{Inspired by} Mary Wollstonecraft

 

In tribute and in the celebration of the International Women's Day, I will take the time to express my admiration and respect to one of the first feminists: Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). Her most influential work in this field is beyond a doubt A Vindication of the Rights of Woman from 1792. This should be on the reading list of everyone, not just women, and I particularly like her emphasis on the importance of equal education for men and women.

 

Sadly, many of her points in her work are still being fought over today. Women still experience objectification and undervalue. The same thing goes for the stereotypical areas connected to women, even if they are produced or evoked by men.

 

 

I do believe in equal value and worth, and whatever the individual should want to do, the individual should be regarded on the work, not gender (or race for that matter, because so many of her sentiments on gender can also be applied to race). And especially not looks and appearances! It is also about time that the traditional misunderstanding that beauty equals goodness is lost. We can never make a tabula rasa, but let's stop the nonsense about such clearly distinguished and divided sections of the world. No one should be forced to account for them wanting to have children, their desire to be the CEO, not wanting children, getting married or not, or any other personal and individual way to set up their lives and then be met with stereotypes of traditional and outdated gender roles. This is what I fight for and mark on this day, and continue to do any other day.

 

Mary Wollstonecraft was a remarkable woman and I really recommend reading up about her, even just at Wikipedia. She has influeced such a vast number of people with her writings and her life, despite also falling for some of the things she advocated against, and other people's contempt and prejudice. Nevertheless, she tried. And we all should at least try to educate ourselves and inspire the people around us.

 

And so, to inspire for today I give you some of her quotes from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with the hope and the faith that people will one day be respected and admired for their individuality and not their success in stereotypical conformity.

 

 

“It is time to effect a revolution in female manners - time to restore to them their lost dignity - and make them, as a part of the human species, labour by reforming themselves to reform the world. It is time to separate unchangeable morals from local manners.” 

 

 “My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone. I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists - I wish to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength, both mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness, and that those beings who are only objects of pity and that kind of love, which has been termed its sister, will soon become objects of contempt.” 

 

“Weakness may excite tenderness, and gratify the arrogant pride of man; but the lordly caresses of a protector will not gratify a noble mind that pants for, and deserves to be respected. Fondness is a poor substitute for friendship.” 

 

“But women are very differently situated with respect to eachother - for they are all rivals (...) Is it then surprising that when the sole ambition of woman centres in beauty, and interest gives vanity additional force, perpetual rivalships should ensue? They are all running the same race, and would rise above the virtue of morals, if they did not view each other with a suspicious and even envious eye.” 

 

“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” 

 

“The beginning is always today.”

~~~~~~~~~~ 



A New Era Dawning...

 

Well, according to some ancient Mayan calendar today is the end of the world - as we know it. So far, it seems people have been more interested in planning their shelters and canned food as if things are getting to be like an H.G. Wells story. I, however, do not think that is what is going to happen. Actually I do not think ANYTHING will have changed at all by tomorrow.

 

But perhaps in stead of planning to run from the nuclear bombs scenarios we could in stead use the time to stop, rest, and think of the world and the people in it as we know it, and ask ourselves - are we living the lives which we wanted and wished for? Can we make this a better world, a softer, more gentle, and caring world? If we all stopped the madness of greed, vengance, and the lust for power, and started tomorrow morning with applying a gentle and forgiving mind set, wouldn't that be like an apocalypse? A new start.

 

If today was to be the last day of the old world order, and from tomorrow morning we would actively start, all of us, to make the world a better place and do good to the beings around us - regardless of looks, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. - wouldn't this be worthy of a new time line?

 

sadly, I doubt anything will happen in either scenarios, but at least I hope people will stop for a second to at least think about the kind of person they are, and then have the courage to choose a gentler way if they don't like what the find. Because, I believe this world needs a little tenderness and a gentle approach if we are ever going to come close to world peace.

I hope tomorrow will the be the first day to actively achieving that goal. At least, I will try to.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Som de fleste måske har hørt er det i dag Dommedag i følge mayaernes oldgamle kalender. Indtil videre synes folk vist mest at være interesseret i om det bliver ligesom en katastrofefilm med atombomber og astroidenedslag. Jeg tror dog ikke på noget som helst vil være forandret i morgen tidlig. Desværre.

 

For jeg synes, at i stedet for at bruge tid og energi på katastrofescenarier, så skulle folk måske i stedet stoppe op og tænke over hvor de er i deres liv og om de lever et lykkeligt og harmonisk liv. Er det her ikke en chance for at påbegynde en ny tid, en bedre, blidere og omsorgsfuld tod og verden? Hvis alt det gamle had og hævngerrighed blev tilbage i den gamle kalender og verden, kunne vi så ikke fra i morgen påbegynde arbejdet med at fremme det gode? En ny start.

 

Hvis i dag er den sidste dag i den gamle verdensorden, og i morgen den første dag hvor vi aktivt ville begynde at hjælpe og være tilstede for hinanden - ligemeget med udseende, religion, køn, seksualitet og lignende - ville det så ikke være en dag hvor vi dømmer den gamle verden som værende slut og fra nu ar lever vi blidt, enkelt og MED hinanden?

 

Desværre tror jeg som sagt ikke på, at noget som helt er forandret i morgen, men jeg håber dog stadig, at der er nogle, som for et kort sekund stopper op og tænler over hvem de er, og så tør at vælge den blide vej fremover hvis de ikke kan lide det, de mærker i sig selv. For jeg tror, at en blidere tilgang til hinanden er den eneste vej mod  noget, der kan betegnes som verdensfred.

Jeg håber, at i morgen vil være den første dag på vej til det mål. Jeg vil forsøge i det mindste.

 

{image source}  

*Happy Place*

Things are a bit shaky today. Somehow I am finding myself in the middle of something which doesn't make sense - at least not to me. Therefore, I am in the need of comfort - and what is better than dreaming of my future home?

A warm rustic kitchen with colourful tiles and oils; a soothing bedroom; a clean and crisp bathroom; art, antiques, and books everywhere...

Today, these rooms are my 'happy place'.

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I dag er ikke den bedste dag. Jeg kan ikke finde hoved eller hale i noget som helst. Det eneste jeg kan er at drømme mig væk fra det hurlumhej, der er omkring mig. Og hvad er bedre at drømme om end ens fremtidige hjem?

Et varmt landligt køkken med farverige klinker og olier; et beroligende soveværelse; et minimalistisk og skarpt badeværelse; kunst, antikviteter og bøger overalt...

I dag er dette mit 'happy place'.

 

 

{1: World of Interiors April 2012; foto by Tim Beddow. 2: Bolig April 2012; foto by Peter Kragballe. 3: Bolig March 2012; foto by Birgitta W. Dreyer. 4: Bolig March 2012; foto by Anitta Behrendt; Painting by Mette-Marie Trier. 5: Bolig February 2012; foto by Martin Cederblad. 6: Bolig November 2011; foto by Frederikke Heiberg; Ceramics by Rikke Jakobsen. 7: Bolig May 2012; foto by Thomas Dahl ~ all scans by me} 

 

P.S: Does the normal font size appear too small now? I don't know whether it is my pc or my browser which tricks me. Can you see any difference?

Fall Dreaming

The chilly weather has already arrived here in Aarhus, and I'm tucked up in my apartment enjoying a nice cup of Brazilian coffee which my sister brought me from Samos.. So nice.. Other than that I am planning the next six months of working on my dissertation. I do want it to be good, and even though I am already a little scared I still think the subject is really interesting. Perhaps, I will share some of my findings - or most likely anxiety attacks! - with you here, but for now it is all about the big lines and getting into a good and healthy working habit.

 

This also means that I will try to be more strict about my time on the various blogs/sites because otherwise I will be forever known as the procrastination queen! Not good! But I do plan to update here. I would miss it too much otherwise, I think.

However, the calming and warming promises of fall with gallons of tea, good books, knitted blankets, and warming soups will only be on a lower frequence than what I always dream of in the fall. Only downfall of writing my final thesis in the dark months, but at least I wont have the warm sunshine outside mocking me while I'm stuck inside writing. At least, I hope so..

 

Nevertheless, one last gasp of fall dreaming is still available for me, and if I had the infinite means to do it this is how my fall would look like..

 I would read all of the books on my shelves which I haven't yet read.. So many classics and must-reads! And just for fun and pleasure, not because of a professor's curriculum..

 One of my favourite things about fall is all the fruits coming. Here in Denmark, we have all these old apple sorts and they are just lovely. Some for cruchy snacks, some for baking, some for stews, and so on. And is there a more gorgeous sight than a basket filled with apples?

I cannot explain how much I love this outfit!!! A more stylish fall adventurer is not to be found anywhere... That tartan cape/coat is beyond perfection.

 Another od my favourite things in the fall is soups. There's just something soothing about it which I cannot explain. Also I find these bread rolls functioning as bowls rather amazing. Imagine the softness when you have finished the soup and just tuck in with the bread! Heaven!

Dutch coffee warmers (I think they are called!), perfect little treat to go with your coffee; honey, waffle, crunchy, and warm.. Yummie!

 

Ah well, a lovely fall it would have been.. sadly, this fall is not going to be as picturesque but I will definitely love 'geeking out' for six months. How many times do you get such an opportunity? So no bad feelings and all good kharma.

 

{all images from my Tumblr}



{Happy New Year} + Weekly Favourites

As promised yesterday, I will use today to wish you, my dear readers and followers, the most prosperous and merriest New Year.

I thank you all for the sweet comments and virtual hugs which I have recieved through this little blog the past year. It is truly magnifiscent to think that I have readers from all continents except the cold one in the South! I would never have thought so when I started this adventure.

Maybe I am naïve but I am still surprised that I get visitors from places where I didn't even know they had access to the Internet.

2011 has been a turbulent year for me, especially since I lost my beloved father in August, but also on other areas. Many thoughts have gone through my head, especially according my future and what I really, deep down, want to do with my life and how I am going to acheive the goals I set for myself.

For 2012, I will try to take the good that I learned about myself and others with me and continue to make an effort in being the woman I want to be. I am finally realizing that there's no point in trying to be someone else.

And that is my hope for you guys too. That you will take this opportunity to stop up for a minute and think about where you are in life and whether it is where you want to be. Are you the best "you" at all times or does the intentions go down the drain in the daily hazzle?

I have learned the hard way, just because I wanted it and freely did it, it doesn't mean it was easy, and will pursue the more simpler approach to what I want and need.

 

But without further ado, here's my last Weekly Favourites of 2011.

Given the amount of time that I put into this feature, I will perhaps change the theme to a monthly feature. However, it has been quite fun and a great resource for me to look at all the things and pick out what it is I really want (if I had the means).

I definately see a more cleaner and simpler look, more quality and minimalism than whims and fun fancies.

Weekly Favourites 52 by maudline

Dress, €707 Acne oversized top, $339 Olivia Rubin printed top, £60 Valentino | Beaded silk-organza gown , £4,427 Sass bide, $795 See by Chloé Flocked cotton-blend dress , £335 Essie | Essie Luxeffects Glitzy Top Coats at ASOS, £15 Chloé flap handbag, $1,795 Seche Vite- Dry Fast Coat, $17

This last week of the year, it seems like we are all looking forward to the summer and beach holidays (lucky Australia!). However, a good quality jumper, handbag, and possible the best top coat nail polish ever (so I have been told) will never be excommunicated from my wardrobe. What do you see that grabs your fancy? Something that will go way into 2012?

Anyways, last thing to say

Cheers in glitter, and Happy New Year!

{sources: 1, 2, 3, 4}

Favourite Things of the Moment

At the moment, I am completely lost to the fresh spring feeling my lilac soap gives me each morning. So welcoming in stead of this frenzy of a fall with too much to do. However, a most amazing contribution from school is my first meeting with Jean Rhys' works. How utterly amazing! If she was a religion I would be a convert..

She has the same gift as I pointed out with Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine, of writing with such precision - knowing fully what to tell and what to leave unsaid - that within her works there unfolds many stories. Stories which you don't see at the first glimp. Heartbreakingly beautiful and excellent. If you have not, then please make Wide Sargasso Sea your next read.

I could almost taste the colours and see the scents she describes.

(how I hope I get that for my oral exam! It would be the most awesome exam ever..)

To cool my exhubiant emotions after such a narrative, I am in love with my new Guerlain eyeshadows. They are quite creamy so this set will last a long time. I choose the more secure palette of greys, blues, and browns with a touch of cobber. A brilliant mix of the sea and the auburn hues of the falling leaves all around.

And last but not least, my Eiffel Tower-necklace from Accessorize to keep reminding me of my plans of one day settling in Paris.

To keep my eye on the goal. Makes me remember that the issues I am dealing with are all just means of an end to get me to Paris and help me become the best that I can be.

Do you have small tokens or items that reminds you of your dreams?

{all images are mine}

Florence+TheMachine - Shake it Out

Have you heard the first single from Florence + The Machine's new album? It is absolutely devine.

She writes the lyrics that I wish I could write, and has a sound which speaks to my heart - even the things my heart doesn't want to admit yet.

I get sort of weepy and feel my stomach tighten whenever I hear something either profoundly beautiful or something that gets under my skin unintentionally. It haunts me.

I always admire those writers, whether in music or literature, who can write with surgical precision and yet continue to show the great depths within their words. With very few words I think that Florence Welch describes somethings which are hard to define and yet does it so elegantly and poetically too. And her videos are equally melancholic and beautiful as her music and voice.

Please enjoy!

{via}
 

I Tumblr too...

Just to let you know that I also have a tumblr account which I am slowly getting up and running.

So many ways be 'online', it's hard to keep up! But I like them and use them for different reasons.

Mostly they are all created to help my blog. Inspiration come in all shapes and sites, and I want to remember it all.

Anyways, here's the link.



{Source: thenannie}

A small reminder...

{via}

Rococo Fashion

As you may know, Rococo is one of my favourite time eras in fashion, art, and history. Such friviliousness (is that even a word?!), sex, allure, and charm centered in one century. I do know that experts limit the term rococo to just a section of the 18th century, but I will apply it rather broadly here given that I am not conducting a research engine but mere interests and inspirations.

All of these faboulous beauties are found via Pinterest, and they are all collected in my board Rococo, which is increasingly becoming more and more popular. I get new followers almost every day - it is crazy! And wonderful that so many share my interest in vintage fashion and especially rococo. Please join, and take a look. Here's the link to my rococo-board. Enjoy!



Inspired by RUM Magazine may 2011

***How completely odd! I have just discovered that a post I did like two monts ago was never posted! Weird, have any of you experienced something like that? Anyways, I don't want you guys to miss it so here it is.

My my my!! the cover shot featured the living room of a Parisian (of course!) apartment and the colour scheme and the decor was so lovely and inspirational. I'm thinking about whether a three-coloured wall would work in my apartment - and I actually think it would!

This is it..

 Everything about it just speaks my name, even though I doubt the interior decorater who lives there is up for a swatch.. Its the perfect place for a Arne Jacobsen 'Swan' sofa and the beautiful floor just screams at me (I'm the daughter of a carpenter, what can I do?).

But the walls!! The black, the pink, the white AND the neon yellow stripe that you almost can't see in these photos - love love love..

And of course that set my mind fluttering around pastel hues and bold blacks. Take a look..

 Image sources: RUM Paris in Pink Foxtail and Fern Lovely Bride Making Magique IKEA Livet Hemma ModeAvenueParis

Tiaras - the last status symbol?

In my opinion, nothing embrace and capture a woman's beauty as much as a tiara or diadem. Nomatter what materials or designs, they always make the wearer straigten up and the spectators gasp at the beauty overload.

From way back, this has been a sign of wealth and status, and with the wear of these gems is a strict etiquette. Not everyone can wear these just because they can afford them, at least not if it is an occasion where the Royals may be..

But hands up, how many of you have dreamed of wearing a tiara? Many of you, I guess, based on the popularity of tiara style hair-dos at weddings. I have, and still do! I will admit to that any day.. And luckily, quite many hair-dos actually go well with a small tiara-like accessory. I call it a tiara-like accessory since it is still quite rare to splurge hundreds or thousands on a hair-pin.

The tiaras shown here are all from the wonderful book Tiaras Past & Present by Geoffrey Munn for V&A. A most deliteful book and a source for dreams and design for quite some years now. The ones shown are all some of my favourites from the book, and the accompaning text is from the book as well.

A small diadem of diamonds arranged as a radiant sunburst. The centre can be removed and worn as a brooch.

French, c. 1900. (Wartski, London.)

 A diamond fringe necklace/tiara mounted in gold and set in silver. It is pictured off the frame, set against a sheet of designs, dated July 1912, by E. Wollf & Co., manufacturing jewellers working in London. (Private Collection and E. Wollf & Co.)

 A tiara in the form of five stars supported on a gallery of stylized foliage. A highly succesful tiara type, these jewels invite comparison between starshine and the scintillation of the diamond. The inclusion of stars may also allude to Shakespeare's Sonnet 116, in which he describes love as 'the star to every wandering bark'. (Private Collection.)

 A wreath composed of ears of wheat in gilt metal set with yellow pastes. Ears of wheat were a popular subject for gold wreaths in Ancient Greece, and this charming example probably derives from a prototype of that period. English, c. 1830. (Private Collection. Photograph Wartski)

 The famous amethysts given by Tsar Alexander I to Lady Londonderry in 1821, which were later mounted in diamond-set clusters to form a long stomacher and a tiara. The best Russian amathysts come from Siberian mines, which were then owned by the Tsar. They are said to be the finest in the world because of the red and blue highlights seen in the deep purple body colour of the stones. The stones are here shown against the original design for the tiara by E. Wollf & Co., which is dated August 1916. (The Most Hon. The Marquess of Londonderry and E. Wollf & Co.)

 A gold tiara by Carlo Guiliano supporting a stylized wreath of banded agate laurel leaves and pearl berries; the front of the jewel takes the form of a rosette of similarly carved petals centring on a single pearl. London, c. 1860. (Private Collection)

A large Siberian amathyst mounted as a jewel with diamond-set honeysuckle motifs, c. 1810. At a later date it was made the centre of this amathyst and diamond tiara in the form of vine leaves that are a witty allusion to the purple stones. The word 'amathyst' derives from the Greek amethustos, literally meaning 'not drunken', referring to the belief that an amathyst placed in a glass of wine would allow one to drink without fear of intoxication. In the lore of the ancient lapidaries, the amathyst also stood for devotion in love. (The Most Hon. The Marquess of Tavistock. Photograph Wartski)  

 A gold tiara made to resemble the Ancient Egyptian amuletic winged globe, by Carlo and Arthur Guiliano, London, c. 1900. Set with brilliant diamonds and decorated with green enamel, the globe is represented with a star ruby. (Private Collection)

A diadem in the form of an amuletic winged globe set centrally with a citrine, by Child and Child, c. 1900. (Tadema Gallery, London) 

 Designs by Boucheron, c. 1890. The tiara shown in the top drawing is to be set with an opal and five rows of pearls suspended between diamond and pearl set supports, whilst the one below will bear eleven conch pearls supported on a gallery of brilliant diamonds. (Boucheron, Paris) 

 A platinum tiara in the form of twinned feathers tied to a diamond-set bandeau with a brilliant-cut stone of 2.5 carats. One feather is of black onyx with a diamond-set quill, the other of diamonds with an onyx quill. Most of the stones used in this highly imaginative composition have been cut especially for it. Made for stock in November 1920, it remained unsold until February 1925, when it was taken apart. (Boucheron, Paris)

A rhinstone tiara in the form of a dog's bone tied with a bow. (Vivienne Westwood)

My own personal favourite would be the second to last tiara made to look like feathers. Just beautiful, and I can just picture it set low on the forehead ala greque with a rhinestone embellished gown. Or perhaps twisted to the side if you are having a high bun hair-do. Love it..

Oh, and don't you just love the design drawings?