Thursday Thoughts – El Capricho

Why do I love Antonio Gaudí? Maybe because of his love for nature’s wonders – starting when he was only a small child. His way of using nature’s forms and designs in everything he created. Making the pillars in Sagráda Família with scars like the tree trunks get when they have lost a branch, making lamps look like flowers and light spill out like waves in the sea…

In every detail he was …mirroring nature.

In Comillas, on the north coast of Spain, you will find this ”folly” – El Capricho – by Gaudí, built for Máximo Díaz de Quijano (a relative of the marquis of Comillas) in the 1880´s. You immediately recognize his style using iron structures, glazed pottery and stained glass.

Come, let’s take a ”folly” walk …

In my dreams, a dinner with Antonio Gaudí would be optional… to get the opportunity to listen to his ideas and maybe discuss nature’s impact on humans – body and soul. I would have had many, many questions…

I was lucky enough to meet him in his garden, sitting there admiring his work. I tried to get some answers, but mostly we sat quietly contemplating…me admiringly of course. But, I am so thankful for having finally met him – my favourite architect.

CFFC: Legs and Feet

Legs and feet for Cee…could not help posting this one from Le Louvre, Paris. We had great fun, and my daughter had me posing, joking about her brother’s big feet…

For more feet, click here.

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A Place Where Nobody Wanted to Live…

The controversial modernist architect Antoni Gaudí is one of my own favourites…but in his own time – he was not always popular. In Barcelona, you might have visited  his fabulous Sagrada Família, Casa Battló or La Pedrera and Parc Güell. And Marvelled.

Palacio Episcopal (end of the 19th century) in Astorga was seen as rather abominable in appearance and the cost for building it was just too much for the congregation. No bishop has ever lived there since…

Inside, you recognize Gaudí’s style with beautiful ceramics and stained glass.

The palace is now being restored, and I guess its future visitors will continue to admire his outstanding art.

The magnificent cross bows and his colour combinations are simply divine.

So, be sure to visit when your road leads you here…you cannot get too much of Gaudí!

As usual, click to get a larger view – sometimes you have to click twice…and click the links for my previous posts on his art in Barcelona!

 

Blog Break – Reloading

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It is time for me to have a break. I will be reloading my batteries for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I will be back with new energy to read and write again.

I am so grateful for all of you, friends, readers and followers out there…the blogosphere is a warm and generous place to be. Thank you for your constant support, humour and good advice – and for all your fantasy and inspiration.

I wish you a lovely summer!

Ann-Christine

Travel theme: Indoors

 

This was a tricky one for Ailsa…I really am short of indoor photos. I guess I am just an outdoor person.

Nevertheless, this book store in Rome I find an irresistable indoors…and then, well, all of you who are dog lovers know what happens when you are sitting peacefully in that certain place…In (the) door suddenly appears a familiar face …”Oh, there you are! Just wanted to check…” (Quote, Mille)

For more of indoors, click here.

 

WPC: Look up

Look up! This is a very varied challenge with many possibilities. My take is all about nature – even if you might not think so…

In the header, a lamp from Gaudí’s Casa Batllo´in Barcelona. He always used Nature herself as an inspiration. Maybe a drop of water in a pool?

 

A Swedish autumn birch in its splendour – who would not look up?

Great tree ferns, New Zeeland, North Island.

Great tree ferns, New Zeeland, North Island.

New Zealand’s Great fern trees draws your eye…upwards.

Madrid

Madrid

In Madrid my head went dizzy when watching this tree in a spectacular swing…

Madrid

Madrid

And these well dressed trees… I just hade to peep inside for this spectacular view!

For more reasons to look up, click here.

 

Camilla Thulin – Wear, If You Dare!

 

This rainy day was made for an outing – with darling Viveka at myguiltypleaures. She can make any day shine… We decided for Dunkers and the famous designer Camilla Thulin.

Dunkers

 

Camilla Thulin loves luxury ”second hand” and started collecting clothes and accessories at an early age. Today she is a famous fashion designer and her clothes are worn by actors as well as singers and other people in the Swedish world of artists.

She also has her own name in fashion and in the world of classy underwear.

The definition of ”Kaftan”, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a man’s long belted tunic, worn in countries of the Near East. It could also mean a woman’s long loose dress, or a loose shirt or top.

Camilla Thulin declares her fascination for this garment, and in the exhibition hall there are kaftans of her design as well as kaftans from her own collection of second hand and folklore clothes from Morocco, Turkey and Palestine, among others.

 

For the scene, her collection is vast – some examples are ”Piaf”, ”Evita” and ”Amadeus”.

In an earlier post, I mentioned her clothes for Army of Lovers. In this Dunkers’ exhibition there was also a dress made for our Swedish jazz singer, Lisa Nilsson, worn at the Crown Princess’ wedding.

 

Peep inside the studio – what might it look like inside the creative Camilla’s headquarters?

 

 

 Camilla Thulin shop online here. http://www.camillathulin.se/

My Illusory, Illusive Week…

Strange things this week…It all started out so well…but these are my memories …

…in my ordinary Blekinge again. Don’t we all have crazy dreams sometimes…?

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