percent awesome. Maybe even fierce, to quote Christian. And Tyra.
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Just a handful of silhouettes to admire from Charlotte Ronson's spring line. I had a hard time choosing just five. I'm loving the versatility of all the separates. And, me oh my, check out the summery shoes, too.
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I never thought I'd live to see the day when an image like this would make its way onto the J.Crew homepage. What ever happened to their signature East Coast cottage with weathered shingles and all the plaid pajamas and seersucker shorts you could handle ... with a Cape Cod beach scene in the background?
Though unexpected, the Kaufmann Desert House is never a bad pick. Good move, J.Crew.
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Hurrah that so many of M. Sasek's "This Is" books have been reissued. I would also love to see some of his artwork reproduced as prints. Wouldn't they be great decorating your walls? Here are some favorites ... if I had my pick(s).
Right now, I'm also feeling like tracking down a 1969 copy of this one. I'll be needing it.
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I love how a celebrity like Keira Knightley transforms through the lens of Clare Shilland. My compliments to the amazing photographer. Go pilfer through her site; you'll see there are too many beauties to choose a favorite.
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At our hotel we were given Red Flower's soap and body wash, and it was love and first sniff; good news to my very particular nose. Like a good patron, I took all of the scented goods from my room home with me. Now I smell like Icelandic Moonflower (arctic river flower, sea rocket, cassiope, boronia, apple blossom, freesia and moonflower). Mmmm.
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The crush I have on Small magazine is anything but mini. Right now, I'm loving photography by Steve Visneau for the "Spring is in the Air" photospread.
p.s. Check out ONEiTY's red sateen dress on page 42. Right now it's a steal at $15.
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I picked up Jonathan Lethem's "The Fortress of Solitude" a couple days ago, and started turning the pages. I was hooked at the opening paragraph, because of writing like this, with imagery so strong that I wish I knew how to adapt it and make a supershort film.
I've always wanted one of these but have yet to purchase one. I love its see-through clarity as well as its dome-style shape, ensuring absolute coverage without blocking my peripherals. (I have a hard enough time getting around in the rain, as it is.) I really could have used this one during Saturday's rain-turned-snow storm. And it's only $15.
