I'm home! I've spent nine days travelling to, or through, five states: Texas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. It was a surreal to walk through a world painted autumn with my wool coat and ruffled scarf clutched shut. At home it's still flip-flop weather and it can be difficult to remember that the holidays are around the corner.
My trip was mostly business. Dinners, meetings, research, hellos. After I finished up in Houston, I headed to the east coast. Isaac flew in to attend a couple of meetings with me and then stayed for an extra few days to photograph the cover for my sister-in-law, Wendy Lane Bailey's, upcoming album. I haven't seen the photos yet, but I hear she went for elegant-country-gothic: bustier and gown, gothic architecture, overgrown garden. I can't wait to see the results -- and to hear the album, my goodness.
Wendy collects fabulous photographs of Old-Hollywood starlets and has a serious thing for fashion, especially shoes. Beyond the regular good investment, she treats herself to an annual birthday-shoe-splurge - Prada, Blahnik, Vuitton. I suggest she photograph each new pair to one-day tell her personal history in a book of shoes, chapter by chapter. 2006, The Year of the Coral D'Orsays. 2007, The Year of the Red Peep Toes. 2008, The Year of the Insanely-Awesome Black Strappy Boots. And so on. Pcshaa!
If I'm ever a fiction writer, I might just borrow that idea right back.
Wendy also collects Art Nouveau era advertising. She has an incredible collection of paper fan advertisements, as well as soap labels, posters, postcards, etc. I'm on the lookout for the perfect hoo-hah present to send her way. Any suggestions?
Speaking of gifts. My mom deserves serious thanking. She trotted the kids to and fro and helped them get fed and to bed while we were away. And my sister too. Again, taking suggestions -- any notable thank you gifts you've received? Or given? I've got some work to do.
Glad to be back home. I won't forget to post the dragon costume photos. Miraculously, I finished that bugger up just before leaving town. And it's a hoot. Or a roar.
