tags and stats and musings.

April 16, 2013April 16, 2013 | teamgloria

darlings

we so Rarely check the “stats” pages (we lie) on our blog and IG (instagram) but when we do (frequently) we are Tickled Pink by the sheer International nature of the delicious visitors who drop by – look!

Fig. 1

to decode a little (if we were Presenting a PowerPoint – which thankfully our new life does not require us to do anymore – we would have this point written down in the accompanying notes) – the darker areas are the most popular – hello, friends-in-the-USA, followed by the sunshine yellow – hullo, london, guten tag deutschland, bonjour paris! howdy, canada and g’day australia and a virtual hug to NZ – as well as a deep humble bow and a Konnichiwa (we are Most Excited to have an increasing number of new friends in The Land Of The Rising Sun).

the peachy areas are very tentatively new acquaintances from latin america and a few – gasp – from RU (a very curious look via the interweb to you there – we never got to visit in the last Day Job, sadly).

and then we took a quick gander (british for “look”) at this new-fangled area on statigram (the techie-types-that-observe-instagram) or maybe it’s been there for simply ages but we didn’t peek and it does a comparison between the most Popular Tags on instagram as a whole (see Fig. 2) and those-we-use (the exercise is to suggest one uses the tags that people-are-searching-for-on-IG-as-a-whole one assumes – but we’re not that bothered by the young Mr. Bieber – charming and apparently wayward as he is).

Fig. 2

so here are our tags – and they are perfectly amusing – they couldn’t be anyone else’s tags actually.

which means we are being True to ourself – At. Last.

teamgloria tags.

dianavreeland toooldschool afterthewedding coldcomfortfarm

broughttea dreams antoncorbijn unwindingfromnyc

headingtotheusa laviejetset tedbaker chocolate

stevefriedman breathtaking agnesjekyll lavender delightful

bringkleenex vintagefind upearly whatimlisteningto malibudiner executivestress

weadoreanacknowledgement holidaywindows movieset naughty

listeningtomorrissey sweden greenwichhotel thehamptons orwellian

classic sohappy deliciousprospect caffeine strawberryswitchblade livres

sunlightkissesonstone aftertherainstorm stranger milan bloodtestresults

alhirschfeld voracious intrigued spring gratefulforexecutivejob wintercoats

anydaynow excellentreference newgalleries crazyhorse redsatincurtains

insideyourfridge newschool winterskin yippee icantstaylong fiveeasypieces

8am whereyousleep skimlatte halhartley bestsickroomever lovely flower

soapbubbles francesmarion ipaddrinkstabanyway paristrip ysl jpcuenca youvegotmail

oldschoolsociety postsurgeryeffect helmutnewton aroyalaffair

crosbysthotel fromwhereisit thoughtyoudlikethis june ft bubbys bookshop

requiredwriting tinybittumblr helenehanff californiasong peaceful

philiplarkin connecticut oriel blissfulbrowsing havenskitchen the gato

perfectlyprius readinggeorgesnyder blush divineopulence studiobacklot

snowovermanhattan gloriouslife letstakemanhattan money book1

rollonbloodygreencard viviennewestwood boweryhouston

lavieeuropean

graffiti lastsunset birthdaygift annetaintor jacknicholson

147 gigglinghelplessly sadness exhausted beautifulpeoplealert

swam sybillebedford

freshstarts berlin thechandeliertree roaming andreeputman roses magical nest evidenceofspring idmagazine 5curiousfacts satindreams staleywise

pastis oreo denis saturdayatlast justarrived festive beardsley eastvillage

melroseplace uppereastsidetrip smiling paradiseindeed hudson

teawithgeorge kitkemp somethingyoumade boyssideofthestore scary

ojaivalleyspaandinn shuttersonthebeach nyc still pink diptic wands sunglasses sandy focus somethingtobedesired malpensa downthegardenpath newteacupandsaucer roughday 18thcent qualityproblems stories katespade atlast forevermarilyn carolinebaker fashionablereads sickbeddreams good ithelped princest intriguing dearflames lebristol worldofinteriors bigsigh downwithlove beloved

unurbancoffeeshop novelinspiration treasureandbond provincetown

manhattanmoments guillebeau appleblossom guerillakindness ordermoreteamgloriapostcards taketimetolookoutthewindow losangeles

bubbleshots currentlyreading aquadog veryhalston verygrateful weekend lounge weadoreaglassroof memoiraboutdying gettingontowestcoasttime

teatime sohohouse red arden girlsofacertainage whathappened yoursky tradbankholsthen steinway moving chandeliertree typewriter britishboardingschoolgirl

flightmadridtony deborahturbeville realityshowrecruiter boweryhotel differentlife splendidtomes colette evening nancymitford gasp sunsetstrip newmoleskinetime thomascrownaffair lovingthenewissue goodmorning marypoppins

ofwhat divinefeline tiffanyshlain verygently hotday hurricane nicenewui ink afterthedoctors essential 1932 dorsetcream motherofthebridehats

pamperedprincess élysée cafe westvillage icedcoffee publichall verytired nimbus thehour cough dreamyglamday revolutionaries jollyenglishfilms fredericklyons carolineandrieu favourite twinkly alasnotime indeed dayoffdelights dmv greenwichavenyc brilliantmind sophialoren davidbelasco universalstudios loveactually incense steamy characteralert asignfromthegods twinkle makesyouhappy cherubs inourhotelroom brilliant wemakeitglam sublimelight weadoreatrainjourney startingtofeelbetter magicalden elevator 10am readingonthesubway allaboutme cadburys saturday lovethistown bookdeal needabreak dinner amyephron discoball cutemoments streetart movingoffice bookcoffeeblissful number128 whitney losfeliz oxfords atwatervillage caffeineandparanoia nigelslater nyccliche newobsessionpotential hairmodel jenniferweisberg homeatlast secretworkthing smile selfcare businessbreakfast brasserieleshalles appropriatemetaphor miserable killers deeplycool 1950s losangelesconfidential hearts summerhols 6thave onlyinlosangeles coffeebreak thoughtful glorious benign weadoreabalcony 69columbus sunshine againsttherules 1913 kentrogowski purpleprose perryst nancymeyers summerdoorways fab palmsprings westbroadway rachelashwell beautifulcreatures principedisavoia waverlyinn beingagirl pursuitofmagic ratherlovely 2012 bbc gloriousview sograteful youthfulfollies sun flu smallsimpletasks deliciouslife forellen ferrisbueller lookup louisebrooks connectedthemovie francescaliablock since1931 nottheatre stillawake muchfun pierrechoderlosdelaclos fromengland verykind rimbaud janetrahey beautifulcompany crowntrentuk thebestamericanessays parislovers bonnieslotnickcookbooks australia sunkissedtoesbackonmanhattansofa rollongreencardandlalicense letters curious betseyjohnson uppereastside headhurts eleganceatwork sneeze onlyinla maca weadoreachandelier localshops dramaqueen day3 mai68 raininginmanhattan thelondonwesthollywood supermoon newyorker dogfight stgermaindespres caffereggio wordsworth wagthedog veryla stuffonourdesk 144 sparkly shockedprincessexpression caprice miami madonnamadeamovie irvingpenn 129 sunrise homefromhome lovebeingintheclouds bag afteralongweek themoth startplotting ladyofletters southbeach lovelyday moo cafedeflore lavieenrose happy dvds stlukes pantone barnesandnoble hollywoodchic deliciousbooks true sniffle weadore windthings hollywood pickup brightstar gemma cuteconcept lifesaver indian houston properpotoftea intodeeperwater christopherst languorousstretch letterstoawaywardson nicolettaceccoli lovethat sundayflight scruples2 pastelpinkprincessphones ugh lovelyenglishladywriters melroseplacefarmersmarket snort nyfw attemptingdomesticity theartforumstudio neededthat cornwall englishcooks tired 125 photoadaychallenge babyitscoldoutthere andaverynicetea 77th wallacecollection weekendsupplements feelingbetternow southseaport anonymity shortstories thebest buffythevampireslayer radox elcapitantheatre bravo blondie guide bookcontract veroniquevienne perrystreet dianaathill supersecretluncheon exhale wavingfrommiami lamplight pause memories thestemist sohocliche 21club blaisecendrars wasratherdistracted anaisninquote curiouslookingaround bigsenseachievement pencil gracechurch googletranslate baileyportrait deepthinking bondst eastcoast centralpark 1822 movember sunsettower lovethisbook yourviewtoday favoritechristmasmovie girlslovepink 2 tart garykemp 1940 worthatry ball 1970slosangeles rain up 11ammtg newchapter psbookshop disney movienights secretlocation billymorrison68 123 weadorejomalone trees watchingmovieswhilegettingoverjetlag trickortreat theyoungandthedisaffectedwiththeamericandream excellenthabitats fallenangels weadorepostfromengland atconference milkandcookies randomhouse kindnessrocks light brunchinbrooklyn greateuropeanminds someoneyoulove athena theflowers teamgloriastyle jamiewhitney fabbag businesslounge newmuseum schiaparelli 133 dukeellington reading violetsonwhite bubbles sunsetblvd housingworksbookshop booksmakeitbetter bitterlycold manhattanmonday ange water washingtonsquare cafemode theplaza threetimesyes lincolncentrecinema sacredjourneys cafesonatina rickowens subwayads timemachine movingtolosangeles beverlyhills chatwithb may68paris gillianrose 29 4pm gigglinginsoho monday hellolosangeles fran aninterestingcrowdindeed jonathan howdotheywalk thebritespot claridges freshair broadwaybaby afa notfortnums bobsflowershoppe memotoself moinhos moviescripts paradise eleonoraditoledo inspiring colehaanoxfords stregis loved beauty kitchenfugue alpino rachelsigner emforster lisbonairport airport yourshoes sickday nicetouch theprovincialladyinlondon silverliningplaybook mercerkitchen greeklamps nostalgia deneuve stevemadden sunset achinglychic deliciouswords balthazar departures we theprovincialladygoesfurther fashioneditor bucelas lesfleurs decemberchallenge themanhattanoffashioninsiders soulsisters rainyday realwow achingly_chic williamsburg whatisinyourbathroomcabinet askingdianavreelandforinspiration littlecupcakebakeshop executivestresscure stylishdecor reallynils equinoxwestwood annadeaveresmith thankyoudc hamptons inspired parkinson fadedromanvilla mintla eastcoastjetlag damselsindistress ranchhouse comments artsupplies lovelydarling prefertobedeneuve georgesnyder stephanie irony joespub suddenlynoticed sweetrevenge watchingcityofangels catherinedeneuve angelika leavingforparis misstaintortissues postswim valentinesdaypromoalready joyous sob silver princessphone fleurs crushatlincolntunnel pretty newyorkerhotel boanoite posters goodlord theuppereastsideisdifferent eek bowerydiner dayearly supersecretlunch delicious parkavenue editedbychristopherhitchens hairbykenneth nature inspirations andweareback oscars raining occupywallst midtown gettingintolamodepeople backathospital veryenglish thompsonst warmscarfrequired businessclasslounge chic breakfastwithsocrates blueblueblueforever hollywoodtales headtohappytoes bonwitteller westsilverlake chelseamarket joanjulietbuck smartbobbedhairandsaddleshoes thecornerbookstore happymonday 7monthsagosurgery hangingoutinlittleitaly aesthetic_appeal tomatosouptime onestopnyc crimbleouting drumminglesson tomorrow zeroaction graydoncarter gorgeous manhattanisfreezing leuchtturm1917 seenatlunch happysaturday lastlook payphone letterfromnewyork princessonvacation quellechic wrapupwarmgirl silverlake chanel ninasimone whenharrymetsally onefromthearchives drama muchsmallerofficenext posthols onceuponatime normanparkinson bubblingbrook museumofcityofnewyork italianamericanmuseum agonizing symphonyofbeige saturdayshots cloudwriting notannawintour cecilbeaton mainstreet lovingla galaxynote wickedsmile ribbon weirdsnowbitover desperatelyseekingsusan wonderful weadorepost cloudporn vermontave happyfriday latestissuemonoclemagazine backinnyc withcf martyrdom 132 puppy home soho brooklynrail anitaloos museedumondearabe sleeplessnight marcystsubway kathleenturner neededthis seeingthesexpistols movingtasks est1895 books mamet deliciouscufflinks psychopath wonderfulperformances hurrah jardindeluxembourg beverlyhillshotel coffee mercer brunch sohogrand vintagetomes nypl day6 vivelarevolution lunch lovedit classicdiner righton rome spoketoosoon elegantprose keys favoriteholidaymovie torchwood dorislangleymoore onlyinamerica frontdoor whatnext photography inmemoryofalberthadley avalokitesvara sharpenyourheels commercest 127 nightsattheopera 292c vintagegardenia hysterical thedescendants balanchine thattimeofyear loveinstagram spareandchic suffragette deeplydisturbingbutdarklyinteresting onedaysoon neimanmarcus goorinbros moonlighting listeningtolawally getwellsoon beautifulhome lovetheeastside allpresentandcorrect nova misspettigrewlivesforaday houstonst reflexology portraitsfrombefore geekflowerknowledge internetprivileges mondrianla loosediamonds radiatorpanels philosophical amoebamusic flyingtonight heartshapedicecubes peacefulweekend whatdoyoudoforfun jeanshrimpton postletters winterwonderland weadoreawaxseal lockers ftweekend 26 lisbon justsawmi4 ursulanordstrom nplusonemag sippinglatte donnanairi lastday vintagetreasure 24hoursmagicplease bynightfall stephaniecongdonbarnes latergram earlynight shoparoundthecorner momentsof19thcentnyc lovehavingfriendsinhollywood weadoreahandelier firstedition jouyedition breakfast painter lastnight curiouslyoptimistic hundredacres lillianbassman quietude weadoreahollywoodstudio tearfulsmile individualposting smiley brooklynpenthouseglam snow wedo soothingoatmeal giggle southhampton ohforadayontheswings bilblass cardfrommyfather attemptingtobeanadult oceanpark buenosnoches firstcallfromengland storm justanothersaturdayinmanhattan excited pacificocean thankyoulisa exhaling thanksgiving cuprunnethover housewarming tinydiva easilythrilled coldoutside jaggedwithsophistication grownup laviedecadent officesizequeen yum camera plotting jardindesamassadeurs eastriverferry thecashmerelife hotellove 70s ripe ruefrancois1er overit abouttoplaceacalltoengland mondrian rideyourownbike dance concentrating newlife summersensations hint nosuninnyctoday thegrandcolbert movingmovie vintagetypewriterlust prospectmagazine dior portaltothe4thdimension supplies yolk genius_gifts successneversmelledsosweet secretlunch exquisiteselfcare ithelps giftfromindia springstreet morecuteshoes worldscolliding whatimreading amma brucewillis atlanticocean shy_smile la booksoup tomford shoetweet nesting monsieurmarcel lincolncentre verygloria italia gloriousidea wooster corridorsofpower whatwearewearing weadorehotellinen belovedmovies sign jeanrhys december5th loveabitoftoile noel_shot 1975 gatsby 755am friendswithcoolgear corneliastlendinglibrary teaandsympathy tate identitycrisis lowereastside pool containerstore topangacanyon movie readingattheairport academiamilitar onesundaymorning yolktypeproduct whitecandles decadentlystrange raouls bleeckerstrecords phone themuddclub forgive impossiblymotivationalscreens dorisdayprincessphone sundaybrunch bliss prodigycoffee howwillwecope soothing parismetro mekong 45bond deliciousplace loveletter backinmanhattan moomin yesitisreal equinox sunday england thesecretlivesofpeopleinlove boudoir unwindingfromny somethingold sophiedahl newviewsoon fullenglishplease blueground scratcheshead crosby yeswethinklikethis frickcollection sendingloveandencouragement jenbekmangallery hangingout blackadder sighofdeeppleasure amitheonlyone privateanddiscreet weadoreasignednovel lovemoomin vitasackvillewest manhattanatnight weirdfeeling chaplinawarddeneuve thetides davy eecummings binoche brooklyn englishrosesfabric taxtime danielkitson glendale winter gramercyparkhotel forgotthat ladylike overkill elegant takingabreak happysunday lafayette arghh village sparky trumpsoho britespot numbersnotsogood babyitscoldoutside janeshilling weadoreaparcel california sotempting broadwayclosed hopeso bestfeelingever seminalmoments guiltypleasure yelo withactualcat 4ofsweetandlovely beast 96 muppets frick tears thankgodfordeliciousfriends losangeles2011sunrise happiness welcomebacktonyc curiouslymagic voraciousreader spaceclearing ithelpstoknowtheowner warpaintandpotions inspiringfemme poollove logolove reservoir innersqueal connectedthefilm hoteldesignsorbonne lostontreasureisland birdsong silverpen singleserveumbrellas grin marmalade triumphbonneville stephendrucker inyourbag gothamcity karencooper divine etsycoolness helenhayes surrealism greatpeoplewatching jardindesgrandsexplorateurs sippingtea lastmonthinthisoffice inthemirror hollywoodhistory surgery temperature 1904 chinese nycdetox museedumoyenage classicbrooklyn beautifulreading soexcited hellocentralpark balletslipperpink late teamgloriatravels alice bigmistake 80s writing neededchickensoup 126 dazedandconfused peace stevenwright waldorfastoria davidburketownhouse peggymoffit somethingyourereading holidays laviecashmere cafegitane spottedunderadesk iknowthismuchfromsohotospandau secretplotting youagain publiliussyrus wicked charliebrownchristmas schoolnight

crosbyhotel abusinessdinner andywarhol dorisdayphone skyfall edwinamccann glitter executiveperks crazynyc illustrator roomwithaview dearlupin kinfolk screenplay weadoreacandleabra californication fashion fragonard surprisinglysociable buymycloset weadorearetrolightfitting celiaarrives prius floating pacificdesigncenter manhattan wellspotted spylove abreakintherain notafraidofsubtitles mondriansoho varickcharlton danishdesign slowlove terriblytribeca dailyroutine ahouseofmanybooks britsabroad deeplycoolboots themintla noelcowardrobe hipster madrid weadoremoocards newlifechapter releasemondayblues alancummings thatsbetter avoidingit livinginaset heart ladybusinessmoguls glam theperfectfamily whatsyoursignaturefragrance irene looksliketron bloodyhell cosy postsurgeryreality edithhead gothfabulous hotelchelsea novelsetting icecream freezing newbook coffeelovers lozfeliz whatyoutalkinaboutwillis nofilter richardbohringer happymemories neveragoodideainreality london timessquare mustgetreadyforwork noelcoward janehotel candlelight 7thave explainsalot qualityfamilytime sigh shirleypolykoff downtown blushembarrassed minerva twinklelights hideous shakespeareslostscript timeforlunch phew supersecretproofs bestsickdaymovie here wsmerwin winterpleasures ayearofmornings life vinyl restaurant ojai veryhappy jeanreno lookslikeengland goodforthesoul donnakaran blick bookhampton groundsupport scope vidalsassoon fifthavenue lightson ifc sleeplessinsoho welcometola somethingyouwore chinesenewyear inspiration feelinglanguid goodkarmareward metropolitanmuseum strandbooks deeplycoolexperience madisonavenue chateaumarmont sequins

end/tags.

so there you have it – the strange beauty that it is the metadata behind the interweb.

which apparently is a Lot like when one was small and looked behind the Television Set to see where Michael Parkinson was sharing a few moments with Oliver Reed just before they went out from the Green Room at the BBC (doff cap)

we remember looking behind the television set wondering if Dame Edna Everage would take us out to tea after Mr. Parkinson had finished speaking with her in front of the Nation.

so there you go – the tags and stats on the interweb are a lot like looking behind the television set waiting for Dame Edna Everage to finish her show.

in our imagination.

which is so delicious.

a rainy day post about people and paris @Shakespeare_Co

February 20, 2013 | teamgloria

darlings

quelle shock.

it’s RAINING in los angeles today

and whenever we see (soft, misty, hair-curls-creating) rain (as opposed to torrential thunderstorms from east coast or perpetual dampness as per london) we think of PARIS (doesn’t everyone?)

we have a theory.

no.

wait.

it’s a good one.

everyone that we’ve truly (in a mostly virtual and delicious way) connected with via the interweb is the Sort of person that one might have met at Shakespeare & Co, wandering-through Paris and thinking (deeply) About Their Future.

yes.

clever you.

that Is indeed Meryl.

this theory has proved true more than Once.

we get to know someone (via their blog or Instagram or some such IP-enabled-fangled-Tech) and somehow or another the Subject of Paris comes up (doesn’t it always? – eventually – and especially with people who love books and chandeliers and it would be hard to be Friends in whatever with us without an Obsession or deep love of both) and then we find out YES! they also ran away to Paris at some point and stopped in at Shakespeare & Co.

In fact, we are convinced that everyone we love to talk* to via the magical interweb is the Sort of Person who would have passed through paris (and thus would have, at some point, been in need of a new Book and therefore gone to Shakespeare & Co) one (probably light, misty, rainy) day.

these are some of the delicious people that we follow-and-who-follow-us on Instagram (from Korea, England, Hong Kong, Wales, France, USA, Turkey, Germany, Italia, Japan, Australia, Sweden and other places that we haven’t quite grasped they might come from because they appear to travel a lot).

now take a good long look –

yes.

exactly.

They are precisely the sort of people one would expect to meet at Shakespeare and Company.

*sometimes we talk on the princess phone or online (in a typing-in-a-comment-box sort of a way) or – you know – when we know them better, in email or IM – OR sometimes we have tea with them when they come from Berlin or we find a taco stand in east LA and admire their Art and there are some people with whom our relationship has deepened over time from when we were anonymous (and going through you-know-what and they were Very Kind or those we know in RL but truly felt heard and seen by talking and going to Cornwall for a summer hols or by sharing online and the Many International connections which are all somehow intertwined from Australia to NYC to not-far-from-Cardiff to Istanbul and the Emerald Isle to Los Angeles and Back and beyond.

in fact, Some people we talk to have probably not just been to Shakespeare & Co but hosted or been hosted at a Deeply glamorous and Literary Event there…..

there you go.

the theory for a rainy day in L.A………the corners of the interweb where we find each other = a massive shakespeare and co, Paris.

non?

we couldn’t resist ending this post with not-quite-a-chandelier but Rather Parisian all the same.

actually – no – don’t go away – let’s have some Actual pictures FROM our prior trips to Paris, pourquoi pas?

even on a rainy day we’ll always have Paris.

and we’ll always have you – the Sort of people who would, at one point in their lives, have passed through Shakespeare & Company – and maybe we would have seen you, by the Simone de Beauvoir collection, frowning (prettily) over a commentary of some gloriously difficult yet helpful feminist text or, more likely, giggling over Asterix.

did you have a delicious sunday?

February 4, 2013February 4, 2013 | teamgloria

Well?

Do. Tell.

A delicious sunday?

We did.

In fact it was one of those sundays where we had to Stop for a moment and *giggle* because it was Exactly the sort of sunday that we Imagined when we were very small.

Not as small as this (we are 2.5 in this one)

But maybe not long after…..

The sort of sunday where we woke up with the sun – prepared Tea and Strawberries for a fellow Writer friend (this being George.)

And he arrived bearing incense from an ashram (naturally – this Is California, darlings and fragrant gorgeous incense it is Too).

Then we both sipped tea, delicately enjoyed the fruit and talked a long while…

Before heading off to the Farmers’ market where we purchased salad greens and more delicousness for Later.

And en route au Casa once more, we saw a chandelier!

#weadoreachandelier

Now the reason we had a picture to hand of us as a small person is because there’s a Meme going around.

No – this isn’t some strangeness – it’s an idea/concept/interestingness going around the interweb where people tell #5curiousfacts about themselves and then “Tag” others to take-up-the-baton (small sporting reference – rare, for us, we know So little – it took a phonecall with Barry on the Other Coast – for us to find out why everyone at the supermarket last night was frenzied in Buying Of Potato Chips. Apparently they go down well watching large men in vast shoulder pads pass a ball back and forth while someone sings the national anthem – curiously enough)

We digress.

The Meme.

So Here Is someone We tagged who shared her factoids + most excellent they were too.

And Here are ours.

Would you join us?

In the comments or tag us on instagram and we will come and say hello over there.

But if you put your 5 Curious Facts below we would be Thrilled.

Seriously.

We adore Factoids.

Don’t you?

They are particularly appreciated on a sunday.

walking, talking, inspiring over tacos.

February 3, 2013February 3, 2013 | teamgloria

darlings

A full day.

Much magic.

A lot of Writing (sending the completed YA novel to our Agent on Monday – a book which has a working title of “Emerald” but will probably be called Emerald’s Adventures at a Terribly British Boarding School – for clarity and because we have already started writing the one where she goes to University and it is Entirely Possible that we could squeeze one in about her Sixth Form Adventures too.)

In answer to the (no doubt in your mind) Question “are they all autobiographical, dear?”

The short answer is No.

But the more deeply considered multi-layered response which attributes some time given to the study of semiotics and semantics is Yes; everything happened. But not necessarily to Us and not in that order.

If that makes sense……?

So in between doing a final once over before we send the File on Monday, we had a few adventures of our own in RL.

Actually today saw Two lovely encounters with people we have hitherto either just met in RL once (Eleanor) or never met before at all in Person (Jonathan) but have followed them on instagram and so observed and commented and shared their lives and work and band gigs and movingacrossthecountry (J) and wantingtomoveacrossthecountry (E) and so much intensity and a mutual love of twinkle lights in one’s home (all year round) for Quite a While.

We met eleanor at the pacific design center early this morning.

And took a walk around the not-yet-sunny streets, ducking into small verdant courtyards to admire Foliage and pick up business cards at Interesting shops and potential new acqupuncture spa-like nooks.

We would like to mention that eleanor has a BOOK coming out and we can’t wait to read it.
Talking of Talent – we drove across town – towards east LA to meet Jonathan at a proper taco stand. The sort of taco stand that has fresh cilantro (coriander for our English friends) and Mexican soft beverages and chiles that bring Tears to the eyes.

Jonathan is a graphic artist and gave us a small envelope with a Wax Seal (don’t you just adore knowing people who seal their Correspondence appropriately for the etiquette of the early eighteenth century?)

We cannot yet link to Jonathan’s site – tis in Progress – but here are some of his stickers (which are going straight in our scrapbook and moleskine directly for Posterity).

A very creatively stimulating day.

As we drove back West, we sang along with Simone emoting something glorious in Italian (we don’t know All the words but we do a passable aria)…..

At home, much later, we found ourself reading cookbooks by Sophie Dahl, while sipping decaf and warmed milk from cafe du monde (the coffee, not the milk, that’s from trader joes) and musing on Quelle inspiring people we know. And have just met. And might well meet Next.

So exciting.

Sunday, tomorrow.

As heather says, the best day.

brooklyn by gaslight and autumn leaves and #eastcoastportraits stephen

November 20, 2012 | teamgloria

darlings

a treat.

yesterday we went on a small day-trip to the 19th century.

there were gas lamps a-flicker….

and ceremonial triumphant arches…..

and awe-inspiring dusky rouge stone edifices….

and trumpet-tooting angels on-the-IRT

and a lunch in a Venetian-inspired trattoria oh!

*looks_shyly_at_the_figure_by_Prospect_park*

why, yes.

that IS Stephen Drucker.

if you are one of our friends from Oz or Tokyo or Berlin or Leamington Spa and looking curiously at the fine figure on the screen in front of you, with a twinkle and a questioning look, let us just say – subtly – this is one of our Most favo(u)rite people – not just for his stories of working at Vogue in the days that still recalled and worshiped fantasy and spectacle and then the achingly Chic and brimming-over with the-Knowledge-of-beauty that he brought to House Beautiful and Other Publications and the fact that he has the Supreme Eye of genius but also because he Knows.

you know.

what it is to be truly a man of elegance.

in fact, Stephen was the one that invited us to the 19th century, to admire the architecture and the View over the autumn leaves and the twinkling Fall day illuminated softly by gas lamps and cashmere-scarf-requiring-breezes.

we used to work in the same skyscraper, once upon a time.

in fact our first meeting was a While ago and we started to talk about digital (you know – as who we-are-in-Real-Life) and he was kind and amused and wry………but then he sent us away with a test…..

the test?

he turned to us, half-towards the light refracting off the high floor of the glass-walled skyscraper, back shadowed to the Hudson, and murmured….

“Why Don’t You . . . wash yourhair in dead champagne?”

and we responded:

but we’re not a Blond Child

and he raised (a very beautiful) eyebrow and smiled, slowly.

we knew we’d found a kindred spirit.

and now you have too.

haven’t you?

because we’ve been tempting Mr. Drucker with the sumptuous waters of the worlds of the interweb and instagram and other mysterious and international delights of ones-and-zeros and he has tipped a toe.

we can’t tell you where or when.

but we will when we get permission.

the world is about to get a lot more beautiful and Sophisticated over here when the truly talented get their hands directly on the keyboard and start talking to us themselves and opening up their worlds…..

glorious.

#deepSigh

for now, we’re going to leave you with something that Stephen Drucker wrote about his favo(u)rite things – because it feels instructive and glorious and we love a good List.

FLOWER: Poppies

SOFA SHAPE: Billy Baldwin Studio sofa by Ventry Ltd.

STATIONERY: My Gmail account and my iPhone

COMFORT FOOD: Grilled Swiss on white

LAMP: Pumpkin Globe Lantern,vaughandesigns.com

ALARM CLOCK: The sun

EVERYDAY DISHES: 1960s Wedgwood drabware from Tiffany

COLOR: Mouse’s back

COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Los Angelesby Tim Street-Porter (I wish I lived there)

ALL-PURPOSE GLASS: Orskov from General Home Store, East Hampton, NY

SOAP: Molton Brown Naran Ji

ICE CREAM: Rum raisin

TOWEL: Thomas O’Brien for Target

CHAIR: My antique English Regency library chair from Cove Landing, NYC

SCENTED CANDLE: Jo Malone grapefruit

WALLPAPER: Toiles (like these)

SHEETS: Any white cotton (I’m not a thread counter)

CLEANING SUPPLY: Renaissance Wax

TOOTHPASTE: Rembrandt (for the elegant white tube)

SHOWERHEAD: George Taylor Specialties to match my 1926 apartment

VACUUM: Dyson

LIGHTBULB: 25W incandescent

COFFEE OR TEA: Mariage Frères

KITCHEN GADGET: KitchenAid mixer

WORKHORSE FABRIC: Elizabeth Dow “Antwerp” on my new sofas

PEN: Pilot Razor Point extra-fine black

ARTIST: John Singer Sargent

clandestine columnists

March 18, 2012March 21, 2012 | teamgloria

we’ve suddenly descended into the sunday twilight blues – and yet wanted to remind ourselves of all that is beautiful to pierce melancholy’s sad slumber with the anecdote of connection and smiles-across-the-interweb.

our friends – new and longtime – real and virtual (including those we only know as personas who, if we imagine they are anything like us, might be more real as their covert self than who they have to steel themselves to be in Real Life) – are much needed and much loved.

Just saying.

Saying what?

Thank you.

That’s it.

Thank you.

we met a fellow clandestine columnist today and it felt Utterly Delicious to talk about our secret selves and who we are meant to be Out There and who we Desire to be Next.

whenever Next is.

feeling a bit sad about immigration and it really isn’t being ameliorated by the use of sugar #sigh

but we Were in the Swimming pool as soon as it opened today so (as the supermarket brand in england says) Every Little Helps.

plus the blue-blue water soothes our soul.

and we have a restless uneasy soul for so many reasons.

but then we come across street art like this and we stop In Our Tracks to imagine the wistful story behind it and that makes us smile again

the east village helps once more.

as did the Clandestine Columnist.

and the beautiful people on Instagram.

what do you do when you get the sunday-twilight-blues, darlings?

thoughts on charm…

January 23, 2012 | teamgloria

we Adore Monocle.

not just for its wit and wary askance look at things that deviate from its glamorous and chic world view, but also for its well-thought out arguments on how commerce and the rest could Be Better.

like Stephen Bayley’s essay on charm.

Noel had charm.

Noel Coward, performer, singer, librettist and playwright, got by primarily on charm from his birth in 1899 until his death in 1973 with what Time Magazine called, “a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise.”

from the lovely blog “arts ravels”

we own several collections of Noel’s work.

(this was our entry for #photoofthedaychallenge on instagram – today was #somethingold)

and Marlene said:

“Mystery is a woman’s greatest charm,”

Marlene Dietrich: Photo by Milton Greene, 1952

one cannot understand charm – or mystery, for that matter, darlings.

we hope we Have Both.

how was your day? *concerned_look_at_those_in_wintry_climes*

pleasant?

full of charm – or not?

armistead wrote to us blush #divine

January 5, 2012 | teamgloria

darlings.

we were trying to have a Very Serious grown-up conversation with someone vaguely important at the Day Job (luckily on the phone – and not a new fangled video recording cellular device either ;-) and we had to Gasp (we were multi-tasking, as usual)….

Armistead Maupin wrote back to us.

oh. how Delicious.

look!

just lovely. truly overwhelmingly gorgeous.

and we were having Such a Blah Day.

no longer, darlings.

and there’s a lunch at one of those Fancy clubs in midtown for an interesting speaker in Our Field.

delicious.

feeling So Much Better.

thank you, Armistead.

(and thank you William for sending us the CDs of Armistead to keep us company during you-know-what)

bliss.

we are smiling ever such a lot right now.

oh! yes – of course – we forgot to share this with you….today’s entry for the #photoadaychallenge on instagram – today’s tag = #somethingyouwore

yesterday’s was #letterbox.

yes, we enjoy the sheer randomness of the competition too.

but back to the most important News: Armistead Maupin wrote to us.

happy sigh.

testing a new logo, darlings.

December 12, 2011 | teamgloria

isn’t it delicious?

we set up a design competition (it’s called “crowd-sourcing” So Modern!) at 99Designs and lots of lovely graphic designers from as far afield, and Abroad, as Japan, Sweden, UK – and the midwest of America – came to look and consider whether to throw their (dark french navy) beret into the ring.

our favorite/favourite/beloved one, so far, is this one above – designed by Shana Shay (she has her own lovely site here)

what do you think, darlings?

we’ve had some big thumbs up and some other suggestions from our chums on instagram…

and we also asked a few Creative Types, known to us Personally, for their Industry Expertise (thank you ABM!).

we know! So Modern (as William would say).

not only did we “crowd-source” the designs via a Global Competition via the interweb, we also gathered insights from far and wide via a special photographic-sharing-community-app, to aid us in our “decision-making process” (as they call it in MBA style meetings #sigh). And Then we tweeted (because one can..) about it to get even more delicious comments and opinions.

or maybe it’s actually being Really Lovely and Old-Fashioned and asking-our-friends* for Help.

*even if some of them are Virtual and we’d love to meet them in RL some day but might never do so. #dramaticsigh

what do you think? as friends_of_gloria_via_blogness?

we’d love to know (hint: in the comments below please).