Stuff
MEDITATION ON ERIK SATIE
I received another letter from the ever-resourceful Rodrigo with a beautiful threnody we should all take a moment to listen to.
CRUEL TO ME IN EVERYTHING!
I spent some time this Easter weekend reading the mournful letters of Eloise to her forbidden beloved, Abelard.
AND ONLY THROUGH LOVE
My husband received this remarkable Aztec ‘blessing’ from Evy who lives in Ghent, Belgium.
YOU BURN ME – KRISTEN McMENAMY
A bit of Sappho for the great Kristen McMenamy who wears the legendary Vampire’s Wife Smoking Cat T Shirt.
AND THE HEART IN ITS TEARS
Our dear friend, Rodrigo, sent this startling quote from a letter written by Gustave Flaubert to his beloved Louise Colet.
AS WE ARE NO LONGER
Here is a quote from Joan Didion’s bracing and courageous book on grief, ‘The Year of Magical Thinking.’
IT IS GOOD TO BE ALIVE
Spring is here! We welcome it with all the love in our hearts with a beautiful buoyant poem from Angelina Weld Grimké.
APRIL SHE WILL COME
Here is song for the coming of spring from the wonderful Simon and Garfunkel—an ache of a song with a beautifully rendered lyric, full of longing.
THE MORNING IS A TRAIN
Greta Bellamacina is wearing The Silver Bespoke Lamé Bombette Dress, and well, quite frankly, we love her for it.
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
My husband sent me this extraordinary performance of Thomas Whitfield and choir performing ‘Nothing But The Blood’ led by Lateria Wooton.
PIERCING AS THE FLUTE
You may have noticed a dark haunted presence beneath The Bad Seeds majestic song ‘Galleon Ship’ from the Ghosteen album.
MY VIOLIN HAS BEEN BROKEN
My husband sent me this absolutely beautiful folk song that was sent to his Red Hand Files by Endre from Budapest.
EXCEPTIONALLY GORGEOUS
Actress and ace electric guitarist, Devon Ross seen at the Yves Saint Laurent Show in Paris with some exceptionally gorgeous guy.
GREETINGS FROM TRYON, NORTH CAROLINA
My husband has fled the UK and has been spending his time in Asheville, North Carolina, rehearsing with Warren and Luiz and Wendi and Janet and TJae.
SONG OF THE SOUL
Here is a beautiful creation from Lavinia of Spain, sent to my husband’s Red Hand Files.
I, LUCILLE CLIFTON HEREBY TESTIFY
I love this poem by the wonderful poet, Lucille Clifton. She is an absolutely stunning writer—a new poet to our house.
HAFIZ – SEER AND TRICKSTER
I was reading this morning that most brilliant Persian poet and seer, Hafiz, calling from the 14th Century.
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 24
A letter arrived at my husband’s Red Hand Files from Kimberly in Australia.
A BREATHLESS CAT POWER
Just sitting here and listening to this very beautiful version of my husband’s song, Breathless, and it occurs to me that, in general, women do the best versions of Nick’s songs.
DIANA SILVERS WEARS THE FALCONETTI
Actor Diana Silvers looks gorgeous in The Vampire’s Wife Velvet Falconetti Dress.
MINA LOY – BLOOD ON ITS WINGS
I spent a rainy morning during the holidays reading British-born poet, Mina Loy.
GASPARA STAMPA
I spent some time with the great Italian Renaissance poet, Gaspara Stampa over the holiday period, whose life was cut tragically short by illness.
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 23
Someone called Joe from Tacoma, WA in the USA sent this letter to my husband’s famously world rehabilitating and most wonderful website The Red Hand Files.
LICORICE PIZZA IS PURE JOY
I had the complete priviage of seeing a preview of P T Anderson’s Licorice Pizza on the weekend and it is the warmest, funniest, most joyful film I have watched in a long time.
AND NO MORE SHALL WE PART
The Flaming Lips have released an entire album of my husband’s songs called ‘Where the Viaduct Looms’ and this record has swept me away.
THE ENDLESS UNFOLDING OF LIFE
I just spent sometime reading the sad but inspiring story of the death of Charles Darwin’s 10-year-old daughter, Annie.
THE MARGINALIAN - PAEAN TO LOVE AND WONDER
There is nothing online nearly as fortifying, generous, and acutely smart as Maria Povopa’s gargantuan paean to love and wonder, The Marginalian.
THE SINGULAR VALI MYERS
I’ve been sitting here flicking through old art books and catalogues and looking for inspiration.
MYSTERIOUS MERMAID CHANT
I literally know nothing about this strange piece of music except that it was sent to me by a mysterious person.
NELL SMITH – POWERFUL VULNERBILITY
My husband just showed me this beautiful version of The Ship Song by Nell Smith and Flaming lips.
FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
I just stumbled on this clip of the brilliant Kris Kristofferson singing a live and unadorned version of one of my all time favourite songs.
SOPHIE TAEUBER-ARP
I’ve been looking at the strange, eclectic creations of Sophie Taeuber-Arp this morning.
GHOST GIRL RIDER
Here is a spooky old poem by the great Thomas Hardy sent to me from an elf at the bottom of the world.
CUBAN UNICORN
Here is a letter that was sent to my husband’s Red Hand Files by someone called Amanda from Mexico.
BONFIRE
Just to let you all know that The Vampire’s Wife has produced the most beautiful scented candle.
EACH TO HIS GRIEF
Just sitting here, reading Gwendolyn Brooks, yet again. Boy Breaking Glass is such a mighty poem.
AND THE PLOT THICKENS
The Johnstone sisters, my favourite children’s book illustrator’s and a major influence here at The Vampire’s Wife
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 22
My husband forwarded me a beautiful letter from Jennifer from Vancouver with a suggestion for a Song of Devastation.
WHEN THE SWEET HUNTER SHOT ME
I came across this poem by Saint Teresa of Avila, which was the inspiration for Bernini’s The Ecstasy of St Teresa.
HONOR SWINTON BYRNE WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
Actress Honor Swinton Byrne wears The Vampire’s Wife Fortune Teller Gown while attending the London Film Festival. Thank you Honor! We love you here at the Vampire’s Wife. Love, Susie x
FORCE, BEAUTY, SADNESS, HUMOUR, LIFE
A beautiful and happy letter from Sabina from Berlin, sent to me here at The Vampires Wife.
I HAVE WANDERED ALL MY UNENDING DAYS
I found this lovely little poem, written by my husband, on a scrap of paper around the house.
DREAMS ARE MY REALITY
Here is a soppy little pop song by Richard Sanderson sent by Klara to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files.
MY SISTER, MY LITTLE CRICKET
Just read these small but beautiful poems by New Zealand poet, Jenny Bornholdt.
ANDIE MACDOWELL
The great Andie MacDowell wears The Vampire’s Wife Pink Lamé Penitent Pants Suit on Graham Norton this week.
GIG OF THE CENTURY
Okay, I may be a little biased but was I watching something completely transcendent.
THE SPARE BEDROOM
This is such a gentle and measured description of a photograph of a bedroom full of meaning.
ONLY YOUR EXQUISITE EYES
I love the painter, Susan Valadon’s portrait of her lover, the composer, Eric Satie, in all its furious and demented colour. An unconventional lover, to say the least.
STAR CHARMER
Listen to this beautiful version of my husband’s lovely song ‘Star Charmer’. Such a tender version of my favourite Grinderman song. The musician is named Oliver Richards.
VISITING THE SURFACE OF THE WORLD
My friend, Deborah, who literally lives at the bottom of the world, kindly sent me this beautiful drawing.
SYLVIE GUILLEM
Sylvie Guillem is a force of nature, a fierce and exquisite miracle. I’ve watched this over and over again.
BIG CAT PETE DAVIDSON
Pete Davidson wears The Vampire’s Wife Big Cat T-Shirt on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week.
MARY MARGARET O’HARA
I’ve been wandering around the house this weekend wondering what to do with myself, and missing my husband, and listening to the truly great Mary Margaret O’Hara.
GIRL IN AMBER – NELL SMITH
Listen to this gorgeous cover version of The Bad Seeds song, Girl In Amber, by the wonderful Flaming Lips in collaboration with a thirteen-year-old fan, Nell Smith.
THE GREAT WENDY CARLOS
Sitting in a hotel bed, listening to ‘The Shining’ movie soundtrack by the great hero-innovator of electronic music Wendy Carlos.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 21
Thank you, Izzy, for this lovely letter and, indeed, a beautiful and heart-wrenching version ‘Song Of Devastation.’ I never thought anyone could touch the original version of ‘To Love Somebody’ by The Bee Gees.
THE WEIGHT OF GOD
Louis from Germany sent this very sweet letter to my husband’s glorious Red Hand Files.
THE SEEKERS
Big in the Cave household, the world’s most catchy song from the Australian pop/folk band The Seekers. ‘Georgy Girl’.
STAR, O STAR
A lovely letter from Rodrigo—our Brazilian friend and beauty excavator—sends a gorgeous ballad from Brazilian singer and composer, Victor Ramil.
IS THIS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE?
Thank you, Nanni from Los Angeles for sending this beautiful and haunting song to my husband’s The Red Hand Files.
REASONS TO LOVE SALMA HAYEK No 633
The brilliant and beautiful Salma Hayek wears The Vampire’s Wife.
WHITE RABBIT
Can’t get enough of this piece of American psychedelia from the great Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane.
IN PRAISE OF PAULA REGO
This morning, I’ve been looking at the amazing paintings and drawings of Paula Rego.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 20
‘Hey, babe, a girl called Kate from Newcastle in Australia sent this letter to The Red Hand Files.’
THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS
A lovely letter came from a ‘hillbilly fan’ named Blair, who lives in Lagrange, Kentucky, to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files and he asked me if I would post it on Stuff.
THE GREAT TILDA SWINTON
The actor extraordinaire, Tilda Swinton, friend and force of nature, wears ‘The Vampire’s Wife Sunflower Opera Coat’ to the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
OBLIVION
This letter came from our dear friend Rodrigo who has sent this gorgeous piece of music from Argentinian tango composer, Astor Piazzolla.
LITTLE GREY DREAMS
Here is a melancholy, little grey poem, written by Boston poet, Angelina Weld Grimké.
REASONS TO LOVE SALMA HAYEK No 632
The fabulous Salma Hayek shows some extraordinary flexibility while wearing The Vampire’s Wife’s Peacemaker’s Coat.
MY BELOVED JOHNSTONE TWINS RECLAIMED!
I’ve just found my beautiful copy of The Johnstone Twins—An Appreciation, which I thought I had misplaced.
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
I spent my Sunday reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s beautiful, little ache of a book, ‘Notes on Grief’.
A HAUNTED HENRY LEE
My husband alerted me to this wonderfully haunting version of his song, Henry Lee.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
“Hey babe, Kris Kristofferson is 85 today.”
That’s my husband. He loves Kris Kristofferson.
WE SHOULD HAVE A LAND OF JOY
The periodically brilliant Poem-a-day website has offered up this wonderfully inclusive poem by the great Langston Hughes.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES
Natalia Ginzburg, from her collection of her finest and best-known short essays, The Little Virtues, tells us wonderfully.
THE INSOMNIA DRAWINGS
Maybe it’s the heat of the night or maybe the waxing crescent moon but another sleepless night brings me to Louise Bourgeois wonderful ‘Insomnia Drawings’, spidery spirals, helixes, mazes, that hypnotize me back to sleep. Love, Susie x
A CHILD SWIMS BETWEEN TWO BOATS
I was listening to a recent song of Nick’s called Albuquerque, which refers to ‘a child swimming between two boats in a lake in Africa.’
SUFFERING MUST BECOME LOVE
I’ve just been reading about the modernist writer, Katherine Mansfield that died from tuberculosis, in 1923, aged 34 in Fontainebleau, France.
VENUS FRIGIDA
Venus Frigida (Cold Venus) is a 1611 oil on panel painting by Peter Paul Rubens, now in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, BOB DYLAN!
This week was Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday and so many of his songs hold both my husband and me in their sway.
NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA
Nadya Tolokonnikova is a Russian conceptual artist and political activist and the founding member of Pussy Riot: the world’s most prominent feminist protest art collective, which focuses attention on human rights violations at home and abroad.
GENTLE SPIRIT SORROW-FED
Emily Pauline Johnson, who also published under her Mohawk name Tekahionwake, was born on on the Six Nations Reserve, Canada West, in 1861. A poet, artist, and performer, she is the author of three collections of poetry.
MESMERISING RUSSIAN BOYS CHOIR
Tim from Denmark in Australia sent us this amazing piece of footage of a Russian Boys Choir singing Sacred Treasures III.
RADCLIFFE HALL AND UNA TOUBRIDGE
A few doors down from the London offices of The Vampire’s Wife in Holland Street lived Radclyffe Hall an English poet and author.
A STRAIGHTWAY TO UNHAPPINESS
A lovely letter came to me this week from actress and theatre producer Hayley Carmichael, with a salient Jungian truth attached!
IN PRAISE OF SQUIRRELS
Just to say, squirrels are my husband’s favourite animal. He thinks they are possessed. Many mornings, he sits on our doorstep and feeds them. Talks to them too.
ÖZGÜR BABA
He is a Turkish singer and musician named Özgür Baba and he has a cat, some chickens, some lemon trees and that he plays his instrument.
IT’S A FAMILY BUSINESS
There is a wonderful article in Vogue USA and Vogue UK this week about my husband’s troublemaking, iconoclastic online shop Cave Things
SOMETHING IN ME LIKE TRAINS LEAVING
A very special friend from of mine who lives at the bottom of the world (but sends me messages from her own bright skies)
POETRY OF LOGICAL IDEAS
Dear Nick and Susie, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you both, I’ve written quite a lot to Nick in the past as the odd inspiration has hit but this time
NOT EVEN THE RAIN HAS SUCH SMALL HANDS
Spring is well and truly here and as we step out of a long and perilous winter, an extraordinarily beautiful poem by the greatest of them all
WUNDERKAMMER
The “Stuff Page” looks like a Wunderkammer, a cabinet of curiosities for your community
TRIO MANDILI
My husband passed on this bittersweet message, that was sent to the Red Hand Files, from someone called Trond
I Eat the Stars
I just read this brave and beautiful poem by the Canadian astronomer and poet Rebecca Elson, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
AMITAR SUMAN
Nepali-born actress, Amitar Suman looks lovely in The Vampire’s Wife Floral Falconetti Dress.
STOOD BACK IN AWE
There is much to ballet that is connected to my childhood. I always wanted to be a ballerina and had all the desire but, sadly, none of the application
FATE RATTLES AND THROWS ITS BONES
Will, who runs one of my husband’s fan clubs sent me this Elton John video, made back in the nineties
HURREM SULTAN
I received this beautiful letter from Siobhan about Hurrem Sultan. Thank you so much for your kind words, contributing to the Stuff Page
A WONDERFUL QUOTE FROM AHARON APPELFELD
Hi Susie, Just a wee one to send you this, below. I just finished reading Aharon Appelfeld’s wonderful little book of reflections
ARIANA PAPADEMETROPOULOS
Artist, Ariana Papademetropoulos wears The Vampire’s Wife Total Mayhem Dress among her wonderful paintings.
ATOP ON THE TOPMOST TWIG
It’s Sunday morning and I’m reading the poems of Sappho, made ever mysterious by their fragmentary nature.
NOT UNTIL THIS MORNING
My husband received a letter on his Red Hand Files, from someone called Gaz from Kiama in Australia.
LOVELY WOMAN IN A LOVELY DRESS
Beautiful Kenya Hunt wears The Vampire’s Wife Metallic Festival Dress.
WHAT KIND OF WOMAN?
What kind of woman wears The Vampire's Wife? I am interested in designing for any woman who has an interest in beauty.
MARY ANN HILLIER
Here is a lovely letter from someone called Allyson, sent to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files.
SWEETHEART COME
On February 7th of 1909, a 30-year-old mother of two by the name of Emma Hauck was admitted to the psychiatric hospital
RENOIR IN THE MORNING
Sitting in bed this Sunday morning and leafing through an old New Yorker article about Auguste Renoir’s nudes.
ALL WILL BE WELL
Julian of Norwich (1342 -1416) was a mystic and theologian and author of the first book written in English by a woman.
SOKO, ARE YOU A MAGICIAN?
Soko, the ferociously talented French singer, actress and mother to gorgeous little Indigo wears The Vampire’s Wife.
THE BEAUTY THAT THE WORLD CONTAINS
A message came to my husband today from our dear friend, Yoram. Nick suggested I post it.
THE ‘MITUSIA’ T-SHIRT COLLECTION—A CAT EVERY FULL MOON!
For years my husband and I have been enamoured by the work of the wonderful Polish artist Aleksandra Waliszewska.
GOODBYE SYLVAIN SYLVAIN
Here is a song from the founder, guitarist and style guru for the amazing New York Dolls who died last week.
THE WONDER OF SIAN CLIFFORD
The brilliant Sian. Clifford wins the BAFTA for her performance in the pathologically irreverent Fleabag.
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
The great and glorious Nicole Kidman wears The Vampire’s Wife Silk Floral Mask .
A BEAUTY SO RARE
I urge you all to listen to this most beautiful and haunting piece of music by the great and sadly, late composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.
JENNA COLEMAN WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
The brilliant Jenna Coleman who played Queen Victoria and now the murderer, Charles Sobhraj’s lover
LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME AT ALL
I just stumbled upon this beautiful reading by that most luminous of poets, Maya Angelou.
AMELIA EARHART AND JONI MITCHELL
I’ve been listening to Joni Mitchell a lot over Christmas. I love this song, ‘Amelia’, a gorgeous thing about the great aviation pioneer and icon, Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and as its a Joni Mitchell song, a crash and burn kind of love. Such wonderful words, about such a wonderful woman. Love, Susie x Amelia I was driving across the burning desert When I spotted six jet planes Leaving six white vapour trails across the bleak terrain It was the hexagram of the heavens It was the strings of my guitar Amelia...
A COLLISION OF GREATNESS
I’ve just been watching this extraordinary performance by Dionne Warwick of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song, ‘Alfie’
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL
Thank you so much for hanging out on The Stuff Page and supporting The Vampire’s Wife.
QUASIMODO’S DREAM
From the early 1980’s comes this amazing song from The Reels—those much-loved, eccentric Australian pioneers of electronica.
AWAY, MELANCHOLY
I have been in London, working on The Vampire’s Wife display at Harrods. My husband has been writing.
LET THIS DARKNESS BE A BELL TOWER
Here is a letter and a beautiful poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, from someone called Julie.
PROTECTION BY MASSIVE ATTACK
This song, ‘Protection’ by Massive Attack is such a bold, powerful statement—so beautiful.
SLEEP MY LITTLE MAN-CHILD
I read a beautiful poem this morning from Bertrand N. O. Walker published in 1924 under his Wyandot name, Hen-toh.
THIS FIRE OF AUTUMN
Such a sweet and quietly despairing letter from Evy from Ghent that was sent to my husband’s endlessly generous Red Hand Files.
FALLING FAINTLY THROUGH THE UNIVERSE
I adore the final paragraph of James Joyce’s beautiful short story The Dead, so loved in all of literature.
THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE EARLY DRESS
Beautiful Amina Adan wears The Vampire’s Wife Early Dress. Thank you Amina!
NU METEEN! BY PUTTYLOLIAN
A lovely lady called Eva-Katrien Schröder sent me this amazing video by her son Julian.
DO NOT DESPAIR OF LOVE, HAFEZ!
Here is a lovely message from Kaley, with a poem about the capricious nature of things.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
I adore this extraordinary footage of the great Louis Armstrong singing his late period hit ‘What a Wonderful World’
Vinegar Valentine
“In the Victorian Era, people sent anonymous 'Vinegar Valentines' postcards to their enemies.