A Night at the County Fair

So last week I went to the county fair with my dear boyfriend. Now, for those of you who have only encountered county fairs through television shows and movies, I can assure you, it is exactly like what you see on the screen. And I mean, exactly. You know how rich people like to slum it in the alleys of Beverly Hills? Well, us normal people in the rest of the economic spectrum do it at the county fairs.

I’ve been to a handful of county fairs in my life. They are all more or less the same: deep-fried food, farm animals, and carnival rides. Throw in a few haystack rides and some exotic animal exploita- I mean, exhibits, and there you have it, the classic Middle-America festival. They are still amazing though, no matter how many times I go and wade through the mud and give myself a stomachache sampling the latest fried goods.

So what was different about the last time I went?

This:

And this:

And all of these:

My boyfriend has an iPhone, and on this revered little phone is an app that could take the most amazing pictures ever. You would fiddle with all these different kinds of lenses, play with a variety of flashes, and choose your favorite film. Then, you take a picture in this tiny little viewfinder that only adds to the suspense and surprise of the final outcome. Wait for it to “develop” and “print.” And then stare in amazement at the awesome retro-ness of what you had just snapped.

There’s just something about looking at things in a completely new way. Your eye has to work harder to identify the subject, your brain has to somehow wrap itself around a new set of rules, and you just feel shocked... and inspired. Suddenly, everything around you has the potential to look aged and antique, or 70’s porno-ish (“boom chicka bow wow!”,) or melancholy and spooky. It really makes you look at the world around you more closely. Isn’t that what we all should do, stop a minute, take a look, pay attention to what we see, and find the beauty in everything? It’s all in there, waiting for you to pull it out.

A quick little story about the black cow up there. I have dubbed her “Miss Cranky Black Cow.” If you know me at all, you know that I can’t resist petting any animal I see. Bring me a frog and I will try to cuddle it. So when I see this sweet black little doe-eyed cow, one of the very few at this particular county fair, I couldn’t resist but to go up and give her a little pat. First, I couldn’t quite reach her head, so I positioned myself behind her, but to the side as to avoid any flying legs if it came to that. Then, I stretched out my hand, coo’ed a little bit, and gently gave her a single pat. Suddenly, I heard a grumbling from deep inside her, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her adjust herself as to be directly in front of me, and pick up her leg. Instinct kicked in, I screamed, “Whoa!!” and spun myself out of the way of her deadly flying hoof. Miss Cranky Black Cow nearly killed me and all my boyfriend could do was laugh hysterically and take pictures to commemorate the moment a heifer got the better of me. Thank you, darling.

Fly Free!

Beatrice

This blog post came from Beatrice's jewelry website. To learn more, just go to www.BirdcageBohemia.com. Fly Free!

Vintage to Modern

While looking through some of our pictures, we realized just how much the bygone eras have influenced modern society. Whether is something that makes us giggle like children, or the clothes we choose to wear, or the homes we dream of owning, there is one thing that ties it all together: Something with a history makes it desirable.

When have you ever looked at a Victorian home and not imagined yourself, for a split second, baking a pie in its kitchen while three kids run afoot? Didn't you know the ever ubiquitous ballet flats of modern day also had their day once before, in the 60's? The ever classic strand of pearls has been an undying classic still. The lines of antique cars will make you stop and stare as they drive past. The retro styling of current kitchen appliances, the shabby chic characters of white bed posts, the charm of old canning jars holding pencils and pens; all still sought after today and all influenced by times past.

The two of us, residents of La Caravane Bohème, are two very modern girls. We love our cell phones and laptops complete with wireless internet. We have cars, we use credit cards, and we greatly enjoy anything with an automatic feature. However, you'll find us sporting vintage sunglasses like in our profile pictures. We'll be discussing the gorgeous molding in an old home. 70's maxi dresses and 50's cardigans will find their way into our closets. We love the historic districts of just about anywhere. 

So who are we? Modern girls with a vintage twist? Or vintage girls with a modern twist? We'll never know, but we'll never stop. Next time you inside your closet or your home, stop and take a look. You'll begin to see where history has infused your life. Once you do, you'll see the world with a different eye and with a new-found appreciation for things with a history. Of course, we'd like for you to take that appreciation right on over to our vintage shop!

Lots of love and Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia