I Call Them Fun Glasses

I had a pair of glasses similair to this in 1979.  But they weren't red.  And they didn't have white racing stripes.  They probably ended up squashed in the backseat of a car.  These are shiny.  And new.  And very very red.  I don't call them sun glasses.  I call them fun glasses.  They're going with me to Lisbon. 
There were other glasses in the rack.  Glasses in which I appeared more attractive, but they won't make my sister smile as broadly as these will.  And none of them made me laugh out loud like these did.  I'm still considering whether the laugh-out-loud strategy of wardrobe and accessory selection is wise.

Have you read this book?  Did you love it?  I'm going to begin it tonight.  I have very high hopes of being completely smitten.  

Here was the site of the Summer Early Evening Nap .  Today when I lay down, I confess to leaving on my fun glasses, but then I took them off.  Easier to see the trees off in the distance and besides there's always all day tomorrow to wear them.  And I don't want to wear off all the shininess before I get to Portugal do I?

I sewed up the pages of my travel journal.  Click out right now if you don't want to scroll through 900 photos.  I swear I will not hold it against you.

Red thread, red doily, red glasses.

Red dots.

Red pencil on the ledger page.

I have a crush on security envelopes.  There happens to be 1 red one in here.

Somewhere.

Comments

[sherrie]

wow! i love your journal. awesome. gonna have to pull out that machine of mine and give a try. *sweet sigh* i just love a good inspiration nite. thanks!

[Janet]

I love your fun glasses! And also loved that you picked them because they would make your sister smile.

That journal is FANTASTIC!!!!

[susan w]

So you do fold pages to stitch (anyway it appears that way). Is that room with the view inside the house or on a porch? If it is in the house I am awed by the cleanity of your window!! What a viewing place!

[michelle ward]

RED.
*gasps* over that handsome doilie.
those glasses rock, especially when you ride your motorcycle.

[kas]

LOVE IT! Please, please, please show us how to make one too!!! I'm in a red phase myself ! Oh the possibilities. . .

[elizabeth]

You look absolutely FABU and Smashing, dahlin!! Love the racing stripes.

[Lorraine]

Definately go with the laugh out loud theme for wardrobe, etc. A guiding principal in Lady Lemonade's choice of anything with which to adorn self.

One of my staff observed me with a puzzled expression and asked politely if I'd always dressed the way I do or if it kinda' came on me in my....ummmmm...older....ummmm I mean....ummmm....

Ya' don't like it, don't look is my theory.

And ALWAYS made yourself laugh first or it's no fun!

[Tyn]

Love the journal- hate that I am not going on the trip.
The fun glasses rock. My current pair of glasses made my shopping companion so happy that I got them.I look like a washed up actor headed for rehab. They make me smile every time I wear them!

[Dawn Sokol]

Love the fun glasses and the journal...Can't wait to see what you do with it!

[Roberta]

Love your journals so much...I just signed up for your on-line class and can't wait for the email link...cool beans...Roberta
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com

[Colette]

Yes, I've read Wide Sargasso Sea. It pulled me in, seduced me, and held me. I've read all of Jean Rhys's books and mourn the fact that there are no more to read!

[Lisa Hoffman]

Your little masterpiece makes my travel journals look like MicroSoft training manuals.

[lee]

I love the glasses, i am sporting a lime green pear as I type on the deck. I love that journal, can you answer a few questions I would like to make one. Do you totally use the machine, do you sew each page in. I have tried the ones where you sew signature pages etc and they never turn out for me.

[Toni Brown]

Wide Sargasso Sea is brilliant, like a drug ... and the movie is one of the closest to the FEEL I got from the book of an movie I've ever seen ... if you can get your mitts on a used DVD copy under $20 (it's rare, hard to find), GO FOR IT!!!! Certainly rent it -- I own it - actually bought the VHS version then upgraded to the DVD. FAB!U!LOUS! (like this journal ... )

[Nina Johansson]

Oh wow, this travel journal makes me sweat! It is so gorgeous! I can just imagine drawing on those pages, gluing some stuff onto them and add acrylics, spray paint, doodles... Great work. I wish I had the stash of found papers you seem to have... guess I´ll have to start collecting now. :)
Thanks for sharing!

[Chris]

Best of the BEST. Love the red glasses. The journal, of course, well, it's just..

I can't find your tip jar. So I'll just say it makes me happy.

Read that book! Really neato!

[Andrea]

I liked Wide Sargasso Sea, but her book "Good Morning, Midnight" was like blow to the heart, absolutely amazing. Also, she had an amazing life. Her biography is quite absorbing.

[heather]

Love those glassess...and absolutely laugh-out-loud accessory strategy is a good one! What is better than to laugh, especially at oneself ~ many other opportunities to be all to serious!

Love the journal too, what an inspiration!

An aside: {At some post, (I just happened upon your blog yesterday)I thought I saw that you were a teacher? If not, please just stop reading now....and that you had done visual jouranals with your class? If this is you, I'd love to hear about how you enacted that? I teach 4-8th and am considering doing some sort of visual journaling with my class this year. If its not you...well, I need to do a better job commenting in the moment! *sigh*}

[Mary Geller]

Your travel journal is FABULOUS! Love the red thread.

[kate heshan]

oh go on - show us the laugh-out-loud outfits

[grrl+dog]

Loving these journals.. Want to make one.... one day.. Looks lik eyou are packed and set... it's going to be a glamorous ride..

[Tinniegirl]

Loved this post. The glasses, the napping, the view from your window and especially, your stunning travel journal. You have such a talent.

[Linda]

Stupendous!!...the journal is sooo inviting...the red glasses are a hoot. You are set to let the good times roll!

[Dede Warren]

Love these snappy red glasses, and the great file folder journal! Years ago I made books out of file folders... I don't know why I ever stopped. BUT after seeing this one, I think I'll make another for an upcoming challenge. I'll give a little shout out to you and send the other gals your way!

[anna maria]

You are brilliant! That journal is beautiful and I don't know how you can stand to glue or write anything in it! As far as I'm concerned it's finished, it's done, it's a work of art.

I hope you have red shoes. Maybe not to be worn at the same time as the red sunglasses, but good to have, just in case.

[Katelen Tays]

I just found your blog and and I am so glad..Love, Love the journal..The glasses are cool also..
Katelen

[lynne]

that journal is da bomb, mary ann... xo

[pam]

love love love your journal! you've already begun a b.e.a.-utiful journey...inspires me to play!

[Chrissy]

Oh! Those desirable glasses, not to mention the travel journal. Just lovely.

As is 'Wide Sargasso Sea'. You'll have found by now that it's full of heat and colour and pain. No happy ending for her. I read it every few years, always knowing there's a wonderful story waiting but forgetting some of the details so it feels fresh every time.

Can't wait to hear what Sister has to say about the shades!

[Melissa S.]

You must be the coolest teacher to those little monkeys! The sunglasses are great. Your journal looks splendiforous!!! I want to make one of those, but have no clue how to execute a thing like that. >begging for a video class on making a journal MAM style!!!!< PLEAAAAAAAAASSSSSE! Have a great trip-can't wait to read all about it.

[Tara Finlay]

I'd pay to take a class to learn how to make a journal like this from start to finish including the covers. It's wonderful. My bookbinding is ehh at best. I can't tell from this how you did it. Is it just one big signature?

[jessica loughrey]

mary ann,
i love love the journal. i love all the red accents, where on earth did you find a red doily and a red security envelope?! i don't think i've ever seen a red security envelope and i have a love affair with them too! and i'm with tara, i would pay to take a class to learn how to make a journal like this too. :) and i'm loving stencilry so i'm sure i'd love a journal class too... :)

[Nyx]

I love all of your journals.. they come together so well :D

[Nona Parry]

SO happy to pre-register for Stencilry 2!

Love love love the Glasses AND the Travel Journal!
Looking forward to seeing the filled journal!

Hoping you have a sunny relaxing holiday in Portugal!

[kate]

Wide Sargasso Sea is a brilliant book. Especially when you research the background and understand why she wrote it. It's like the best, most feminist, most heartwrench, liberating book I've ever read.

If you're interested in reading a small book that's gathered together her own words as well as critical reviews I'd be happy to go get it and give you the title. Just e-mail me: katiescarlettohara@hotmail.com

I hope you love it.

[nikki Hardin]

loved WIDE SARGASSO SEA -- very poetic and I need to read it again. But the first time with any book is always the best.