January 29th, 2010

Ah, yes, scale, we meet again. A branch of the gym I belong to, but rarely go to based on its distance from everything I do, just opened up an 5 minute walk away from my house. I'll probably find myself here on a more regular basis now. Everytime I pass a scale, the "enquiring mind" within me screams for me to step on it-- just to see! Better today? I won't let myself, but I definitely give it a good, half-longing, half-hating stare each time I pass it.

--Elissa.

January 28th, 2010

My dad got us a giant, antique stained glass window featuring a peacock on an island with some boats in the background. I feel like "Dinghy & Sloop" would be a good name for a teenage-targeted apparel brand. It would be like a nautical Abercrombie & Fitch; whose staples would be striped Riviera shirts and boat shoes with a helm's wheel for their logo. Hot.

--Elissa.

January 27, 2010

Painting the office shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I worked on it all day long, and still couldn't finish. I was feeling trapped, having been inside all day, and watching the last bits of sun fade from the day. As I resignedly picked up my brush to paint around the light switch, I inexplicably burst into tears. My husband took my brush from me and pointed me to the door. It was already dark, but I went out anyway and took a couple of hours to walk off the mood. I came back and found my room painted.

--Elissa.

January 26th, 2010

Here, a closeup of a TV show about people that own a pawn shop in Las Vegas. In this scene, the restoration guy was riding around on a mini Indian motorcycle that he had just brought back to life. Sweet.

--Elissa.

January 25th, 2010

Stella the cat chases after the strap hanging below the camera. Even though we really want a dog, I think we've come to realize that we want a dog version of this cat. Doesn't exist. This cat, is the best cat. And I say that as a former cat-semi-disliker.

--Elissa.

January 24th, 2010

A really nice letterpress card my brother sent me, depicting the Brooklyn Bridge. He lives right near Williamsburg Bridge.

--Elissa.

January 23rd, 2010

Last Sunday was my birthday. On Thursday, my friend texted me, "Wanna get a margarita?" And I agreed, looking forward to a quiet and reflective margarita with my one friend. Well, we arrive at the restaurant and wouldn't you know-- 14 of my really good friends had showed up and applauded my way to the table. Let's just say, I drank a lot, wore a gigantic sombrero, and came home with this cool scarf from my friend Lisa R., which I am enjoying very much today.

--Elissa.

January 22nd, 2010

People still have these? I'd like to ask if they are getting Satellite TV, or if they do Cable now and it was too much trouble to ditch the dish.

--Elissa.

January 21st, 2010

I'm not one for pearls-- they elicit an "ugh!" reaction from me. However, these, on a long, heavy, gunmetal chain complete many of my ensembles.

--Elissa

January 20th, 2010

This pair of suitcases is painfully impractical-- seriously, why would you travel without wheeled luggage? Why? Because you have suitcases like these-- lined in neon orange. I got these from one of my favorite vintage stores in town for $60 for the set. Steal!

--Elissa.

January 19th, 2010

A super soft blanket. I really like to show off texture, this one happens to be showing off the wrong texture (the trim) as opposed to the fluffy body of the blanket.

--Elissa.

January 18th, 2010

Do kids even play with bears any more? I know I'd love this one with his sweatery texture and sad expression.

--Elissa

January 17th, 2010

When I start making some real money, one of the first things I'm going to get is a better camera. My Canon G10 takes some wonderful pictures when the light is right-- but in low-light conditions, it really isn't sensitive enough. The flash just makes everything look naked and cheap. Not my plan. Here before you is part of my sushi birthday feast. Mwah. Wonderful!

--Elissa.

January 16th, 2010

Beneath the parking lot lights especially, this fog is white as white can be. However, the camera reads it as gray, and maybe so does everyone else's eyes but mine-- who says, "White fog"? I don't know. I liked the capture anyway... seems pretty mothership-y.

--Elissa.

January 15th, 2010

I live in a German neighborhood; it's not uncommon to see these cute kinds of things out front of people's houses. I'm in love with the birds but everytime I look at this photo I have to fight the urge to straighten the plaque.

--Elissa

January 14th, 2010

I found a book at the antiques store titled Dying to Smoke. It was filled with the kind of great midcentury illustrations that I knew my graphic designer husband would love... I took a few photos for him to admire them, because the book was really too decrepit to plunk down $20 for.

--Elissa.

January 13th, 2010

A basement corner of my favorite antique mall. I picked up two delicious nightstands today, neither of which were white.

--Elissa.

January 12th, 2010

I worked with Julie on her very last day, only, but she definitely made an impression. If there's one thing I got from her, it's that Altoids Smalls are terrific. She left two whole tins of them behind, and we've slowly been working on them since.

--Elissa

January 11th, 2010

A close-up of the lace curtains in my office. They came with the house, they will be going soon. But I really do think the lacework is kind of pretty... I have vague imaginings of transforming these curtains into a skirt.

--Elissa.

January 10th, 2010

I've had those ask me, is the point that the subject of the photo is white, or that more than 50% of the frame is white? I think, after viewing this offering, that I'll have to go by the latter definition.

January 9th, 2010

Pieces of Layette by Pixie Lily. I really love the sleeve detail on these, and thinking about the chubby arms they grace.

--Elissa.

January 8th, 2010

Tonight, we went sledding down the neighborhood hills. Just 10 or so of us, our improvised sledding apparati, and a flask or two. Here's a snap of my beloved long johns. Can't say that this photo is going to blow anyone's mind, not in the least, but it is at least somewhat representative of my day. And it's white. Whaddya wannnt??

Yours,

Elissa.

January 7th, 2010

Today was a blizzard and it presented millions of opportunities for whiteness, but I didn't want to fall back on snow. I chose the side of our rented house. The patterns of peeling look cool, but damn if I didn't wish they'd paint it!

January 6th, 2010

Here, a top-view of one of my favorite products for children, the Bloom Alma crib. It folds to nearly 1/3rd its size, and can stow away in the closet. Perfect for those who have part-time children.

January 5th, 2010

These wild and woolly mushrooms made the dinner "cut". They accompanied some pan-fried cod, succotash, and pasta with homemade pesto, tomatoes and olives. I believe that even Martha might be moved to say, "Dayyyyuuummmm"!

January 4th, 2010

We went snow tubing tonight. I took my little GE Digital Camera that I got as a gift a couple of years ago. The quality is not so good, but it's convenient when I wouldn't dare take my regular camera (a Canon G10). Four days into this project, I can't say that I'm adhering to any rules. I did desaturate this image in Photoshop, but mostly to highlight the white-and-blackness of the photo. Also, not sure if the amount of white in this photo qualifies it as a "white" photo, but believe you and me that there was a preponderance of white out there!

Maybe this photo qualifies because the viewer doesn't necessarily see white, but white is inferred. I don't know. Maybe this one lies outside the bounds...

January 3rd, 2010

Our buffet in the dining room has two matching white lamps at either end, coupled with two matching toy rams. No reason, just caprice.

January 2nd, 2010

This is our cat Stella. We always joke that she's our "art object", not our pet because of her striking eyes-- one gold, and one blue on her stark white fur. She cries and cries to be let out of this, our bathroom window. She likes to jump out onto the roof and patrol the yard for the all-black tom that regularly comes skulking around.

January 1st, 2010

I've been married 2 months. This first year of decorating our house for Christmas "for real" was met with much zeal from yours truly. We have no plans yet for taking the tree down, or moving these lights from off the mantle.

To start things off...

I've decided that this is the year that I'm going to really focus on my photography. I take pictures everyday, anyway, but without much focus. To begin honing my focus, I've decided to start my 365 Days in Color project. Every day, I'll post a photo I've taken that day (or very closely thereabouts... conditions may prevent a photo on some particular day, I'm sure). Every month will correspond to a color. Because of the connotation of newness that white carries, this newest month of January will be 30 days worth of photos with white subjects. I hope you enjoy viewing, as much as I am enjoying undertaking.

Yours,

Elissa.