“Some Folks are Born, Made to Wave the Flag…”

So sang John Fogerty in one of my favorite Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, Fortunate Son.  Of course he was referring to our good ol’ red, white & blue.  And while I get a stirring of patriotism stirring in my heart every time I see the stars & stripes, the American flag is not my favorite.   Let me say that I would NEVER burn a flag unless it was severely old & weather damaged, I ALWAYS stand for the National Anthem, & I am very proud to be an American.  It’s just that other countries flags to me are so beautiful.  I get a little jealous during the Olympics or World Cup when I see some the designs these other nations are sporting on their patriotic symbols.  Let’s take a look at some of my favorites, shall we?

Wales

The Welsh flag has always been my favorite.  I love that red dragon, or as it’s known in Welsh, Y Ddraig Goch.  It’s a powerful image on the bands of green & white.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, besides unwittingly inspiring a great character in Borat, also gives us this beautiful flag.  I am deeply enamored of the image of the bird flying in front of the sun, the ornate stripe on the left, & I just adore the colors of this flag.  I am thinking of using this color combination in a room someday.  I just love it!

Marshall Islands

This one, from the Marshall Islands is simple, but striking to me.  I am drawn to the widening diagonal stripe heading to the corner & the star on the opposite corner.  They chose a great blue for their flag!

Albania

Albania has a simple color combination, but a features a powerful image of a two-headed eagle in the center.

My final favorite is Argentina.  I don’t really know why, as I am usually not on board the powder blue train.  I think it has something to do with the combination of the stripes & that sun in the middle.  I have a thing for that sun.

At any rate, I find flags inspiring, not only in color & design, but what they represent.  I like thinking of someday seeing these flags in person, flying over a building in the home country they represent.

We’ve Got to Get Ourselves Back to the Garden…

Of course, I mean my favorite store in the world: Jayson Home & Garden!!!  I stopped by my beloved shop with my visiting Mom & my husband in tow & both were amazed by all the beautiful things.  Here’s just a sample of my favorites:

Amalfi Sofa

Phillipe Dining Table

Faulkner Chest

That Faulkner chest is astonishing in person.  It has the lovely, faded shimmer of a formerly gleaming piece of furniture that has seen many days & could tell a roaring story. I love pieces like that!  

Resurrection…

After a ridiculously long hiatus, I’m happy to announce that Big Daddy Seashell is again open for business!!!  I can’t wait to post in the coming weeks all the wonderful things I’ve been inspired by, loved, hated & experienced since I last posted over a YEAR ago.  I hope I haven’t alienated all my readers by my lack of new material & I hope you all will enjoy what’s to come!

Slightly blurry photo of the beautiful ceiling medallion at the John G. Shedd Aquarium!

From the New York Times today – Inspiration

I have posted about Maira Kalman’s work before, but I was really moved by her piece at the New York Times today.   I encourage everyone to go check it out today!  Have a great weekend.

Happy Earth Day!

I hope you all take the time to do something for our beautiful Mother Earth today.  Let’s keep her beautiful & healthy for our future generations.  Cheers!

Early Morning, April 4

(Photo from AP via ABC)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  This man had such a profound impact on our nation, and is one of my heroes.  I hope we all remember not the violent, senseless act that took his life, but instead remember the power of his messages of hope, unity, love & peace. 

Two Quick Things…

Number one:

I cannot get over the beauty of this photo and the sense of wonder it makes me feel.  SPACE rules!

Number two:

Does anyone have one of these?  I really want one for fresh herbs & possibly another for tomatoes.  Since I’ve MURDERED every plant I’ve ever owned, I thought this might be a good option.  I know my friend Meredith has one & likes it.  Anyone else?

Dressing Room Decor

I know I said I wouldn’t be posting any more this week, but since I learned that legendary stage & screen actor, Paul Scofield, died on Wednesday; and I found this interesting article in the New York Times, I decided I couldn’t resist. 

I’ve always loved theatres.  When I acted in college and high school my favorite moments rarely happened onstage, they happened backstage, often in the dressing rooms.  There is something special about putting on make-up in front of a mirror, making your character come to life.  I adored putting on the various costumes and seeing someone new when I looked in the mirror.  I even love the smells.  The make-up, the powders, the mustiness of the costumes, even the hair spray.  It was all part of the magic.  So, today when I read the article about Broadway actors & how they designed their dressing rooms, I was moved.  I loved seeing Andrea Martin’s dressing room for Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein:

(Photo by Tony Cenicola, New York Times)                         

And Sherie Rene Scott’s dressing room for Ursula in The Little Mermaid:

(photo by Tony Cenicola, New York Times)

If you get a chance, & you love theatre as much as I do, read the article.  There’s also a slide show & a wonderful picture of the amazing Harvey Fierstien‘s dressing room.  So much fun.  Anyhoo, this is it for me this week.  Have a hoppy weekend. (Get it?  Because of Easter I said hoppy!) 

Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008

Arthur C. Clarke, one of the world’s most well known science fiction writers, passed away yesterday at the age of 90.  I will never forget reading 2001:A Space Odyssey for the first time my freshman year of high school.  It changed the way I think about life, science & the future. 

 

Some of the images from the film, which was a tremendous collaboration between Mr. Clarke & Stanley Kubrick, left a serious impression on me.  I know I will be revisiting this film very soon.  There is a wonderful article about Arthur C. Clarke and his contributions to literature and science at the New York Times.  You can see some wonderful images from the film here.  I will be unable to post the rest of the week, so I’d like to wish, to those of you who celebrate, a Happy Easter!  Cheers. 

Finding What Inspires

Since we finally purchased a new camera a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been trying to remember to take pictures of the little things that I get a kick out of.  I’ve always looked for the little pretty “moments” or “poems” as my girl Anne of Green Gables would say.  Here are a few of my favorite recent little finds:

These two photos were taken at the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.  I wish the bottom part of the Pan piece was a little less dark & didn’t have that annoying EXIT sign blocking it.  You would think people seeing THREE sets of revolving doors in front of them would get the point, but whatever.  Ever since reading Jitterbug Perfume, I’ve had a thing for Pan.  I think he’s my favorite Greek God.  At least he’d be fun to party with!  There’s ironwork like this scattered all over Chicago.  I think I sense a new Flickr group beginning!  I also see this as I walk to & from work:

My husband tells me this means that the pipes the sign is resting on are active & not that I should live everyday to its utmost potential.  Still, every time I walk by, I think of my favorite Guffman quote, “CORKY WE LOVE YOU!  WE WANT YOU TO LIVE!”  The final place I found inspiration:

What does this say about me?  Oh well.  We were eating lunch with my brother in an empty Wild Goose over the weekend & I couldn’t resist.  Here’s hoping you find what inspires you.