Lilith is a French fashion label and I love their look. These photographs light up your heart.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Bueller's Pink Period
On visiting Bueller's blog today I saw these fabulous photographs she has added to her Etsy shop. I love the pink theme and desperately want a bowl full of those dusky pink apples.
Wonderful British Almshouses
If you are ever touring the British countryside and see a group of cottages usually set around a beautiful garden they will be Almshouses - it is charitable housing provided to enable people (typically the elderly who can no longer work to earn enough to pay rent).
The first recorded Almshouse was founded by King Athelstan in York in the 10th century AD. The oldest charity still in existence is thought to be the Hospital of St. Oswald in Worcester, founded circa 990.
Nowadays these fabulous buildings are run by charities but many were originally built by kindly rich people.
To this day I have never met anyone who lives in one so I could go and have a peek inside.
I love them.
Let Me Loose In Here
This is the new M.A.C Pro shop in New York. MAC as in make-up not computers. I would love to be in this space and even more I would love my studio to look like this.
Image via The Cool Hunter (well it's written all over the picture)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
My Cuff by Bonzie
A few weeks ago I did a post about Bonzie at Etsy and featured some fabulous clothes and accessories made by a very talented Irish woman. Well she was so delighted with her 15 minutes of fame that she sent me my very own Bonzie Cuff with which I am thrilled. The detailing is stunning and as for the packaging well just take a look. She cut out a Fluer de Lys on the very Irish green envelope which contained an origami folded letter and used the cut outs to decorate the parcel which was made of a vintage dress pattern, a linen label printed - with love - and tied with ribbon that she also used on the cuff.
Details like these all make for the most pleasurable experience and I will be wearing my cuff on Saturday night with great pride. Thanks Bonzie.
Found In The Bronx
Sherrie and Marcel Deans stumbled upon a 16-room mansion in the Bronx last year and just look what they found. I love a story like this.
The mansion had been untouched for decades and had all its original features intact, even the fabulous chandelier was still there. They found numerous artifacts, books and the original blueprints of the house.
This lucky couple hope to move in this Spring. I found this wonderful tale at The New York Times website where you can see more pictures and the whole story.
Genetic Talents
Northumberland (the fabulous county that I am fortunate enough to live in) abounds with talent. I never cease to be amazed when I discover someone new producing beautiful things in a beautiful setting.
The paintings below are by Sabine Rose - how impressive are these? She has passed her talents onto her son Daniel and daughter Nicola who along with Mark Sumner and David Angus produce these fabulous tables and bespoke interiors from hardwoods at Newcastle Hardwood and not content with that they have opened a new company RASKL producing those table mats and numerous other pieces of furniture and accessories made from western native and exotic timbers.
Note Helen Morris of The Stencil Library (pictured with Sabina, Helen's the redhead) who alerted me to these local talents. Thanks Helen.
You Don't Have To Be a Dancer
Think about it - dancers have to be beyond comfortable in their clothes and shoes so it's obvious that if you wear the same you are going to be comfortable without having to strut your stuff.
I have been buying Jazz Shoes forever and if you purchase a dress like the one in the picture it will feel like a second skin.
This gorgeous collection is from the French Company Repetto
Photographic Locations and Pink Champagne
I went awol yesterday as we had to do some photography for the new Ghost Furniture pieces. We are so lucky to have 2 lovely friends locally who own a big Victorian Hall (above). We spent the afternoon photographing furniture in their amazingly massive reception hall.
Angie & Bob then presented us with a fabulous lunch and when we finished and packed up all the furniture, camera and lights we sat next to a roaring fire and drank Pink Champagne.
Now that's friendship for you!
If you have no friends like these then Tattersall Love (below) can sort something out for you but you will have to pay and will not, I guess, get lunch and Pink Champagne
By the way - today my head hurts.
NEWSFLASH - Harvey got the Blue Screen of Death on his computer this morning so we may have lost all the images. A hangover and no pictures could be the outcome. Oh well worse things happen at sea as they say.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Dedicating Today To Those Who Make My Day
The lovely Corine said this about me - She is funny and full of life, because she is better than I am at discovering French designers, and because she is unconcerned with trends, only her own inimitable voice - isn't that nice?
Corine writes Hidden in France and I am blown away that a French woman thinks this about me without me paying her to say so :)
I apparently Make Corine's Day and get to give the same award to 5 other blogs. Well always being a great one for breaking the rules I have to give 7 blogs my awards and here they are (imagine I am opening one of those Gold Envelopes)
Here are my choices with the reasons why THEY MAKE MY DAY
Paris Parfait- Tara is an educated, talented, stylish and generous person who I am proud to call a friend. We have visited each others houses, met each others partners and found we all had much in common.
She has the most amazing knowledge of politics and I wish she would write a book about her adventurous life - or maybe she is???
In March the Ham Fair (a fabulous brocante) is to take place in Paris. Last October Tara and I spent a fabulous if rainy day there together and this year I can't make it but I know Tara will give us all the best ever guided tour of the Fair and make us all feel we have been with her every step of the way.
Tongue in Cheek - Corey Amaro is one of those people you come across only once in your life. A deeply religious woman with a great respect for us non-religious people. She never stands in judgement, is honest, caring, funny and has the most stylish house I have ever seen.
Over a year ago she invited me down to Southern France to visit the local brocantes with her as my guide. As yet we have not met but we will and I can't wait.
At the moment she is in California staying with her family whilst her Father is very ill but she still posts each day on her fabulous blog. I am sure any of you who know her will send good thoughts to her and her family at this most difficult time.
My Marrakesh - Maryam is a woman I so admire. She is, with her talented architect husband, developing the most amazing guest houses in Marrakesh. She writes with wit and brings exotic delights to us each day. I am making sure that I am going to be one of her first guests and we are going to make a Ghost Moroccan Table together so watch this space.
Crust Station - I have a feeling that one day I will be saying - I knew her before she was famous. This young lady has the most amazing design awareness. She is training as a Graphic Designer and if I still had my Ad Agency I would employ her. I can see with every post that she is developing and learning at an amazing rate.
I love to watch young designers develop and her vast knowledge will take her a very long way - I would put money on it.
Paris Breakfasts - This crazy New Yorker makes me laugh like a drain. She rang me one day and she talks at one hundred miles per hour. I commissioned one of her wonderful water colours for our youngest daughter Charlotte who lives in Paris and it was great fun going through the process.
Carol sends me emails in New York speak which I love and try as we may we have never managed to meet in Paris even though we were both there at the same time last year. She went to a Baking Class or something and we just couldn't get it together - but we will one day I promise.
Rochambeau - Constance is like a ray of sunshine. She is creative, funny, generous and hugely talented. She made me a gorgeous bunch of grapes from vintage material and a twig after I sent her a picture of some marble ones I bought in Rome. They came beautifully wrapped with little fabric sachets, ribbons, cards and labels.
She sends me lovely compliments and thank you notes for posting something that she likes and even thanked me for inspiring her to make the bag (above) because I posted something about Fortuny having an online shop.
Ullabenulla - I reckon that Ulla has a brain the size of a small country. It is choc full of ideas and artist's names. She has the longest links list in history and creates some of the most amazing and different items from the strangest yet beautiful things.
She teaches at The Castle In The Air - I mean what more can I say.
OK you lot (above) - don't feel pressured because I know some of you have layouts that aren't conducive with this sort of thing but if you can here are the rules (don't worry I've already broken them)
1. Write a post with the links to 5 blogs that "make your day".
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Tell the award winners they won by commenting on their blogs
Corine writes Hidden in France and I am blown away that a French woman thinks this about me without me paying her to say so :)
I apparently Make Corine's Day and get to give the same award to 5 other blogs. Well always being a great one for breaking the rules I have to give 7 blogs my awards and here they are (imagine I am opening one of those Gold Envelopes)
Here are my choices with the reasons why THEY MAKE MY DAY
Paris Parfait- Tara is an educated, talented, stylish and generous person who I am proud to call a friend. We have visited each others houses, met each others partners and found we all had much in common.
She has the most amazing knowledge of politics and I wish she would write a book about her adventurous life - or maybe she is???
In March the Ham Fair (a fabulous brocante) is to take place in Paris. Last October Tara and I spent a fabulous if rainy day there together and this year I can't make it but I know Tara will give us all the best ever guided tour of the Fair and make us all feel we have been with her every step of the way.
Tongue in Cheek - Corey Amaro is one of those people you come across only once in your life. A deeply religious woman with a great respect for us non-religious people. She never stands in judgement, is honest, caring, funny and has the most stylish house I have ever seen.
Over a year ago she invited me down to Southern France to visit the local brocantes with her as my guide. As yet we have not met but we will and I can't wait.
At the moment she is in California staying with her family whilst her Father is very ill but she still posts each day on her fabulous blog. I am sure any of you who know her will send good thoughts to her and her family at this most difficult time.
My Marrakesh - Maryam is a woman I so admire. She is, with her talented architect husband, developing the most amazing guest houses in Marrakesh. She writes with wit and brings exotic delights to us each day. I am making sure that I am going to be one of her first guests and we are going to make a Ghost Moroccan Table together so watch this space.
Crust Station - I have a feeling that one day I will be saying - I knew her before she was famous. This young lady has the most amazing design awareness. She is training as a Graphic Designer and if I still had my Ad Agency I would employ her. I can see with every post that she is developing and learning at an amazing rate.
I love to watch young designers develop and her vast knowledge will take her a very long way - I would put money on it.
Paris Breakfasts - This crazy New Yorker makes me laugh like a drain. She rang me one day and she talks at one hundred miles per hour. I commissioned one of her wonderful water colours for our youngest daughter Charlotte who lives in Paris and it was great fun going through the process.
Carol sends me emails in New York speak which I love and try as we may we have never managed to meet in Paris even though we were both there at the same time last year. She went to a Baking Class or something and we just couldn't get it together - but we will one day I promise.
Rochambeau - Constance is like a ray of sunshine. She is creative, funny, generous and hugely talented. She made me a gorgeous bunch of grapes from vintage material and a twig after I sent her a picture of some marble ones I bought in Rome. They came beautifully wrapped with little fabric sachets, ribbons, cards and labels.
She sends me lovely compliments and thank you notes for posting something that she likes and even thanked me for inspiring her to make the bag (above) because I posted something about Fortuny having an online shop.
Ullabenulla - I reckon that Ulla has a brain the size of a small country. It is choc full of ideas and artist's names. She has the longest links list in history and creates some of the most amazing and different items from the strangest yet beautiful things.
She teaches at The Castle In The Air - I mean what more can I say.
OK you lot (above) - don't feel pressured because I know some of you have layouts that aren't conducive with this sort of thing but if you can here are the rules (don't worry I've already broken them)
1. Write a post with the links to 5 blogs that "make your day".
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Tell the award winners they won by commenting on their blogs
Monday, February 25, 2008
Scanned Flowers
Before you do anything else today go to this bloke's website and see some of his images. He scanned these flowers in his printer/scanner. Just how he does it without squashing them I do not know. This is stunning art created using modern methods.
By the way his name is Craig and his wife is allergic to flowers - how sad.
Old New Utensils
Yet another entry in the designboom Dining in 2015 competition. I love what this person has done with old cutlery and utensils.
Cygalle Shapiro from Netherlands
Finger Food and Spools
Isn't this fun? I would wear that finger food, I mean imagine the attention you would get and spools of cotton hanging around my neck appeals.
From Yarborough Jewelry
Meet My Neighbour
This is my neighbour who lives just down the road from my cottage. I don't visit nearly as often as I should, would you?
Photograph taken by a friend of a friend who visited a few weeks ago
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