Rochambeau

Make~Up, Do You?

Queen Cleopatra did~

But do you wear it, feel neutral,
 or despise cosmetics all together?

Archaeologists have found evidence of makeup
 used in Egypt dating back as far as
the fourth millennium BC.

Is makeup something one hides behind?

Or, can it enhance a persona?


Max Factor is often called the father of
 modern makeup.  He was the inventor
 of lip gloss, pancake makeup and false
eyelashes.  He coined the term "makeup,"
 based on the verb, "to make up" (one's face).

Above photo
of Max Factor



If you wear makeup, when did you start?
Do you make it a habit?



If not, when did you make the
decision not to?

Above: The tree of good looks.



Where in the world do you live?
Are your opinions influenced by what
others do around you? Or, perhaps have
you adopted the views of your
 mother or another family member?



Do you feel prettier in makeup?
 Can you be just as much yourself
 without it?




Is there a difference between expensive
cosmetics.......




and less expensive ones?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Also, what is the difference between


Makeup brushes.....



and artists' brushes,
other than the cost?





Do you polish your nails,



 or your toenails

If so, why do you do it?

 polished toes




Is life is a stage? 



Are your clothes costumes?
Is makeup your mask?

Marie Antoinette






Do you wear red lipstick?
This lady wears it well, don't
you think?




The Madame Puff from Bell'occhio
makes me want to wear loose powder,
but I don't!



So does this box of
Coty Airspun Face Powder!



Do you have many colors in your
pallet? just a few, or none at all?


 Sephora




Do you have scars to hide on your face?
If so, makeup can offer a bit
of Trompe l'oeil.




Is applying makeup an "art",
or a hindrance?



  Do cosmetics have the power
 to enhance natural beauty or
destroy it?

photo: Tracy Kahn



Have you ever met a makeup artist or,
 had the chance to be part of magazine
 fashion photo shoot?  Do you realize
 all the time that is involved?  How
many people it takes to make one person
 look fabulous for one moment in time?

 That is another form of
 Trompe l'oeil for sure!


 Bobbie Brown



Hot tips if you do wear makeup:
Always apply in natural light, or
well lit room & don't forget to
BLEND!!


above photo: courtesy
 Graphics Fairy




One last thought:
Is it true
Less is More?

Mouches Bell'occhio




I'm fascinated and look forward
 to hearing your thoughts and
ideas. Thank you for following me
into the Salon, to join in the
 conversation!

xox
Constance

A Garden Party for Plant Lovers

The sun was still pounding at 5:00 pm
 (but not too severely), as my mom and I
 strolled down the block to
Deborah's Garden Party.


She is our lovely neighbor, who
has been experimenting in her
garden the past few years.



Her goal is to plant only indigenous
plants & flowers. 

 

Ones that can tolerate this climate,
 which can be unusually hot and humid!



~An Eco~Friendly garden~

Deborah keeps her grass to a minimum
 and strives to  use less water like another
friend Lea.



Each of us was asked to bring a
plant from our garden.



We were able to take home a
different plant or flower, to
add into to our own garden.



I brought a few of
"Ileta's Ferns"



And included a note about how my
mother came to have them.


~The Repast~





 

 

Donna, catered the party.
This was her first event, EVER !!
She gets a BIG gold star for a doing
a spectacularly, delicious job!

 

We hung out on Deborah's
wrap~around porch and enjoyed
Spring breezes.

 


Then, as dusk turned into darkness,
many of the guests left.



But a few of us stayed & sat in the dark. Gathering around the porch swing, enjoying being there with each other,experiencing such nice weather
and being outdoors.
 

Did you know the pineapple is the
symbol of friendship and hospitality?



We spoke of many things including
 how fortunate we are to live in
our little town.  About the beauty
and spirit of this special place
and it's people.

 

This little froggie joined us.

 

Before leaving, I took this photo.
It expresses the loveliness of last
 night.  Then when I got home...



Look who was still waiting
up for me!!

Some people are very lucky!!

New Times with Old Friends

 

Friends
Like fine wine,
grow more interesting with age!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Last weekend, my husband Pete and I
were invited to a dinner party
and to stay with our friends Hank
and Phillissa in Dallas.  We've been
good friends for many years.



Against white walls, it's the people
who stand out, like stunning
 works of art.

*

Isn't this the coolest pad?  Seven years ago
Hank and Phil sold their house and most
of their possessions, then bought an
apartment in a high~rise on Turtle Creek. 
They gutted it and did a completely
modern remodel. They started
their life over again, stuff~less.
 


The Chandelier over the table has
pages and pages of well wishes written
by friends as a gift, when they first
moved into their house.








Hank and Phillissa have some great art. 
Hank owned a gallery for many years,
The Rossi Gallery.  Here above is a painting
of Phillissia's eyes.



And, a colorful dress mannequin.


Our hosts prepare the Paella for dinner.



The table is set.



Molly, Charles, Nancy and Barry
arrive, and delicious fun was had by all!



The gazpacho



& the exquisite Paella!

Stories were told and memories shared.
Even a few photos were pulled out and
old times remembered.




At the end of the evening Charles gave me
a spin in his little Smart Car.  It was wild!
Kind of a mix between riding in a VW
Bug & zooming around on a motorcycle.
Crazy~good fun!

~
Thank you for a wonderful
weekend friends!

Spring Passageways & A Puppet Show

Gorgeous "entrées " seen around town
while walking yesterday~











Then last night we walked through
another kind  passageway,
 one filled with the magic of books!!

~ The Carnegie Library~




It was the dress rehearsal for a puppet
show (two actually) that will be part of a
Spring Celebration here in a few weeks.
Also, today eighty school children
came to see the presentation
in smaller groups.



This show above, is an Aesop's fable
called: The Fox and the Grapes.
~*~
The moral of the story is:  You can't
always get what you want
and sometimes that is a good thing.
(In this case the fox didn't get to
eat the pretty grapes that he wanted
 desperately, but as it turns out
the grapes were too sour to eat anyway.



Here are my friends, the puppeteers that
came up with the concept and also
made it happen!  On the left Harold
and Meriam and on the right
 Doug and Phillis.

~*~

It's funny to think, but this is the first
 puppet show I can remember ever
 seeing in my life, because I used to be
 the one giving them as a little girl.
Did you give puppet shows? 
Have you ever been to a one?

It was really fun and inspiring to watch
 because it's been on my mind and
 in my heart to  build a puppet theater
for a long time and is going to
happen very soon.

~*~

I'll be out of town a few days,
but will catch up with you in the
beginning of the week.



I leave you with these 'pretties', also
 from taken during my walking adventure.

 Do you by chance know what this
 blue flower is called?

~*~

Have a great weekend Bloggies!

Must turn my computer off now.
We have thunder and lightening storm.

xox
Constance

Inspired By Spring Green

It seems the creative process must start
at one point.   One particular inspiration
lays a down a foundation for your vision.
 


Perhaps someone, like my mother will say:
"I love that spring green color, you know...
the one you see when the baby leaves
first pop out and how they look so
fresh and vibrant against other greens"



Then your wheels start turning:
You see a package of interesting green
paisley paper at the dollar store
and some green silk hula flowers.
You know to buy them, just in case.



You take a walk nature and start
developing a concept.



One single thought ignites a spark and leads you on your creative journey.  The focus and energy that ensues, is as mysterious as the moon and stars. Somehow you just know what to do next. 
 


This is how it happened for our Easter celebration last Sunday.  The menu developed in same fashion.  I went to the store, saw what looked good and fresh then, let the spirit flow.



* You must know this;  I owned a
catering business for 15 yrs.  I adored this
work, still I'm grateful those days are
in the past.  Catering is highly stressful,
but at the same time a tremendously
 rewarding profession. 



Now,  I  enjoy entertaining my
family and family of friends and
perhaps sharing with you
some inspiration too.



Is this how the creative process
 works for you too?  Would like to know.

Hope you have had happy holidays!

~Hunting for Good Eggs~

The Symbol of Life & Rebirth!



Which came first?


Photo of beautiful eggs above found :
here




The Chicken or the egg?

Chick photo found here





Do you remember coloring eggs?
Do you still ?  Is egg dyeing
a dying custom?


Dyed Easter Eggs




The artist Peter Carl Faberge
salutes eggs and gives homage
in the most elegant of ways!




Ukrainian Eggs, or Pysanky
take hours, a fine eye
and steady brush to create.




Candy Easter Egg
Very pretty!




Hungarian Eggs




How to make a
Sugar Egg
Do you remember these?




Pretty Petit eggs. They all amaze me!  The
colors, the shapes the patterns ~ Wow!

Photo from Choice USA


 

Greek Easter Eggs
Dyeing with onion skin.
Have you ever tied this? It's really is a
great dye!! These eggs above, are created for:



Greek Easter Bread
Evie a Greek friend, made sure I
learned the joys of Tsoureki Paschalino,
half my life ago.

 
 

Here's a how to,
 for Blue Willow Eggs



And also, very nice:
Tea infused Marble Eggs

I could go on and on.  I love eggs.  There
is something spectacular about their shape,
their resilience, their color, their taste!!
The magic of a souffle,
The awe of new life!!

May you have a wonderful holiday!
 


Happy Easter and
Happy Spring to All!

xox
Constance

Bruno's Beautiful Sculpture & A Sad Story

Hidden amongst the lush rain forests North East of Melbourne, Victoria, is the rare jewel that is Bruno's Art and Sculpture Garden.



The original and unique artworks of sculptor and painter Bruno Torfs have brought joy and inspiration to thousands of visitors from all over the world.


Unfortunately on the 7th of February 2009 a bushfire raged through the township, decimating everything in its path without mercy and claimed the lives of his friends and neighbors. Bruno and his family were extremely lucky to survive and are safe and well.



Bruno's home and art gallery were completely destroyed in the blaze, with the artist only managing to save a handful of paintings.



 The damage to the main attraction, the sculpture garden, is yet to be discerned as Bruno is unable to return to Marysville until the police have finished investigating the scene and identifying the remains of those who perished in the fire.



If you would like to see more of Bruno's
work or find out how you can help
please visit Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden.





Dear Friends,
A happy update.
Lea  found important information about
Bruno and his park.  You can visit here
to see!! Thanks Lea!
 

The Power of Just One Flower

Look for beauty and joy in the world around.

 

 Look at a flower until its beauty
 becomes part of your very soul.



It will be given back to the world again
by you

 

 in the form of a smile
or a loving word



or a kind thought...



 or a prayer.

A favorite quote from the book
 God Calling.