hanna

Last weekend we went to see Hanna, and although I'm normally lukewarm on action movies, I really liked it. Not one of those profound movies that's going to change your life, but it was a very satisfying watching experience [disclaimer for the violence-averse: there is some]. I tend to watch movies for the esthetic elements, and they were all done just right in this one*. Probably my favorite element of it was the locations, including this abandoned amusement park in Berlin, which leads me to this amusingly surreal tidbit from Wikipedia:

Norbert Witte* failed in his attempt to run a "Lunapark" in Lima. On 19 May 2004 he was sentenced to seven years in jail for attempting to smuggle 180 kg of cocaine with a value of £14 million from Peru to Germany in the masts of the "flying carpet" ride.

The photo, also from the Wikipedia article, is of part of a roller coaster, and reminds me of this fellow gaping-mouthed monster. Seen together, they make me want to embark on a gaping-mouthed-monster themed world tour.


*From context clues, I'm guessing Norbert Witte is the former owner/operator of Spreepark. Wikipedia is rather Sphinx-like on his identity, introducing him out of the blue as moving to Peru in 2002.

happy girls

Another of the old Swiss pictures. I have no idea what the story is behind this, but I'm guessing it's from the 1940s. I just love everyone's expressions.

i am love

If you're in the mood for beautiful photography (it would also get my nomination for Best Recent Use of Typography in Credits, if I were handing out awards).

some sunshine

Since it's unseasonably cold in a lot of places, including where I am, here is the next of the old photos from Switzerland:

I don't know where this was taken (although probably NOT Switzerland), but I love everything about it, except my scan job which, try as I may with different scanners and settings, I can't get quite right (the original is a tiny photo, which I'm sure doesn't help). Here, for good measure, is version #2:

thing one and thing two

Finally, some things in the shop! If I were a cloth-napkin sort of girl* I would have been sorely tempted to keep the vintage linen handkerchiefs. Not many people I know** use cloth handkerchiefs, but I think these would make really lovely napkins, especially after repeated washings.



*Which I wish I were, but I should try to concentrate for now on eating at the table instead of on the couch.
**Only one family, in fact.

happy new year!

When I was studying near Geneva as a callow youth, one of my favorite things to do was visit thrift stores*, especially a Catholic one in a huge old building. Unfortunately I didn't have the wherewithal to haul home any of the beautiful old wood wardrobes, but I did buy my share of more portable items, including some wonderful old photos.

Front (very New-Year's-Revelry-appropriate):


And back:{Loose translation: "24 May '33/ Burial of the boy's life** [illegible, at least to me]/ at [illegible's] place"}


*Things haven't changed much....
**[I interpret this to be some sort of farewell to a carefree student life?]

"shoulderette"

An easy pattern from one of the wonderful stash of vintage knitting books my sister has given me:

(Click to enlarge to readable size.)

This would be a good project for someone knitting lace for the first time but not wanting to do a scarf. The lace pattern is simple and easy to remember, but just complicated enough to not be boring. I couldn't see any reference to gauge, but I think that as long as you use the needles specified (or even one size up or down) and come up with a reasonable-looking gauge, the end product should turn out fine. A shrug is, after all, a rather forgiving garment when it comes to fit.

Here is the cover of the book it came from--look at those nice saturated mid-century colors!