We Have a Winner!

The books for my "Cottage Charm" Giveaway arrived at my home earlier this week. I had only read the promotions and customer reviews prior to ordering them. Well, no exaggeration, these books are fabulous! I had ordered one copy of Flea Market Finds for myself, and I plan on picking up Hello, Cupcake! in the near future.

Many thanks to all of the 118 souls who entered my Giveaway! I enjoyed your enthusiastic comments! One thing is for sure, I touched upon some priorities with both the cupcake and flea market themes.

So, with a playful bit of pomp and circumstance, I had my 13-year old son, Bryce, plug the numbers into Random.org. WE NOW HAVE A WINNER...

Jessilynn does not have a blog for you to visit, but she does have a link to an email address. Congratulations, Jessilynn! Please email your snail mail address to me and I will get these goodies off to you.

"The Cottage Charm" Giveaway has been extended unti 6 PM PST...

MAY 31ST UPDATE: The winner has been chosen. See the above post for the results!

Kim, the lovely creator and overseer of the "Cottage Charm" Giveaway, obviously loves a good party! After an instinctive visit to her blog this morning, I discovered that she is STILL ADDING HOSTESSES! Yes, in her pursuit to have 60 participants, she is still accepting generous souls into the festivities!

Well, I'm certainly not a party pooper! I, TOO, AM EXTENDING MY DRAWING UNTIL 6:00 PM PST THIS EVENING! THE WINNER WILL BE POSTED BY 7:00 PM PST. So, if you haven't entered my Giveaway, you still have time. Just scroll down... And, if you would like to check out the new participants, click on the "Cottage Charm" icon on my top right sidebar.

Eye-dyllic According to Vogue - Part III

Jeannie Patchett, Paris, Vogue 1950 - art.com

This photo assures us that every princess, no matter how glamorous, must eventually collapse. What splendor to curl like a kitten in the corner of an oversized sofa, engulfed by a palette of pink. These days, with some of the more realistic photos of models without makeup, I have been encouraged that most women have to work at beauty, although youth is by far an easier canvas.

Again, this is a Norman Parkinson photo done exclusively for Vogue.

Art.com Description:

"Norman Parkinson, one of Britain’s leading fashion photographers, infused his classic shots with humor and joie de vivre. Parkinson (1913-1990) revolutionized British fashion photography by taking models out of the studio and into more dynamic outdoor settings. He was initially a photographer for “Harper’s Bazaar” and “The Bystander,” and was a reconnaissance photographer over France for the Royal Air Force. He had an illustrious career with British “Vogue” for almost 40 years, and worked for the magazine’s American edition after he and his wife began taking yearly trips to New York. Parkinson also photographed celebrities, and created calendars featuring glamorous women."

Eye-dyllic According to Vogue - Part II

Vogue Cover, Autumn Fushia, 1957 - art.com

This magazine cover is dreamy in these beautiful shades of pink and purple. Much like the Vogue photo in my last post, Norman Parkinson, the photographer, strategically created a path for the eye to follow. From left to right, the white-gloved, curled hand flows upward to a look-at-me face, and then straight across the left arm to a cigarette blending casually with a draped hand. Notice that there are 2 separate statements framed by windows.

The cigarette was the last thing that I noticed and I certainly don't endorse smoking. However, this is a realistic view of the era that I grew up in. My parents smoked, as did most of their friends. Dad and Mom quit smoking right after I had my first child: their first grandchild. I'm proud of them for that.

Art.com's Description:

"Fashion is hardly fleeting in Norman Parkinson’s 1957 Vogue Cover. In his long, distinguished career with British and American Vogue, renowned English photographer Parkinson (1913-1990) captured some of the most celebrated men and women in fashion and high society, and was one of the pioneers of the on-location shoot. With its iconic glamour and romantic imagery, “Vogue Cover, Autumn Fuchsia, 1957” appeals to fashion lovers and vintage art collectors alike."

Eye-dyllic According to Vogue - Part I

Vogue Cover, October 1957 - art.com

Isn't this cover masterful! First, the face in the champagne flute captivates the onlooker; and then leads us on a clever path from toe to heel and, much like a switchback, lifts the eye to a golden chapeau crowned by a crimson VOGUE.

Art.com's Description:

"With a click of John Rawlings' shutter, commercial photography soared from sales tool to respected art form exemplified by this 1957 "Vogue" cover. One of the 20th Century's most prolific photographers, Rawlings (1912-1970) profoundly impacted the fashion press by imparting color and innovative use of natural and artificial light. His pivotal work for Conde-Nast encompassed three decades and the creation of more than 200 "Glamour" and "Vogue" covers, as well as involvement in numerous ad campaigns. His 1957 "Vogue" cover not only boosted sales, but enduringly elevated the world's respect for fashion photography."

This cover was published 3 months before I was born. I must say that I would rather see artful design over a half clad model any day!

MEMORIAL DAY

"Lest We Forget" 1914-1918 by Ernie Cselko - art.com

The Days of the Year

Thirty days hath September,

April, June, and November;

All the rest have thirty-one,

Excepting February alone,

And that has twenty-eight days clear

And twenty-nine in each leap-year.

-Unknown

A Milestone!

My future Son-in-Law, Brian, with my daughter, Briana. Brian graduated from Biola University in La Mirada, California on Saturday, May 24, 2008. This was also Biola's 100th Anniversary.

Pictured is the commemorative arrangement that adorned the staging area.

(pictured from left to right)

Commencement Speaker, Founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA., and the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," Dr. Rick Warren; a guest by the name of Ruth King; and the President of Biola University, Barry H Corey.