Thursday, November 20, 2008

puff...



It's time for my morning smoke break (and yes, the quitting smoking thing is going, well, so-so). During my morning blog surfing I came across Jay PH's Photostream on Annie's Relish Small Pleasures blog. So I thought I would post his smoke a little further along the blogging lines for a further shout out!
They're so beautiful.... shame my cigarette smoke doesn't look this good! Ha!!




Coveting Cavalli...



Heavenly Roberto Cavalli

I lovveeee Cavalli.... It's getting colder, and with it, out comes my own Cavalli fur! Which by the way I addoorrreee!! (especially when it gets really cold and I team it up with my Shearling beehive hat!)
I really like the above Cavalli fur suit, slick as you like! Below I've hit it up with some stunning interiors which are inspired by it...


Living Etc.

House to Home



House to Home


Living Etc.

I <3 Coffee



Good Morning World.... It's early on Thursday morning.. a little chilly outside, but inside I'm hugging a hot cuppa coffee, listening to Nina Simone, and enjoying this time out before I hit up another day at work.... I hope you all have a beautiful day! xo

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Cha-Ching!



I've got three days until I hit up Vegas with my Dad for our Thanksgiving... and seriously, I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! I'm dying for a holiday, and seeing my Dad will be so good I can't tell you!

Funny thing is, Lady Luck came for a Vegas style visit over the past weekend while I was sitting in front of a slot machine! I couldn't believe my eyes, I was left completely and totally speechless!!! 

Now here's wondering if she'll be coming with me on Saturday!!!  

(and to answer a question, and clarification! It was my friend that won the jackpot-I was just in front of the machine!!!)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

My kind of Humor...

I'm in the mood for some humor... And I just love these two!! HaHa!!!


www.kartoen.be


www.someecards.com (the best, funniest and most entertaining ecard site in the world!!!!)

The Life in Rose...


Its another beautiful Sunday morning...I'm up very early again. I'm watching the sun creep up over the buildings.. and so what could be more perfect than a little bit of Louis Armstrong singing 'La vie en Rose'?

Friday, November 14, 2008

Stunning Fashion Photography...



I flicked through an old copy of Elle Decor (UK copy!) I had lying around, and coming across Tim Walker's Photography, which I've browsed before, I couldn't help but do a quick post of my favorites!
I'm sure we've all seen the above photo somewhere or another... it is oh-so stunning! His fashion photography is something else, whimsical and dramatic, I just LOVE how feminine they are, how they are so flattering and beautiful, the sets are so carefully constructed and yet he makes it all look so effortless..... Stunning!!









Click This....


I've just been flicking through Jen Gotch's Photography website, and I love it all!!! Even just to click something is fun...so go check it out and get clicking!
I really like, and appreciate in my own personal and little way, the above photo of Jen's...from her 'personal work' section...

To Dream...


Standing in the sea, looking out...how I feel in so much of my life


For a few weeks now, I have had a very strong desire to get the hell out of New York. It seems like an age since I stepped outside of these cement boxes... and this week has been the icing on the cake. November could really be working better for me....
Maybe it's because it's so close to the holidays, and next weekend I'll be off to see my Father for our usual Thanksgiving tradition of visiting Las Vegas! Yes, I know, not exactly 'getting away from it all', but I can't wait to see my Dad again!!

So instead, while I dream of a week other than this one, I think about what I would do if I walked out of NYC right now...where would I go? What would I do?!
First things first....I would paint! I would spend my mornings drinking coffee, blog much more often, and paint paint paint away in my studio, sell my work, visit flea markets on weekends...the whole thing... I swear I've put so much time into thinking about all of this, I just wonder whats holding me up from actually doing it....

One thought I've had since I left university in England, if not before then too, is to have my own lil store. Nothing so fancy, but something I can show off and sell the things I love, my artwork, and somewhere where people would love to visit....maybe it would have a little coffee shop too..
When I saw the below pictures on Flickr, all of those thoughts came flooding back to me, and these two inspired me further in wondering what I would like it to look like... I love the wood, the painted white brick, the clean vintage-y feel, and I just adore the chandelier! This is the 'Loafing Cafe' on Victoria Park Road in London, see the Flickr site with more info on it here!
I would do a few things differently to make it mine and with what it'll have, but it's a start, and one for the inspiration boards....I even have a name, but I'm not telling you!!




Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Dior to Decor!!



When I saw the above image from John Galliano's Dior Fall Winter '08 '09 fashion show, I fell deeply in love.... Sometimes Dior just makes my jaw drop...
So I'm going to try something a little new here, something I think that will test my eye, and challenge me... something I'm going to borrow (I hope she doesn't mind!!) from Coco+Kelley! I've always loved how she does this, so I thought I'd see how my own eye fared! 
And on a hunt I went, through my all of my interior images, for some which I felt were inspired by this dress..... so...how did I do?!! ;)


living etc

house to home

house to home

Pretty in Pink...



Roses..... I just received this bundle of pale pink buds, and I looovvee roses. I adore their smell so much, they just make me think of my dream English Rose garden, which I swear I'll have one day.... but until then, these few are beautiful!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Eleven Eleven....O Eight.



A few months ago now, the clocks at work were playing tricks on me. Every time I looked at the clock it was 2:22pm, or 4:44pm, 5:55pm...and so on. It was the funniest thing, and happened so often that I ended up laughing about it with my friend Tom.
He then told me about this thing he was told when he was younger, that every time the clock said 11:11, you make a wish!
So now, gosh how many months later, Tom and I still remind each other via saying it or texting it, to make a wish!

Now, today is November 11th....and just a little while ago, the clock turned 1:11pm. A time which Tom and I decided we could make half wishes!! So in thinking about it at 1:11pm on 11/11/08, I wondered where I would be at 1:11pm on 11/11/11. Three years from now....funny thought isn't it?
So much has changed in the last three, gosh only knows what will happen in the next three....

Anyways, now I know the number 11 has some very strong religious, occult, symbolic, and spiritual significance.....and some people out there believe in numerology so much it's a little frightening.
Here's a link to some facts, and some simple trivia on the number 11, here.

Below is 'Eleven AM' by Edward Hopper...I love his work. And I wonder what she's wishing for....


'Eleven AM' by Edward Hopper, 1926

Sunday, November 9, 2008

G'mornin!


Sunrise over nyc...

I'm up at the crack of dawn today...the city is so quiet, but I think I've mentioned that on a Sunday morning before! Coffee is on, and I'm looking forward to it's hot, rich taste...mm delicious!

I'm feeling so inspired this weekend, and so I haven't been able to keep my fingers away from a pencil for long! Got a busy day of it today, and with blogging, brunch with a friend, and phone calls to the UK, it's a good thing I'm up so early!


Saturday, November 8, 2008

Yellow Leaves and Coziness....



It's a rainy day in NYC, one of those days where you don't stray too far from the warm or dry unless you really have to. Quite frankly, sometimes I just like these days. I was in and out a bit myself today, but every time, I saw the bright yellow leaves from the tree in front of my building dance in the breeze, bounce in the rain, fall to the ground and swim down the gutters. It was really quite beautiful, the contrast of the gloomy skies, dirty wet streets, and these bright yellow leaves was something to be seen....

Recently I've been having my yearly hankering for an amazing quilt. I get this every year the seasons change and bring cooler air, and yet somehow, I've never actually gotten one!
So I went on a hunt. I'm pretty particular about what I want, maybe that's half my problem! So below I've posted my favorites.... Oh the idea of snuggling under one of these when it gets really cold, or getting to watch the first snow safely wrapped in it! Oh heaven!



Above, West Elm's Madison Quilt in Silver...I'm really loving the idea of grey, and this silver has made it's way high on my list! Below, Pottery Barn's Velvet Linen Quilts, in just beautiful colors, though I think I'll go for the Chrome grey!



But then again, maybe floral? And of course, who does floral quilts better than Cath Kidston?
The Rose Eiderdown directly below is my absolute favorite, maybe it's that grey thing again! Wondering if floral is too spring like though...even so, I do adore it's femininity!




And below are a few other gorgeous quilts or eiderdowns, I love that green one too! And the paisley is beautiful! All courtesy of Flickr.




Coco Says It Best...



I love Chanel. I adore my Chanel jacket. And I love these two quotes from Coco Chanel....

"I don't know why women want any of the things men have when one of the things women have is men."

"Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future."

Friday, November 7, 2008

A Softer Side....

I came across this painting by Greg Olsen, and just loved it... I think the poem that goes with it made me fall for it even more, so I posted it below also.
For the little girl in every woman, whom we should all remember a little more often, and cherish closely...


"Denim To Lace" 8x10

A rough-and-tumble tomboy with sneakers on her feet, She'll go toe-to-toe with any Joe she meets along the street. Her prowess on the playground has created no small stir, in fact the star player of the game was not a him--but her! She hits and throws and, the story goes, her fast ball can't be seen, But beneath the grit and all the grime can be found a little queen. The tomboy goes when she changes her clothes and lays her leather aside, When the sneakers come off and the slippers go on, with laces carefully tied. Then the pitcher does a pirouette that's like a curve ball she has thrown us, And with dancing shoes and graceful moves, a much softer side is shown us.

Golden Lily......



British Born William Morris (1834-1896)....now, although I don't agree with his political standpoint, I do love his designs!
As part of the English Arts and Crafts movement, he established his firm Morris and Company in 1875 which he was his sole direction, he mastered the design and production of stained glass, wallpaper, printed and woven textiles, carpet and tapestry. Through his work he was in pursuit of what he called "the beauty of life". Before 1875 the company was known as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company, to it's members it was known as "The Firm". They called themselves "fine art workmen" with the common goal of achieving 'earthly paradise'. At the time, it was unusual for artists to turn their attention to designing objects to decorate the home.

After Morris' death, John Henry Dearle (1860-1932) who was his protege, took over as artistic director of the firm and guided it almost to it's end.
Above is my favorite drawing, and created in John's time directing the firm. "Drawing for Golden Lily Wallpaper (detail)" 1897, Watercolor and Graphite on Paper.






Saturday, November 1, 2008

Take a step back, to take another forward...

One way or another, It's been a busy, intense, emotional, highly disappointing, terrible week for me.... And so I have neglected my blog. But! It's time to catch up! And put all that, ahem, b.s., behind me....

So first we're going to go back to Halloween, a pretty good night it was too! Here's me in my last minute costume as a rock 'n' roll rabbit!!! NYC is crazy at Halloween!!! 


Rock 'n' Rollin' Rabbit!


Halloween Parade 2008, courtesy of Flickr