Tarnish

Tarnish is a thin layer that forms over copper, brass, silver, aluminum, and other semi-reactive metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish is mainly caused by chemicals in the air, such as sulfur. It often appears as a usually dull, gray or black film or coat over metal. Tarnish can easily be removed, however, and does not destroy the metal the way the oxidation process known as rust destroys iron. In the case of silver and copper, tarnish can actually preserve the underlying metal and may be considered desirable. Boiling water, aluminum foil, vinegar and baking soda work nicely. Smooth jazzy therapeutic.

Haiti Earthquake

Sitting in my Mother's cozy, safe, peaceful living room. Thinking of the people in Haiti in grey dust, rubble and aftershocks.

Colour Help Wanted

I have fallen hard for the colour of this Mexican Hotel. What paint colour (# + company) would be closest to this? I'm counting on all of you expert bloggers with a keen sharp eye for colour and friends out there who know their shades and hues! Hugs. (you can click to enlarge....isn't it fantastic!)

UPDATE #1: My Father has decided that the colour is PMS 1805. Thanks Dad! xo

UPDATE #2: I think it's pretty close to Benjamin Moore Salsa 2009-20 (paint swatch) or perhaps Tomato Red or Chili Red???

UPDATE #3: Pratt and Lambert's Chinese Red? (table top)

New Urbanism

Written By New Urban Mom:

In a nutshell “new urbanism” is rooted in the idea that cities are gathering places where residents and visitors alike live, work, run businesses and play in locations that are close to one another. Today, that means trying to reshape and bring life to older cities and newer suburban communities to make them more attractive and more accessible to everyone, especially pedestrians.
Here are the principles of new urbanism as spelled out by the folks at newurbanism.org:
1. Walkability
-Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work
-Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; porches, windows & doors; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; narrow, slow speed streets)
-Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases
2. Connectivity
-Interconnected street grid network disperses traffic & eases walking
-A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards, and alleys
-High quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable
3. Mixed-Use & Diversity
-A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings
-Diversity of people – of ages, income levels, cultures, and races
4. Mixed Housing
A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity
5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design
Emphasis on beauty, aesthetics, human comfort, and creating a sense of place; Special placement of civic uses and sites within community. Human scale architecture & beautiful surroundings nourish the human spirit
6. Traditional Neighborhood Structure
-Discernable center and edge-Public space at center-Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art-Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk-Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. The transect is an analytical system that conceptualizes mutually reinforcing elements, creating a series of specific natural habitats and/or urban lifestyle settings. The Transect integrates environmental methodology for habitat assessment with zoning methodology for community design. The professional boundary between the natural and man-made disappears, enabling environmentalists to assess thedesign of the human habitat and the urbanists to support the viability of nature. This urban-to-rural transect hierarchy has appropriate building and street types for each area along the continuum.
7. Increased Density
-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live.-New Urbanism design principles are applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities
8. Smart Transportation
-A network of high-quality trains connecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods together-Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation
9. Sustainability
-Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations-Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems-Energy efficiency-Less use of finite fuels-More local production-More walking, less driving
10. Quality of Life
Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.

BENEFITS OF NEW URBANISM

1. BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS
Higher quality of life;
Better places to live, work, & play;
Higher, more stable property values; Less traffic congestion & less driving;
Healthier lifestyle with more walking, and less stress;
Close proximity to main street retail & services;
Close proximity to bike trails, parks, and nature;
Pedestrian friendly communities offer more opportunities to get to know others in the neighborhood and town, resulting in meaningful relationships with more people, and a friendlier town;
More freedom and independence to children, elderly, and the poor in being able to get to jobs, recreation, and services without the need for a car or someone to drive them;
Great savings to residents and school boards in reduced busing costs from children being able to walk or bicycle to neighborhood schools; More diversity and smaller, unique shops and services with local owners who are involved in community; Big savings by driving less, and owning less cars;
Less ugly, congested sprawl to deal with daily;
Better sense of place and community identity with more unique architecture; More open space to enjoy that will remain open space;
More efficient use of tax money with less spent on spread out utilities and roads

2. BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES
Increased sales due to more foot traffic & people spending less on cars and gas;
More profits due to spending less on advertising and large signs;
Better lifestyle by living above shop in live-work units – saves the stressful & costly commute;
Economies of scale in marketing due to close proximity and cooperation with other local businesses;
Smaller spaces promote small local business incubation; Lower rents due to smaller spaces & smaller parking lots;
Healthier lifestyle due to more walking and being near healthier restaurants;
More community involvement from being part of community and knowing residents

Photos of Poundbury, England. New Urbanism Project by Prince Charles

Twitten: Are You Using One?

If you don't know what a 'Twitten' is then you better go to Race of Style to learn more. Huh. I did not know this until today. (bet you think it's about Twitter right?)

Photo Credit: LordDarcy

Howdah

I'm going to get myself a real one. Perhaps you should too. (I'm actually selling one. More about that tomorrow) A howdah is a carriage which is positioned on the back of an elephant, or occasionally some other animal, used most often in the past to carry wealthy people or for use in hunting or warfare. It was also a symbol of wealth for the owner, and as a result were decorated with expensive gems.

Solitary Vice

Masterbation Late 1800's. I present you this ancient text. It's no wonder we are still having issues today. (The Importance of Resolution 1888 to End Violence Against Women) Here goes...I laughed at the 'pinworms' part. (so much for all of us 'getting off' on hanging vintage medical illustrations and 1st dibs charts in our homes) Girl Power.

"As the reproductive system awakens to activity it naturally attracts the attention of the girl, and an effort should be made to call her thoughts to other themes. As I have said before, the reading of sensational love stories is most detrimental. The descriptions of passionate love scenes arouse in the reader a thrill through her own sexual organism that tends to increase its activity and derange its normal state. Girls often mature into women earlier than they should, because through romances, through jests of associates in regard to beaus and lovers, and through indulgence in sentimental fancies their sexual systems are unduly stimulated and aroused. This stimulation sometimes leads to the formation of an evil habit, known as self-abuse. The stimulation of the sex organs is accompanied with a pleasurable sensation, and this excitement may be created by mechanical means, or even by thought. Many girls who are victims of this most injurious habit are unaware of its dangers, although they instinctively feel that they do not want it known. Others who would not stoop to a mechanical exciting of themselves do so through thoughts, and do not know that they are just as truly guilty of self-abuse as the girl who uses the hand or other mechanical means. The results of self-abuse are most disastrous. It destroys mental power and memory, it blotches the complexion, dulls the eye, takes away the strength, and may even cause insanity. It is a habit most difficult to overcome, and may not only last for years, but in its tendency be transmitted to one's children. If you have from the first thought nobly of yourself, you will have fallen into no such debasing habit. But if, through ignorance, you have acquired it, how shall you overcome it? ....I therefore desire that you shall be wise. Every normal function of the body is attended with a pleasurable sensation. We enjoy eating, seeing, walking. Odors bring sensations which are agreeable, the sense of touch may give pleasure, and as we enjoy these sensations in fact, so we may enjoy them in memory or in imagination. We can recall the beauty of the rose, the perfume of the mignonette, the flavor of the orange, or we can imagine new combinations of these delights. We feel joy or grief through reading vivid descriptions, or we can ourselves create imaginary scenes in which we are actors, who suffer or enjoy. The reproductive system is the seat of great nervous susceptibility, and the excitation of these nerves gives a pleasurable sensation. This excitation may be thought a local mechanical irritation or it may bemental. In little children it may be caused by lack of cleanliness ofthe external organs. An irritation is produced, and an attempt to allay this by rubbing produces an agreeable feeling, which may be repeated until the evil habit of self-abuse is formed. Sometimes constipation, by creating a pelvic congestion, will have the same result. Sometimes clothing which is too small may, by undue pressure on the parts, call the thought of the child to these organs, and in an attempt to remove the pressure by pulling the clothing away the habit may be begun. Sometimes the tiny pin-worms in the rectum may wander into the vagina, and the little girl feel a constant annoyance, which rubbing allays temporarily, but which results in the evil habit of the use of the hands to produce an agreeable sensation." - What a Young Woman Ought to Know, (Sexual Ethics) Mary Wood-Allen - National Superintendent of the Purity Department

I Am Part of The Social Media Revolution: Are You?

I've got chills people! Turn up your speakers and welcome yourself to the future. Via the 'Blogebrity' Beach Bungalow 8 , Co-Founder of Blog Out Loud Events and of 'Skirted Roundtable' fame.

Mosaiculture

Mosaiculture is a horticultural form of expression which allows the creation of spectacular works of art to be made using living plants. In Mosaiculture, plants are not only selected for their colors or textures but to create designs, motifs, sculptures and reliefs. The magazine “Jardins de France” published by the National Society of Horticulture of France defines Mosaiculture as: “The art of composing drawings or sculptures with plants, using carefully maintained plants of different colors. In two dimensions forms the Mosaiculture portrays coats of arms, clocks, animals, characters, action scenes, objects, messages, geometric shapes or fantasy worlds. In three dimensions, the Mosaiculture has more volume giving further “life” to these forms. Mosaiculture is a complex art form with a multitude of aspects, borrowing structure and volume from sculpture; colors from an artist’s pallet; and from horticulture the use of the plants living in a dynamic environment”. Mosaiculture is an art for which the horticultural techniques are considered highly sophisticated and difficult to control. These techniques vary among cities and continents. The art of Mosaiculture is different to that of “topiary”. Topiary is a technique based solely on pruning. This technique uses a small tree or shrub (usually yew or boxwood) which is trimmed to make different shapes. Topiary consists only of one color; that of the shrub (usually green), and requires several years of pruning. Mosaiculture requires the use of several species and varieties of plants to create designs, patterns and effects. Mosaiculture plants must be of different colors to add contrast to the designs.

A work of 3D Mosaiculture is generally supported by a steel structure bent to create the desired shape.The plants used in the Mosaiculture must have several essential qualities:

1. They must be small and adapted to fit the scale of the Mosaiculture.

2. They must have either a rich foliage color (preferably other than green), or a long blooming period.

3. They must be able to withstand regular pruning.

Several historians specializing in gardens traced the origin of Mosaiculture to the flowing embroidery like patterns of the parterres en broderie of the Renaissance period. However the term itself was only used for the first time in France in 1892. The first examples of Mosaiculture art were presented at the Third Paris World Fair in 1878. The two designs were of a butterfly and a Moorish vase. (Footnote: On June 30, 1878, the completed head of the Statue of Liberty was showcased at the Paris World Fair in the garden of the Trocadéro palace, while other pieces were on display in the Champs Mars.)

The Hamamatsu International Mosaiculture begins in 15 days in Japan. See this incredible slideshow.