beautiful.tumblr archives…

as i think about my time here closing in, all the many things i love about buenos aires come to mind… like the amount of cafes on every corner and the culture of meeting inside of them. borges said: “i think that one of the most important functions of the city is to bring the dialogue.” and as the sunlight tips a glow over the city in the late afternoons, the tables fill up. buenos aires cafes and bars are like those of paris and madrid: not only places to meet up with friends, but places where you can have your order and sit for hours on end reading and talking without any pressure to leave. though i once read that there are more cafes here than in paris…

you can now find my handmade jewelry at ryan deussing’s new place to shop for independent designers, supermarket. i’m really in excellent company there – thanks to ryan for asking me to be a part of his new venture! (you might recognize his name – he’s the founder of elsewheres.com)

p.s. even though i discontinued the coronation necklaces, you can snag the last one at supermarket!

i’m planning some major time off for a creative break, and i’m really looking forward to it. ahead i have a bit more travel, but then i’m staying put for a while. which means that i’ll be able to take my vision even further and give my tools and ideas a permanent place. i like thinking of getting back into a full rhythm again. i’ve enjoyed all the mobility my lifestyle has had since coming to south america last october.  and despite living out of a suitcase, i’ve always fit in time for my art, but ideas in the back of my mind have been stewing…

it’s time for a feast.

i’m going to continue blogging for a few more days and then i’m signing off… i have a whole lot to internalize, so much! thank you so much for your wonderful words, emails, and friendships. you all have meant so much to me.

new, and only one available… amethyst stalactite necklace. i love how the cut of this stone is a little offbeat. all the sides trimmed in silver except for the edge where the crystals form, which shows off their raw beauty. it’s a really strong piece and i think it takes a special kind of person to wear it! again, so hard to give these pieces up.

just a little notice about natural historie: all orders will need to be put in before december 12th, after that the shop will be closed till sometime in the new year.

more photographs from the trip. the gorgeous luján cathedral…

the most impressive part of the architecture was how it was completely one color of stone, i’ve never seen anything like it. it never varied in tone, from ground level to the twin spires… i think it achieves an incredible pristine look, especially if you are looking at it from the far side of the plaza on a day with full sun against the contrast of a cloudless blue sky.

the interior was equally impressive, rivaling many cathedrals that i went to in italy, in it’s size and it’s attendance. living down here i’ve come really accustomed to feeling out of place, you could say that my comfort zone has new borders. so just for a few moments walking around inside, though i’m quiet as a mouse and respectful, i felt amazed that i wasn’t out of place here. how can such personal things go on inside when any old pedestrian can walk in? i guess the same way that someone can pray in public, it’s a devotion. for those of us just weak in the knees for buildings of all kinds, thanks for letting us take our pictures or just come in to admire the ceiling and stained glass windows.

you gotta love argentina! i hope that guillermo doesn’t mind me sharing this note, but when a representative from the city sends you an email, it certainly elicits a nice warm and fuzzy feeling…

Jenny: excelentes Fotos!!! muy buenos trabajos. Espero que hayas disfrutado de tu visita a Luján. Si volvés por la zona, no dejes de visotar los pueblos de Jáuregui y carlos Keen. Jáuregui sobretodo, a 7 km de luján, es muy bonito para caminatas deportes pasar el día junto al río disfrutar del sol el aire los pájaros.

Slds Guillermo

translation: excellent pictures! very good work. i hope that you enjoyed your visit to lujan. if you return to the area, don’t miss the towns called jauregui and carlos keen. especially jauregui about 7 km from lujan, it’s very pretty for walks, sports to to spend a day by the river enjoying the sun, fresh air, and the birds.
cheers.

we had an unconventional and very adventurous thanksgiving… we decided to escape the bustle of the city and made our own pilgrimage to luján, the town also known to as la capital de la fe. the mode of transportation: three trains, a bus, a remis, two taxis, a tractor, and lots and lots of walking. we even hitched a ride from the toll booth policia to our bus stop. on the train ride back i realized i took 490 photographs, a pretty overwhelming amount to wrap up the trip in one post – but i can say that it was an incredible holiday….

i held a screaming baby tiger, admired the gothic architecture of the luján cathedral, went horseback riding in the green countryside of argentina, pet a flock of baby deer, watched monkeys climb my husband and ransack his bag, discovered the best pizza i’ve had since being in italy, sat leaning next to a lion feeling his grand mane and nobility, and even rode an elephant who threatened to run away with me on his back.

so to give thanks: i’m so grateful to be able to have the freedom to fulfill my dreams this past year. i’m grateful for argentines, whose culture holds up a love of things i hold dear – good food, time with family and friends around the table, great fashion, art & design, slow afternoons… it’s all been a seamless integration for me. buenos aires is a second home for me now. i know it sounds like i’m saying goodbye, but i’ve already been feeling nostalgic for a few weeks now. and the sun is finally coming out.

via one of my daily sites (it’s nice that) i found the most amazing index of kodachrome slides given to indiana university by photographer charles w. cushman. consisting of almost fifteen thousand images and representing the most vast array of subjects, places and people, i’m easily getting lost in the images for hours. browse an overview of the collection, search and smile.

love this one (my home sweet home) mount rainier