Pink of Perfection

There are so many blogs I wish I could live inside, but I think Abby Try Again takes top billing. Her blog is the visual interpretation of what I love about Paris: gray, and a little bit melancholy, but like a gossamer-draped dream. Its talented creator, Abby Powell-Thompson, calls it an experiment in film photography and general happiness; I call it my favorite love letter to life’s most unassuming beauties — a tissue paper beach ball with the light catching it just so, colorful pennants stretched across the street, a donut with sprinkles. And it probably goes without saying that I’m an absolute goner for her Five Senses Friday series. We may not be able to step inside her blog for the weekend, but we can get into that brain for a few questions (and snag her prints on Etsy):

Tell us about Abby Try Again. What made you decide to do the blog? What are the biggest challenges? What inspires your posts? What’s been the biggest surprise?

I started the blog almost five years ago, right after my husband and I relocated to Portland, OR, from a tiny little farm town in California. It was a “crafty” blog and a way of keeping touch with family and friends who were back at home. Over the years the blog grew and changed just like me. I noticed I liked the “journaling” aspect of the blog and the photos just came as a natural progression. I try to be very honest and open in the blog without revealing too many boring details. The biggest surprise was finding so many like-minded people from around the world. I was (am) a really big nerd and it was nice to make connections through the blog. Another surprise is that the blog is very therapeutic for me. It calms me down, gives me perspective and it’s become a nice daily ritual for me.

Your photographs evoke the most serene, quiet, beautiful life. What’s your personal philosophy for achieving beauty and pleasure in daily life?

Like many others out there, I’ve always struggled with my self-image. Blogging has helped me realize how good my life is and how good the people are around me.  I think the majority of us are so very lucky and when you take the time to stop and notice the little beautiful things you begin to realize that. At least, it works for me. Every day I try to schedule at least one “nice” thing — whether it’s a walk to someplace quiet, a new flower from the market, a phone call to a loved one or reading a chapter in a book. I think it is important to have scheduled “good” times.

Who or what most inspires you?

Oh, that is a tough one. I glean inspiration from everywhere. I guess if I had to answer, it would be objects. When I see an old object I imagine its story; where it came from, who it belonged to, where it is going…

What’s your ideal day look like?

I love to travel! So my ideal day who would be spent in some town I’ve never been to, eating new things, exploring, digging around in old shops and shooting photos. Of course, James would be there, too.

Continue reading “Call Me, Call Me Any, Anytime” »

Let us just say, for the sake of argument, that you have not yet bought your 2009 planner. So swept up in the holiday revelry were you, that when 2009 hit with its resolutions and plans for greatness, you were without a place to jot tea dates and dream interpretations. This person was me until, oh, about 5 seconds ago, and if this person is you, too, fret not. You have many fabulous options.

I couldn’t sleep last night. I had that little kid feeling, which I get entirely too often, of not wanting the day to be over yet, of not wanting to miss anything. So I did what I often do when the sheep aren’t lolling me into dreamland and trolled etsy. This vintage Betty Crocker recipe box made me smile in the dark, early morning hours, in part because of the rainbow-colored tabs, but also because of what those tabs say: “Walk-About Parties,” “Fresh Air Favorites,” “The In-Betweeners.” Makes you long for simpler times, doesn’t it?

I already had a big ole blog crush on Victoria of sfgirlbybay for her unfailing eye for approachable, vintagey, design finds. Just look at her apartment (featured in the new Apartment Therapy book) and tell me you aren’t in love, too:

But then I realize that in her etsy shop she sells the poster I’ve been coveting for months and whose slogan I’ve been sharing with the stressed out people in my life (particularly apropos for this time of year). Naysayers will call it this year’s design cliche; I call it lovely.

How fabulous is it when two great worlds collide?

I doubt I need to tell you I’m a fan of the old-fashioned charm of letter writing. On a nearly daily basis, I find myself wanting to slip a little note in a mailbox that says: god, I miss you or I’m sorry I stood you up//haven’t returned your phone call/spilled wine at your party or cheer up, little one, things will be okay or holy hell, congratulations! or thank you so much for being in my corner or I hope your sniffles have passed. I end up saying a lot of these things via email (and sometimes, terribly, not at all, even though I think them something fierce), but sometimes that wonderfully convenient and instantaneous form of communication doesn’t quite get the point across in the fashion I’d like.

When I was recently having a hard go of it, EB sent me a card enclosed with a Depression-era (fitting!) recipe from her granddad. She certainly didn’t have to, and it was maybe even a bit of a pain to dig up the stamp and print out the recipe. But the card made me grin, the old-fashioned recipe thrilled me, and I went from moping to feeling cared about pretty much instantly. An email, I doubt, could have imparted such glee.

I know what sort of woman I want to be: I want to be a lady who sends notes. Spanning the distance between the life you envision for yourself and the life you actually live is often just a matter of follow-through. In other words, I need to order myself some pretty note cards and a roll of stamps. Because the times I got gold shoes in the mail from my best friend or someone thoughtfully sent me a book about redheads? It was a great reminder that we are so much in the thoughts of those who aren’t always at our sides. And that’s the best.

If you know of some other great sellers on etsy who do pretty, affordable, custom paper work, please don’t keep the secret to yourself — share in the comments!