Candied

Candy Apples in the window of a sweet shop.

I wanted one so badly.  I should have had one.

But then I would have had to take one from this lovely display..... and that would have been completely unacceptable.  It looked to pretty to mess up.  

Bath, England, UK

If you liked this, then check out another window in Bath, Rupert.

In the Lamplight

The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

St. James Park, London, England, UK

If you enjoyed this, I think you might be For Scotland!

Photobook

A book of old photos from Japan on display in the British Museum. 

I want to own each one of them individually and plaster them all over my walls.  

London, England, UK

Like this?  Try out Display.

Snowy Garden

This is a view of St. James Park in London.  Everyone in London gets terrified when there is this much snow.  Planes don't fly.  People stock up on food.  Having grown up in the Northeastern United States, I thought this was absolutely ridiculous.  I love a little dusting of snow.  I think it's pretty.  This photograph seems to prove my case.

London, England, UK

If you like this photograph, you'll love All in a Row.

Frogger

This is probably the coolest fountain that I have ever seen.  It's in the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles, Louis XV's grand palace in France.  When it is turned on, it is spectacular.  But, when the water is not running, it looks nifty as well.  Animals spit water in different directions, creating lines of water that curve in beautiful patterns.

Versailles, France

If you like this, you'll love Zen.

Rupert

Rupert the Bear was one of my favourite television shows as a kid.  I secretly loved the days that I was sick sometimes, because I could sit at home and watch this show, David the Gnome, and all of the other cute and queer things I loved as a kid.  This is a display in a store full of dollhouse miniatures and small books.  One of my other loves, Shakespeare, is mentioned in the background.

Bath, England, UK

Like this?  Like Window Shopping.

Lace

The best window decorations I've seen yet.

I want to do this to my apartment so badly.

Bruges, Belgium

Better Than Candles accompanies this one quite nicely.

Wellies

I decided I would stick with the fun and funky character of the last post and let you enjoy some nice wellies!  For those of you 'Muricans like me out there, wellies are rain boots.  And they are so delightful.  What can be better than sloshing through puddles on a rainy day without the fear of wetting your socks?  Well, lots of things, but that is rather nice.  These ones were on sale at Camden Market.

Camden, London, England, UK

If you think this is rad, then you will love Ello Puppets.

The Lone Flame

If you have been reading Travel and Toile for a bit, you will probably have become aware that I really like candles.  If you are new, first of all, welcome!  I hope you like what you see.  Oh, and by the way- I like candles.  Especially these things in churches with the racks full of them.  This one really intrigued me- only one lone candle was burning, and it was burning rather brightly.  Caught my fancy, and my camera lens.

Bath, England, UK

Like this?  Check out Beautiful Disaster.

Another Chandelier

It was promised, here it is.  Another chandelier photograph. 

Bath, England, UK

If you find this photograph as inspiring as I do, you will probably also draw inspiration from Contemplation.

Chandelier

I love crystal chandeliers.  They are right up there with toile prints and red roses for me when it comes to lovely little things that I find inspiring.  So, please enjoy a few photographs of chandeliers!

Bath, England, UK

Like this?  Check out Display.

The Ram of Egypt

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with ancient Egypt.  I knew just about everything.  Instead of playing video games, I made shrines in my backyard to the gods of ancient Egypt.  Odd, yes.  I grant that.  I was a weird kid.  Unfortunately, some of this knowledge didn't stick.  For example, I have no idea what god this is associated with.  Ten points and  a virtual hug to anyone who knows the answer.  

The Ashmoleon Museum

Oxford, England, UK

Like this?  Look at Form.

Only 50p

I've said before how I love to see these in churches.  The candles all burning, glowing for one particular saint, or god in general. 

But, oh..... well..... This one seems to be having a little issue.  It's out.  And it's only 50p!  

...Cheapskates.

Oxford, England, UK

Like this?  Well, you can see a fully lit one of these called I Pray the Lord my Soul to Keep.

Fleur-de-Lis

Honestly, I just want to own that seat cushion.  Alas, it belongs to a massive church.  That's how my luck generally goes.

Oxford, England, UK

If you liked this, you might like your Impending Doom.

Some People Do Go Both Ways

I have always loved that line from the Wizard of Oz, not because of it's possible implied meaning about someone's sexuality, but because I have this image in my head of a cartoon character weathervane rooster being stretched and exploding into feathers.  Sick, I know.  But, like Wile Coyote, he would come back.  A scene later, the rooster would be just fine.  And possibly golden, like this one.

Oxford, England, UK

If you like this, chekc out The Sun God.

Punts

I went to Cambridge twice, and I didn't have a picnic on a punt.  I am slightly ashamed and depressed by this. When I go back to England, this will happen.

Cambridge, England, UK

Here's another photograph of punts in Cambridge- All in a Row.

Zen

This is a detail from a mosaic on the bottom of a fountain!  It's a pretty little one in the center of a small square in Lambeth, right next to the Garden Museum and Lambeth Palace.  That whole area is quite nice, really.  Around the fountain were other mosaics, with hedgehogs, foxes, and badgers.  The whole setup made me happy.  It was just so cute.

London, England, UK

If you like this, then see some real fish in Tranquility.

I Pray the Lord my Soul to Keep

Candles of worship in Westminster Cathedral.  I love candles- and I always, always get suckered in by these big stands of them in churches.  There is something weirdly magical about it.  All of that flickering fire burning, like the hopes and dreams in the hearts of the people who have lit them.  I find it to be very humbling.

London, England, UK

If you like this, then you will definitely like St. Michael Melting.

For the Long Haul

These ships look like they mean business. Once again, I have no real clue what they actually are for, but they look so industrial, like they must be going on a long journey, or being used to do something really difficult.  In any case, they looked so fascinating to me sitting in the frozen water.  I couldn't help but take some photographs.

Stockholm, Sweden

If you liked this, please take a look at Docked Forever.

The Ice Queen

I don't know what this building actually is.  I have no idea.  If I had to guess, I would probably say that it was some kind of lookout post over the frozen water or something.  However, what I want it to be is a palace.  The palace of the Ice Queen.  Did anyone else read that book as a child?  It was moderately terrifying. That's about all I remember about it, but I do want her to live here.

Stockholm, Sweden

If you liked this, you should look at Creepy Carnival.

Open a New Door

A very old looking door.  I went to Geneva with my dad.  While we were there, he developed a fascination with doors in the city.  I can't say that I blamed him- there were a lot of really pretty doors.  And the doors that weren't obviously pretty had pretty little details- a fancy handle here, a gorgeous relief statue over top there.  Geneva is a city with cool doors.  This is one of them.

Geneva, Switzerland.

If you like this, then you might want to go Window Shopping.

Carousel

This is, in fact, an aerial view of the Carousel.  I thought it was kind of garish when I was standing next to it.  I like the French style carousels, with all of the pastels, and fancy carts.  Vividly coloured ones with boats and racecars- generally not my thing.  But this one surprised me.  I climbed some stairs to a landing above and, lo and behold, from the top- it kinda looked pretty!  So I took some pictures of it.  I hope you think it looks pretty too.

Geneva, Switzerland

If you like this, then you will like La Fille et Son Scooter, and The Little Ship.

Volcanic Sunset: Part 4

The sunset over Northern London.  This was actually taken out of my window.  Once again, I'm finding myself really missing that place.  It's so weird to move to another country, grow to love it, and then move back.  Ah, well.  I'm not the first person to ever do it, and I won't be the last.  It may not even be the only time I do that.  Who knows where my life will take me.

London, England, UK

Love this?  Take a look at Fight the Sunrise.

Volcanic Sunset: Part 3

A statue, bathed in the glow of the sunset.

The Tuileries Gardens

Paris, France

If you like this photograph, you should like Form as well.

Volcanic Sunset: Part 2

Another lovely view of a red-orange sky. Thanks to the volcano.

The Tuileries Gardens

Paris, France

If you enjoyed this, make sure to take a look at Le Fille et Son Scooter.

Volcanic Sunset: Part 1

Eyjafjallajökul sure was annoying, wasn't it?  Travel plans were spoiled, people were stranded for weeks in countries where they didn't speak the language, or have enough money to buy a hotel room, or even food.  Air traffic basically halted.  It was a total disaster.  However.... the sunsets in Europe, while it was erupting?  

They. Were. GORGEOUS.

Stunningly pretty.

So, I tried to capture a few of them on film.

Enjoy!

The Tuileries Gardens

Paris, France

Like this?  Then check out Landscape.

Shower of Gold

A very attractive tree in Regent's Park.

I sat underneath this and ate a pasty, if I do recall correctly.

I miss living in London.  I love New York with a fiery, fiesty passion, but England was just such a lovely country.

London, England, UK

Love this?  Enjoy a Fairy Tale.

Intrigue

 

 Wax figurines in the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

They are acting out... one of the stories.  I don't actually know which one.  I just thought that this setup was aesthetically pleasing.

London, England, UK

If you like this, then I'd like to give you A Little Something Special.

Call of Duty

A Beefeater and canons in the Tower of London.

They were guarding the crown jewels- which were stunning, and also illegal to photograph.

London, England, UK

Was this your new favourite?  Check out Fight the Sunrise.

Wallace

Stained Glass inside of a small chapel in Edinburgh Castle.

All of the windows were small like this with this type of stained glass. I was a bit obsessed.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

If you liked this, then you will like Medieval.

For Scotland!

Celtic cross monument outside of Edinburgh Castle.

The celtic cross is one of my favourite motifs in the world.  Lovely.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

If you like all things Scotland, please look at Atop the Crags.

Comedy and Tragedy

You lucky kids.  You got a Two-for-one!

These two mask statues were on either side of a little fountain on The Royal Mile.
They just reminded me that both funny/ happy and tragic/ sad things can be pretty.  Thus concludes the Dark Side of Loveliness series.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

For more things theatrical, check out The Performance- two children doing a little skit at Chinese New Year in London.

To Die, To Sleep

William Shakespeare's Grave

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, UK

If you are a Shakespeare buff, like yours truly, you'll also like Magpie.

All Together Now

The Hardy Tree at Old St. Pancras Church

This church had been a place of worship since about 200AD (for those of you who were wondering, yes, that does mean pre-Christianity).  In the 1700's, they wanted to redevelop the graveyard.  All of the bodies were left interred, but the headstones were moved into circles around this tree.  Over the past three hundred years, the tree has grown in and around the stones, giving a really creepy effect.

Camden, London, England, UK

Like this?  Then you might also like Form.

RIP

A chained off tomb in the floor of a cathedral.

Most of the tomb was covered by an altar.

Brussels, Belgium

Enjoy this?  Then We See the Truth might also be enjoyable.

Toile on Wall

Another scene from that garden near the Groehning Museum.

Metal toile cutouts on a crumbling brick wall.  Stunning.

Bruges, Belgium

Like this photograph?  You might like Twigi too.

Two Lips

A flower display in a garden near the Groehning Museum.

If I ever have a backyard, it shall contain something that looks almost exactly like this.

Bruges, Belgium.

If this photograph made you all happy inside, like it does to me, then Beautiful Disaster might also be your kind of thing.

Impending Doom

I'm posting the next bunch of  photographs about the darker side of loveliness.

This one is a detail from the most gorgeous pulpit that I have ever seen in my life.  It was wooden, and carved so intricately, that I stared at it for probably five minutes.  Beautiful.

Brussels, Belgium

This was taken in the same church as St. Michael Melting. 

Lucky

 

The lovely bedroom I slept in while in Belgium.

My friend Pam was nice enough to let me stay with her.  She has two cute black cats (and I don't know which one this is...)

Rixensart, Belgium

Grandeur

Gorgeous buildings in the Grande Place.

I had coffee with my friend Pam in the one on stage left house right.

Brussels/ Bruxelles, Belgium

If you loved this photograph, you will probably like Back Alley of Comfort.

St. Michael Melting

Sorry, that wasn't meant to be sacriligeous.

It's a candle burning for St. Michael that happens to be melting.  Along with the nose of this image.

Brussels/ Bruxelles, Belgium

This photograph goes pretty nicely with Enchantment to me.  They don't really have much to do with one another, but something tells me that if you like this, you'll like that one.

Paparazzi

One of many nifty and odd statues in Bratislava.

I love how he peers around the building.

Bratislava, Slovakia

If you think this picture is nifty, wait until you see My High Horse.

Huzzah for Football

Chelsea's Football Stadium, Stamford Bridge

My dad and I went on the guided tour.  It was delightful.

Hammersmith & Fulham, London, England, UK

Like this?  Why not try going to Brooklyn.

Set the Table

 

We had a picnic!

Doesn't my mom buy pretty tablecloths?

West Grove, Pennsylvania, USA

Enjoy this?  Well, then I would suggest Tranquility and Bouquet.

Late Dinner

Taken in the kitchens at Hampton Court Palace

Just a note: the meat is very fake.  I'm a vegetarian.  It was a display set up to look like a Tudor era kitchen.  Pretty rad.

Hampton Court, London, England, UK

Enjoy this photograph?  Well, then I suggest having some Tea after dinner.  Maybe after that, we can go Window Shopping.

Like a Lamb

A mother sheep and her two little lambs.

I just thought they were cute.

Broek in Waterland, The Netherlands

If you like sheep, like I do, you will probably also like Grazing.  That one is a superior photograph, really.  But this one has baby sheep in it.

Shrubbery

A topiary on the grounds of Le Chateau de Versailles

There are also photos of my boyfriend and I hiding behind these like Mario characters...

Versailles, France

Enjoy this?  Then you might want to run for Shelter.  Bowser is going to get you!

What a Quack

A duck in the fountain at Palais Royal

I thought it was cute, so my boyfriend lured it towards me by feeding it peanuts.

Paris, France

Was this picture your new favourite?  Take a look at another critter up close and personal in Why, Thank You!

Medieval

The Sainte-Chappelle
Isn't this just divinely cool?  Crumbling Medieval pillars.

Paris, France

If you enjoyed this photograph, I have a sneaking suspicion that you might Fancy a Game?