Awards:: Versailles

Firstly, I'd like to thank two of my blogging friends for passing these two lovely awards on to me and secondly, to apologise for being so slow in thanking them.

The first one is from the lovely Emily, from Smile Emily. She is a gorgeous girl with a beautiful blog, so do pop on over and give her a visit.

As we all know,there are a few things to do when you receive the award.
1 When you receive this award you should thank the person that awarded you this in a new post.
2 Name 10 things that make you happy.
3 Pass this award on to 10 other bloggers and inform the winners!.

I pass this award on to all my readers, as they all make me happy with their beautiful, creative and ever inspiring blogs!

So please accept this from the bottom of my heart.

I will do another post on 10 things that make me happy soon (I promise).

The second award is from the ever so talented Julie from Being Ruby

A lot of my readers know Julie, but if you dont, do yourself a favour and visit her very inspirational blog. She is a very talented gal ... our Julie! She created this beautiful award.

My last little bit of news is that we are popping over to France for the Easter break. We are visiting the Palace of Versailles ... which I cannot wait to see! I need to clear my head and take a little break. Hopefully, I will do a post of this spectacular palace after I get back.

I know I have been off the radar for a bit, while trying to finish my Fat Duck project, as well as design a wallpaper for Cole & Sons competition (as part of our assessment), but I do read your blogs (even though I dont always comment).

Happy Easter everyone.

xx

Fat Duck :: Los Cabos Mexico

It's all the Fat Duck's fault!

Well, not this little guy really ...

it's the Fat Duck project that is just consuming

my life at the moment and

I've been neglecting the blog and neglecting to visit my favourite blogs.

So, this morning I thought I'd sneak away and do a post.

A friend just recently asked me about a vacation we went on back in 2002.

It was at the time the brand new, just built Hotel Esperanza, on the Baja coast of Mexico.

Some of her clients had won a trip there and she needed some information.

I have been very fortunate to go on some amazing holidays

and this was one of my favourites, so I thought I'd share some

magnificent homes in Los Cabos.

Plus, I just wanted to dream a little ... this morning!

Casa Kristina

Casa Dos Hermanas

Casa Quaccia

A thatched cover beside the pool at Casa En La Arena.

In desert areas, this half shade provides the most practical option for staying outside.

Total shade can be too cool, while full sun can be scorchingly hot.

Casa Alcini

Can you image walking out of your bedroom straight onto the beach?

All images have been scanned from the beautiful book:

(which I picked up in Los Cabos)

Project Editor: Mauricio Martinez

Photography: Rigoberto Moreno.

This is just a snippet of the beautiful homes this book offers, that have become phenomenas in Mexican architecture.

These buildings co-exist in harmony at some times

and in contrast at others.

Enjoy!

xx

A little Easter treat

Just wanted to share this gorgeous little project my 10 year old made for a charity event she is hosting at her school.

It's the good old, how many easter eggs in the jar competition!

With a clear jar, some shredded green paper, some pretty ribbon, lots and lots of easter eggs (381 in fact ... oops dont tell) and some pretty little chickies

Voila!

Isn't she clever?

Happy Friday everyone!

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

xx

Spring in the air

With Spring in the air

I cant wait to spend a lot more time in the garden

and this beautiful image seen here has inspired me today.

Happy Thursday

xx

In the blink of an eye ...

I dont know where the last three days have gone.

With a blink of an eye ... it is already Tuesday!

(My 3 darling daughters taken 5 years ago)

(The older two with their mum during her blonde days)

And in the blink of an eye they have grown up!

The weekend flew by, with Mother's Day celebrations here in the UK. My girls spoilt me with lots of lovely goodies and my darling husband made me breakfast in bed

(I did remind them all that the real Mothers Day, which is celebrated in Australia, isn't until May ... so I hope they won't forget that one, hehehe!)

The sun has also been out for the past 3 days ... so Lola was topless ... she was glad to be rid of all that stale air!

With a blink of an eye ... the top was gone.

Monday, we were given the opportunity to visit the Fat Duck (3 Star Michelin restaurant in Bray) while working on the design project, which I posted about here.

So, I thought I'd leave you with some more inspiring images of banqueting halls ...

How grand is Buddakan in NYC?

designed by Christian Liaigre

Liaigre is a master of intensifying that sense of anticipation and his entrances are always enigmatic ... designed to tempt patrons inside.

Not that The Fat Duck needs temptation to enter ( the food alone does that!)

With the blink of an eye ... how things can change

or

be transformed!

Happy Tuesday!

xx

Framed

Remember these beauties?

I purchased them from the lovely Anne @ Annechovie and posted here last November.

Well, it has taken me this long to frame them and I decided to use a simple Ikea frame.

Quick and easy to do, they were on the wall in no time.

The house we are living in at the moment is lovely with lots of windows

(thank god, to let in as much light as possible!)

but the only disadvantage is that we don't have that much wall space to hang the artwork.

Plus, trying to take a descent photo without any glare is impossible

As I sat at my messy desk (working on The Fat Duck project), all I could see was

Lola

perfectly framed by the window.

Hoping to take her out on the weekend

with the top down!

Here's hoping for a sunny and maybe slightly warmer weekend!

Wishing you all a great weekend.

xx

A little tessellation

{wednesday inspiration}

{as seen in At Liberty Magazine}

I'm loving everything about this image!

...

the gorgeous tessellated tiles

...

the serafian isfaman rug

(from a selection by Liberty oriental carpets)

...

the hold-up tights by bebaroque

...

the leopard soled stilettos by D&G

...

and the gorgeous model adrienne zybura

xx

World of Marchesa

"I want to be a living work of art."

- The Marchesa Luisa Casati

Vera Farmiga in Marchesa at the Oscars

"The Marchesa Casati was fearless, both in life and fashion.

She was self indulgent in the most empowering way and used her attire

to transform herself

into timeless walking art.

When you are able to dress and live without limits,

the possibilities of what you can accomplish are endless.

That tenacity and

ability to make

one's own

rules

is forever fascinating

and will never

go out of

stlye."

- GEORGINA CHAPMAN

The talented British duo Georgina Chapman and Kerin Craig make up the House of Marchesa.

Their beautifully crafted designs fuse high fashion with eclectic aesthetic, often gracing the red carpet (and boy, there were lots of them at this years Oscars!) ... naming their company from their muse Marchesa Luisa Casati.

The Marchesa Casati was Europes most notorious celebrity from 1881-1957.

I have just finished reading a most fascinating book, The Marchesa Casati. Portraits of a Muse.

By Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino.

Do yourself a favour and read this book!

xx

A hint of green ... Monday dreaming

Waiting for summer ...

(Images from here+here+here and here)

xx

Happy Friday

White

My favourite type of flowers

Given to moi.

Happy Friday

xx

Vintage Books ... Part 2

Continuing on with the vintage theme, today I stumbled across these beauties!

Most of you don't know that I am a sucker for shoes (well, can you name me a women who isn't) ... and books! I mean any kind and lots of them! I've had this passion since I was a little girl ... for both, that is! My mum can tell you stories of the numerous books she sent back from where every I had ordered them from (without her knowledge) .... and the number of shoes I used to take and hide ...

So getting back to todays find, I was walking along our High Street ... and from the corner of my eye, these little (well, they're actually quite big ... and heavy) beauties, were beckoning with me to come closer. You see, they were in the front window of our local Oxfam shop.

My eldest daughter did a volunteer stint in Oxfam (for her bronze Duke of Edinburgh award) and would always tell me that there were some genuine finds in there ... but I had never gone in before, until today ...

These very old ... falling apart ... very heavy books, had caught my eye.

The spine has literally fallen apart ...

Great Cathedrals of the World by Fred. H. Allen, first published in 1886, seemed quite an interesting title, so I asked the little old volunteer if I could take a look at them ... and continued to apologise for ruining her display window.

One Hundred and Thirty Full-Page Plates, executed in photogravure; with explanatory and descriptive text!

I fell in love ...

As the store was ridiculously busy, I didn't ask her if she knew where they came from, but I knew I had to have them.

The black and white images of the most famous cathedrals of the world are breathtaking.

The pages are very old, water stained and the two volumes look like they've been living in some ones attic for a long time ... who finally decided to get rid of them!

They are now resting on my side board in the dining room ...

Next to my two youngest daughters sculptures ...

I was sure that when my husband got home tonight, he would think I had lost the plot, buying these crumbling volumes ... but to my surprise ... he actually loved them too!

Even though I love them in the state that I have bought them in, I can't help but think ... should I get them restored?

What do you think?

Can anyone suggest where or who might be able to help me? I'm sure if I do some research, I can probably track someone down, but if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear from you.

So after suffering from laryngitis for the past two days

... these beauties just made my day!

xx

Vintage shopping ... Part 1 Fashion

For all matters fashion, furniture or homeware .... lovers of heirloom clothing, antiques or bric-a-brac ... there is no greater treasure trove than London.

If you a planning a visit to London, or just live here and have never seeked out these stores,

here are some of the very best for fashion vintage shopping.

Mint Vintage

20 Earlham St., Covent Garden WC2 H9LN

Ph: +44 (20) 7836 3440

Open: 11am-7pm (Mon-Wed); 11am-8pm (Thur-Sat); 12pm-6pm (Sun)

Owner James Wright equally divides between the sexes in this two storey West End emporium.

Taking a cue from the catwalks, Mint builds a story around stock sourced from Europe and the Americas.

Circa Vintage

64 Fulham High St, Fulham SW6 3LQ

Ph: +44 (0) 20 7736 5038

Open: 10am - 6pm (Mon-Fri), 10.30am - 5pm (Sat)

More like a Parisian salon than a vintage store, Circa carries exquisite high-end womenswear from the roaring 20's to the freewheeling 70's. Including Dior, Ossie Clark, La Mendola, Jean Muir, a tightly edited collection of accessories and jewellery. Upstairs there is a bridal boutique. Everyone from Kate Moss to Duffy has crossed its threshold.

One of A Kind

259 Portobello Rd, NottingHill W11

Ph: +44 (207) 792 5853

Through the mirrored door at the back is owner, Jeff Ihenacho's private room, where he dresses his many celeb clients. A Portobello Road institution and a favourite of French vogue, is this jammed- to- the- ceiling Alladin's cave of clothing and accessories.

The Girl Can't Help It

Alfies Antique Market, Grand Centre Window

13-25 Church St., Marylebone NW8 8DT

Ph: +44 (207) 724 8984

Open: 10am-6pm (Tue - Sat)

Sparkle Moore and Cad Van Swankster have completed a grand expansion to the store, which is an oasis of sophisticated vintage style for men & women; and a showplace of exotic decorative home furnishings reminiscent of the glamour that made Hollywood famous from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. You can buy a cream lace and satin taffeta dress once worn by Marilyn Monroe (with certificate of authenticity?) for £5000, but thankfully most stock is significantly cheaper. There are also Schiaparelli stockings and gloves, burlesque wear, French lingerie, Tiki mugs and drink sets.

Deborah Woolf Vintage

28 Church st, Marylebone NW8 8EP

Ph: +44 (0) 7767 437 732

Open: 11am-6pm (Tue -Sat), Monday by appointment

Deborah has been collecting vintage since she was a teenager and her exquisite taste is evident in every corner of this shop. She stocks mint condition outfits by Biba, Courreges, Chelsea Girl and Givenchy Couture. There are also christening dresses, costume jewellery by Trifari, vintage toys, framed fashion prints, Victorian capes and blouses, plus fashion magazines from the 40's to the 60's.

Absolute Vintage

15 Hanbury Street, Shoreditch E16QR

Ph: +44 (207) 247 3883

Brick Lane and it's surrounds have become impossibly trendy (try going there on a weekend!) and a drawcard is the vintage shops that have sprung up. Absolute Vintage is always busy and has some 2000 pairs of shoes, with affordable indie cool (most of the stock hails from the 70's and 80's ... but you can get a Chanel bag here, too!

London also has a number of vintage markets that pop up periodically.

Frock Me and

Anita's Vintage Fashion are among the best.

Check websites for dates and venues and go early!

This should keep you busy .... happy shopping!

xx