Pretty painted china

I must admit I am a real sucker for pretty china and crockery. Whenever we go thrifting (which is rather often) I cannot leave without a new teacup, teapot or a plate or two! None of our dishes match really, which is just the way I like it, and although I really don't technically need anymore I would absolutely love to have a selection from these lovely designers. They all alter vintage (not all vintage, but mostly) pieces either by painting, ink drawing or collage, and I absolutely love them!

Lou Rota is one of my favourite designers, I love the quirky mix of pretty romance with creatures that wouldn't normally be considered beautiful. That crow is one of my favourite pieces! She not only re-purposes china, but furniture and all sorts. I never thought I would be one to like decoupage, but this chair is definitely one to swoon over!

Esther Coombs is a London based designer selling on etsy, whose line drawings are to die for. All her pieces are originally thrift store or boot sale finds, which she then transforms by adding fantastic detail of beautiful buildings and the like. I particularly love her seed markers!

Ninainvorm is another favourite etsy designer of mine! Located in the Netherlands, she not only re-purposes vintage ceramics, but also makes and screenprints her own bowls and the like! I absolutely love her sense of colour and folky illustration style. That wee plate with the bunting is so unbelievably sweet! Nina also has a lovely blog where she talks about all things lovely and crafty. Go take a peek!

Happy Monday to you all, I hope it is treating you well!

Becka xo

a beautiful revolution

I found a blog and fell in love and now am sharing it with you. a beautiful revolution is the blog of a misfit who found his calling, published his book, found love and his place and in this world through his blog. It's a wonderful story, and here is what he says on his blog:

In 2005 I was depressed. Suicidal. I went to a therapist. I began writing a beautiful revolution. In 2006 an agent approached me - then a publisher (John Murray) and my doodles became the book If You're Happy And You Know it. It was published during the week of my 40th birthday. I began doodling for BBC Ouch. 2007. I had finally found my place in this world. In 2008 I met my American publishers (Harper Perennial) in Soho. We sat for 2 hours in my favourite place in London Patisserie Valerie and planned how Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now would be. A memoir. A memoir.


My love life was still a complete disaster - going from one bad relationship to another. But then I met her. The girl on the internet. She lived in America. I went to see her. If I could write it down, it wouldn't come close to how she was. She came to England. In 2008 we sat in my bedroom and laid out every doodle, every word I had ever written on the floor and formed the narrative of my book Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now. June 2008 I went back to America with her. We got married. January 2009 my book Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now was published. In America. The place I now call home. I got a new agent. An American agent. Began to doodling for A Way To Garden. 3 months ago my wife and I bought our first home together. We adopted a dog. An unloved pit bull. We named her pickle. Last week my green card came through. In 2007 I found my place in this world. In 2009 I found everything.


I used to think you needed to see it, to believe it.

But now I realize that to see it, you must first believe it.

Everything is possible. Everything is possible.

Here is a video of his book, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, the story of his depression and how he came out of it:

City of Dionne

Hello! It's Lindsey with a GreatFull day again.
Don't you think there are so many great things about this super connected cyber world we live in? I think the best perk is the opportunity to meet inspiring, creative and super sweet friends with the click of a mouse.

This happened to me a couple weeks ago when I was matched up in a blogging swap with the wonderful, Dionne. Eager to learn more about her I perused her blog which led me to her Etsy shop. Not only are our personalities similar but our artistic tastes too! Her shop features the loveliest illustrations. I wish I could find a spot for each one in my home...it's as if I comissioned each one for myself!

Take a look at these beautiful pieces from my new friend. I'm pretty sure they'll make your heart happy!

And if you need more pretty. Take a look at some photos from her gorgeous wedding last year...

Have you met a kindred spirit via the blogosphere? Do tell!

Live Inspired

I discovered these cards maybe a month or so ago, and they are just so beautiful, I can truthfully say they are the most beautiful, most honest cards I've ever seen. You may have seen them on my blog, but I just thought I'd share them with you, so that maybe you can live inspired too!


















My favorite is the one that says "Go ahead and cry. I'll catch your tears." So comforting for the lost soul.

Which is your favorite?

{All photos from live-inspired.com}

Giveaway! 8 Hand-painted Note Cards by Natty Michelle

The English Muse is happy to host this fun giveaway, sponsored by the lovely and talented artist, Natalie Michelle Crowley. Natalie sells unique hand-painted note cards of cupcakes, shoes, dresses, dogs, pink elephants, and peacocks, among other things. The giveaway consists of 8 cards/8 envelopes of the winner's choice from her Etsy shop, NattyMichelle.etsy.com.

To enter, please visit NattyMichelle.etsy.com and share with us your favorite card design. Copy the link and paste it into your comment. This giveaway ends next Thursday, August 20, at 6pm PST, one entry per person. A winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on Friday, August 21.

Have fun and good luck!!! :)

P.S.
Natalie has a rockin' blog, too!

Balloons!

Hello everyone! It's Alya here. I haven't posted for a while because I was so busy cherishing whatever is left of summer..

Speaking of summer, don't balloons remind you of this season? Balloons remind me of many things. I love looking at them. They take me back to the days of my youth, where innocence and color prevailed. And where simple things like helium-filled rubber balls would put a smile on my face.

I took these photos at a flea market some months ago. I keep returning to them because they look so pretty. Don't you think?

To see more, visit my Flickr page.

the illustrated fashions

all illustrations by the amazing Laura Laine
xo, Flux

{Fashionable Polaroids}: Scott Sternberg Captures Marisa Tomei

Hello everyone! L.L. here once again from The Beauty File!
I can not get over these photos of Marisa Tomei by Scott Sternberg. He took them for

Boy's Fall campaign. Snapped on a whim with a polaroid camera at Chateau Marmont &
Bar Marmont in Los Angeles, Tomei oozes glamour & embodies the effortlessly chic look.
Most amazing part: no hair or makeup help whatsoever!

{Doesn't she look best when she's totally bored?}

{Wishing I could master this, "take me home, I'm done" look!}

{Sneaking around outside...love those yellow boots!}

Photos via Boy. by Band of Outsiders
{Click through to check out previous years' photoshoots with Kristen Dunst, Michelle Williams & Sarah Silverman}

Rita Angus

Hello Lovelies! Becka here again, and I just wanted to say that I am so pleased that you enjoyed my last cyanotype post! Unfortunately we've lost the sun this past week or so in Vancouver, so I haven't gotten mine done yet, but I'm excited to hear that some of you would like to try it yourselves. It isn't too difficult, and there are actually two ways you can try it. One by picking up some sunprint paper like this or this, where it is all done for you and there is no messing around with chemicals. If you're up for more of a DIY challenge however, there is a great tutorial over here on how to mix the chemicals and make the cyanotype paper yourself. Once you have the paper, all you need are objects you find interesting, a good amount of sunlight and water to expose and fix the image. I'd love to hear if you have a go!

Now, for this weeks inspiration! I must admit that I've been feeling a little homesick the last couple of days or so, as sadly I have a friend back home who isn't doing very well after a rather serious car crash. It is times like these that make being a 14 hour plane trip away all the much more difficult. So, if you'd indulge me, I'd like to share one of my all time favourite New Zealand artists with you, Rita Angus. She painted predominantly in the 1930's - 50s, and while she was more interested in developing her own style than a national one, to me her artwork is so very New Zealand. We have a print of 'Rutu', this first piece (unfortunately this is the best reproduction I could find, but it doesn't nearly do the colours justice), in our living room and I never get tired of looking at it. There is something both sad, strong and slightly surreal in her work, and the way she uses blocks of colour is so beautiful.

Rutu, 1951

Cass, circa 1936

Portrait of Betty Curnow, 1942

Central Otago, 1940

Self Portrait, 1947

I hope you like these, and if you like you can see more of her work over here at the Te Papa retrospective. Do you have a favourite local artist? I'd love to hear about them!

Self Portrait, 1936-7

Polaroid in 3-D

images by Markus Kison

xo Flux