The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Picture Apothecary: Sexy June CleaverBy The Picture Pharmacist QuailBellMagazine.com Dear fledglings, So, these days, I’m pretty sure most everyone is at least aware that sexism isn’t cool. Objectifying women just isn’t acceptable. Now, that doesn’t mean people don’t do it, and back in the 1950s, a beautiful, half-naked woman sweeping a floor was the dream for some men. This image is a little June Cleaver-gone-Playgirl, though. So for the sake of this girl’s dignity, Photoshop some clothes on her. Or at least a more concealing apron. Yours truly, The Picture Pharmacist
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
IMA Art FreakBy QB Social Butterfly QuailBellMagazine.com _ Passing through Indiana, the state might seem like it doesn’t have much to offer, especially in the way of culture. Don’t let that fool you, for the Indianapolis Museum of Art lurks right beneath the corn-covered façade. Here’s what’s coming up at the IMA soon:
Thursday, December 22, 5:30 to 8:30 pm Winter Solstice This event will feature performances by the Indiana Ballet Conservatory and harpist Jan Aldridge Clark and an ice carving demonstration by Indiana Ice Studio, Inc. You can also meet a reindeer and make your own silk sun catcher. Admission is free. Monday, January 16, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration This event will feature Art-Making Activities, Special Exhibition Entry and Docent Stations, The IMA Art Carts, and a special Art Search and Find Game Tours: 11:30 am to 12:00 pm: Realization of the Deferred Dream: African-American Artists at the IMA 12:30 to 1:00 pm: Ancestors & Leaders: A Tour of the African Collection 1:00 to 2:00 pm: Khabir the Storyteller 1:30 to 2:00 pm: Perceptions of America 2:30 to 3:00 pm: Looking at Contemporary Art 3:30 to 4:00 pm: Crowd Pleasers in the Late European Collection 4:00 to 5:00 pm: Ending the all day event with be a performance from Dr. Djo Drumming The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
WEILEWAY! The QB Crew would like to express our sincerest apologies for NOT updating the website yesterday, December 7th. Unfortunately, our web management system was down. You know we wouldn't neglect you otherwise. As an expression of our regret, here's a little giftie: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Virginia's Vintage-happy CapitalBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Fashionistas come in all forms, including self-proclaimed '50s sitcom dads with day jobs at universities. Their glasses run thick, their ties blink black, and their pants come in only one variety: business professional. If images of Milanese catwalk-worshipping cadavers are still haunting you, meet the outlier—Southern fashionista Brian McDaniel, founder of the popular street and lifestyle blog, DirtyRichmond.Tumblr.com. This fast-talking gentleman captures flashes of Richmond, VA's distinctive fashion and social scenes on the digital camera he normally has slung around his shoulder. In a place where “the city is dirty but the people are not” and art and history often collide, Brian's inspiration is as likely to trot on sidewalks as it is to party in Edwardian-era row houses. Following in the footsteps of The Sartorialist and Bill Cunningham, Brian instinctively photographs what compels him in the moment. Brian jumpstarted Dirty Richmond (commonly called Dirty RVA for short) in September 2009, after spending a semester studying business in Hong Kong. While he had hoped Hong Kong would offer the same kind of over-the-top fashion rampant in Tokyo, Brian found the common street style there more conservative. He often found himself nostalgically describing Richmond, the historic city not far from his native suburban Chesterfield County. The city's also home to his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, well-known for its art and communications programs. Both the city's plethora of late 19th-century enthusiasts and creative undergrads contribute to Richmond's playfulness with clothes and interior design.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Fairy Food: Cucumber Monterey Jack SliderBy QB Chef QuailBellMagazine.com If you're not British, you might not understand why putting cucumbers in sandwiches is such a brilliant idea. Allow the fairies to enlighten you. In the Land of Faerie, cucumbers are a winter staple. Sure, cucumbers are out of season in the human world then, but remember that the Land of Faerie has the convenience of magic on its side. Fairies gobble up cucumbers in the wintertime because they taste like snowflakes. For your own wintry cucumber delight, gather up mini potato buns, cucumber slices, and Monterey Jack cheese. Then get to sandwich-making. It's so easy, you won't need a magic spell.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Lucky CityBy QB Social Butterfly QuailBellMagazine.com _ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one lucky city. Home to one of the largest museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philly is not a place to be missed when visiting (or living on) the East Coast. It's full of art, culture, and history--everything a QB fledgling adores. Here’s what the museum has to offer this holiday season along with the Rocky-esque jog up the famous steps:
Thursday, December 8, 11:00 am Spotlight On…Mocking of Christ by Bosch Free with admission. Friday, December 9 Art After 5: Holiday Klezmer: 5:00 pm to 8:45 pm Art After 5: All in a Knight’s Work: 6:00 pm Free with admission. Saturday, December 10 Try a Technique Indian Miniature Painting: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm $45 or $36 for members Caroling through the Galleries: 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm Free with admission, also happening December 11 at the same times. Sunday, December 11 Winter Wonderland: The Snowflake Man by Puppetkabob: 10:30 am to 2:00 pm Free with admission. Includes a Gallery Quest and a Make & Take Workshop “The Christmas Story” in Art: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Free with admission, also happening December 18, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 at the same times. Thursday, December 15, 11:00 am Spotlight On…Elegy to the Spanish Republic by Robert Motherwell Free with admission. Friday, December 16 Art After 5: Mistletoe Hop featuring Matthew Piazzi and the Debonairs: 5:00 to 8:45 pm Free with admission. Art After 5: Dressed to Kill: Arms and Armor: 6:00 pm The Cutting Edge: Contemporary Art: 6:30 pm Impressionism and Beyond: 7:00 pm Free with admission First Persons Arts StorySlam: Stories of Gifts: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Free with admission. This is a purely audience driven event with the possibility of going to the Grand Slam and winning the title of “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia.” Sunday, December 18 Early Bird Read and Look: A Penguin Story: 10:15 to 11:00 am Ages 3 to 5. Free with admission. Family Gallery Tour: Asian Art: 11:30 am Ages 6 to 10. Free with admission, but free tickets needed after admission. Tours for Tots: Shapes: 11:30 am Ages 3 to 5. Free with admission. Drawing Together: 12:00 to 3:00 pm Open to all ages. Free with admission. Wednesday, December 21, 11:00 am Stroller tour Ages newborn to 1. Free with admission. Friday, December 23 Art After 5: Escape to Toyland featuring Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society and tap dancers the Minsky Sisters and Cassandra Rosebeetle of the dance troupe Desert Sin: 5:00 pm to 8:45 pm Free with admission Art After 5: American Art: 5:30 pm American Highlights: 5:30 pm Modern and Contemporary Art: 6:30 pm Free with admission. Saturday, December 24, 12:00 pm Collection Tour: The Story of Christmas Free with admission. Monday, December 26 Family Studio: Winter Family Studio: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Free with admission, also happening December 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. Dutch Apple Treat – Learn how to draw an apple: 1:00 to 5:00 pm Free with admission, also happening January 1. Concert: Haddonfield Memorial High School Madrigal Singers: 2:00 to 3:00 pm Free with admission. Tuesday, December 27, 2:00 to 3:00 pm Concert: West Philadelphia Orchestra Free with admission. Wednesday, December 28, 2:00 to 3:00 pm Concert: St. Thomas African Episcopal Gospel Choir Free with admission. Thursday, December 29, 2:00 to 3:00 pm Concert: Keystone State Boyschoir Free with admission. Friday, December 30 Concert: Settlement Music School Faculty Brass Quintet: 2:00 to 3:00 pm Free with admission, also happening on January 1 at same time Art After 5: New Year’s Eve Pre-Party: 5:00 to 8:45 pm Art After 5: African American Art: 6:00 pm Impressionism: Before and After: 6:00 pm Free with admission. Saturday, December 31, 2:00 to 3:00 pm Concert: The Cat’s Pajamas Free with admission. Sunday, January 1 Pay What You Wish Day: First Sunday of every month New Year’s Day Champagne Brunch: 10:30 am to 2:30 pm $45 for adults, $23 for children. Reservations required: 215-684-7990. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Yum! A Pretty French Children's Storybook!By Starling Root QuailBellMagazine.com If you want to brush up on your high school French and slobber over some gorgeous fairy tale images at the same time, try reading La princesse sans nom (Milan Jeunesse 2008) by Hugues Paris and Anne Romby. This children's storybook centers on a nameless princess—in case the title doesn't give it away—and a mean old witch, plus a few winged ladies. Mainly, though, you'll find yourself poring over the book's visual elements. From the smooth hard cover to the beautifully textured paper to the bold colors to the exquisite level of detail, the book will hold your eye for an entire afternoon. You might even be tempted to pick up a calligraphy pen, too.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
How to Lure a Jackalope into Your ApartmentBy Paisley Hibou QuailBellMagazine.com As the days shift from slightly nippy to downright frosty, you, being as kind as Disney's Snow White, probably start to worry about all the furry creatures—including jackalopes. Where will they go? What will they eat? How will they avoid turning into popsicles while they sleep? Your natural compassion forces you to hatch a plan: Lure a jackalope into your apartment and baby it as much as your puppy, kitty, or firstborn. Eventually, you will nurse all jackalope orphans to health and re-locate them to a non-profit ranch that doubles as a unicorn clinic. Of course, while you like the plan, you're not sure how to actualize it. You've never even seen a jackalope before, and nobody at the pet store has a clue, either. This is where a P.h.D. in Jackalope Studies would come in handy, but you dropped out of grad school after only one semester. Luckily, Quail Bell's editorial staff is still full of Jackalope doctoral candidates.
Here's how they suggest you get a jackalope to hop into your apartment and curl up tight for the winter: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Can you spot the difference?Every woman is a piece of art, even if she's not wearing a toga or fig leaf. With that philosophy in mind, here are six vaguely Greco-Roman torsos strewn about in two collages. Yet there's one teeny detail that differs between the pictures. Can you find it? Send your answer (along with your name and email address) to submissions@quailbellmagazine.com for a chance at a prize. Picture A Picture B
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Old Christmas Movies Not to MissBy Jade Miller QuailBellMagazine.com I’m not the most Christmas inclined person, but if I can’t tolerate the tree or the lights…I can certainly enjoy a good Christmas movie. My number one favorite is the original animated The Grinch from 1966, quite obviously since I relate to the grinch-like tendencies. Check out these other awesome Christmas movies over your holiday: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Christmas DollsBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com A faint Atlantic breeze rustled the curtains that framed the room's glass sliding doors. The doors betrayed a view of a glittering outdoor pool surrounded by stucco walls. Palm trees heavy with coconuts and parakeets slumped over the chlorinated water. A lobster-fried couple, ripe with the scent of sunscreen, parked themselves on reclining chairs that faced the pool. Beyond that vignette, the ocean lapped at the white shore. Despite the early hour, boom boxes blared and neon bikinis dotted the beach. Having slept through Santa Claus' visit, the people of Fort Lauderdale, Florida were eager to see what rested beneath their trees.
Yet my family did not rise to a star-topped conifer. We had driven from Virginia to Florida for a tropical taste of the holiday season. What with our five selves, countless suitcases, exploding diaper bag, hefty cooler, and several map books, our little Mazda allowed no room for a tree. Nonetheless our Christmas felt traditionally Dickensian (post-Scrooge transformation) because of the gift my parents had chosen for their three girls. On Christmas morning 1995, my sisters and I woke up to a garden of porcelain dolls, each one sprouting from the covers like a mythical blossom. Our parents had planted the dolls in two neat rows, just the perfect distance from one another so that their pristine dresses did not touch. There were six in all, two for each girl. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Is this YOUR great-great-grandmother?By QB Gleaner QuailBellMagazine.com This babe was found at an antique-y place in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Victorian Christmas at MaymontBy QB Social Butterfly QuailBellMagazine.com In Richmond, Virginia, the Maymont Mansion’s draw is that it’s an “American Estate.” So enjoy a truly American Christmas by visiting some of their historical events this Christmas season. Almost daily, holidays tours of the Victorian mansion (built by Mr. and Mrs. James Dooley) will be offered. Listed below are some of the other special events.
December 9 & 16, 5:30 pm Maymont by Moonlight Witness Christmas preparations and experience the Dooley’s first Christmas in their new home through the eyes of the family, guests, and staff. The event will include caroling and a ride on a horse-drawn carriage. Admission is $25 per person ($20 for members). December 13, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Candlelight Tour Much like the previous event, this one will introduce you to the type of Christmas the Dooleys would have had in 1893. Admission is $10 per person ($7 for members). The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
YouTube Pick: Spontaneous MeBy QB Curator QuailBellMagazine.com A quirky, creative girl in costumes? Sounds very QB: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Whaddya know? The big wig had thoughts.Right now Executive Editor Christine Stoddard is reading The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt (Fonta Books 1970)--a riveting novel about the secret life and thoughts of Marie Antoinette, dating back to her earliest recollections of her childhood in Austria. Based upon the famous play gal's letters and dairy entries, The Queen's Confession reads like the intimate memoir Marie never wrote. Check it out to find out just what she thought about France, anyhow.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Bah-Humbug!By Julie DiNisio QuailBellMagazine.com _ Fact: my family loves Christmas. Every year, we put up practically innumerable amounts of Christmas splendor around our house. I’m talking multiple Christmas villages, a towering Christmas tree, Christmas lights – all very tasteful despite the sounds of it. Not surprisingly, seasonal movies are also a big thing for my family. Thus, I’ve seen a significant number of A Christmas Carol versions. Dickens’ classic is just that for a reason – this story of redemption resonates especially around Christmas. Some versions are better than others, though. Below, I list some of the best and worst takes on the story.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) With a variety of Disney cartoon character playing the roles, this one is just too adorable to pass up. And fortunately, this was made before Disney got real crappy. A Christmas Carol (2009) For an animated Christmas film, this adaptation has a remarkably strong cast with Jim Carrey (as Scrooge and the ghosts), Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, and Gary Oldman. Because it is done by the director of the Polar Express, I’m not personally crazy about the animation style. But I think that’s just me since everyone else seems to love it! A Christmas Carol (1984) With actor George C. Scott interpreting the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, this made-for-TV movie is reasonably good. In my opinion, it lacks gusto and comes off as, well, a little made-for-TV. But don’t that deter you if you’re in a pinch. A Christmas Carol (1999) Patrick Stewart makes a surprising Scrooge in this also made-for-TV movie. But a very good one, nonetheless, as his performance is unique and engaging. A Christmas Carol (1951) This is by and large my favorite adaptation, both because it is really the best and it is sentimental to me. It stars Alistair Sim as the infamous Scrooge, who is perfectly stingy in the beginning but transitions towards giddy and goofy towards the end. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Winter Weekend BummingBy Belle Byrd QuailBellMagazine.com Office life does not allow for the adrenaline rushes of Quidditch games. The feeling of satisfaction that saturates you from feathered cap to pointed toe after finishing a research paper hardly outweighs the feeling of satisfaction you'd get after completing a magic quest of epic proportions. At the end of the typical day, you're drained and perhaps disappointed. You could've been the heroine in a Jane Austen or Diana Gabaldon novel. Instead, you barely earn the recognition of the other entry-level employees at work and your overall passion for life is pretty much non-existent. But why gripe about how far your daily routine strays from high fantasy or raunchy historical fiction? The weekend has arrived. You need to thank yourself for surviving another forty hours of paper-pushing hell. Relax and pamper yourself the QB-way: •First off, you are spending the weekend alone at home all snuggly-cuddly-wuddly with no interruptions. You are the dragon, this is your cave, and you will scorch anyone who attempts to steal your treasure chest, i.e., precious free time. •Change into your favorite, most frivolous attire. The more costume-y, the better. Even if you're hanging out by yourself, you can still look like a siren (or intergalactic medieval babe) doing it. Dress yourself up for the joy of it, not because you have to “look presentable” or “impress” anybody. •Brew some black tea, add a wee bit of sugar and milk, and blow off a couple of hours listening to bagpipe hits and letting your thoughts wander. •Get your hands on a bunch of old books from a library discard pile, local non-profit, or thrift shop sometime during the workweek. When the weekend comes around, rifle through all of the books in search of awesome or coo-worthy images. Then make a collage or simple stop-motion animation. You can even turn the endeavor into a scavenger hunt. 1950's shaving cream ad? Check. •Watch The History Channel for waaaay too long and don't bother thinking about any of the shows until you've vegged out for at least an hour. •Go through all your old photo albums. Tell yourself how beautiful you looked during the ages you always considered yourself incredibly unattractive or at least awkward. Maybe photocopy pictures from that era and découpage a mirror frame. •Surf Etsy.com for a while and build an imaginary Christmas list or wedding registry in a spreadsheet or Powerpoint. •Teach yourself an obsolete craft or skill and master it. Repairing typewriters? Fencing with a Shinai? Why not? The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Ravens of AvalonBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com A crackling Christmas fire reminds you not of roasting chestnuts but of a viking pyre consuming the corpse of an epic warrior. Sleigh bells conjure the echos of funeral drums. Somewhere you envision all the actors in a nativity scene suddenly succumbing to the red death. You cannot bear to drink your hot cocoa because it reminds you of blood, as orange and yellow light flicker across the room. Like the vestiges of autumn, your hope for a Christmas miracle has crumpled in the winter wind. This cold-blowing season, instead of basking in the twinkle of tinsel and window candles, you put on celtic mourning music and cuddle up with a treasury of Brian Froud illustrations for hours, day after day, week after week. Despite your imaginative and nostalgic retreats, you are acutely aware that someone you love has died.
You have finally admitted to yourself that the time for zombies has already passed this year. Your loved one will not emerge from the grave, dragging clumps of soil and worms on her bony feet, and sit next to you on the sofa. Your loved one will not rest her head on your shoulder as you describe your favorite Sir Arthur Conan Doyle photograph. Your loved one won't tap on your living room window with her beak, disguised as a hawk, like a character in a medieval lais. She is dead and the fireplace will roar, with or without her. Pine needles will drop and snow will fall, with or without her. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Quills & QuailsBy QB Quill QuailBellMagazine.com Our latest regular feature? Thoughtful, occasionally inspirational, haikus by the pen of the quail queen. It's like a QB version of those little pull-a-page desk calendars. Here's the first: i. ruffle your feathers little quail. it is a new day, bright and shining The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Picture Apothecary: Creepy KidsBy The Picture Pharmacist QuailBellMagazine.com Dear fledglings, As we enter the holiday season, you're probably trolling Etsy, used bookstores, and thrift shops for evidence of a sweeter, more innocent time in history. You've been waking up too often with thoughts of Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party rallies swarming your mind. Both look like a washed-up prostitute first thing in the morning and, frankly, you don't remember where you put your wallet or even if whatever you got last night was worth $500. So you keep wandering in search of relics of the past. But everything you find strikes you as grotesque. Why are all the pillbox hats crumpled? Why can't you find first editions that don't look like knock-offs? And why are the children in vintage postcards so damn creepy? Take these ones, for instance. The children look like stunted adults who hate their hair, jobs, and paternal grandfathers. Their cherubic blush seems to stem from their day-to-day dissatisfaction. They are flustered, not overjoyed. Instead of having eyes full of hope, they have eyes full of ennui (okay, maybe the little boy has eyes full of perverse longings). Since these children seem no happier than the kids of today, it's your job to zip them into Photoshop and paint smiles on their faces...literally. Otherwise, they'll never get into the holiday spirit. So hop to it...and happy (early) New Year! Yours truly, The Picture Pharmacist
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Good Old-fashioned SuspenseBy Julie DiNisio QuailBellMagazine.com Alfred Hitchcock did not necessarily look like the master of suspense. Photos of this British director and movie industry icon remind me of an English Bulldog. Or a grumpy old man. This is a case of you can’t judge a book by its cover. Hitchcock was a genius, a pioneer in film, and far more innovative than any bulldog I’ve ever known. He introduced previously unused camera angles and wrote stories to keep his viewers on the edge of their seats. In his lifetime, he directed over fifty movies. Below are some of the most popular and some of the more notably obscure features on Hitchcock’s impressive list of accomplishments:
Rebecca (1940) Based on Daphne du Maurier’s famous novel, this movie stars Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. It is a beautiful, gothic tale that subtly highlights Hitchcock’s talent in dealing with the supernatural and suspenseful. Rope (1948) This was one of his most interesting works of filming. The story centers around two young men who strangled one of their friends to see if they could get away with murder. Almost the entire movie is shot on one set, the dining room of an apartment, and most of the scenes continuously run for ten or more minutes. Rear Window (1954) In a similar fashion to Rope, the entirety of this movie takes place from the window view of one apartment. When a professional photographer, played by James Stewart, witnesses a murder, he has to piece together the puzzle without leaving his apartment (due to a broken leg). Vertigo (1958) In this film, a detective confronts his fear of heights while following an allegedly possessed woman. Due to an unforeseeable twist, this is considered one of the director’s most defining works. Psycho (1960) There’s no way you haven’t seen this movie. I’m not even going to bother explaining the plot. Just know that taxidermy and multiple personalities combine in one incredibly creepy, innovative movie. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Remembering Lisa Frank By Luna Lark QuailBellMagazine.com Unabashedly a child of the '90s, I remember the days of scrunchies, New Romantics hand-me-downs, and acid-wash jeans with fondness, not disgust. Surely I could have grown up in a less garish and more aesthetically decisive decade, but I enjoyed my childhood nonetheless (or maybe because of the ubiquitous tackiness). Part of the colorful outlandishness that spilled over from the '80s and into the early '90s was inherently very child-like and therefore agreeable to children. The big shapes, the arresting colors—the sights were bold without the nasty grayness that an adult's paintbrush lends to the world. The art and stationery of Lisa Frank epitomize that optimistic, over-the-top '90s flair that became very familiar to me as early as kindergarden. To the uninitiated, Lisa Frank is a pop artist whose cartoonish work anthropomorphizes every creature from pandas to jaguars to turtles. Lisa Frank even renders narwals, though her pictures of unicorns, teddy bears, and household pets are her most famous. This equal-opportunity artist has also earned attention for her imaginative depictions of tween girls who combine fashion savvy with active lifestyles as surfers, princesses, shoppers, and cool kids on the block. Yet the main take-away about Lisa Frank's art is this: she always goes for flamboyant colors and information overload. If there's a free space in her work, chances are she'll fill it with a heart, star, or rainbow. When I was in first grade, my parents bought a huge Lisa Frank DIY jewelry kit for my sisters and me to share. I remember digging through the beads, always astounded by what shape or shade I'd pluck up next. The beads all came in typical Lisa Frank colors: violet, magenta, sunshine yellow, aqua, deep pink. Occasionally, my sisters and I would fight over the more unique beads, which were usually shaped like animals. Other times, we would sit peacefully in our playroom, stringing beads onto electric purple and bright blue strands of elastic for a menagerie of poodle bracelets and kitty necklaces.
|
|