London Calling

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In honor of the 2012 Olympics that begin in London next week and in belated tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee last month, I share some images of both the Union Jack and Britain’s monarch. The Sex Pistols art is just for fun; I included it to contrast two images featuring safety pins: the anarchy image and Ann Carrington’s rendering of the Queen called “Heads She Wins”.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I have great respect for Queen Elizabeth, especially after reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Queen-Life-Modern-Monarch/dp/1400067898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342717631&sr=8-1&keywords=sally+bedell+smith">Sally Bedell Smith’s Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch</a>. Despite the privileges of royalty, the Queen lives a life that is not really hers. She has devoted herself to her country for sixty years, taking on a tremendous job at a very young age. American presidents and British prime ministers have come and gone since the days of Winston Churchill and Harry S. Truman, but Queen Elizabeth continues to wear the crown. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfn_-k6kmGLW3LrKaMLE2Gf5kkvPI04kBWbsYfX1lN4GU1RJfw-c1MWoe-FSnBCI2vWCvZRcyrXr6bRRdc2LUBxGJrX-UYYNBw5tPw3rksh6X2QWEJawOxHcLURQmHcqD0St9d69Hjww/s1600/heads-she-wins%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfn_-k6kmGLW3LrKaMLE2Gf5kkvPI04kBWbsYfX1lN4GU1RJfw-c1MWoe-FSnBCI2vWCvZRcyrXr6bRRdc2LUBxGJrX-UYYNBw5tPw3rksh6X2QWEJawOxHcLURQmHcqD0St9d69Hjww/s640/heads-she-wins%255B1%255D.jpg" width="584" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> <a href="http://www.anncarrington.co.uk/coins-of-the-realm">"Heads She Wins" by Ann Carrington</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mixed media: safety pins, chains and needles on canvas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPej3ykwHxPSmzaBKBjLA1_6o6mzid61oJcZ6njSV1QBEExQSgVgYRif884NyhyZA2VMvVr7bB3IxrWsFkMtNqc0RWDXXJ6Z-qSbZFOVuJoYaZgYkTrn4Ed9C5L96wP-FxoTX6rYJYwBs/s1600/anpost450%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPej3ykwHxPSmzaBKBjLA1_6o6mzid61oJcZ6njSV1QBEExQSgVgYRif884NyhyZA2VMvVr7bB3IxrWsFkMtNqc0RWDXXJ6Z-qSbZFOVuJoYaZgYkTrn4Ed9C5L96wP-FxoTX6rYJYwBs/s640/anpost450%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More safety pins . . . </div><div style="text-align: center;">"This distressed Union Jack Flag image appeared on promotional posters and adverts for the Sex Pistols' debut single on EMI Records in November 1976."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/feature/sex-pistols-artwork">From the Sex Pistols website</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WT3IQIb5ecDki7ze7YbX4Fbbimm2TW5evUs5ToC04RdyEzENOKNQpHEFgTv5NTdC9QzV1xXoAKcEkOqvSse8uXTWffy82v_2X6c7RV271zOBaubfzUBxh2WIhkSlne7uJRX-0EltEKc/s1600/antique2chiccook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WT3IQIb5ecDki7ze7YbX4Fbbimm2TW5evUs5ToC04RdyEzENOKNQpHEFgTv5NTdC9QzV1xXoAKcEkOqvSse8uXTWffy82v_2X6c7RV271zOBaubfzUBxh2WIhkSlne7uJRX-0EltEKc/s640/antique2chiccook.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Antique sofa reupholstered in reproduction of Union Jack</div><div style="text-align: center;">by <a href="http://www.antique2chic.co.uk/">Antique2Chic</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Featured in Traditional Home (June 2012).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SWDjKzzj27f_tUa0hIMA6CbxwrEewW39WzKhw4o9GMLeTwsJdspXUILyyWSL-wZzibAGpRXyBItTT5scVUPXcF8t-bqpvIPRadvglM4LNCV9Qib2MEbyrXtj-yueAqdu8caG7GTgbYI/s1600/BlogUnionJackFoundrybyfreemanElleDecorApril2012+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SWDjKzzj27f_tUa0hIMA6CbxwrEewW39WzKhw4o9GMLeTwsJdspXUILyyWSL-wZzibAGpRXyBItTT5scVUPXcF8t-bqpvIPRadvglM4LNCV9Qib2MEbyrXtj-yueAqdu8caG7GTgbYI/s640/BlogUnionJackFoundrybyfreemanElleDecorApril2012+(2).jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chest by <a href="http://www.foundrybyfreeman.com/">Foundry</a> in Washington, D.C.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Elle Decor (April 2012).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4zrMGByzZnLpKzdUsJM3S3HWbWE8dmHVWKdab_iD1FKOs7oaI9mC-8LKiIeXJPCzbCYalF9gu0h12ysb_lg4kuDahjK9Zs1wFtGjV6ITvIvCV6-UW2YvDtn1Zy58dTd5YSE3OZzU5o/s1600/BlogUnionJackTradHome2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4zrMGByzZnLpKzdUsJM3S3HWbWE8dmHVWKdab_iD1FKOs7oaI9mC-8LKiIeXJPCzbCYalF9gu0h12ysb_lg4kuDahjK9Zs1wFtGjV6ITvIvCV6-UW2YvDtn1Zy58dTd5YSE3OZzU5o/s640/BlogUnionJackTradHome2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wine room by Carol Egan and Wayne Nathan.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Traditional Home. Hampton Designer Showhouse 2010.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"The Union Jack blacksplash is constructed from Irish blue limestone - honed, polished, and distressed to create a subtle image of the British flag."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZ7FGwkvMEnikUOqe-LfFr7cu_Wky3yuTxuKozGf3tXlc1CwScXmHNTSF2AbjLxzv5MdlyLi0tlWBg1p_PwTSDY5MNyhWVVZ1b6eihG-q-f2QUwzd4rlVIMWjANh1GHNVano5V5rWlM/s1600/ORGBRIT_DNV_1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZ7FGwkvMEnikUOqe-LfFr7cu_Wky3yuTxuKozGf3tXlc1CwScXmHNTSF2AbjLxzv5MdlyLi0tlWBg1p_PwTSDY5MNyhWVVZ1b6eihG-q-f2QUwzd4rlVIMWjANh1GHNVano5V5rWlM/s640/ORGBRIT_DNV_1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://usa.hunter-boot.com/product/original-british">Hunter</a> made these boots using a vintage Union Jack flag as the base.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR0TO_jxabH4VbuvKwTtAQYLqoCTx35a7hd2zvSvTQa8zRQmCxryepqhaqiW4OehHGSQp60YLubnQhGU1-AYgVACAUpwNMAa0SwBL3oLwM37m6J5VRLQNHJx42PaM3vgc8JyVbcfmkEE/s1600/ioUg_nqA7jGA%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR0TO_jxabH4VbuvKwTtAQYLqoCTx35a7hd2zvSvTQa8zRQmCxryepqhaqiW4OehHGSQp60YLubnQhGU1-AYgVACAUpwNMAa0SwBL3oLwM37m6J5VRLQNHJx42PaM3vgc8JyVbcfmkEE/s640/ioUg_nqA7jGA%255B1%255D.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> "Queen Elizabeth II" by Andy Warhol.</div><div style="text-align: center;">National Portrait Gallery.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSmxo-_3xhPhYuhhph7lUqCwp-vW-LmzLSevUTMTUUEn58zTjcIKQIEBWNRm5LW7iGALyDESsy1_w1M_L_N6ZNna7pc9WI3RULS_TjfZvYsTAkeuokRLohH9F2oBdncVQbKqVr27X-l4/s1600/BlogUnionJackAnnCarringtonPearlyQueen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSmxo-_3xhPhYuhhph7lUqCwp-vW-LmzLSevUTMTUUEn58zTjcIKQIEBWNRm5LW7iGALyDESsy1_w1M_L_N6ZNna7pc9WI3RULS_TjfZvYsTAkeuokRLohH9F2oBdncVQbKqVr27X-l4/s640/BlogUnionJackAnnCarringtonPearlyQueen.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anncarrington.co.uk/pearly-queens">"Pearly Queen of Jubilee Gardens" by Ann Carrington.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Medium: gold buttons on velvet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiIOctnwY5y2IHJk1koqtGJyyFzC1k8EQv3G9RpeVKfN8Fe05FEhpK62s9lTIOqTSWdAUImXT1P1EteDpXfcUy0aF-4E0xOBRteeo6WEDlAAiYG7Wn3S_O7VPwiL5TdfgaFl9azh7Qzo/s1600/jubilee-montageAnnCarringtonWebsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiIOctnwY5y2IHJk1koqtGJyyFzC1k8EQv3G9RpeVKfN8Fe05FEhpK62s9lTIOqTSWdAUImXT1P1EteDpXfcUy0aF-4E0xOBRteeo6WEDlAAiYG7Wn3S_O7VPwiL5TdfgaFl9azh7Qzo/s640/jubilee-montageAnnCarringtonWebsite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee</span></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><a href="http://www.anncarrington.co.uk/the-royal-jubilee-banner">Image from Ann Carrington's website</a></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

London Calling

In honor of the 2012 Olympics that begin in London next week and in belated tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee last month, I share...

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