Beware readers, the Blogroll Special series is about to reach a level of dreaminess never before attained in this corner of the web. If you don't know Hallo Valerie, let me put this clear, you've been missing out. If you do, you surely agree with me. Its author, Valerie Enriquez, produces the most beautiful atmospheric photography and takes you on the most delightful adventures: a romantic week-end in Las Vegas, a picnic on a beach, a cruise through the fjords... yes, yes and yes!
She also runs an Etsy shop, Oh La La Paper, where she sells stationary, paper straws and holiday-themed decorations among other lovely things. Go check it out!
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today?
I've always considered blogging to be an expressive tool and as an artist-by-day, that's the best thing that you can continually explore. It's main purpose for me is to cement my thoughts, inspirations, and personal experiences, so that I may never forget their importance to me at that time.
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog?
I've been blogging for nearly 8 years, starting on Livejournal. My intentions have always been the same; to convey my own perspective on life, and catalog my interests through the years. I started Hallo Valerie a year and a half ago, to focus on the positive things in life. I think it's important to have an outlet for that purpose!
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way?
I live in a suburb of Los Angeles and it has certainly influenced me, since I've lived here my entire life. The city, but more so California, inevitably pops up on the blog because there's so much to do and see here. Even though I am a native, I always consider myself to be a "citizen of the world" because I don't get caught up in Los Angeles clichés, and prefer to plan trips elsewhere like Scandinavia!
4. What is your favourite book/film?
My favorite book is Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse. It's resonated with me since I was fifteen, when I couldn't believe how words could be so beautifully compiled together. I'd say that Ingmar Bergman's films are collectively my "favorite film", especially Wild Strawberries, because they have all of the elements that I desire from the cinema.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon?
At the moment I'm heavily enveloped in design projects for my school, and also creating items for my Etsy shop. Sunday is the busiest because I have to finish everything from the week before, and plan for the next one. Somehow, I enjoy it thoroughly! If all goes well, I'll end up with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate by the end of the night, and consider it a success!
I hope that you all enjoyed this little interview as much as I did! Thank you Valerie! All the pictures belong to Hallo Valerie (collages by me).
First Blogroll Special of 2013. Let's start the year with a lady of elegance. Claire from Lola is Beauty has kindly accepted to answer my questions with her trademark wordsmithery. Reading her blog is a joyful experience for the mind, she'll take you on her London adventures and beyond. To me, there's something quite "Charles Ryder" about her: the sophistication, the love of culture and the celebration of fine food. On top of that, she has impeccable style and if you have a bit of cash to splurge, have a gander around her shop. There she sells collected items from her travels and timeless pieces of clothing. Now, less gushing and more interviewing!
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today?
Blogging feels more concrete and less fleeting now that instagram and twitter are there to soak up the daily ephemera of life. (I don't like facebook at all.) Usually when I blog about something, it's something I saw or did that was out of the ordinary. I'll be compelled to post about something in exactly the same way that I'd tell a friend about something interesting.
It's also a good way to remember what I did and where I've been, as I have a terrible memory.
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog?
It was August 2005. I'd just started getting into reading one or two of the few fashion blogs around then and had a strong feeling of I need one of my own, now! So I just set up a blogger account and started posting. I didn't really know what I was doing, or where it would go. The name came from my cat, Lola, who is a real beauty. I toyed with lots less silly, more clever sounding names, but I really didn't think it over too much. My first posts were about Lola, then I was in Paris for fashion week and held off from posting about the shows or taking any photos at them - as I thought I might get into trouble and not be invited the next season! How things have changed...
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way?
I live in London and I was born here, so I suppose it must influence the blog, though I often find myself posting much more about my travels than about here. It might be a 'can't see the wood for the trees' kind of thing: maybe I am so London that I can't objectively see what is London?! I hardly ever post about what I'm doing in London to be honest!
4. What is your favourite book...
Well I've been obsessed with Diana Vreeland for about 20 years, so I'd have to say her memoirs, D.V. Virginia Woolf's Selected Diaries is always by my bedside as well.
... and film?
There are so many films I love; I really adore it as a medium. There's no way I could pick just one. Recently I saw the new Jacques Audiard film Rust & Bone (E&PP: the interview was conducted in October) and was blown away by it. Other than that, classic Woody Allen (esp. Annie Hall) and '80s brat pack films (esp. Pretty in Pink) are my go-tos to watch again and again, but I'll get really excited about anything from a random documentary to a Studio Ghibli animation. Films are my happy place.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon?
Sleep! Mooch around with friends, get something to eat and a glass of red wine.
Thank you Claire for this lovely read! All pictures belong to Lola is Beauty (collages by me).
5 questions, 1 blogger. Those are the rules of the blogroll special series.
Today, Elisabeth from Thrills & Frills plays along. She's the kind of girl you'd wish you had a miniature version of in your pocket, to advise you when out shopping.
Queen of the breton shirt, the tapered trousers and the brogues, she found the perfect balance between classic and interesting, and has been a longtime inspiration of mine.
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today?
Even though I can now reach pretty much the same audience through Twitter and Facebook, i think for me the blog remains like an online catalogue. It's like a visual diary of all the things that inspire me, all the wish lists I create and in a small way a method of meeting new people. I have made so many wonderful friends, and still do, who express similar interests that I would have never met while living in the Irish countryside or studying Philosophy at university.
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog?
While at uni about 6 years ago I stumbled across Susie Bubble's blog and thought "wow, people actually can create these?!" It started of as a bit of a personal style diary for myself, it was a way for me to channel all the energy and love I had for fashion into a place that I could share with like minded people. As I mentioned before I wasn't exactly surrounded by many people at university who were into the same thing as me, and I think the boyfriend was glad I didn't have to talk at him about all these things anymore that he didn't understand!
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way?
I live in North East London currently and have done so for the last 2 years. I do think though it's definitely given me so much more opportunity to explore more interests such as trips to galleries, exciting restaurants, and the selection of shops and markets is just amazing! So I guess being able to do all these things means I have a lot more 'this is what I was up to' style posts these days, rather than posts about things I might LIKE to do! I think as well there's just been so much more chance to attend fashion related events and press days so I guess I feel a little more in the 'loop' than I did do living in Ireland or at uni in Staffordshire.
4. What is your favourite film...
It's hard to choose just the one but I really love the film Fargo for its dark twisted humour, I could probably never tire of that film!
...and book?
Book wise I really love Blankets a graphic novel by Craig Thompson and I'm reading a wonderful book about the artist Austin Osmond Spare at the moment. I really love reading about the old artists of the 1920's and 30's, the kid of creative minds that just don't exist anymore.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon?
If I'm lucky to have the day off I like to head down to the local car boot sale in Dalston first thing. Then take a walk back into Stoke Newington where my current favourite cafe The Parlour, makes the greatest Eggs Benedict I've ever tasted! I usually spend the rest of the day reading the papers and catching up on episodes of Poirot (I'm an old lady at heart apparently!)
Thank you Elisabeth for your answers, I was chuffed to read them!
This Wednesday, I have the great pleasure to interview Katie from keitii-chan for the blogroll special series. Her answers are very much like her blog: eloquent, well thought and carefully constructed. Everytime a new post of hers pops up in my reader, I get really excited. I value her film and book recommendations enormously , because we share common interests (East Asian culture among others) but mostly I love her thoughtful analyses tinged with personal experience. She currently studies in Hong Kong, so seeing her pretty pictures makes me day-dream (she has a shop where she sells prints of her photography and art - how pretty is this nebula?!)
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today?
I think that blogging for me is a form of journaling, a way to document my current interests and adventures, but it is also social, a way for me to talk to other people from around the world who have similar interests and pursuits. Sometimes, in this world of quick, unabashed, and sometimes ignorant sharing, I do get fed up with blogging and the problem of trolls and ignorant and hateful speech. Hila has written some eloquent blog posts on these issues, like on online ethics and commenting etiquette. I wrote a blog post about informed criticism once, but I think I took it down out of needless embarrassment regarding my writing. So, there have been times that I've thought about closing my blog out of consideration for my own privacy, but, for now, I keep coming back, mainly so that I can maintain the few friendships I've made through the web. Admittedly, blogging and reading blogs is an aesthetical indulgence for me sometimes too, and it provides me with some artistic inspiration and even escape from my daily worries. I think that blogging and similar forms of Internet sharing can be positive, but too much of a good thing can be negative too. Lately, I've been spending less and less time on the Internet and more and more time rediscovering my own creative self, uninfluenced by the web, which I think is very important, because otherwise, you end up becoming a product of what you consume. After all, I am currently studying Buddhism, and I'd like to think that I'm on a mission to attain unconditioned consciousness! But, anyhow...
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog?
The story behind my blog isn't too complicated. As I've mentioned on my blog before, a few years ago, LiveJournal became perpetually quiet, and although I wasn't overly active in the LJ community, I was active enough that when everyone started graduating to blogs, I felt left behind. I started LJing back in 1999, so to see it pittering out about a decade later, around 2008, was a little sad! Esmé has similar views on this topic that she explains quite nicely. I did not necessarily get support from the LJ community during a tough time in my life or anything like that, but I LJed and now I blog because I like "meeting" and talking to other people, especially people with similar interests. I've been able to talk to earworm, Amelia, Lilla, Lyndall, phantom;, and Sewon about all kinds of topics, like Haruki Murakami, through our blogs. Although the connections may seem flimsy and thin like spider webs, they still make me smile on a bad day. And of course, blogging also helps me to keep in touch with my "real life" friends, like my sister and my friend Sweet Little Pea.
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way?
I am currently living in, studying in, and loving the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not my native home; I am from the U.S. where I've lived in a number of places, but I was brought up in western New York, where it's cold and blustery and very different from subtropical Hong Kong. Living in Hong Kong definitely influences my blog, because I really enjoy sharing my adventures abroad. So far, I've only posted photography, mediocre photographs at that, but at some point, I really would love to sit down and write more about my experiences. I just haven't had the time! I really enjoy blogs that share what life is like in different places. I am a big advocate for inter-cultural learning, but sometimes, if you can't experience something for yourself, blogs do a great job of sharing what life is like in other places. And so, I would like to try to do this through my blog. Of course, it is also an important medium for sharing my life with my family and close friends who are back in the States, but if other people enjoy it too, then that makes me glad.
4. What is your favourite book?
If I had to choose only one book to read for the rest of my life, it would have to be the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. I know, I know, His Dark Materials consists of three books, not one, but I couldn't bear choosing only one of these treasures over the other two. I first read Philip Pullman's magnum opus during the summer of the last year of the second millennium, in 2000. I was probably bored that summer, floating between 9th and 10th grade, spending my days wadding around in our pool, eating popsicles, and reading books. I remember running out of books to read and discovering the first two books in the trilogy on my bookshelf. I must've wondered, "Why have I never read these?" I have to say, the books changed my life and my way of thinking forever. I'm probably one of those lost souls the Christian church complains Pullman has damned, but really, the novels helped to open my mind and shaped the critical thinker that I am today. Well, besides all that, the His Dark Materials trilogy is really just plain fun! I love the story and the characters, and when I was young, I gobbled up fantasy novels like sustenance!
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon?
I think that my absolute most favorite thing to do on Sundays is to make a nice breakfast or brunch, usually consisting of pancakes, hash browns, and lattes, and sit around in my pajamas chit-chatting with my husband about anything and everything until we are good and happy and want to do something else. I love reading, so to spend most of the day sleepily reading in bed would be ideal. And I have to say, although I love exploring places, meeting new people, and eating really good food out, in the end, I am a homebody: I love relaxing in my own little space at home with the people I care about and love. Lately, my Sundays consist of writing papers and studying, but we still make something good to eat at some point during the day, and lately I've been listening to nice, calming music while I write, like Miyauchi Yuri and for some reason Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, which makes my Sundays fairly peaceful.
My blogroll special guest today is Dulcie from Human Sea. I remember stumbling upon her blog and falling in love straight away with her beautiful film photography. Her pictures of her travels in Southeast Asia are to die for! It doesn't hurt either that the girl has amazing style. She wears the best vintage pieces, and also likes to share them in her Etsy shop.
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today? Blogging encourages me to really make the most of every day and to look for the beautiful amongst the mundane. It is an excuse to dress up in fancy things for no reason, visit places I have always wanted to, take pictures of life's little pleasures and to keep my home tidy. I love how the internet has given a voice to all the talented, creative and thoughtful individuals who find themselves uninspired by homogenised mainstream print media and keen to share their own unique perspectives. I enjoy communicating with fellow bloggers through many forms of social media including twitter, tumblr and pinterest.
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog? I first started my blog in my first year at The University of Manchester. My boyfriend who was studying in London had recently got one and I didn't want to feel left out! I feel that Human Sea has evolved organically since those early days and over time I came to know what I wanted my blog to be about - primarily vintage fashion and lifestyle with a thrifty feel.
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way? I am in the very exciting process of moving out of the West London familial home to a smaller flat in South-East London. I am beyond excited to be moving much closer to central London and my new flat has fantastic transport links and is situated much closer to my friendship group. After feeling isolated for the best part of a year, living in our dream location will have a transformational effect on my life as I will be able to engage with everything I love about London on a daily basis and not just have to save it for 'days out' at the weekend. The hours I will save on commuting will hopefully be poured into more posts for the blog!
London is an extremely inspiring place to live in every sense. The food culture, shopping, art galleries, night life, theatres, markets, parks and architecture are so diverse and varied you cannot fail to be surprised on a daily basis. London attracts creative individuals from all over the world and so the street style is like a showcase of global design and fashion and many of the different areas of London have their own distinctive look and energy. In addition to this, London has a fascinating history and in many ways exemplifies the many images we all have of it: opulent Victorian pubs with steamy windows, the Houses of Parliament lit up amidst a chill fog, the crush of shoppers under the gaudy Christmas lights on Oxford Street.
4. What is your favourite book...
As a masters student of English Literature I find it very difficult to whittle down my list of favourite books to just one! However, I love The Grass is Singing and the Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing and I am currently reading The Bone People by Keri Hulme which I am enjoying immensely.
... and film?
As for films, I'm not really a film buff but 2 Days in Paris never fails to make me laugh with its witty dialogue.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon? My favourite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon includes ordering the red berry pancakes at The Breakfast Club, when I can afford it and then getting out and about - perhaps visiting a market or car boot sale if one is on or browsing some shops. Alternatively, my boyfriend and I have a lazy day and just stay in and read and cook something nice for dinner.
Thank you so much Dulcie for your beautiful answers! (all pictures from Human Sea except 2 Days in Paris screenshot from Rotten tomatoes, collages by me).
My second guest for the blogroll special series is Siubhan (pronounce it shi-u-van) from the blog Simple Village Girl. She grew up in Scotland on the Isle of Islay but now calls Bristol home. She is a non-fiction editor, proofreader and typesetter in 'real life' and from reading her blog, I can see why she chose this professional path. She has a real eye for detail, her blog is a carefully curated account of her life where everything fits perfectly together, a balance of beautiful pictures and thoughtful words sprinkled with a harmony of colours.
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of instagram, twitter, facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today?
I keep hearing about Instagram being the death of the personal blog, but actually, while I really appreciate Instagram, it just doesn't provide enough context or connection to the story behind the images for me. What keeps me clicking publish is the hope that the amazing bloggers I've admired for so long will keep on clicking publish too, and will continue to let me read the stories behind their photographs.
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog?
I started my blog after leaving a job that I liked, but that had become pretty uneconomical. I was feeling kind of directionless, and then I stumbled upon a couple of amazing blogs (Fieldguided and Liebemarlene in particular I think) and decided that the only way to legitimately spend hours reading them without feeling guilty was to start one myself. So I decided to give it a go. I'm amazed that I'm still doing it really!
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way?
I live in a city called Bristol, in the south-west of England. I think it does influence my blog in terms of the fact that I've never really liked living here a huge amount, so I always go out of my way to make the best of it, and seek out the things that I can enjoy about living here – I guess it makes me seek out the bright side.
4. What is your favourite book?
This is a hard one to answer. In terms of wanting to go back and read one again and again, it would be Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which I first read when I was about 15 and just fell in love with.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a sunday afternoon?
I think Sunday afternoons are for planning, and baking. Many, many thanks to Siubhan for her participation and for letting me use her pictures (all pictures are from her blog Simple Village Girl, collages by me).
I'm really excited to start this new series today! "Blogroll special" will be the occasion for me to put 5 questions to my favourite bloggers. I wanted to ask what blogging has meant to them and also have a little nosey... You'll see! I hope you'll find new favourites or simply get to know those women who inspire us on a daily basis.
(I'll update my blogroll as this series goes on.) My first guest is Joanna from La Mignonette. If you don't know her blog, it's like a beautiful Parisian boudoir. Full of blush pink, grainy hazy pictures, Chanel makeup and Sixties icons like Anna Karina, Monica Vitti or Catherine Deneuve. But don't be mistaken Joanna is not your typical girly girl, her tomboy side is peppered here and there in the shape of charcoal skinny jeans, chelsea boots and garage rock tunes. A girl of our dreams.
1. What does blogging mean to you? In a world of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc what makes you still hit the button publish today? Blogging has increasingly become an escape to all the not-so-good things happening out there.
I don't have a Facebook account, and I don't really care about Twitter. I really don't have an interest about knowing other people's love for latte :p
2. What's the story behind your blog? How did you come to blog? I used to have an art blog because that's an area that also interested me, but I got tired of it and I decided to start a style blog instead.
I've always liked fashion and pretty things ever since I can remember, so starting to blog about those things came across as something natural.
3. Where do you live and do you feel your city influences your blog? If so, In what way? I don't think I am very permeable to the influence of city where I live. Of course, basic, everyday-things like the weather, might influence the way I dress, but in terms of city-living I really don't think so.
4. What is your favourite book... That is a really difficult question to answer.
I'm an English and German Literature graduate so while I was in college I was reading books constantly. The same doesn't really happen now :(
I've been a reading a book by Françoise Hardy called Le Désespoir des singes...et autres bagatelles, that I got at Vanves flea market in Paris some time ago.
... and film? In terms of films I think I was really influenced by Bunuel's Belle de jour.
Watching Catherine Deneuve looking amazing and demure , wearing Yves Saint-Laurent, really hit something in me. I also love 1960s new wave french directors like Truffaut and Godard. And I love comedies. Jacques Tati is a favourite of mine and Peter Seller's The Party is also a film that I really, really like.
I also like modern, cult movies like Buffalo 66, La Haine and Chungking Express, just to name a few.
5. What are your favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon?
Going out early in the morning and grabbing a coffee and then spending the rest of my day watching bad tv in bed and reading fashion magazines, taking my time analysing all the little details in editorials.
Also spending a couple of hours online browsing for vintage finds are my favourite things to do on a Sunday.
A big thank you to Joanna for taking the time answering these questions and letting me borrow pictures from her blog (all the pictures from La Mignonette except Francoise Hardy from here, screenshots of Belle de Jour and collages by me)
