Qianlong Vase Archives

Dressy Weekend? Start with a Scarf – The Raven Garden of Happiness by June Hunter

March 22, 2024

It's a dressy weekend - the weather will probably be warm... but there is always a chance of a cool snap!

But how to be dressy without bringing everything you own? Well, a tight color palette and planning ahead is always the way to go.

And how about starting with black and pretty accents?

Before you go down this path, you want to be ABSOLUTELY certain that wearing black isn't a problem. This wardrobe is actually designed for someone who's a prominent figure in a wedding, at which the bridesmaids will be wearing black dresses; I think she's okay with this!

She's wearing a very "normal" travel outfit - closed-toe shoes, and a cardigan for the inevitable freezing air conditioning... but she's rocking ... View the Post

My Favorite Posts: Start with Stuff

October 15, 2015

I love Start with Art, and Start with Nature, but some of the most interesting posts I've ever done have started with a vase, a cabbage, a photograph of eggs, and a photograph of a pigeon!

Start with a Vase: A Qianlong Vase, and packing for China

Start with Nature: Ornamental Cabbage - a Four Pack

Start with Nature: Bird's Eggs photograph from Kevin Fleming Photography

Start with Nature: Pigeons love, Janice ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Vase: A Qianlong Vase, and packing for China

July 24, 2015 One of you is taking off soon for a trip to China, and you have asked me for some ideas about what to pack. I did quite a bit of reading about travel to China, and one thing that was stated repeatedly was that it's important not to take too many clothes, because (a) it's extremely easy and inexpensive to get laundry done in China, and (b) there are quite a few non-clothing items that you need to pack, so you want to reserve space for those kinds of items. (OTC medicines etc. - PLEASE do some research before a trip like this, to be certain that you have with you all of the recommended necessities.) Now, for some aesthetic inspiration. Sotheby's assessed this vase at around ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: White Center by Mark Rothko

December 14, 2014 Not colors for the faint of heart, but another example of how combining warm and cool colors is not just possible, but potentially a striking and memorable personal style statement.

... View the Post