Vintage Kids: All About Shapes

Ah, another one of my favorites from the Encyclopedia Britannica Kids collection, "Discovering Shapes." The illustrations in this series of books are all done by different artists, but they are really great. I especially lerve the saucy monkey tour guide featured in this book. So cute!

Discover Shapes, by Tina Thoburn
Pictures by James Caraway

Seeing Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was a really lovely girl. I know that might seem like a strangely obvious thing to say, but truthfully when was the last time you really LOOKED at her? Everyone refers to her as the golden goddess of Hollywood, but it's a little bit sad the way she has become a caricature of herself—the sleepy eyes, the pouty smile, the iconic pale blonde hair and of course the white dress blowing up around her as the subway passes. In fact, I think I see more illustrations of her than actual photos. It's so bizarre the way things work: the more famous she gets, the less "real" she becomes. I stumbled upon a photo of her recently where she was grinning and you could see a sprinkling of little freckles on her nose, and I thought "Wow, she's totally adorable. Look at that smile!" She seemed so real. Not an icon. Just a girl with a dream and stars in her eyes.

L Filipe dos Santos is baaaack.

I love looking at sketch books—it feels a little voyeuristic in a fun way and hell, I'm nosey. I also love the smaller format. I happen to think the work of Portuguese artist L Filipe dos Santos is pretty incredible. This spring I posted about his genius rorschach test-style water colors (and if you missed that post, you must take a gander!). Now I've got some more cool stuff of his. Happy Monday!!













xoxo, Alex

Why be a wallflower? Let's dance!

Looooong before tans, bedazzled bodysuits and feathered head pieces were a glimmer in Bruno and Carrie Ann Inanba's eyes, there was Arthur Murray. Arthur Murray's famous chain of dance studios were all the rage back in the 1950s. The country was really embracing "exotic cultures" and Latin influenced music extremely popular. Everyone was dying to learn how to cha cha or mambo and that, of course, meant DANCE CLASSES baby!

I am loving these amazing photos from a Chicago-area Arthur Murray Dance Studio from 1958-1962. "A beguiling mixture of awkwardness and grace." Oh yes!

Images: Square America
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